Cricket

Gujarat Titans (GT), the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, are set to retain five key players ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise is likely to hold onto Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, B Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan, leaving them with one right-to-match (RTM) card for the auction.Gill and Rashid were acquired by GT before the 2022 auction, while Sudharsan, Tewatia, and Shahrukh were bought in subsequent auctions. Gill, the 23-year-old opener, has been a consistent performer for GT, scoring over 500 runs in each of the past two seasons. He was appointed captain for IPL 2024 after Hardik Pandya's departure.Rashid, the Afghan leg-spinner, is one of the most sought-after bowlers in the IPL. He has been GT's leading wicket-taker in both seasons, with 32 wickets in 2022 and 24 wickets in 2024.Sudharsan, a left-handed batter from Tamil Nadu, has emerged as a promising talent for GT. He was the sixth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024, with 527 runs at an average of nearly 48. He is considered a potential future Test player for India.Tewatia and Shahrukh are both uncapped all-rounders who have been retained for their power-hitting abilities. Tewatia has played several impactful knocks as a finisher, while Shahrukh is one of the strongest hitters in domestic cricket.GT will have at least INR 51 crore deducted from their purse of INR 120 crore for retaining three international players and two uncapped players. The amounts for each player are not yet known, but GT is free to pay more or less than the minimum deductions set by the IPL.The deadline for franchises to submit their list of retained players is October 31. The mega auction is expected to be held in December or January.

IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Kings Retain Nicholas Pooran, Gujarat Titans Set to Keep Shubman GillAhead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Lucknow Super Kings (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) have made significant moves by retaining key players.Lucknow Super KingsLSG has retained West Indies wicket-keeper batter Nicholas Pooran for a whopping Rs 18 crore. Pooran, who joined LSG in 2023 for Rs 16 crore, is reportedly being considered as a potential replacement for KL Rahul as captain."Pooran is committed to LSG, possesses a winning mindset, thinks deep, and above all, he is adaptable to the batting order and any match situation," said an LSG official.In addition to Pooran, LSG is expected to retain Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, and Mohsin Khan. The franchise will enter the auction with a purse of Rs 69 crore.Gujarat TitansGT, the reigning IPL champions, are set to retain their captain Shubman Gill, star spinner Rashid Khan, and left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan. Uncapped hitters Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan are also likely to be retained."Shubman, Rashid, and Sai will be retained by the franchise," said an IPL source.Gill, who is seen as a future leader in Indian cricket, captained Titans for the first time in 2023. Rashid Khan has been a consistent performer for GT, taking 27 wickets in the 2023 season. Sudharsan had a breakout year in 2023, scoring 527 runs in 12 games.

Gujarat Titans, the reigning IPL champions, are gearing up for the upcoming mega auction by retaining three key players: captain Shubman Gill, star spinner Rashid Khan, and left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan. Uncapped hitters Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan are also expected to be retained by the franchise.Gill, a highly-rated young batsman, led the Titans for the first time in 2023, guiding them to an eighth-place finish. Despite the team's overall performance, Gill's leadership qualities and potential as a future Indian captain have impressed the franchise.Rashid Khan, the Afghan spin wizard, has been a consistent performer for the Titans since joining in 2022. In his debut season, he claimed 19 wickets, followed by 27 wickets in the following year. While his form dipped slightly in 2023, with 10 wickets in 12 games, his experience and match-winning abilities make him an invaluable asset.Sai Sudharsan, a rising star in Indian cricket, had a breakout year in 2023, amassing 527 runs in 12 games, including a century. His impressive performances have earned him a place in the national team, where he has featured in three ODIs and a T20.Uncapped all-rounder Shahrukh Khan, known for his explosive batting, is another player expected to be retained by the Titans. With a strike rate of 169.33, he provides a valuable option in the middle order.IPL veteran Rahul Tewatia, a left-handed batsman, is also likely to be retained. With close to 100 IPL games under his belt, Tewatia brings experience and a high strike rate to the team.The mega auction is expected to be held overseas in the last week of November, with an increased auction purse of Rs 120 crore. Teams can retain up to six players from their existing squad, the highest number in IPL history.

Gujarat Titans, the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, have hinted at retaining their skipper Shubman Gill and star spinner Rashid Khan for the upcoming 2025 season. The franchise posted images of both players on social media, suggesting their retention ahead of the official announcement.However, the absence of pacer Mohammed Shami's photo in the post has raised questions about his future with the team. Shami has been a crucial member of the Titans since their inception in 2022, playing a pivotal role in their title victory that year. In IPL 2023, he continued to lead the Titans' pace attack, finishing with an impressive tally of 28 wickets.Shami's recent struggles with injuries have cast a shadow over his retention prospects. He has been sidelined since the ODI World Cup final last November due to an ankle injury and a knee swelling issue. However, the 34-year-old has recently shown encouraging signs of recovery, bowling at full intensity in the nets.Shami's fitness and performance in upcoming domestic matches will be crucial in determining his fate with the Titans. He aims to play "one or two" matches to strengthen his case for selection ahead of the marquee tour of Australia starting next month.The Titans' decision on Shami's retention will be closely watched by fans and experts alike. His experience and skill would be a valuable asset to the team, but his recent injury concerns may give the franchise pause.

