Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant may leave Delhi Capitals ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, according to a report by Dainik Jagran. Pant is currently the most capped player as well as the leading run-scorer for the franchise. However, the report claimed that DC may not retain Pant ahead of the mega auction despite support from Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly. The report further stated that if Pant is released by DC, his most likely destination will be Chennai Super Kings. With MS Dhoni set to retire in the near future, CSK are on the lookout for an Indian wicket-keeper batter and they will be extremely interested in signing a talented Indian cricket team star like Rishabh Pant.

Earlier. India all-rounder Shivam Dube credited the Indian Premier League for improving his skills and gaining confidence as he made inroads in the Men in Blue side after the successful 2024 season.

Dube finished as the second-highest run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings in the season with 396 runs including three half-centuries at a blistering strike rate of 162.29. His strong show in the cash-rich tournament earned him a coveted spot in India’s highly competitive 15-member T20 World Cup squad.

The all-rounder kept his place in India’s playing 11 throughout the tournament and delivered in crunch situations for the side including the crucial knock of 27 runs in the final against South Africa. He built a vital 57-run partnership with Virat Kohli (76) to take the side to 176/6 in 20 overs as India defeated Proteas by six runs to add a second T20 World Cup title to their cabinet. He amassed 133 runs in eight innings while batting in the lower middle order.

“The IPL is remarkable, both for players and for the growth of cricket in India. It provides a fantastic platform for young talent to showcase their skills alongside some of the best players in the world. Personally, playing in the IPL has been a significant learning experience, helping me improve my game and gain confidence,” Dube told IANS.

(With IANS inputs)

After parting ways with two-time World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting, IPL franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) are reportedly preparing to sign two former World Cup winners as part of their coaching and support staff. Delhi Capitals parted ways with Ponting after seven years. Ahead of IPL 2025, franchises will need to revamp their teams with a mega auction on the cards. However, sources close to the franchise have revealed that Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly is unlikely to be appointed as coach, and that they are in the hunt for someone who “follows the circuit aggressively”.

The Delhi Capitals are one of the few franchises who have never won an IPL title; their best finish being runners-up in 2020. Reportedly, DC are in the hunt for someone similar to Gautam Gambhir to take charge.

“Ganguly already has a lot of things on his plate – planning multiple things for the franchise as the Director of Cricket. The team needs a very hands-on coach who follows the circuit very aggressively. Like Gautam Gambhir does. It’s no surprise that he has been so successful as a mentor,” a source who wished to maintain anonymity told News 18.

“The management doesn’t want a stop-gap arrangement for the head coach position as it’s the season right after the mega auction as the new cycle gets underway,” added the source.

Reportedly, a meeting between the higher-ups at DC will take place after the ongoing season of Major League Cricket in the USA comes to a close.

Since reaching the final in 2020, the Capitals have failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs. The team finished 6th in IPL 2024 among 10 teams.

Three Delhi Capitals players starred for Team India in their victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign: Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. All three are contenders to be retained by DC ahead of the mega auction, along with Australia hotshot Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Delhi Capitals parted ways with head coach Ricky Ponting in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the franchise confirmed on Saturday. Ponting was appointed head coach of Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) in 2018 but during his seven-year tenure, the franchise was unable to win the IPL title even once. With Ponting not longer with the franchise and the mega auction taking place, Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly has emerged as one of the front-runners for the job. In a recent interaction, Ganguly was asked whether he will be becoming the next DC head coach and he had an explosive reply. 

“I have to plan for next year’s IPL. I want to win the IPL for Delhi Capitals once. The mega auction is next year, and hence I have started planning from now on. Geoffrey Boycott was right, as Ponting has not been able to take the franchise forward in the past 7 years. I have to speak with the franchise and ask them to look at Indian coaches,” Ganguly said in an interview with Bengali newspaper Aajkal.

When asked about who can replace Ponting as the next Delhi Capitals head coach, Ganguly dropped a massive hint as he said that there is a chance that he can take up the coaching responsibilities.

“I will be the head coach. Let’s see how I perform. Will need to recruit some new players,” he said.

Praveen Amre, the hardworking assistant coach, is set to continue.

The DC co-owners – JSW and GMR group – are scheduled to have a meeting either at the end of this month or early next month to discuss the road ahead.

