Cricket

The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction promises to be a record-breaking event, with a plethora of star players up for grabs. Among the most sought-after names are Rishabh Pant, K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami.Pant, in particular, is expected to be the cynosure of all eyes. The Delhi Capitals' former captain is available for auction after a fallout with the franchise's co-owners, GMR. Pant's unhappiness stemmed from his perceived lack of authority and the appointment of Hemang Badani as head coach and Y Venugopal Rao as Team Director.Iyer, the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders' former captain, is also in the auction pool. He felt that his Rs 12.25 crore salary was inadequate for an IPL-winning captain. Rahul, on the other hand, parted ways with Lucknow Super Giants due to differences in approach towards T20 cricket.The auction will be intriguing due to the Rs 75 crore retention cap on international players and the Right To Match cards. Teams that have exhausted their retention quotas will need to recruit at least 15 more players for a lesser sum.Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with their substantial purse amounts, are expected to make significant bids. Pant is likely to emerge as the highest-paid player in the IPL if Punjab Kings, known for their extravagant spending, decide to acquire him."Rishabh's real bidding will start from Rs 20 crore onwards," said a top franchise official. "There will be three teams who can afford to bid big for him: Punjab Kings, RCB, and LSG."Industry insiders predict that Pant could fetch between Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) retention deadline of October 31st has passed, revealing a list of prominent players who will enter the auction pool for the 2025 season. These notable absentees include:Rishabh Pant: The star Indian wicketkeeper-batsman has been released by the Delhi Capitals, ending his eight-year stint with the franchise. Pant's absence is a significant surprise, given his status as one of the most dynamic players in the league.KL Rahul: The former Lucknow Super Giants skipper has parted ways with the franchise after three seasons. Rahul led LSG to two playoff appearances and is expected to be a highly sought-after player in the auction.Mitchell Starc: The veteran Australian pacer was not retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders despite his impressive performance in the 2024 season. Starc's release is a testament to the competitive nature of the IPL auction.Arshdeep Singh: The left-arm pacer has been released by the Punjab Kings after a consistent run in India's T20I team. Arshdeep's 19 wickets in the 2024 IPL season highlight his value as a reliable bowler.Shreyas Iyer: The former Kolkata Knight Riders captain has been released after leading the team to the IPL title in 2024. Iyer's omission is a setback for the player, who was also left out of the BCCI's contracted players list earlier this year.Ishan Kishan: The big-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman has been released by the Mumbai Indians due to the franchise's retention of five capped players. Kishan's absence is a blow to MI, who have relied heavily on his explosive batting in recent seasons.Jos Buttler: The England white-ball captain has been released by the Rajasthan Royals despite his impressive run as an opener. Buttler's 359 runs in 11 matches in 2024 were not enough to convince the Royals to retain him.Glenn Maxwell: The Australian batting all-rounder has been released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a disappointing 2024 season. Maxwell's failure to live up to expectations has led to his omission from the franchise's retained players list.Mohammed Siraj: The Indian pacer has been released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after taking 15 wickets in 14 matches in 2024. Siraj's release is a sign of the competitive nature of the IPL auction.Mitchell Marsh: The Australian T20I captain has been released by the Delhi Capitals after playing just four matches in the 2024 season. Marsh's injury-plagued campaign has contributed to his omission from the franchise's retained players list.These high-profile releases have set the stage for an exciting IPL auction, where teams will compete fiercely to acquire the services of these talented players.

IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Indian Superstars Hit the Market, MI Retains CoreAs the IPL gears up for its mega auction on November 24-25, three Indian superstars have become available for bidding after not being retained by their previous franchises. Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul will join the auction pool, adding intrigue to the proceedings.Pant, who spent nine years with the Delhi Capitals, and Iyer, the title-winning captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, are both highly sought-after leaders. Multiple teams, including DC, Punjab Kings, RCB, and LSG, are reportedly interested in Iyer's services.Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians have retained their core Indian players, including captain Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma. Pandya will continue to lead the team despite their disappointing performance in 2024.The Delhi Capitals have retained Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and South African batter Tristan Stubbs. If they fail to acquire Iyer in the auction, Axar may be considered for the captaincy role.The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have retained Nicholas Pooran as their top pick, while the Chennai Super Kings have retained MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shivam Dube.The Sunrisers Hyderabad have broken the bank to retain Heinrich Klaasen for a whopping Rs 23 crore. They have also retained captain Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Nitish Reddy.The Rajasthan Royals have opted not to retain Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravichandran Ashwin. They have instead retained Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer.The Gujarat Titans have retained Rashid Khan as their premium player, while Shubman Gill has taken a pay cut to stay with the team.The Royal Challengers Bangalore have retained Virat Kohli for Rs 21 crore but have released Faf du Plessis and Mohammed Siraj.The Punjab Kings have let go of Arshdeep Singh and will enter the auction with a substantial purse of Rs 110.5 crore.

