Kavya Kalanithi Maran, famously known as Kavya Maran, in a recent interview said about multiple aspects of cricket and her views on the game. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is known for their power-packed batting order and a die heart fan base.

By that time, Kavya had become one of the popular franchise owners of the Indian Premier League. How did she start the journey in the cash-rich league? Kavya answered swiftly. Sunrisers Hyderabad is owned by the Kalanithi Maran-led Sun Group. Kavya has been involved with the franchise since 2013. It was Kalanithi Maran himself who asked Kavya to join the franchise. She was only 21 years old and just out of college when Kalanithi Maran bought the team.

“He came to me and said, ‘You understand this audience better; you love cricket,’” she said. "My mother and my grandfather [were into cricket]… So cricket just playing on television 24/7 was a part and parcel of life growing up. So, my involvement started quite organically."

Read More: Jay Shah's latest incredible achievement makes Indian cricket proud

Kavya has to look multiple franchises 

Not only Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kavya has to look after multiple franchises, and all are cricket teams. So, her knowledge of cricket is beyond question. Northern Superchargers in The Hundred (UK-based league) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 League (South Africa-based league) are also owned by Kavya Maran. She understands how a good scouting prospect can help an entire cricket community. 

"For instance, The Hundred is a very short format. In SA20, their cultural upbringing is very different... So now, if I have found a talent when I go to the U.K., I'll bring him to the IPL, or I'll take him to SA20. Overall, it benefits international cricket... So, I think what is happening is amazing, and the future of cricket is only booming. Franchise cricket is playing a big role in it", she said. 

Only a couple of matches left before the conclusion of this year's Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). Cricket fans across the globe were thoroughly entertained through the tournament, packed with multiple high-octane clashes. Along with high-scoring chases of neck-to-neck battles, IPL 2025 has sparked controversies multiple times because of umpires' decisions. There have been at least 5 occasions when an umpire's call causes cricketers or fans to fume. Let's discuss all five of them below;

Mitchell Starc No Ball

A no-ball call from the umpire during a super over between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad raised multiple questions. The umpire gave a no-ball call due to Mitchell Starc's back foot landing beyond the return crease. It was the fourth delivery of the super over. Cricket fans fumed because they alleged that in an over of Mumbai Indians' bowler Vignesh Puthur, the same thing happened, but then the umpire did not make any call. 

Ishan Kishan's wicket in a bizarre manner:

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Ishan Kishan came to the center of controversies when he decided to walk off even before the umpire made his call. The match was between Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, and Ishan's incident happened on a Deepak Chahar over. The SRH batter tried to push the ball down the leg side but could not make contact. Then, all of a sudden, Kishan started to walk back to the dugout, and after some hesitation, the umpire raised his finger. Later, it found that there was no connection between the ball and bat. 

Read More: 'Comeback ho toh aisa ho' - Fans react as Karun Nair smashes double century against England Lions

No timer on the screen

When Chennai Super Kings batter Dewald Brevis asked the umpire to apply DRS after consulting with Ravindra Jadeja, his batting partner at the non-striking end, the umpire clearly denied the CSK batter's request to apply DRS. According to the umpire, the 15-second time frame to make a decision for DRS had expired. But, surprisingly, there was no timer on the giant screen that indicated the countdown. Experienced batters like Ravindra Jadeja were in disbelief by the decision from the umpire. 

Shubman Gill's controversial run-out:

Gujarat Titans skipper lost his cool when the umpire ruled him dismissed for a run-out. It was clear that Gill was well outside of the safe line, but the question was how the bails had dislodged—a direct impact by the ball or by the gloves of SRH keeper Heinrich Klaasen? Later, it was discovered that it was Klaasen's gloves that removed the bails from timber. 

Rohit Sharma's LBW

The match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) was at its initial stage; the 2nd over of the first innings was underway. On the fourth delivery of that over, Farooqi's delivery went straight to hit the Rohit Sharma's pad, and the on-field umpire's decision was out. After a chat with opening partner Rickelton, Rohit decided to go for a review. The field umpire's decision was overturned after DRS, and that sparked controversy among some of the cricket fans.

