For the 18th time, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is here. After a long wait, the biggest cricketing carnival is ready to enthral fans for two straight months. A high-octane battle between KKR and RCB will kickstart the proceedings, considering rain doesn’t spoil anything. Regardless, the day started with a couple of great IPL news. Shardul Thakur, who went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction is likely to join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement player. Meanwhile, KL Rahul is likely to miss initial matches for the Delhi Capitals. For DC, however, Jake Fraser-McGurk is in ominous touch. Before the opening match kicks in, we take a look at the top cricketing stories from the eve of the IPL 2025!
KL Rahul to miss IPL 2025 games…?
KL Rahul’s debut for Delhi Capitals (DC) may be delayed due to the birth of his first child. According to current Australian women’s cricketer Alyssa Healy, Rahul might miss the first two matches. This could pose a challenge for DC’s management, who will need to find a suitable replacement in the batting lineup. With Rishabh Pant’s departure and Axar Patel’s new captaincy, DC’s team dynamics will be put to the test. Harry Brook has already announced his unavailability. Read more here.
Shardul Thakur at LSG!
Shardul Thakur is set to join Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan. Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL mega auction, will travel with the team for their IPL 2025 opener in Visakhapatnam where they face DC. LSG’s pace attack has been impacted by injuries, with Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav still recovering. While this isn’t official yet, Thakur’s availability will be a massive boost for LSG when done. Read more here:
Good news for Delhi Capitals!
Delhi Capitals’ opener Jake Fraser-McGurk has regained his form ahead of IPL 2025, scoring a century in a practice match. He smashed 110 runs off 39 deliveries, including 9 fours and 10 sixes. After a poor run in international outings, McGurk’s form is a boost for DC. He will likely open the innings with Faf du Plessis and play a crucial role in providing an explosive start. DC begins its IPL 2025 campaign against LSG on March 24 in Vizag. Read more here.
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Historic ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has broken viewership records in India, surpassing the ICC World Cup 2023. The tournament saw 247 billion minutes of watch time, with a 23% rise in TV ratings. The final match between India and New Zealand drew 122 million TV viewers and 61 million digital viewers, a new record for digital cricket viewing. Read more here.
Kane Williamson at IPL 2025
Kane Williamson will be part of IPL 2025, but not as a player. After going unsold in the auction, the Kiwi batter has been named as a commentator for the tournament. He joins a diverse panel of experts, including Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, and AB de Villiers. The commentary team will provide in-depth analysis and engaging commentary throughout the tournament, in multiple languages. However, Williamson will leave for PSL 2025 once it starts in April. Read more here.
Hasan Nawaz’s 100 beat NZ
Pakistan has finally broken their 5-match losing streak in T20Is with a dominating 9-wicket win over New Zealand in Auckland. Hasan Nawaz was the star of the show, scoring an unbeaten 105 runs off just 45 deliveries. His century in 44 balls is the quickest in Pakistan’s history. Captain Salman Ali Agha also contributed with an unbeaten 51 runs. Pakistan’s win was set up by their bowlers, who restricted New Zealand to 204 runs. They then chased down the target in just 16 overs, with Nawaz and Agha leading the charge. This win is a much-needed boost for Pakistan after a disappointing campaign in the Champions Trophy. Read more here.
