Rajasthan Royals cruised to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in an Indian Premier League 2025 clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The spotlight belonged to 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who delivered a historic performance, smashing his maiden IPL century, and the fastest-ever IPL hundred by an Indian, off just 35 deliveries. Suryavanshi eventually fell for a breathtaking 101 from 38 balls, having already steered Rajasthan Royals firmly towards their target. Chasing a challenging 210 for victory, the Royals made a mockery of the task, racing to 199/2 in just 15 overs. Suryavanshi not only registered a stunning century but also notched the fastest half-century of the season, reaching the milestone in a blistering 17 balls. At the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal provided perfect support, bringing up a fluent fifty to maintain the Royals’ aggressive momentum. Earlier in the match, Gujarat Titans had posted an imposing 209/4, thanks to a superb innings from captain Shubman Gill. Gill led from the front with authoritative strokeplay, showcasing impeccable timing and precision in finding gaps across the field. His ability to consistently clear the boundary while maintaining a steady flow of singles kept the pressure relentlessly on Rajasthan’s bowlers. Complementing Gill's effort, Jos Buttler unleashed a brutal assault during the death overs, hammering both spinners and pacers without discrimination. Buttler’s late fireworks powered Gujarat Titans to a formidable total, ensuring they carried significant momentum into the second innings. Among the Royals' bowlers, Maheesh Theekshana stood out, returning with impressive figures of 2 for 35 from his four overs. However, despite his efforts, Rajasthan found themselves chasing a daunting total after Gujarat’s powerful batting display. Adding to Gujarat’s concerns, skipper Shubman Gill was substituted off midway, with Rashid Khan assuming leadership duties on the field. With the platform laid by their in-form openers and momentum firmly in their grasp, Rajasthan Royals mounted a clinical chase. Their batting brilliance left Gujarat Titans’ bowlers helpless and ensured that the Royals remained firmly in the hunt for playoff qualification. In a match that promised fireworks, it was young Vaibhav Suryavanshi who stole the show, rewriting the record books and announcing his arrival on the biggest stage with authority.
28 April,2025 11:08 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentIn a historic feat on Monday, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name into the record books by smashing the second-fastest century in the history of the Indian Premier League. Representing Rajasthan Royals, the prodigy from Bihar reached his hundred in just 35 balls during their thrilling chase of 210 against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Vaibhav’s breathtaking knock not only lit up the stadium but also set a new world record, making him the youngest male cricketer ever to score a T20 century, according to available data. He surpassed the previous record held by former Maharashtra batter Vijay Hari Zol, who achieved the feat at 18 years of age in 2013. Earlier in the same match, Vaibhav had already made headlines by becoming the youngest player to register a T20 half-century. At just 14 years and 32 days old, the left-hander surpassed the record set by Hassan Eisakhil, the son of former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi, who had scored a fifty at 15 years and 360 days during a Shpageeza League match in 2022. Vaibhav also rewrote IPL history by becoming the youngest batter to hit a fifty in the tournament, breaking the record previously held by Riyan Parag. Parag had reached the milestone at 17 years and 175 days in 2019, surpassing Sanju Samson’s earlier benchmark of 18 years and 169 days in 2013. Facing a daunting target set by Gujarat Titans, Vaibhav showcased his aggressive intent from the outset. Playing only his third match in IPL 2025, he unleashed a flurry of attacking strokes, racing to his half-century off just 17 deliveries. His fifty came in style, with a boundary off Washington Sundar’s final delivery of the fifth over. Vaibhav’s fearless approach had already been evident earlier this season when he became the youngest debutant in IPL history at 14 years and 23 days, turning heads by smashing a six off Shardul Thakur on the very first ball he faced against Lucknow Super Giants. Acquired by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.10 crore last year when he was just 13, Suryavanshi had shown glimpses of his talent with scores of 34 and 16 in his first two outings. Additionally, he had impressed on the international stage, representing India U19 in the Asia Cup held in the UAE, where he formed a solid partnership with Ayush Mhatre.
