In a ground-breaking development, Kerala batter and Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson hogged the headlines by becoming the most expensive player to be purchased in the history of Kerala Premier League. Samson was acquired by the Kochi Blue Tigers franchise for a whopping INR 26.80 Lakhs. This development comes amid rumors of him parting ways with RR to join the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). 

As per emerging reports, various franchises expressed their interestest in securing the services of the flamboyant wicketkeeper batter following the conclusion of IPL 2025. However, Samson has yet to make up his mind and has not publicly issued any statement on this evolving story.  

In the auction, Sampson broke all barriers as he went past the previous record of M.S. Akhil, who was bought for an amount of INR 7.4 lakh by Trivandrum Royals. 

See also: Samson-Varma destructive centuries drive India to 283/1

Here is how the bidding war unfolded in the KCL 2025 auction

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍! 💸🔥

Sanju Samson – international icon, IPL star, Ranji powerhouse is sold to Kochi Blue Tigers for ₹26.8L! The roar just got louder 🐅💙#KCL2025 #KCLSeason2 pic.twitter.com/gU9I96emkz

— Kerala Cricket League (@KCL_t20) July 5, 2025

Sanju Samson was listed at a base price of INR 3 lakh. But as the bidding war gathered pace, his price shot up to INR 5 lakh and then INR 10 lakh in a matter of moments. The bidding war came to an end eventually when the Kochi Blue Tigers spent more than half of their INR 50 lakh purse value on the India wicket-keeper's signing.

Samson is now all set to make his maiden appearance in the second edition of the KCL. Previously, in light of his international duties, Samson had requested a break and skipped the inaugural edition of the KCL despite being announced as its brand ambassador. However, this recent development now marks Samson's first high-profile participation in a tournament managed by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) following his controversial exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy team in December 2024, which occurred after he did not attend a preparatory camp conducted in Wayanad.

Ultimately, Kerala advanced to the Ranji Trophy final for the first time ever, concluding the tournament as runners-up to Vidarbha.

In what could turn out to be one of the most high-profile transfers in recent IPL history, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have shown clear interest in acquiring Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson. The buzz had been growing steadily on social media, but now it carries serious weight following confirmation from a senior CSK official, who told Cricbuzz that the franchise is “definitely looking at Sanju.”

The CSK official acknowledged that while there has been no formal approach made to the Royals, Samson’s qualities as a top-order batter, wicketkeeper, and an experienced Indian player make him an attractive proposition. “He is an Indian batter who is a keeper and an opener. So if he is available, we will certainly have a look at the option of having him in our fold,” the official stated, adding that any discussion around a trade counterpart was premature.

Strategic Fit and Potential Trade Conundrum

Samson, who has been part of the Royals' setup for over a decade and was their first retention at a premium price of ₹18 crore, would be a major acquisition for CSK. The five-time champions, now led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, may have to make a significant offer in return if a trade is to be realized. With head coach Stephen Fleming openly supporting his leadership, Gaikwad himself has the same retention value and is still selected as CSK's long-term captain.

Gaikwad's status and CSK's investment in his captaincy make a direct trade seem unlikely, but the team would still need to provide a desirable player or package in return. Historically, CSK has rarely indulged in trades, the last notable instance being the acquisition of Robin Uthappa from RR ahead of the 2021 season.

ALSO SEE: Corbin Bosch Creates History: Century and Five-Wicket Haul in the Same Test

Royals’ Position: Open to Offers, But Cautious

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Royals completed a review of their underwhelming 2025 campaign, where they finished ninth during a recent meeting in London. New head coach Rahul Dravid was also in attendance. The franchise reportedly discussed trade inquiries not just for Samson but for up to six of their players.

A Royals source told PTI, “There have been multiple approaches by multiple franchises for about six of our players. Similarly, we have approached multiple franchises for multiple options.” However, no formal communication has been acknowledged, and lead owner Manoj Badale is expected to take the final call.

With Indian keeper-batters being one of the most sought-after assets in IPL squads, RR are sitting on a goldmine in the form of Samson and Dhruv Jurel, who also showed promise during the season. Any trade involving Samson will likely require a near-equal or greater value in return.

