The IPL is the tournament which brings the highest amount of excitement and entertainment each year and the upcoming 2025 edition of the tournament promises to be the same too. While players from across the globe look forward to participating in the competition every year, some players face certain issues due to which they don't get the chance to take part in the IPL. 
One such case is of the New Zealand based players. The New Zealand Men's team will be staying back in Pakistan post the conclusion of Champions Trophy 2025, which begins from the 19th of February and ends on the 9th of March. 
Between 16th March and 5th April, the Black Caps will be locking horns versus the Pakistani Men's National Cricket Team in a complete white-ball series and both teams will be playing a total of five T20 International matches and three One Day International contests versus each other. This is the reason why players like Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway will most likely miss the initial phase of IPL 2025.
If the New Zealand Cricket Board refuses to allow the duo of Conway and Ravindra to take part in the first three weeks of the cash-rich T20 league, then the CSK team management will be forced to look for replacements.
<h2>The replacement for Devon Conway:</h2>
If opening batter Devon Conway ends up missing the initial phase of IPL 2025, the the CSK management might make veteran batter Rahul Tripathi open the inning alongside skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Tripathi's services were acquired by the five-time winners in the 2025 Mega-Auction for a price tag of 3.40 crore Indian rupees. If they decide to go ahead with this combination, then it will give them the flexibility to field overseas bowlers. 
<h2>Replacement for Rachin Ravindra:</h2>
Jamie Overton is most likely going to be the replacement for Rachin Ravindra. The English fast bowling all-rounder can play the role similar to the one of Ben Stokes. Sam Curran, also from England, is going to provide good company to Overton and together, these two can strengthen CSK's bowling and lower middle order. 
<h2>CSK's Strongest Playing 11 if Conway and Ravindra miss the start of IPL 2025</h2>
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Shivam Dube, Rahul Tripathi, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (WK), Matheesha Pathirana, Ravichandran Ashwin and Anshul Kamboj
Impact Player: Noor Ahmed,Vijay Shankar

Even during the previous season of the IPL, a cricket series was played between Pakistan and New Zealand. At that time, a total of 9 New Zealand players skipped the series and played in the IPL. It's looking highly unlikely this time around that the New Zealand Cricket Board will grant the permission to their players to skip the bilateral series in favor of the IPL. 
Do Read:

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja of CSK bumb fists in the match versus RCB in IPL 2024 | Image: BCCI

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are likely to miss the start of IPL 2025 and in this article we will be taking a look at CSK's strongest playing 11 in the absence of the two Kiwi players.

IPL: CSK's strongest Playing 11 if Conway and Ravindra miss the start of IPL 2025

ipl-csk-s-strongest-playing-11-if-conway-and-ravindra-miss-the-start-of-ipl-2025

Five time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a good 2025 Mega-Auction and they have built a solid squad ahead of the next edition of the tournament. The franchise managed to re-acquire the services of the duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway in the Mega-Auction and they also bought R Ashwin, who played for the franchise between 2009 to 2015.
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) will be kicking off from the 14th of March onwards and in this situation, the New Zealand player are going to face issues as the T20 International and One Day International series between the Kiwis and Pakistan is scheduled to start in the same month as well. 
This will make it difficult for players like Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santnwr, Bevan Jacobs and Glenn Phillips to participate in the first three weeks of the 2025 edition of the IPL.
<h2>Why is the duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway likely to miss the starting phase of IPL 2025? </h2>
The New Zealand players will be staying in Pakistan post the conclusion of 2025 Champions Trophy on the 9th of March. From 16th of March to 5th of April, the Black Caps and the Shaheens will be squaring off versus each other in five T20 International games and three One Day International encounters. This is the reason why the duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway will most likely miss the start of IPL 2025.
Even during the previous edition of the tournament, a white ball Cricket series took place between the same teams. At that time, a total of nine Kiwi players priorotized the IPL over the bilateral white-ball tour of Pakistan and played in the cash-rich T20 league. This time around though, there are doubts regarding the New Zealand Cricket Board agreeing to let their main players skip the tour of Pakistan and play in the IPL. 
The New Zealand Cricket Board has not taken any decision yet regarding the participation of their players in the 18th edition of the IPL. Last time around, the BCCI requested the NZC to let nine players miss the Pakistan series and play in the IPL. This time around too, the Cricket Governing Body of India is expected to make a request to the New Zealand Cricket Board in advance and resolve this issue by January of 2025.
If the duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway are not given the permission to skip the Pakistan tour in favour of the IPL, then a lot of big problems are likely to be created for the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK). 
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-captains-of-lsg-and-delhi-capitals-confirmed-these-star-players-will-handle-the-leadership-duties/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL 2025: Captains of LSG and Delhi Capitals confirmed! These star players will handle the leadership duties</a>

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand interact during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between England and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium on October 05, 2023 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

New Zealand's 2025 white-ball bilateral tour of Pakistan is set to clash with IPL 2025 and this will make it difficult for New Zealand players to play in the initial phase of the IPL. CSK duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway are going to get affected by this.

IPL: Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra of CSK likely to miss the start of IPL 2025

ipl-devon-conway-and-rachin-ravindra-of-csk-likely-to-miss-the-start-of-ipl-2025

The IPL 2025 mega-auction marked every franchise bringing in some new players in their squads, while many teams are also in the hunt for a new player in the role of a skipper. 
 
Though every team has included the likes of several players in their squad, they are yet to announce who would be seen in a captain’s role. Likes of great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> and Rohit Sharma, the most successful among IPL skippers, have now decided to end their role as they continue to feature for their sides as players. 
 
