Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer brought a delightful moment of levity to his press conference following the IPL 2025 match against the Mumbai Indians. In the midst of discussing the game, a journalist’s phone began to ring, and Langer, displaying his good-natured humor, answered it.

He covered the phone and quipped, “Who is Ma? Who’s Mum ringing? Do you want me to answer? Hello. Mama, it’s 12:08. I’m at a press conference.” This lighthearted interaction was captured in a video shared on IPL’s social media channels, quickly garnering smiles from fans and reporters alike.

Langer’s upbeat demeanor was fitting, as he had just witnessed his team pull off a thrilling 12-run victory. The Super Giants, buoyed by impressive fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, set a challenging target of 203/8. In response, the Mumbai Indians fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short, finishing at 191/5. The LSG bowlers demonstrated remarkable composure, particularly during crunch moments, to secure this much-needed win against a formidable opponent.

In addition to the game insights and his humorous phone call, Langer provided an encouraging update on fast bowler Mayank Yadav’s recovery. The coach confirmed that Yadav is making significant strides towards full fitness, estimating him to be at about 90-95% condition. Quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, Langer expressed optimism about Yadav’s progress, stating, “What I do know is he’s working very hard at the NCA, and I saw some video of him bowling yesterday [Thursday], and he was bowling at about 90 to 95%. So Mayank’s up and running, which is really great for Indian cricket and the IPL.”

He further underscored Yadav’s potential, noting, “We saw the impact he had last year. I don’t think there’s been a bowler in India who’s bowled faster than Mayank Yadav.” The excitement surrounding Yadav suggests that fans can look forward to his return and the explosive performances he brings to the game.

Overall, Langer’s combination of humour and optimism following the match not only entertained but also inspired confidence in LSG’s future prospects.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly reacted after a tense on-field moment involving Khushdil Shah during the third ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. The incident occurred after a group of Afghan-origin spectators allegedly hurled inappropriate and anti-Pakistan remarks, triggering a furious reaction from the cricketer.

Images and videos circulated online showed Khushdil Shah being restrained by security after charging toward a section of the crowd. The PCB later confirmed that Shah had intervened after hearing provocative chants and abusive language in Pashto.

“When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, cricketer Khushdil Shah stepped in and urged the spectators to refrain. In response, the Afghan spectators escalated the situation,” the PCB said in an official statement.

Following the Pakistan team’s complaint, two Afghan-origin spectators were ejected from the ground.

Pakistan’s 43-run defeat in the third ODI not only resulted in a 0-3 series whitewash, but also marked the latest chapter in a string of spectator clashes involving Afghan fans. Past Pakistan vs Afghanistan encounters have often witnessed heated exchanges in the stands.

The PCB’s statement indirectly highlighted such precedents, including a controversial 2023 World Cup post-match comment by Afghan player Ibrahim Zadran, who used the stage to criticize Pakistan over deportation issues.

Meanwhile, the PCB also addressed concerns regarding Imam-ul-Haq, who retired hurt in the third over after being hit on the face by an accidental throw from a New Zealand fielder. A CT scan at Tauranga Hospital confirmed a mild concussion, but the opener was later declared fit to travel home with the squad.

Mumbai Indians have received a major boost as Jasprit Bumrah, their ace fast bowler, has rejoined the squad after completing his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His return comes just in time ahead of the high-voltage clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

Out since January due to a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, Bumrah missed MI’s opening games this season — a period marked by the franchise’s disappointing performance, winning just one out of their first four matches.

Though it’s still uncertain whether Bumrah will be cleared to play against RCB on April 7, there is growing optimism around his return for MI’s April 17 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His presence could be the turning point for a side desperate for stability in their bowling attack.

The speedster has been central to Mumbai Indians’ success since debuting in 2013, racking up 165 wickets in 133 matches. Regarded as one of the best pacers across all formats, Bumrah’s return has lifted the mood in the MI camp.

SRH all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is already looking forward to the challenge of facing Bumrah. “He’s one of the best bowlers in the world. Scoring against him would mean a lot. Facing players like him makes the game truly exciting,” Reddy said on Gen Bold, a JioHotstar show.

He also praised the golden generation of Indian cricket, saying, “This era has been shaped by legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah. They’ve set a high benchmark we all aspire to reach.”

Meanwhile, MI’s woes continue with the underwhelming form of ex-captain Rohit Sharma, adding pressure to turn their season around as quickly as possible.