KL Rahul's Omission from Lucknow Super Giants Raises QuestionsAhead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have made their player retentions, notably excluding star batter KL Rahul. This decision has sparked discussions and raised questions about the reasons behind Rahul's departure.LSG's retained players include Nicholas Pooran (Rs 21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 11 crore), Mayank Yadav (Rs 11 crore), Mohsin Khan (Rs 4 crore), and Ayush Badoni (Rs 4 crore). Owner Sanjiv Goenka explained the team's retention strategy, emphasizing the importance of players who prioritize team success over personal aspirations."We wanted players who have a mindset to win, who put the team before their personal goals and personal aspirations," Goenka said. "Our first retention was an automatic choice, and we have two uncapped retentions in Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni."However, Goenka's comments have been met with criticism on social media, with many questioning the exclusion of Rahul, who has been a key player for LSG in the past. Some have suggested that Rahul's batting style, which has been criticized for its slow strike rate, may have influenced the decision.According to a source quoted by PTI, Rahul's batting style was indeed a factor in his non-retention. "Rahul's SR for three years with LSG is 136.13, 113.23, and 135.38," the source said. "In today's T20, when even the Indian team had to change its philosophy, these numbers weren't acceptable."Rahul's departure from LSG leaves a significant void in the team's batting lineup. He has been a consistent performer for the franchise, scoring 616 runs in 2022 and 520 runs in 2023. His leadership skills have also been praised, as he captained LSG to the playoffs in both seasons.It remains to be seen how LSG will fill the void left by Rahul's absence. The team will have the opportunity to acquire new players through the IPL auction, which is scheduled to take place in December 2024.

Cricket Fraternity Extends Diwali Wishes, Emphasizing Light, Joy, and ProsperityAs the festival of Diwali illuminates homes and hearts across India and the world, the cricket fraternity has joined in the celebrations, extending heartfelt wishes for happiness, peace, and prosperity.Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took to social media to express his joy, writing, "Wishing everyone a Diwali full of light, happiness, and joy. May this festival bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to you and your family."India pacer Mohammed Shami echoed Pant's sentiments, saying, "May the divine light of Diwali bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to your life. Shine on and have a joyous Diwali."KL Rahul, another prominent Indian batter, sent his fans a message of warmth and blessings, writing, "Wishing you warmth, light, and endless blessings. Happy Diwali."Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag expressed his hope for joy and happiness, saying, "Wish u a sparkling and a cracker of a Deepawali. May this Deepawali bring lots of joy and happiness in your life."Irfan Pathan, another former India cricketer, emphasized the triumph of light over darkness, writing, "Wishing everyone a Diwali filled with light, love, and endless blessings. May this festival of lights bring joy to your heart, peace to your home, and success to your path. Let's celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and spread happiness far and wide."The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also extended its greetings, writing, "Wishing everyone a very Happy Diwali."Diwali, the Festival of Lights, holds immense significance in India and beyond. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Celebrations typically include prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, sharing sweets and snacks, exchanging gifts, and lighting fireworks.The cricket fraternity's Diwali wishes reflect the spirit of the festival, emphasizing the importance of light, joy, and prosperity. As the world celebrates Diwali, the cricketers' messages serve as a reminder of the values that unite us all.

