Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has made a big statement about all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer after he made a big impact with the bat, in the finisher's role, during the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies.
In a short chat with ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer explained how Venkatesh Iyer's all-round abilities and recent performances put him "ahead" of Hardik Pandya in the race to bag the coveted all-rounder's place in the squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 later this year. Jaffer agreed to the fact that Iyer's bowling gives him an "edge" and surely makes him a "real contender now".
Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer Image - CricTracker
"I am surprised how good he is playing as a number six batter. We have seen him as an opener. But for him to come out and get adapted so well at number six and finish games is outstanding. Plus, the way he has bowled as well and got a couple of important wickets. It definitely gives him an edge going into the World Cup and I feel he is a real contender now."
In the recently concluded three-match T20I series against West Indies, Venkatesh finished as India's second-highest run-getter with 92 runs at a brilliant strike rate of 184. He was also India's fourth-best bowler with two wickets at an impressive average of 13.50. in the T20I series.
Jaffer explained how IPL can help Hardik Pandya to return to the national team
Jaffer further added how the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 could hold the key for Hardik Pandya in a bid to return to the national team as an all-rounder.
"I feel, at this point in time, he is a little bit ahead because you don't know if Hardik Pandya is bowling now, how fit he is... Obviously, how the IPL goes for Pandya will play a very key role. But I think at this point in time, Iyer is definitely ahead of Pandya," Jaffer opined.
After the Champions Trophy 2025, India's target in ODI cricket will be the ODI World Cup 2027. In such a situation, know what is Team India's ODI schedule till the World Cup 2027. The Men in Blue have to play a total of 9 series in the next ICC ODI tournament, which includes 27 matches.
Apart from this, some more ODI matches can be scheduled near the tournament. So, know what is the ODI schedule of Indian Cricket Team till 2027 and when India will face which team.
The ODI World Cup2027 will be held around October to December. Before this, the Indian team is going to play a lot of matches. India have to play 3-match ODI series against 8 teams. They will play series twice against one country.
India will play New Zealand twice
India will play Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka once each in the upcoming ODI series, while it will play New Zealand twice. Out of the nine series, India will play six series at home, while the rest will be held outside the country.
It will start with the tour of Bangladesh in August, which will be played this year. In October-November 2025, India has to play a three-match ODI series on its tour of Australia. South Africa's team will tour India in November-December.
India will host Sri Lankan team in December 2026
In January 2026, the New Zealand team will play an ODI series in India. After this, India has to play a three-match series against Afghanistan in June. In July 2026, Team India will have to play the same number of ODI series on its tour of England.
The West Indies team is scheduled to tour India in September-October. There will be an ODI series against New Zealand at home in October-November. India will host the Sri Lankan team for an ODI series in December 2026.
Foreign players asked to return to their country as IPL 2025 postponed for a week due to India-Pakistan tension
If the IPL 2025 resumes at the end of May, most of the foreign players will be able to return. The teams believe so. If these matches are played after May 25, it will be difficult for the players to return.
Due to the increasing conflict between India and Pakistan, BCCI has postponed the IPL 2025 for a week. BCCI gave this information on Friday. The board said that it has taken this decision keeping in mind the concerns of the players and the sentiments of the fans. The new schedule of IPL will be released depending on the situation.
At the same time, according to media reports, all foreign players have been asked to return to their country. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia and South Africa Cricket Board have expressed concern over their players. There are still 12 league matches and 4 playoff matches left in IPL 2025. The final of the tournament was to be held on 25 May.
It is believed that India's tour of Bangladesh in August will be cancelled. The Asia Cup to be held in September will also be postponed. The remaining matches of IPL can be held in India in their place.
It is difficult for BCCI to bring back foreign players
The biggest challenge for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in resuming the IPL in May is to bring back foreign players. As soon as the IPL was announced to be postponed for a week, most of the foreign players returned to their respective countries. The remaining players will leave India by Saturday.