Coaches serve as the backbone of any team or franchise. In this ongoing IPL season, many have fared exceptionally well, whilst some, including the likes of Stephen Fleming from CSK, have come under the scanner for their team's disappointing performance. In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, former Australian legend Tom Moody was asked to name the best coach of the IPL 2025 season.

Moody was given two options at a time to select from. The names of numerous legendary figures came up during the discussion featuring the likes of Fleming, Flower, Jayawardene, Vettori, and Langer to name a few. He named his favorite picks based on their ongoing performance in this current season and not their historical performance. 

Moody names his favorite pick

Best coach of IPL 2025? 👀 pic.twitter.com/gt0W1oiLnm

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 27, 2025

Moody's answers certainly took a few users by surprise. First up, he was asked to make a selection between Fleming and Jayawardene. The former SRH legend picked Jayawardene's side on this one. Next up, he was asked to pick either NZ great Vettori or Jayawardene. Much to everyone's surprise, his preference remained the same as he chose Jayawardene over his Trans-Tasman rival. 

However, as the conversation progressed, he stumbled upon a minor roadblock when he was asked to make a tough choice between Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower and Jayawardene. He took a momentary pause before preferring Flower over the Lankan legend. Flower, then, seemed to be his consistent preference over Badani and Dravid. But that changed once again when Ashish Nehra from GT came into the picture. Moody recognized Nehra's instrumental contribution to the franchise not only in this season but also the prior seasons. 

And as fate would have it, Nehra emerged as Moody's favorite pick as he choose him over his Aussie counterparts like Langer and Ponting. This remarkable revelation left fans in awe since most of them, many of whom are from India, expected Moody to prefer his former teammates over Ashish Nehra. 

 See also: 'Dhoni finishes off in style'- Ravi Shastri turns 62; remember his ageless lines

As the IPL 2025 resumes after a disturbing mid-season halt with greater tensions between India and Pakistan, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins paused to thank the Indian Armed Forces. The Australian right-arm pace spearhead posted a touching message on Instagram thanking the staff for their service and sacrifice in making the return of the tournament to a safe environment to compete.

The IPL 2025 was promptly suspended shortly after Match 46 due to the rising tensions across the border that caused national security problems. Airspaces were closed, public gatherings were closed, and the league was suspended in limbo. Due to the congested schedule or for safety reasons, some of the other international players chose not to come back for the second installment. Pat Cummins has decided to come back to SRH despite the fact that it could affect his performance in the upcoming marquee Test series in Australia. His dedication has been praised as he has shown loyalty and leadership to the franchise.

Pat Cummins' Instagram story for Indian Armed forces. ❤️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/fP3325WhYH

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) May 17, 2025

Also read: IPL 2025: RCB vs KKR – Player Battles to Watch Out For

SRH Qualification Scenario:

 Sunrisers Hyderabad's route to the IPL 2025 playoffs is very slim but mathematically possible. Having 7 points from 11 games, they need to win all 3 of their remaining matches in order to achieve 13 points — a figure that has been insufficient to qualify only a handful of times. But this season, where several teams are bunched in the middle table, a 13-point tally could result in a tie among multiple teams, keeping SRH alive on technical merit.

SRH's largest obstacle is their net run rate of -1.192. Even if they win all three games remaining, they'll have to have at least one or two big-win victories in order to considerably improve their NRR. Furthermore, their chances of qualification are highly reliant on other outcomes favoring them — particularly if teams presently around the 10-12 point mark begin losing on a consistent basis. Although the door is theoretically ajar, SRH doesn't just have to be flawless; they also have to have a great deal of luck to reach the top four.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is to resume on May 17, 2025, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru, after a week of suspension following heightening tensions between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the tournament on 9 May due to air raid warnings during a Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Delhi Capitals (DC) game in Dharamsala as a precaution for player safety in light of geopolitical tensions. A May 10 announced ceasefire paved the way for the return of the league, but the new schedule is now in jeopardy with a number of overseas players set to miss the rest of the season because of international obligations such as the World Test Championship (WTC) final, bilateral series, and travel bans.

