The left-handed opening batter of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Abhishek Sharma, has earned the top spot in the T20I batters’ rankings, as he replaced his IPL opening partner, Travis Head, with a rating of 829, nearly 15 more than the left-handed batter, who lost his position for the first time in more than a year. 

Abhishek Sharma burst into the international scene last year when he smashed a superb T20I century against Zimbabwe. However, he continued to struggle for consistency in the format before showing recent efforts against South Africa and England. The 24-year-old overtakes Head to become the third Indian player to hold the No. 1 spot in T20I after Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.

See Also: [WATCH] R Sai Kishore bowls dream delivery for Surrey during County Championship 2025

Head was at the top place after he went past Sky during last year’s Men’s T20 World Cup, but his decision to sit out of the five-match T20I series against the West Indies in the Caribbean has seen him lose the position to Sharma. Suryakumar held the top rank while Kohli was the first Indian player to hold the spot during the period between 2014 and 2017.

India show dominance with number one ranks in various departments

India is now the number one-ranked side in the ODIs and T20Is, while their Test batter, Shubman Gill, remains the number one 50-over ranked batter. Abhishek, who has smashed 535 T20I runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 193.84, joins Jasprit Bumrah, who is the number one-ranked Test bowler.

Number 1 ODI team - India
Number 1 T20I team - India
Number 1 ODI batter - Gill
Number 1 T20I batter - Abhishek
Number 1 Test bowler - Bumrah
Number 1 Test all-rounder - Jadeja
Number 1 T20I all-rounder - Hardik

THE DOMINANCE OF TEAM INDIA 🇮🇳💥 pic.twitter.com/jtoESTvD6B

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 30, 2025

Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya are also the number one-ranked all-rounders in the Test and T20I formats. Josh Inglis, who celebrated two half-centuries in the Caribbean T20Is, has moved six places up to the ninth rank among T20I batters. Cameron Green climbs up a whopping 64 spots to go to 24th after his 205 runs across five matches and the Player of the Series heroics.

This week's episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show promises to be a treat for cricket fans as much as comedy fans, with a star-studded lineup of cricketing legends—Gautam Gambhir, Rishabh Pant, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Abhishek Sharma. Host Kapil Sharma brings a hilarious episode filled with laughter, light-hearted jibes, and inside stories from the cricketing world in the Netflix series. The camaraderie of the host and guests is different from the rest, providing a sense of laughter and warmth.

The show begins with Kapil Sharma playfully asking "Coach sir" Gambhir whether he can allow the team to let their funny side out. Thereafter, it's a laugh riot with dugout-like jokes and humorous repartee. Gambhir, with his strict demeanor on the field, leaves everyone surprised with his wit and punchy one-liners, even taking friendly jabs at Kapil. Rishabh Pant, with his contagious energy, dishes out one-liners and cheeky comebacks that keep the audience and Kapil in splits throughout.

Yuzvendra Chahal pairs effortlessly with Pant, adding layers of sly humor and funny commentary that highlight their strong off-field bond. Newcomer Abhishek Sharma offers a calmer presence, balancing the lively atmosphere with understated wit and ease. He gels smoothly with the rest of the cast, including the always-animated Sherry Pa, bringing a well-rounded dynamic to the group.

Comic Chaos with Familiar Faces

Joining the fun are Krushna Abhishek and Kiku Sharda in their entertaining best as their glamorous personas Sona and Mona. Their outrageous skits and over-the-top acts add a dose of humor that leaves the audience split up their sides, boosting the show factor of the episode.

Watch the video here

Gambhir, Chahal, Pant, and Abhishek on The Kapil Show. pic.twitter.com/bpZWCGDKAH

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 2, 2025

See Also: Mohammed Shami ordered to pay ₹4 lakh alimony – Know the reason

A highlight is Sunil Grover's return as Manjot Singh Sidhu—a showy imitation that brings roars of laughter. Dressed in garish attire and uttering signature "Sidhu-isms," Grover's perfect imitation walks away with the show. Scheduled for streaming on Netflix this Saturday, the episode promises a laugh-filled evening in which cricket blends with comedy in the best possible manner.

