Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has faced a massive injury in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25. While playing for Madhya Pradesh in the game against Kerala, which kick-started on Thursday (23rd January) at the Greenfield Stadium.  
Venkatesh Iyer, who was brought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 23.75 crore, got hurt on the ankle while batting for Madhya Pradesh. As he came out to bat, he twisted his ankle and was on the ground, wincing in pain as physios rushed out to check on him. 
Venkatesh Iyer then was deemed unfit to take part in the game as he limped off the field. He batted for three balls and scored 2 runs. With the kind of pain he looked in pain, it's fair to say that he will be ruled out of the game along with the next round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, which will begin on 30th January. 
This could come as a massive blow for the Kolkata Knight Riders with Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 around the corner. The all-rounder has been the main batter for the team for the last few seasons and played a major role in the team winning the title last year. 
<h2>Venkatesh Iyer missing IPL 2025 will be a massive blow for KKR </h2>
The seriousness of Venkatesh Iyer's injury is yet to be known. But, if it is a normal ankle twist, then it usually takes 6 weeks to recover. If that is the case then he will be available for the IPL 2025, which is all set to begin from 21st March and will conclude in May. 
Venkatesh Iyer has been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise since 2020. He has been a crucial member of the team in the IPL, and this was evident when the franchise spent a whopping amount of money for him in the auction as he was back with the team for INR 23.75 crore. 
Iyer, if fit, will be a key player for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2025. The management would be hoping that he regains his fitness and returns back to action as soon as possible.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/exclusive-india-announce-squad-for-icc-champions-trophy-2025-shubman-gill-back-as-vice-captain-bumrah-and-shami-return/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exclusive: India announce squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025; Shubman Gill back as vice-captain; Bumrah and Shami return</a>

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has faced a massive injury in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Venkatesh Iyer, who was brought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 23.75 crore, got hurt on the ankle while batting for Madhya Pradesh.

IPL 2025: Massive blow for KKR! Star All-rounder faces HUGE injury

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The much-awaited Indian Premier League 2025 is all set to begin on March 14 and will be played until May 25. It will be another action-packed season of the world's biggest cricket league. Kolkata Knight Riders won the last edition, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
Interestingly, the IPL 2024 winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, has parted ways with KKR and joined Punjab Kings. Iyer has been officially announced as the PBKS captain for the IPL 2025. Now, it is time for the current champion to make the much-needed announcement and reveal who will lead the team in this title-defense season.
The franchise has a number of options to choose from and has retained the core groups. But they have also signed some great names at the IPL 2025 mega auction. So, who will be the one to lead the defending champions? Below, we will talk about three such names that will lead KKR in the IPL 2025.
<h2>Three potential leaders that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) might look at to lead the team in the IPL 2025.</h2>
3. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer made history as KKR broke their bank to get back the all-rounder. The franchise spent a record-breaking sum of INR 23.75 crore, making it their biggest purchase ever in history. That indicates how important Venkatesh is for the team. And why not?
He struck two great fifties in the Qualifier and final last season to help the team win. The southpaw gives an explosive opening option who has been with the team since 2021. He was groomed by KKR and can be the one to lead them forward in the IPL 2025.
2. Ajinkya Rahane
KKR made a steal deal when they bagged former IPL captain Ajinkya Rahane for a price of INR 1.5 crore, whcih was his base price. That was a really smart move as Rahane comes with a different skill set. He can bat at the top and has experience of leading the IPL franchise. He was also with KKR for 2022 and played seven matches for them.
Rahane has the experience of leading Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants in this IPL career. He has also led India at the highest level. Not just this, he is the captain of his side at the domestic level and proved it time and time again. That's where KKR can opt to go with his experience and make him the captain.
1. Sunil Narine
Some fans might not know that Sunil Narine is a captain of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20. Narine was the key reason that KKR won the last season, as he performed exceptionally well with bat and ball. He has been the main stakeholder for the franchise when it comes to performance in the IPL.
With his consistency, he has become the core part of the team. Hence, he gives the franchise a great captaincy option for the IPL 2025 and can be the one to lead the team in the coming season.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/virat-kohli-to-return-to-ranji-cricket-after-14-years-check-out-which-game-he-will-be-available-for/">Virat Kohli to return to Ranji Cricket after 14 years? Check out which game he will be available for</a>

Shreyas Iyer led KKR to win the IPL 2024 and a new captain will lead the team in the IPL 2025.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Shreyas Iyer and will be looking for the new captain for IPL 2025.

3 Players who can become New Captain for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2025

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The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will be played in 2025, as it is scheduled to begin on the 21st of March. The IPL, considered one of the greatest leagues in the world in terms of franchise-level T20 cricket, has turned out to be a massive platform for younger talents from around the world. 
The IPL has given high standards to players like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell">Glenn Maxwell</a>, David Miller, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan, who later went on to establish themselves as greats of the game in international cricket. 
Many senior players and Indian domestic scouts look out for and keep track of the domestic games that recognize junior uncapped players who are instead picked in the IPL mega-auction. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">Top scouted players who can make it big post the IPL 2025:</h2>

