All posts tagged: Champions

Mumbai Indians, WPL 2025 champions: Harmanpreet Kaur leads the way with a special innings under pressure | Cricket News

Mumbai Indians, WPL 2025 champions: Harmanpreet Kaur leads the way with a special innings under pressure | Cricket News

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SYNOPSIS: Mumbai Indians won their 2nd WPL title, riding on clutch performances from their star players, led by a Harmanpreet Kaur special. For Delhi Capitals, three straight final defeats. Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals faced yet another final heartbreak after having made it to three finals in three Women’s Premier League editions. Once again – as in the last two editions – it was their batting that let them down, as they fell short in the final hurdle at the Brabourne Stadium. Mumbai Indians clinched their second title, winning by 8 runs while defending 149/7, riding on match-winning performances from their star players. Leading the charge was Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain playing a sensational knock under pressure that proved to be the difference in the end. Harmanpreet steps up Before the tournament began, in the captain’s press meet, a question was posed whether we will finally see the first century in WPL this season. Meg Lanning predicted it would happen and three Australian batters, including the former Aussie captain, came close in Lucknow. Harmanpreet Kaur then …

Mumbai Indians crowned champions – Talking Points

Mumbai Indians crowned champions – Talking Points

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The Mumbai Indians were crowned 2025 Women’s Premier League champions following a eight-run win over the Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. The Capitals started off well in the contest after opting to bowl first as Mumbai Indians struggled to get going in the powerplay. However, an 89-run stand for the third wicket stand between Harmanpreet Kaur and Natalie Sciver-Brunt put the Mumbai Indians back on track. The Capitals did fight back with quick wickets towards the back end of the innings to restrict the inaugural champions to 149/7. Chasing 150 to win, no batters other than Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp got going for the Capitals. Mumbai Indians kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals as they became the first team to win two WPL titles. Here are the talking points from the 2025 Women’s Premier League final: Kapp’s fiery spell The Delhi Capitals made a strong statement early on in the match as Marizanne Kapp struck twice in the powerplay. The South African pacer was virtually unplayable as …

Manchester City Stumble, Nottingham Forest Soar In Champions League Chase

Manchester City Stumble, Nottingham Forest Soar In Champions League Chase

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Manchester City failed to ease fears of missing out on the Champions League next season after twice blowing the lead to draw 2-2 against Brighton, while third-placed Nottingham Forest thrashed Ipswich 4-2 on Saturday. Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush put City in front, but high-flying Brighton extended their unbeaten run to seven games thanks to Pervis Estupinan’s free-kick and an Abdukodir Khusanov own goal. City boss Pep Guardiola said on Friday that just reaching the Champions League next season would be a “big success” after a difficult season for a side used to lifting the league title. The English champions’ early exit from Europe’s top competition to Real Madrid had at least ensured a full week’s preparation for Guardiola’s men to bounce back from last weekend’s dismal 1-0 defeat at Forest. Marmoush was restored to the starting line-up and proved to be City’s brightest spark going forward. The Egyptian won the penalty from which Haaland opened the scoring with his 29th goal of the season. City’s lead lasted only 10 minutes as Estupinan …

Mumbai Indians become WPL 2025 champions, deny Delhi Capitals in their third straight final

Mumbai Indians become WPL 2025 champions, deny Delhi Capitals in their third straight final

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Mumbai Indians put up a decent total of 149, batting first after Harmanpreet Kaur made 66 from 44 balls. Marizanne Kapp and Niki Prasad fought hard in the chase, however, DC fell a little short in the end. Mumbai Indians have become champions of the Women’s Premier League for the second time as they defeated Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2025 final on Saturday, March 15. MI clinched their second WPL title after beating the Capitals by eight runs at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. MI have denied DC the WPL title another time, as the Capitals fell short on the final hurdle for the third straight time. Mumbai Indians were asked to bat first after DC skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to field. Harmanpreet Kaur was the major highlight for MI with the bat as her 66-run knock helped her team get a decent score. She partnered with Nat Sciver-Brunt for 89 runs for the third wicket after both the openers – Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia – were dismissed cheaply. Sciver-Brunt played …

“It’s A Swollen Nerve”: Gautam Gambhir Told To Use Champions Trophy Strategy In England Test Series

“It’s A Swollen Nerve”: Gautam Gambhir Told To Use Champions Trophy Strategy In England Test Series

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File photo of Gautam Gambhir Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir might be taking a few tricks from the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph to his next international assignment — the 5-match Test series in England which starts in June. Gambhir famously brought 5 spinners to Dubai for the Champions Trophy, using 4 of them together in a single match. Of the lot, Varun Chakravarthy was arguably the most effective performer despite only playing 3 matches. Now, Gambhir has been backed to use the mystery spinner on the tour of England as well. Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who also met Gambhir after India’s Champions Trophy triumph, has urged the coach to use his mystery spin bowling weapon in the England Test series as well. “Mystery spinners are England’s weakness. It’s a swollen nerve for England. Will you leave out Varun Chakravarthy? No, you will have to play him. Or you will play Kuldeep Yadav with his high-end deliveries from both ends, they can’t read him,” Sidhu said in a chat on Sports …

