On April 26, in the IPL 2025 game between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), KKR's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy proved competent once again over PBKS superstar Glenn Maxwell. PBKS was chasing a decent score of 173, as in only 16.3 overs, it made an impressive 172 for 2 at a strong run rate of 10.42. However, Chakravarthy had a different plan for Maxwell and his 'bundles of mystery spin.'

Chakravarthy dismissed Maxwell, and it was the fifth time 'Chakra' had dismissed the Australian in just eight IPL innings. This was a huge turning point in the match, as Chakravarthy showed that he is capable of troubling the best of the best. The dismissal spawned a cheeky viral comment from former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, who said, "Varun Chakravarthy keeps Glenn Maxwell in his pocket."

Raina's cheeky comment made on social media went viral and has divided opinion amongst fans, with some protecting Raina's cheekiness and others stating it was an unfair statement. It also led to debate regarding the PBKS's team selection, with fans criticizing the franchise for picking overseas players like Maxwell rather than Indian players who were currently in form, like Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. Chakravarthy's performance also reinforced he was a critical asset for KKR.

Watch the video here

Suresh Raina said, "Varun Chakravarthy keeps Glenn Maxwell in his pocket". pic.twitter.com/GScdMZzyKI

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 26, 2025

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Chakravarthy’s Dominance against Maxwell

Chakravarthy's record against Maxwell underscores his abilities as a mystery spinner. Notably, Chakravarthy has 83 wickets in 70 IPL matches at an economy rate of 7.56, and he has consistently deceived aggressive batsmen in the past. Maxwell has long struggled with his untraditional variations, and Chakravarthy has been able to feast on his attacking mindset in IPL matchups. Because of this, the two have become highlights of IPL contests. He was able to expose Maxwell's risk-taking mentality, as well as that of other all-star players such as MS Dhoni, which has marked him as a big-match player.

The dismissal and Raina’s comment also reignited discussions about PBKS’s team selection and Maxwell’s form. One fan expressed frustration with PBKS’s management, led by coach Ricky Ponting, for favoring overseas players like Maxwell over in-form Indian talents like Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. Maxwell’s inconsistent performances in IPL 2025 have been a talking point, with some fans labeling him a "flop show" in this season.

Former Indian cricketer praises 14-year-old prodigy with a Bollywood tune live on air  In an electrifying IPL 2025 fixture between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 24, the spotlight wasn’t just on the cricket—it was also on the commentary box. Former Indian player and commentator Suresh Raina provided a musical flavor to the evening, singing a Bollywood song to young RR opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The incident came after the 14-year-old made a splash with his aggressive stroke play. Raina sang, "Chhota bacha jaan ke, na koi aankh dikhana re, Dubi dubi dab dab," praising the youngster's bravery on the big stage.

RR, in pursuit of a steep 206, made a blistering beginning courtesy of their young opening pair—Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The teenager, confident to the core, boldly tackled RCB's seasoned bowling attack. In a performance to remember, he smashed two huge sixes off veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and sprinted to 16 off 12 deliveries before his brief but explosive stay at the crease came to an end.

Although Suryavanshi did not bat for long, his composure and bold intent impressed all. He had already made headlines in his first match against Lucknow Super Giants this season, scoring 34 off only 20 balls. With such promising innings at the beginning of the tournament, the young sensation has already emerged as one of the most thrilling discoveries of IPL 2025.

Also read: IPL Controversy: Why RCB escaped penalty after Suyash Sharma’s unusual move vs RR

"He is never scared": Raina Praises Teen Sensation's Fearless Approach

In commentary, Raina could not help but express his admiration. "He's just 14, but the maturity, awareness, and body language he shows are that of a seasoned player. He's never scared," said the former India legend.

Suryavanshi, selected for ₹1.1 crore in the mega auction of the IPL 2025, is taking up huge shoes left by Sanju Samson. By virtue of consistent good showings in back-to-back performances, the Royals will be seeking their young opening batsman to repeat his magic when the Gujarat Titans play on April 28.

