Sports

IPL 2025: Punjab Kings Secure 11-Run Victory Against Gujarat Titans with Stellar All-Round Performance

Published

1 year ago

March 27, 2025

The Punjab Kings kicked off their 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with an impressive all-round display, securing an 11-run victory against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday.

Captain Shreyas Iyer led from the front with an unbeaten 97, supported by notable innings from Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh, enabling the team to set a formidable total of 243/5 in their 20 overs after being invited to bat first by Gujarat. In pursuit of 244 runs, skipper Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan faced a challenging start against the potent bowling of Arshdeep Singh and Azmatullah Omarzai, with Gill later ramping up the tempo to keep pace with the escalating run rate.

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After failing to score, Glenn Maxwell, who set a record for the most ducks in IPL history, finally made his mark with the ball in the final over of the powerplay. He managed to find Gill’s edge, which was caught at cover point.

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Jos Buttler made his debut for the Gujarat Titans after seven seasons with the Rajasthan Royals. He cautiously navigated the middle overs as Sudarshan took the initiative against the bowlers. After a slower start, Sudarshan accelerated, scoring his seventh IPL fifty off 31 balls, and raced to 74 runs, featuring five fours and six sixes, before falling to Arshdeep.

With 70 runs needed from 30 balls, the Titans introduced their Impact Player, Sherfane Rutherford, who made an immediate impact with two sixes and a four off Marcus Stoinis. However, Punjab’s impressive death bowling allowed only 12 runs in the following two overs. Buttler, after achieving his 20th half-century, was eventually dismissed by Marco Jansen, paving the way for Rahul Tewatia to face a daunting challenge.

Ultimately, Gujarat’s chase ended with too many runs and too few balls. Tewatia was out on his first ball, and Rutherford’s straight shot deflected onto the wickets. Arshdeep then bowled the West Indies batter to secure the victory for Punjab.

Earlier, debutant Priyansh Arya launched his IPL career and capitalized on a dropped catch by Arshad Khan, taking on the Gujarat bowlers after Prabhsimran Singh’s early exit.

Alongside Iyer, Arya put pressure on the bowlers, notably scoring 21 runs in one over off Arshad. However, Shubman Gill turned to his ace spinner, Rashid Khan, who struck at a crucial moment, dismissing Arya shortly after he attempted to go big and ended up top-edging a catch.

The introduction of Sai Kishore marked a turning point for the Titans, as he claimed the wickets of Azmatullah Omarzai and then LBW-ed Maxwell in consecutive deliveries. Despite a successful start, Iyer forged a 57-run partnership with Marcus Stoinis before Kishore dismissed the latter. Iyer and Shashank Singh continued to excel, adding 71 runs in just 28 balls.

With Iyer stranded on 97, Shashank finished strongly, scoring 44 off 16 balls, including five boundaries in the final over, while Iyer fell just three runs short of his maiden IPL century.

Brief Scores:

Punjab Kings: 243/5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 97*, Priyansh Arya 47; Sai Kishore 3-30, Kagiso Rabada 1-41, Rashid Khan 1-48) defeated Gujarat Titans: 232/5 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharshan 74, Jos Buttler 54, Sherfane Rutherford 46; Arshdeep Singh 2-36, Marco Jansen 2-44) by 11 runs.

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Sports

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

Published

2 weeks 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

1 month 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

2 months 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.