<h3 dir="ltr">Jacob Bethell </h3>
The English batting all-rounder, Bethell, has been a standout talent in international cricket. The player stepped up from the English Vitality T20 Blast, and later the world witnessed his rise in both T20, ODI, and test cricket for England, as the kiddo has made his mark across all formats. 
Currently, Bethell is being seen making his mark in Australia in the ongoing Big Bash League while he is about to make his debut for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Anshul Kamboj </h3>
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Anhsul Kamboj starred in IPL 2024 for the Mumbai Indians (Image Credit: X)
The player who made his debut in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians has been picked up by the Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming season of the IPL in 2025. Kamboj has been a stunning player in the T20 domestic tournament in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while he also left his mark in the Duleep Trophy and the Ranji Trophy as well. 
He recently made the cut of news headlines as he picked all 10 wickets in a single innings of a test match and made it to the unique record books. Kamboj is sure to earn some name for himself after his contributions with both bat and ball. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Vipraj Nigam</h3>
The youngster has been stunning with his recent performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and later in the UP T20 League. Nigam does not have stats in his favour; while he has been a superb hitter of the white ball, his services have also been outstanding with the promising medium pace he bowls. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Allah Ghazanfar </h3>
Mumbai Indians have picked the young Afghan spinner as their lead spin option if Mitchell Santner is not featured in the games. Ghazanfar is known to have taken the place of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, as the new off-spinner has brought immense glory to the Afghan team. 
The spinner might excel in the subcontinent and hence might be a standout player to look after the IPL 2025 concludes. 
<h3 dir="ltr">Suryansh Shedge</h3>
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The explosive down the order batsman for Mumbai (Image Credit: India Today)
Promising down the order, batting all-rounder Shedge has been a stunning performer down the order while the batter has played for the Mumbai team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. On many occasions, the batter has played with a strike rate of over 250 in the shortest format. 
While with the ball, he has been effective as well and has picked wickets at regular intervals. Shedge has been picked by the Punjab Kings for a very minor cost, though his effectiveness will be a major effort to watch out for in the upcoming season of the IPL. 
ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rohit-sharma-categorically-tells-selector-he-wants-to-captain-india-in-tests-and-odis-till-/"> Rohit Sharma informs selectors that he will remain India's test and ODI captain until they can find a replacement for the skipper </a>

A look into the underdog players picked for IPL 2025 who can excel in this season

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will be played in 2025, as the IPL 2025 is scheduled to begin on the 21st of March. The IPL, considered one of the greatest leagues in the world in terms of franchise-level T20 cricket, has turned out to be a massive platform for younger underdog talents from around the world. 

Top 5 underdog talents who can be star favourite players post IPL 2025

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After the end of the 2025 IPL Mega-Auction, a lot of teams have strengthened their respective batting units. The dominance of the batters is going to increase even more this time around in the Biggest T20 tournament in the entire world and it's going to be really interesting to see which teams walks out on to the field with the strongest batting unit. 
Every year, the batsmen create new records in the IPL and now the runs figure of 250 is looking pretty common these days. Not just this, scoring centuries has also become pretty common for the batters. In such a situation, let's take a look at 3 teams who have the strongest batting-unit in IPL 2025
<h3>Three IPL Teams who have the strongest batting-unit in IPL 2025:</h3>
<h3>1. Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad will once again walk out on the field in the IPL with the strongest batting unit. The likes of Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen are a part of the squad of SRH and these players have the potential in them to dominate any opposition bowling unit. 
While Kishan is a new addition, the other four players were a part of the Hyderabad team in the previous edition of the tournament too and they wrecked havoc in the 2024 edition of the IPL as they crossed the 260 run mark twice verus the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and five time winners Mumbai Indians (MI).The presence of these four players and the addition of hard hitting Indian batter Ishan Kishan makes the IPL 2024 runners-up a force to reckon with. 

<h3>2. Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
IPL 2024 winners and reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are blessed to have a solid and a strong batting unit ahead of IPL 2025. The presence of the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock and Ajinkya Rahane can target any bowler from the word go. The aggressive batting nature of Gurbaz, De Kock, Narine and Venky Iyer along with the solid middle order presence of the duo of Russell and Rinku make the team of KKR look like a complete and a really formidable one. The Reigning Champs are surely going to be a dangerous side to bowl against.

<h4>3. Delhi Capitals </h4>
After the conclusion of the 2025 IPL Mega-Auction, the Delhi Capitals managed to include some really incredible batters in their squad which consists of the likes of KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Jack Fraser McGurk and Harry Brook. Besides them, the presence of experienced all-rounder Axar Patel provides a lot of stability to their middle-order. This time around, the Delhi franchise have set up themselves as a batting-heavy team, which will create a lot of difficulties for the opposition bowlers.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-csk-s-strongest-playing-11-if-conway-and-ravindra-miss-the-start-of-ipl-2025/">IPL: CSK's strongest Playing 11 if Conway and Ravindra miss the start of IPL 2025</a>

Many IPL teams have strengthened their squads after the end of the 2025 Mega-Auction and three teams have the strongest batting-unit ahead of IPL 2025. We will be taking a look at those three teams in this article.

