In a visually distinct appearance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) took the field in green jerseys instead of their traditional red-and-black colours during their IPL 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday. The reason? A sustainability campaign aimed at encouraging the plantation of more trees.

Speaking at the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar explained the significance of the green kit.

“This (green jersey) is to raise awareness to plant more trees,” he said, confirming that RCB would bowl first and play an unchanged XI for match 28 of the tournament.

RCB’s green jersey initiative is not new to fans of the franchise. It has been a recurring feature over multiple seasons of the IPL, often worn during one designated home or away game. The objective is to promote environmental consciousness, especially in urban centres, by delivering a simple yet powerful message — “Go Green.”

This year, the campaign gained added visibility with the team playing in Jaipur, and the vibrant green jerseys provided a sharp contrast against Rajasthan Royals’ trademark pink kit.

Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl against RR in their crucial IPL 2025 match in Jaipur. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a total of 173 with the help of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 75. Dhruv Jurel added a late flourish to the RR innings, smasing 35 off 23.

Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head showcased a remarkable performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad in a crucial IPL 2025 match against Punjab Kings. The explosive opening pair, which wreaked havoc last season, struggled to find their footing early in the current season before making a significant impact in Sunday’s clash.

Chasing a challenging target of 246 runs, Sharma and Head turned the match in their favor, with Abhishek scoring a stunning 141 runs off just 55 balls, featuring 14 fours and 10 sixes, while Head contributed a solid 66 runs off 37 balls, including nine fours and three sixes. Together, they formed a breathtaking 171-run partnership for the opening wicket in just 12.2 overs, leaving Punjab Kings bewildered despite their imposing total.

In a memorable moment, Abhishek Sharma held up a note proclaiming, “This one’s for the Orange Army,” as he celebrated reaching his century against Punjab Kings. The explosive partnership between Sharma and Head not only thrilled fans but also made the daunting chase appear effortless, marking it as the third-highest opening wicket partnership in IPL history. Such dominance at the crease made it one of those rare occasions where Head played a supporting role in a partnership.

Abhishek completed his century with a single off Yuzvendra Chahal and celebrated by revealing the note he had secretly kept in his pocket. In a playful post-match interview, Head teased Abhishek, stating, “The note has been in the pocket of Abhishek Sharma for six games; glad it came out tonight.”

The victory was particularly significant for Sunrisers Hyderabad as it marked their second win of the season, breaking a four-match losing streak and elevating them to eighth place in the points table. Head elaborated on their approach at the start of the innings, explaining that he and Abhishek decided to take a moment to settle in before aggressively targeting the bowling attack of Punjab Kings.

“Not bad, nice to get on the winners list. Exceptional night; we needed it. We gave ourselves a chance, showed a bit more patience at the start,” Head noted, highlighting the importance of encouragement and targeted strategies that contributed to their successful partnership.

In a significant moment for his career, 28-year-old Delhi batsman Himmat Singh has secured his first Indian Premier League (IPL) call-up, joining the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for their match against the Gujarat Titans. Singh steps into the playing XI as a replacement for Australian star Mitchell Marsh, who is unavailable due to his daughter’s illness, marking a notable debut opportunity for the young talent.

Marsh’s absence is a blow for LSG, given his stellar form in IPL 2025. Currently third in the Orange Cap race, Marsh has amassed 265 runs in five matches, with four half-centuries and a single duck, making him a key pillar of the team’s batting lineup.

Who is Himmat Singh?

Hailing from Delhi, Himmat Singh brings a robust T20 resume to the IPL stage. With 55 T20 matches for Delhi under his belt, he has scored 917 runs at an electrifying strike rate of 133. His recent domestic performances have turned heads, particularly in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s premier T20 domestic tournament, where he smashed 197 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 148.

Singh also made waves in the Delhi Premier League, racking up 381 runs in 10 innings, placing him among the tournament’s top scorers. Only Priyansh Arya and Singh’s new LSG teammate Ayush Badoni outscored him. Notably, Arya has already left a mark in IPL 2025, hammering a century for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings, setting a high bar for Singh to emulate.

Spotlight on the debutant

As Himmat Singh prepares to take the field, expectations are high for the Delhi batter to seize this chance to shine. His aggressive batting style and proven consistency in domestic circuits make him a promising addition to LSG’s lineup. Fans are eager to see if Singh can replicate Arya’s IPL heroics and deliver a standout performance on one of cricket’s biggest stages.

With Marsh’s return uncertain, Singh’s debut could be a turning point, not just for his career but also for LSG’s campaign.