28 April,2025 10:47 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentVirat Kohli’s recent mix-up with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar during their IPL 2025 clash against Delhi Capitals on Sunday reignited the long-standing debate around run-outs, an area where Kohli has often found himself in the spotlight. Remarkably, this latest incident marked the 22nd occasion in Kohli’s IPL career that his batting partner has been run out while batting alongside him. An extensive analysis of IPL data from 2008 to 2024 reveals the players whose batting partners have been run out most frequently, whether they were at the striker’s or non-striker’s end at the time. Dinesh Karthik (28 partner run-outs): Leading this unenviable list is the seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik. Across his IPL career, 28 of his batting partners have been run out, evenly split with 14 dismissals while he was batting and another 14 when he was at the non-striker's end. Rohit Sharma (27 partner run-outs): Hot on Karthik’s heels is former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, who has witnessed 27 partners being run out. Curiously, a greater number of these (16) occurred while Rohit was at the non-striker’s end, compared to 11 when he was actively batting. MS Dhoni (26 partner run-outs): Chennai Super Kings icon MS Dhoni features third with 26 partner dismissals. Notably, 18 of these occurred while he was the batter orchestrating the run, hinting at his aggressive running approach during tight matches. Virat Kohli (22 partner run-outs): Following Sunday’s incident with Patidar, Kohli’s tally now stands at 22 partner run-outs, with 14 of these happening while he was batting and eight while he was the non-striker. Robin Uthappa (21 partner run-outs): Completing the top five, Robin Uthappa has seen 21 partners dismissed due to run-outs. Twelve of these occurred while he was stationed at the non-striker's end and nine while he was batting. Despite being fifth on the all-time list, a closer look at Kohli’s numbers offers a more nuanced view. His run-out involvement percentage is just 0.169 percent, significantly lower compared to others in the top five. Among 186 players who have faced at least 500 deliveries in IPL history, Kohli’s run-out frequency is relatively minor, suggesting that while his absolute number is high, his overall risk contribution is quite limited.
28 April,2025 10:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer India opener Shikhar Dhawan took to social media to strongly criticise Shahid Afridi for his controversial remarks regarding the Pahalgam terror attack. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Dhawan lashed out at the former Pakistan captain, writing: "Kargil mein bhi haraya tha, already itna gire hue ho aur kitna giroge, bewajah comments pass karne se acha hai apne desh ki taraqqi mai dimag lagao Shahid Afridi. Humein hamari Indian Army par bohot garv hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind! (We defeated (you) in Kargil too. You have already fallen so much and how much more will you fall. Instead of passing unnecessary comments, it is better to use your mind for the progress of your country, Shahid Afridi. We are very proud of our Indian Army. Bharat Mata ki Jai! Jai Hind!)" Kargil mein bhi haraya tha, already itna gire hue ho aur kitna giroge, bewajah comments pass karne se acha hai apne desh ki taraqqi mai dimag lagao @SAfridiOfficial. Humein hamari Indian Army par bohot garv hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind!https://t.co/5PVA34CNSe — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) April 28, 2025 Dhawan’s fiery response came after Afridi mocked the Indian Army's actions in Kashmir following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Addressing local reporters in Pakistan, Afridi had remarked: "The terrorists continued to kill people in Pahalgam for an hour, and not a single Indian soldier out of 8 lakh showed up. But when they did, they blamed Pakistan." Why hasn’t India banned YouTube Channel of this lowlife thug and Pakistan Army’s salve Shahid Afridi? He is known to receive money from Pakistan Army to do their propaganda and defend Islamist terrorist against civilians. pic.twitter.com/57q03da0Og — Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 28, 2025 Further criticising India, Afridi alleged: "India carries out terrorism itself, kills its own people, and then puts the blame on Pakistan." Despite his accusations, Afridi also claimed that neither Pakistan nor Islam supports terrorism, stating: "No country or religion supports terrorism. We always support peace. Islam teaches us peace only, and Pakistan never supports such kinds of acts. We have always tried to improve our relations with India." Reflecting on past tensions, Afridi recalled facing threats during his captaincy tenure at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, saying: "We received so many threats before travelling to India. During the 2016 T20 World Cup, I was the captain, and I had no clue whether we would go or not. Sports diplomacy is also good. They send their kabaddi team here, but they can’t send their cricket team. If you want to shut it down, then do it completely, or let sport." Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria also publicly condemned Afridi’s remarks. Posting on X, Kaneria wrote: "He has consistently aligned himself with extremist views. In my opinion, he should not be given a platform on Indian television or within the country. Additionally, he tried to persuade me to convert to Islam and declined to share a meal with me, which I found deeply disrespectful." He has consistently aligned himself with extremist views. In my opinion, he should not be given a platform on Indian television or within the country. Additionally, he tried to persuade me to convert to Islam and declined to share a meal with me, which I found deeply… https://t.co/gArYTNX1x4 — Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 28, 2025
