The Indian Premier League 2025 mega-auction in Jeddah has been nothing short of a sensational two days of intensive hammer sessions, with teams spending massive sums on a plethora of star cricketers. Despite the flash and expenditure of significant money, some other teams conducted their business very sensibly.

A few big-name stars went for a lower price than fans may have expected. Some franchises made good timing decisions and were fortunate to obtain away match-winners at a lower cost than expected. Having said that, here are the top five steal deals from the recent 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

Glenn Maxwell- INR 4.2 Crores (Punjab Kings)

Mighty Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell got a new side in the form of a homecoming with the Punjab Kings (played from 2014 to 2017 and 2020), obtaining a deal for INR 4.20 crore. The 36-year-old was released after three seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and instantly became a target for several teams.

Sunrisers Hyderabad started the bidding battle, followed by Chennai Super Kings until Punjab Kings won the sale at a lower price. PBKS took advantage of an excellent chance to boost its presence abroad for the next season. Maxwell's IPL career encompasses 134 matches and includes 2,771 runs at a strike rate of 156.73 and 37 wickets.

Sam Curran- INR 2.40 Crores (Chennai Super Kings)

Sam Curran is back in yellow; this time, he's a bargain at INR 2.4 crore. Curran's bowling at the death and ability to swing the new ball make him a valuable asset. Add to that his development as a pinch hitter capable of batting higher up the order, and you have the ideal all-rounder.

His flexibility bridges weaknesses in both the batting and bowling areas. Curran's return seems like a masterstroke, whether he's partnering Matheesha Pathirana in slog overs or adding depth to the batting lineup. In 59 IPL appearances for Chennai Super and Punjab Kings, he scored 883 runs and took 58 wickets.

Adam Zampa- INR 2.4 Crores (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Sunrisers Hyderabad made one of the finest moves of the IPL 2025 auction, signing Australian spinner Adam Zampa for only INR 2.40 crore, which helps fill their spinmeister's void. Following a brief bidding battle with the Rajasthan Royals, the seasoned leg-spinner was unexpectedly bought for nearly his introductory price of INR 2 crore.

His IPL career, which began with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016, has seen noteworthy performances, including a spectacular 6/19 against his current side, SRH. As his history from spells at RCB and RR suggests, Zampa's arrival at this price range might be the season's best bargain. In his 14-match IPL career, he has 21 wickets at 7.74.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Shocking Unsold Star Players in the IPL history

Quinton de Kock- INR 3.6 Crores (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, pulled off a masterstroke by signing South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock for only INR 3.60 crore. After the Lucknow Super Giants declined to use their Right to Match (RTM) card, KKR took the chance to improve their team. His probable connection with Sunil Narine at the top of the order will help the team get off to a solid start. 

With his recent international and franchised-based league performances, De Kock can give a vital, robust start to the team's batting. De Kock provides experience, having played 107 IPL matches and scored 3,157 runs, including 23 half-centuries and two centuries.  

Washington Sundar- INR 3.2 Crores (Gujarat Titans)

Washington Sundar was among the most remarkable Indian all-rounders at the auction, and many expected him to sell for a high price. However, he eventually signed with the Gujarat Titans for INR 3.20 crores. GT defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a bidding battle to gain his contract. 

He is a wily off-spinner who has recently been in excellent form. Sundar has played 60 IPL matches and taken 37 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54. He has also scored 378 runs with a strike rate of more than 116, which might help the Titans' lower middle-order batting lineup.

South Africa remains uncertain about Quinton de Kock's availability for the national team as the explosive wicketkeeper-batsman continues to prioritize league cricket over international duty. Although de Kock has not officially retired from international cricket, his absence from recent series raises questions about his future in the format.

After excelling for South Africa in the T20 World Cup, de Kock has opted out of consecutive series. The national team continues to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup without him, investing in other players like Reeza Hendricks and Kyle Verreynne in his absence.

De Kock missing, door still open for return

De Kock, who retired from Test cricket in 2021 and ODIs after the 2023 World Cup, has not been in the national team setup for recent T20 matches. He missed the three-game series against West Indies and will be absent from the upcoming matches against Ireland. White-ball coach Rob Walter acknowledged that there is no clear timeline for de Kock's return but emphasized that the door remains open for him.