It will be interesting to see how BCCI brings back the foreign players and restarts the tournament. Because without them, it will be difficult to organize matches.
Players will start playing for the country
If the IPL resumes at the end of May, most of the foreign players will be able to return. The teams believe so. If these matches are played after May 25, it will be difficult for the players to return. The biggest reason for this is that many players will be playing for their national team then.
The final of the World Test Championship (WTC) is also scheduled to be held between the Australia and the South Africa at Lord's from June 11.
Starting the tournament is not easy
BCCI has kept all three grounds ready. Despite this, officials believe that it will not be easy to restart this competition now. All the teams were informed about this on Friday without any formal announcement. People from many teams are saying that all the remaining matches can be held at the end of the year.
Punjab-Delhi match had to be canceled midway
On the night of 8 May at around 8.30 pm, Pakistan attacked the borders of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan of India with missiles and drones. During this time, a match was being played between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. It had to be stopped midway.
Gujarat on top, 3 teams out of the playoffs race
By the time IPL 2025 was halted midway, 57 matches of the league stage had been completed. The 58th match was halted midway. After 57 matches, Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore had the highest points in the points table with 16-16 points.
GT remained on top due to better run rate. Punjab was third, Mumbai fourth and Delhi fifth. Whereas Chennai, Rajasthan and Hyderabad teams were out of the playoff race.
When the tournament was stopped, 4 teams had 2-2 matches left. Whereas 6 teams including Gujarat and Bangalore had not played 3-3 matches. A match was to be played between Lucknow and Bangalore in Lucknow on Friday, but the tournament was stopped before that.
From Pandya to Curran: Meet the Cricket brothers who ruled world cricket
From legendary pairs to modern-day stars, the world of cricket has got family on the field throughout. Meet the cricket brothers who ruled the world of cricket.
The bond of brothers is often strong, but when it extends to the cricket field, the results can be spectacular. We have witnessed such amazing pairs across the globe.
From Pandya brothers to Curran and Pathans, meet the cricket brothers who ruled world cricket. Read till the end to discover the pairs you didn't know about!
Pandya Brothers (Hardik Pandya & Krunal Pandya) | India
Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya playing for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2017. Image | Hindustan Times
The Pandya brothers are currently the most popular pair from India, known for their hard-hitting capabilities with the bat, and surprise bowling impact on the team. They started their career playing for their home city, Baroda, and later made their way to Mumbai Indians in IPL.
Hardik Pandya made his International debut in 2016 for India, and has been an integral part of the team ever since. His heroic contributions under pressure is something the nation will never forget. He also led India as a captain in 16 T20 matches, winning 10 among them.
Krunal Pandya debuted for India in 2018, which was only 2 years after his IPL debut for MI. In 2021, he became the fastest Indian to score a ODI half century in a debut match. He scored it off just 26 balls against England.
Curran Brothers (Sam Curran & Tom Curran) | England
Tom Curran and Sam Curran playing for the England Cricket Team. Image | Pinterest
The Curran Brothers are brilliant all-rounder pair from England. They both made their international debut at a young age and have evolved to be a popular name in the cricketing world.
Sam Curran is a key player for England, known for his brilliant transformation from bowling all-rounder to being equally aggressive with the bat. He was a part of the T20 World Cup winning squad in 2022.
Tom Curran made his debut for England at the age of 22, and has served as an efficient bowling all-rounder for his nation.
They also have another brother, Ben Curran, who currently plays for Zimbabwe national team.
Pathan Brothers (Yusuf and Irfan Pathan) | India
Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan playing for their respective franchises in IPL 2016. Image | Instagram
The Pathan brothers played for India and earned worldwide recognition. Both were a part of the T20 World Cup winning squad of India in 2007.
Yusuf Pathan is the elder one, known for his explosive batting, especially in the limit overs format. His six-hitting abilities and raw power has significant impact of teams.
Irfan Pathan's swing bowling and batting contributions made him a fan favourite. He played as a vital all-rounder for India, especially during memorable victories.