28 April,2025 10:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCricket and fashion are rarely mentioned in the same breath. However, one Indian cricketer currently in the national team has been making headlines for his expensive and flamboyant wardrobe choices. Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu recently revealed that all-rounder Hardik Pandya, known for his stylish persona, boasts the most extravagant wardrobe among his former teammates. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s show Dressing Room Insider, Rayudu named the current Mumbai Indians captain when asked who among his peers spends the most on clothing and fashion. “Definitely Hardik Pandya,” Rayudu said without hesitation, while humorously admitting that he has no desire to sneak a peek into anyone else’s wardrobe.“Absolutely no one,” the former India and Chennai Super Kings middle-order batter added with a laugh. Over the years, Pandya has drawn considerable attention for his bold and distinctive fashion sense, often setting trends with his daring outfit choices. Rayudu's confirmation only reinforced the belief that Pandya invests heavily in his wardrobe to complement his vibrant off-field persona. Known for his flair and fearless demeanor both on and off the field, Pandya continues to inspire not just with his cricketing prowess but also with his high-end fashion statements. Beyond his extensive collection of designer outfits, Pandya also spends significantly on accessories, often spotted sporting luxurious gold chains and premium watches. Meanwhile, Pandya’s leadership has sparked a revival for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. After a challenging previous campaign, MI have bounced back under his captaincy, securing five consecutive victories in their recent league-stage matches. Currently, the five-time IPL champions sit third in the IPL 2025 points table, having recorded six wins and four losses from ten games. Pandya has been instrumental in MI’s resurgence, leading by example with the bat and ball. He has scored at an impressive strike rate of 160.29 and is MI’s second-highest wicket-taker this season with 12 scalps, including a memorable five-wicket haul. Only veteran New Zealand pacer Trent Boult, with 13 wickets, has taken more for the franchise. Mumbai Indians are now gearing up for their next challenge as they face Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday.
28 April,2025 10:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSkipper Shubman Gill produced a sparkling knock of 84, while Jos Buttler delivered a blistering unbeaten 50, propelling Gujarat Titans to an imposing total of 209 for four against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 encounter here on Monday. Gill was at his fluent best, smashing four towering sixes and five elegant boundaries during his 50-ball innings. The young captain stitched together a crucial 93-run partnership for the opening wicket with Sai Sudharsan, laying a solid foundation for the Titans. Sudharsan, playing a steady hand, contributed a valuable 39 runs to the partnership, ensuring Gujarat got off to a commanding start. Later, Jos Buttler, facing his former franchise, unleashed a flurry of attacking strokes to accelerate the innings further. The Englishman was particularly ruthless, clobbering four sixes and three fours on his way to an unbeaten 50 off just 26 deliveries. Buttler’s aggressive finish ensured Gujarat Titans crossed the 200-run mark, setting a formidable target for Rajasthan Royals to chase. Gill’s authoritative innings saw him take charge from the outset, finding gaps with precision and timing his strokes to perfection. His ability to effortlessly clear the ropes and rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking and the pressure firmly on the opposition. Meanwhile, Buttler’s ferocity in the death overs left little room for the Royals' bowlers to recover. Targeting the spinners and pacers alike, Buttler’s onslaught helped Gujarat Titans finish with a flourish, ensuring momentum stayed firmly in their favour heading into the second half of the match. Among the bowlers, Maheesh Theekshana was the pick for Rajasthan Royals, returning figures of 2 for 35 in his four overs. Despite his efforts, Gujarat's aggressive batting display left the Royals facing a daunting task. With the platform set and momentum on their side, Gujarat Titans look to have seized early control of the contest. Rajasthan Royals, needing 210 runs for victory, will require a special effort from their top order to stay in the hunt.