The 2025 IPL season produced some of the most thrilling batting performances from some of the finest batters from across the cricketing circles. It witnessed some of the most exciting partnerships from some of the class performers that laid the platform for their respective teams to perform to their highest level, whether it was chasing big targets or putting big totals on the scoreboard. In this piece, we discuss five partnerships of the 2025 IPL season that lit up the entire tournament.

The partnerships mentioned in the piece highlighted batting standards that differed in terms of technique and acceleration through aggressive batting, but these partnerships attracted a lot of attention and raised the excitement levels. We discuss these partnerships in detail:  

5. Nicolas Pooran & Mitchell Marsh -121 runs LSG vs GT-22nd May 2025

Lucknow Super Giants produced a dominating performance, scoring 235/2 in 20 overs. Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to field first on a flat batting wicket at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Mitchell Marsh and Nicolas Pooran compiled a 121-run partnership for the second wicket, helping the team win by 33 runs.

Marsh scored a brilliant 117 while Pooran contributed with a crucial 56 runs. The partnership was a treat to watch for the fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Both batters hit some powerful shots all around the wicket.

4.Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh-152 runs LSG vs RCB-27th May 2025

RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium. Lucknow Super Giants scored 227/3 in 20 overs. Although LSG lost the game as RCB chased the target with 8 balls remaining, the partnership between Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh was the centre of attraction as both players compiled a 152-run partnership.

Pant scored 118, including 11 fours and 8 sixes, while Marsh scored a vital 67 while opening the batting. Both batters ran well between the wickets and played some wonderful cricketing shots. The partnership gave the fan moments of a lifetime. 

3.Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashaswi Jaiswal-166 runs RR vs GT- 28th April 2025

Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to bowl first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. Gujarat Titans scored 209/4 in 20 overs. Rajasthan Royals won the match comfortably by chasing the target with 25 balls remaining. Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed the Gujarat Titans bowlers all around the park effortlessly as the excitement levels were at an all-time high. 

The 14-year-old left-hander scored 101 in 38 balls and was well supported by Yashaswi Jaiswal from the other end as both batters played some cracking shots on the up and used the pace of the wicket quite well. Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 70 in 40 balls, and both batters scored 166 runs for the opening wicket.

See Also: WTC Final 2025: Top 5 knocks of World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle ft Marnus Labuschagne

2.Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma-171 runs Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings-12th April 2025

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field first at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad. The wicket was a bit helpful for the spinners, but as the game progressed, it assisted the batters. Punjab Kings scored 245/6 in 20 overs, but SRH managed to chase the target with 9 balls remaining on the back of a magnificent partnership from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, as the duo scored 171 runs for the 1st wicket.

Abhishek Sharma scored 141 runs in 55 balls, hitting 14 fours and 10 sixes, while Travis Head scored 66 runs in 37 balls. Both left-handers showcased positive intent and accelerated when needed. Both batters built their innings well and hit the big shots depending on the required run rate.

1.Shubhman Gill & Sai Sudarshan 205* runs Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals- 18th May 2025

Gujarat Titans captain Shubhman Gill won the toss and chose to field first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Delhi Capitals scored 199/3 in 20 overs. GT openers showed an aggressive intent right from the word go, as both Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan showed calm temperament while chasing a big total. Sudarshan scored a classy unbeaten 108 in 61 balls while Gill scored an unbeaten 93 in 53 balls. Both batters played some cracking drives on both sides of the wicket and hit the ball cleanly down the ground as Gujarat Titans chased the total without losing a wicket, and with 1 over remaining.

The 65th match of IPL 2025 was played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad team. In this match, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by a margin of 42 runs and registered a spectacular victory. With this, the Bangalore team has suffered a huge loss and now their hopes of remaining in the top 2 have also suffered a major setback. In this match, Bangalore had a target of 232 runs. In response, the Bangalore team could score only 189 runs.