Walter stated, "I’ve left the door open for Quinny to approach me if and when he wants to return. That might never happen."

South Africa looks ahead with new faces

In the meantime, South Africa is exploring other options, with Hendricks continuing to establish himself as an opener and Klaasen as a wicketkeeping option. With the T20 World Cup still a few years away, the team is focused on developing talent while leaving space for de Kock if he chooses to return.

See Also: Yash Dayal earns Test call-up after battling IPL horror debut: A remarkable journey

While de Kock's focus remains on franchise leagues such as the IPL and SA20, South Africa’s team management underlined that performance will be a key factor if he decides to come back to international cricket.

The Seattle Orcas celebrated their first win of MLC 2024 in style, securing a dominant nine-wicket victory over the Los Angeles Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The star of the match was undoubtedly Ryan Rickelton, whose inclusion proved to be an inspired decision. Rickelton delivered a spectacular performance, scoring an unbeaten 103 off 66 balls, marking his maiden T20 century. His innings, along with a solid 152-run partnership with Quinton de Kock (51*), effortlessly chased down LAKR’s total of 168.

Despite losing opener Nauman Anwar early in the third over, the Orcas’ chase never lost momentum. Rickelton and de Kock took control with calculated precision. Rickelton, replacing Aaron Jones in the top order, quickly adapted to the task at hand. He raced to 35 off 23 balls during the PowerPlay, contributing significantly to the team’s score of 51 at the six-over mark. His aggressive yet controlled approach set a solid foundation for the chase.

As the innings progressed, Rickelton’s dominance became more pronounced. By the 10-over mark, he had already surpassed his half-century, ensuring that the Orcas kept pace with the required run rate. Even as de Kock started slowly at the other end, Rickelton’s fluency and power hitting maintained the momentum. Their partnership proved to be unbreakable, and by the end of the innings, Rickelton’s unbeaten century had guided the Orcas to a comprehensive and morale-boosting victory.

See Also: MLC 2024: Season Analysis: Who tops the Adjusted Boundary Rate (aBR) metric Leaderboard?

In-depth Analysis of Ryan Rickelton’s Unbeaten 103-run Knock

Rickelton’s brilliance was on full display as he dismantled the LA Knight Riders’ bowling attack during the middle overs. He struck three boundaries off an Andre Russell over and followed it up with back-to-back sixes off Shakib Al Hasan, preventing LAKR from applying pressure. This aggressive assault allowed Quinton de Kock to gradually find his rhythm. Initially, de Kock managed just 23 runs from his first 25 balls. However, in the 14th over, he brought up the 100-run partnership by reverse-scooping Ali Khan for a six and a four, signaling a shift in momentum.

As Rickelton neared his century, he continued his onslaught, hitting a six and two more boundaries off Corne Dry in the 16th over to race into the nineties. He reached his maiden T20 century off his 63rd ball, receiving rapturous applause from the dugout. A ball later, de Kock brought up his fifty, further solidifying the Orcas’ chase. Despite not being able to significantly improve their Net Run Rate, with the winning runs coming on the penultimate ball of the game, Rickelton and de Kock’s unbeaten partnership ensured a memorable nine-wicket victory for Seattle Orcas.

Ryan Rickelton’s century was a masterclass in control and precision, perfectly illustrated by the control percentage metric. This metric, which measures the percentage of shots that come off the middle of the bat from the total balls faced, highlighted Rickelton’s exceptional technique. Against full-length deliveries, he was particularly dominant, scoring 39 runs off just 15 balls with a control percentage of 86.6%. His performance against back-of-length balls was equally impressive, with 30 runs off 23 balls and a control percentage of 82.6%.

Rickelton’s adaptability was further showcased against good length deliveries, where he managed 23 runs off 20 balls with a control percentage of 80.1%. His impeccable timing and placement were on full display when facing short and full toss balls, achieving a remarkable 100% control. This level of precision allowed him to navigate the bowlers’ varied lengths with ease, culminating in a flawless century that was instrumental in Seattle Orcas’ victory.

