Cricket

Virat Kohli's RCB Captaincy Return Rumors Quashed by FranchiseAs the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention lists were unveiled, speculation ran rampant about Virat Kohli's potential return as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, RCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, has dismissed these rumors, stating that no decision has been made regarding the team's captaincy.Kohli relinquished the RCB captaincy after the 2021 season, making way for a new leader. The franchise entrusted the responsibility to former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who led the team for three seasons. However, with Du Plessis released from the squad, the question of RCB's captaincy in 2025 remains unanswered."I am sorry to disappoint everybody listening. We have not made any decision related to captaincy or on that (Kohli returning as skipper) as yet. We are open to options. The only obvious decision we made was not to retain Faf. He did a great job last year and the year before that. So from our perspective, we will keep a very open mind when we head to the auction," Bobat told JioCinema after the IPL 2025 retentions were announced.Despite the lack of official confirmation, reports suggest that Kohli is eager to reclaim the team's captaincy. However, no concrete decision has been made on the matter.Meanwhile, RCB coach Andy Flower has explained the rationale behind retaining Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal ahead of the new season."We are thrilled to retain Yash Dayal, an extraordinary talent whose career is on an upward trajectory. His unique ability as a left-arm bowler, capable of swinging the ball in both directions, adds a valuable dimension to our bowling attack - one that is increasingly rare in the auction landscape," he said."Rajat Patidar is a key member of our squad. His exceptional talent and resilience have already made a significant impact on our team, and he truly embodies the spirit of RCB. We are excited to see him continue to develop and shine in the upcoming season," the Zimbabwe legend added.

In a thrilling encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis's blistering start was abruptly halted by a stunning one-handed catch from San Francisco Unicorns counterpart Corey Anderson.After Finn Allen's century (101 off 53) propelled the Unicorns to a formidable 200 for 6, du Plessis unleashed a fiery response, smashing 45 off 22 balls. However, just as he threatened to seize control of the chase, Anderson's brilliance at mid-off extinguished his hopes.In the fifth over, Carmi le Roux's delivery found the toe-end of du Plessis's bat, sending the ball soaring towards Anderson. With lightning reflexes, the former New Zealand allrounder extended his left hand and plucked the ball out of the air, landing gracefully before kicking it in celebration.The catch proved pivotal as the Unicorns held on to win by a narrow margin of 10 runs. Despite unbeaten half-centuries from Devon Conway (62* off 38) and Joshua Trump (56* off 36), the Super Kings fell short of their target.Anderson's catch not only ended du Plessis's innings but also became one of the defining moments of the 2024 Major League Cricket season. His athleticism and skill showcased the high level of competition in the league, which is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States.The Unicorns will now face Washington Freedom in the title match on July 29, while the Super Kings will look to regroup and improve their performance in the upcoming season.

In a thrilling Major League Cricket Eliminator match, the Texas Super Kings, led by captain Faf du Plessis, emerged victorious over defending champions MI New York by a comfortable nine-wicket margin.Chasing a modest target of 164, the Super Kings displayed a dominant performance, reaching the winning total in just 18.3 overs. Du Plessis, the Player of the Match, anchored the chase with a superb 72 off 47 deliveries, including three towering sixes and six boundaries. His opening partnership with Devon Conway, who contributed an unbeaten 51 off 43 balls, laid the foundation for the Super Kings' success.After du Plessis' dismissal, Conway and Aaron Hardie ensured a seamless finish. Hardie's quickfire 40 not out from 22 balls, featuring two sixes and three fours, complemented Conway's steady knock. The duo forged an unbeaten 66-run stand to seal the victory for their team.Reflecting on the triumph, du Plessis emphasized the significance of a strong start and praised his teammates' efforts. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy run rate throughout the chase and acknowledged the contributions of Stoinis and Hardie in the bowling department.MI New York, on the other hand, struggled to gain momentum after being sent in to bat. Despite a promising start, they lost key wickets in quick succession, including opener Dewald Brevis and Nicholas Pooran. Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel provided some stability, but their partnership was broken by Dwayne Bravo.Rashid Khan attempted to boost the team's total, but received limited support from his teammates. MI New York eventually ended their innings at 163/8 in 20 overs, falling short of a competitive score.Skipper Kieron Pollard acknowledged the team's shortcomings and expressed a commitment to return stronger next season. He emphasized the need for improvement in fielding and overall performance.With this victory, the Texas Super Kings advance to the next round of the competition, while MI New York's title defense comes to an end.

Texas Super Kings Off to a Flying Start Against MI New YorkIn a thrilling encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas Super Kings got off to a blistering start against MI New York in Match 12 of Major League Cricket 2024.Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis opened the innings for Texas Super Kings, with Conway hitting a boundary off the first ball of the match. Du Plessis then joined the party, smashing a massive six over cow corner off Trent Boult's bowling.Kagiso Rabada, brought in for Anrich Nortje, bowled a tight first over, but Conway and Du Plessis continued to find the boundaries. Conway guided a ball to backward point for a single, while Du Plessis clipped another to deep square leg.Boult returned to the attack and bowled a full delivery on the pads, which Du Plessis flicked past mid-wicket for three runs. Rabada then bowled a full delivery outside off, which Conway edged past point for another three.Du Plessis was in full flow, hitting a boundary off Rabada's next delivery. Conway then lofted a ball over mid-off for a six, bringing up the 50-run partnership for the first wicket.Boult finally got his breakthrough in the sixth over, dismissing Conway for 25. However, Du Plessis continued to dominate, hitting another six off Boult's bowling.At the end of the powerplay, Texas Super Kings were in a commanding position at 65/1, with Du Plessis unbeaten on 40 and Aaron Hardie joining him at the crease.