With five of the franchises being certain over their captains, only the likes of the remaining sides are looking for a new captain, while some teams’ like the Punjab Kings went all loose to acquire the likes of last season's title-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let's see a list of skipper choices from all 10 franchises:</h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Chennai Super Kings</h3>
 
CSK have been the most legendary side in the history of the IPL under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, and now the captaincy has passed onto the next generation of players in Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad will continue in the role of captain. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Mumbai Indians</h3>
 
The veteran all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as the MI skipper, would once again be resuming duties in the IPL as the skipper, having the national skippers, SKY and Rohit Sharma, play under him. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Gujarat Titans</h3>
 
The Gujarat Titans have included several new players in the role, while Shubman Gill, the rising Indian sensation, remains to be the captain of the side, as per speculations made. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
 
The SRH side was led by World Cup-winning skipper Pat Cummins last season, as he led them to another final against the KKR, which they eventually lost. The skipper was retained with a whopping INR 18 crore and will resume his duties. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Rajasthan Royals</h3>
 
Sanju Samson, the skipper of the Royals side, seems fixed from the last few years, and he will continue to do so while also being their prime gloveman and opening batter. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Lucknow Super Giants</h3>
 
The LSG side looked very interested in Rishabh Pant, as they spent almost 1/3rd of their remaining purse, as Pant was included for a whopping INR 27 crore. However, if reports were to be considered and Pant unwilling to continue as skipper, then he might be seen playing under Nicholas Pooran; otherwise, Pant would take up captaincy for LSG from IPL 2025. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Delhi Capitals</h3>
 
The Capitals have made choices that seem to be significant for their future, as KL Rahul, who was swapped in from LSG to the Capitals squad, might be considered their ideal option for the role of the Capitals skipper. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Royal Challengers Bangalore</h3>
 
RCB are in the biggest dilemma over their choice of skipper, having not retained Faf. Earlier speculations suggested that Virat Kohli might be resuming his role as the skipper; however, no confirmed reports have been made from either end of the player or the management. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Punjab Kings</h3>
 
The Punjab Kings have not included Shreyas Iyer just for fun, as Iyer, the captain with the defending title, was bought in for a whopping INR 26.75 crore to be termed the captain of the side under Ponting. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
 
The defending champions have let go of their skipper and are not looking to bring any such player who can be decisive as a captain, Sunil Narine who captains their other sides, Andre Russell, while also their heavily invested Venkatesh Iyer, all would stand a chance to be seen in the role of a skipper. 

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-csk-squad-after-auction-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis/">Chennai Super Kings Full Team SWOT analysis </a>

Let's take a good look at the players who can fit into the shoes of a captain.

Like Virat Kohli resuming as RCB captain, Hardik Pandya continuing as MI skipper, and Shreyas Iyer moving to PBKS as their skipper, let's take a good look at the players who can fit into the shoes of a captain.

Before the action resumes for IPL 2025, let's look at the possible choices for the franchises in the role of a skipper.

IPL 2025: Predicted Captains of All 10 Franchises for the upcoming season of the IPL

IPL-2025:-Predicted-Captains-of-All-10-Franchises-for-the-upcoming-season-of-the-IPL

