Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Hemang Badani has emerged as a potential candidate for the head coach position at Delhi Capitals (DC), while Munaf Patel is being considered for a role in the support staff. The franchise recently parted ways with Australian legend Ricky Ponting due to scheduling conflicts.DC is reportedly seeking experienced domestic coaches, and Badani and Patel's names have been shortlisted. Badani, a former left-handed batsman, has previously worked with Brian Lara at Sunrisers Hyderabad. If appointed, it would be a significant opportunity for him.Patel, a former pacer, could potentially join the support staff as bowling coach. The franchise is expected to retain three players: captain Rishabh Pant, all-rounder Axar Patel, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.With a retention budget of Rs 75 crore, DC may use Right To Match (RTM) cards to acquire Jake-Fraser McGurk and Tristan Stubbs, two key foreign contributors.Badani's potential appointment as head coach could indicate a shift in management, with GMR taking over the reins for the next two years. The co-owners have an agreement to alternate micro-management of the team.Badani, who played four Tests and 40 ODIs for India, will be tasked with guiding DC to its first IPL title. The franchise has reached the final only once, in 2020, but lost to Mumbai Indians.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction is set to take place outside India, with Singapore emerging as a potential venue. The auction, scheduled for late November, was previously held in Dubai but may be moved to Saudi Arabia or Singapore due to cost concerns.Meanwhile, five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have reappointed Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach. Jayawardene previously held the position from 2017 to 2022, leading the team to three championships. He returns after a brief stint as the franchise's Global Head of Cricket.Jayawardene's first task will be to finalize Mumbai Indians' strategy for the IPL 2025 mega auction. Teams are allowed to retain six players from their existing squad, either five capped (Indian or overseas) and a maximum of two uncapped.The IPL 2025 auction is expected to be a major event, with several top players set to go under the hammer. The auction will also be crucial for Mumbai Indians, who have struggled in recent seasons. Jayawardene's return is seen as a positive step for the franchise, as he has a proven track record of success in the IPL.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction looming, the future of India captain Rohit Sharma at Mumbai Indians (MI) remains uncertain. Rohit was surprisingly removed as captain by MI last season, with the franchise handing over the leadership duties to Hardik Pandya, who was traded from Gujarat Titans (GT).All 10 IPL teams can retain up to six players ahead of the auction. However, there is no clarity whether MI will retain Rohit, or will the six-time IPL winner enter the auction for the first time in 13 years.According to recent reports, multiple franchises are interested in acquiring Rohit, including the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). During a recent interaction with India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, a fan expressed his excitement over the possibility of having Virat Kohli and Rohit in the same team.Reacting to the fan's wish, Ashwin said that RCB would have to keep at least Rs 20 crore aside for Rohit at the auction table. "Agar Rohit Sharma ke liye aap jaa rahe hai to 20 crore rakhna padega (You need to keep 20 crores with yourself if you want to sign up Rohit Sharma)," Ashwin said during a discussion on his YouTube channel.MI had traded Hardik from GT ahead of IPL 2024. However, the decision to sack Rohit as captain wasn't welcomed by the fans. In the end, MI finished last in the 10-team points table.With as many as 6 players allowed by the BCCI, including Right-To-Match, some tough decisions are expected to unfold in the coming months. It is the discretion of the franchise to choose its combination for Retentions and RTMs. The 6 retention/RTMs can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players.Rohit, who joined MI ahead of IPL 2011, led the franchise to five IPL titles. His departure would mark a significant change for MI, who have been one of the most successful teams in IPL history.

Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has heaped praise on India coach Gautam Gambhir, describing him as a brilliant strategist who prioritizes the team's needs and seeks to gain an edge through tactical adjustments. Starc's admiration stems from his experience working with Gambhir as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year.Under Gambhir's guidance, KKR enjoyed a dominant season, culminating in their first IPL title in a decade. Starc was impressed by Gambhir's ability to analyze opponents and devise strategies to exploit their weaknesses. "He's always thinking about the opponent and how to get them out as a bowling attack or how to score runs as a batting attack," Starc said.Gambhir's focus extends beyond individual players, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion and identifying subtle adjustments that can provide an advantage. "It's not just individual players, it's always about the team focus and how to get on top of little things that he might see in techniques or in a field placement or anything like that," Starc added.KKR acquired Starc for a record-breaking Rs 24.75 crore, making him the most expensive buy in IPL history. Despite a modest league stage performance, Starc proved his worth with match-winning spells in the knockout rounds. "The nine weeks that I spent with him were fantastic. In a T20 setup, I know that he's got some good things," Starc said.However, the two will find themselves on opposite sides when Australia hosts India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting in Perth next month. Starc acknowledged that Gambhir's tactical acumen will pose a significant challenge for the Australian team.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that representing his country in Test cricket remains his top priority, while acknowledging the need to balance his commitments with the Indian Premier League (IPL).Cummins, who led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final, is aware of the new IPL rules that could impact his future participation in the tournament. Under the revised regulations, overseas players who do not register for the player auction in a particular season become ineligible to participate in the following year's auction. Additionally, players who make themselves unavailable after being picked at the auction face a two-season ban."I'll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There's a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don't know whether that would have affected me in the past, I've never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald.Despite the potential implications, Cummins remains steadfast in his commitment to Test cricket. "Test cricket is the absolute No.1 priority, world cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that," he said.Cummins acknowledged the demanding nature of the international cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments. "The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been considerations, and moving forward will become even more so. But needless to say, playing cricket for Australia, particularly Test matches, is my number one job and priority," he added.Looking ahead to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Cummins expects a fiercely contested series. "The couple of home series I've played against India there's always an element of attrition to them. The last series came down to the last session at the Gabba on the last day of the last Test match," he said."That's a good thing to keep in mind; it is a long series, and it might be tightly held until the last game, so you've got to manage your resources throughout," the Australia captain added.