Morkel Brothers (Albie Morkel & Morne Morkel) | South Africa
Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel playeing for their respective franchises during IPL 2012. Image | Facebook
The Morkel brothers represented South Africa and were one of the finest cricketers who played a major role behind the team's success. They became the first brothers in 56 years to be named as South African Cricket Annual cricketer of the year in the same season, in 2008.
Albie Morkel is the older brother, who played as a batting all-rounder, contributing by his powerful hitting.
Morne Morkel is a tall right-arm fast bowler, whose ability to generate pace and bounce made him an integral bowler in the bowling attack. He is currently the bowling coach of Indian Cricket Team, since 2024.
Chahar Brothers (Deepak & Rahul Chahar) | India
Deepak Chahar and Rahul Chahar playing for their respective franchises in IPL 2019. Image | ESPNcricinfo
The Chahar brothers are another pair of brothers who represents India in both ODI and T20 formats.
Deepak Chahar is the older one, who is a right-arm medium bowler and can also contribute with the bat. He took 6 wickets for 7 runs against Bangladesh in 2019, which is the best bowling figures in T20Is for India.
Rahul Chahar is the younger one, who is a right-arm leg-breal bowler. He made his IPL debut at only 17 years of age and strengthened the spin unit of his team.
Hussey Brothers (Michael Hussey & David Hussey) | Australia
Michael Hussey and David Hussey playing for their respective franchises in Big Bash League in 2015. Image | dailytelegraph.com
The Hussey brothers are another extremely popular pair in the world of cricket, hailing from Australia. They dominated the field with their batting power and consistency.
Michael Hussey was given the nickname "Mr. Cricket" because of his strong performances across all formats. He is one of the batting legends of the Australian team, having a highly successful career.
David Hussey is the younger brother who was more prominent in ODIs and T20Is than in Tests. He usually played as a right-handed batter, occasionally bowling off-break for the team.
Akmal Brothers (Karman Akmal & Umar Akmal) | Pakistan
Karman Akmal and Umar Akmal during their practice session for the Pakistan national team. Image | crictoday
The Akmal brothers played major roles representing Pakistan in International Cricket. They are basically a trip of cricketers, and all of them has played for the national team.
Karman Akmal is the eldest, who played as a wicket-keeper batsman. He has stuck with the team for a long time and was also am integral part of Pakistan's winning squad in the 2019 T20 World Cup.
Umar Akmal is known for his aggressive batting style who is also a popular name in the history of cricket in Pakistan.
As mentioned above, they are a trio, and Adnan Akmal is the youngest one among them. He also represented Pakistan in Tests and ODIs.
The cricketing bloodline flows through their family, as they are also the cousins of Pakistan's former captain Babar Azam.
Marsh Brothers (Shaun Marsh & Mitchell Marsh) | Australia
Mitchell Marsh celebrating with his brother Shaun Marsh during a test match in 2014. Image | NDTV
The Marsh brothers are Australian brother pair, representing their country at the highest level. They became the third pair to score a century in the same test innings for Australia, in 2017-18 Ashes series against England.
Shaun Marsh is the elder one, who played as a top-order batter for his country. He also became the highest run-scorer in the inaugural season of IPL in 2008, and holds the record for highest individual score by an uncapped overseas player (115*) in IPL history.
Mitchell Marsh is an all-rounder, who strengthens the middle order of the team, but also has the ability to come early and give a good start. He scored 177* runs against Bangladesh in 2023, which is the third highest individual score by Australian in ODI World Cup.
Bravo Brothers (Dwayne Bravo & Darren Bravo) | West Indies
Darren Bravo and Dwayne Bravo posing for a picture during their tenure in respective franchises in IPL 2017. Image | crictoday.com
The Bravo Brothers are notable pair of cricket stars from West Indies. They are half brothers as they share the same father but different mothers.
Dwayne Bravo is a key player for West Indies cricket team, who is an all-rounder, known for his dynamic bowling and aggressive batting. He is among the most successful T20 players globally. Dwayne as been a part of the team in memorable winning ICC tournaments.