The Trade Window and Rules

The IPL's official trade window opened at 9:00 am IST on June 10, 2025, and will remain open until seven days before the 2026 auction. Trade negotiations must comply with several rules laid down by the BCCI:

• Players cannot be traded in the season immediately after being bought in an auction.
• A traded player may only be traded once per season.
• Trades involving overseas players require NOCs from relevant cricket boards.
• League fees are central to the trade, but player contracts cannot be altered beyond negotiated fee adjustments, which require BCCI approval.
• If a "negotiated increase" or "decrease" in league fees is reached, the purchasing and selling teams are required to split the associated costs.

Since the trading window is still open and franchises are actively seeking opportunities, everyone will be watching to see if CSK formally expresses interest in Samson. Given the complexity of the move and the player's stature, any possible trade would necessitate patience, cautious negotiation, and strategic foresight. Although it is still in the early phases of development, the potential Sanju Samson transfer to CSK has all the makings of one of the most intriguing offseason IPL moves.

In a major boost for Kerala cricket, Indian wicketkeeper-batter and Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is confirmed to play in the upcoming season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). The news was confirmed by Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) governing council chairman Nazir Machan, who told Sportstar on Monday that Samson has officially signed up for the KCL player auction, scheduled to take place on July 5.

Samson, who served only as the brand ambassador for the league during its inaugural season in 2024, will now be seen on the field, representing his home state. He enters the player auction in the elite Category A, which features 39 top players, including Kerala Ranji Trophy captain Sachin Baby and promising IPL talent Vignesh Puthur.

According to a KCA source cited in Sportstar, “The wicketkeeper batter has registered for the KCL auction, declaring his willingness to participate in the franchise league, which is expected to take place ahead of the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season.” Samson’s participation is set to elevate the league’s popularity and draw wider attention.

KCL Auction Rules and Samson’s Comeback Opportunity

Sanju Samson had a tough 2025 IPL season marred with injuries, starting with a fractured finger, then a stomach issue impacted his performance and pushed him down in the batting order. He only managed to finish the season with 285 runs in nine matches with one fifty, averaging 35.62 and a strike rate of 140.39. The KCL will serve as an important platform for him to regain form and fitness.

Sanju Samson to play the upcoming season of Kerala Cricket League

He has been included in the players list for the next KCL auction

This just confirms that he’s not moving away from KCA even after all the disrespects he faced pic.twitter.com/nEycFz05di

— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) June 23, 2025

See Also: [WATCH] "Aise Yeh Zaroori Nahi Hai!": Rishabh Pant criticizes himself for reckless shot on Day 4 in ENG vs IND first Test

As per KCA auction guidelines, each team can retain up to four players—three of whom may be capped. Teams opting out of retentions will be granted a Right-To-Match (RTM) card during the auction. The player retention deadline is June 30, 5 PM IST. Each franchise will have a Rs. 50 lakh auction purse and must form squads of 16–20 players. Defending champions Aries Kollam Sailors will look to defend their crown, having defeated Calicut Globstars in last year’s final.

Ever since the young Vaibhav Suryavanshi made his groundbreaking IPL debut last season, calls for his selection in the Indian national team are only growing louder. At age 14, Suryavanshi shattered several records, thus establishing himself as the next big thing in world cricket. On April 28, the teenager scripted history by becoming the youngest player to score a century in the IPL, at 14 years and 32 days old, slamming a jaw-dropping 101 off 38 balls against a seasoned Gujarat Titans lineup.  What made his knock more special was the fact that it went down into the record books as the second-fastest century in IPL history, only behind Chris Gayle and Yusuf Pathan. 

Before the start of the season, Suryavanshi had already started making waves when he was picked for a whopping ₹1.10 crore (from a base price of ₹30 lakhs) at the IPL 2025 mega auction by RR. While many questioned whether it was the right move from the franchise, Suryavanshi managed to answer his critics just in time and justified his hefty price tag on the back of some incredible performances. 

So early in his career, fans have already started drawing a comparison between him and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who, at a similar age, also began making headlines before becoming the most iconic player in world cricket. While the future for the 14-year-old appears bright, the former Indian spinner and BCCI selector Venkatapathy Raju has a different opinion.