Talking about this match, Sunrisers Hyderabad team, who came to bat first, scored 231 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. In which Abhishek Sharma scored 34 runs in 17 balls and Travis Head scored 17 runs in 10 balls. After this, Ishan Kishan played an unbeaten innings of 94 runs in 48 balls which included 7 fours and five sixes. After this Henry Klaasen scored 24 runs in 13 balls and Aniket Verma scored 26 runs in 9 balls. From Royal Challengers Bangalore team, Romario Shepherd took two wickets by giving 14 runs in two overs.

RCB batsmen flopped in run chase except Kohli-Salt

Virat Kohli gave a fast start to Royal Challengers Bangalore team which came to chase the target of 232 runs given by Hyderabad. Virat Kohli and Phil Salt made a brilliant partnership of 80 runs in 42 balls for the first wicket in which Virat Kohli scored 43 runs in 25 balls which included 7 fours and a six. Apart from this Phil Salt played an innings of 62 runs in 32 balls. But the innings fell apart completely after his dismissal.

From the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, Mayank Agarwal scored 11 runs in 10 balls, Rajat Patidar scored 18 runs in 16 balls, Jitesh Sharma scored 24 runs in 15 balls and no batsman could play a big innings and Royal Challengers Bangalore team had to face a big defeat in this match. From the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, captain Pat Cummins took three wickets for 28 runs in four overs. Ishan Malinga took two wickets for 37 runs in four overs.

ALSO READ: ENG vs ZIM: Who is Ben Curran representing Zimbabwe in one off against England?

Twitter reactions after SRH wins 65th match of IPL 2025

Orange army aate Tsunami 💪#RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/SemZMcZgtm

— RTR (@naaccountnaistm) May 23, 2025

Ishan Kishan trying hard to help Mumbai get into the Top 2 spot💀 pic.twitter.com/ZMtCRkDZmn

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 23, 2025

RCB ki bayam ante ento chupichedhi meme @SunRisers 🫡🥳🤝🥵🥵 @patcummins30#RCBvSRH
Rt for bayam 😂😂 best edit pic.twitter.com/4icPc0n548

— TIRU🦁 (@heyrangule) May 23, 2025

Manifesting that these two marry each other on 4th June pic.twitter.com/TfS2Ez7SgW

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 23, 2025

Kavya Maran watching SRH bat like peak SRH after they got eliminated from the Tournament 💔 pic.twitter.com/8KkmmImwQa

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 23, 2025

High Voltage Match#RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/jyubmI4dZ0

— Gopinath 🧡 (@NavvutuUndandi) May 23, 2025

Only Virat Kohli and Rajnigandha can paint Lucknow Red pic.twitter.com/sU4sEV1OAh

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 23, 2025

Same energy #RCBvsSRH pic.twitter.com/Xrzw4tXM23

— Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1) May 23, 2025

Mumbai Indians need RCB to lose to get the Top 2 spot 🗣

Pure MI blood Ishan Kishan-
"Say no more" pic.twitter.com/YMhpLMxQ5i

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 23, 2025

Travis Head

In 2024 In 2025 pic.twitter.com/vbX7ZLbvNx

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 23, 2025

In a sensational IPL 2025 game between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 19, 2025, at Ekana Cricket Stadium, a fiery off-field battle between LSG spinner Digvesh Rathi and SRH batter Abhishek Sharma dominated the show. The event was during SRH's run chase of a 206-run target, when Rathi sent Sharma packing after the batter had belted a devastating 59 off 20 balls with six of them being sixes. Rathi’s signature “notebook” celebration, perceived as provocative, sparked a heated verbal exchange, escalating tensions on the field.

The altercation didn’t end there. Post-match, during the handshake, the two players continued their animated exchange, prompting LSG assistant coach Vijay Dahiya to intervene and reportedly slap Sharma to diffuse the situation. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stepped in as a peacemaker, engaging both players in a calm conversation during the presentation ceremony. Shukla's mediation was captured in viral visuals, and his attempts to bring about harmony were appreciated by his fans. The incident, though, did attract much attention, diverting one from SRH's six-wicket win that pushed LSG out of the playoff hunt.