The players’ retention is another issue that will be up for discussion and if the number stays at four, then DC will have to let go either Australia’s Jake-Fraser McGurk or South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs with only one overseas slot available.

As far as the Indian core is concerned, the retention choices are pretty straight forward as skipper Rishabh Pant, all-rounder Axar Patel and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav lead that chart.

A mega auction is on cards ahead of the IPL 2025, and there is every possibility that a few retainable stars from each franchise would want to enter the auction pool to check their real market rates.

(With PTI inputs)

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was on Thursday unveiled as the owner of the Kolkata Royal Tigers ahead of the Indian Racing Festival 2024, scheduled between August and September this year. Apart from the debutant Kolkata racing team, the event will see participation from seven other outfits based at Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The racing festival encompasses two main championships — Indian Racing League (IRL) and the Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC). Expressing his enthusiasm for the association, Ganguly, the former BCCI president said: “I am truly excited to embark on this journey with the Kolkata team in the Indian Racing Festival.

“Motorsports has always been a passion of mine and together with the Kolkata Royal Tigers, we aim to build a strong legacy in the Indian Racing Festival and inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts.” Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd (RPPL), welcomed Ganguly to the racing fold.

“We are thrilled to announce Sourav Ganguly as the owner of the Kolkata franchise. His visionary leadership and commitment to excellence, shaped by years of legendary cricketing success, brings unparalleled dynamism to the Indian Racing Festival,” he said.

It may be recalled that veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has recently acquired stakes in American Gambits, a team that will take part in the second edition of the Global Chess League.

India are all set to face South Africa in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday in Barbados. Both the teams remained invincible in the entire tournament and will now aim for another dominating show, in order to clinch the coveted trophy. The Proteas will be playing their first-ever T20 World Cup final while Rohit Sharma and co will aim to end their 11-year-old ICC title drought. As both the teams gear up for the summit clash, some former cricketers and experts also shared their views regarding the two finalists.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has been critical of the ICC, accusing it of favoring India with a spin-friendly venue in the World Cup semifinal at Guyana.

Vaughan also accused broadcasters of giving India a favorable time slot of 8pm IST in all their matches.

On being asked about Vaughan’s statement, former India captain Sourav Ganguly dismissed such claims and called India a “dominating force”.

“Michael Vaughan is a very dear friend of mine. I don’t know how ICC helps India win cricket matches by keeping the broadcast at 8 pm IST in the evening. I don’t know how broadcasting wins you cricket matches. You still have to play in the middle and win. Secondly, I don’t know why Guyana is thought to be a venue for winning when they have gone around and won everywhere.” Ganguly after being roped in as the brand ambassador of Veedol.

“Yes, India are a dominant force in world cricket, by its performance, by its broadcast, and by the money it brings to the table. You know if you own 80 percent of a company’s shares, you will get more dividends and profits than others. It’s the rule of life. India are the same,” he added.

Ganguly also said that Rohit Sharma’s leadership qualities played a big hand in India’s unbeaten run in the ongoing T20 World Cup, and urged the team to play with freedom in the final against South Africa.

“I’m very happy for Rohit Sharma. Life comes full circle. Six months ago he was not even the captain of Mumbai Indians and the same man is now leading India to a World Cup final, unbeaten,” said Ganguly.

(With PTI Inputs)

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has said that former India batter Gautam Gambhir is likely to be the Team India’s head coach after the T20 World Cup. “I think he will be the next coach (for Team India),” Ganguly told media persons. With Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach ending after the T20 World Cup, the BCCI is in the process of taking a decision. Rahul Dravid has expressed his intention to not renew the contract. “Every game I have coached for India is important. This is the last tournament in job. I have enjoyed coaching India, it is great to work with these boys. It is a special job. But there are schedules where I find myself that at this stage of my life, I won’t be able to apply,” Dravid had said earlier.

Gambhir is seen as a front-runner for the role of head coach. He was a left-handed opener for India team and served as Kolkata Knight Riders’ team mentor in the Indian Premier League 2024. KKR lifted their third IPL trophy this season.

Ganguly lauded India team for reaching T20 World Cup final. “To get to two World Cup finals in 7 months speaks volumes about the capability & strength of the team…They will not make any changes to the team and this is Rohit Sharma’s leadership style. It will be the same team…I wish they win it tomorrow,” the 51-year-old added.

India will take on South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.