See also: [WATCH] Vaibhav Suryavanshi's parents first on camera after their son's heroic century

Suryavanshi has a long way to go before he comes good for Indian cricket

At a time when comparisons between him and Sachin are rapidly surging on social media, Raju thinks it is probably not the right time to give the youngster a go in Indian colours this early in his career. Raju, who served as the BCCI selector for India's 2007 World T20 squad, recognizes the incredible talent he possesses but stresses that the youngster will need to grind hard at the domestic and the U-19 levels. 

"Yes, yes, he will take a lot of time. He has to be one of those guys who need to perform well in the U-19 World Cups. He has to perform quite a bit in domestic cricket. Four-day games. And we can give time. See, talent-wise, we've already seen him, what he can do with a white ball, right?"

Additionally, Raju also dismissed comparisons between him and Tendulkar, stating that the latter demonstrated his worth by toiling hard at the FC level before making big for India at a young age.

"It depends on the consistency, right? We're a firm believer. We might talk about somebody like Sachin, right? First, Ranji Trophy debut, he got 100. Duleep Trophy, he got 100. Rest of India, he got 100, right? All three-day games. All four-day games. All five-day games. So, like that, I think when you know the talent, we should give him enough time to go and play, do well, and you feel that he's really good enough and he can perform, why not? We can still bring him in." 

Suryavanshi is currently training with the India U-19 team in England, curiously looking to leave behind a good impression. Suryavanshi has a long road ahead of him, and to be able to don the Indian jersey, the 14-year-old will have to impress the selectors by consistently performing in multi-day games at the domestic level, which can certainly be a lot demanding on a physical and mental front. 

The tough sport of Cricket has a rich and glorious history, and its legacy has become eternal ever since it was first played scores of years ago. The game and its stakeholders have witnessed several memorable moments over time. This tryst with destiny has aided the British game to come of age and solidify its heritage towards greatness. Fans have grown and stayed loyal courtesy of the positive incidents and the love for their idols, whom they look up to. The players have signified more than just a living being playing the game. They have been ambassadors for the sport and are responsible for its goodwill, brand identity, and authentic image. 

However, richness comes with a price, and just like a coin has two sides, Cricket has dealt with severe moments as well. The second most loved sport in the world has had its share of black days, too. Those distasteful and shocking episodes have hampered and created a massive hole in the glittering history of the game. They are oppositely but equally remembered as the finest moments, and instead threaten the ethics to a great extent. These ignominiously dark sides are a disgrace, and their anchors deserve justice to save the health of the game. 

See Also: Cricketers Who Made History with Guinness World Records

Here is a look at some of the biggest and most significant match-fixing incidents that shook the cricketing world, their history, protagonists, and deep-scale consequences. 

Cronje and Azharuddin: The Match-Fixing Scandal of 2000

The most infamous of all cricket match-fixing scandals dates back to 2000. The Delhi Police charged Hansie Cronje, the then South African skipper, with fixing his side's One Day International (ODI) matches against India in March of that year. Cronje initially denied his wrongdoing, but as evidence accumulated, all the allegations proved true, and he eventually confessed to his part. The other Proteas teammates testified that they had received lucrative offers from their captain to throw the match, bow down to the bookies, and get involved in fixing the game.

Hansie, later, accused Mohammad Azharuddin of introducing the former to the associated bookmaker, and further investigations found the former Indian cricketer guilty as well. Both were banned for life by the ICC and their respective national boards. This uncovered a chain of players involved. Herschelle Gibbs, a prominent former South African player, received a six-month ban for his part in this scandal. Ajay Sharma, a former Indian domestic cricketer and Delhi player, was also banned for life as he was named in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report alongside Azharuddin for having links with bookies and manipulating matches. In September 2014, his ban was lifted by the Delhi district court. Cronje died in a plane crash in 2002, and ever since his death, suspicions of malicious acts and links with the fixing saga loom large over his demise to date.