IPL 2025 CSK Squad: CSK management entered the IPL Auction with a plan to build their squad around the players who had been part of the previous year's Chennai Super Kings squad. 
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Davon Conway at the top, followed by Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja in the middle order, Dhoni as the finisher, and at last, Mukesh Choudhary and Pathirana leading the bowling. Isn't this similar to the 2024 season? Yes, it is, and this is what CSK believes in!
The CSK management was active in the auction. They chased many players but having a lesser budget made them hold their hands for a couple of big names. They bid for Azmatullah Omarzai, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Nitish Rana, and many more but failed to buy them due to a smaller purse.
Let's take a look at the CSK Squad for the Upcoming IPL 2025:
<h2>CSK Squad For IPL 2025</h2>
Chennai Super Kings approached the auction with a razor-sharp strategy, leaving no room for improvisation. On Day 1, they made waves by securing seven players, headlined by marquee buys like R. Ashwin and Devon Conway, while strengthening their spin arsenal with Afghan sensation Noor Ahmad. Shifting gears on Day 2, CSK turned their attention to uncapped talents, where the standout moment was the signing of promising youngster Anshul Kamboj, adding a fresh dimension to their squad.
<table border="1"><colgroup><col width="59"><col width="159"><col width="158"></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col">
Player
</th>
<th scope="col">
Price
</th>
<th scope="col">
Country
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Ruturaj Gaikwad
</td>
<td>
Rs. 18 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Matheesha Pathirana
</td>
<td>
Rs. 13 crore
</td>
<td>
Sri Lanka
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Shivam Dube
</td>
<td>
Rs. 12 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Ravindra Jadeja
</td>
<td>
Rs. 18 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
MS Dhoni
</td>
<td>
Rs. 4 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Devon Conway
</td>
<td>
Rs. 6.25 crore
</td>
<td>
New Zealand
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Rahul Tripathi
</td>
<td>
Rs. 3.40 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Rachin Ravindra
</td>
<td>
Rs. 4 crore
</td>
<td>
New Zealand
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
R. Ashwin
</td>
<td>
Rs. 9.75 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Khaleel Ahmed
</td>
<td>
Rs. 4.80 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Noor Ahmad
</td>
<td>
Rs. 10 crore
</td>
<td>
Afghanistan
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Vijay Shankar
</td>
<td>
Rs. 1.20 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Sam Curran
</td>
<td>
Rs. 2.40 crore
</td>
<td>
England
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Shaik Rasheed
</td>
<td>
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Anshul Kamboj
</td>
<td>
Rs. 3.40 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Mukesh Choudhary
</td>
<td>
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Deepak Hooda
</td>
<td>
Rs. 1.70 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Gurjapneet Singh
</td>
<td>
Rs. 2.20 crore
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Nathan Ellis
</td>
<td>
Rs. 2 crore
</td>
<td>
Australia
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Jamie Overton
</td>
<td>
Rs. 1.50 crore
</td>
<td>
England
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Kamlesh Nagarkoti
</td>
<td>
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Ramakrishna Ghosh
</td>
<td>
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Shreyas Gopal 
</td>
<td>
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Vansh Bedi
</td>
<td>
Rs. 55 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Andre Siddarth
</td>
<td>
Rs. 30 lakh
</td>
<td>
India
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>SWOT Analysis of CSK Squad</h2>
With Rs 55 Cr left for the auction, CSK did a pretty fair job at the auction table. They brought back local boy Ravichandran Ashwin for a special reunion after 10 years, and Vijay Shankar and Devon Conway also returned to the franchise. Below is the full squad with their roles:
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202411/image_430x256_674ad98096ed8.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth, Shaikh Rasheed</li>
<li>Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway</li>
<li>All-rounders: Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, R. Ashwin, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran. Ramakrishna Ghosh</li>
<li>Fast bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Kamlesh Nagarkoti</li>
<li>Spinners: Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal</li>
</ul>
<h3>STRENGTHS of CSK Squad</h3>
Chennai Super Kings' strengths are the dependable top order, the aggressive middle order, one of the best spin arsenals, and plenty of all-rounders. They have built their squad around the five retained players, and the CSK squad looks like a complete team on paper. 
<h3>WEAKNESSES of CSK Squad</h3>
They are missing the aggressive top-order batter. CSK's top three are most likely to be Ruturaj Gaikwad, Davon Conway, and Rahul Tripathy, and these three have a strike rate of below or around 150. In modern-day cricket, the teams are posting some daunting totals on the board courtesy of their aggressive top order, but CSK is lacking in this aspect.
Another weakness is that they do not have a reliable middle order! Though, they have plenty of options like Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Rachin Ravindra, and Ravindra Jadeja in the middle, a few very aggressive names, but how reliable are they for two back-to-back seasons? 
<h3>OPPORTUNITIES in the CSK Squad</h3>
We see a big pool of opportunities for Indian youngsters. Playing with MS Dhoni will be a different experience but they will end up learning a lot with each passing season. Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathy are two names that have a lot of talent and opportunities in the upcoming season of IPL.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202411/image_430x256_674ada1bb2324.jpg" alt="">
<h3>THREATS for CSK Squad</h3>
CSK has a tendency to follow a pattern, that has worked for them in the past. They still believe in "old is gold" which is a bit of concern in this form of cricket now. The replacement of MSD as a keeper is just Devon Conway but can he replace MSD, a doubtful question!
They do have a lot of options for others and here arises the problem of plenty! They have a lot of top-order players, a lot of all-rounders, and a lot of bowlers! There will a tension for the combination and a finisher if Dhoni unfortunately gets some injury!
ALSO READ: I<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-rcb-squad-after-auction-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis/">PL 2025: RCB Squad after Auction, Players, Prices and Full SWOT Analysis</a>
SOURCE- <a href="https://www.iplt20.com/teams/chennai-super-kings">IPL 2025 CSK</a>

IPL 2025: CSK Squad after Auction, Players, Prices and Full SWOT Analysis

Chennai Super Kings were a strong side in the 2024 season but maybe even stronger this season. With the core retained, they did an absolutely brilliant job in the IPL 2025 Auction. Here, we review the CSK squad, Players, prices, and SWOT analysis.

ipl-2025-csk-squad-after-auction-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis

The IPL 2025 mega-auctions marked one of the biggest auctions in the history of the IPL, consisting of one of the largest pools of players in over a decade. Every franchise included a huge bunch of players, as over 200 players went sold in the auction. 
 
This time around, a huge entrustment in Indian pacers was shown by the IPL franchises, as several Indian as well as overseas pacers went for some immense amount of money. From Arshdeep Singh’s whopping 18 crores to Mohammad Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Mohammed Shami getting a double-digit bid for the first time, the Indian pacers specially aced the IPL mega-auction. 
 
Among overseas options as well, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Boult">Trent Boult</a>, Jofra Archer, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazelwood emerged as a few of the most heavily invested bowlers, over whom teams went on to spend a huge amount of their purses. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let’s rate every team based on their Pace bowling deck:</h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Chennai Super Kings: Mateesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, and Anshul Kamboj. </h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
Though the Chennai Super Kings have one of the finest blends of pace and spin on their side, their pace deck looks a bit inexperienced. With the Lankan speedster Pathirana leading from the front, Khaleel Ahmed and Anhsul Kamboj, who recently gained stardom owing to his 10-wicket in a single inning, might turn out to be options sharing the new ball. 
 
While English all-rounders Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, and Aussie ace T20I bowler Nathan Ellis seem to be the backup options for CSK if their bowling trio fails to capitalize. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Royal Challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazelwood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Dar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thusara, and Lungi Ngidi</h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
Rating: Owing to their lack of interest in spinners, the Challengers are not left with much except Krunal Pandya on their side. Hence, in the bowling deck, RCB would go with an all-pace attack, with experienced Bhuvi and Hazelwood leading alongside the two young Indian stars Yash and Rasikh Dar. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Rajasthan Royals: Jofra Archer, Yudhvir Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, and Akash Madhwal. </h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
The Royals came much later into the party, and their biggest among bids lay in Jofra Archer, the ex-Royals pace bowler who was brought back into the side. Meanwhile, Afghan pacer Farooqi might back up Archer owing to his prone injury status. 
 
