Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly did not mince words when asked for his reaction on the uncertainty surrounding Mitchell Starc 's availability for the start of IPL 2026. Delhi Capitals said at the press conference that they are waiting for a green signal from Cricket Australia. And this is what Dada said while in Delhi for a brand endorsement for Jakson, "It hurts... because when quality players don't come in at the last minute, it shakes the balance of the team." Starc is set to miss the opening phase of the season as Cricket Australia carefully manages his workload ahead of a packed 2026-27 calendar. The timing could not be worse as franchises build their squads and strategies around marquee overseas players. Ganguly, speaking on the broader issue of player availability in franchise cricket, said the impact of such late withdrawals is far greater in the IPL than in international cricket. "It hurts because I've always said making an India...
Mumbai Indians spinner Vignesh Puthur impressed everyone on his IPL debut as he took the wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube during the IPL 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. The left-arm wrist spinner was the impact player for MI as he replaced Rohit Sharma. In his very first over, he took the massive wicket of CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad who was caught by Will Jacks in the deep. He continued to bowl brilliantly as Shivam Dube completely miscued a shot off his bowling and was caught by Tilak Varma at long-on to cap off a sensational debut for the youngster.
He impressed some more as he also dismissed Deepak Hooda for 3.
Puthur, the 24-year-old spinner from Malappuram in Kerala, was signed by MI for the base price of Rs 30 lakh. The youngster has not played for Kerala at senior level till now but he has played at the U-14 and U-19 levels. He currently plays for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League.
The young spinner has also played in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
Puthur, the son of an autorickshaw driver and a homemaker, used to bowl medium pace before he was asked to try leg spin by local cricketer Mohammed Sherif. That changed the course of his career as he moved to Thrissur and became a big star in Kerala College Premier T20 league for St. Thomas College.
Earlier this year, he was sent to South Africa for SA20, where he was a net bowler for MI Cape Town.
Coming to the match, fifties by Rachin Ravindra (65 not out) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (53) helped Chennai Super Kings kickstart their IPL 2025 campaign with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.
After Noor Ahmad's 4-18 and Khaleel Ahmed's 3-29 helped CSK restrict MI to 155/9, Gaikwad mixed aggression and timing to hit six fours and three sixes while bringing up his fifty in 22 balls, his fastest half-century in the tournament.
Despite wickets falling from the other end, Ravindra held one end firm to hit an unbeaten 45-ball 65, laced with two fours and four sixes, as CSK completed a nervy win. For MI, who have not won their first match of an IPL season since 2012, debutant Puthur's spell of 3-32 would be the biggest positive.
(With IANS inputs)
from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Hsh8VKQ
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