Pakistan's Spot-Fixing in the UK, 2010

In 2010, Pakistan's cricket team toured England for a test series. During the Lord's match, three players from the touring side, namely Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, were accused of receiving bribes from a bookmaker, and then organising and deliberately performing feats to affect the moments in the match. This included intentional no-balls to hamper the outcome of the game, and the act was categorised as 'spot-fixing'. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the British Crown Court found them guilty and, as punishment, sentenced the trio to jail terms of variable lengths in the UK. The Pakistani players' on-field actions were condemned by everyone from all quarters, and this entire saga took the sporting world by storm. It called for immediate measures to uphold the integrity of the sport.

IPL 2013 Spot-Fixing

During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013, a major scandal erupted when the Delhi Police arrested Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on charges of spot-fixing. They were believed to be involved in a syndicate having a history of organising such criminal acts in sports and consequently altering several matches in the IPL. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on its part, handed the trio life bans and ensured free and fair trials to confirm justice for everyone involved.

This incident sent ripple waves across the Indian Cricketing circuit and raised serious questions. Fans subsequently lost faith in the tournament, and the game was frowned upon by many. The Rajasthan franchise was banned for a couple of seasons in 2016 and 2017, following this ominous run of events. IPL cricket regained its credibility gradually over time. A few years back, the Court gave the culprits a clean chit, and that helped them to resume professional cricket.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Fixing Scandal 2013

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were banned from competing in the IPL for two seasons - 2016 and 2017. Gurunath Meiyappan, one of their high-profile team officials, was involved in betting and leaking team information during IPL 2013. He was also the son-in-law of the then BCCI president N. Srinivasan. This scandal was the major stepping stone towards institutional reforms in cricket. Various committees were set up and designated to safeguard the integrity of the sport. The Lodha Committee was the primary one among all. An Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU) in cricket was also set up by the BCCI to remove any cases of graft from the game. 

Marlon Samuels' Match-Fixing Case 2007

Ahead of an ODI series involving the teams of India and the West Indies in 2007, the Caribbean batter was accused of several dealings with the bookmakers. Recordings of his telephonic conversations with the bookie before the Nagpur ODI were found, and he was charged with sharing the details of the match. This was confirmed after an investigation initiated by the West Indies Cricket Board. Allegations of bribery and match-fixing were levelled against him, and Marlon was handed a two-year ban by the ICC.

John - 'The Bookmaker' 

In 1998, Australian cricketers Steve Waugh and Shane Warne went through a turbulent phase when their names got embroiled in match-fixing. It was discovered that the duo had accepted money from an Indian bookmaker named John to share the pitch and weather information during the 1994-95 season. The news was initially kept reserved within the Australian Cricket fraternity, and when it eventually broke out during the 1998 Ashes series, the players and the Board were reprimanded for their heinous actions. However, the controversy didn't escalate much. The ICC took no further action, and the players were let go after just being fined by Cricket Australia (CA). 

Manoj Prabhakar, 1999, and Ajay Jadeja, 2000

Manoj Prabhakar, a former all-rounder, was banned in 1999 after he showed up at an event organised by the Tehelka News Group. It was on exposing match-fixing events in Cricket. He, however, ended up getting accused himself and banned from playing for the national side by the BCCI. A decade later, in 2011, he was also dismissed from his role as the coach of the Delhi domestic cricket team after he publicly criticised and pulled up the players and selectors.

Also, in the year 2000, Ajay Jadeja, a former stylish Indian all-rounder, was banned by the BCCI for five years for his involvement in match-fixing. The Delhi High Court, though, lifted his ban in 2003, but his cricketing career could never revive. He instead took up commentary and is currently a one.

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.

Sanju Samson's latest Instagram post sparked speculations among cricket fans. His followers and netizens have started to speculate that Sanju may be on the verge of leaving Rajasthan Royals (RR) to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The star cricketer shared a post with his wife, and in the caption, he wrote, "Time to move...!!" Along with the caption, netizens noticed a couple of other things too in the post: a yellow line and the background music Sanju used in the post. The Instagram post took very little time to be noticed by the followers of the wicket-batter and followed by the other cricket fans.