Darren Bravo is the younger one, who also represented West Indies in international cricket as a left-handed batsman. He majorly played in ODI cricket and Tests, and was less prominent in T20s.
McCullum Brothers (Nathan McCullum & Brendon McCullum) | New Zealand
Nathan and Brendon McCullum representing New Zealand during a T20 match in 2010. Image | ESPNcricinfo
The McCullum brothers are a popular pair in the history of New Zealand cricket. They have a strong sporting family background.
Nathan McCullum played as a off-break bowler and was a useful lower-order batsman. He was a part of the New Zealand squad that reached the World Cup final in 2015.
Brendon McCullum is regarded as one or the most influential cricketers. He is a wicket-keeper batsman, known for his aggressive batting and quick run scoring abilities. He holds the record for fastest test century by scoring one off 54 balls in 2016.
Lee brothers (Brett Lee & Shane Lee) | Australia
Brett Lee and Shane Lee representing Australia | ESPNcricinfo
The Lee brothers are a pair of cricket brothers who represented Australia.
Shane Lee is the elder one and all-rounder, who was was in the World Cup winning Australia squad of 1999. He played 45 ODIs and retired in the age of 29 due to knee injury.
Brett Lee is one of the fastest bowlers in the history of cricket. He played for Australia in all three formats and was a dominant bowler. Lee holds the record for second-most wickets taken by an Australian in ODIs.
Waugh Brothers (Steve Waugh & Mark Waugh) | Australia
Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh during their tenure playing for Australian cricket team. Image | ESPNcricinfo
The Waugh brothers are iconic figures of Australiam cricket. They are identical twins and both played at the highest level.
Steve Waugh is regarded as one of the greatest captains in cricket history. He is often nicknamed as "Tugga." He is Australia's most capped test player and holds 16 consecutive test wins and other batting records.
Mark Waugh is nicknamed as "Junior," and was known for his elegant style of play. He played as a top-order batsman for the team, and was an integral part throughout 1990s and early 2000s.
Flower Brothers (Andu Flower & Grant Flower) | Zimbabwe
Andy Flower and Grant Flower posing for a picture before their practice session for Zimbabwe. Image | Facebook
The Flower brothers are most celebrated sibling pair from Zimbabwe cricket team. They formed the backbone of the team's batting line-up.
Andy Flower is Zimbabwe's greatest cricketer and one of the finest wicketkeeper batsman. He holds numerous batting records and have captained, as well as coached the Zimbabwe national team.
Grant Flower is the younger brother, played as the opening batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He contributed brilliantly with the bat, forming crucial partnerships with his brother.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's breathtaking 13-ball half century stands strong at the top of the table. Get ready to be thrilled as we dive into the top 10 fastest fifties in IPL history.
Some IPL innings leave you speechless. The talented players in this tournament have taken the stage to another level with their explosive batting over the years.
Check out the entire article to know some names that will definitely shock you.
10. Suresh Raina (2014) | 16 balls
Suresh Raina during his half-century knock off 16 balls against Punjab. Image | ESPNcricinfo
Suresh Raina is one of the players to score the fastest half-century in the early seasons of IPL. He took only 16 balls to reach his fifty, making it look super easy for the fans.
Raina was the opening batter for CSK and scored this in a match against PBKS in IPL 2024. The endless boundaries that came off his bat in this inning is hard to forget!
Jake Fraser-McGurk celebrating his 15-balls half century against SRH in IPL 2024. Image | NDTV
Jake Fraser-McGurk, who played for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, stunned the spectators with his back-to-back fastest fifties in 2 matches. He scored both the fifties off 15 balls which is quite astonishing as it was his debut season.
McGurk’s consecutive fifties secured both the 9th and 8th position in top 10 fastest fifties in IPL history.
He proved to be highly impactful for DC and these half centuries against MI and SRH made him more impressive. Moreover, he smashed 330 runs in 9 matches with a strike rate above 200.