Ryan Rickelton expressed his joy at simply being able to contribute to the team. He admitted to panicking as he approached his century, humorously noting that Quinton de Kock wasn’t helping calm his nerves. Rickelton praised de Kock, calling him a phenomenal player and highlighting the fun they have playing together. He mentioned that the wicket was a bit sticky early on, but it improved, which facilitated their chase.

Rickelton also recounted the nerve-wracking moment of completing his hundred. He described it as a shocking run, revealing that they had decided beforehand to run regardless of the situation. Fortunately, Narine missed, allowing him to reach his century.

See Also: IND vs ZIM: Match Analysis: What led to the collapse of India’s young guns on Harare’s Spin-friendly track?

The Men in Blue will now face South Africa in their final game on Saturday at the Bridgetown in Barbados. Earlier on Thursday, the Proteas beat Afghanistan in the first semi-final. India has qualified for the T20 World Cup 2024 final after defeating England by 69 runs in their second semi-final in Guyana on Thursday.
South Africa beat Afghanistan in the first semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Proteas advanced for their first World Cup final.

There will be several intriguing player battles ahead of the India-South Africa T20 World Cup final. Player clashes add a new level of excitement to the contest’s winner selection process. Let’s look at a few of them:

Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada

The Indian skipper has been in excellent form and is coming off two consecutive half-centuries. So far, no batter has hit three consecutive 50s in this tournament. The way Rohit is batting right now, it appears very possible, and he is a player who can remove the pitch from the equation.

That’s why it’s critical to stop him. Kagiso Rabada has also caused him problems on several occasions. Rabada has bowled Rohit 13 times in international cricket, including twice in the IPL. That means he eliminated the Indian captain 15 times in their 32 meetings.

Also Read: From weather to reserve day: All you need to know about T20 World Cup 2024 Final between South Africa and India

Virat Kohli vs Marco Jansen

Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, is performing badly in this tournament. However, given his stature, he is capable of winning any position. That is why South Africa will not write him off. If South Africa can get him out early, it will put pressure on the remaining Indian batters, especially Rohit.

That is where we believe Marco Jansen can be useful. The pacer with the left arm is going to get the ball into him and are good bouncer, whereas Virat may struggle. Jansen dismissed Virat five times in international cricket and once in the Indian Premier League.

Heinrich Klaasen vs Kuldeep Yadav

South Africa will be contemplating their strategy against the Indian spinner, as this will be crucial in the SA vs IND final. Heinrich Klaasen will be the lineup’s biggest batter. He can face Indian spinner and score runs on shifting tracks as well.

Kuldeep Yadav, however, will be his most difficult challenge. This wrist spinner is difficult to read, which makes him a danger to any batter. Klaasen and Kuldeep have met ten times in international cricket, with Kuldeep dismissing him three times. In white-ball cricket, Klaasen has scored 84 runs off 64 balls against him.

Suryakumar Yadav vs Anrich Nortje

Not only will India rely on Rohit and Virat, but also on Suryakumar Yadav’s batting. He has been in excellent form throughout the tournament, and it is now time for him to deliver one final strong innings that will propel India to victory. He has a good record against South Africa.

He’ll be looking to play some unconventional shots. However, it can be difficult to beat Anrich Nortje, who can bowl at speeds ranging from 120 to 150 KMPH without changing his action. Nortje has twice dismissed Suryakumar in four IPL innings.

Quinton de Kock vs Jasprit Bumrah

Quinton de Kock is the leading scorer for South Africa in the current ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He scored runs against strong opposition and will be crucial for his team. If he gets going, he will not let the Indian bowlers rest. That is where it will be critical to get him out.

However, his first challenge will be versus Jasprit Bumrah. The ace pacer has given India a good start. His first spell will be critical. He has enjoyed bowling with De Kock. Bumrah has sacked De Kock six times, including once in the IPL.

At the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the match unfolded as a test of endurance for the batsmen due to the challenging pitch conditions. Quinton de Kock emerged as the standout performer, notching up the sole half-century of the game with a blistering 81 runs off 56 deliveries. Nicholas Pooran’s explosive innings of 40 runs from just 21 balls, including five crucial sixes in the final two overs, propelled LSG to a competitive total of 181/5.

In response, the RCB batters struggled to find their footing on the unpredictable pitch, eventually succumbing to the opposition’s bowling attack and getting bundled out for 153 runs. Consequently, they suffered a defeat by a margin of 28 runs.

