A 23-year-old cricketer's name was also in the list of the deceased passengers of London-bound Air India 171, an aircraft from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet.

Dirdh Patel was also among the 242 passengers on the plane, which crash-landed over a medical college hostel minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 14 and caused 241 deaths, leaving only one passenger injured and alive.

As per several reports published by international media houses as well, Patel was an immensely talented young boy who was not only a sincere student but also a cricketer who participated in the game actively. It is known that he used to play for Leeds Modernians Cricket Club in the Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League. He played as an all-rounder and was a pivotal part of the playing XI as well. He scored 312 runs and claimed 29 wickets in 20 matches as a first XI player. 

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He was a brilliant allrounder for his team 

After the death of Dirdh Patel, the league where he used to play released a statement. Through the statement, the league authority said, "The league is extremely sad to learn of the death of Dirdh Patel of Leeds Modernians CC in yesterday's Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. He is the brother of Krutik Patel, formerly of Pool CC. It was his intention to register as an overseas-born English resident player once settled into his new job. Leeds Modernians have confirmed that they will be holding a minute’s silence before their 1st and 2nd team matches this weekend. The league is thinking of Krutik and the Patel family at this very sad and difficult time."

The 23-year-old studied an MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Huddersfield, and parallel to his studies, he loved to play cricket. 

The Ahmedabad plane crash incident astonished an entire nation. A plane crashed minutes after takeoff from the airport. Yesterday afternoon, when the news broke on social media platforms and news channels, no one could believe their eyes.

Several videos on media platforms showed the moment of the disaster. Eminent personalities like Virat Kohli also expressed their feelings and emotions about the tragic incident. The legendary cricketer took to social media and expressed his shock and grief.

"Shocked to hear about the plane crash at Ahmedabad today. Prayers for all those affected and thoughts with their families," Kohli said this through a social media post.

Read More: Can Shubman Gill Spark a Test Revival for India Like MS Dhoni Once Did?

The London-bound Air India plane was carrying a total of 242 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, seven Portuguese nationals, and 12 crew members. Air India confirmed the incident in a statement on X. "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest."

A statement was released regarding the shocking and tragic incident

A state aviation regulatory body informed that the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar, and Captain Sumeet Sabharwal is an LTC with 8200 hours of experience. The copilot had 1100 hours of flying experience. As per ATC, the aircraft departed from Ahmadabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from runway 23.

"It gave a MAYDAY call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC. The aircraft, immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site", the statement further added. 

Former Indian cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, along with several Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, shared their sorrow following the tragic crash of Air India just outside Ahmedabad on Thursday. The Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed at approximately 1:38 PM local time into the Meghani Nagar residential area just five minutes after takeoff and was headed to London. Disaster struck with approximately 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board. Such news sent tremors around the country.

Social media went abuzz with pictures of thick plumes of smoke billowing from the wreckage area and a dire picture of the disastrous crash. Cricketers and teams took to the platforms to extend condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. Harbhajan Singh, in a heartfelt post on X, wrote, “I am utterly shocked and deeply anguished to learn about the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families who are enduring unimaginable pain and loss.”

Irfan Pathan, who is a Lok Sabha MP and former cricketer, also shared his condolences on X, writing, "Very shocked to hear about the #AirIndia Ahmedabad-London flight incident near Ahmedabad airport. Praying for the safety of all passengers and crew. And several IPL franchises, such as Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Chennai Super Kings, also released condolence messages online, emphasizing their thoughts are with those affected.

Official Response and Support

Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran responded to the tragedy, “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he wrote on X, noting that an emergency center and support group is established for those looking for information on the issues that arise from this incident.

