Tag: IPL

ABU DHABI: Australia all-rounder Cameron Green on Tuesday became the most expensive overseas player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, surpassing the previous record held by his compatriots Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

Green was sold to the three-time IPL winner, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for a whopping INR 25.2 crores.

Consequently, he shattered the record for being the most expensive overseas IPL player. Previously, Starc was also sold to KKR for INR 24.75 crores, while Cummins was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 20.50 crores.

Notably, the 26-year-old is also the third-highest-paid player with Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crores) and Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crores), who were brought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in last year’s mega auction.

Overall, he has amassed 707 runs in 29 IPL matches for the five-time winners Mumbai Indians and the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

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Green missed the last edition of the IPL due to a back injury but is currently featuring in the Ashes series against England.

The second-highest buy was also by the KKR, which acquired Pathirana for INR 18 crore, about US$ 550,000 more than the amount he had received last year.

Interestingly, Pathirana did not have the best of outings in the 2025 edition, going for 10.13 an over in 12 games.

His performance led the Chennai Super Kings to release him ahead of the 2026 auction.

Meanwhile, England’s Liam Livingstone went to Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 13 crores in the second round after he went unsold in the first phase.

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SYDNEY: Australia’s ace duo Pat Cummins and Travis Head were reportedly offered nearly $10 million to forgo international cricket and play T20 franchise cricket full-time, according to a report in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.

According to the report, both players from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were offered a hefty sum by an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.

However, Cummins and Head turned down the offers worth $10 million, approximately Rs 2.8 billion, and prioritized the Australian cricket team.

For context, several IPL teams have a foothold on the global T20 franchises spanning the USA, UAE, South Africa, and most recently The Hundred, where Indian investors have bought stakes in the teams.

Notably, Pat Cummins’ earnings are closer to $3 3million from playing international cricket, apart from the added money that comes with being Australia’s captain.

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Meanwhile, Travis Head has expressed his views on what it is like to play franchise cricket around the globe.

“I played MLC to get a taste of what it would be like to play franchise cricket,” Head told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I had IPL into a World Cup into MLC, so I wanted to see what it was like to basically play four months of franchise cricket.

“You want to have every option available to you, you want to experience things and understand how things operate,” he continued.

The left-hander also mentioned that his ultimate goal is to play for Australia.

“Whether I could do it, whether I liked it, whether I was good at it. I hadn’t played a lot of T20 cricket for a period of time, so get back into that. It was a perfect time in my life [to do that], then that time moves past.”

“Currently I’m playing for Australia, and I don’t see a timeline where I can play anything [else] really,” Head concluded.

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Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle has revealed a massive revelation about his troubled time with Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Overall, Gayle played 141 matches for three franchises in IPL from 2009 to 2021. His last stint came for the Punjab Kings in 2021, a franchise for which he has played for four years, mainly as an opening batter.

Speaking during a recent podcast, Gayle shed light on his IPL career and revealed the difficult time of his career in India’s premier T20 competition.

“My IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. To be honest, I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab. I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior player who had done so much for the league and brought value to the franchise, he said.

“Instead, they treated me like a kid. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was slipping into depression,” Gayle recalled.

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The 45-year-old emphasized mental well-being and recalled the instance of calling Anil Kumble, who was head coach of the franchise.

“Your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil (Kumble) and told him I was leaving. At the same time, we were stuck in a bubble, which was destroying me mentally,” Gayle explained.

He also stated that he was not amused with the way the team was managed, noting that he burst into tears while talking to Kumble.

“I broke down talking to Anil, and I cried because I was really hurt. I was disappointed with him and the way the franchise was run. KL Rahul, the captain, even called me saying, ‘Chris, stay, you’ll play the next game.’ But I just said, ‘I wish you all the best,’ packed my bag, and I walked out.”

“I was mistreated. I am available—if they want me, I’ll come. But yes, I do have grudges. Loyalty means a lot to me,” Gayle concluded.

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Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old offspinner took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to pen a note bidding farewell to the cash-rich league.

“Special day and hence a special beginning,” he wrote. “They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today.”

In his note, Ashwin hinted at playing franchise cricket globally, stating, “My journey as an explorer of the game in various leagues begins today.”

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He also expressed gratitude to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL franchises for the opportunities, mentioning that he created wonderful memories during his time in the marquee league.

“Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years, and most importantly, the @IPL and the @BCCI for what they have given me until now,” Ravichandran Ashwin added.

“Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me.”

Since his debut in 2009, he has represented several teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Rising Pune Supergiants.

Over the course of 220 matches, he took 187 wickets and scored 833 runs.

He leaves the IPL as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, having participated in 16 of the 18 IPL seasons.