IPL 2025: 3 Teams who have the strongest batting unit, they can blow away any bowling attack

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Ajinkya Rahane, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is expected to lead the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season. The veteran batter needs a better record as captain in the IPL; his last captained match was in 2019.
As reported by The Times of India, three-time IPL champions KKR purchased Rahane during the two-day auction in Jeddah, citing him as a “strong captaincy option.” KKR went all out to acquire <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venkatesh_Iyer">Venkatesh Iyer</a> for an impressive INR 23.75 crore, while Rahane is likely to return as an IPL captain after a six-year break.
Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t been captaining any side recently, as he played under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Rahane captained the Rajasthan Royals (RR) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, managing only 9 wins in 24 matches, which left the team unable to reach the playoffs.
Rahane also showcased his leadership skills by captaining India to one of their most historic Test victories against Australia at the Gabba in 2021, a match that ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue and secured a memorable series win for India. His record with the Indian side has been good, but he lacks results in the T20 leagues.
A source close to the franchise said, “Yes, at the moment it’s 90% confirmed that Ajinkya will be the new KKR captain. He was bought by KKR specifically for the purpose of being a viable captaincy option.”
The seasoned cricketer has featured in 185 IPL matches, amassing 4,642 runs at a strike rate of 123.42. In the past two IPL seasons, Ajinkya Rahane has been a key contributor to Chennai Super Kings’ middle order, consistently delivering valuable performances in crucial moments. Apart from this, he has also been a part of franchises like the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Rising Pune Supergiants (not existing now).
There are also rumours that Venkatesh Iyer, bought by KKR for a record INR 23.75 crore, might also be in the running for captain. However, the team hasn’t confirmed anything yet.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/IPL-2025:-Predicted-Captains-of-All-10-Franchises-for-the-upcoming-season-of-the-IPL/">IPL's Predicted captains for the upcoming IPL season of 2025</a>

Ajinkya Rahane might be seen in the role of KKR skipper in IPL 2025

Ajinkya Rahane, who the Kolkata Knight Riders bought at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is emerging as the top candidate for the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season.

Ajinkya Rahane, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is expected to lead the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season.

Veteran cricketer Ajinkya Rahane emerges as the frontrunner for captaining Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025

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The IPL 2025 mega-auction marked every franchise bringing in some new players in their squads, while many teams are also in the hunt for a new player in the role of a skipper. 
 
Though every team has included the likes of several players in their squad, they are yet to announce who would be seen in a captain’s role. Likes of great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> and Rohit Sharma, the most successful among IPL skippers, have now decided to end their role as they continue to feature for their sides as players. 
 
With five of the franchises being certain over their captains, only the likes of the remaining sides are looking for a new captain, while some teams’ like the Punjab Kings went all loose to acquire the likes of last season's title-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let's see a list of skipper choices from all 10 franchises:</h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Chennai Super Kings</h3>
 
CSK have been the most legendary side in the history of the IPL under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, and now the captaincy has passed onto the next generation of players in Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad will continue in the role of captain. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Mumbai Indians</h3>
 
The veteran all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as the MI skipper, would once again be resuming duties in the IPL as the skipper, having the national skippers, SKY and Rohit Sharma, play under him. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Gujarat Titans</h3>
 
The Gujarat Titans have included several new players in the role, while Shubman Gill, the rising Indian sensation, remains to be the captain of the side, as per speculations made. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
 
The SRH side was led by World Cup-winning skipper Pat Cummins last season, as he led them to another final against the KKR, which they eventually lost. The skipper was retained with a whopping INR 18 crore and will resume his duties. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Rajasthan Royals</h3>
 
Sanju Samson, the skipper of the Royals side, seems fixed from the last few years, and he will continue to do so while also being their prime gloveman and opening batter. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Lucknow Super Giants</h3>
 
The LSG side looked very interested in Rishabh Pant, as they spent almost 1/3rd of their remaining purse, as Pant was included for a whopping INR 27 crore. However, if reports were to be considered and Pant unwilling to continue as skipper, then he might be seen playing under Nicholas Pooran; otherwise, Pant would take up captaincy for LSG from IPL 2025. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Delhi Capitals</h3>
 
The Capitals have made choices that seem to be significant for their future, as KL Rahul, who was swapped in from LSG to the Capitals squad, might be considered their ideal option for the role of the Capitals skipper. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Royal Challengers Bangalore</h3>
 
RCB are in the biggest dilemma over their choice of skipper, having not retained Faf. Earlier speculations suggested that Virat Kohli might be resuming his role as the skipper; however, no confirmed reports have been made from either end of the player or the management. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Punjab Kings</h3>
 
The Punjab Kings have not included Shreyas Iyer just for fun, as Iyer, the captain with the defending title, was bought in for a whopping INR 26.75 crore to be termed the captain of the side under Ponting. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
 
The defending champions have let go of their skipper and are not looking to bring any such player who can be decisive as a captain, Sunil Narine who captains their other sides, Andre Russell, while also their heavily invested Venkatesh Iyer, all would stand a chance to be seen in the role of a skipper. 

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-csk-squad-after-auction-players-prices-and-full-swot-analysis/">Chennai Super Kings Full Team SWOT analysis </a>

Let's take a good look at the players who can fit into the shoes of a captain.

Like Virat Kohli resuming as RCB captain, Hardik Pandya continuing as MI skipper, and Shreyas Iyer moving to PBKS as their skipper, let's take a good look at the players who can fit into the shoes of a captain.

Before the action resumes for IPL 2025, let's look at the possible choices for the franchises in the role of a skipper.

IPL 2025: Predicted Captains of All 10 Franchises for the upcoming season of the IPL

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The IPL 2025 mega-auctions marked one of the biggest auctions in the history of the IPL, consisting of one of the largest pools of players in over a decade. Every franchise included a huge bunch of players, as over 200 players went sold in the auction. 
 
This time around, a huge entrustment in Indian pacers was shown by the IPL franchises, as several Indian as well as overseas pacers went for some immense amount of money. From Arshdeep Singh’s whopping 18 crores to Mohammad Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Mohammed Shami getting a double-digit bid for the first time, the Indian pacers specially aced the IPL mega-auction. 
 