Tushar Deshpande The rising talent from the CSK academy and Sandeep Sharma might be crucial to the team alongside Madhwal and Yudhvir, all not eminent yet aspiring names in the history of the game. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Starc, Thangarasu Natrajan, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, and Dusmantha Chameera. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Delhi Capitals do not have the most promising bowling lineup, as they have the least number of pacers on their side. Still, with a fine set of picks, they have included the hot favourites in the last auction's biggest buy, Mitchell Starc, and Indian medium pacers Mukesh Kumar and Natrajan as their other key seamers. 
 
Mohit Sharma played a very vital role for the Gujarat Titans last season during the death overs, while Natrajan and Mukesh were also the finest with the ball during the end phase. Now they would all play for the Delhi Capitals. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Kolkata Knight Riders: Harshit Rana, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, and Umran Malik. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Kolkata Knight Riders have almost retained their entire deck of quick bowlers in Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, the stars who bowled last time alongside the Aussie speedster. The Protea pacer Nortje or Aussie left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson might be placed to replace Starc in the XI. Umran Malik brings a raw pace alongside him; however, his way into the team doesn’t seem very likely, especially in the presence of an additional golden arm from Andre Russell. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, NK Reddy, Brydon Carse, Simarjeet Singh, and Eshan Malinga. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have completely brought in new players to their bowling side alongside skipper Pat Cummins. Cummins will be leading a pace attack now comprised of another experienced hat, Mohammed Shami. 
 
Harshal Patel, the highest wicket-taker from the seasons of 2022 and 2024, will now be seen for the Orange Army, alongside fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, currently dominating Aussies in the BGT. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Lucknow Super Giants: Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Shamar Joseph, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mitchell Marsh, and Digvesh Singh</h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Lucknow Super Giants, having bought Rishabh Pant, were not left with much to invest in a lot of talented pacers; hence, though their pace deck doesn’t look fancy, it seems of great futuristic scope, especially under Zaheer Khan, the new LSG mentor. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Punjab Kings: Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, and Lockie Ferguson. </h3>
 
Rating: 9/10
 
Punjab Kings have used their RTM to bring back their most trustworthy bowler, Arshdeep Singh, currently India’s most budding player in the shortest format. While alongside him, Marco Jansen, the lanky fast bowler from South Africa, will be an asset to Ponting’s side. 
 
Their deck would also comprise Vyshak, Stoinis the all-rounder, Omarzai, Hardie, Lockie Ferguson, and Yash Thakur, who among the main seamers can be of immense importance. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya, Raj Angad Bawa, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, and Lizaad Williams. </h3>
 
Rating: 9.5/10
 
Undoubtedly, the Mumbai Indians are one of the deadliest-looking teams when their bowling deck is considered. Other than their pacers, the overall team looks stunning on the team sheets. 
 
Led by world-class pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, the MI pace deck will now have the services of Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult sharing the new ball in the powerplay, while middle-overs can have Pandya at the best services he can provide. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Gujarat Titans: Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma. </h3>
 
Rating: 10/10
 
Probably, the second pacer deck looks like a nightmare to the franchises, as Kagiso Rabada will lead the pace bowling options alongside the Indian pace maestro Mohammad Siraj. 
 
However, what seems eminent on the Titans' side would be their backup options, and the 3rd or 4th pace options look equally promising alongside the frontline pacers. Prasidh Krishna, Coetzee, and young left-arm pacer Arshad Khan are expected to have a dream track under their belt in Ahmedabad.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/bgt-2024-australia-unveil-their-squad-for-the-2nd-test-this-player-has-been-added-as-cover-for-mitch-marsh/">Aussies call in debutant for Second Test at Adelaide </a>
<h1 class="jsx-12b9302b376ac3cf Introheading"></h1>

Pacers will be crucial from the point of view of the IPL franchises for the upcoming edition

The IPL 2025 mega-auctions marked one of the biggest auctions in the history of the IPL, consisting of one of the largest pools of players in over a decade. Every team looked to bolster their pace attack and hence rate them based on their bowling strengths.

The upcoming IPL will be an event to remember for their bowlers, as it's the pace deck that will bring glory to every franchise to their extent.

Rating All 10 IPL 2025 Franchises based on the strength of their pace bowling deck

rating-all-10-ipl-2025-franchises-based-on-the-strength-of-their-pace-bowling-deck

The IPL 2025 auction is seemingly getting exciting as the franchises slowly lose their huge purse amounts, especially with Punjab Kings reduced to less than INR 50 crores despite them entering the auction with a huge purse of INR 110.5 crores. Having made some crazy deals over the likes of captain Shreyas Iyer and iconic batsman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabh_Pant">Rishabh Pant</a>, who surpassed his fellow mate further to be IPL?s highest-ever bid player with INR 27 crore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let?s take a look at the auction purses left after the end of the 2nd set of Marquee Players with 12 players bought.</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Delhi Capitals: INR 47.25 crore</h3>



They have roped in two invaluable players, KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc, for much less money.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chennai Super Kings: INR 55 crores</h3>



Chennai Super Kings successfully tried on several players but still await their first inclusion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rajasthan Royals: INR 41 crore</h3>



Rajasthan Royals have also tried their luck hard, though nothing went in their favor as they, despite trying, could not acquire any players.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Royal Challengers Bangalore: INR 74.25 crore</h3>



RCB have also made some good attempts, though only ending up with Liam Livingstone for 8.75 crores.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kolkata Knight Riders: INR 51 crore</h3>



KKR, the defending champions, are trying harder but still looking for their first player addition.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lucknow Super Giants: INR 34.50 crores</h3>



The Super Giants have the most unique auction, having made the highest bid of Rishabh Pant and then followed by dynamic middle-order finisher David Miller.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sunrisers Hyderabad: INR 35 crores</h3>



The SRH have now roped in Mohammed Shami as their only inclusion to their pace bowling deck as of yet.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mumbai Indians: INR 45 crores</h3>



The Indians, in the quest for many players, have not bid eagerly for any except for Jos Buttler and Mitchell Starc, though withdrawing very early.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gujarat Titans: INR 30.25 crore</h3>



The Titans can be arguably said to have the best auction day till now with the likes of Mohammad Siraj, Jos Buttler, and finally Kagiso Rabada, the best three inclusions possible for them.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Punjab Kings: INR 47.75 crore</h3>



The people with the highest purse have spent a significant amount of money to acquire the likes of Arshdeep Singh for a huge INR 18 crore, while next getting Yuzi Chahal for another 18 crore and skipper Iyer for a record-breaking INR 26.75 crore.



ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indias-yashasvi-jaiswal-creates-history-becomes-the-batsman-to-hit-the-highest-number-of-sixes-in-a-calendar-year-of-test-cricket-ind-vs-aus/"> India?s Yashasvi Jaiswal creates history, becomes the batsman to hit the highest number of sixes in a calendar year of Test Cricket | IND vs AUS</a>

IPL 2025 Auction Updates: Every Franchise Purse Left After the Completion of the Marquee Set 2

ipl-2025-auction-updates-every-franchise-purse-left-after-the-completion-of-the-marquee-set-2

Pacers are having a day out here at Jeddah on the second day of the much anticipated IPL auction, as after several among batters and all-rounders went unsold, the pacers are making the banks of the franchises shaken up. First of all, Marco Jansen, the lanky pace bowling all-rounder from the Proteas, goes for the biggest bid of the day from the first session, with the Punjab Kings showing immense interest in the left-arm seamer.



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 Followed by a short break, the teams now seemed too determined, with the likes of Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and RCB all looking forward to decking up their pace bowling set. India?s one of the most anticipated pacers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, also the greatest ever Indian in the history of the IPL, gets rewarded for his consistency, as RCB bring him in for a whopping INR 10.75 crore, the only double-digit bid for the day.



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 While Indian pacers other than Bhuvi, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepak_Chahar">Deepak Chahar</a> earns a huge bid going to the arch-rivals MI from the Men in Yellow. While followed by him are Tushar Deshpande to the Rajasthan Royals, while Mukesh Kumar was retained by the Capitals using the RTM.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter">
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Coetzee is the only overseas bowler now going to the Gujarat Titans pace deck alongside national mate Kagiso Rabada, pairing for a breathtaking pace bowling duo.



Akash Deep gets a new franchise in the Lucknow Super Giants, who have their first player of the day and quite intriguing a futuristic option seemingly for the Super Giants.



Lockie Ferguson off at base price to the Punjab Kings.



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/live-ipl-auction-2025-live-updates-day-2-latest-news-and-more-on-auction/">[LIVE] IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates DAY 2, Latest News and More on Auction</a>

The IPL Auction  Day 2 sees its first major jump; A pacers day out Bhuvneshwar Kumar sold for INR 10.75 Crores to RCB

the-ipl-auction-day-2-sees-its-first-major-jump-a-pacers-day-out-bhuvneshwar-kumar-sold-for-inr-10-75-crores-to-rcb

The IPL 2025 mega auction is very near and is set to happen on November 24 and 25 in Riyadh. Teams have already announced their retention list and star Indian wicketkeeper-batters like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be under the hammer in the auction. 



Former India opener, Aakash Chopra, in his recent YouTube video, has said that CSK might go for the hunt of KL Rahul as a keen futuristic option for an Indian wicket-keeper batsman.



Although CSK have retained <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> as an uncapped player, they will need to find his successor as Dhoni might not be able to play the full tournament. CSK has trusted in veteran players who have been written off by the fans and media. KL Rahul, who is 30 years old, is in such a position as he has been vehemently criticised by the fans for his low strike rate in T20Is and is also out of the Indian T20I team. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
?What all do they need? I feel they need a successor to Dhoni, a wicketkeeper-batter and it?s great if they get an Indian. Everyone is saying, let me also say ? he is more than 30 years old, is going to be a father very soon and everyone has written him off as well, so he is right for Chennai, that?s KL Rahul. So they will go for KL Rahul,? 
<cite>Aakash Chopra said in his recent YouTube video</cite></blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KL Rahul has been released by Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/11/KL-Rahul-IPL-min-1024x768.png" alt="" class="wp-image-149527" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">KL Rahul has an immense legacy in the IPL (Image Credit: X.com)</figcaption></figure>



Rahul was released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the upcoming auction. The owner, Sanjiv Goenka, took a sly dig at him stating that they want players who play for the team and not their personal milestones. 



Rahul also replied back in an interview stating that he wants to play for a team who trusts him and has a light atmosphere. He wants to use IPL 2025 to make a comeback into the Indian T20I team.



Rahul has played 123 innings in the IPL and has scored 4683 runs at an average of 45.47 and a strike rate of 134.61. He has 37 half-centuries and four hundreds to his name in this tournament. He has kept Rs 2 crore as his base price in the IPL.



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-three-players-who-can-be-the-most-expensive-pick-in-ipl-2025-mega-auction/">Top three players who can be the most expensive pick in IPL 2025 Mega Auction</a>



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?I feel they need a successor to Dhoni?, Cricket analyst Akash Chopra names CSK veterans replacement after the IPL 2025|

?I feel they need a successor to Dhoni?, Cricket analyst Akash Chopra names CSK veterans replacement after the IPL 2025

i-feel-they-need-a-successor-to-dhoni-cricket-analyst-akash-chopra-names-csk-veterans-replacement-after-the-ipl-2025

IPL 2025: When we talk about the Indian Premier League (IPL), one just cannot keep the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) away from the discussion. The supporters just cannot exclude the team from their discussions, whether it's because of their tactics, the controversies related to them, or their consistent performances in the league over the years.The?same?thing?happened?leading?up?to?the?revelation?of?the?IPL?2025?retention?lists.