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Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has hinted at a possible return to the Indian Premier League (IPL), though in a non-playing capacity, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

The 41-year-old, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2021, expressed his willingness to take up a coaching or mentoring role with his former franchise team in the future.

While ruling out a full-fledged professional comeback, de Villiers admitted that his connection with RCB remains unshakable.

“I might be involved with the IPL again in the future in a different role, but committing to a full season in a professional capacity is really tricky, and I believe those days are done,” he said.

“That said, you never say never. My heart is with RCB and always will be. So, if the franchise feels there’s a role for me, when my time is right and ready, it will definitely be RCB.”

Having represented the franchise for over a decade, AB de Villiers remains one of the most celebrated figures in IPL history.

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He began his IPL journey with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2008 before moving to RCB in 2011, where he went on to play 157 matches.

He scored 4,522 runs at an average of 41.10 and an explosive strike rate of 158.33, including two centuries and 37 half-centuries.

One of his most memorable campaigns came in 2016 when he smashed 687 runs and combined with Virat Kohli for a record 229-run stand against Gujarat Lions, still the highest-ever partnership for the second wicket in IPL history.

Overall, de Villiers featured in 184 IPL matches across two franchises, scoring 5,162 runs at a strike rate of 151.68 with three centuries and 40 fifties.

In recognition of his impact, RCB inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2022 alongside Chris Gayle.

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The next edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) may be rescheduled from its traditional December–January window to May 2026, setting up a potential clash with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Indian Premier League (IPL).

The development comes in light of Bangladesh’s upcoming general elections, with BPL chairman Mahbub Anam confirming on Thursday that alternative windows are being considered.

“BPL slot may change due to the elections,” Mahbub said while speaking to local media.

“It could be held before December, or another slot is being planned. We will take the next steps depending on the government’s decision. In this regard, May is another option.”

The tentative move follows an emergency board meeting held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, a day after Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus directed authorities to complete all election preparations by the end of this year. General elections in Bangladesh are expected in early 2026.

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If finalised, the new BPL window would place the tournament directly in competition with the IPL 2026 and the 11th edition of the PSL.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026, set to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February, has also played a role in shifting BPL’s potential schedule.

Mahbub Anam, who recently replaced Faruque Ahmed as BPL chairman, also acknowledged the need to elevate the league’s brand image and rectify past issues.

“BPL needs to set up its own standard. In the past, there were some mistakes, and the BCB has to take responsibility. We’ll try to increase the brand value of the BPL,” he stated.

He further revealed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is actively exploring the possibility of expanding the tournament’s venue list beyond Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet.

“We will try to increase the number of venues. New ones will be added if they meet ICC standards and can offer proper accommodation for players,” Mahbub added.

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Australian veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood has reacted to former speedster Mitchell Johnson’s comments about prioritizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Following the conclusion of the WTC final, Mitchell Johnson launched a scathing attack on Hazlewood, criticizing the pacer’s fitness and his decision to participate in the IPL, which was temporarily suspended for a week due to rising India-Pakistan tensions.

“We’ve seen concerns about Hazlewood’s fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows,” Mitchell Johnson remarked.

Now, the veteran pacer has replied to Johnson’s comments, noting that the IPL was the best preparatory ground for the WTC final.

“I haven’t seen any of that, to be honest,” Josh Hazlewood said when asked about Mitchell Johnson’s criticism.

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“We know what’s going on inside our rooms. It seemed far and away the best place to get ready for any type of cricket that was coming up. The weather was definitely a factor as well. Just getting over there and playing intense competition like that, it’s hard to replicate in training,” he added.

Josh Hazlewood further emphasized the weather in Australia while stating that India was the best place to bowl under the circumstances.

“Sydney, it was raining and I had literally nowhere to bowl. I got to Brisbane for three or four days and it was very wet. We were lucky to get on. I just thought the best place to bowl was India,” he said.

“We were still in the competition, we were going to play semis, and I was going to be there for 10 days. I think it was comfortably the best option,” the right-arm pacer concluded.

For context, South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in the WTC final, clinching their maiden title.

The defending champions’ bowling quartet could not rise to the occasion in the second essay while defending a 282-run target.

Josh Hazlewood, who was pivotal in the Royal Challengers Bangalore maiden IPL triumph, could only manage to claim two scalps in the all-important WTC final.

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MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been fined a hefty INR 5,390 million for terminating the Kochi Tuskers Kerala Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in 2011.

The decision announced by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the BCCI to pay INR 38.55 million to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) and INR 15.384 million to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW).

