Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched the top spot in IPL 2025 with a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chasing 163, Krunal Pandya hammered an unbeaten 73 off 47 balls, while Virat Kohli scored a steady 51 off 47 deliveries, briefly reclaiming the Orange Cap. Earlier, DC posted 162/8, with KL Rahul top-scoring with 41 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3/33, and Josh Hazlewood bagged 2/36 to restrict DC. Despite Tristan Stubbs’ late cameo, RCB chased down the target with nine balls to spare, reinforcing their dominance as the playoffs approach. (PC: BCCI)

The IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens was called off after a fierce thunderstorm caused chaos. Former cricketer Matthew Hayden described the scene as "absolute chaos," witnessing six ground staff members being lifted into the air while trying to secure covers against 60-70 km/h winds. With no proper weights to anchor them, the covers blew into the stands. The game had barely started, with KKR at 7/0 after one over, before heavy rain and dust storms halted play. The dramatic scenes were broadcast live, adding to a wild night in Kolkata. (PC: The Indian Express)

Cricket legend Steve Waugh believes China could become a major force in world cricket as the sport moves towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Speaking at an exclusive event at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, hosted by Manish Tiwari, Waugh said, "As soon as cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics was announced, China started building a team. They are serious about winning gold."   Waugh, who was interviewed by Manish Tiwari during the evening, explained how T20 cricket is changing the game. "T20 is massive now. It’s billions of dollars, and it’s growing every day," he said. "Test cricket will survive, but T20 will dominate. Players will soon be contracted mainly to franchises. Test matches might even need special permissions."   He also shared his thoughts on how countries like Saudi Arabia and the USA are investing heavily in cricket. "It’s exciting," Waugh said. "The game is reaching new parts of the world, and the Olympics will take it even further."   While the future of cricket was the highlight of the start of the evening, the conversation soon turned to Waugh’s deep connection with India. Manish Tiwari introduced him warmly as "Steve Da," a name given by the children at Udayan Home in Kolkata.   "When Manish called me Steve Da, it felt special," Waugh said, smiling. "India is like a second home. The people, the culture, the passion — it stays with you forever."   Waugh spoke fondly about his many trips to India, not only as a cricketer but also as a photographer and humanitarian. He described India as "the best place in the world for photography," and recalled how one of his photos from Rajasthan won a World Photography Award. "In India, you really can't take a bad photo," he joked.   The evening then moved to Waugh’s charity work, both in India and Australia. Speaking about the Steve Waugh Foundation, he shared a powerful story of a young boy who could not walk or talk but, after receiving therapy supported by the foundation, went on to win two Paralympic gold medals.   "It’s great when you see lives being changed," Waugh said. "You realize how much impact you can have by simply getting involved and giving people a chance."   Waugh also reflected on how he helped inspire other cricketers to take up charity work in India. "Back then, not many sportspeople were doing it," he said. "But I think seeing someone take the first step made others realize they could too."   The event was supported by State Bank of India (UK), Rainforest Water, Aaj Tak, and NDTV 24x7. The sponsors were later thanked by the organizers for making the special evening possible.   Manish Tiwari closed the session by saying, "Steve Waugh’s story is not just about cricket. It’s about leadership, humility, and using your fame to make a real difference."

India’s Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will not travel to South Korea for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships. The Athletics Federation of India announced a 59-member squad, but Chopra has chosen to skip the continental event to focus on preparing for the Diamond League and the World Athletics Championships later this year. This strategic move is aimed at managing his training load and peaking at major global competitions. Despite his absence, India is fielding a strong squad in South Korea, hoping to maintain its presence and success at the Asian level. (PC: PTI)  

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are facing a tough season in IPL 2025, sitting at the bottom of the table with only two wins from nine games. After a disappointing loss to SunRisers Hyderabad, former Indian captain Anil Kumble stressed the urgent need for CSK to plan for the future. He highlighted the importance of grooming young talents like Vansh Bedi to rebuild the squad. Having already used 20 players from their squad of 27, CSK appears to be struggling with team balance and consistency. With just five matches left, their focus may now shift towards long-term rebuilding. (PC: PTI)

Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26, Sourav Ganguly joined Shreevats Goswami in urging India to sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan. Ganguly stressed that “terrorism cannot be tolerated” and called for strict action, emphasizing the need to end cricketing engagement. India has not played a bilateral series with Pakistan since 2012–13, meeting only in ICC and ACC tournaments. The BCCI confirmed it will follow government policy and denied reports about requesting separate groups in ICC events. The Indian government has already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut down the Attari ICP, and revoked Pakistani visas, intensifying the response after the attack. (PC: Pinterest)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 5 wickets in IPL 2025, thanks to a brilliant 4-wicket haul from Harshal Patel, which helped bowl CSK out for 154. Despite a strong start from Ayush Mhatre (30), CSK's batting faltered with crucial wickets falling at regular intervals. Shivam Dube (12) and Brevis (42) provided a late surge, but CSK's total proved insufficient. SRH chased down the target with ease, with Ishan Kishan, Kamindu Mendis, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributing valuable cameos. CSK’s defeat leaves them struggling at the bottom of the table. (PC: BCCI)

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic javelin gold medallist, has withdrawn his invitation to Pakistani rival Arshad Nadeem for the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on May 24. This decision follows a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists, leading to public backlash against Nadeem's inclusion. Chopra clarified that his invitation was a gesture between athletes, not politically motivated, and expressed disappointment over the hate directed at him and his family. He emphasized that the invite was sent before the attack and that Nadeem's participation is now "completely out of the question." Nadeem had reportedly planned to skip the event due to a scheduling conflict with the Asian Championships in South Korea. (PC: Business Standard)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally ended their home ground losing streak with a thrilling 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Batting first, RCB posted a formidable 205/5, powered by fifties from Virat Kohli (70 off 42) and Devdutt Padikkal (50 off 27), who added a 95-run partnership. Despite Rajasthan's strong chase, led by Jos Buttler, RCB's bowlers held their nerve. Josh Hazlewood starred with figures of 4/33, while Krunal Pandya chipped in with 2/31. This marked RCB’s first home victory of the season, breaking their three-match losing streak at the venue. (PC: BCCI)

Gautam Gambhir, India's cricket head coach and former BJP MP, received two death threats via email on April 22 from a sender claiming to be "ISIS Kashmir," with the chilling message "IKillU." The threats coincided with a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 civilians. Gambhir approached Delhi Police, requesting an FIR and enhanced security for himself and his family. This isn't the first such threat; a similar email was received in 2021 during his tenure as MP. Condemning the Pahalgam attack, Gambhir vowed on social media that "India will strike" and those responsible "will pay." (PC: News18)