Cricket

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is expected to continue his association with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo. Dhoni is set to be retained as an uncapped player, a move made possible by a recent rule change that allows franchises to retain players in the uncapped category if they have not played international cricket for five years.Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, has been a key figure for CSK since the inception of the IPL in 2008. He has led the team to four IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles. In the 2024 season, Dhoni played a crucial role as a finisher, scoring 161 runs at a strike rate of 220.The 43-year-old's retention as an uncapped player is a significant development for CSK, as it allows the franchise to retain a veteran player with a wealth of experience and leadership qualities. Dhoni's presence in the team will provide stability and guidance to the younger players.CSK is expected to retain four other players alongside Dhoni: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Sri Lankan seamer Matheesha Pathirana. This core group of players will form the foundation of the team's squad for the upcoming season.The IPL 2025 mega auction is scheduled to take place on October 31, and all ten franchises must submit their list of retained players by that date. CSK will be hoping to build a strong team around Dhoni and the other retained players to challenge for the IPL title once again.

India's path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final has become more challenging after consecutive defeats against New Zealand. However, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar remains confident, emphasizing that the team is not dwelling on past results.Despite sitting atop the WTC standings with a 62.82-point percentage, India faces a daunting task. To reach the final in London next year, they must win their remaining six Tests, including five against Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Nayar acknowledged the difficulties ahead but stressed the importance of staying present and taking it one game at a time. "When you put on the Indian jersey, every game is critical," he said. "We have not been narrow-minded about the WTC. Our focus is on the game at Wankhede."If India can secure a victory in the third Test against New Zealand, they will be just three wins away from the final. However, the pathway is not straightforward.India's chances of reaching the final hinge on their ability to maintain their dominance. If they can win four of their remaining six games, they will have a 64.04% point percentage, assuming they avoid any penalties for slow over rates. This would guarantee their place in the final, regardless of other results.Nayar emphasized the team's determination to overcome the challenges ahead. "We need to stay in the present and take it day by day," he said. "If we can do that, we will be one step closer to where this team wants to be."

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to pardon opener Fakhar Zaman for his breach of the players' code of conduct, allowing him to be included in the central contracts and the national white-ball squad.Zaman was dropped from the central contracts list and ignored for the series in Australia and Zimbabwe after he tweeted a controversial comment about captain Babar Azam. The PCB issued a show cause notice, asking Zaman to submit a reply or face disciplinary action.According to a PCB source, Zaman's reply expressed remorse and apology. Internal discussions between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, selectors, and captain Mohammad Rizwan have been positive for Zaman's reinstatement.The selectors have advised Zaman to focus on rehabilitating his knee injury before the white-ball series in South Africa in December. He is expected to be included in the squad for the South Africa matches and subsequently added to the central contracts list.Rizwan and the selectors believe that Zaman is still a valuable asset for the white-ball squad, especially with the Champions Trophy tournament scheduled to be held in Pakistan early next year.A committee will be formed to accept Zaman's reply to the show cause notice, clearing him for selection. He will undergo a fitness test before the South Africa tour selection.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed that former South African coach Gary Kirsten's departure was due to "breaches" of his contract. Kirsten, who led India to the 2011 World Cup victory, had reportedly resigned after a rift with the PCB over the coaches' diminished role in selection matters.Naqvi clarified that Kirsten had terminated his contract with the PCB, not vice versa. "He (Kirsten) broke his contract with the PCB and made some breaches. He ended the contract with us," Naqvi stated.Sources within the PCB have alleged that Kirsten violated certain contract clauses, including insufficient time spent in Pakistan and his insistence on a foreign coaching staff. Naqvi confirmed that the PCB is actively seeking a new white-ball head coach and has already interviewed several candidates."We will have a new white ball head coach by the end of this month because Jason Gillispie has only agreed to manage the team in Australia for the white ball matches on an interim basis. He is more focused on his role as red ball head coach," Naqvi explained.Regarding the omission of Fakhar Zaman from the Pakistan squads for the Australia and Zimbabwe tours, Naqvi emphasized that the selectors have the authority to make such decisions. Zaman is currently under investigation by the PCB for supporting Babar Azam on social media after being dropped for the England Tests."The issue of the show cause notice will be handled by a special committee of the board while the selectors have authority over selection matters," Naqvi said. He denied any interference in selection matters or advocating for specific players.