The Texas Super Kings emerged victorious in their clash against the San Francisco Unicorns, securing a commanding seven-wicket victory at Church Street Park. This triumph propelled the Super Kings to the summit of the 2024 Major League Cricket standings, marking their first win of the season.The Unicorns, who had previously earned two points from two games, now occupy fifth place in the six-team competition. The Super Kings' all-around performance was evident throughout the match, with spinner Mohammad Mohsin leading the charge with four wickets.After winning the toss, the Super Kings restricted the Unicorns to a modest 127 runs in 17.5 overs. Mohsin's impressive bowling figures of 4 for 13 in 3.5 overs earned him the 'Player of the Match' award. Dwayne Bravo also contributed with two wickets for 20 runs.In response, the Super Kings' chase was anchored by a solid opening partnership between Faf du Plessis (34 off 17 balls) and Devon Conway (32 off 19 balls). The duo put up 61 runs in just 4.5 overs, setting the stage for a comfortable victory. Aaron Hardie also played a crucial role, scoring 34 off 23 balls.The Super Kings reached their target in a mere 12.5 overs, with seven wickets remaining. This victory not only boosted their points tally to three but also showcased their potential as a formidable force in the tournament.

The fifth match of the 2024 Major League Cricket season between Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings at Church Street Park in Morrisville on Tuesday was called off due to rain. Washington, in pursuit of a challenging 204-run target, had reached 62 for 0 in just 4 overs with Travis Head and Steve Smith looking formidable at the crease before the downpour paused their innings.Travis Head had scored 32 runs off 12 balls, and Steve Smith was close behind with 26 runs off 12 balls when the rain interruption occurred. Despite nearly an hour-long wait for the weather to clear, match officials eventually called off the game, resulting in both teams sharing a point each from the rain-affected match.This encounter was notable as it marked the first time any team had surpassed 200 runs this season and also the first occurrence of the 200-run total at Church Street Park.Earlier, Texas Super Kings, led by skipper Faf du Plessis, set a formidable total of 203 for 5 in their 20 overs. Du Plessis scored a brilliant century off 58 balls, leading his team from the front. Devon Conway provided crucial support, amassing 39 runs off 26 balls, and together they built a 109-run partnership for the opening wicket.Du Plessis was relentless against any loose deliveries, consistently punishing the Washington bowlers throughout his innings. Marcus Stoinis, despite nursing an injured right hand, contributed a vital 29 runs off 18 balls.The Washington Freedom's bowling and fielding were subpar, with several dropped catches and missed opportunities that allowed the Texas Super Kings to amass their substantial total.While the rain ultimately denied what could have been an exciting finish, both teams will aim to build on their performances as the Major League Cricket season progresses.

Texas Super Kings Opt to Field in Major League Cricket OpenerThe inaugural match of Major League Cricket 2024 kicked off with a thrilling toss between Texas Super Kings and Los Angeles Knight Riders. Texas Super Kings emerged victorious, electing to field first.Probable Playing XIs:* Texas Super Kings: Faf Du Plessis, Devon Conway, Milind Kumar, Aiden Markram, Marcus Stoinis, Joshua Tromp, Dwayne Bravo, Cameron Stevenson, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Mohsin, Raj Nannan* Los Angeles Knight Riders: Jason Roy, Sunil Narine, Unmukt Chand, Nitish Kumar, David Miller, Andre Russel, Adithya Ganesh/Saif Badar, Corne Dry, Ali Khan, Spencer Johnson, Waqar SalamkheilStoinis Eager to Support Du PlessisMarcus Stoinis, the Australian all-rounder, expressed his excitement for the season and his desire to support captain Faf Du Plessis. "I just want to support Faf this season, help him out and the youngsters," Stoinis said. "There is no better time for cricket in USA."Toss Delayed Due to Wet OutfieldThe toss was initially delayed due to a wet outfield, but the match is now underway. Stay tuned for live updates and commentary on this highly anticipated clash.

St Lucia Kings, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, have bolstered their squad for the 2024 season with the signings of South African batter Heinrich Klaasen and Afghanistan wristspinner Noor Ahmad. The Kings have also retained key players from their 2023 campaign, including Faf du Plessis, David Wiese, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.Klaasen, a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, has been in exceptional form in T20 cricket since 2023. He was the second-highest run-getter in the inaugural SA20 league and impressed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 479 runs in 16 games. His strike rate in the format since 2023 is an impressive 176.80. This will be Klaasen's second stint in the CPL, having previously represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2022.Noor Ahmad, a rising star in Afghanistan cricket, is known for his deceptive leg-spin bowling. He has represented his country in international T20 matches and has impressed with his ability to take wickets and restrict runs.The Kings have retained the core of their Caribbean players, including Johnson Charles, Alzarri Joseph, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, and Khary Pierre. Fast bowlers Shadrack Descarte and McKenny Clarke have also been retained.Faf du Plessis, who missed the majority of the 2023 season due to injury, will return to lead the Kings. The experienced South African batter is a key figure in the team's batting lineup.David Wiese, the Namibian all-rounder, has been a consistent performer for the Kings. He provides valuable contributions with both bat and ball.Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan batter, is known for his explosive batting style. He has the ability to accelerate the scoring rate and hit big boundaries.The Kings have released Colin Munro, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, and Chris Sole. Munro was signed as du Plessis' replacement last year, but he failed to make a significant impact.The 2024 CPL season will run from August 30 to October 7. The Kings will open their campaign against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on September 1 in Basseterre.