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During commentary for Mumbai Indians' dominant nine-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium, former India cricketer Suresh Raina expressed concern over CSK’s alarming decline in IPL 2025. He remarked that he had never seen the team in such disarray, struggling for form and results. With six losses in their first eight matches, CSK currently sit at the bottom of the points table. Raina pointed to the lack of fresh ideas and shaky leadership, especially after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence led to MS Dhoni, now 43, taking over the captaincy again.

Raina, who spent 12 seasons with CSK and was a vital part of their golden era, believes that the franchise’s current troubles stem from poor auction strategies. The team appears to lack batting depth and explosive firepower, leaving them vulnerable against more balanced sides. Their inability to adapt or innovate mid-season is also becoming increasingly apparent. While Dhoni remains an iconic figure, his return to leadership hasn’t been enough to spark a turnaround. With playoff hopes fading fast, the spotlight is now on CSK’s think tank to reassess their direction, both for the remainder of the season and in preparation for future campaigns.

See Also: 'Dhoni has resigned to fate' – Aakash Chopra makes bold statement on MS Dhoni’s mindset amid IPL 2025

“I think, from the coach and the management, the auction has not gone well this year,” Raina said on Star Sports. “There were so many youngsters, talented players in the auction, like Priyansh (Arya) who scored a 100 the other day. Even among the more senior players, you left Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. When you see the other teams play, they are attacking so much. (In front of them,) I have never seen a CSK team struggle like this”, Raina told during his commentary stint.

Watch the video here;

Experts @ImRaina and @harbhajan_singh break down what’s gone wrong for CSK from the auction table to the pitch 📝

What are your views on the experts' take? 🤔#IPLRevengeWeek 👉 #KKRvGT | MON, 21 APR, 6:30PM on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/WsQQcAe5tH

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 21, 2025

Talent hunt team should be questioned: Harbhajan Singh

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who previously played for CSK, remarked that he hadn't seen any young player in the current CSK squad capable of delivering a game-changing innings. He questioned the efforts of those responsible for scouting talent for the team, suggesting that they should be held accountable for whether they had provided accurate and effective information to the management, which ultimately influenced the selections made during the auction.

 “Among the youngsters, I have not seen anyone play for CSK who can play a game-changing innings. Those that hunt the talent pool for this team need to also be asked questions of whether they passed on the right information to the (management) based on which the selection (at the auction) took place”, Harbhajan Singh said.

India won their third ICC Champions Trophy beating New Zealand by 4 wickets which became a crisp encounter for the last 45 minutes though India managed to be victorious. Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front not just on the field but with the bat too. Rohit had a good batting tenure but couldn't long for the team to score in the league matches. But took his time and scored a well-made 74 

Suresh Raina who was in the commentary panel enjoyed the match very well and gave his major inputs by sharing his experience of the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. Raina says we were in similar kind of situation by batting first and kept on losing wickets. Though our bowlers did a good job and especially Ishant Sharma's second last over was crucial. 

Read More: Kuldeep Yadav Double Wickets Blow Breaks The Jinks Of Not Taking Wickets In ICC Knockouts Game

Interacting with fans and their roles

After the Champions Trophy victory 2025 Raina too joined with the team for a small celebration and through that he had small interaction with fans where he told to give warm welcome to the players and the captain Rohit Sharma as they put on lots of effort to bring back the trophy for the third time. He also included the names of players like Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy and so on. 

Suresh Raina to paps at airport:- "Rohit Sharma ayege achhe se cheer karna uske liye, badi meant Ki hai usne"🥹🇮🇳❤️

Suresh Raina.❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/a0Gl0qhBlp

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) March 10, 2025

His words were Apne match dekha in which a fan replied, Haan Humne Match Dekha, Rohit Sharma aayega to ache se cheer karieyga badi mehnat ki hai usne. Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit khoob support kariye. 

Read more: List OF All Trophies Won By Rohit Sharma As Captain

Raina the main supporter

Raina has been the biggest supporter of team India though be in the team or out he was given various performances which is still remebered by many, though it be 2011 world cup or the 2013 Champions Trophy his significant contributions have given major impact. 