De Kock’s impressive fifty provides the backbone for LSG

Partnering with K L Rahul at the top, de Kock wasted no time in launching an assault, particularly targeting Reece Topley in the opening over. While Rahul watched from the non-striker’s end, de Kock unleashed an array of boundaries. His first six came off Mohammed Siraj’s delivery, effortlessly lofting a length ball over fine leg and into the stands at M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Maintaining his aggression, de Kock struck another maximum off Siraj, this time dispatching a length delivery over deep backward square leg. The opening pair of de Kock and Rahul put together 53 runs in just 33 balls, with de Kock being the more aggressive of the two, contributing 32 runs off 19 deliveries. With a strike rate of 114.64, de Kock’s innings of 81 off 56 balls featured eight boundaries and five sixes.

Mayank brings storm in match with his exceptional performances

Following his stellar debut against the Punjab Kings, the pacer continued his impressive form by wreaking havoc on the RCB batting lineup with his fiery pace.

Entering the attack in the sixth over, Mayank immediately made an impact by dismissing the dangerous Glenn Maxwell. Employing his signature weapon—a blistering bouncer clocked at 151 kph—Maxwell attempted a pull shot but was late, resulting in a simple catch for Nicholas Pooran at mid-on.

In his next over, Mayank produced another sensational delivery to dismiss the highly regarded Australian, Cameron Green. The ball beat Green’s outside edge and crashed into the top of off-stump as he played inside the line.

Consistently clocking speeds of 150-plus, Mayank unsettled the RCB batsmen with his express pace. His third victim, Rajat Patidar, fell to a top-edged pull shot caught at fine leg for 29, highlighting the batsman’s struggle to cope with Mayank’s pace.

Finishing with remarkable figures of 3/14 in four overs, Mayank achieved his second consecutive three-wicket haul in the tournament. Additionally, he set a new record for the fastest delivery in IPL 2024, clocking an astonishing 156.7 kph during the match.

See Also: Lucknow Super Giants beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 28 runs; Points Table updated

Pooran survived an early scare when he was dropped on just 2 runs by Anuj Rawat, and from there on, he unleashed an onslaught that Bengaluru won’t soon forget. Following his impactful 42 off 21 balls in LSG’s previous match against the Punjab Kings, Pooran escalated his aggression by smashing a whirlwind 40 runs off just 21 deliveries in this encounter, including five towering sixes in the last two overs, completely altering the game’s momentum.

Taking a particular liking to left-arm seamer Topley, Pooran launched three consecutive sixes off his bowling in the 19th over. And to add insult to injury, he targeted Siraj in the final over, dispatching him for two massive shots to propel the visitors to a formidable total.

With a scorching strike rate of 190.47, Pooran stunned the Bengaluru crowd with one boundary and five maximums. LSG’s last five overs proved to be the turning point, as they accumulated 50 runs, with 33 of those coming in the final two overs, featuring Pooran’s destructive hitting.

Fans were left in awe witnessing the remarkable performance by LSG, particularly Pooran’s explosive batting display and Mayank’s performance. As the match concluded, the spectators eagerly anticipated more such electrifying performances from the team in the upcoming games, setting high expectations for the rest of the tournament.

Quinton de Kock, the dynamic South African wicket keeper-batsman, etched his name in the annals of Indian Premier League (IPL) history as he became the 8th overseas batter to surpass the 3,000-run mark in the prestigious tournament. His remarkable feat was achieved during Lucknow’s clash against Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, showcasing his prowess as a consistent performer in the IPL 2024.

Joining Elite Company

The achievement places Quinton de Kock in esteemed company alongside fellow South African stalwarts AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, who have also crossed the 3,000-run milestone in the IPL. De Kock’s inclusion in this elite list underscores his status as one of the most prolific overseas batters in the history of the tournament.