Shubman Gill's return to the Indian Test squad for the second match against New Zealand has boosted the team's morale after their disappointing loss in the first Test. Gill, who missed the Bengaluru Test due to an injury, is expected to play a crucial role in India's batting lineup.India's batting woes were evident in the first Test, where they were bowled out for a mere 46 runs in their first innings. The absence of Gill, a talented opener, was keenly felt as the team struggled to build partnerships.However, with Gill back in the fold, India will be hoping for a much-improved performance in the second Test. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form in recent months, scoring a century in the first Test against Bangladesh and a half-century in the second.India's bowling coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, confirmed Gill's availability, stating that he is "fine for this Test." This news will come as a relief to captain Rohit Sharma, who will be looking to his team to bounce back from their defeat in Bengaluru.The second Test will be played from October 24 to October 28 in Mumbai. India will be eager to level the series and gain momentum ahead of the third and final Test in Indore.

Indian cricket star Shubman Gill has become a topic of discussion on social media after his name was mentioned in the popular Netflix series "Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives." In an episode of the show's third season, actress Neelam Kothari inquired about Gill's attendance at an upcoming event, prompting a humorous exchange among the cast.The conversation quickly shifted to the pronunciation of Gill's name, with the celebrities present struggling to utter it correctly. The incident sparked a viral trend on social media, with users sharing their own attempts at pronouncing the cricketer's name.Meanwhile, Gill's fitness has been a concern for the Indian team after he missed the first Test against New Zealand due to neck stiffness. However, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has hinted that Gill may be available for the second Test."Shubman Gill seems okay at this point in time," Sharma said in a post-match press conference.Gill was seen practicing in the nets during the first Test, indicating that he may have overcome his fitness issues. His return to the team would be a major boost for India, who suffered a disappointing defeat in the first Test.India's batting lineup struggled in the absence of Gill, with Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway scoring half-centuries for New Zealand. The hosts also faced a batting collapse after the introduction of the new ball, setting a target of just 107 runs for the Kiwis.Despite a valiant fightback from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, India's total proved insufficient as New Zealand chased down the target with ease. The defeat marked New Zealand's first Test win in India in 36 years.

Indian cricket team opener Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test against New Zealand due to a stiff neck, is making significant progress in his recovery and could be available for the second Test in Pune starting on Thursday.Gill was spotted at the ground on Day 5 of the first Test in Bengaluru, facing throwdowns and having a prolonged net batting session. He faced fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Mayank Yadav, both traveling reserves for the Indian team, as well as Akash Deep.Gill's return would be a major boost for India, who lost the first Test by eight wickets. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form in recent months, scoring a century in the third Test against Australia in March and a half-century in the first ODI against New Zealand in August.If Gill is fit to play, he is likely to replace Abhimanyu Easwaran, who made his Test debut in the first Test but failed to impress. Gill's inclusion would provide India with a more experienced and reliable opening partner for Rohit Sharma.New Zealand's victory in the first Test was their first in India in 36 years. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra put on an unbroken 75-run partnership to guide the visitors to a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.India will be looking to level the series in the second Test, which begins on Thursday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

With India's Test captain Rohit Sharma likely to miss the first one or two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team is faced with the task of finding a suitable replacement. While Jasprit Bumrah is the frontrunner for the captaincy role, the search for an opening batter is still ongoing.Shubman Gill is a strong contender for the opening spot, but former Indian cricket legend Anil Kumble believes KL Rahul is a more versatile choice. Kumble praised Gill's talent and skills, but emphasized the need for a batter who can adapt to different roles, like Rahul."Rahul has played for India in various roles, from opening the batting to acting as a finisher at No. 6," Kumble said. "In the past, Cheteshwar Pujara has also batted at the top of the order when India needed someone to hold one end together. Rahul can do the same."Kumble highlighted the importance of having a batter who can control the first session and see off the new ball. "The Kookaburra Ball after the first 25 hours is best to bat between the 30th and 60th overs," he explained. "Rahul and Pujara have consistently done this throughout their careers, ensuring that the team is safe and the middle-order batters can come in later and score runs."While Gill is a talented young player, Kumble believes Rahul's experience and versatility make him a better choice to replace Rohit Sharma in the first Test. Rahul's ability to adapt to different roles and his proven track record at the top of the order make him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

India's Test opener Shubman Gill is facing a potential setback ahead of the first Test against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on October 16. According to reports, Gill has complained of neck and shoulder pain, raising concerns about his availability for the match.The 25-year-old informed the team management about his discomfort on Monday, and a final decision on his selection will be made on the morning of the Test. Gill's absence could pave the way for Sarfaraz Khan or Dhruv Jurel to make their way into India's playing XI.Gill has established himself as a key figure in India's Test batting lineup, particularly at the No. 3 position. He played a pivotal role in India's recent Test series victory over Bangladesh, scoring a century in the first Test.In fact, Gill boasts an impressive batting average in the second innings of Test matches since 2020, making him one of India's most reliable batsmen in challenging conditions.Sarfaraz Khan, who recently scored a double century for Mumbai in the Duleep Trophy, is the frontrunner to replace Gill in the lineup. After a promising start to his Test career against England, Sarfaraz was unfortunate to miss out on selection after KL Rahul's return from injury.However, if Sarfaraz does enter the XI, India's batting order may need to be adjusted. The team will have to decide whether to promote Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, or Rishabh Pant up the order to fill the No. 3 spot.India will face New Zealand after a dominant 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh. History favors India, as New Zealand has never won an away Test series in the World Test Championship (WTC).However, the weather could play a significant role in the outcome of the match, with rain predicted to impact play on all five days. The overcast and rainy conditions could also influence India's team selection.