Sports

IPL 2025: GT Captain Gill Welcomes Buttler, Emphasizes Strength in Numbers

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2025

The Gujarat Titans boast impressive talent with players like captain Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Sai Sudarshan, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan among their batting lineup. Adding all-rounders such as Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar, along with seasoned bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Mohd Suraj, and Ishant Sharma, creates a promising yet competitive environment within the squad, raising questions about resource allocation.

Captain Shubman Gill and head coach Ashish Nehra face the challenging task of assembling a well-balanced playing XI from their extensive roster.

—

As they prepare for their opening match in the 2025 Indian Premier League against Punjab Kings, Gill believes that acquiring Jos Buttler, who shares the same opener role as him, does not signify a predicament within the batting order.

—

“Having someone like Jos Buttler on the team is a boon, not a burden. His T20 achievements with England and in the IPL are well-known. During recent matches, he batted at number three,” Gill commented.

“There isn’t an issue with him adapting to different batting positions. We haven’t yet finalized his batting order, but you will find out during the match,” he added.

“Buttler’s experience over his eight to nine years in the IPL, switching between different positions and excelling, ensures that we don’t see this as a challenge,” said Gill.

The Gujarat Titans have retained the core of their 2024 squad, and despite not reaching the playoffs last season, Gill noted that their strategy remains largely unchanged.

“Aside from a few new additions, there isn’t a need for a drastic change in approach. As I’ve mentioned before, we have the highest win percentage over the past three years. Therefore, we are confident in our existing strategy and management structure,” Gill stated.

Regarding their opponents, Gill acknowledged that although Punjab Kings have undergone significant changes under new head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, they are confident in facing them since they are familiar with the skills of the players from past matchups.

“The auction mechanism every three years leads to a shift in team composition. While Punjab Kings may be new as a collective unit, we’ve competed against these players before, so their skills are well known to us,” Gill explained.

“We’re aware of different combinations they might utilize, but the core skills remain the same,” he added.

Gill expressed optimism that his team will perform at their best during IPL 2025, aiming to reclaim the title they secured in 2022.

—

Sports

Bengaluru Police Issue Advisory Ahead of RCB’s IPL 2026 Final

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 :Bengaluru police have urged people to celebrate responsibly during and after the IPL 2026 final. RCB will play the final match on Sunday.

Police have banned public celebrations, bike rallies, road blockages, and stunt riding. Bursting crackers and setting up public LED screens without permission are also not allowed.

Authorities have asked people not to drink alcohol in public places or create disturbances. Citizens have also been warned against spreading rumours or posting offensive content on social media.

The advisory comes after a stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations last year, which claimed 11 lives. Police have appealed to fans to maintain peace and cooperate with officials to ensure public safety.

Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

4 weeks ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

1 month ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.