As the IPL resumes, the franchises are preparing for the loss of major overseas players, affecting their plans for the coming matches and playoffs, ending with the final on June 3, 2025. The loss of these players, due to commitments such as the WTC final between Australia and South Africa, England's ODI series against the West Indies, and Australia's tour of Sri Lanka, will challenge the depth of IPL franchises. Below is a breakdown of each team’s current standing, remaining matches, and the overseas players they’re likely to miss.

Gujarat Titans (GT): Standing at the 1st position on the table with 16 points from 11 games, GT now has 3 games remaining. England's ODIs against the West Indies and WTC preparation for South African players are expected to keep Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Gerald Coetzee out.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Sitting 2nd with 16 points from 11 matches, RCB has 3 matches remaining. Josh Hazlewood and Lockie Ferguson are likely to miss due to WTC final preparations, while Phil Salt, Reece Topley, and Liam Livingstone will be absent due to England’s ODI series against the West Indies.

Punjab Kings (PBKS): 3rd with 15 points from 11 games, PBKS has 3 games to go. Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, and Ben Stokes are likely to be absent due to WTC preparation and travel restrictions resulting from the previous geopolitical tensions.

Mumbai Indians (MI): Sitting at 4th position with 14 points from 12 games, MI has 2 games remaining. Gerald Coetzee and Anrich Nortje are expected to miss as they prepare for the WTC final with South Africa.

Delhi Capitals (DC): 5th with 13 points after 11 matches, DC have 3 games remaining. Mitchell Starc and Lorcan Tucker will probably miss it due to preparations for the WTC and Australia's return from Sri Lanka, and Tucker's participation remains uncertain.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Standing at 6th position with 11 points from 12 games, KKR has 2 games remaining. Anrich Nortje will probably miss it because of WTC final preparations with South Africa.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Standing at 8th position with 7 points from 11 games, SRH has 3 games remaining. Pat Cummins and Travis Head will probably miss it 55 because of WTC final preparations with Australia.

Also Read: Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visit Vrindavan after Test retirement

Overseas Players Missing IPL 2025

In a surprising turn of events, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of today's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash against Delhi Capitals (DC). The crucial 55th match of the season is being held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, May 5.

While earlier speculation suggested that Nitish had been dropped due to underwhelming performances, it has now been officially confirmed that the youngster is actually unwell. The franchise announced via its official social media handles that Reddy is suffering from a stomach infection and was hence unavailable for selection.

“Nitish Kumar Reddy misses out tonight as he's unwell,” SRH posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, putting to rest rumours of a form related omission.

ALSO SEE:WATCH: Former football manager Gareth Southgate reflects upon his fond memories of Cricket

Illness Rules Out Key All-Rounder as SRH Make Strategic Changes for Crucial Playoff Clash

Nitish Kumar Reddy has had a challenging season so far. Having recovered from a side strain he sustained after the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the 21-year-old could not get into his groove in IPL 2025. In the 10 games he played, Reddy scored only 173 runs at a strike rate of 113.91. Moreover, he hasn’t bowled a single over this season likely a precautionary move following his injury.

His limited contribution with both bat and ball had already raised questions about his role in the side, especially with SRH fighting to stay alive in the playoffs race. However, the current absence is not performance-based, but purely due to illness.

SRH made three changes to their playing XI for this do-or-die fixture. Sachin Baby, Abhinav Manohar, and young pacer Eshan Malinga were brought in, replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, and Kamindu Mendis.

Here is SRH’s Playing XI for the match: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Sachin Baby, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, and Eshan Malinga.

With Reddy sidelined and the playoffs looming, SRH will hope that the new additions can step up in what could be a defining game in their IPL 2025 campaign.

The Gujarat Titans (GT) vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad match is set for April 19, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. This highly anticipated clash will be a key encounter as both teams look to gain momentum in the tournament.

