And just like that, another IPL week is done! After watching the first week, it was already expected that the second week would be a thriller, and that’s exactly what happened.
From youngsters ruling the cricketing stage to some shocking gear shifts and big teams facing unexpected setbacks, IPL Week 2 had everything to keep fans on the edge of their seats. There were enough twists and turns to surprise even the most seasoned followers.
So, let’s sum up everything that happened in the recent IPL matches and take a look at what we can expect in the upcoming days.
Rising stars Ashwani Kumar and Aniket Verma steal the spotlight
Well, it’s the Indian Premier League, so you expect Indian players to rule the charts — and they’re clearly doing just that. We’ve already seen some youngsters step into the limelight, whether it’s Vignesh Phutur for MI or Prince Yadav for LSG.
This week, two players stood out with consistent performances — two amazing names. On one hand, Aniket Verma has become a rising hero for SRH.
While Hyderabad aren’t enjoying a good run this season, this youngster has been giving his all. Despite the team being on a losing track, his batting and fielding have shown remarkable form.
Recently, during the IPL 2025 encounter against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, Aniket smashed 74 off just 41 deliveries, including 5 fours and 6 sixes — a stunning display under pressure.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2025
Under Pressure
Aniket Verma is dealing in just sixes and is closing on his half-century
Updateshttps://t.co/L4vEDKzthJ#TATAIPL | #DCvSRH | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/8KYjx2O14x
Ashwani Kumar’s dream debut leaves KKR reeling!
Now on the other hand, it was Ashwani Kumar who caused havoc at the Wankhede Stadium, shaking the KKR camp. The left-arm fast bowler made an immediate statement by dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane on the very first delivery of his IPL career, and he didn’t stop there!
Ashwani went on to remove Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Manish Pandey, delivering a complete bowling performance that turned heads across the cricket world.
Debut straight out of a storybook
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2025
The perfect first chapter for Ashwani Kumar
Updates
Has Dhoni lost his magic?
MS Dhoni, a legend who for years did wonders for CSK, is surely not at his peak, or even close to it. The finisher, who now only faces a handful of deliveries each season, is under scrutiny once again. This time, it intensified after he recently failed to guide Chennai Super Kings to victory against Delhi Capitals in Match 17 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 30 off 26 balls, but CSK lost the match by 25 runs, finishing at 158/5 in 20 overs.
And then, as expected, the criticism poured in. Over the past few games, Dhoni hasn’t shown the explosive finishing he’s known for, the iconic helicopter shots and boundary-hitting blitzes that we witnessed even last season. So far in IPL 2025, it hasn’t clicked. From passionate fans to seasoned cricket experts, many now feel that Dhoni’s time might be up. Of course, the final call lies with Dhoni himself on when to hang up his boots , but one thing is clear, he’s under the pump right now.
SRH batting woes continue
Cricket is a funny game and certainly a great leveller. What was once your strongest suit can suddenly become your biggest weakness — and that’s exactly what we’re witnessing with SRH. The team that once smoked nearly 300 runs in IPL 2024 is now getting cooked, struggling to even cross the 150-run mark. Their campaign has taken a dramatic turn for the worse after a promising start.
In their opening game against Rajasthan Royals, SRH were riding high, posting a mammoth total of 286. However, that explosive performance now feels like a distant memory. Since then, the batting line-up has failed to fire, repeatedly falling short of the 200-run mark and unable to pose any real threat to their opponents.
What is happening to SRH batting.
— 𝔸𝕓𝕓𝕪_
Dreams to cross 300 has been changed to dreams to cross 150. Poor Intent from SRH….#SRHvGT pic.twitter.com/vD45fCqhT6
(@A_b__07) April 6, 2025
The opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, once known for their aggressive starts, have been largely out of form. Abhishek has managed just 51 runs in five innings at an average of 10, while Head’s 148 runs in as many games have come in patches.
The middle order hasn’t fared any better. Ishan Kishan, who started the season with a stunning century, has experienced a sharp decline in performance, while Heinrich Klaasen and others have struggled to steady the innings after early setbacks. To make matters worse, SRH’s hyper-aggressive approach—a strategy that brought them success last year—is now under the scanner and may need a serious rethink.
All is not well with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians
It’s not often that you see three of the IPL’s most followed franchises, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, struggling at the bottom of the points table. But IPL 2025 is showing something hard to believe.
CSK’s campaign has taken a serious hit under skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, with three consecutive losses following a narrow win over MI. Despite the presence of some big names, the team has failed to fire as a unit. The bowling lacks bite, and the batting has struggled to chase or post competitive totals.
Mumbai Indians’ performance has been wildly inconsistent. Their only bright spot came against KKR, where they chased down the target with ease. But three defeats, including their most recent one to LSG, showing how fragile their bowling and middle order appear.
Last year’s runners-up, SRH, are currently sitting at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table, and it’s not hard to see why. Apart from their opening win against Rajasthan Royals, it’s been a downhill ride. Four straight losses, including a humbling 80-run defeat to KKR and a 7-wicket loss to GT, have exposed their lack of depth in both departments.
Delhi Capitals on a roll
Looks like it’s going to be the year of Delhi Capitals, who have made a flawless start to their IPL 2025 campaign, winning all three of their matches so far to sit comfortably at the top of the points table with 6 points and an impressive net run rate of 1.257.
What has made their start even more impressive is their ability to turn games around in no time. Everyone remembers how they pulled off a nail-biting one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants, holding their nerves to secure victory with just three balls remaining. They followed it up with a dominant seven-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing down the target with ease and over four overs to spare.
Most recently, DC showcased their all-round strength by defending their total successfully against Chennai Super Kings, winning the game by 25 runs.
Now, with upcoming matches against RCB, MI, and RR, the Capitals look like early favourites in the tournament.
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