Among overseas options as well, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Boult">Trent Boult</a>, Jofra Archer, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazelwood emerged as a few of the most heavily invested bowlers, over whom teams went on to spend a huge amount of their purses. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let’s rate every team based on their Pace bowling deck:</h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Chennai Super Kings: Mateesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, and Anshul Kamboj. </h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
Though the Chennai Super Kings have one of the finest blends of pace and spin on their side, their pace deck looks a bit inexperienced. With the Lankan speedster Pathirana leading from the front, Khaleel Ahmed and Anhsul Kamboj, who recently gained stardom owing to his 10-wicket in a single inning, might turn out to be options sharing the new ball. 
 
While English all-rounders Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, and Aussie ace T20I bowler Nathan Ellis seem to be the backup options for CSK if their bowling trio fails to capitalize. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Royal Challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazelwood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Dar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thusara, and Lungi Ngidi</h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
Rating: Owing to their lack of interest in spinners, the Challengers are not left with much except Krunal Pandya on their side. Hence, in the bowling deck, RCB would go with an all-pace attack, with experienced Bhuvi and Hazelwood leading alongside the two young Indian stars Yash and Rasikh Dar. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Rajasthan Royals: Jofra Archer, Yudhvir Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, and Akash Madhwal. </h3>
 
Rating: 7/10
 
The Royals came much later into the party, and their biggest among bids lay in Jofra Archer, the ex-Royals pace bowler who was brought back into the side. Meanwhile, Afghan pacer Farooqi might back up Archer owing to his prone injury status. 
 
Tushar Deshpande The rising talent from the CSK academy and Sandeep Sharma might be crucial to the team alongside Madhwal and Yudhvir, all not eminent yet aspiring names in the history of the game. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Starc, Thangarasu Natrajan, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, and Dusmantha Chameera. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Delhi Capitals do not have the most promising bowling lineup, as they have the least number of pacers on their side. Still, with a fine set of picks, they have included the hot favourites in the last auction's biggest buy, Mitchell Starc, and Indian medium pacers Mukesh Kumar and Natrajan as their other key seamers. 
 
Mohit Sharma played a very vital role for the Gujarat Titans last season during the death overs, while Natrajan and Mukesh were also the finest with the ball during the end phase. Now they would all play for the Delhi Capitals. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Kolkata Knight Riders: Harshit Rana, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, and Umran Malik. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Kolkata Knight Riders have almost retained their entire deck of quick bowlers in Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, the stars who bowled last time alongside the Aussie speedster. The Protea pacer Nortje or Aussie left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson might be placed to replace Starc in the XI. Umran Malik brings a raw pace alongside him; however, his way into the team doesn’t seem very likely, especially in the presence of an additional golden arm from Andre Russell. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, NK Reddy, Brydon Carse, Simarjeet Singh, and Eshan Malinga. </h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have completely brought in new players to their bowling side alongside skipper Pat Cummins. Cummins will be leading a pace attack now comprised of another experienced hat, Mohammed Shami. 
 
Harshal Patel, the highest wicket-taker from the seasons of 2022 and 2024, will now be seen for the Orange Army, alongside fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, currently dominating Aussies in the BGT. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Lucknow Super Giants: Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Shamar Joseph, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mitchell Marsh, and Digvesh Singh</h3>
 
Rating: 8/10
 
The Lucknow Super Giants, having bought Rishabh Pant, were not left with much to invest in a lot of talented pacers; hence, though their pace deck doesn’t look fancy, it seems of great futuristic scope, especially under Zaheer Khan, the new LSG mentor. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Punjab Kings: Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, and Lockie Ferguson. </h3>
 
Rating: 9/10
 
Punjab Kings have used their RTM to bring back their most trustworthy bowler, Arshdeep Singh, currently India’s most budding player in the shortest format. While alongside him, Marco Jansen, the lanky fast bowler from South Africa, will be an asset to Ponting’s side. 
 
Their deck would also comprise Vyshak, Stoinis the all-rounder, Omarzai, Hardie, Lockie Ferguson, and Yash Thakur, who among the main seamers can be of immense importance. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya, Raj Angad Bawa, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, and Lizaad Williams. </h3>
 
Rating: 9.5/10
 
Undoubtedly, the Mumbai Indians are one of the deadliest-looking teams when their bowling deck is considered. Other than their pacers, the overall team looks stunning on the team sheets. 
 
Led by world-class pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, the MI pace deck will now have the services of Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult sharing the new ball in the powerplay, while middle-overs can have Pandya at the best services he can provide. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Gujarat Titans: Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma. </h3>
 
Rating: 10/10
 
Probably, the second pacer deck looks like a nightmare to the franchises, as Kagiso Rabada will lead the pace bowling options alongside the Indian pace maestro Mohammad Siraj. 
 
However, what seems eminent on the Titans' side would be their backup options, and the 3rd or 4th pace options look equally promising alongside the frontline pacers. Prasidh Krishna, Coetzee, and young left-arm pacer Arshad Khan are expected to have a dream track under their belt in Ahmedabad.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/bgt-2024-australia-unveil-their-squad-for-the-2nd-test-this-player-has-been-added-as-cover-for-mitch-marsh/">Aussies call in debutant for Second Test at Adelaide </a>
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Pacers will be crucial from the point of view of the IPL franchises for the upcoming edition

The IPL 2025 mega-auctions marked one of the biggest auctions in the history of the IPL, consisting of one of the largest pools of players in over a decade. Every team looked to bolster their pace attack and hence rate them based on their bowling strengths.