KL Rahul, the seasoned Indian wicketkeeper-batter and former captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is reportedly set to leave the franchise ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) retention list. According to a report in the Times of India, Rahul has declined LSG's offer of top retention due to personal and professional reasons.Rahul's departure from LSG has sparked interest from several other franchises, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings. These teams are expected to aggressively pursue Rahul in the upcoming auction.Under the IPL retention guidelines, teams can retain up to six players, with financial penalties for each retained player. Retaining five capped players would reduce a team's auction purse by Rs 75 crore.The mega auction is scheduled to take place overseas in the last week of November, with an increased auction purse of Rs 120 crore. The total salary cap now includes an auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees.Rahul's decision to leave LSG is a significant development in the IPL landscape. The 31-year-old has been a consistent performer in the league, leading Punjab Kings and LSG in the past. His departure opens up opportunities for other players to step into leadership roles and for franchises to reshape their squads.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are poised to bid farewell to their captain, KL Rahul, ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The IPL governing council has set October 31 as the deadline for teams to finalize their retained and released player lists.According to Cricbuzz, Rahul has expressed his desire to depart LSG after the management declined his request to bat in the middle order due to team composition and dynamics. The report also suggests that LSG may exercise their Right To Match (RTM) card for Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis."While LSG has the option to exercise the RTM for Rahul, the chances of that happening are remote - virtually nil. They may do it for a player like Marcus Stoinis," the report states.With Rahul's departure imminent, LSG is expected to retain Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni, with the latter two being uncapped retentions.Rahul has been linked to several teams ahead of the auction, but if he enters the bidding pool, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is likely to pursue their former player aggressively. Rahul played for RCB in 2013 and 2016 before joining Punjab in 2018.Rahul's strike rate has been a concern for LSG. Since the 2019 IPL season, he has not scored at a strike rate above 140, dropping as low as 113 in 2023.If Rahul and LSG mutually part ways, he will become one of the most sought-after Indian players in the auction pool. Rahul has amassed 4,683 IPL runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 134.Rahul's recent struggles have extended to the international arena, as he was dropped from India's playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. However, he has been included in the squad for the upcoming Test tour of Australia.

After his remarkable 150 in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Sarfaraz Khan's inclusion in the playing XI for the second Test in Pune was inevitable. His maiden Test century, scored under immense pressure, spearheaded India's fightback.With Virat Kohli dismissed on the final ball of Day 3 in the first Test, India faced a 125-run deficit at 231/3. Sarfaraz stepped up, forging a crucial 177-run partnership with Rishabh Pant (99) for the fourth wicket.Despite Shubman Gill's return to fitness, KL Rahul was dropped from the XI after scoring a duck and 12 in Bengaluru. Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had previously expressed support for Rahul, citing his performance in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh.However, Rahul's last Test century came against South Africa in Centurion in December 2023, in a match India lost by an innings and 32 runs. His inconsistent form has raised concerns, and the team management's decision to select Sarfaraz over Rahul sends a clear message.Sarfaraz made his Test debut against England in Rajkot earlier this year, showcasing his temperament with half-centuries in both innings. He followed it up with a 56 in the fifth Test in Dharamsala, contributing to India's 4-1 series victory.Sarfaraz's exceptional performances in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy, have earned him recognition as a potential mainstay in India's Test middle order. His ability to score big under pressure and adapt to different conditions makes him a valuable asset for the team.

India's Predicted XI for the Second Test Against New ZealandWith the second Test match against New Zealand approaching, the Indian team is facing a crucial decision regarding their playing XI. The return of Shubman Gill from injury has sparked speculation about potential changes to the lineup.Opening ConundrumRohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are expected to retain their positions as openers, having performed well in the first Test. However, the question remains whether Sarfaraz Khan or KL Rahul will make way for Gill.Sarfaraz's Form vs Rahul's BackingSarfaraz Khan has been in exceptional form, scoring a brilliant 150 in the first Test. His performances have earned him praise and support from fans and experts alike. However, the management has shown unwavering support for KL Rahul despite his recent struggles.Gill's Return and Batting OrderWith Gill's return, it is likely that he will bat at No. 3, his preferred position. This could mean that either Sarfaraz or Rahul will miss out on selection. Considering Sarfaraz's form and the coaching staff's statements, it appears that both players may retain their positions.Middle Order and All-RounderVirat Kohli is expected to bat at No. 4, followed by Rishabh Pant at No. 5. KL Rahul is likely to bat at No. 6, with Washington Sundar replacing Ravichandran Ashwin as the all-rounder.Bowling AttackJasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are expected to lead the pace attack, while Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will continue to provide spin options.Predicted XIBased on the available information, India's predicted XI for the second Test against New Zealand is as follows:1. Rohit Sharma (captain)2. Yashasvi Jaiswal3. Virat Kohli4. Sarfaraz Khan5. Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)6. KL Rahul7. Ravindra Jadeja8. Washington Sundar9. Kuldeep Yadav10. Mohammed Siraj11. Jasprit Bumrah