Raina has reciprocated a few of his innings which has ended in the well-being of the team. Even at the end he too shared his thoughts and views in the commentary panel which is been loved by all. 

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is always heated, but this time it wasn't the match alone that was in the limelight andit was the commentary.

Sarfaraz : "Riwaz allah ka jap kar rahe hain"

Aakash Chopra : "Rohit Mahamrityunjay kar rahe hain"

Raina: "Virat Mahadev Bhakt hain and Abhi Mahashivratri bhi hain"

We got Mahadev vs Allah in commentary 😭 #INDvsPAK

— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) February 23, 2025

Short Video of this -pic.twitter.com/bA3Ni12GKT

— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) February 23, 2025

ALSO SEE: Watch: Hardik Pandya celebration after dismissing Babar Azam

During the match, Sarfaraz Ahmed said, "Riwaz Allah ka jap kar rahe hain," meaning religious rituals. Aakash Chopra retorted with, "Rohit Mahamrityunjay kar rahe hain," associating it with Hindu prayers. Suresh Raina then joined in, "Virat Mahadev Bhakt hain and abhi Mahashivratri bhi hain."

The conversation quickly went viral, with fans reacting in different ways. Some saw it as a fun and unique moment, while others felt that cricket commentary should stay focused on the game.

Social media has been buzzing with debates—should religious references be a part of sports commentary, or should broadcasters avoid them altogether?

What’s your take on this?

The Maha Kumbh Mela, a huge and holy event which occurs every 12 years in India, is a magnet to millions of devotees in quest of spiritual renewal. In 2025, the Mela at Prayagraj did not see just pilgrims, but a few well-known cricketers of India too, who walked the banks of the holy Sangam to experience this phenomenon.

Among the cricketers who made it to the Maha Kumbh Mela were past and present stars, some of whom tweeted and spoke in interviews about the experience, sharing how spiritually rewarding the event was.

Suresh Raina 

Mary Kom and Suresh Raina went for a dip in the Ganga at the weekend. Raina shared images from his dip on social media, whereas Mary Kom was spotted enjoying herself to the fullest at the spot. Raina went onto social media to share a small peep into his spiritual experience and termed his visit an experience to remember.

Just had an unforgettable darshan experience at Mahakumbh! Felt the divine energy & spirituality of the gathering. Blessed to be a part of this sacred event #Mahakumbh #Darshan #SpiritualExperience #DivineBlessings" pic.twitter.com/j7gClY6DWc

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 25, 2025

Anil Kumble

ALSO SEE : Best Ruled Out XI for Champions Trophy 2025

Anil Kumble and his wife came to Prayagraj on Tuesday and had a holy dip on Magh Purnima, a day without VIP security. They came to the holy confluence by boat, sharing the experience like common pilgrims.

Blessed 🙏🏽#MahaKumbh #Prayagraj pic.twitter.com/OFY6T3yF5F

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) February 12, 2025

R.P.Singh

former Indian cricketer and T20 World Cup-winning pacer RP Singh attended the event and lauded the government for handling everything well

#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | On #MahaKumbhMela2025, Cricketer RP Singh says, "I have come here for the second time. The management here is great and I am very fortunate that I got the opportunity of Kumbh Snan in this time period... It is difficult to think how 50 crore people could… pic.twitter.com/olW4RkOOre

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025

Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar visits the Sangam in Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh.

Sunil Gavaskar takes a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj during Mahakumbh. 🙏✨#Cricket #India #BCCI #SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/RSIe4P872L

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 18, 2025

Mohammad Kaif

ALSO SEE : Virat Kohli vs. Babar Azam: A Battle of Modern-Day Batting Greats

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif visited Prayagraj ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival and took a dip in the Yamuna River.

Abe isi Jamuna ji mein tairaki seekha hoon 😀 #sangam #prayagraj pic.twitter.com/yVs67yJMWb

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 29, 2024

Jay shah

ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with his family, arrived at Prayagraj on January 27 to attend the Maha Kumbh, a festival steeped in spirituality and tradition.