The upcoming IPL will be an event to remember for their bowlers, as it's the pace deck that will bring glory to every franchise to their extent.

Rating All 10 IPL 2025 Franchises based on the strength of their pace bowling deck

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The IPL 2025 auction is seemingly getting exciting as the franchises slowly lose their huge purse amounts, especially with Punjab Kings reduced to less than INR 50 crores despite them entering the auction with a huge purse of INR 110.5 crores. Having made some crazy deals over the likes of captain Shreyas Iyer and iconic batsman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabh_Pant">Rishabh Pant</a>, who surpassed his fellow mate further to be IPL?s highest-ever bid player with INR 27 crore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let?s take a look at the auction purses left after the end of the 2nd set of Marquee Players with 12 players bought.</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Delhi Capitals: INR 47.25 crore</h3>



They have roped in two invaluable players, KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc, for much less money.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chennai Super Kings: INR 55 crores</h3>



Chennai Super Kings successfully tried on several players but still await their first inclusion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rajasthan Royals: INR 41 crore</h3>



Rajasthan Royals have also tried their luck hard, though nothing went in their favor as they, despite trying, could not acquire any players.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Royal Challengers Bangalore: INR 74.25 crore</h3>



RCB have also made some good attempts, though only ending up with Liam Livingstone for 8.75 crores.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kolkata Knight Riders: INR 51 crore</h3>



KKR, the defending champions, are trying harder but still looking for their first player addition.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lucknow Super Giants: INR 34.50 crores</h3>



The Super Giants have the most unique auction, having made the highest bid of Rishabh Pant and then followed by dynamic middle-order finisher David Miller.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sunrisers Hyderabad: INR 35 crores</h3>



The SRH have now roped in Mohammed Shami as their only inclusion to their pace bowling deck as of yet.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mumbai Indians: INR 45 crores</h3>



The Indians, in the quest for many players, have not bid eagerly for any except for Jos Buttler and Mitchell Starc, though withdrawing very early.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gujarat Titans: INR 30.25 crore</h3>



The Titans can be arguably said to have the best auction day till now with the likes of Mohammad Siraj, Jos Buttler, and finally Kagiso Rabada, the best three inclusions possible for them.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Punjab Kings: INR 47.75 crore</h3>



The people with the highest purse have spent a significant amount of money to acquire the likes of Arshdeep Singh for a huge INR 18 crore, while next getting Yuzi Chahal for another 18 crore and skipper Iyer for a record-breaking INR 26.75 crore.



ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indias-yashasvi-jaiswal-creates-history-becomes-the-batsman-to-hit-the-highest-number-of-sixes-in-a-calendar-year-of-test-cricket-ind-vs-aus/"> India?s Yashasvi Jaiswal creates history, becomes the batsman to hit the highest number of sixes in a calendar year of Test Cricket | IND vs AUS</a>

IPL 2025 Auction Updates: Every Franchise Purse Left After the Completion of the Marquee Set 2

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Pacers are having a day out here at Jeddah on the second day of the much anticipated IPL auction, as after several among batters and all-rounders went unsold, the pacers are making the banks of the franchises shaken up. First of all, Marco Jansen, the lanky pace bowling all-rounder from the Proteas, goes for the biggest bid of the day from the first session, with the Punjab Kings showing immense interest in the left-arm seamer.



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 Followed by a short break, the teams now seemed too determined, with the likes of Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and RCB all looking forward to decking up their pace bowling set. India?s one of the most anticipated pacers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, also the greatest ever Indian in the history of the IPL, gets rewarded for his consistency, as RCB bring him in for a whopping INR 10.75 crore, the only double-digit bid for the day.



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 While Indian pacers other than Bhuvi, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepak_Chahar">Deepak Chahar</a> earns a huge bid going to the arch-rivals MI from the Men in Yellow. While followed by him are Tushar Deshpande to the Rajasthan Royals, while Mukesh Kumar was retained by the Capitals using the RTM.



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Coetzee is the only overseas bowler now going to the Gujarat Titans pace deck alongside national mate Kagiso Rabada, pairing for a breathtaking pace bowling duo.



Akash Deep gets a new franchise in the Lucknow Super Giants, who have their first player of the day and quite intriguing a futuristic option seemingly for the Super Giants.



Lockie Ferguson off at base price to the Punjab Kings.



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/live-ipl-auction-2025-live-updates-day-2-latest-news-and-more-on-auction/">[LIVE] IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates DAY 2, Latest News and More on Auction</a>

The IPL Auction  Day 2 sees its first major jump; A pacers day out Bhuvneshwar Kumar sold for INR 10.75 Crores to RCB

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Indian all-rounders have never been of huge variety, as India has not produced many players in the bunch. Hence, the IPL mega-auction has always witnessed overseas all-rounders going at a huge rate. But Venkatesh Iyer is Indian right? However, some moves in this auction have been of immense surprise, and when it comes to making completely unanticipated calls, KKR steps up for the same. This time around as well, they did a good job of leaving everyone in awe. KKR, the defending champions, left out players like skipper Shreyas Iyer and bowlers like Mitchell Starc while they went all ends loose to bring in<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venkatesh_Iyer"> Venkatesh Iyer</a> for an unimaginable INR 23.75 crore, which would likely be the biggest surprise of the mega-auction. 