See Also: “We made a massive error…”: Marais Erasmus makes big revelation on ODI WC 2019 final controversy

OVERSEAS BATTERS WITH MOST RUNS IN IPL

David Warmer- 6754

AB De Villiers – 5162 runs

Chris Gayle – 4965 runs

Faf du Plessis – 4179 runs

Shane Watson – 3874 runs

Kieron Pollard – 3412 runs

Jos Buttler – 3258 runs

Quinton de Kock – 3000 runs

Fewest innings to 3000 IPL runs
75 C Gayle
80 KL Rahul
85 J Buttler
94 D Warner/ Faf du Plessis
99 Q de Kock*

Performance in the Match

In the milestone match against Bengaluru, Quinton de Kock demonstrated his class and skill with the bat, notching up his 22nd IPL fifty in emphatic fashion. He displayed exquisite timing and shot-making ability, laying a solid foundation for Lucknow with a blistering innings that propelled his team to a commanding position.

De Kock’s innings were characterized by aggressive strokeplay and calculated aggression as he unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking. His partnership with KL Rahul provided Lucknow with a strong start, setting the stage for a formidable total against Bengaluru’s bowling attack. De Kock scored 81 runs on 56 balls.

Impact on the Match

Quinton de Kock’s aggressive approach at the top of the order put the Bengaluru bowlers on the back foot, exerting pressure and dictating the terms of the game. His ability to find the gaps and manipulate the field allowed Lucknow to gain momentum and seize control of the match.

Reflections on the IPL Journey

De Kock’s milestone achievement serves as a testament to his consistency and longevity in the IPL, reaffirming his status as a key player for any team he represents. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, he has continued to excel on the grand stage of the IPL, leaving an indelible mark on the tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced the latest batch of top-notch international cricket stars in the race for the ICC Player of the Month awards after an action-packed October. The ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist recognizes three outstanding performers from the group stage matches of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Nominees for ICC Men’s Player of the Month for October:

1. Jasprit Bumrah (IND)

India’s premier pacer showcased his destructive prowess during the opening stages of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, significantly contributing to India’s unbeaten run in the tournament. Bumrah commenced his campaign with a remarkable performance, taking two wickets for 35 runs against Australia in Chennai. He continued to shine, claiming four wickets for 39 runs against Afghanistan in Delhi.

Bumrah’s stellar form culminated in a Player of the Match display against arch-rivals Pakistan in Ahmedabad, where he took two wickets for 19 runs, including the prized scalp of Mohammad Rizwan with a brilliant slower ball. Throughout October, Bumrah secured 14 wickets at an impressive average of 15.07, with a remarkable economy rate of 3.91.

2. Quinton de Kock (SA)

South Africa’s opening batsman, Quinton de Kock, who has already announced his retirement from ODI cricket at the conclusion of the World Cup, continued to make a significant impact during the Proteas’ stellar start to the CWC23 in October. De Kock registered back-to-back centuries against Sri Lanka and Australia, setting a strong foundation for the tournament.

Although he faced setbacks in subsequent matches against the Netherlands and England, he returned to form with a stunning 174 against Bangladesh. This nomination marks de Kock’s first since June 2021, and he presents a compelling case with 431 runs at an impressive average of 71.83.

3. Rachin Ravindra (NZ)

Despite having played in just 12 ODIs before the tournament, 23-year-old Rachin Ravindra delivered a lightning-fast start to CWC23, captivating audiences with his memorable performances. Ravindra made a spectacular entrance by scoring 123 runs in 96 balls as New Zealand secured a convincing nine-wicket victory over defending champions England.

He continued to impress with half-centuries against the Netherlands (51) and India (75), and his standout moment was a brilliant 116 against Australia. Ravindra’s superb month earned him his first Player of the Month nomination, with a total of 406 runs at an impressive average of 81.20 in October.

See Also:Angelo Mathews Provides Video Proof to Challenge ‘Timed Out’ Dismissal Decision by Umpires

Quinton De Kock is one of the few players in the current crop of South African players who played with a golden generation and a new generation. He made his Test debut during Graeme Smith’s last series in international cricket and shortly after Jacques Kallis moved on as well.

As his career grew Quinton De Kock had the likes of Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plessis, Ab De Villiers, and JP Duminy with him in the batting line-up. Their presence allowed Quinton De Kock to play with childlike freedom as he went about his business with aggression. Towards the end of the decade, seniors started retiring and responsibility was thrust on De Kock which proved to be a challenge. By 2020 at the age of 27 Quinton De Kock had captaincy thrust upon him which is possibly where the change in De Kock’s time in the national team came up.