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Saints bless the baby boy of Jay Shah - ICC chairman and son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/97qA7hwuOb

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with his family, in the presence of several saints and CM Yogi Adityanath, performs 'aarti' at Triveni Sangam during #Mahakumbh2025 in Prayagraj pic.twitter.com/K8bftnGKwg

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025

Apart from Shah, his son and ICC chairman Jay Shah also visited the Maha Kumbh. Clad in saffron attire like his father, the cricket administrator sought blessings from the seers for his newborn son.

India Masters Squad

The India Masters side will be led by the great of all time Sachin Tendulkar in the teams. The squad has a few past Indian players who played pivotal roles in the history of Indian cricket. Full squad:

Full Squad List:

• Sachin Tendulkar (Captain)
• Yuvraj Singh
• Suresh Raina
• Ambati Rayudu
• Yusuf Pathan
• Irfan Pathan
• Stuart Binny
• Dhawal Kulkarni
• Vinay Kumar
• Shahbaz Nadeem
• Rahul Sharma
• Pragyan Ojha
• Pawan Negi
• Gurkeerat Mann
• Abhimanyu Mithun

Fan reaction is High High
Fans are so happy to see their favorite cricketers back and playing the game. Sachin Tendulkar has been seen in action for the tournament, too, and videos of net sessions went viral across social media. Some believe this tournament may well afford fans a peek at the pre-RCB golden era of Indian cricket.

The likes of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, both powerful batters are going to play a crucial role in this team. Some of the good regular bowlers who will strengthen batting and bowling in-rounders like Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan. The squad has some established pacemen in the bowling lineup of Vinay Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni whereas Pragyan Ojha and Rahul Sharma are there for the spin.

ALSO READ: Sri Lanka created history after beating Australia: A History to Remember

Tournament Schedule and Initial Match
DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai 22nd Feb -- 01st March 2025: Start of the campaign by the India Masters side against Sri Lanka Masters. The league will retake its place at the matches in Rajkot and Raipur with the finale held in March 2025.

For all other wannabe cricket fans
A tournament for cricket as the memories of these cricketers, who engrossed international cricket in their past will surely come back to some individuals. IML T20 2025 promises to be the feast of cricket we have six solid teams and some great players lined up!

The Suresh Raina announcement about Virat Kohli being the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2025 is quite exciting news, which is spreading much excitement among the fans of RCB, as Virat Kohli has been part of the team for several years.

Kohli is as good as the great leader who doesn't have only on-field tactics to become successful but inspirational for his team mates. This is an experience pressure handler who is going to help RCB get success in IPL 2025.

Suresh Raina said - "Virat Kohli is Captain of RCB this time in IPL 2025". (Star Sports). pic.twitter.com/qmoCKQByiP

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 10, 2025

Kohli in IPL for RCB :

ALSO SEE :  Big Blow for England as RCB’s New Recruit Jacob Bethell Ruled Out of Champions Trophy 2025

Kohli's captaincy return ensures much-needed stability to the side after the confused period over their leadership. Long-term, it has been quite an aggressive as well as very passionate approach taken by Kohli towards his games, which becomes a very characterizing feature about RCB too. 

The whole world will look at RCB and Virat Kohli when the new season comes around. The promise that IPL 2025 has to offer is quite a lot, and one thing that keeps every fan's mind buzzing is whether this will be the year RCB will lift the IPL trophy under the captaincy of Kohli. Excitement is building, and RCB will surely be one of the most closely watched teams in the new season.