28 April,2025 09:31 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentThe creators of the popular Australian podcast The Grade Cricketer have removed 'every single video' related to their IPL 2025 coverage after receiving a 'polite legal letter' from the BCCI. Hosts Sam Perry and Ian Higgins disclosed that they received a legal notice from the BCCI and the IPL over the weekend, prompting the decision. "You may have noticed that every single video from our coverage of this year's cricket tournament has been removed from YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, Instagram and X," Perry announced on their latest podcast episode. "This is something we've done ourselves, it hasn't been done to us, we have removed these videos. On Saturday evening Australian time we received a very polite legal letter about elements of our content from the cricket tournament we speak to you about pertaining specifically to this season. As a result we decided to take those videos down," he added. According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the legal notice concerned the use of still photographs from the IPL, which the BCCI alleged were employed for 'commercial' rather than 'editorial' purposes. The IPL’s media guidelines clearly state that media-provided audio and video content are strictly for editorial use only. "Media are allowed to use the press conference video/audio on their respective websites or mobile applications for editorial use. The press conference video/audio cannot be uploaded on social media platforms including but not limited to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)," all IPL media advisories state. Despite the legal intervention, Perry and Higgins assured listeners that their coverage of the tournament would continue. Both are scheduled to travel to India later this week for a series of live shows. "It's very important to note we're going to continue to post coverage of the tournament, at the same cadence that we do. In fact, there's going to be more in the next couple of weeks because we're going to India," Perry explained. "But our approach to content has been consistent for five years, we just now have a deeper understanding of what is and isn't passing muster," he further noted. Following the developments, the show's daily IPL segment, The Big IPL Breakfast, will be rebranded. "We are considering changing its name to the Big Cricket Tournament Breakfast," Perry said. (With PTI inputs)
28 April,2025 07:48 PM IST | Sydney | mid-day online correspondentIn the aftermath of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and left as many injured, the Indian government on Monday banned several Pakistani YouTube channels, including the one run by former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar. Akhtar’s channel, '100kmph', known for its cricket analysis and commentary popular among Indian audiences, was among 16 channels that faced the block. The banned platforms, collectively amassing around 63 million subscribers, include major Pakistani news outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News. The decision comes amid heightened tensions following the attack, which was carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy group linked to the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in what stands among the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years. Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla reiterated India's firm stance against resuming bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan. He condemned the terror attack and emphasized that India would not engage in any bilateral series with Pakistan going forward. Shukla pointed out that India had already refrained from traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year, instead choosing to play all its matches in Dubai. The last instance of a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan dates back to 2013. Since then, the two arch-rivals have only faced each other in ICC tournaments. Several prominent cricketers, both current and former, joined in condemning the attack and called upon the BCCI to sever all cricketing links with Pakistan. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was particularly vocal, stating, "100 percent, India should do this (break ties with Pakistan). Strict action should be taken. It has turned out to be a joke that such things are happening every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated," he told reporters. In a strong message to the global community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured decisive action against those responsible for the attack. Speaking on April 24, PM Modi declared, "Today from the soil of Bihar I say to the whole world. India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve."