The BCCI reacted quickly, laying down stringent disciplinary actions. Rathi, who committed the third breach of the IPL Code of Conduct during this season, was suspended for one game and fined 50% of his match fee. His prior offences against Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians had already earned him five demerit points, triggering the ban. Sharma, facing his first violation, was fined 25% of his match fee. The incident sparked a memefest on social media, with fans poking fun at Rathi’s celebration and Sharma’s fiery retort, reportedly saying, “Choti kaat dunga” (I’ll chop off your hair).

Aftermath and Reactions

The incident clearly became the talk of the town, with former cricketer Suresh Raina criticising the behaviour of both Indian players throughout the commentary which, he says, was not ideal behaviour to set an example of. The various reactions and opinions made on social media were humourously bittersweet, as some people chastised the BCCI for taking heavy handed penalties with bowlers like Rathi, while others lauded Sharma's match-winning innings.

Also Read: Mumbai Indians announce key replacements for IPL 2025 Playoffs push

In due course, despite the incident, both players appeared to have gotten over it - footage showed them chuckling together post-game, showcasing proper sportsmanship. This incident illustrates how emotionally battery the IPL was - and this incident with Shukla also represents how serious the BCCI take proper behaviour in cricket.

The 61st match of IPL 2025 was played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. In this match, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Lucknow Supergiants by 6 wickets and registered a spectacular victory. In this way, Lucknow Supergiants team has suffered a big loss in the tournament. In this match, Lucknow had set a target of 206 runs in front of Hyderabad team. In response, Hyderabad team achieved the target in 18.2 overs.

Talking about this match, Lucknow Supergiants batted first and scored 205 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Lucknow had a great start in this match and both the openers of Lucknow team Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram made a brilliant partnership of 115 runs in 63 balls for the first wicket. In which Mitchell Marsh scored 65 runs in 39 balls and Markram scored 61 runs in 38 balls. After this, Rishabh Pant came to bat and once again flopped. Pant played an innings of 7 runs in 6 balls. Nicholas Pooran scored 45 runs in 26 balls. Apart from this, no batsman could play a big innings. For the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, Ishan Malinga took two wickets for 28 runs in four overs.

Abhishek Sharma dominated in the run chase

Chasing the target of 206 runs given by Lucknow Supergiants, the Sunrisers Hyderabad team did not have a good start and Atharva Tayade was out after scoring just 13 runs. After this, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan took charge and shared 82 runs in 35 balls for the second wicket. Abhishek Sharma scored 59 runs in 20 balls which included four fours and six sixes. While Ishan Kishan scored 35 runs in 28 balls, Henry Klaasen scored 47 runs in 28 balls, Kamindu Mendis scored 32 runs in 21 balls and led the team to victory.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: CSK vs RR Match 62- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

Twitter reactions after SRH wins 61th match of IPL 2025

2024 - 9.4 overs humiliation

2025 - SRH kicked LSG out of the tournament

We own LSG dogs 🐕‍🦺👊 pic.twitter.com/qTH22dedXm

— Chakri Goud 🧡🦅 (@Chakrigoud2211) May 19, 2025

🚨 UPSET IN LUCKNOW! 🚨
SRH crush LSG by 6 wickets — and wreck their playoff dreams! 💥

LSG posted 205-7
Looked in control.
But then came SRH’s explosive chase. 💣

Abhishek Sharma (20-ball-59, 4x4, 6x6)
Heinrich Klassen (28-ball-47, 4x4, 1x6)

A must-win game for LSG...
Turns… pic.twitter.com/WVkbc9j4lY

— "Cricket ++" feat. Raj (@cricplusplus) May 19, 2025

Just how fast the night changes 🫠#LSGvsSRH pic.twitter.com/GHj5Aueega

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) May 19, 2025

Iska bhi credit Mahi bhai ko jayega 🤙#SRHvsLSG pic.twitter.com/fZvR9TWyTU

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) May 19, 2025

Last Over So Much Drama 🔥

Thy kept bowl wide
So batman runs
& Same tricks to use too 😌😅
But batman set 🔥 High

& 3 WKTS FOR HIM 😌

6 4 & last ball 6 🔥
Into 200+

SRH needs 206 🎯 to win

20' 205/7 🧢 #SRHvsLSG #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/qmTga3PJjB

— jack 🧢' BLOOD OF ZEUS ⚡️ (@jackiscrazyB) May 19, 2025

Satisfying Picture from LSG Vs SRH!!

