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IPL 2020, RCB vs CSK Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore looks towards hat-trick of wins, faces Chennai Super Kings

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Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Chennai Super Kings in an Indian Premier League 2020 clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Both sides are completely in opposite positions in the IPL 2020 points table.  With seven wins from 10 games, Virat Kohli-led RCB will be looking to enter in top-two teams with a win here, while Chennai is languishing at the bottom with only three wins from 11 games.

In their last encounter, RCB had defeated the three-time IPL champions CSK by 37 runs. RCB will be keen to register another win against CSK to confirm their position in the playoffs, while all the playoff entry doors have been for CSK. MS Dhoni’s CSK will be looking to salvage their pride by registering their fourth win in IPL 2020. 

RCB have witnessed a remarkable improvement from their last-place finish in the previous season. The team have been absolutely sensational in the IPL 2020 and are just one win away from qualifying for the playoffs. Skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have performed well in the last few matches. RCB’s pacer Mohammed Siraj registered his career-best figures in the previous game against KKR. Chris Morris and Yajuvendra Chahal too are performing well for their team.   

RCB are going into the match on the back of two successive wins against Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, while CSK have suffered three back-to-back losses. The three time IPL champion Chennai suffered the biggest defeat of IPL by 10 wickets against Mumbai Indians on Friday which dented their hopes of a late comeback. Their batting and bowling units haven’t really clicked in unison so far, which is one of the main reasons they are lying at the bottom of the table.

Squads

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Gurkeerat Singh, Moeen Ali, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Parthiv Patel, Pawan Negi, Shivam Dube, Umesh Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aaron Finch, Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Isuru Udana, Joshua Philippe, Pavan Deshpande, Shahbaz Ahamad and Adam Zampa.

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (C), Murali Vijay, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Sam Curran, Mitchell Santner, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, Monu Kumar, N Jagadeesan, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, R Sai Kishore, Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood

Match Details

Time:  3:30 pm IST

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

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No Pakistani player picked in The Hundred 2025: Here’s why

Pakistani players were not selected in The Hundred 2025 draft, leading to concerns over a ‘soft ban’ following IPL franchise investments. Scheduling conflicts may also be a reason.

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The Hundred, Pakistan cricket, IPL franchises, PCB NoC, England cricket, cricket news, SA20, Pakistan players

In a surprising development, not a single Pakistani cricketer was selected in the 2025 draft for The Hundred, raising speculation about a possible ‘soft ban’ following the involvement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in the tournament.

A total of 45 Pakistani players had registered for the men’s draft, while five female cricketers were also in contention. While Pakistani women have not been selected in the past, this marks the first instance of no men’s cricketers being picked since the league’s inception.

Possible IPL influence?

Four of the eight teams in The Hundred now have partial or complete ownership by IPL franchises: Oval Invincibles (Mumbai Indians), Manchester Originals (Lucknow Super Giants). Northern Superchargers (SunRisers Hyderabad) and Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals)

This scenario mirrors the SA20 league in South Africa, where no Pakistani cricketer has participated in three seasons, fuelling concerns over potential influence from IPL franchise owners.

Scheduling conflicts with Pakistan’s international commitments

However, reports suggest that the main reason for Pakistani players’ exclusion could be their uncertain availability. Pakistan is expected to play a three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies from late July to mid-August, coinciding with The Hundred’s schedule. There is also speculation about additional T20Is against Afghanistan and Bangladesh before the Asia Cup in September.

Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has previously withheld No Objection Certificates (NoCs) for players, as seen last season when pacer Shaheen Afridi pulled out of The Hundred due to personal reasons, only to later be denied an NoC by the PCB.

ECB dismisses ownership concerns

Despite the speculation, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Richard Gould previously assured that Pakistani players’ participation in The Hundred would not be affected by ownership changes. “We’re aware of that in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould stated last month.

Meanwhile, no Indian male cricketers participated in the draft, consistent with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) policy. However, Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma will represent London Spirit in the women’s competition.