Nicholas Pooran's iconic celebration after his fastest half century against RCB in IPL 2023. Image | BBC
The West Indies power-hitter, Nicholas Pooran, put up a shower of boundaries during his fastest fifty of IPL career from just 15 balls. He scored 62 runs (off 19 balls) in his knock, hitting 7 sixes and 4 fours.
Pooran had a strike rate of 326.32 which says a lot about the kind of mindset and form he was in during the match of LSG vs RCB.
6. Sunil Narine (2017) | 15 balls
Sunil Narine celebrates his fastest fifty against RCB in IPL 2017. Image | Hindustan Times
This superstar from the West Indies has never failed to amaze us, be it with the ball or bat. Sunil Narine showcased his exceptional batting skills with this 15-ball half century in IPL 2017.
Narine has played several crucial knocks for KKR in the history of IPL, but with this one, he proved how he is equally capable with the bat and can do wonders.
5. Yusuf Pathan (2014) | 15 balls
Yusuf Pathan after his fastest fifty off 15 balls against SRH. Image | Ani News
Yusuf Pathan scored a sensational fifty against SRH off 15 balls in IPL 2014. He single-handedly took the game home for KKR with his 72 runs off just 22 balls in this inning, with a strike rate above 300.
It shows that KKR indeed had some fearless power-hitters in their team throughout IPL history.
Romario Shepherd hitting the ball hard for a six during the match of RCB vs CSK in IPL 2025. Image | OneCricket
Romario Shepherd became the only batter in IPL 2025 to score a fifty so fast that could make its way to the top 10 fastest fifties in IPL. He helped RCB reach a 200+ total during the first inning against CSK, which was enough to be a defendable total.
Shepherd hit 6 sixes and 4 fours to score 53* off 14 balls. He was also given player of the match award for his spectacular knock.
3. Pat Cummins (2022) | 14 balls
Pat Cummins celebrating his fastest 50 off 14 balls for KKR in IPL 2022. Image | Pinterest
Here comes a surprising half-century from the Australian all-rounder, Pat Cummins, who scored 50 off 14 balls for KKR in IPL 2022. He helped to seal the victory for his team against MI by 5 wickets (24 balls left).
Cummins unveiled his boundary-hitting capabilities with 4 fours and 6 sixes, leaving the fans shocked. It is considered to be one of the finest knocks in IPL where he truly showcased his batting skills when needed.
2. KL Rahul (2018) | 14 balls
KL Rahul celebrates his heroic fifty in just 14 balls against DC. Image | Instagram
KL Rahul, who is now known for his calm and composed batting style, holds the second position in the list of top 10 fastest fifties in IPL history. Quite shocking, isn't it?
This was back in IPL 2018 when Rahul showed no mercy to the bowlers of Delhi Capitals with his magnificent fifty off just 14 balls.
He was the opening batter of PBKS, who kept the fans on the edge of their seats from the beginning of the inning.
Yashasvi Jaiswal during his record-breaking fastest fifty in the history of IPL. Image | Pinterest
An all-time shocker of an innings from Yashasvi Jaiswal, which remains unmatched till date! He scored fifty off 13 balls, making it the fastest half-century in IPL history.
Jaiswal scored a total of 98 runs (from 47 balls) in this match against KKR and led Rajasthan Royals to victory. He hit the ball out of the boundary line in every direction possible, and was barely seen running between the wickets.
This performance goes down the history of unbelievable knocks in IPL.
With the IPL 2025 playoffs just around the corner, the tension is reaching its peak. Over the years, the Indian Premier League has given fans plenty of memorable moments full of surprises at the fag end of the group stage. Generally, the fans have to wait till the last over of the group stage to know who will qualify for the IPL Playoffs.
Sometimes, it even goes to the final ball as well, to decide the fourth team to qualify.
From teams that regularly reach the playoffs to underdogs who’ve shocked everyone, the path to the final four has always been full of drama.
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