- let's laugh at Sir Goenka!😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6lCuTnfopt

— J's Dxrsh. (@THEKLRDIARY) May 19, 2025

Thank you LSG 🧡🧡

Never ever mess with @SunRisers 🔥🥵 #SRH https://t.co/d92yJwb83S pic.twitter.com/fD0QafVgQb

— Sagar Nani (@SagarNaniJSPK) May 19, 2025

Ppl were saying srh is worst team of ipl
Let me remind them one thin

Tumhari jo so called best team hai vo pure 20 over me jitta run marti hai utta srh power play me mar deti hai #LSGvSRH pic.twitter.com/QFYRHljLt3

— ғʀᴏᴢᴇɴ°•°ᵐᵃˢᵒᵒᵐ❄️ (@Real_masoom1) May 19, 2025

SRH Won by 6 wickets against LSG.

Abhishek Sharma
Digvesh Rathi
Rishabh Pant

LSG almost knocked out from IPL. #LSGvSRH #LSGvsSRH

— Sharik Siddiqui (@siddiquisharik1) May 19, 2025

"LSG vs SRH में माहौल गर्म!
दिग्वेश राठी ने बॉल डाली, अभिषेक शर्मा ने छक्का सोच के मारा...
कैच हो गया, लेकिन सेलिब्रेशन राठी जी का ऐसे जैसे वर्ल्ड कप जीत लिया हो 😎

जाते-जाते 'निकल ले' वाला इशारा कर बैठे!
अभिषेक शर्मा भी बोले, 'इतनी जल्दी कौन निकलता है?'
लौट के बुद्धू घर नहीं,… pic.twitter.com/HXoMj3JmiV

— गाँव की बिटिया आकृति (@akratisurya) May 19, 2025

The match number 61 of IPL 2025 was held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Chasing such a large total of 206 runs to win, the explosive batting unit of SRH needed their A game. The inconsistency from them for the entire season had already ruled them out of the playoffs at this point. The only exciting thing about this game was the sensational innings played by young left-hand pinch hitter Abhishek Sharma. He played a knock that changed the game when his team needed it to change the most.

The prolific India batter smashed a blistering 59 runs off just 20 deliveries, lighting up the stadium with his fearless and aggressive approach. The southpaw innings incorporated four boundaries and six maximums, setting the tone perfectly for the rest of the SRH lineup to ease into the chase. With Sharma’s brilliant knock upfront, the pressure was lifted from the middle order, allowing them to play more freely. Thanks to his explosive start, SRH completed the run chase with 10 balls to spare, ending the match in style and restoring some pride despite their elimination from the tournament.

See Also: IPL 2025, Match 61: Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Full Match Highlights

Abhishek had received attention due to his batting excellence before this. Earlier in the tournament, he delivered another miracle innings against Punjab Kings (PBKS), where he scored a brilliant match-winning century. The young left-hander has a steady reputation for being one of Sunrisers Hyderabad's most talented prospects, and can take on the bowlers of the opposing team with little thought about losing his wicket. His charismatic, aggressive mindset has been one of the few positives in an otherwise disappointing season for SRH. On that note, let's have a look at some of the glimpses from his match winning innings today;

Watch the video here:

MADNESS OF ABHISHEK SHARMA...!!! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/VexQaRzES1

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 19, 2025

Also read: 'Purple Patel for a reason' - Fans react as Harshal Patel completes 150 wickets in IPL against LSG

Abhishek Sharma and Digvesh Rathi get involved in verbal spat

During Match 61 of IPL 2025 between Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad, a fiery exchange took place when Digvesh Rathi dismissed Abhishek Sharma. This happened in the eighth over of Sunrisers Hyderabad's run chase. Rathi deceived Abhishek with a brilliant googly. When Shardul Thakur caught the ball in the deep, Rathi celebrated his unique public "notebook celebration" style of celebration where he waved two fingers while writing in the air, and he quickly followed it up with an animated reaction. This reaction didn't go unnoticed by the outgoing Abhishek, and the two exchanged some tense words as the players crossed paths on the field.