In the IPL 2025, Sanju was the regular captain of Rajasthan Royals, but due to an injury crisis, he had to remain out of the field for multiple games, which caused Riyan Parag to lead the side as the stopgap skipper. Despite repeated injury problems, the 30-year-old had a decent outing in IPL 2025. Now the question is, can Chennai Super Kings rope in Samson?

Read More: Ban loading for RCB? IPL takes big step against them

Can CSK trade Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals?

The answer is yes, CSK can sign in the star India player if Rajasthan Royals decides not to retain him. As a free player, the right-handed batter can join any other IPL club before the upcoming season. But to get any particular conclusion on the matter, fans have to wait. Sanju spent most of his Indian Premier League career with Rajasthan Royals. 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Sanju V Samson (@imsanjusamson)

In 2025, he batted in 9 innings and got 285 runs with a batting average of 35.62. He was appointed as their captain in 2021 and then led the team to the final of IPL 2022. The Royals have been victorious in 33 and lost 32 matches under Samson.

Rajasthan Royals' sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to make news for his explosive batting, this time at the U-19 NCA camp. The teenager who shook the IPL 2025 with his performances was seen taking bowlers apart easily, showing a great combination of power and accuracy. His strokeplay around the ground, hitting both the leg and off sides equally, showcased his outstanding range and self-assurance at the crease.

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Suryavanshi's mastery was in full glow as he faced all kinds of deliveries hurled at him. Whether pace, off-pace, or variety in line and length, the young batter held his own and punished the bowlers mercilessly. The timing of this type couldn't have been more apt, with the India U-19 squad scheduled to tour England towards the end of this month—a tour for which Vaibhav has well-deserved a spot.

Suryavanshi's IPL 2025 season can best be described as meteoric. Initially seen as a future asset by Rajasthan Royals, he was thrust into the spotlight after Sanju Samson's injury midway through the season. he had a breakout performance that helped RR completely reverse the course of the season and vaulted Vaibhav's name to the top of the list of the best young prospects coming out of Indian cricket.

Rising Star with a Fearless Approach

Vaibhav left his mark at once, providing maturity and aggression in equal quantity. In a mere seven innings, he accumulated 252 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 206.55 with a fifty and a brilliant century. His game was so attractive that even when Samson came back, the team changed their batting order to include Vaibhav as an opener along with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Watch the video here

Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the U19 NCA camp. 👏pic.twitter.com/e6eCD9yqiV

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 7, 2025

Also Read: Aakash Chopra picks his uncapped Indians playing XI after IPL 2025

As the U-19 tour of England draws near, Suryavanshi seems well poised to take his rich run of form onto the international under-19 stage. His aggressive batting during the NCA camp only strengthens his development and promise, making him one of the most thrilling prospects to watch in the near future.

IPL 2025 effectively resumed its normal operations on 18th May, after a temporary halt due to external factors. After the garden city - Bengaluru's heavy and incessant downpour washed out the previous evening's clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), dampening the renewed spirits of the fans, the league got its restart at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the pink city of Jaipur. It was a day game between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), with a high-scoring affair on the cards, at one of IPL's few dimensionally long grounds. 

Rajasthan had their exit fate locked in before the pause, while Punjab was still in contention for a playoff berth. Having opted to bat after calling it right at the toss, Shreyas Iyer's men scored a mammoth 219 after losing five batters, in their full quota of 20 overs. The protagonists of setting up this gigantic total were Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh, scoring 70 and 59 runs respectively. The Kings have been excellent this term and have clicked as a unit, something rarely said about them, and then it was up to their reputed bowlers to defend those runs on the board. 

The chase was on, and it was palpable from the start. As they are known for, the Royals' openers were at their intrinsically explosive best. The Indian test opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and his partner, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, began their innings with a bang. They went bonkers and smashed the bowling attack of the Punjab Kings to all corners of the ground, on their way towards setting a record for the current season. It was Jaiswal who took the lead and was shortly joined by the 14-year-old cricket prodigy in Vaibhav. Every ball is an event in T20 cricket, but it was more than just that when those two batted sensationally.