The legendary and iconic leader of the Chennai Based team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, dominated&nbsp;all&nbsp;debates&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;CSK&nbsp;retention-list.



The major points of discussions revolved around the future of the legendary former Indian captain and his retention as an uncapped player.



As the CSK team management revealed their retention list on the 31st of October, all the unresolved doubts got cleared as the five time IPL winners retained their former skipper for a price tag of 4 crore Indian rupees as an uncapped player.



The retention-list of Chennai made a major revelation that the franchise wanted to keep it's core intact while also they have managed to hold onto some of their biggest match-winning players. 



However, this meant that the franchise was forced to let go of some of their national and international stars due to the limited number of available retentions. These released CSK players will be under high demand in the forthcoming mega auction. Let's take a look at three players released by CSK who might end up fetching a big amount in the 2025 Mega-Auction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Players Released by CSK who might end up fetching huge amounts in the Mega-Auction:</h2>



<ol start="3" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Matheesha Theekshana - The Sri Lanka mystery off-spinner can prove to be a valuable asset for any IPL team. Theekshana can bowl at any point of time in a Twenty-Twenty match. He can prove to be extremely effective with the new ball in the first six overs, restrict the scoring-rate of the opposition teams in the middle-overs and in the death-overs as well.Therefore, his presence in the playing 11 allows his side to execute their plans according to the situation of the game, which adds flexibility to the plane of the skipper.</li>
</ol>



<ol start="2" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Rachin Ravindra - Rachin Ravindra, the New Zealand Batting All-Rounder had an excellent 2023 ODI World Cup, where he showed that he can perform well in Indian Conditions. With his consistent batting performances, the youngster further showed improvisation in his batting skills by scoring a remarkable hundred in the Bengaluru test-match versus India. The IPL franchises will be more than happy to make an overseas player a part of their squad who can easily adapt &amp; excel in the Indian playing-conditions. Besides his remarkable batting skills, the 24-year-old can also prove to be a handy left arm spin bowler. The southpaw can provide a great amount of flexibility to his skipper, especially on surfaces where there's a lot of support for spinners on offer.</li>
</ol>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Devon Conway - Kiwi Wicketkeeper Batsman Devon Conway has established himself as a crucial part of Chennai's batting unit in since the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League. The 33-year-old has proven that he is a dependable opening batter as his aggressive batting style makes him a perfect modern day batter. His consistent displays and stability which he brings as a batter will surely make him one of the most in-demand players in the forthcoming 2025 IPL Mega-Auction.</li>
</ol>



Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-five-of-the-players-released-ahead-of-the-mega-auction-who-might-go-unsold-in-the-auction/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-five-of-the-players-released-ahead-of-the-mega-auction-who-might-go-unsold-in-the-auction/">IPL 2025: Five of the players released ahead of the mega auction who might go unsold in the auction</a>

IPL 2025: 3 Players Released by CSK Who Might Fetch Big Money in the Mega-Auction

ipl-2025-3-players-released-by-csk-who-might-fetch-big-money-in-the-mega-auction

The Lucknow Super Giants as claimed by reports never looked to return with the former skipper KL Rahul, however, they supported today as they looked forward to making KL Rahul one of their top-priority retentions. However, the former skipper, KL Rahul has decided to opt out of the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucknow_Super_Giants"> Lucknow Super Giants</a> side and look out for new franchises, the cricketer has claimed to have made this decision based on personal and professional concerns. 



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<div class="wp-block-rank-math-toc-block" id="rank-math-toc"><nav><ul><li class=""><a href="#kl-rahul-after-leaving-out-lsg-is-a-seeming-target-for-these-4-franchises">KL Rahul after leaving out LSG is a seeming target for these 4 franchises</a><ul><li class=""><a href="#gujarat-titans">Gujarat Titans</a></li><li class=""><a href="#rajasthan-royals">Rajasthan Royals</a></li><li class=""><a href="#chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</a></li><li class=""><a href="#royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a></li></ul></li></ul></nav></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="kl-rahul-after-leaving-out-lsg-is-a-seeming-target-for-these-4-franchises">KL Rahul after leaving out LSG is a seeming target for these 4 franchises</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="gujarat-titans">Gujarat Titans</h3>



The Gujarat Titans are looking forward to rebuilding a team to level up with the other franchises, as they lack in the batting department. With a wicket-keeper who can open the innings for the Titans, everything might be sorted. KL Rahul might be looking to fancy his chances into such a team, as Rahul might also be a valuable asset to the side owing to his brilliance in the top order, as he might be paired alongside Gill. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="rajasthan-royals">Rajasthan Royals</h3>



The Rajasthan Royals have not decided to opt up their retentions as of yet, while the skipper Samson surely would look for an opener who can help them settle down at the top alongside young Yashasvi Jaiswal. The Royals, who have several Indian middle-order talents in Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag, will only be decked up with KL Rahul, who might allow more finishing all-rounders of overseas origin for the Royals, the only thing they lacked. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="chennai-super-kings">Chennai Super Kings</h3>



The Chennai Super Kings are possibly the most successful franchise in history and retaining the great MS Dhoni; they are not in need of a wicketkeeper, yet having a middle-order vacant, they would look to bring in someone for sure. CSK would hence deck up their middle order in the absence of Rahane, Ravindra, Mitchell, and Moeen, and KL Rahul seems to be one of the best choices for the same. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="royal-challengers-bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</h3>



As said earlier by reports, RCB were always looking to let go of their former skipper Faf du Plessis, despite him being in irresistible form. KL Rahul can be an asset to them in the top-order. With speculations of Kohli returning as the RCB skipper for the upcoming season, Rahul might be seen more of as a batter, and KL Rahul might be posed alongside Kohli as the other opener back for the side he made his debut for in 2013. 



