Sports

The internet went on overdrive on Saturday when the official broadcaster showed footage of Pan Singh and Devika Devi, MS Dhoni‘s parents, during the Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Chennai. It was the first time Dhoni’s parents dropped in to watch an IPL game here since their son’s association with CSK began in 2008. Dhoni’s wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva too were in attendance, though they often attend IPL matches at Chennai.

Dhoni’s parents’ presence saw social media speculating whether the CSK great would retire or not. However, CSK coach Stephen Fleming, at the post-match press conference, clarified he was not retiring.  “He is still going strong, and I don’t even ask him about his future these days,” Fleming said.

There were talks about Dhoni leading the CSK if regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad did not recover in time from a blow on his unprotected elbow against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati last Sunday. However, Gaikwad strolling out for the toss ruled out any such nostalgic trip back to some glory days. Gaikwad said at the toss: “My elbow is good, eager to go.”

Meanwhile, standout spells from spinners Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav strangulated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) scoring rate as Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their winning run in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with a 24 run win at Chepauk Stadium on Saturday.

With this win, DC is at the top of the points table with three wins in three games. On the other hand, with just one win and three losses, CSK has slid down to the eighth spot.

During the run chase, the all-New Zealand opening combination of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway could not stay together for long as Rachin was caught and bowled by Mukesh Kumar for just three. CSK was 14/1 in 1.5 overs. In the very next over, Mitchell Starc got the prized scalp of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for five, thanks to a fine catch by Jake Fraser McGurk at deep backward square leg. CSK was 20/2 in 2.3 overs.

Devon Conway and Vijay Shankar tried to stitch a partnership, but a googly by Vipraj Nigam landed into skipper Axar Patel‘s hands, removing Conway for 13 in 14 balls. CSK was 41/3 in 5.3 overs.

At the end of six overs, CSK was 46/3, with Shankar (11*) and Dube (5*) unbeaten. CSK reached the 50-run mark in 7.2 overs.

Dube once again failed to convert his state into a big score as Vipraj got his second wicket, with Tristan Stubbs making no mistake at long-on. Dube was gone for 18 in 15 balls, with a four and six. CSK was 65/4 in 9.2 overs.

CSK was 69/4 in 10 overs, with Vijay Shankar (19*) joined by Ravindra Jadeja (2*). Wickets continued to tumble for CSK as Ravindra Jadeja was trapped leg before wicket by Kuldeep Yadav for just two. CSK was 74/5 in 10.4 overs.

MS Dhoni walked to the crease and received a huge ovation from the crowd.

DC bowlers were all over CSK, as even though Vijay managed some boundaries, the asking rate was climbing up rapidly. CSK reached the 100-run mark in 14.3 overs. Dhoni had to wait till the 19th ball to hit a six.

CSK finished at 158/5, with Vijay (69* in 54 balls, with five fours and a six) and Dhoni (30* in 26 balls, with a four and six).

FC Goa head coach Marquez will be banking on home support in the second leg.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: ISL

There is a popular notion in football that it is always favourable to get a home match in the second leg of a crucial knockout clash. FC Goa will have that luxury as it faces Bengaluru FC in the second leg of their ISL semifinal tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

However, Manolo Marquez and his outfit will step on the pitch with an uphill battle to conquer after losing 2-0 courtesy of a Sandesh Jhingan own goal and an Edgar Mendez strike four days back at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Numerically, Goa was the better attacking team in the opening leg. Marquez’s men had 21 touches inside the opponent’s penalty area, 130 passes inside the final third and eight crosses inside the box. However, Gerard Zaragoza’s Bengaluru was clinical, creating two big chances and converting one, while Goa created just one and failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

A deficit to overcome, playing in front of home fans and a place in the finals — the Gaurs have plenty of incentives to come out all guns blazing. But as Bengaluru has has shown this season, on its day, it can virtually dominate every department on the pitch.

“Finally, it’s a game. In the regular season, we beat them 3-0. There is always hope. There will be a lot of fans at the Fatorda. We want the supporters to come to the stadium and do as good as or better, if possible, than the Bengaluru FC fans,” said Marquez.

MS Dhoni will not lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2025 match against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday as first-choice skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has been declared fit to play the game. Gaikwad walked out for toss at the Chepauk, shattering fans’ hopes of seeing Dhoni lead CSK once again. Dhoni was expected to lead CSK if Gaikwad doesn’t recover in time from his elbow injury. Gaikwad had taken a blow on his right forearm while trying to step down the pitch off Tushar Deshpande in the second over during CSK’s defeat to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Sunday.

Meanwhile, DC captain Axar Patel won the toss and opted to bat against CSK. DC are unbeaten after two matches, and made just one forced change, with Sameer Rizvi replacing Faf du Plessis.

“We are going to bat first. Feels like there’ll be help for the bowlers. Expect it to get slower as the game progresses. In our team, we have a few players who have captained other franchises and that helps me a lot. Same combination. Faf is not fit for this game, Sameer Rizvi is playing,” Axar said at the toss.

CSK, on the other hand, also made two changes, hoping to recover from back-to-back losses.

We were looking to bat as well. Looks a bit dry. It’s a bit cloudy, won’t change much. You always want momentum in T20 cricket. Overall, the chat has been positive. Fielding is something which we can improve day by day. We want to be proactive. Elbow is good. Conway comes in for Overton. Mukesh comes in from Tripathi.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul(w), Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma

Everybody has a plan to make cricket more equitable, bring in more money, have more rational calendars, comprehensible points systems and so on. The International Cricket Council, sadly, isn’t one with such plans. Some years ago, the Woolf Report put forward ideas which were heartily ignored. Now the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), a body with little power since India doesn’t recognise it, has published a report it claims can bring in an additional $240 million annually. 

This players’ body (originally called FICA or Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations) has identified four areas that require urgent solution in a recent paper entitled Protecting History, Embracing Change: A Unified Coherent Global Future.

File image of Mats Hummels© AFP

Shreyas Iyer has been leading from the front for Punjab Kings.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Punjab Kings, after rollicking victories away in Ahmedabad and Lucknow, is set to play host for the first time in IPL 2025.

Saturday’s fixture against Rajasthan Royals is also a good opportunity for the in-form PBKS to snap its four-match winless run at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium.

After the 11-run win over Gujarat Titans in a run fest, PBKS hunted down Lucknow Super Giants’ 171 at a canter.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer (149 runs at a strike rate of 206.94) has been at the forefront of Kings’ charge with the bat.

The team’s astute use of the Impact Player rule (V. Vyshak vs GT and Nehal Wadhera vs LSG) is praiseworthy.

RR, which started its campaign with heavy losses against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, comes into this contest with a spring in its step after getting the better of Chennai Super Kings.

Nitish Rana’s 36-ball 81 set up the game before the bowlers — led by Jofra Archer (one for 13) and Wanindu Hasaranga (four for 35) — did a commendable job of defending 182.

The return of Sanju Samson as skipper after getting NCA’s clearance to resume wicket-keeping duties also bodes well for the visitor.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was the first one to turn up for batting practice on the eve of the match, looked determined to arrest his slump quickly.

It will also be interesting to see how Kings’ Yuzvendra Chahal — maybe with a point to prove — fares against his former side