I am utterly shocked and deeply anguished to learn about the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families who are enduring unimaginable pain and loss. In moments like these, words feel so inadequate, but I hope…

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 12, 2025

pic.twitter.com/lQwoW0W2l6

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) June 12, 2025

Very shocked to hear about the #AirIndia Ahmedabad-London flight incident near Ahmedabad airport. Praying for the safety of all passengers and crew. 🙏#PlaneCrash #Ahmedabad

— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) June 12, 2025

Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew and the families impacted by the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash.
You are in our hearts and prayers.💔🙏

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) June 12, 2025

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The crash, which marked the first hull loss of a Boeing 787, prompted swift action from authorities. Emergency services, including fire brigades and ambulances, were deployed, and Ahmedabad airport suspended operations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has begun an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The crash occurred after the pilots sent a mayday call indicating a life-or-death emergency situation had developed.

All's well when it ends well; the phrase perfectly fits for Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). After weeks under a tense situation, the tournament finally concluded on a high note and according to plans.

To make all the plans and programs on point, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials had to slate their blueprints in a fashion due to the cross-border tension and then the arrival of monsoon. The actual plan was to complete the tournament before the beginning of the monsoon.

But that could not be possible because of the military tensions between India and Pakistan, which forced BCCI to pause the competition for a while and reschedule the remaining matches on the card. Board officials had to push the match days behind, keeping an eye on the probable progress of the monsoon line over the country.

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According to media reports, during the IPL Governing Council (GC) meeting held on May 20, BCCI officials literally played the role of weather experts to culminate the best dates for the matches. It was previously reported that the playoffs were scheduled to be held in Hyderabad and Kolkata. After reviewing the weather forecast, board officials decided to make Ahmedabad the venue to host the grand finale instead of Eden Gardens.

BCCI secy showed scientific reasons behind choosing IPL 2025 playoff venues

Some people speculated that the situation came under political influence. But BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia didn't approve the claims and said, "The decision was never political. We banked on scientific material and inputs. There was no forecast for rain in Ahmedabad at the time of GC."

While the final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings ended without any trouble, Kolkata received heavy rain during the time of the match. 

Temperature is rising high at Ahmedabad; IPL is set to get a new champion this season. Either Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) or Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be the fortunate team to hoist the elusive trophy, and the other team, the losing side, will have to wait more to shine their luck.

 In between discussions related to two finalists or about the ground, rain can play a spoilsport. As per the weather report, the Ahmedabad sky remains partly cloudy accompanied by gusty winds; chances of rain are not intense, but at this stage, no possibilities can be ruled out. So, even a drizzle can spoil the party if it is pouring continuously.

Unlike the qualifier matches or the eliminator game, for the high-octane final clash, the IPL governing council has granted a reserve. If, by any chance, the final match does not conclude according to the original plans, then the rest of the game will take place on the reserve day, which is the day after the original final match date. Which means the reserve day is on June 4.

Read More: IPL 2025: Between RCB and PBKS, which team has more winning chances and why, here's breakdown

Remember the IPL 2023 final match 

Cricket fans may still remember the final of the 2023 Indian Premier League, where Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings were locked in a battle for the trophy, and CSK had the last smile. The final match was interrupted by rain at the same venue. Due to continuous rain, on the actual date the match did not take place and was pushed to the reserve day. 

The reserve day was also interrupted by rain, and to save the match, the DLS method was applied. Now, if both of the days are washed out due to rain, then Punjab Kings will be awarded as the winner because they finished the group stage as the table topper over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

The much-anticipated match has started to drown in deep uncertainty due to continuous rain in Ahmedabad, where Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians are scheduled to face each other for a possible title shot.

Originally the game was scheduled to start on June 1. But that couldn't happen because of nonstop rain; covers are still on at the Narendra Modi Stadium to protect the surface as much as possible. Cricket fans are worried more because there is no reserve day for such an electrifying competition.

As alternatives, the organizers arranged multiple regulations so that both teams can perform with bat and ball, at least for a reduced number of overs. The rules can be applied as per the current scenario. As per the fresh reports coming out from the stadium, there will be high chances to arrange at least a 5-over side game to discover the name of the opponent for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the final of IPL 2025.