Mahela Jayawardene Returns as Mumbai Indians Head CoachFormer Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has been reappointed as the head coach of the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Jayawardene previously held the position from 2017 to 2022, leading the team to three IPL titles.After stepping down as head coach, Jayawardene took on the role of Global Head of Cricket for the Mumbai Indians, overseeing the franchise's cricketing operations across all levels. However, he has now returned to the helm of the IPL team, replacing Mark Boucher, who left the position after the 2023 season.Jayawardene expressed his excitement about his return to the Mumbai Indians, saying, "My journey within the MI family has always been one of evolution. In 2017, the focus was on bringing together a talented group of individuals to play the best cricket ever and we did very well. Now to return, at the same moment in history, where we look ahead at the future and the opportunity to further strengthen the love of MI, build on the vision of the owners, and continue to add to the history of Mumbai Indians, is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to."Jayawardene's return to the Mumbai Indians is expected to bring stability and experience to the franchise. He is known for his astute tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players. Under his leadership, the Mumbai Indians have consistently been one of the most successful teams in the IPL, winning the title in 2017, 2019, and 2020.The Mumbai Indians will be hoping that Jayawardene can help them regain their dominance in the IPL. The team has struggled in recent seasons, failing to qualify for the playoffs in the last two editions. Jayawardene's experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the Mumbai Indians back to the top of the IPL standings.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that his primary focus remains on representing his country in the longest format of the game. While acknowledging his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Cummins has yet to make a decision regarding his involvement in the upcoming season.Cummins, who was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a record-breaking Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, led the team to the final. With the mega auction for the IPL 2025 season approaching, teams will be allowed to retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.Cummins is currently focused on the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. He is aware of the new IPL regulations that prohibit foreign players from registering in the following year's auction if they withdraw after the auction."I'll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There's a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don't know whether that would have affected me in the past, I've never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald.Cummins reiterated that Test cricket remains his top priority, followed by World Cups. He acknowledged the increasing demands of the cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments."Test cricket is the absolute No.1 priority, world cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that. The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been considerations, and moving forward will become even more so. But needless to say, playing cricket for Australia, particularly Test matches, is my number one job and priority," he added.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is fast approaching, and the future of Mumbai Indians (MI) legend Rohit Sharma with the franchise remains uncertain. With the BCCI allowing teams to retain up to six players, including Right-To-Match (RTM), tough decisions lie ahead for MI.Rohit's retention status is unclear, with speculation rife that the six-time IPL winner could enter the upcoming mega auction. Last season, MI sacked Rohit as captain, appointing Hardik Pandya in his place. The decision to remove Rohit as captain was met with criticism from fans, and MI ultimately finished last in the 10-team points table.Amid the ongoing discussions, former India and MI spinner Harbhajan Singh has weighed in on the possibility of Rohit entering the IPL auction. Harbhajan believes it would be "fascinating" to see how many teams bid for Rohit if he does enter the auction."It will be interesting to see whether he will be retained or not. If he goes into the auction pool, it will be fascinating to see which team bids for him. I'm sure many teams must be thinking along those lines," Harbhajan said.Harbhajan also praised Rohit's leadership qualities and batting prowess, emphasizing that the 37-year-old can still command a lucrative contract if he enters the auction."Rohit Sharma, as a leader and a player, is amazing. He's a top-quality player, top-quality captain, and leader. He's a proven match-winner. Even at 37, he still has a lot of cricket left in him. If Rohit enters the auction, he will fetch big bucks. It will be exciting to see the auction unfold," he added.IPL franchises can now retain six players from their existing squad, either through retention or RTM. The combination of retentions and RTMs can include a maximum of five capped players (Indian and overseas) and two uncapped players.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is approaching its 2025-27 cycle, and franchises are facing uncertainty in finalizing player retentions due to ambiguities in the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27 Key Points document released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The document outlines the Retention/Right to Match (RTM) process, but a footnote has raised questions. It states that the overall retention deduction will be Rs 75 crore, regardless of the amount paid to individual players. However, if the total amount exceeds Rs 75 crore, the actual amount will be deducted.This has led to confusion among franchises. They are unsure whether they can retain players at different prices than those specified in the document (Player 1: Rs 18 crore, Player 2: Rs 14 crore, Player 3: Rs 11 crore, Player 4: Rs 18 crore, Player 5: Rs 14 crore)."What are they trying to say here? It has left us confused too. Does this mean that any price tag can be followed while retaining players? And if the total price of retentions exceeds Rs 75 crore then that would be deducted from the Salary Cap. If it's a free hand for the franchises to use their own prices for different retentions then what are the 18, 14 and 11 markers for?," questioned a senior official at a franchise.The footnote also states that if the total retention amount is less than Rs 75 crore, Rs 75 crore will still be deducted. This has further perplexed franchises."So they are trying to imply that one can retain Player 2 and 3 for a cheaper price than 14 and 11? A lot of clarity is needed because it is the most important piece of the puzzle and we have already asked for more clarification and explanation from the board," added the official.With the retention deadline approaching on October 31, franchises are eagerly awaiting a comprehensive Player Guidelines document that will provide detailed explanations of the regulations. They hope that the BCCI will release this document in the coming days to enable them to make informed decisions about player retentions.