Clearly annoyed by the excessive celebration, Abhishek Sharma walked over to Digvesh Rathi in protest. The confrontation almost turned into a full-blown fight, but on-field umpires and other players quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. They yelled at each other and exchanged words illustrating how hot it was at that moment. Luckily for both, the situation was calmed down quickly but it most certainly became a talking point of the match, and certainly shows how competitive the IPL 2025 is! These thrilling confrontations only add to the excitement and drama we expect from this league!

A high-stakes drama unfolded during the IPL 2025 game with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), as a heated confrontation between Abhishek Sharma and Digvesh Rathi was at center stage. This moment was captured on video and has since gone viral. In the clip, there was clearly a standoff. Abhishek, well-known for his power-hitting was animated and clearly displeased, whereas Digvesh, infamously known for his antics and antics against opponent players, was nonchalant. The umpires and players intervened to separate the players, nevertheless, the incident added a very emotional edge to the game, and certainly will be viewed and replayed by many viewers.
 
The confrontation occurred when the match was becoming tense, SRH was in a chase of 130 runs off the last five overs, and were at 101-2. Abhishek was returning to the field after scoring 74 runs against the Gujarat Titans in the last SRH game. Abhishek appeared to be rattled by either a bad call or comment made by Digvesh. In the video, with tension clearly evident, Abhishek was in his orange jersey animatedly pointing and gesturing, whereas Digvesh in his LSG blue jersey remained calm and visibly calm. The umpires intervened so the incident did not grow, however, the intensity was felt after the last ball.

Digvesh Rathi is no stranger to controversy during IPL 2025. The 24-year-old spinner, known for his mystery deliveries, has already been fined, not once but twice, for over-zealous celebrations (Elbow Snake? No, it was worse: a notebook was involved) that cost him upwards of Rs 5.6 lakh overall. His incident involving Abhishek is also part of a very tumultuous season. Ironically, Abhishek—who is usually so relaxed—appeared to show some serious emotion himself (perhaps he too was still fuming from SRH's previous loss to GT, where he was playing the role of peacemaker).

Watch the video here

Fight between Digvesh Rathi and Abhishek Sharma 😳 pic.twitter.com/8ngcvpnIVK

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂 (@SheraVK18) May 19, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025 Playoff Race: What LSG needs to do to qualify for knockouts?

Social Media and What's Next

Social media has also become the battleground for opinions and debate about their interaction. There are some supporters blaming Digvesh for inciting the situation, and there are ‘ equal ‘ number of fans praising them both for their 'passion' for the game. As playoffs approach, these stars will have to find the balance between aggression and composure. One thing is for sure—the energy and veracity in their exchange has heightened the narrative of the IPL and is only going to give rise to more fireworks as the IPL plays out.

In 51th match of IPL 2025 between Gujarat Titans and SunRisers Hyderabad gave fans a rare look at a different side of Shubman Gill. The usually calm and collected GT captain was clearly upset during the game and even had to be taken off the field for a bit to cool down.

Gill, who is known for being soft-spoken and level-headed, lost his cool more than once. It was surprising to see him argue with the umpires, but it also showed how much the match and his team means to him. Maybe we saw a glimpse of the kind of leader he could become if he ever leads India one day.

What Made Shubman So Angry?

There were two moments in the match that fired him up. The first was when he got out in a controversial run-out at the end of the 13th over. A direct throw from Harshal Patel caught him short of the crease, but the drama was about how the stumps were broken. Wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen seemed to lose control of the ball just before the bails came off. The TV umpire, Michael Gough, watched the replays from different angles. Some showed the ball possibly not being in Klaasen’s gloves when the stumps were hit. Still, the umpire gave Gill out.