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AB de Villiers says Rohit has no reason to retire, will be among best ODI captains

Rumors about Rohit’s possible retirement from ODIs circulated following the Champions Trophy, but the 37-year-old quelled those speculations by guiding India to an unprecedented third title.

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Rohit Sharma is in no need of retirement, according to South African cricket legend AB de Villiers, who believes the Indian captain could become one of the greatest ODI leaders ever.

Rumors about Rohit’s possible retirement from ODIs circulated following the Champions Trophy, but the 37-year-old quelled those speculations by guiding India to an unprecedented third title.

“Look at Rohit’s win percentage—almost 74%, which is significantly higher than any other captain historically,” de Villiers remarked on his YouTube channel. “If he continues on this path, he could cement his legacy as one of the all-time great ODI captains. Rohit has stated he’s not retiring and has asked for the rumors to cease.”

In the final against New Zealand held in Dubai, Rohit played a crucial role by scoring 76 runs off 83 balls, helping India successfully chase down a challenging target of 252, earning him the player-of-the-match honor.

“Why would he step away with such a remarkable record, both as a captain and a batsman? His performance in the final laid the groundwork for our success and showcased his leadership under pressure,” de Villiers noted.

De Villiers praised Rohit’s incredible achievements as a batsman and captain, highlighting how the Indian skipper has evolved his ODI batting style over the past three years, during which he claimed the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy within nine months.

“Rohit Sharma has absolutely no reason to consider retirement or to face any criticism. His statistics speak volumes. Moreover, he has successfully transformed his game,” de Villiers emphasized.

“He had a relatively low strike rate in the Powerplay as an opening batsman, but since 2022, it has surged to 115 during that phase, which is what differentiates the good from the great. It’s all about continuous improvement—you can always learn and enhance your skills,” he concluded.

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Gautam Gambhir set to break trend as Team India head coach with India ‘A’ tour

Breaking the trend set by his predecessors, Gautam Gambhir is keen to travel with India ‘A’ to England to evaluate the nation’s red-ball reserves firsthand.
Slug: gautam-gambhir-india-a-tour-coach

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Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is poised to make history as the first-ever Team India head coach to travel with the India ‘A’ team on an overseas tour. Unlike his predecessors, Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri, who primarily focused on the senior squad, Gambhir is set to accompany the India ‘A’ side ahead of the senior team’s England tour in June.

A shift in coaching approach

For years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relied on National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches to guide India ‘A’ and U19 teams during overseas assignments. Under this structure, stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have mentored young talents before taking up key coaching roles with the senior side.

However, Gambhir, who recently guided India to Champions Trophy success, is keen to deepen his involvement in talent development. According to reports, he has already informed the board about his decision to travel with the India ‘A’ squad, breaking away from the usual protocol.

Why is Gambhir keen on the India ‘A’ tour?

Gambhir’s primary motive behind this move is to strengthen India’s red-ball cricket by assessing the depth of the talent pool. Since India’s recent struggles in Test cricket, particularly after their underwhelming tour of Australia, the coach aims to scout emerging players firsthand.

A BCCI source revealed, “Gambhir has been in discussions with the board since returning from Australia. He wants to closely observe the reserve players and assess their readiness for senior team selection.” The source further added that after successfully backing certain wildcard picks for India’s Champions Trophy win, Gambhir may continue asserting his selection strategies.

Focus on India ‘A’ tours revival

Another major aspect Gambhir is advocating for is an increase in India ‘A’ tours. He believes the current number of such assignments is insufficient for developing the next generation of cricketers. Since Rahul Dravid’s departure from NCA, there has been a dip in India ‘A’ tours, with most recent ones being mere shadow tours for marquee series.

“One of the key areas Gambhir has identified is the need to revive India ‘A’ tours. He believes there should be more frequent overseas assignments to better prepare young players for international cricket,” the source added.

A significant shift in India’s coaching methodology

If this move materializes, it will mark a major shift in India’s coaching methodology, setting a new precedent for future head coaches. While it remains to be seen whether Gambhir will travel as an observer or actively coach the side, his involvement in nurturing young talent could reshape the way India approaches player development.

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