The Legends 90 League 2025 is one of the cricket tournaments involving retired international cricketers. It started on February 6, 2025, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, India. It takes an unusual format where matches have a 90-ball duration-15 overs on both sides-matches are not slow

TEAMS:

• Chhattisgarh Warriors
• Punjabi Sher
• Dubai Giants
• Gujarat Samp Army
• Delhi Royals
• Big Boys
• Rajasthan Kings

Live streaming:

ALSO READ:Ind vs eng 2nd ODI Live Streaming&: Where & How to Watch the Match Online & on TV

Schedule:

Major Highlights to Watch
Legendary Cricketers are Coming Back to Action: Great players from every corner of the globe will reprise their game.
Fast-paced format: It's a different 90-ball format that brings the match exciting and high scoring.
Intense Rivalries: Watch exciting battles between some of the best icons and teams.
Semi-Finals & Final: All matches promise some edge-of-the-seat action
Top Performances: Keep track of stunning centuries, quick wickets, and game-changing moments.

Tournament OverView

Upcoming T20 style tournament Legends 90 League 2025 expect to have a 90-ball format with legendary players from around the world battling it out. The event will be organized between 8th and 18th of February, 2025 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur Chhattisgarh India.

A novel format aimed at increasing the liveliness and high-speed stuff into cricket the way The Hundred in England but with 90 balls per . It'll consist of seven franchises with a blend of retired international and upcoming Indian player

TEAMS:

1. Big Boys
2. Dubai Giants
3. Delhi Royals
4. Rajasthan Kings
5. Harvana Gladiators
6. Gujrat Samp Army
7. Chhattisgarh Warriors

Schedule: Yet to be announced soon 

ALSO READ:U.P Police gets a new DSP – Indian Women's Cricket Team Deepti sharma

Full Squads:

Haryana Gladiators

Pawan Suyal, Praveen Gupta, Abu Nechim, Anureet Singh, Imran Khan, Asela Gunaratne, Ishank Jaggi, Harbhajan Singh, Nagendra Chaudhary, Rikki Clarke, Peter Trego, Chadwick Walton, Manan Sharma.

Chhattisgarh Warriors

Siddarth Kaul, Sheldon Jackson, Pawan Negi, Kevon Cooper, Suresh Raina, Vishal Kushwaha, Martin Guptill, Abhishek Sakuja, Ambati Rayudu, Amit Verma, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Amit Mishra, Rishi Dhawan, Kalim Khan, Unmukt Chand, Manoj Singh, Abhimanyu Mithun, Colin de Grandhomme.

Dubai Giants

Shakib Al Hasan, Thisara Perera, Kennar Lewis, Kevin O’Brien, Brendan Taylor, Liam Plunkett, Dwayne Smith, Hamilton Masakadza, Richard Levi, Luke Fletcher, Rahul Yadav, Christopher M, Sid Trivedi, Seekkuge Prasanna.

Gujarat Samp Army

Yusuf Pathan, Moeen Ali, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Tiwary, Kesrick Williams, Jesal Karia, Miguel Cummins, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shapoor Zadran, Mohammad Ashraful, William Perkins, Navin Stewart, Abhishek, Chaturanga De Silva, Mausif Khan.

Delhi Royals

Shikhar Dhawan, Lendl Simmons, Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Perera, Sahard Lumba, Bipul Sharma, Lakhwinder Singh, Rajwinder Singh, Rayad Emrit, Ross Taylor, Jerome Taylor, Sumit Narwal, Parvinder Awana.

Big Boys

Matt Prior, Ishan Malhotra, Monu Kumar, Chirag Gandhi, Tamim Iqbal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Herschelle Gibbs, Upul Tharanga, Abdur Razzak, Shannon Gabriel, Varun Aaron, Neil Broom, Karamveer Singh, Robin Bist, Naman Sharma, Kapil Rana, Vinod Chanwariya

Rajasthan Kings

Dwayne Bravo, Ankit Rajpoot, Phil Mustard, Shahbaz Nadeem, Faiz Fazal, Shadab Jakati, Jaskaran Malhotra, Imran Tahir, Jaykishan Kolsawala, Rajesh Bishnoi, Corey Anderson, Pankaj Rao, Samiullah Shinwari, Rajat Singh, Ashley Nurse, Dawlat Zadran, Manpreet Gony.

Live Streaming:

Sony Sports Network to air Legend 90