Read More: IPL 2025: What happens if PBKS vs MI Qualifier 2 washes away due to rain?

Keeping an eye on the behavior of the weather, a 5-over side game is also under uncertainty. If even a 5-over-a-side game is also not possible by 11:56 pm, then the winner could be decided by a super over between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians. And if that is also not possible to arrange, then Shreyas Iyer's team will advance to the title decider clash, as they finished the group stage with the best numbers in the points table. 

Mumbai vs Punjab IPL Game: If even 5-over-a-side game is also not possible by 11:56pm, then the winner could be decided by a Super Over between the two sides.
Else, Punjab go through to the final. #MIvsPBKS #PBKSvsMI

— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) June 1, 2025

These are the playing conditions: 

- ⁠No reserve day available

- ⁠Additional 2 hours of buffer is available 

- If a 5 over game isn’t possible, they will play a super over.

- If Super over isn’t possible as well, PBKS qualify because they finished above Mumbai in league stage

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) arrived in Ahmedabad ahead of the IPL 2025 final, which will be played on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This is a big moment for the RCB team and their fans, as RCB will be playing in their fourth IPL final, still trying to win their first-ever trophy in IPL.

RCB is Dreaming Big: One Win Away from Their First-Ever IPL Title

RCB’s journey this season has been inspiring and outstanding gameplay by RCB. With new captain Rajat Patidar, the team has shown great spirit and teamwork. Patidar stepped into the Captainacy role after Faf du Plessis moved on, and he has done a solid job. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Phil Salt adding a good start at the top, RCB has looked like a strong team in IPL 2025.

RCB TEAM HAVE ARRIVED AT AHMEDABAD FOR IPL 2025 FINAL. 🏆

pic.twitter.com/CTyl5NQWT8

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 1, 2025

As the team reached Ahmedabad today, they were welcomed with cheers and excitement by the fans. Star batter Virat Kohli and his team joined for the crucial final match in Ahmedabad.

RCB booked their place in the final after defeating Punjab Kings by 8 wickets in Qualifier 1. Bowlers like Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood helped keep Punjab to a low score, and the batsmen chased it down comfortably. Now, all eyes are on the big final match. Fans have started arriving in Ahmedabad, and ticket demand is very high. The stadium is expected to be full of supporters who hope to see RCB finally lift the IPL trophy and dreams fulfilled for millions of fans.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: PBKS vs MI Qualifier 2 - Narendra Modi stadium stats and preview

With the final just around the corner, RCB will be focused and ready to get the first-ever title for RCB. The players know how much this means not just to the team, but to the millions of fans who have waited for this moment for years. RCB team is ready to roar in the crucial final.

As the clock counts down to 3:30 PM IST on Sunday, May 25, 2025, cricket lovers across the globe get set for the high-octane encounter between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 67 of IPL 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While CSK has been knocked out of the playoff race, this fixture is far from ordinary. It carries emotional weight, as it may well be the final appearance of MS Dhoni in a CSK jersey—an icon whose presence has defined the franchise for over a decade. GT, meanwhile, is led by Shubman Gill, and they are currently fighting to make sure they finish in the top two to keep their chances alive for the playoffs.

While CSK may not be part of the title race, all eyes are on "Dhoni," who remarkably continues to inspire millions of fans and future cricketers. CSK released a tribute video prior to the match, which was an emotional one that recounted the journey of "Thala." The edit included several elements of Dhoni's career, his calmness as captain, and his bonding with other players and teammates. It even had scenes of emotional fan reactions, which culminated in a wave of good memories for the cricketing world.

Dhoni's Legacy: More Than Just Numbers, a Representation of CSK's Soul

MS Dhoni's contributions to the IPL and CSK are impossible to quantify. With over 5000 runs and close to 200 dismissals to his name, Dhoni has epitomized a franchise that has consistently and continuously won five IPL titles. His presence behind the stumps gives the team a calmness, his reading of the game is brilliant, and his ability to lead as one of the best captains in history has made CSK one of the most consistent teams in the history of the tournament.