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 KKR entered a fierce battle with the Lucknow Super Giants as well as the Royal Challengers Bangalore to have acquired the batting all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh. While KKR seemed very determined to bring in Iyer. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ravi Ashwin to unite with MS Dhoni in the CSK camp</h2>



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Ravichandran Ashwin, who began his career with the Dhoni-led side, Chennai's very local boy, Ash Anna, is now back in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. After having been left out by the Chennai Super Kings, Ashwin played for the Punjab Kings and then followed up for the Delhi Capitals, while his last three seasons came with the Rajasthan Royals since 2022. Ashwin was seemingly a very fixed choice for the Chennai Super Kings this time, as he was brought in immediately with no nodding off by CSK. Ashwin and Chidambaram Stadium often make the deadliest spin-loving combo in the IPL. Finally, CSK included him for INR 9.75 crore.



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2025-auction-updates-every-franchise-purse-left-after-the-completion-of-the-marquee-set-2/">IPL 2025 Auction Updates: Every Franchise Purse Left After the Completion of the Marquee Set 2</a>

Indian all-rounder, Venkatesh Iyer, gets sold for a record-smashing INR 23.75 crore in the mega auction

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The Kolkata Knight Riders are a franchise cricket team representing the city of Kolkata in the Indian Premier League. The franchise is owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla and her spouse Jay Mehta. The Knight Riders play at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium

Kolkata Knight Riders

India has faced a massive injury scare ahead of the second IND vs ENG T20I. As per the reports in Indian Express, it is learned that opening batter Abhishek Sharma hurt himself during the training session and there isn't any clarification if he will be fit for the next match of the series or not. 
Abhishek Sharma twisted his ankle during the training session and he looked in immense pain. The reports claimed that the batter is doubtful for the second match and if he gets ruled out, it will be a massive blow for the team as they will be without their key batter for the second IND vs ENG T20I. 
If Abhishek Sharma gets ruled out, then it creates a lot of headaches for the team as to who will open the innings because they have no other opener available on the bench. Hence, it might make team management to make someone from the middle bat at the top along with Sanju Samson. 
<h2>Let's take a look at two options India can try as an opener if Abhishek Sharma gets ruled out of the second IND vs ENG T20I </h2>
Suryakumar Yadav 
Captain Suryakumar Yadav might promote himself at the top of the order and open with Sanju Samson in the second IND vs ENG T20I. The right-hander has opened innings a few times in his career earlier as well, and it will allow him to play his unorthodox shots freely as well because of the field restrictions for the first six over of the innings. 
Suryakumar Yadav also has been going through a lean patch of form in the T20Is. Opening the innings will also help him to settle and get back into form. This could turn out to be a game-changing move for the team and might help them to win the match as well and take a lead of 2-0. 
Washington Sundar 
If Abhishek Sharma gets ruled out of second IND vs ENG T20I, then there are chances that the team might bring in Washington Sundar in the XI. Not only might they bring him into the XI, but they also might make him open. Gautam Gambhir rates the all-rounder very highly and he will be handy on the Chennai pitch as well. 
He has opened the innings for India in ODIs as well and also bats in the top order for his Ranji Team, which might work in his favour. Adding Sundar to the team will also provide the team with the off-spin option  
India currently leads the five-match T20I series against England after they won the first game by 7 wickets. The second game will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday (25th January).
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rishabh-pant-or-kl-rahul-who-would-be-a-better-choice-in-india-s-champions-trophy-playing-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul? Who would be a better choice in India's Champions Trophy Playing 11</a>

If Abhishek Sharma gets ruled out, then it creates a lot of headaches for the team as to who will open the innings

Abhishek Sharma twisted his ankle during the training session and he looked in immense pain ahead of the second IND vs ENG T20I

Who will open innings for India if Abhishek Sharma gets ruled out of second IND vs ENG T20I

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After the enthralling first game, the second IND vs ENG T20I is all set to take place on Saturday (25th January). The match will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, and with the way things panned out in the opening match, the game promises to be an enthralling match. 
One of the talking points of the last match was Mohammed Shami. The fast bowler, who was added to the team to make a comeback after a long injury, missed the first game. There was no official confirmation why he didn't play but several reports claimed that he wasn't 100% fit. 
Mohammed Shami still has heavy strapping on his knee but is bowling at full throttle in the nets. Even though he has knees tied, he doesn't need any physio attention. The reports claimed that the pacer faved discomfort while climbing the stairs and hence wasn't rushed for the first game. 
This now raises speculation if Mohammed Shami will be fit for the second IND vs ENG T20I or not. There were reports in RevSportz recently which claimed that the fast bowler would be missing two more games in the series before making a comeback for the team after more than a year. 
If the reports are to be believed, then Mohammed Shami will be missing the second T20I against England in Chennai. The fast bowler is expected to make a return in the fourth game and also has been named in the team for the three-match ODI series against England ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
<h2>India won the first T20I by 7 wickets </h2>
Coming to the first game, India started the five-match T20I series against England on a dominating note. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side defeated the opposition by seven wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. 
Asked to bat, England had a poor start with the bat as they lost both the openers, thanks to the brilliance of Arshdeep Singh. Captain Jos Buttler (68) kept his team in the hunt and was the lone warrior for his team 
India kept taking wickets at regular intervals, with Varun Chakravarthy being the the pick of the bowlers with his figure of three for 23. His sensational spell helped India bundle out England for 132. 
Chasing the target, Sanju Samson (26) and Abhishek Sharma (79) took India off to a flying start, adding 41 runs for the opening partnership. While Samson and Suryakumar Yadav fell early, Sharma slammed a blistering half-century and took his team to the seven-wicket win.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rishabh-pant-or-kl-rahul-who-would-be-a-better-choice-in-india-s-champions-trophy-playing-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul? Who would be a better choice in India's Champions Trophy Playing 11</a>

The fast bowler, who was added to the team to make a comeback after a long injury, missed the first game

Mohammed Shami still has heavy strapping on his knee but is bowling at full throttle in the nets during the IND vs ENG T20I series

Is Mohammed Shami fit to play the second IND vs ENG T20I?