28 April,2025 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria on Monday strongly criticised Shahid Afridi, accusing him of harboring 'extremist views' in the aftermath of latter’s controversial remarks regarding the tragic terrorist attack in South Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives and left several others injured. A video circulating widely on social media shows Afridi making baseless allegations and questioning India’s response to the deadly attack. Reacting sharply, Kaneria alleged that Afridi had, in the past, attempted to pressure him into converting to Islam and had refused to share a meal with him, a gesture Kaneria described as deeply disrespectful. “He has consistently aligned himself with extremist views. In my opinion, he should not be given a platform on Indian television or within the country. Additionally, he tried to persuade me to convert to Islam and declined to share a meal with me, which I found deeply disrespectful,” Kaneria stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He has consistently aligned himself with extremist views. In my opinion, he should not be given a platform on Indian television or within the country. Additionally, he tried to persuade me to convert to Islam and declined to share a meal with me, which I found deeply… https://t.co/gArYTNX1x4 — Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) April 28, 2025 Afridi, in an interview with Pakistani media outlet Samaa TV, had questioned the Indian army’s competence while dismissing allegations of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack. He provocatively remarked, “Patakha phat jaata hai wahaa par, Pakistan ne kiya. Tum logo ki 8 lakh ki fauj hai Kashmir mein aur ye ho gaya. Iska matlab nalayak ho, nikamme ho na tum log ki security nahi de sake logo ko (Even if a cracker bursts in India, they blame it on Pakistan. You have an 8 lakh-strong army in Kashmir, yet this happened. This means you are useless for not being able to provide security to people).” In response to the rising tensions and the spread of misinformation, the Indian government has initiated strong measures. A significant number of Pakistani YouTube channels have been banned for disseminating provocative and communally charged narratives, spreading falsehoods, and misleading information against India, its military, and security forces. Among the banned platforms are prominent names such as former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s '100mph' channel and Basit Ali’s 'BasitAliShow', both of which were found to be involved in promoting inflammatory and divisive content.
28 April,2025 05:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOpener Pratika Rawal struck a fine half-century after spinners Sneh Rana and debutant Shree Charani starred with the ball as a clinical India outclassed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the rain-hit opening ODI of the women’s tri-nation series here Sunday. Opting to bowl, India bundled out Sri Lanka for 147 in a curtailed 39-over-a-side contest, with Rana (3-31) and Charani (2-26) sharing five wickets between them, while senior off-spinner Deepti Sharma (2-22) also chipped in. Also Read: Asian C’ships: 14 Indians in U-15, U-17 boxing finals India chased down the modest target in 29.4 overs, with Smriti Mandhana (43) providing a fluent start before Rawal (50 not out) and Harleen Deol (48 not out) took the visitors home without much fuss. India will next face South Africa on April 29. Brief scores:Sri Lanka 147 all out (H Perera 30; S Rana 3-31, D Sharma 2-22) lost to India 149-1 (P Rawal 50*, H Deol 48*, S Mandhana 43; I Ranaweera 1-32) by nine wickets This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 April,2025 07:55 AM IST | Colombo | PTIFormer India cricketer Ajay Jadeja showered praises on Punjab Kings’ young opener Priyansh Arya for his impressive outing against Kolkata Knight Rider’s in a rain-affected match in the IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens. In his debut IPL season, 24-year-old Arya is scoring consistently at the top of the order for PBKS and became the tenth batter to pass 300 runs this season; his 69 in 35 balls took his runs tally to 323 from nine innings. That put him at No. 9, ahead of Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul, who also has the same number of runs but his inferior strike rate makes him No. 10. Also Read: GT aim to consolidate position vs faltering RR “He just played the way he does and played long enough. It’s a template that he would probably take forward. He wasn’t just going out there and smacking everything at the start of the evening, which is what he’s comfortable with. But once the spin came on or the opposition showed their strength, he held himself back. “He played the way he should have. He managed to shift gears again today — pulled his gear back when needed. It’s not that he can only go one way. That [knock] would give him a lot of confidence,” Jadeja said on JioHotstar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 April,2025 07:41 AM IST | Kolkata | IANSADVERTISEMENT