Gill stayed calm during the review, but once he walked off, he went straight to the boundary and had a serious chat with the match official. He clearly felt the decision was unfair.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: Shubman Gill Creates History, Stuns All with Record-Breaking Leadership Performance

Shubman Gill Shows His Fiery Side in GT vs SRH Clash

The second moment came during SRH’s innings. GT appealed for LBW against Abhishek Sharma, Gill’s close friend. The umpire gave it not out, and the replay showed “umpire’s call” on the leg side. Gill argued with the on-field umpire, and Abhishek had to step in and pull him away. A few moments later, Gill jokingly kicked Abhishek’s legs still annoyed, but starting to smile again. GT coach Ashish Nehra then pulled Gill into the dugout for a while, likely to calm him down and avoid any chance of getting fined or banned.

What's your take? 👇✍🏻#ShubmanGill seen having a word with the umpire after being given out by the third umpire on a tight call! 👀

Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/RucOdyBVUf#IPLonJioStar 👉 #GTvSRH | LIVE NOW on SS-1, SS- 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/TPiALXJu8O

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 2, 2025

Even though emotions got the better of him for a bit, Gill has been in great form this season. After a tough 2024, he has bounced back and led GT from the front. He’s scored 465 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 162, and one of GT’s top three batters has hit a fifty in every game so far.

After the match, Gill admitted the emotions were running high. "There was a little bit of a discussion with me and the umpire. Sometimes, there are so many emotions involved as you give your 110 percent there are bound to be some,” he said. That’s what fans love to see a captain who gives his all, not just with the bat, but with his heart.

Chaos at the centre! 😳#ShubmanGill and #AbhishekSharma in discussion with the umpires!
A review going #SRH’s way has sparked some serious drama! 🧐

Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/RucOdyBo4H#IPLonJioStar 👉 #GTvSRH | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, &… pic.twitter.com/KX68eec2ZB

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 2, 2025

On May 2, Shubman Gill showed that he’s not just a stylish batter. He’s growing into a leader who isn’t afraid to speak up, who fights for his team, and who feels every moment of the game. For years, he’s been called the ‘prince’ of Indian cricket. But after Friday night, it feels like he’s slowly stepping into the shoes of a future king. With the Rohit-Virat era nearing its end, maybe India’s next leader is already showing us what he’s made of.

A Mentor’s Concern Rooted in Hope

Recently Yuvraj Singh, the great encapsulation of the all-rounder cricketer from India, made a poignant self-declaration. When on the media screen, Yuvraj stated that he feels anxious and restless whenever he watches Abhishek Sharma bat in games. To hear that from Yuvraj may shock people, given Abhishek's aggressive and fearless batting style. However, Yuvraj ultimately made scrupulous qualifications to make clear that his restlessness was not because he was fearful for Abhishek, rather because he had massive expectations, following emotional investment with him over many years. As a mentor like Yuvraj, who has literally felt responsible for Abhishek's success whenever he has been around him since his youth, it is understandable why he would feel this way; he wants to see this young cricketer do so well for his own sake and for his country.

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Yuvraj Singh says he gets restless while watching Abhishek Sharma bat.
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Also Read:-IPL 2025 playoff qualification scenario for all 10 teams

High Expectations from a Promising Talent

Whatever the case, Yuvraj (potentially projecting as something akin to cricket's Yoda) has seen some genius when observing Abhishek's exploits on the field. There is promise in the talent Abhishek is showing in domestic/cricket (waiting to see how he performs as a winner when the game is on the line). Yuvraj's and others' enormous hopes for Abhishek and admiration for his extent to baton fearless aggression at the top of the order harkens back to the legacy of old. Yuvraj along with (perhaps) others, has been the architect of Abhishek's development of technician discipline, technique precision, consistent temperament to intervene at critical junctures in the match, and aggression at every opportunity which, given what they have seen, they feel he can win matches for India. The reality is that the path to global uniformity is a slow one. Every mentor, member of Abhishek's development team, and Yuvraj's restlessness with watching Abhishek bat plays out the same tension of faith fusing with fear.