Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Five players to watch as IPL rivalries are revived

Five players to watch as IPL rivalries are revived

THE Indian Premier League roars back this weekend in the United Arab Emirates, more than four months after being halted by the coronavirus pandemic in India.

With the high-octane tournament concluding immediately ahead of next month's Twenty20 World Cup, AFP Sport highlights five players to watch in the white-ball extravaganza:


Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper will have a point to prove as his team bids to win the IPL for the first time, especially after his decision to relinquish India's Twenty20 captaincy after the World Cup.

His decision gives a twist to the unspoken rivalry with Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, who is expected to succeed Kohli as India Twenty20 captain.

Kohli, who has not won a major white-ball title with India, was having an average IPL before the break with 198 runs from seven matches - though his tally did include a match-winning 72.

Bangalore are third in the table and there will be close analysis of the leadership skills of "King" Kohli, who will remain in charge of India's Test and one-day international teams.

Eoin Morgan (Kolkata Knight Riders)

England's World Cup-winning captain has proved his worth as a leader in white-ball cricket, but it will need a special effort to lift struggling Kolkata Knight Riders into the IPL play-offs.

Kolkata are seventh of the eight teams and left-hander Morgan has seen his side win only twice while scoring just 98 runs in seven outings. Australia pace bowler Pat Cummins is not coming back to help with the campaign.

Morgan is one of only two overseas captains left in the IPL with New Zealand's Kane Williamson at Sunrisers Hyderabad.

He turned 35 on September 10 and KKR paid tribute with epithets such as "Captain Fantastic. Captain Reliable. Captain Marvellous".

But international spinner Kuldeep Yadav has gone public over the lack of communication in the Kolkata team, adding to the pressure to find a winning recipe.

Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

When the Taliban were completing their takeover of war-torn Afghanistan last month, 22-year-old spin wizard Rashid Khan was rattling opposition batsmen in the inaugural edition of The Hundred tournament in England.

One of the hottest properties in international cricket, Rashid showed his temperamental side when stepped down as Afghanistan's skipper for not being consulted on the World Cup squad.

He remains crucial to Sunrisers Hyderabad's hopes of getting off the bottom of the IPL table. The legspinner, who has Mohammad Nabi, the new Afghan captain, in the team, is now in his fourth season with Hyderabad and has taken 85 wickets in 69 IPL games.

Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings)

The South African spinner is the oldest player in the IPL at 42 but will play a central role for Chennai Super Kings on slow and turning UAE pitches.

With his flowing mane of hair, trademark headband and a celebration longer than a pace bowler's run-up, Tahir is a feisty character with a mesmerising googly.

After being left out of South Africa's T20 World Cup squad, Tahir complained that he deserved "a little more respect" and will be determined to prove that his country made the wrong decision during the remainder of the IPL.

Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)

India's "yorker king" Jasprit Bumrah goes back to IPL duty with Mumbai Indians having led his country's pace onslaught in England, claiming 18 wickets in the unfinished Test series led by the tourists 2-1.

With his distinct upright action, Bumrah, 27, was spotted as a special talent by Mumbai scout John Wright in 2013.

Now partnered by New Zealand's Trent Boult, Bumrah has bagged 115 wickets in 99 matches for the five-time champions, who are aiming for a third straight title when competition resumes.

(AFP)

More For You

11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport

'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

Highlights:

  • New ‘We Like the Way You Move’ campaign launched by Sport England initiative This Girl Can.
  • Focus on improving representation of South Asian Muslim women in sport and physical activity.
  • Research highlights stark under-representation of women of colour in public sports imagery.
  • Campaign calls on providers to create inclusive, women-only and culturally sensitive spaces.

This Girl Can has unveiled a powerful new campaign spotlighting South Asian Muslim women in sport, aiming to redefine what being active looks like and tackle deep-rooted barriers. The We Like the Way You Move drive, launched by Sport England, uses strong visuals with community-driven storytelling to encourage participation and promote inclusivity. It comes alongside new data exposing how women of colour remain overlooked in public representations of physical activity.

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport www.easterneye.biz

Keep ReadingShow less
Asia Cup 2025: India and Pakistan brace for high-stakes clash

Cricket fans with their bodies painted in the colours of the Indian and Pakistani national flags pose for photographs ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)

Asia Cup 2025: India and Pakistan brace for high-stakes clash

INDIA and Pakistan face off on Sunday (14) in their first T20 International in more than 15 months, a contest carrying both sporting and political weight.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has urged his players to put emotions aside after recent cross-border tensions, stressing that focus must remain on cricket.

Keep ReadingShow less
India Pak

India began their campaign with a nine-wicket win against the UAE, bowling them out for 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in just 27 balls on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)

India and Pakistan set for Asia Cup clash after May conflict

AN INDIA-PAKISTAN cricket match always draws attention, and emotions are set to run high when the two teams meet on Sunday in the Asia Cup. The contest comes months after the neighbours engaged in a four-day military conflict in May.

Bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have been suspended for years, and the arch-rivals now face each other only in multi-nation tournaments. The upcoming Group A fixture will be their first meeting since the May clashes, which nearly escalated into a full-scale war.

Keep ReadingShow less
Litton-Hridoy-Getty

Bangladesh lost two early wickets in their chase, but Litton built a 95-run stand with Towhid Hridoy, who remained unbeaten on 35, to take the team to 144-3 in 17.4 overs. (Photo: c

Getty Images

Litton, Towhid steer Bangladesh past Hong Kong in Asia Cup

CAPTAIN Litton Das scored 59 to guide Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in their opening Asia Cup match on Thursday.

Invited to bat first in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong made 143-7 with Nizakat Khan top-scoring on 42.

Keep ReadingShow less