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RCB IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore, one of the most formidable franchises in IPL history, has often faced heartbreak in the eliminator rounds. However, the team is determined to shatter that barrier and rewrite their story in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League and these three players are going to be the key.
RCB, renowned for having one of the most loyal fanbases in the IPL, has assembled a formidable squad for the 2025 season. With a well-balanced team and renewed determination, this could be their best chance yet to finally secure their maiden IPL trophy and etch their name in the league's history.
At the mega auction in Jeddah, RCB made some strategic moves, securing key signings like Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Josh Hazlewood. Armed with a substantial budget of ₹83 crore, the three-time finalists retained pivotal players such as Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal.
They further bolstered their lineup with power-hitters like Liam Livingstone and rising stars like Rasikh Dar and Suyash Sharma.   However, this isn’t the first time RCB has boasted a star-studded squad. Over the years, they’ve had some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, yet the team has often faltered under pressure when it mattered the most.
In the mega auction 2025, RCB have secured some key players and it seems that they can play the game-changers in the IPL 2025. Below are the three secret weapons of RCB that can change the fortune of the Franchise this season:
<h2>3 Game-Changing New Stars in Royal Challengers Bengaluru</h2>
1- Jacob Bethell (England): Jacob Bethell, an emerging English cricketer, is set to represent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2025 IPL season. Bethell was acquired for ₹2.6 crore during the IPL mega auction and brings versatility and dynamism to the squad.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202501/image_430x256_679465674c563.jpg" alt="">
As a left-handed batter, he can anchor the innings in both the top and middle order. His impressive strike rate in T20Is makes him a valuable asset in high-pressure games. Additionally, Bethell's ability to seamlessly adapt from Test cricket to white-ball formats and his potential as a finisher in ODIs highlight his all-round skills.
Bethell’s achievements speak volumes about his talent. Within just three months, he debuted in ODI, T20I, and Test cricket, showcasing his adaptability across formats. He caught the spotlight during a series against the West Indies with two unbeaten half-centuries and further proved his mettle in the Big Bash League with a stellar knock of 87 against the Hobart Hurricanes.
Excited to share the dressing room with players like Virat Kohli, Bethell sees his stint with RCB as an opportunity to grow, learning from some of the best in the game while contributing to the team’s quest for their maiden IPL title.
2- Rasikh Dar (India): Rasikh Salam Dar, a promising fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, will represent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2025 season. Purchased for ₹6 crore in the mega auction, Rasikh became the most expensive uncapped player of the year.
Known for his clever slower deliveries and effective knuckleball, he brings a unique edge to the RCB bowling attack. Having previously played for the Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals, Rasikh’s IPL journey has been a testament to his talent and determination. His ambition extends beyond the league, as he dreams of representing India across all formats.
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Eager to contribute to RCB's hunt for their first IPL title, Rasikh sees this opportunity as a significant milestone in his career. Playing at the high-scoring M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, his ability to pick up crucial wickets could make him RCB’s secret weapon if used strategically.
Grateful for the management’s trust, he’s also a source of inspiration for aspiring cricketers in Jammu and Kashmir, proving that hard work and dedication can pave the way to success on cricket’s biggest stages.
3- Phil Salt (England): It seemed clear that English players have impressed the RCB franchise the most and it repaid them in the best form. Phil Salt, the dynamic English wicketkeeper-batter, will don the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) jersey in the IPL 2025 season. Acquired for ₹11.5 crore during the auction, Salt is set to open the batting alongside Virat Kohli, promising explosive starts for the team.
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His addition not only strengthens RCB’s top order but also offers a reliable wicketkeeping option, adding balance to the squad. RCB prioritized Salt for several reasons. His stellar numbers, including a strike rate of 182 during the 2024 season, made him a standout choice.
With 435 runs in the previous season and a current ICC T20 ranking of second, Salt’s consistency and power-hitting ability are undeniable. Furthermore, his leadership experience as England’s T20 captain adds a strategic edge to the team. By securing Salt as their foreign opener, RCB aims to capitalize on his fiery starts and his ability to dominate bowlers in the powerplay, making him a critical asset in their quest for their maiden IPL title.

3 Game-Changing New Stars in Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB are getting ready to set IPL 2025 on fire with these three secret weapons. The ₹11.5 crore acquisition will open with Kohli in IPL 2025. A top-ranked T20 batter and skilled wicketkeeper, Salt ensures explosive starts.

Phil Salt, ranked 2nd in T20s, joins RCB to open with Kohli, bringing power-hitting, wicketkeeping, and leadership experience.