Watch the video here

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS EDIT FOR CAPTAIN MS DHONI. 💛 pic.twitter.com/9pIM2NG5WO

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 25, 2025

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As CSK prepares to play their last league game of the season, everyone will be watching MS Dhoni (regardless of what may happen or if it is all a formality). Not for his performance, but rather for what his performance will signify. Whether or not this is his last game, this occasion will serve as an emotional tribute to a cricketer who has changed the franchise and delighted millions with his consistency, humility, and match-winning ability.

With IPL 2025 set to resume on Saturday, 17th May, after an eight-day gap due to the military conflicts between India and Pakistan, seven teams are still in contention for the playoff berths. This forced break, courtesy of the geopolitical issues, forced the IPL Governing Council to release a revised schedule for the remaining matches. The 17 matches left have been shifted to six different locations, making it quite cramped for the teams, while also eliminating the last benefits of a home or away setting in the current season. 

This temporary pause couldn't have come at a worse time for Gujarat Titans (GT). Standing at the top of the points table, they would've hoped for continuity. But uncontrollable circumstances came their way, and now they would aim to pick up from where they left off, gaining consistency and momentum for one last push for the season. But in the absence of Jos Buttler for the final stretch, the Gujarat-based franchise will have to make some bold decisions in order to fill that void. 

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GT Qualification Scenario for IPL 2025

Matches Played: 11, Points: 16, Net Run Rate (NRR): 0.793

Upcoming Matches: Home – LSG (22^nd May), CSK (25^th May); Away – DC (18^th May)

Best Possible Finish: 22 points 

Gujarat Titans (GT) have bagged 16 points so far in their campaign and have 6 more points to play with. Their remaining matches are against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at their fortress, Ahmedabad. They also play an away game against fellow playoff chasers in Delhi Capitals (DC), in Delhi. They're a force to reckon with at their home and can ensure destiny by winning their first two games after the resumption.

GT, though, are just one win away from making the playoffs. 18 points will assure a team of a top-four finish. However, if they lose their three remaining games, they could get knocked out as four teams can still finish on 17 or more points. Titans have a favourable itinerary too, with their last two games scheduled at home in Ahmedabad, where they have a formidable 4-1 record so far this season. Their net run rate is currently second only to Mumbai Indians (MI), which could aid them with qualification and a top-two finish.

During the ninth match of the IPL 2025, while Gujarat Titans claimed a 36-run win against Mumbai Indians, their captain Shubman Gill created history in the tournament, which is very special as an Indian.

Shubman Gill is the leading run-scorer for Gujarat Titans with 1870 runs in 47 innings with an average of 44.52 and a strike rate of 148.53, including four centuries and 10 half-centuries. In his IPL career, the Indian right-handed batter has scored 3287 runs in 102 innings with an average of 37.78 and a strike rate of 136.33, including four hundreds and 20 half-centuries. 

During Gujarat Titans' latest match against MI, Gill provided a strong start with his opening partner Sai Sudharsan, as they had a 78-run partnership for the first wicket in 8.3 overs. Skipper Gill scored 38 off 27 balls with four fours and one six, as his performance helped him to reach the milestone of 1000 IPL runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

See Also: Twitter reactions after GT win of IPL 2025

Shubman Gill recorded the fastest 1000 IPL runs at a single venue as an Indian

While Gill became the 17th cricketer to score 1000 IPL runs at a single venue, he recorded the second-fastest 1000 IPL runs at a single venue. Gill took only 20 innings to complete 1000 IPL runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Only the legendary Caribbean cricketer Chris Gayle has a better record than Gill in this list, as the left-handed top-order batter completed 1000 IPL runs at M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) in just 19 innings. 

Fastest 1000 IPL runs at a single venue