During the LSG versus RCB clash on May 1, Virat and Naveen engaged in a war of words in the second innings. The on-field aggression then spilled over to the post-match handshakes as Kohli and Naveen had another verbal spat. It seems that Naveen hasn't moved on from the incident even after a week. Every now and then, the Afghan cricketer posts something on social media, taking a dig at Kohli.
The 2023 edition of IPL has captured many unforgettable moments. The one incident that caught all the headlines for the wrong reasons was the altercation between RCB batter Virat Kohli and LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq. On Tuesday (May 9), Naveen-ul-Haq shared an Instagram story soon after Virat Kohli's dismissal in the ongoing IPL match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Jason Behrendorff got rid of Kohli for only 1 run. After the wicket, Naveen featured some mangoes in his story. "Sweet mangos,"he wrote in the story.
Just a couple of days ago, the Afghanistan fast bowler shared a picture alongside LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir on Instagram with the caption that read, "Treat people the way you want to be treated. Talk to people the way you want to be talked to." Gambhir dropped a comment on the player's post which read, "Be who you are !! 'Never Change'".
Kohli and Gambhir got involved in a chat and some players and support staff members from both sides had to intervene to restore sanity. Things did look ugly in the middle and the match referee punished all the three involved. While Kohli and Gambhir were fined 100% of their match fees, Naveen copped a 50% penalty for breaching the IPL code of conduct.
IPL 2025 Playoffs: How can Mumbai Indians finish at the top of the points table?
How can Mumbai Indians finish at the top of the points table in IPL 2025? Explore the different scenarios, starting from their final league stage match to NRR and other teams' results.
Mumbai Indians are the fourth team to seal their playoffs spot in IPL 2025, defeating DC to get those concluding 2 points. As we move further in the tournament, the focus shifts from playoffs qualification to top 4 standings.
How can Mumbai Indians finish at the top of the points table? The calculation is pretty simple. Check them out.
Why Aim for Top 2?
Mitchell Santner celebrating a wicket with the team in a match against DC. Image | Facebook
The benefits of finishing in the top two in league stage are many.
Double chance in Qualifiers: A sigh of relief as the top 2 teams will have double chances to reach the finals, playing Qualifier 1 & 2.
Avoid Eliminator pressure: Finishing top 2 will provide the safety net and free them from knockout pressure in Eliminator, where a single bad performance can lead to elimination from the final race.
MI must win their final league stage game against PBKS (on 26 May) to keep their hopes for top 2 alive.
PBKS need to lose another match to DC, which will restrict them from going beyond 17 points.
RCB should lose both their remaining games (against LSG & SRH), which too will restrict them at 17 points.
Here's how MI can be at top of the points table
If the scenarios mentioned above go in their favour, along with GT losing their last 2 games, MI will end at no. 1 in the table. Both GT and MI will have 18 points, and MI will be on top, given their NRR advantage.
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.
Let's take a look at the IPL Playoffs teams from 2008 to 2025.
Which team has qualified for IPL playoffs most times?
Which team has qualified for IPL playoffs most times? Find out the ultimate answer to this major question and get the name of your favourite franchise among the pack of strong contenders.
Achieving consistent playoffs mark is a big flex for IPL franchises. Some teams have made their way to the playoffs so many times that now it feels weird when they don't qualify.
We are very close to the playoffs of IPL 2025, and some teams have already booked their berth, adding a number to their playoff appearance.
So which team has qualified for IPL playoffs most times? It is time to find out.
Chennai Super Kings (12 times)
CSK lifting the trophy after being the champions of IPL 2023. Image | Instagram
Chennai Super Kings stands as the IPL playoffs King, having qualified 12 times in their 16 seasons. This unmatched legacy grows even stronger with their title winning history.
CSK also holds the record of reaching the IPL finals most number of times (10 times), and winning 5 out of them, in the years 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. Image | BBC
Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the 10-time playoff qualification mark in IPL 2025. They were among the first three teams to qualify for the playoff this season, which made it their 10th qualification.
This side is yet to grab the title despite having qualified several times. It will be interesting to see if they can achieve that in this season itself.
Mumbai Indians lifting the IPL trophy in 2019. Image | Instagram
Mumbai Indians are another IPL powerhouse with exceptional playoffs record. They qualified for IPL playoffs 10 times and are also the five-time champions.