See Also: IPL 2025, Match 59: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Full Match Highlights

There was a long phase in their innings when none of them ran for a run or two, and instead went about their business dealing in just boundaries. Little did they know that they were on course towards setting a new benchmark this season. It took both of them just 17 balls or 2.5 overs to cross 50 runs and eventually make it the fastest team fifty in IPL 2025. This was also the second fastest team fifty for RR in all IPL after their 2.4 overs vs KKR at the Eden Gardens in 2023. When the record was set, Yashasvi was on 34 off 11 and Vaibhav on 16 off 6. Both remained unbeaten on reaching that landmark.

The Royals, however, went on to lose the game by 10 runs. After their openers got out, only Dhruv Jurel kept them in the hunt with a gritty knock of 53 runs, but without any substantial support from the other middle-order batters. As has been the case this season, RR failed to capitalise on a beast of a start and missed out on closing in the game, affirming pity on their subdue position in the points table this year. 

RR SCORED THE FASTEST TEAM FIFTY OF IPL 2025 - 51/0 IN 2.5 OVERS. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/po5AleYXX1

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 18, 2025

50 up in just 2.5 overs 🔥🔥

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi are on the move... #RRvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/70o5g6em6w

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 18, 2025

A look at the second and third fastest team half-centuries of IPL 2025: 

Punjab Kings

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) were up against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the latter's backyard on Saturday, 12th April. Opting to bat first on a belter of a pitch, the Kings' opening pair Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, in an insane display of batting, smashed 50 runs in just three overs. They made Mohammad Shami and the Hyderabad Skipper Pat Cummins look like ordinary bowlers, and hit them for several runs, on their way towards amassing a half-century for their team. PBKS set a target of 246 for SRH, which was unbelievably chased down with nine balls to spare by the home team. Abhishek Sharma made light work of the chase and lit up the Hyderabad sky, striking 141 runs and taking his team home.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) locked horns against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Thursday, 10th April in Bengaluru. Been sent to bat by DC, the RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli took on Mitchell Starc and Axar Patel, and in great fashion. Salt took charge and struck boundaries, smashing the Delhi bowlers to all parts of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Englishman was well complemented by Virat, and the team reached fifty in exactly three overs. RCB, however, lost their way in the middle and could manage only 163 runs in their 20 overs. The target was comprehensively chased down by DC, courtesy of KL Rahul's gritty and unbeaten knock of 93 runs.

Each season, the Indian Premier League (IPL) throws up new talent, but no tale is more extraordinary than that of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The teenage batting sensation made waves throughout the cricketing fraternity with an eyecatching run for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, and now his meteoric ascent has won him an accolade from the highest level - Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Friday, PM Modi had met Suryavanshi and his family at the Patna airport. Posting photos of the meeting on social media, the Prime Minister said, "At Patna airport, met the young cricketing sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his family. His cricketing talent is being watched all across the country! My best wishes to him for his future ventures."

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PM Modi meets young cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his family at Patna airport... pic.twitter.com/Cs2NU5RZ5p

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) May 30, 2025

The meeting was facilitated by the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), whose president Rakesh Tiwari coordinated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to arrange Suryavanshi’s travel and schedule. “It was not just a personal milestone for Vaibhav but also proof that Bihar cricket is full of potential. What’s needed are platforms, opportunities, and guidance,” said Tiwari.

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From Samastipur to Stardom: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Rise from IPL Debut to PM Modi’s Praise

From Samastipur of Bihar, Vaibhav found himself in the news after Rajasthan Royals selected him for ₹1.1 crore during the IPL 2024 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and became the youngest crorepati in the history of IPL. Starting on the bench, injury to Sanju Samson brought Vaibhav into the game and he made a memorable debut in style hitting a six off the very first ball of his IPL life.

He went on to become the youngest centurion in IPL history with a blistering 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans, finishing the season with 252 runs in seven matches at a staggering strike rate of 206.56.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier hailed Vaibhav and called the teenager an inspiration to young people in his Mann Ki Baat speech.   Suryavanshi has also been picked up for India's upcoming tour of England because of his recent accomplishments.

  Vaibhav Suryavanshi's journey, which included meeting with the prime minister and being mentored by Rahul Dravid, is evidence of his intelligence, tenacity, and the power of his dreams.