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/a-true-captains-show-shubman-gill-agrees-to-lesser-pay-to-promote-building-a-core-team-for-the-gujarat-titans/">A true Captain?s show! Shubman Gill agrees to lesser pay to promote building a core team for the Gujarat Titans</a>

KL Rahul has decided to part ways with LSG; while these four franchises have reportedly shown interest in the IPL veteran

kl-rahul-has-decided-to-part-ways-with-lsg-while-these-four-franchises-have-reportedly-shown-interest-in-the-ipl-veteran

The Chennai Super Kings are a franchise cricket team based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which plays in the Indian Premier League. Founded in 2008, the team plays its home matches at the M. A.

Chennai Super Kings, also known as CSK, is a five-time IPL title winner and the most followed team in IPL history.
<ul>
 	<li>Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad</li>
 	<li>Coach: Stephen Fleming</li>
 	<li>Owner: N. Srinivasan</li>
 	<li>Manager:

Chennai Super Kings

The 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup begins January 18 in Malaysia, featuring 16 teams in four groups competing for the coveted title. India aims to defend their championship.

A thrilling U19 Women’s T20 World Cup kicks off in Malaysia, with 16 teams battling for glory in four groups.

ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 Schedule, Full Fixture, Teams, Venues and All You Need to Know!

icc-u19-women-s-t20-world-cup-2025-schedule-full-fixture-teams-venues-and-all-you-need-to-know-

The 5th &amp; Final Test-Match in Sydney between Fierce-Rivals Australia and India ended today and the home team secured an easy six-wicket win and this win allowed them to secure the series by 3-1.This win of the Aussies has also made some significant changes in the overall standings of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. 
Talking about the contest, the Jasprit Bumrah-led team were at 124-4 in their 2nd inning and they were looking set to set a big target for the Pat Cummins-led team. However, the Australian bowlers were in deadly mood as their perfect bowling display led to Team India suffering a batting collapse and they lost wickets in quick succession and eventually got bundled out for a mere score of 157 runs. 
Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant fought the lone warrior's battle as he played an impressive inning of 61 runs in just 33 deliveries but he didn't get any kind of support from his fellow batters at the other end and the Kangaroos took full advantage of this and eventually the game turned in the favour of the Defending Champions. 
For the Australian team, Scott Boland took 6 wickets while giving away 45 runs while skipper Pat Cummins also played a good hand with figures of 3-44 next to his name. 
The Aussies were given a target of 162 runs to win the Sydney Test-Match but they lost wickets unnecessarily as Sam Konstas (22 runs in 17 deliveries), Marnus Labuschagne (6 runs in 20 deliveries), and Steve Smith (4 runs in 9 balls) went back to the pavilion cheaply, leaving the Australian team suddenly in a dire position of 58/3.
Next, opening batter Usman Khawaja played a good knock of 41 runs in 45 deliveries which allowed his team to initiate a comeback in the contest. If Bumrah wouldn't have got injured, then Khawaja wouldn't even get the chance to go past the 10 runs mark. 
Without the availability of Bumrah, the Aussie batters started to play their shots freely and theu began creating a lot of pressure on the Indian bowling unit. While Prasidh Krishna did his best to help his team stay alive in the contest, he began to falter and this worked in the favour of the Australians. 
As a result, the duo of Beau Webster &amp; Travis Head got involved in a strong partnership for thethe fifth wicket and added 58 runs in just 53 balls and this turned out to be winning factor. They helped their team reach a score of 162-4 and the Kangaroos won the encounter by a margin of six wickets.
<h2>WTC Final Chance:</h2>
Pat Cummins-led Aussies have successfully qualified for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) Final after securing the BGT series 3-1. Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have already secured their tickets for the Final after defeating Pakistan in the first Test-Match. 
Keeping the statistics in mind, Team India have failed to qualify for the WTC Final for the first time since 2021. They are ranked third in the overall Standings with a PCT of 50. South Africa are the table toppers with a PCT of 66.67 while the Kangaroos are ranked 2nd with 63.73 PCT next to their name. They are followed by the likes of New Zealand (48.21) and Sri Lanka (45.45) respectively.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-pakistan-will-the-two-rivals-play-a-test-match-versus-each-other-this-english-legend-wants-them-to-play-in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India vs Pakistan: Will the two rivals play a test match versus each other? This English legend wants them to play in</a>

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma couldn't really have a say in the way things panned out in the Sydney Test-Match| Image: Getty Images

Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final after suffering an embarrassing defeat in the Sydney Test-Match Or have they been eliminated completely?