Kochi Tuskers Kerala, owned by KCPL and RSW, made its IPL debut in 2011, finishing eighth among the ten teams. Following the franchise’s maiden season, BCCI terminated the team over allegedly breaching its terms of agreement.

The dispute revolved around the failure to provide a bank guarantee by the stipulated deadline.

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“The jurisdiction of this Court under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act is very limited,” the court said in his order rejecting the BCCI’s challenge of the arbitrator’s award.

“BCCI’s endeavour to delve into the merits of the dispute is in teeth of the scope of the grounds contained in Section 34 of the Act. BCCI’s dissatisfaction as to the findings rendered in respect of the evidence and/or the merits cannot be a ground to assail the Award,” it added.

The court further stated that BCCI wrongfully invoked the bank guarantee.

“The conclusion of the learned Arbitrator namely that BCCI had wrongfully invoked the bank guarantee which amounted to a repudiatory breach of the KCPL-FA would call for no interference under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act considering that this is based on a correct appreciation of the evidence on record.”

Following the decision, the BCCI has been given six weeks to file an appeal against it.

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Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson has launched a scathing attack on fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for returning to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 just before the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Josh Hazlewood, returned to the resumed IPL after recovering from a shoulder niggle during the final phase of the tournament and helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in clinching their maiden title in 18 years.

IPL 2025 was suspended for a week during the border tensions between India and Pakistan.

The pacer was instrumental in RCB’s maiden title, taking 22 wickets from just 12 matches.

Now, Johnson raised doubts over Hazlewood’s fitness, stating that his decision to prefer the IPL has sparked speculation.

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“We have seen concerns about Hazlewood’s fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows. Lyon didn’t look his best on day three either,” Mitchell Johnson said.

The pacer also criticised Australia’s bowling quartet, noting that they are not an automatic selection in the team.

“Our successful ‘big four’ bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon can’t be taken for granted as a lock going forward either,” Johnson said.

Mitchell Johnson highlighted the looming Ashes set to be played at the end of this year while questioning the rationale behind benching some of the in-form players.

“If veteran players are sticking around just for the Ashes as a send-off, it does beg the question of whether that’s the right mindset. It’s crucial that we embrace the future and build confidence in selecting our next Test players.

“Players on the fringe, such as Sam Konstas, Josh Inglis, and Scott Boland, despite being 36, have a different mentality. They’re eager to prove themselves every time they get a chance,” he  concluded.

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Star batter Virat Kohli said he was lost for words after celebrations of a dream IPL title of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) turned to tragedy when 11 mainly young cricket fans were crushed to death in their home city.

Hundreds of thousands had packed the streets in Bengaluru on Wednesday to welcome home their hero Kohli and the RCB team after they had beaten Punjab Kings (PBKS) a day earlier in a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) final.

But the euphoria of the vast crowds in the southern tech city of Bengaluru ended in disaster, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it “absolutely heartrending”.

Karnataka state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said most of the 11 dead were young people, and there were 47 others injured in the crush after a stampede near the city’s M. Chinnaswamy cricket stadium, where the players were parading the trophy for fans.

Kohli, who top-scored in the final, said earlier it had been “as much for the fans” after the 36-year-old finally celebrated winning the IPL at his 18th attempt.

Later, Virat Kohli wrote on social media: “At a loss for words.

“Absolutely gutted,” he added, alongside a statement from the RCB team saying they were “deeply anguished” at what had unfolded.

One of the people injured described to AFP how a “huge crowd” had crushed her.

“They stamped on me,” said the woman, who did not give her name, from a wheelchair. “I was not able to breathe. I fell unconscious.”

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Most of the dead were young fans who had gone out just to catch a glimpse of their sporting heroes.

Street food vendor Manoj Kumar mourned the death of his 18-year-old son, killed in the stampede, who he said he had stopped from working on his stall so he could study.

“I wanted him to go to college,” Kumar told the Indian Express newspaper. “I brought him up with a lot of care. Now, he is gone.”

A grieving mother outside a city mortuary said her 22-year-old engineering student son had also died in the crush.

“He was crazy about RCB,” she was quoted as saying by the Indian Express on Thursday. “He died in an RCB shirt. They danced when RCB won, and now he is gone. Can RCB give him back to us?”

Authorities had already called off RCB’s proposed open-top bus victory parade through the streets after anticipating vast crowds. But organisers pressed ahead with the welcome ceremony and celebrations inside the stadium.

RCB’s social media account posted a video of cheering crowds lining the streets as the players waved back from their team bus on their way to the stadium.

The team said they cut short the celebrations “immediately upon being made aware of the situation”.

Siddaramaiah said that the stadium had a capacity of “only 35,000 people, but 200,000-300,000 people came”.

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