As a player, Quinton De Kock was often seen as a player best left on his own, allowing him to focus on his own game. At the top of the order, he was in another league when compared to his South African peers as he made batting look so easy to the eye, getting the team to quick starts irrespective of the format. With the gloves, he is one of the most acrobatic going around and De Kock had all the potential to be one of the greatest of the generation.

South Africa went through a tough period post 2019 though which saw Faf Du Plessis step down from captaincy. Quinton De Kock was primed to be the white-ball captain, and was the best batter in the team at the moment. Test Captaincy was given as a temporary post but his appointment saw Quinton De Kock take the role of an opening batter, wicket-keeper and captain for South Africa across formats. He stayed down the order in Tests but had his work cut out.

Few games in, Quinton De Kock had the additional pressure of adapting to South Africa’s transformation targets, changing management, and retirements of the likes of Faf Du Plessis and Dale Steyn. His form with the bat sky-dropped and the added pressure of living in bio bubbles made life really tough and lonely for Quinton De Kock.

See Also: ENG vs IRE 3rd ODI Match Prediction- Who Will Win Today’s Match Between England and Ireland – Cricket Winner

Results were alright but the pressure was building, especially in Test Cricket. By the end of the 2021 season, De Kock was relieved of captaincy but the episode resulted in him going on a mental health break which is probably where his view towards international cricket changed.

He came back later in the year and travelled to Dubai for the T20 World Cup where another controversy involving him occurred. He refused to take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and was dropped for the upcoming fixture. The World Cup turned out to be a silent ordeal for him. A couple of months later, the effects of the last two seasons turned out to evolve into bigger concerns with Quinton De Kock announcing a sudden retirement from Test Cricket in the middle of a series against India.

The retirement came as a shock with De Kock’s growing form and level of fitness. A young family and workload management though made it easy for him to make the decision. The surprises though did not stop there. Quinton De Kock remained a consistent member of the side in white-ball cricket, but it looks like workload and the burden of being an experienced member and one of a few players to play with the golden South African group had its toll.

He announced another sudden retirement from ODI Cricket after the World Cup, leaving with him with at most nine games left in the format. He will still be around for the shortest format and hopes to go around playing franchise cricket. With De Kock’s form, ability, and fitness though the announcements have left fans wondering what could have been as a player with incredible potential moves away from another format of international cricket.

Kolkata Knight Riders needed 21 runs to win off six deliveries in what turned out to be a high-scoring affair against Lucknow Super Giants. Their big guns back in the dug-out, the onus was on Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine with LSG captain KL Rahul throwing the ball to Marcus Stoinis for the finale. LSG had set KKR a big target of 211 to win and had all but sealed the contest in their favour. But Rinku belted a four followed by a couple of sixes and a double brought down the equation to an easy 5 off 3 deliveries with four wickets remaining.

A screamer from Evin Lewis – a one-handed catch near deep backward point region – ended Rinku’s innings on 40 off 15. And then Stoinis nailed the yorker to have Umesh Yadav bowled for a first-ball duck with KKR finishing on 208/8 as LSG sealed their playoffs berth with a two-run win at the DY Patil Stadium on a memorable Wednesday night. KKR are mathematically out of playoffs race now. KKR’s chase began on a disastrous note as they lost opener Venkatesh Iyer in the very first over before a single run was scored. And then his fellow opener – debutant Abhijeet Tomar- followed him into the dug-out soon -leaving them 9/2 in 2.4 overs – both wickets taken by Mohsin Khan.

But KKR’s chase was brought on track thanks to a superb 29-ball 50 from their captain Shreyas Iyer and a handy 24-ball 36 from Sam Billings.  However, LSG continued to chip away and when Andre Russell became Mohsin’s third victim of the night, the chase appeared as good as over before Rinku and Sunil Narine (21*) dragged it to the final delivery. Earlier, Quinton de Kock provided a batting masterclass en route to a sensational hundred and alongside skipper KL Rahul, fired LSG to 210 for no loss. More than 60 games into the IPL, the surfaces are getting tougher for strokeplay and Rahul thought it was better to put runs on the board.

