PUMA India has announced the onboarding of India's women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur as its new brand ambassador. According to the company, Kaur will endorse the brand's footwear, apparel, and accessories through multiple activities and campaigns throughout the year, under the partnership.

Abhishek Ganguly, Managing Director, PUMA (India and Southeast Asia), claimed, "The way she plays — bold and fierce cricket – makes her a fit for our brand which embodies the same qualities and ethos. As a brand, PUMA has said it always stayed ahead of the times and is committed to supporting, celebrating, and empowering women in sports. This association is a big step in that direction. Kaur is a sporting icon and, with this partnership, we hope to inspire younger generations and help Indian women's cricket reach greater heights,"

The new Brand Ambassador of Puma

The brand posted a teaser video of a player and quizzed the audience to guess PUMA's next brand ambassador on Saturday. The company stated, "From the 5000 responses collected over 36 hours, 80% of the consumers had assumed the brand ambassador to be a male cricketer".

This was followed by the brand releasing a video that revealed Kaur as its new brand ambassador, thereby breaking moulds, busting archetypes, and creating a strong culture for women in cricket and overall sport.

Kaur said, "Not many know that I hit my first ODI century in 2013 in a pair of PUMA boots that I received as a token of support in my early years from the brand". Harmanpreet also told that she has been roped with PUMA for a decade. She is thrilled to join the biggest sports brand in the country with the star-studded roster''.

The roster includes names such as Virat Kohli, Sunil Chhetri, Mary Kom, Neymar Jr, Harleen Deol, and many more greats.

The 33-year-old batter from Punjab has the record for the fourth fastest women's T20I hundred in the world. She is also India's only centurion in the women's T20I. Harmanpreet has scored six international hundreds so far in her career, five of them came into the ODIs. She has also been honored with the Arjuna Award in 2017.

Centuries in T20Is are a treat to watch. Over the years, some incredible cricketing talents across the globe have set the bar high with their records. This article celebrates the art of power-hitting by logging the top 10 fastest centuries in Women's cricket.

Check out the Top 10s that left the fans and bowlers amazed in the competitive T20 format.

10. Hayley Matthews | (53 balls) vs Australia, 2023

The West Indies captain Hayley Matthews scored a crucial ton in their record-breaking run chase against Australia. She is known for excelling in the T20 format. They succeeded in defeating Australia on their home soil with the help of this knock in 2023.

Matthews has scored 2 centuries in T20Is so far. It took her only 53 balls for this, which makes it one of the fastest centuries in Women's cricket.

9. Meg Lanning | (53 balls) vs Ireland, 2014

Meg Lanning, the former Australian captain, holds the ninth position with her timeless century against Ireland in the Women's T20 World Cup, 2014. Lanning is one of the finest cricketers of all time, with seven World Cup titles under her name.

She scored 125 runs off 65 balls in this innings and was also the top run-scorer of the tournament.

Also Read: Most matches as captain in Women's T20I history: Harmanpreet Kaur tops the chart

8. Rubina Chhetry | (52 balls) vs Maldives, 2024

The former captain of the Nepal Women's Team, Rubina Chhetry, scored a record-breaking century in a match of ACC Women's Premier Cup against Maldives in 2024. She hit 10 fours and 5 sixes, leading the team to a total of 227 runs on the board. 

Her century off 52 balls paved the way to achieve one of the highest totals of Women's T20Is by an Asian country.

7. Danni Wyatt-Hodge | (52 balls) vs India, 2018

The attacking opener of England Women's Team, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, scored a magnificent century from just 52 balls against India in 2018. She’s widely known for her composed batting style in this format, providing a headstart to the team.

Wyatt helped England reach the milestone of one of the highest successful run chases in the history of Women's T20Is with her vital knock.

Also Read: The Greatest T20I Records That Will Stand the Test of Time

6. Meg Lanning | (51 balls) vs England, 2019

This is yet another ton from the Australian legend that became one of the fastest centuries in women's cricket, making her appear on the list twice. She took 53 balls to score the century, and was also unbeaten in the inning.

Lanning also holds the record for most centuries in Women's ODIs, which says a lot about her exceptional abilities.

5. Fargana Hoque | (51 balls) vs Maldives, 2019

Fargana Hoque, the right-handed Bangladeshi batter scored her maiden T20 century off 51 balls in 2019, which was fastest in a lot. With this remarkable century against Maldives, Hoque became the second woman from Bangladesh to score a T20 century.

4. Harmanpreet Kaur | (49 balls) vs New Zealand, 2018

Harmanpreet Kaur, the current Indian captain, secured the fourth position with her maiden T20 century in 2018. She scored this off just 49 balls during the ICC Women's World T20, against New Zealand.

Kaur showcased some fearless cricketing class and became the first Indian woman to score a century in a T20 International.

Read Also: Harmanpreet Kaur in T20 Women's World Cup: A Name for Milestones and Challenges

3. Tamsin Beaumont | (47 balls) vs South Africa, 2018

Tamsin Beaumont, the right-handed English batter, scored an impressive century off 47 balls against South Africa in 2018. She is known for her ability to score runs in all cricketing formats and noteworthy fielding.