Their current position in IPL 2025 points table look pretty steady, and a win against DC would secure their spot in the playoffs, which obviously increases their count.
Can they make it to the playoffs for the 11th time? We will know soon.
IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians makes additions to their squad with signings of Bairstow, Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson
As the IPL 2025 playoffs approach, Mumbai Indians have made strategic additions to their squad with the signings of Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson.
3 teams have made their place in the IPL 2025 playoffs and only one team is yet to be decided. There is a fierce battle going on between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals for the remaining playoff spot. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have made a three new changes in their squad.
Mumbai has announced the replacement of three foreign players. The team has included Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson in the squad in place of Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch. These three foreign players of Mumbai Indians are going to join their respective national teams after playing the last league match. In such a situation, the franchise had no other option but to bring their replacements.
Mumbai Indians have included England's experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow in the team as a replacement for Will Jacks for Rs 5.25 crore. Bairstow has had good experience in IPL and is considered an aggressive batsman in the T20 format. His presence is expected to strengthen the top order batting of Mumbai Indians.
At the same time, English fast bowler Richard Gleeson has been included in the team in place of Ryan Rickelton. Gleeson has been added to Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore. He has been signed by Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore. Gleeson's fast pace and ability to bowl yorkers in the death overs can prove to be important for the team.
Sri Lankan all-rounder Charith Asalanka has been included in the squad in place of Corbin Bosch for Rs 75 lakh. Asalanka can not only bat aggressively but can also give options to the team with his part-time off-spin bowling.
Mumbai Indians are currently in the playoff race. If the team qualifies for the next round, then these three new replacement players will be available for the team from the playoff matches. This will help the team to create balance and fill the gap of foreign players.
It is worth noting that Mumbai Indians have 2 matches left in the league stage. In one match, the team will face Delhi Capitals, while in its last league stage match, it will face the challenge of Punjab Kings. Punjab has already made its place in the IPL 2025 playoffs.
Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season?
Virat Kohli's 973 runs in IPL 2016 stands as a monumental record. Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season?
Breaking records is what IPL is all about and Virat Kohli's record of 973 runs in IPL 2016 is unmatched for 9 years. IPL 2025 can be the record-breaking year, as GT's opening pair is having an incredible season with the bat, shuffling the orange cap with every match.
As we are heading towards the end of the tournament, it will be a major thing to keep an eye on.
Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season? Or maybe it is truly unbreakable.
How big is Virat Kohli's 973-run record?
Virat Kohli celebrating his 3rd century of IPL 2016 season. Image | ESPNcricinfo
Virat Kohli set the batting standards up in IPL 2016 that everyone talks about till date. He scored 973 runs in 16 matches with an 80+ average.
He scored 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, bagging the Orange cap in that season.
This is the phenomenal record of most runs in a single IPL season that no one could break since 2016.
Shubman Gill in action for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. Image | TOI
The only player who ever came to Kohli's record is Shubman Gill, with his 890-run season in IPL 2023. He is having another successful one in IPL 2025 and has already surpassed the 600-run mark.
The way Gill is firing this season for Gujarat Titans, he might just break the record and get in top. He scored 601 runs in 12 matches with 6 half-centuries to his name so far.
Calculating the remaining target for Shubham Gill
With potentially 5 innings left (2 league matches + playoffs), the race is heating up. This is subject to GT to lose Qualifier 1 and get an extra innings to go play for the IPL title.
Required: 974-601 = 373 runs more (to break Kohli's record)
Required Avg for next 5 innings: 74.6 runs per inning
Required Avg if they get 4 innings to play: 93.25 runs per inning
Sai Sudharsan in action for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. Image | Instagram
Sai Sudharsan is currently the leading run-scorer in the race for Orange Cap in IPL 2025. He scored 617 runs in 12 matches, with 1 century and 5 fifties to his name.
This rising star has remarkable potential to with the kind of explosive form he has right now.
Calculating the remaining target for Sai Sudharsan
As for GT, Sudharsan also gets the same number of innings as Gill. It is either 2 league matches and 2 playoff matches, or a loss in Qualifier 1 to get an extra innings, making it 5 innings in total.
Required: 974-617 = 357 runs more (to break Kohli's record)
Required Avg for next 5 innings: 71.4 runs per inning
Required Avg if they get 4 innings to play: 89.25 runs per inning
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