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Lucknow Super Giants Make it to the Playoffs, Beat Kolkata By 2 Runs

Both Rahul and de Kock got the measure of the wicket in the powerplay, reaching 44 for no loss, before flaunting their wide range of strokes on way to their unbeaten 210-run stand, the highest ever opening partnership in the history of the tournament. The South African hammered 10 sixes and as many fours in his 70-ball unbeaten 140, while Rahul collected four sixes and three fours in his 51-ball 68 not out. De Kock, who was dropped by Abhijeet Tomar off Umesh Yadav in the third over, made KKR pay heavily by getting the highest score of the season.

The South African was in his elements smashing the spinners and pacers with equal disdain. He used the pull shot against the faster bowlers and was at his innovative best against the seasoned spin duo of Sunil Narine and off coloured Varun Chakaravarthy. Out of the sixes he hit, de Kock’s reverse sweep off Narine stood out. Anything short from the pacers, de Kock was happy to put it away over deep square leg region. The southpaw was in no mood to stop even after reaching three figures. Tim Southee was poor in the death overs as he fed balls after balls in the slot for de Kock to deposit it into the stands.

His 19th over yielded as many as 27 runs with de Kock finding the boundary at will. Rahul watched de Kock’s breathtaking knock from the best seat in the house. The skipper did not have much to do in the slog overs but he too played some sublime strokes on way to his third half century of the season. Rahul also completed 500 runs in the tournament for the fifth season in a row.

It was another excellent performance by new side Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 15 of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). Played at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, LSG registered a clean five-wicket win with a couple of balls to spare. As LSG shot up to the second spot, thanks to Quinton de Kock’s sublime 80, fans took to Twitter to celebrate the fine start to the tournament by the side. Lucknow Super Giants breezed past Delhi Capitals in Match 15 of IPL 2022 by five wickets, thanks to Quinton de Kock. Meanwhile, fans took to Twitter to celebrate LSG’s fine start to the tournament.

Winning the toss, LSG skipper KL Rahul opted to bowl, with openers Prithvi Shaw (61) and David Warner (4) providing a magnific start, putting up a 67-run opening stand. Interestingly, Shaw did most of the hard work in the partnership, putting on 61 compared to Warner’s four before the former, who scored his 11th IPL half-century, fell to off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham in the eighth over. The latter followed just a couple of runs later in the following over to leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, while DC was reduced to 74/3 by the 11th.

Nevertheless, skipper Rishabh Pant (39*) and Sarfaraz Khan (36*) took charge for the remainder of the innings and added 75 more, but DC finished at a below-par total of 149/3. For LSG, Bishnoi claimed a couple, while he was also the most economical from the side. In reply, LSG was off to a terrific start, with openers Rahul (24) and de Kock (80) putting on 73 before the former fell to chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in the tenth.

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DC this time cant make it through LSG, as De Kock takes it from their hand

At 86/2, a 32-run stand ensued between de Kock and Deepak Hooda (9*). The former slammed his 18th IPL 50 and was going well before being dismissed by Kuldeep in the 16th. While Hooda and Krunal Pandya (19*) added 23 for the fourth wicket, they kept edging towards the target on a slow surface before the former fell to pacer Shardul Thakur in the final over, whereas Ayush Badoni (10*) hit the winning runs to get the job done by five wickets. For DC, Kuldeep claimed a couple, while off-spinner Lalit Yadav was decently economical.

Quinton de Kock dazzled with a fine 52-ball 80 as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 6 wickets in match 15 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Chasing a target of 150, De Kock and KL Rahul had given LSG a solid start before the latter was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav. Evin Lewis also failed to leave his mark as Lalit Yadav sent him packing. De Kock also departed before Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni took them past the finishing line. Earlier, Prithvi Shaw top-scored with a 61-run knock as DC managed to post a total of 149 for three against LSG.

Apart from Shaw, skipper Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan played cameos of 39 and 36 after DC lost quick wickets in the middle. For LSG, Ravi Bishnoi took two wickets while K Gowtham also picked up a wicket. Initially, LSG won the toss and elected to bowl against DC. This was important for Delhi to move on with this pace as taking wickets can only make them stay in this game and that’s what Kuldeep and Lalit did in this match. Not giving much of a run but taking crucial wickets is what DC will be aiming at.