Rishabh Pant's tenure with the Delhi Capitals (DC) has come to an end, as the franchise has opted not to retain him ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This decision marks a significant shift for both Pant and DC, who have been closely associated since 2016.Sources close to the development have revealed that Pant's desire for captaincy and involvement in team management played a role in the franchise's decision. While DC was open to retaining Pant, they were not convinced about his leadership abilities in the T20 format."Rishabh Pant wanted captaincy and wanted to be involved with regards to the appointment of coaches and support staff, but plenty in the DC set-up are not convinced about his T20 game," said a source.With Pant's departure, DC faces the challenge of finding a new captain. Axar Patel, who has been retained by the franchise, is a potential candidate. However, sources suggest that DC may explore options at the mega-auction, with Shreyas Iyer being a strong possibility."Axar Patel is there as an option, but there is a strong possibility of DC exploring options at the mega auction. Shreyas Iyer will definitely be on their radar as he enjoyed a lot of success in the DC set-up and understands the set-up well," added the source.DC has retained four players for the upcoming season: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristian Stubbs, and Abhishek Porel. They have also kept the option of Right To Match (RTM) card open for the mega auction.Pant's departure from DC marks the end of an era for the franchise. He joined the team as a young player in 2016 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming their captain in 2021. His aggressive batting and fearless leadership style made him a fan favorite.However, Pant's recent form in the T20 format has been inconsistent, and his captaincy has come under scrutiny. DC's decision to part ways with him is a reflection of their desire to rebuild and find a new leader who can guide them to success in the years to come.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the prolific English batter, has made a significant move ahead of the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) season. She has been traded from UP Warriorz (UPW) to the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The trade sees Wyatt-Hodge join a star-studded RCB squad that includes the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Sophie Devine.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is a seasoned campaigner with an impressive international record. She is the third-most capped player in T20Is worldwide, having represented England in 164 matches. Her batting prowess is evident in her tally of 2979 runs at an average of 22.91 and a strike rate of 127.85, including two centuries and 16 half-centuries.Despite her impressive credentials, Wyatt-Hodge went unsold in the first WPL auction in December 2023. However, she was picked up by UPW ahead of the second season but did not feature in any matches as the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.Wyatt-Hodge's recent performances at the T20 World Cup have showcased her continued form. She emerged as England's leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 124.79.The trade to RCB provides Wyatt-Hodge with an opportunity to showcase her skills on a bigger stage. RCB, under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, will be aiming to defend their WPL title and will be counting on Wyatt-Hodge's experience and batting prowess to bolster their lineup.

IPL 2025 Retention Deadline: Franchises Finalize Retained PlayersWith the mega auction for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season approaching, the ten franchises have until October 31, 5pm IST, to submit their lists of retained players. Here's a detailed breakdown of the players set to be retained by each franchise:Chennai Super Kings (CSK)CSK will retain five players: captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, batter Shivam Dube, Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, and the legendary MS Dhoni. The amounts paid to each player are yet to be confirmed, but CSK will lose at least INR 65 crore from their overall purse of INR 120 crore.Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)KKR will retain four players: spinner Sunil Narine, batter Rinku Singh, all-rounder Harshit Rana, and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Star all-rounder Andre Russell and 2024 title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer are unlikely to be retained.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)LSG will retain five players: wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran, batter Mayank Yadav, spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and uncapped duo Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni. KL Rahul, who has led the franchise since its inception, is unlikely to be retained.Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)SRH will retain five players: South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen, Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins, Indian all-rounder Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Klaasen will receive the highest salary of INR 23 crore, followed by Cummins at INR 18 crore and Sharma at INR 14 crore.Key Takeaways:* CSK retains MS Dhoni and four others, losing a significant portion of their purse.* KKR retains Narine and three others, with Russell and Iyer likely to depart.* LSG retains Pooran and four others, with Rahul's future uncertain.* SRH retains Klaasen as their top earner, along with Cummins, Sharma, Head, and Reddy.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident that captain Kane Williamson will return to action for the first Test against England, scheduled for November 28-December 2 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Williamson suffered a groin injury during the tour of Sri Lanka, but the team management has opted for a cautious approach to his rehabilitation.Despite Williamson's absence, New Zealand pulled off a historic Test series victory in India, with Will Young stepping up in his place. However, tearaway quick Ben Sears is likely to miss the England series due to a knee injury.Stead expressed his confidence in Williamson's availability for the first Test against England, stating that they could have rushed him back for the Mumbai Test but decided against it to ensure proper recovery. He praised the team's performance in Williamson's absence, highlighting Young's contributions.Sears' injury could pave the way for a potential Test debut for Nathan Smith, who was recently added to New Zealand's central contracts list. Smith impressed as the top wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Plunket Shield.Stead also expressed optimism about New Zealand's chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. With four remaining Tests, they need to win each to finish on 64.29%. Stead drew inspiration from their previous WTC triumph in 2019-21, where they won six consecutive Tests.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaching, the focus intensifies on the retention strategies of the participating teams. Among the most anticipated decisions are those of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), two franchises with immense fan followings.According to reports, CSK has finalized its five retentions: MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Matheesha Pathirana. This move signals the departure of star players like Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway. The retentions are estimated to cost CSK around Rs 65 crore from a total purse of Rs 120 crore.Meanwhile, speculation runs rampant regarding the retention plans of other teams. Former Indian captain MS Dhoni, who has led CSK to five IPL titles, has confirmed his participation in IPL 2025. He is expected to be retained for a mere Rs 4 crores due to a BCCI rule that classifies Indian players as "uncapped" if they have not played for the national team in the past five years.The IPL auction is known for its unpredictable nature, and Dhoni himself has acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the process. "Everyone is a team owner now," he quipped at a recent event. "We should be prepared for whatever players they decide to purchase."As the October 31 deadline for releasing retention lists approaches, the IPL community eagerly awaits the official announcements. The mega auction promises to reshape the landscape of the league, with several big names likely to be released and new stars emerging.