Match Details—IPL 2025

• Match: Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Delhi Capitals  (DC)
• Date: 02 MAY 2025
•  Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• Live Streaming: JioStar & Star Sports Network

Also read: RR vs MI : Match 50 Weather and Pitch report IPL 2025

 Weather and Pitch Condition:

Weather Condition:

• The Ahmedabad forecast promises skies that are clear throughout the game, and the temperature hovering between 31 and 37 degrees guarantees no rain holdups.
• 11% (Humidity)
• No rain is predicted, ensuring an uninterrupted match.

Pitch Forecast:

• Known for its batting-rich track, the Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to produce another high-scoring game because of the expected bounce and pace, which is favorable for aggressive batting. 
• As the match shifts toward the end, spinners may get some help due to the pitch slowing down.

Venue Highlights: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• Highest Team Total: 243/5 by Punjab Kings against Gujarat Titans in 2025. ​
• Lowest Team Total: 89 all out by Gujarat Titans against Delhi Capitals in 2024. ​
• Average First Innings Score: Approximately 172 runs.
• Win % Batting First: 57%
• Win % Bowling First: 43%

The IPL 2025 season continues to deliver thrilling action as teams fiercely compete for top positions. Match 38 of the IPL 2025 season was played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 23. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad, put in to bat after losing the toss, scored 143/8 in 20 overs, owing to Heinrich Klaasen's 71 from 44 deliveries and Abhinav Manohar's 43. Mumbai Indians bowled responsibly—Trent Boult captured 4/26, Deepak Chahar took 2/12, and Hardik Pandya 1/31. MI chased the target quite easily in reply, reaching 146/3 in 15.4 overs. Rohit Sharma led with a composed 70 off 46, while Suryakumar Yadav smashed 40 off 19 to finish the game in style. Will Jacks added 22. Despite SRH’s bowlers picking a few wickets, MI’s batting dominance ensured a comfortable 7-wicket victory.

Latest IPL 2025 Points Table:

As of April 23, 2025, following the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI), the updated IPL 2025 points table is as follows:

Also read:  Top 3 Reasons why Sunrisers Hyderabad Lost to Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Match 41

Orange & Purple Cap in IPL 2025

Orange Cap (Most Runs):

• B Sai Sudharsan - 417 Runs
• Nicholas Pooran  - 377 Runs
• SuryaKumar Yadav - 373 Runs

Purple Cap (Most Wickets):

• Prasidh Krishna - 16 Wickets
• Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore - 12 wickets
• Noor Ahmad - 12 wickets

Sunrisers Hyderabad had another rough outing in IPL 2025 as they lost four wickets inside the first six overs against Mumbai Indians. Playing at their home ground, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, SRH ended the PowerPlay at a shocking 24/4 their fourth-lowest PowerPlay score in IPL history.

This was the third time ever that SRH lost four or more wickets inside the PowerPlay in the IPL:

• 24/4 vs MI – April 23, 2025 (Hyderabad)
• 25/4 vs PWI – April 17, 2013 (Pune)
• 29/5 vs RR – April 27, 2013 (Jaipur)

Mumbai Indians made a statement from the first ball. Trent Boult struck early, removing Travis Head with his second ball. Then came a controversial moment, Ishan Kishan walked off after thinking he edged Deepak Chahar, but replays showed there was no contact. Still, the decision stood. Soon after, Abhishek Sharma fell to Boult, and Nitish Kumar Reddy was taken out by Chahar. Four wickets fell in quick time, and fans on social media didn’t hold back their reactions.

ALSO SEE: 'Pakistan team khauf mein hai' - Fans react as Zimbabwe defeat Bangladesh in Test match

SRH’s Lowest Total in IPL: A Not-So-Proud Record

If you’re wondering what SRH’s lowest total ever in IPL is, it came against Mumbai Indians in 2019 when they were bowled out for just 96 runs at the same venue in Hyderabad. In that game, Alzarri Joseph tore through their lineup with a six-wicket haul. Sadly for SRH fans, it seems like history might be repeating itself.

SRH started IPL 2025 with hopes of improving on last year’s performance. But things have gone from bad to worse. With only two wins so far, the team looks out of rhythm. Their batting is over-reliant on Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Klaasen hasn’t fired, and Nitish Kumar Reddy has struggled. Their bowling isn’t helping either, with Shami and Cummins leaking runs and their spinners being the least effective in the tournament. Both teams wore black armbands to pay tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, showing solidarity beyond the game.