RCB’s Secret Weapons for IPL 2025: 3 Game-Changing New Stars in Royal Challengers Bengaluru

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The Pakistan Cricket Team has made a bold decision of changing it's opening combination for the forthcoming Mega Event, Champions Trophy 2025. According to news reports of Pakistani media, former skipper Babar Azam is set to open the batting of the Green Shirts alongside experienced opening batter Fakhar Zaman. 
This move comes after a serious injury to explosive batter Saim Ayub and this move is aimed at strengthening the Batting unit of the Shaheens as the beginning phase of the innings. 
The duo of Fakhar &amp; Babar have played together in the past, but this will be their first time opening the innings together in a One-Day International match. While Zaman is known for his hard hitting batting style, Azam is popular for his calm &amp; controlled batting style and this will provide a lot of stability to the batting department of Pakistan. 
This combination can prove to be solid one for the National team at the start of the innings as Fakhar can do his dirty work of going after the bowlers from ball number one while Babar can hold the other end with his calm nature and his consistency will also work wonders for the Mohammed Rizwan-led outfit.
This big decision comes with high expectations of the Pakistani fans as they would want to witness their team lift the Champions Trophy on home soil. The other participating teams will be focussing on getting rid of the top-order of Pakistan early, knowing the kind of threat the duo of Babar and Fakhar pose as openers. If the defending champions face early setbacks, then the middle-order will have to step up to provide support to the team. 
Babar's poor form with the bat in recent times has come under scrutiny in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy 2025. While he has shown glimpses of good performances recently versus the South Africans and Australians, he hasn't been able to rediscover his best form yet. Now that he is set to bat as an opener, the pressure on him increased automatically and the 29-year-old faces an important challenge ahead. 
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy kicks off from the 19th of February onwards, with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the opening fixture in the city of Karachi. This forthcoming competition will test the ability of Babar Azam to deliver under pressure and guide the team home in difficult situations. 
With the duo of Fakhar &amp; Babar opening the innings, the Pakistani fans would be hoping that their team gets off to a strong start in the tournament. The performance of these two will determine how well the defending champions are going to perform in Champions Trophy 2025.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rishabh-pant-or-kl-rahul-who-would-be-a-better-choice-in-india-s-champions-trophy-playing-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul? Who would be a better choice in India's Champions Trophy Playing 11</a>

Babar Azam (L) and Fakhar Zaman (R) of Pakistan | Image: Getty Images

The injury suffered by Saim Ayub has forced Pakistan to change their opening combination and as a result, the duo of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are set to open the innings for the Shaheens in Champions Trophy 2025

Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will be seen opening the innings for Pakistan in Champions Trophy and the performance of these two with the bat will play an important role in the success of the Green Shirts in Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan's new opening combination for Champions Trophy 2025 - Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman

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The Indian Cricket Team under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav started off the five-match T20 International series versus England on a positive note, securing a comfortable seven wicket win in the opening contest and this win has allowed them to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The action now shifts to the Southern part of our beloved country as the 2nd encounter will be played at Chepauk Stadium of Chennai tonight. The match will commence at 7:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team can make some changes in the Starting 11 ahead of this exciting encounter. The team management might opt to give elite seamer Shami a chance to make his highly awaited comeback in the team. The 34-year-old hasn't played for the National Team since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to a long term injury and he would be itching to execute a comeback.
The pacer can prove to be a game changer for the two time T20 World Cup winners, having featured in 23 T20 International matches and he has also managed to dismiss 24 batters as well. He also has 195 wickets to his name in 101 One-Day International matches and he's also a part of India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
He has been included in the T20 International squad so that he can get a chance to get back to his level best ahead of this year's marquee event. While Shami wasn't a part of the Starting 11 in the first T20 International, he can surely be given a chance in the forthcoming contest in Chennai 
<h2>If Shami returns then who will he replace in Team India's playing eleven?</h2>
If the 34-year-old Mohammed Shami gets a chance to play in the 2nd T20 International, then leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi might have to be the one to get sacrificed. The LSG spinner bowled four overs versus the Three Lions in the opening encounter and he gave away 22 runs but failed to dismiss a single batter.
This might not work in his favour as the team management would want him to be effective with the ball if the young leggie wants to retain his place in the side.
Varun Chakravarthy on the other hand, was effective, with three scalps to his name in the 1st T20I. He will be anticipated to play an important role with the ball in the forthcoming contest too.
Abhishek Sharma's injury creates a headache for the Indian team management 
Star opening batter Abhishek Sharma twisted his ankle today in a training session ahead of the 2nd T20I and after that incident, he didn't come out to bat in the nets.
The team management might not wanna take a risk with his fitness and his injury could see one of Dhruv Jurel or Washington Sundar coming into the playing 11 for the 2nd T20I. 
This will make things really interesting as skipper Surya might promote himself up the order as an opener and this would also allow Tilak Varma to bat at number three.
Probable playing XI of Team India for the second T20i match: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel / Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Shami.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-player-battles-to-watch-out-for-in-the-second-ind-vs-eng-t20-at-the-ma-chidambaram-stadium-/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 Player Battles to Watch out for in the second IND vs ENG T20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium</a>

Mohammed Shami (L) and Ravi Bishnoi (R) of Team India | Image: Getty Images

The 2nd T20 International between India and England is set to be played at the Chepauk Stadium of Chennai tonight at 7:00 PM IST and the Indian Team management might be tempted to make some changes as they would want Mohammed Shami to regain his best form with the ball ahead of the all-important Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammed Shami is a part of Team India's T20 International squad in the five-match series and he might mmake his highly awaited return to the playing 11 in the 2nd contest of the series