Cricket’s most animated left-hander, David Warner, just scored a record-breaking deal in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) – and no, he’s not crying over the Indian Premier League (IPL) snub. In fact, he’s laughing it off — with a captain’s cap on.

The Australian southpaw was roped in by Karachi Kings for a whopping Rs 2.58 crore, becoming the most expensive signing in PSL history. The veteran cricketer, now named captain of Karachi Kings, addressed the media ahead of his PSL debut match against Multan Sultans. And just when you thought the drama ended there, a reporter in Karachi tried to spice things up during a press conference by suggesting Warner was being trolled by Indian fans for swapping IPL glitz for PSL grit.

David Warner’s response

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. From my perspective, I want to play cricket,” Warner said, blinking like someone who just heard his name on a school gossip list. “There’s an opportunity to come to PSL… Now, I want to compete, captain the Karachi Kings, and hopefully win the trophy.”

Warner’s acquisition by Karachi Kings marked a historic moment, as he became the most expensive signing in PSL history. While many expected Warner to light up the IPL 2025, the auction tables had other plans. But instead of sulking into retirement or dancing on TikTok (again), Warner opted for a new cricketing home — Pakistan.

The PSL 10 Draft, held at the historic Hazoori Bagh in Lahore, saw Warner picked first in the Platinum category by Karachi Kings. The move not only handed him the captaincy but also broke the bank — in the best way possible.

With a glowing T20 record of 12,913 runs in 399 matches at a strike rate of 140.23, Warner’s not here to play second fiddle — he’s here to rule.

Karachi Kings squad

David Warner (C), Abbas Afridi and Adam Milne (all platinum), James Vince, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah (all diamond), Shan Masood, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Aamir Jamal (all gold), Arafat Minhas (brand ambassador), Tim Seifert, Zahid Mahmood, Litton Das and Mir Hamza (all silver), Fawad Ali and Riazullah (both emerging), Omair Bin Yousuf, Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi and Mirza Mamoon

Delhi Capitals continue to impress in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025, maintaining their unbeaten streak after securing a commanding six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, despite their flawless 4-0 record, DC sit in second place on the points table, trailing Gujarat Titans on net run rate.

Delhi Capitals are the only team yet to lose a match this season, having won all four of their opening fixtures. Their latest victory came over RCB, marking the Bengaluru-based team’s second consecutive home loss. However, Delhi’s net run rate of 1.278 places them just behind Gujarat Titans, who sit at the top with a marginally superior rate of 1.413.

Net run rate (NRR) often plays a critical role in determining table rankings when teams are level on points — as is the case currently between DC and GT.

KL Rahul breaks into Orange Cap top 10

Delhi’s skipper KL Rahul, who played a pivotal role in the win against RCB with an unbeaten 93-run knock, has climbed to the 8th position on the IPL 2025 Orange Cap leaderboard. His composed innings was instrumental in helping DC chase down the target with 13 balls to spare, further bolstering their run rate and team morale.

The Orange Cap is awarded to the season’s highest run-scorer, and with this performance, Rahul is steadily positioning himself among the tournament’s leading batters.

England’s newly appointed white-ball captain Harry Brook has finally spoken out about his two-year ban from the Indian Premier League (IPL), calling his international commitments a greater priority than franchise cricket. The batter was acquired by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 mega auction for Rs 6.2 crore but pulled out days before the season began — a decision that led to his suspension from IPL auctions until 2027.

In an interview with The Mirror, Brook stated that he was at peace with his choice and would continue to prioritise representing England across formats.“This is my priority. England is the way forward for me and franchise cricket can almost take a step back for little while,” said the 26-year-old. “At the end of the day, I enjoy playing cricket for England more than anything else. To lose a little bit of money here and there, I’d take that any day to play for England.”

Brook added that he would not participate in any franchise tournaments in the near future, focusing instead on England’s packed international calendar leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.

IPL ban not officially communicated, says Brook

Interestingly, Brook claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had not formally informed him of the two-year IPL ban. “They haven’t told me,” he said, while acknowledging that the decision aligns with the tournament’s rules. “If I do get banned, fair play. That’s the rules they put in place, but I’m completely committed to playing cricket for England,” he added.

The decision comes in the wake of growing club-versus-country debates, especially with star players like Brook having to manage workloads across formats and continents.

Brook was recently named England’s new white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s departure, with a clear mandate to revitalise the team’s fortunes in both ODI and T20 formats after a string of underwhelming performances at global tournaments.

The young skipper is also a key figure in England’s red-ball setup. With 11 Tests scheduled until the end of the upcoming Ashes in January, and over two dozen white-ball fixtures before the 2026 T20 World Cup, Brook will play a central role in balancing leadership, form, and fitness.