2. Alyssa Healy | (46 balls) vs Sri Lanka, 2019

The current Australian captain, Alyssa Healy, scored her maiden T20 century off 46 balls against Sri Lanka in 2019. In this inning, she played a spectacular knock of 148* from 61 balls, which is the highest individual score in women's T20Is by an Australian. 

This performance brings her to the second position in the table of fastest centuries in Women's cricket of all time.

1. Deandra Dottin | (38 balls) vs South Africa, 2010

As we come down to the final name, Deandra Dottin’s extraordinary century off 38 balls is the long-standing record that has remained in the no. 1 rank for over a decade. This West Indies all-rounder scored her groundbreaking maiden century against South Africa in 2010.

Dottin is the first woman to score a century in the history of T20 cricket. She is widely recognised for her explosive batting power and has set an unforgettable benchmark worldwide. 

Also Read: Top Female Cricketers Who Are Making History

The seventeenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin on Friday, March 22 with a huge clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai. IPL has seen several world-class players over the years. The best players in the world, like Kohli, Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Warner, have scored plenty of runs in the league. So it's time we have a look at the players with the most runs in IPL history.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Captaincy Record and Stats in IPL

Top Five Players with Most Runs in IPL History

Virat Kohli holds the record for scoring the most runs in IPL. He is in the top of this list with 7263 runs in 237 matches, including 7 centuries and 50 fifties. Virat has scored those runs at an average of 37.24 and a strike rate of 130.02. His best season came in 2016 when he made an incredible 973 runs in a single season, including 4 hundreds which is still the highest individual runs in a single season.

Shikhar Dhawan is second on the list in terms of scoring the most runs in IPL. He has been consistent in the IPL, crossing the 400-run mark each season from 2016 to 2022. Dhawan has scored 6617 runs in 217 games at an average of 35.38, including 2 centuries and 50 half-centuries. His best season came in the 2020 season when he scored 618 runs with 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries. 

The former captain of Hyderabad, David Warner, is the top run-getter among the foreign players and comes third overall. He has made 6397 runs in 176 matches at an average of 41.53 and a strike rate of 139.91. He has scored 4 centuries and 61 half-centuries in the Indian cash-rich league. His best season came in 2016 when he made 848 runs with 9 fifties.

The Hitman, Rohit Sharma is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the IPL. He has led Mumbai Indians to five titles so far. Rohit began his IPL career with Deccan in 2008 before joining Mumbai in 2011. In 243 matches, Rohit Sharma has scored 6211 runs at an average of 29.57, with 1 hundred and 42 half-centuries. The Hitman is the 2nd highest six-hitter in IPL with 256 sixes. 

Mr. IPL, Suresh Raina has been a key member for Chennai in the league. He has been always consistent for CSK and led the team to 4 titles and 5 runner-up titles. In 205 matches, Raina has scored 5528 runs at a fantastic strike rate of 136.76, with 1 hundred and 39 fifties. Raina retired from international cricket in 2020 and from IPL in 2022.

KL Rahul just broke a major record by becoming the batter who took fewest innings to reach 5000 IPL runs. He hit this milestone during a game between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Rahul played an outstanding innings, scoring an unbeaten half-century, which helped his team secure an important sixth win of the season. Notably, he reached the 5000-run mark in just 130 innings, beating David Warner’s previous record.

Also Read: Most Fifty Plus Scores in IPL by an Opener Since Gill's Debut

Now, let’s take a moment to check out the top five players who took fewest innings to reach 5000 IPL runs.

Fewest Innings to Reach 5000 IPL Runs

5. Shikhar Dhawan | 168

Shikhar Dhawan rounds out the top five on this list, reaching 5,000 IPL runs in his 168th inning. He achieved the milestone in 2020 while playing for DC, scoring an unbeaten 106 off 61 balls against his former team, Punjab Kings in Dubai.

With his flair, calmness under pressure, and consistent batting, Dhawan has made a name as one of the finest players in white-ball cricket. Dhawan retired with 6,769 runs in 222 matches at 35.26 and a strike rate of 127.14, including two centuries and 51 fifties.

4. AB de Villiers | 161

Former South Africa and RCB star AB de Villiers ranks fourth on the list, having reached 5,000 IPL runs in 161 innings. He achieved the milestone in 2021 against Delhi Capitals, scoring an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls in Ahmedabad.

de Villiers is considered a modern legend in cricket. His legacy as one of the most impactful players in the league is solidified by his remarkable and consistent performances. Across 184 matches, de Villiers amassed 5,162 runs at a strike rate of 151.69 and an average of 39.71, including three centuries and 40 half-centuries.

3. Virat Kohli | 157

Virat Kohli, the highest run-scorer in IPL history, ranks third on the list of fastest to 5,000 runs, reaching the milestone in 157 innings. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he achieved the feat in 2019 home game against Mumbai Indians, scoring 46 off 32 balls.

Kohli’s hunger for runs is something that sets him apart, and his consistent performance makes him a real legend in this league. Overall, Kohli has amassed 8,326 runs in 260 matches at an average of 39.27, including eight centuries and 59 half-centuries.

