Cricket

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) legend AB de Villiers has expressed his doubts about the franchise's chances of acquiring star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. Pant, who was released by the Delhi Capitals, is expected to be a hot commodity in the auction, and de Villiers believes that RCB may not be able to match the final bid for the player.De Villiers suggests that Pant may reunite with former DC head coach Ricky Ponting, who has now joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the same role. PBKS will enter the auction with the largest purse among all 10 franchises, giving them a significant advantage in the bidding war for Pant."I think it is incredibly unlikely that RCB will get hold of Rishabh Pant," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. "I think he will be too expensive, and all the franchises are going to go for him in the auction. Punjab Kings spend whatever they can to get him, that's my personal feeling."Apart from Pant, KL Rahul will also be available in the mega auction, and de Villiers suggests that RCB should consider signing their former player instead. However, he emphasizes the importance of signing quality bowlers and talented local players."I have told you guys that I want RCB's focus to be on the bowling department, a world-class spinner, and also some local players," de Villiers added. "Want some Bengaluru players in there, I have heard Anil Kumble say it before that they don't keep their local players, quality talented local players."The IPL 2025 mega auction will be held in Riyadh on November 24 and 25. RCB will be looking to strengthen their squad with a combination of experienced stars and promising young talent.

Virat Kohli, the star Indian batter, celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday with his wife Anushka Sharma and two children. Despite a disappointing performance in the recent Test series against New Zealand, Kohli is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which begins on November 22.Ahead of the series, Kohli was spotted in Mumbai with his wife, where he was approached by an enthusiastic fan. In a heartwarming gesture, Kohli obliged the fan's request for a selfie, demonstrating his humility and accessibility.Earlier, Kohli attended an event hosted by HSBC, where he was surprised by fans singing "Happy Birthday." The crowd's affectionate gesture left Kohli smiling and appreciative.Kohli's birthday celebrations come amidst preparations for the IPL 2025 auction, where he will be the top-retention pick for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The auction will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with over 1,500 players registered to participate.Kohli's recent performances have been below his usual standards, but he remains a key figure in Indian cricket. His experience and leadership will be crucial for India's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the IPL 2025 season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is poised to witness a bidding frenzy for some of India's most sought-after cricketers. Among them, Rishabh Pant stands out as a potential record-breaker, according to former India cricketer Aakash Chopra.Pant, who was not retained by the Delhi Capitals, is expected to command a massive paycheck at the auction. Chopra believes that the wicket-keeper batter could surpass the current record of Rs 24.5 crore, set by Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction."Rishabh Pant could still become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL," Chopra said on his YouTube channel. "He could go even beyond Rs 25-26 crore."Pant's impressive performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 and Test cricket have solidified his status as one of India's most valuable players. Several teams, including the Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are expected to engage in a bidding war for his services."I can see three teams going absolutely hammer and tongs for him," Chopra predicted. "One has Rs 110 cr (PBKS), one has Rs 83 cr (RCB). They'll fight each other and a lot of money will be spent."While the Delhi Capitals have the third-highest auction purse, it is unlikely they will use their Right to Match (RTM) card on Pant. The franchise has already retained several key players, including David Warner and Prithvi Shaw.Pant's availability during the auction is uncertain as he is expected to be playing in the first Test between India and Australia, which clashes with the auction dates. However, his absence is unlikely to deter potential bidders.The IPL 2025 mega auction promises to be a thrilling event, with several other top players, including Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, also set to go under the hammer. The auction will take place in Jeddah on November 24 and November 25.

Rajasthan Royals' (RR) decision to release star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The duo played a pivotal role in RR's recent success, reaching the playoffs twice in three years, including the final in 2022.Buttler, the 'Most Valuable Player' of the 2022 season, amassed 863 runs with four centuries. Despite a less consistent 2024, he still managed to score two more hundreds. Chahal, on the other hand, is not only RR's highest wicket-taker in the past three seasons but also the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He has scalped 27 wickets in 2022 and has picked up 18 or more wickets in every season since 2019.Chahal took to social media to express his gratitude towards Buttler, calling him "Jos bhai" and sharing a video of their shared moments. "In 2022, I knew him as Jos Buttler. In 2024, he's my Jos bhai," wrote Chahal. "Loved every day being around you and only a few people know what you've done for me. Thank you for always standing by me."RR's decision to release Buttler and Chahal has raised questions about their strategy for the upcoming auction. With a budget of just Rs 41 crore, the lowest among all teams, RR will have to make some shrewd decisions to fill the void left by these two stars.The Royals have appointed Rahul Dravid as their new head coach, who recently led India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid's experience and tactical acumen will be crucial as RR looks to rebuild their squad and challenge for the IPL title once again.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This marks the second time the auction will be held overseas, following the 2024 auction in Dubai.Every three years, IPL franchises undergo a reset, allowing them to retain a maximum of six players and rebuild their squads at the mega auction. This year, teams have a total purse of INR 120 crore to form their squads, with varying amounts available based on the number of players retained.As many as 1574 players registered for the auction, but the final list is yet to be released. Big names expected to be in the auction include Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, T Natarajan, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, David Warner, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Devon Conway, Tim David, Rachin Ravindra, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone.Teams have a maximum of 25 slots to fill, with a maximum of eight overseas players allowed. The size of each franchise's squad is a maximum of 25 (minimum size is 18) and there are ten teams - so a maximum of 250 players in total. Forty-six players have already been retained by the teams, leaving a maximum of 204 slots to fill during the IPL 2025 auction.The IPL teams were allowed to retain up to six players this time - of which a maximum of five can be capped and a maximum of two can be uncapped. The six could either be retained outright ahead of the auction, or can be bought back using Right-to-Match (RTM) options at the auction, or a combination of both.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has expressed his gratitude towards Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) following his release ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. Maxwell, who was not retained by RCB, described his exit as a "beautiful" parting, praising the franchise's professionalism and transparency.Maxwell joined RCB in 2021 and played a crucial role in their middle order, helping them reach the playoffs three times. In 52 matches for RCB, he accumulated 1,266 runs and forged a strong bond with the franchise.Despite his successful stint, Maxwell understands RCB's decision to focus on building a core group of Indian players. "I got a phone call from Mo Bobat and Andy Flower, and it was actually a really beautiful exit meeting," Maxwell said. "We ended up talking about the game for about half an hour, discussing their strategy and what they were looking to achieve going forward. I was really happy with that."Maxwell commended RCB's approach, stating that it would foster smoother relationships between players and franchises. "If every team did that, I think it would probably make the relationship smoother. I could not speak high enough of the way they dealt with the whole situation," he added.While acknowledging the team's need to rebuild, Maxwell expressed his desire to return to RCB in the future. "I wouldn't say my RCB journey is over," he said. "I'd certainly love to get back there. It was a great franchise to play for, and I really enjoyed my time."As RCB embarks on a new chapter, Maxwell remains a highly sought-after overseas player. His all-round abilities and experience make him a valuable asset for any team. With the IPL 2025 auction approaching, Maxwell is likely to attract interest from multiple franchises.

Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, face a crucial challenge in the upcoming mega auction with a limited budget of Rs 45 crore. Despite retaining their core Indian stars, MI must fill their squad strategically.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra predicts that MI will target an Indian spinner, particularly Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal, the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, was surprisingly released by Rajasthan Royals. His consistent performance, with 18 or more wickets in the last six IPL seasons, makes him a valuable asset.Another potential target for MI is Washington Sundar, who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sundar's impressive performances in T20Is and Test cricket for Team India could fetch him a high price in the auction.Chopra also suggests that MI may bid for Ishan Kishan, but his high price tag may be prohibitive. Instead, he recommends alternatives such as Quinton de Kock, Jitesh Sharma, or Phil Salt for the wicket-keeper batter role.MI's strategy will likely involve building an Indian batting lineup and an overseas bowling lineup, with a couple of Indian spinners. The IPL mega auction will be held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, and MI's ability to fill their squad effectively with their limited budget will be crucial to their success in IPL 2025.

Former South African batting legend AB de Villiers has urged Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to prioritize acquiring world-class spinners in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. De Villiers, who played for RCB for 11 seasons, believes that re-signing Yuzvendra Chahal would be a crucial move for the franchise."I've always said that RCB needs a world-class spinner. Let's bring Yuzi back. He should never have left," De Villiers emphasized on his YouTube channel.De Villiers also identified four players who he believes RCB should target in the auction: Chahal, Kagiso Rabada, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar."I really like Ashwin. He brings a wealth of experience and can also contribute with the bat. Imagine having the twin spins from Rajasthan Royals at RCB," De Villiers said.He also advocated for his compatriot Rabada, stating, "Let's get Kagiso Rabada. If we get him, Chahal, and Ashwin, we'll have a tournament-winning bowling attack."De Villiers suggested that RCB should allocate a significant portion of their auction purse to these four players. "I'd spend almost my entire purse on them. If we can't get Rabada, we should go for Mohammed Shami or Arshdeep Singh," he added.RCB enters the auction with a purse of INR 83 crore and three Right to Match (RTM) cards, having retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. The IPL 2025 mega auction will take place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25.

KKR Eyes Arshdeep Singh as Starc Replacement in IPL 2025 Mega AuctionKolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, are set to undergo a significant rebuild in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. Having released a majority of their title-winning squad, KKR is reportedly targeting Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh as a potential replacement for Mitchell Starc.Starc, the Australian pacer, was a key performer for KKR in IPL 2024, winning the Player of the Match award in both the Qualifier 1 and the final. However, with Starc released, KKR is reportedly keen on acquiring Arshdeep, who emerged as India's highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024.According to a report by Mint, KKR is prepared to go all out for Arshdeep in the mega auction. The left-arm pacer impressed in IPL 2024, taking 19 wickets in 14 games, and followed it up with 17 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024.However, Arshdeep's economy rate in IPL 2024 was over 10, which could be a concern for potential suitors. Nevertheless, as arguably the most sought-after Indian pacer in the auction pool, Arshdeep is expected to attract significant interest and could command a price tag exceeding Rs 15 crore.Arshdeep has represented Punjab Kings since 2019 but was not retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. However, with Rs 110.5 crore in their auction purse and four Right to Match (RTM) cards at their disposal, Punjab Kings could still retain Arshdeep.KKR has already retained two high-quality spinners in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, as well as two pacers in Harshit Rana and Andre Russell. While Starc's absence will be felt, Arshdeep could provide a similar solution. KKR will enter the mega auction with Rs 51 crore in their purse.Starc, who was bought for an IPL record fee of Rs 25 crore in IPL 2024, had a slow start to the tournament. However, he came into his own in the latter stages, tearing apart Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 and the final, claiming a combined five wickets in those two games.