Twitter reactions after SRH's  lowest powerplay total in the 41st match of IPL 2025

lowest powerplay score in this season, eh mustolaki 300 kavalantapic.twitter.com/9Ou1O01Hi5 https://t.co/2R6mpkb2TQ

— Charles Boyle (@marchipoyanuu) April 23, 2025

Lowest score in PP by the worst CSK team in history - 30/3
Kaateramma kodukulu on Uppal roads - 24/4

Kani intent undhi bro, 300 kodadam bro 🍊 #SRHvsMI pic.twitter.com/WuQbDR8mKQ

— Inky, Pinky, Ponky...LAKERS IN 6 (@BhargavA_1098) April 23, 2025

CSK Plays worst in Powerplay but It's SRH who have lowest Powerplay score this season so far. pic.twitter.com/nOXkKFil5b

— 🎰 (@StanMSD) April 23, 2025

Ohhhhhhh
Finally lowest power play score so far in IPL 2025 belongs to SRH 🤝🥲🤣#SRHvsMI pic.twitter.com/XmPoTlsK5s

— Alter Ego (@ranvijayrocky) April 23, 2025

Lowest score in powerplay in 2025🔥
Srh 24/4 🔥😂

Sammaga undi

pic.twitter.com/NerETolOQ1

— ABHI (@AbhiM2608) April 23, 2025

Lowest Powerplay Score Of IPL 2025@SunRisers 🍊🤣🤣 #SRHvsMIpic.twitter.com/39FNpasiLf https://t.co/FIv7ZAcMNl

— 𝑺𝒂𝒊 ¹⁸ (@KarnaSalaar) April 23, 2025

-One fluke season

& Thought we revolutionize T20 cricket ,

-24 runs in powerplay

Lowest of this season 🤣🙏pic.twitter.com/rVfiAjl9rJ https://t.co/oAB18HhA4G

— SumitMSDian™ (@UMITGmer151174) April 23, 2025

Power play lo lowest score manadhe naa ipl mothaniki 😭

— XBerlIN (@JustinChenni) April 23, 2025

🔥 Historic low in #IPL2025!
SRH crumbles to the lowest powerplay score this season! 😱
🟠 SRH: 21/4 in 6 overs
📉 Breaks the previous low: CSK 30/3 vs RCB in Chennai

Boult & Chahar ripping through the top order! 💥#MIvsSRH #SRHvsMI https://t.co/jwlvGRPeF8

— IPL Mantra (@IPL_Mantra) April 23, 2025

Lowest ipl score &
Lowest powerplay score of this season loading

— DronaCharya 🦅🧡 (@DeCharya3) April 23, 2025

The match between the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 23, 2025, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is scheduled to be played.

Match Details:

• Date: April 23, 2025​
• Time: 7:30 PM IST​
• Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad​
• Win % Batting First: 42%
• Win % Bowling First: 57%

Also read: MUL vs LAH PSL 2025 Match Live streaming: Where & How to watch on TV

Weather and Pitch Conditions:

Weather:

• The weather in Hyderabad is to be warm and humid, with no forecast of rain, ensuring a full game.
• 27% (Humidity)
• No chance of rain ensured a smooth game with ideal conditions for cricket.

Pitch: 

• The pitch at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is known to be a flat deck, favoring batsmen.
• It offers minimal assistance to bowlers, with the ball coming onto the bat nicely, allowing for stroke play.
• The short boundaries further aid in scoring, suggesting a high-scoring encounter. ​

Also read: LSG VS DC IPL Match Live streaming: Where & How to watch on TV

Venue Records: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

• Highest Team Total: 286/6 by Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals (IPL 2025)
• Lowest Team Total: 80 all out by Delhi Daredevils vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL 2013)
• Average First Innings Score: Around 161 runs

Given the pitch conditions and weather, fans can anticipate an exciting, high-scoring match between SRH and MI.