Openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram smashed fifties while David Miller applied finishing touches with a late cameo as the trio carried Lucknow Super Giants to 203/8 in their 20 overs against Mumbai Indians in match 16 of IPL 2025 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Marsh capitalised on pace-on deliveries to hit 60 off 31 balls, his third fifty of the competition. After his fall, Markram stepped up to smash 53 off 38 balls, while Miller brought out the big hits in a 14-ball 27 and ensure LSG posted a 200-plus total for the second time.

For MI, who conceded 69 runs in power-play, Hardik Pandya led the way with the ball by picking up 5-36, his first five-for in T20 cricket. The MI skipper used the conditions very well by relying more on his slower balls to get his scalps and become the first-ever IPL captain to take a fifer.

Punjab Kings is ready to begin the home leg of the Indian Premier League 2025 with their contest against Rajasthan Royals at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh on Saturday.

Ahead of their first home game, the team’s spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi addressed the press conference and gave an insight into the team’s atmosphere and preparations.

Joshi revealed that the players have established great camaraderie among each other, serving as the foundation of a positive dressing room.

After leading Mumbai Indians in their opening fixture in IPL 2025 in the absence of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav completed another special landmark in the match against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday.

Suryakumar became just the eighth player to play 100 IPL games for Mumbai Indians. The other players to achieve the feat are Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ambati Rayudu.

To mark the occasion, Suryakumar was presented with a special customized jersey before the match.

Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey has hinted at MS Dhoni leading the side in their IPL 2025 clash against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday if regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad doesn’t recover in time from his elbow injury.

Gaikwad had taken a blow on his right forearm while trying to step down the pitch off Tushar Deshpande in the second over during CSK’s defeat to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Sunday. "I don't think we've actually thought about that (captaincy) too much. Well, I haven't thought about it too much.”

“I'm sure Stephen Fleming (head coach) and Rutu have thought about that. But we've got some young guy coming through. He's behind the stumps. Maybe he can do a good job. I'm not sure. He's got a bit of experience in the role, so maybe he could do it. But I'm not exactly sure, to be honest," said Hussey in the pre-match press conference on Friday.

Rohit Sharma misses out for five-time champions Mumbai Indians as captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants, who have included Akash Deep, in match 16 of IPL 2025 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Both teams are in the lower half of the points table and a win for either of them would get them to join the four points bandwagon. After winning the toss, Pandya said Rohit got hit on the knee in nets and is thus unavailable for Friday’s game.

In Rohit’s absence, fast-bowling all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa has been handed his MI debut. Bawa came into limelight after taking a five-wicket haul against England and leading India to winning the 2022 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final.

Since his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022, Sai Sudharsan has wowed connoisseurs of the game with his elegant knocks and awe-inspiring strokeplay. In IPL 2025, Sudharsan has continued to be in strong form by amassing 186 runs in three games for Gujarat Titans and be the tournament’s second leading run-getter.

Sudharsan, the left-handed opener who’s also played three ODIs and a T20I for India, feels the experiences he has gained from playing in the IPL has contributed heavily to his growth and development as a T20 batter.

“Well, I would say the most important thing would be the experience which I've got and gained hugely from these three years of getting exposed to playing a lot of games, and having lot of game time in the IPL, as that's the most important thing.”

In the sweltering afternoon heat of Chennai, when the batters will sweat it out on a sluggish pitch, it could well be the wrist-spinners who dictate terms as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host a confident Delhi Capitals (DC) in match 17 of IPL 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

While Chennai grapple with concerns over form and combinations, Delhi arrive with back-to-back wins and momentum on their side. But it is the wrist-spin duel between India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad that may ultimately decide which way the contest swings.

Kuldeep, with an exceptional economy of 5.25, has been quite lethal, extracting purchase with smart use of the crease and subtle variations in pace and arm speed. On the other hand, Noor’s flatter trajectory and faster pace have earned him nine wickets already, making him equally dangerous on surfaces where the ball holds and turns.

England pacer Olly Stone has been ruled out of all cricket for 14 weeks after undergoing a right knee surgery this week, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday.

"Stone experienced increasing discomfort during Nottinghamshire’s pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi last month. Further scans conducted this week revealed the need for surgery," the ECB statement read.

"He will now begin a period of rehabilitation, working closely with the medical teams at both the ECB and Nottinghamshire," it added.

The 31-year-old will miss the start of the English summer but is targeting a return to full fitness by August 2025.

Perth Scorchers star Mitchell Marsh has reaffirmed his desire to be a one-club player by signing a three-year contract with the franchise he joined in the inaugural season of the Big Bash League (BBL).

The new deal ensures Marsh will remain in orange until at least the end of BBL 17, having been on Perth’s list since the competition was founded in 2011-12.

Marsh and Sydney Sixers veteran Moises Henriques are the only players to have stayed with their original club for all 14 editions of the BBL.

The Australian T20 skipper – who has represented his country in 46 Tests, 93 ODIs and 65 T20Is – played a central role in Perth’s BBL season 3 and BBL season 11 titles.

World Championship of Legends season 2 welcomes West Indies legends Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard back to professional T20 cricket with the West Indies Champions.

Pollard led the West Indies from 2019 to 2022 and has over 11,000 T20 runs while Bravo is one of the format’s most prolific all-rounders, claiming 631 wickets and scoring 6,970 runs across 582 T20 matches between 2004 and 2021.

"It's great to be representing the West Indies once again - I'm incredibly excited to play with and against good friends and cricketing legends," Bravo said.

On teaming up with Pollard again, he added, "Polly and I have been good friends for such a long time. Now, we represent our nation once more in the World Championship of Legends."