“No Other Country Can Do That…”: Australia Star’s Huge Remark On India After Champions Trophy Win

“No Other Country Can Do That…”: Australia Star’s Huge Remark On India After Champions Trophy Win

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season gets underway on March 22, and is sure to provide yet more proof of the plethora of talent in the Indian domestic circuit and within Indian cricket. Following the arrival of head coach Gautam Gambhir, India have adopted a T20I squad far different to the Test setup, with different approaches and styles. While the IPL has played a role in making that a reality, Australia and Delhi Capitals (DC) pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is in awe of the talent in the country. “I think they (India) are probably the only nation that can have a Test team, a one-day team, and a T20 team play on the same day against Australia in the Test, England in the one-dayer, and South Africa in the T20I, and India would be competitive. No other country can do that,” Mitchell Starc said, speaking on the Fanatics TV channel. India have already somewhat done this in the past, having sent a ‘B team’ with several first team regulars missing on a …

“Got Threatening Calls…”: India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Hero Varun Chakravarthy Makes Shocking Revelation

“Got Threatening Calls…”: India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Hero Varun Chakravarthy Makes Shocking Revelation

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Indian cricket team in action during Champions Trophy 2025© AFP Indian cricket team spinner Varun Chakravarthy revealed shocking details about his mental state after receiving threatening phone calls following a disappointing show in the 2021 T20 World Cup. In a recent interaction, Varun said that he was threatened on phone, his house was tracked down and he was even followed home from the airport after his poor performances. Varun made his name in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but was not that effective in the T20 World Cup where India were eliminated at the Super 12 stage. Varun did not take a single wicket in the competition and he recently revealed that the pressure was too much for him. He said that he suffered from depression and it was a dark time for him.  He opened up on the reaction from the fans after his campaign and shared horrendous details regarding how he received threatening calls, was stalked at the airport and his home was tracked down as well. “The 2021 World Cup …

Despite Champions Trophy 2025 Win, Rohit Sharma-Led India Served Big Warning: “Be Worried About…”

Despite Champions Trophy 2025 Win, Rohit Sharma-Led India Served Big Warning: “Be Worried About…”

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Navjot Singh Sidhu has advised the team to start preparing for the England tour.© AFP The Indian cricket team, fresh from their historic Champions Trophy triumph, head into a break from international cricket. With the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) set to start in nine days time, the Rohit Sharma-led side will now be seen in action during the upcoming England tour, slated to get underway in June. However, former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu has advised the team to start preparing for the tour as early as possible, pointing out Rohit and his men’s recent struggles in red-ball cricket. While speaking to Sports Tak, Sidhu shed light on the challenges awaiting India during the five-match Test series. “The thing to be worried about is that the IPL is now coming up next. No one is ready to sit out the IPL. They will play the league and then all of a sudden comes the England tour. Conditions will shift from North Pole to South Pole. Completely different. Moreover, India’s …

Ricky Ponting credits Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya for India’s Champions Trophy triumph | Cricket News

Ricky Ponting credits Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya for India’s Champions Trophy triumph | Cricket News

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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has lauded India’s all-rounders trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Hardik Patel for their “outstanding” performance throughout the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was eventually won by the Rohit Sharma-led team. “Their all-rounders right through the tournament were outstanding,” Ponting said on the latest edition of The ICC Review. “(Ravindra) Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, were all outstanding. I said at the start of the tournament I thought India would be really hard to beat because of their overall balance and because of that mix of youth and experience, and once again, in a final, the captain stands up and gets the job done for his team.” Story continues below this ad India’s Ravindra Jadeja hits the winning run against New Zealand in the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. (Photo: AP) Ponting explained that how having three all-rounders in the playing XI has helped India an incredible batting depth. “They were a very well balanced side anyway, but because they had so many all-rounders…when you’ve got Hardik …

Mitchell Starc Shuts Down ‘Unfair Advantage’ Champions Trophy Row With Smashing Reply

Mitchell Starc Shuts Down ‘Unfair Advantage’ Champions Trophy Row With Smashing Reply

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File photo of Mitchell Starc© BCCI/Sportzpics Did India really have an advantage by playing all of their games in Dubai over the course of the ICC Champions Trophy? Opinions on the topic are divided, with different schools of thoughts fighting against each other. While there’s no denying that India’s campaign was the easiest from the logistical point of view, Dubai still wasn’t the team’s home ground, offering challenges that Rohit Sharma‘s men weren’t used to. Sharing his opinion on the topic, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc, who wasn’t a part of his team’s Champions Trophy squad, feels India did get obvious benefit of playing all their games there (Dubai).” But, there’s a lot more to it than what meets the eye. Starc refused to term the ‘Dubai situation’ an advantage for the Indian team, saying other cricketers have had the previlige of playing franchise leagues all across the world, but that’s not the case with Indian players. “I’m not sure it is an advantage per se because as cricketers we have got all the …