Team India lost the Sydney Test Match, do they have any chances of qualifying for the WTC Final? Explained!

team-india-lost-the-sydney-test-match-do-they-have-any-chances-of-qualifying-for-the-wtc-final-explained-

Day 3 of the fifth and final test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground ended India's one-and-a-half-month-long tour of Australia. With that, Australia also ended their long wait to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and won it with a margin of 3-1.
Apart from the first test, Australia dominated India throughout the series, including the third day at SCG. As a result, the Australian crowd was also animated and tried to put pressure on Team India. But Virat Kohli, who is known for his passionate persona, came up with his own way to answer.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli mocks Australian crowd with "Sandpapar" gesture on Day 3</h2>
The Australian crowd has a history of involvement with visiting teams time and time again, and this BGT 2024-25 was not new. There were many instances during the series when they targeted Indian players. Especially when it comes to Virat Kohli, the Australian crowd often welcomes him or reacts to his actions with boos. But Virat has always been the approach of giving it back.
Something similar happened on Sunday as well. Notably, Virat was the stand-in captain in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Responding to Australian crowds, Virat gestures with his "empty pocket." This incident happened just when Steve Smith got out on Day 3. Smith was part of the infamous "Sandpapergate" incident during a Cape Town test against South Africa in 2018.
Australia used sandpaper in order to tamper with the cricket ball to get more reverse swing from the ball. Unfortunately for them, it was caught on camera, and players involved in it, Smith, along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, faced bans. As a result, Virat was seen doing the "sandpapar" gesture after Smith's wickets to provoke the Australian fans.
As soon as it happened, the video of the incident went viral, and everyone was talking about it on social media. Speaking of the game, India started Day 3 at 142/6 and were bowled out for 157 runs, setting a target of 161 to win. Australia reached the target with six wickets in hand and registered the 3-1 series win. It was their first BGT win since 2014-15. With this, they also qualified for the final of the World Test Championship 2023-25.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-big-positives-for-team-india-from-the-embarrassing-bgt-series-loss-against-australia/">3 Big Positives for Team India from the Embarrassing BGT Series Loss against Australia</a>

Virat Kohli was the Stand-in captain for Team India in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.

Watch: Virat Kohli teases the over-aggressive Australian crowd with "Sandpapar" gesture on Day 3

watch-virat-kohli-teases-the-over-aggressive-australian-crowd-with-sandpapar-gesture-on-day-3

The Australian Cricket Team, under the leadership of Pat Cummins successfully defeated Team India in the Sydney Test-Match by a margin of six wickets and this wicket helped them to seal the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series by 3-1.
While the Aussie players are going to be really happy with this series win, the Indians on the other hand, are facing a lot of criticism following the series defeat especially the Indian batters. Senior players like Virat Kohli are the main targets of the critics. 
In the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Kohli got dismissed on the outside off-stump line eight times and versus the Aussie bowlers, the former Indian skipper looked helpless &amp; cluseless versus the them. Now, AB De Villiers, the South African legend has made a huge revelation regarding how the former Indian and RCB skipper can tackle the outside off-stump deliveries.
<h2>'Every Batsman in the world struggles with some weakness'</h2>
AB De Villiers said, "He (Virat) can definitely find a solution to the the outside off-stump deliveries. Every batsman out there has a weakness and if I talk about myself, then the deliveries which used to come towards the pads in a straight line used to trouble me a lot. But I learnt from it and scored a lot of runs in the remainder of my career. 
I still remember the Test-Series versus England (ENG). The series kicked off on a positive note and I scored good amount of runs in the Durban Test-Match and everything was going smoothly. But, then the duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson started dismissing me on a successive note and especially, with the new ball, I got out constantly".
<h2>What's the solution to the problem of Virat Kohli? </h2>
AB de Villiers believes that old balls keep running in the mind of the 36-year-old, which automatically affects the next forthcoming delivery. What happened before on the previous ball doesn't matter... He (Virat) should play every ball like a new and fresh one, he should just forget thinking about the previous deliveries. If finds success in doing this properly, then he can play the outside off-stump deliveries in a much better way.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-big-positives-for-team-india-from-the-embarrassing-bgt-series-loss-against-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 Big Positives for Team India from the Embarrassing BGT Series Loss against Australia</a>

Scott Boland got the better of Virat Kohli for the fourth time in the BGT 2024-25 series | Image: Getty Images

Virat Kohli has struggled a lot with the outside off-stump deliveries in the ongoing BGT Series

Will Virat Kohli stop getting dismissed on the outside off stump line now? AB De Villiers gives a solution

will-virat-kohli-stop-getting-dismissed-on-the-outside-off-stump-line-now-ab-de-villiers-gives-a-solution

India batter Virat Kohli has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism after his failures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The batter looked torrid with the bat in the majority of the series and there have been calls related to his retirement as well. 
Virat Kohli, who hit a century in the first Test, looked absolutely torrid with the bat in the rest of the games of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The premier batter was troubled by the balls outside off stump as it brought his downfall in almost every match of the five-match Test series. 
When Virat Kohli hit a century in Perth, it was expected that he would have a breakthrough series and would be setting the stage on fire. But that wasn't the case, as, after the ton in the opening match, he failed in the entire series and ended up getting just around 90 runs in the rest of the games. 
Since 2020, Virat Kohli has looked extremely torrid with the bat and has been averaging just in the 20s. This has seen him getting a lot of criticism for his poor outings. Many fans and experts have lashed out at him for his poor performances and hence they want him to make way for youngster. 
One of the heavy criticism came from Irfan Pathan, who pointed out the batter's poor average, saying that Virat Kohli averaged just 15 in the first innings of the Test. He said that the players with these low averages don't deserve a place in the Indian Team. 
<h2>He has made a lot of runs, but in 2024, batting in the first innings where you set up the match, Kohli averages just 15 - Irfan Pathan</h2>
Irfan Pathan added that it's time for Virat Kohli to make way for youngsters and that even young players will maintain a batting average of 25-30. Speaking to Star Sports, he explained: 
"He has made a lot of runs, but in 2024, batting in the first innings where you set up the match, Kohli averages just 15. If we take out his stats for the last five years, he barely averages 30. Does the Indian team deserve that from its senior player? It's better to give a youngster a long run, tell him to get ready; even that guy will maintain a batting average of 25-30." 
India's next Test series will be against England. It remains to be seen if he will be part of the series or not.
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India batter Virat Kohli has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism after his failures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.