2. David Warner | 135

Before Rahul, David Warner held the title for the fewest innings to reach 5000 IPL runs for nearly five years, reaching the milestone in 135 innings. He achieved the milestone in 2020, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring an unbeaten 47 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi.

Known for being one of the best players in the league, Warner led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to a championship in 2016. He made scoring big runs look effortless, converting his explosive starts into match-winning performances.

Despite going unsold in the recent auction, Warner boasts an impressive IPL record of 6,565 runs in 184 matches at 40.52, striking at 139.77 alongside 62 fifties and four centuries.

Also Read: Most Runs in IPL History: Virat Kohli leading the charts

1. KL Rahul | 130

As mentioned, KL Rahul is now the player who took fewest innings to reach 5,000 IPL runs, achieving the milestone in 130 innings.

He surpassed David Warner, who took 135 innings, to claim the top spot. Rahul also moved past Chris Gayle (4,965) and Robin Uthappa (4,952) on the all-time run-scorers list. Overall, he now owns 5,006 runs across 139 matches at 46.35 (SR: 135.70).

The cricketer from Karnataka added this record to his name while playing for Delhi Capitals after an impressive journey that started back with Kings XI Punjab in 2018. Since then, he has shown incredible consistency and has proven to be a match-winner time and again. His special 5000-run achievement came during a match against Lucknow Super Giants, reinforcing his nickname of “Mr. Consistent.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Central Contract for the 2025-26 season on Monday, 21st April 2025. 7 new players were added to the contract, while players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan returned to the list after missing out last time.

Last year, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were left out of the BCCI central contract after opting out of the domestic games for their respective state teams. BCCI's focus on domestic cricket left them out of the central contract despite being part of the Indian team set up a few months ago.

But, this time, both the Indian batters were added to the contract after Iyer won everything in the domestic cricket last season, along with lifting the IPL 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders. Ishan Kishan also played through the entire domestic season and has been rewarded with the contract too. 

Read Also | "Mere Sath Kyun?.:" Ishan Kishan breaks silence on Team India exit and Central Contract termination

Talking points from the BCCI Central Contract 2025

Rohit and Kohli stay in Grade A+ 

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remained in the Grade A+ category despite retiring from the T20I format. Rohit and Virat had announced their retirement from the shortest format of the game after lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. 

Ravindra Jadeja is another name who has been listed in the A+ category despite retiring from the T20Is after the World Cup victory.

Bumrah is the only all-format player in A+

With Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja retiring from the shortest format of the game, Jasprit Bumrah remains the only all-format player to be in the A+ category of the BCC Central Contract 2025.

Pant is promoted to the Grade A category

Rishabh Pant received a promotion to the A category after being in the B category last year. Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami are the other names in the A category, who were already there in last year's contract. 

Ravi Ashwin has been left out of the contract since he retired from international cricket.

Iyer listed in grade B; Kishan in grade C

Shreyas Iyer, who was left out of the contract last year, has been included in the Grade B, while Ishan Kishan has been listed in the Grade C. 

Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the other names in Grade B, who were there last time as well. 

New 7 names in Grade C

7 new players have been added to the BCCI Central Contract 2025. All of these players found themselves in Grade C. 

Dhruv Jurel, Sarafraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep are the players who received the contract for their performances in the last season. 

Not to be confused, Akash Deep earlier had a fast bowling contract and this year received the central contract after doing well in the Test format. 

Shardul Thakur, Jitesh Sharma, KS Bharath, Avesh Khan, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa have been left out of the contract this year.

Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa were all part of the fast bowling contract last season. 

BCCI Central Contract 2025

BCCI announces annual player retainership 2024-25 - Team India (Senior Men) 💙🤝#Bcci #IndianCricket #Viratkohli #RohitSharma #jaspritbumrah #Shreyasiyer #KlRahul #HardikPandya #Ipl2025 pic.twitter.com/LSmlg06QOS

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 21, 2025

Delhi Capitals registered a spectacular win in the Super Over against Rajasthan Royals in the 32nd match of IPL 2025 played at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. However, arguing with the umpire during the match has cost Delhi's bowling coach Munaf Patel heavily.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has found Munaf Patel guilty for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct and has fined him. Along with this, he has also been given a demerit point.

Also Read: BCCI sacks four staff members after defeat in Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia

There was a heated argument with the fourth umpire

During the match, Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel was seen having a heated argument with the fourth umpire. This incident happened near the boundary, where Munaf was clearly angry with the umpire for not allowing him to convey the message on the field and they had an altercation over this. The video of this incident is also going viral on social media.

Munaf Patel had a heated exchange with the 4th umpire during the #DCvRR match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi after the umpire denied sending a player to enter the ground to convey his message.#DCvsRR #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/hHv0tNAUvd

— Gaurav Chaudhary (@gkctweets) April 16, 2025

Fined 25% of his match fee

The BCCI has fined Munaf Patel 25% of his match fee. Along with this, he has also given a demerit point for violating the IPL Code of Conduct. Munaf has admitted a Level 1 offense under Article 2.20, which relates to conduct contrary to the spirit of the game. He has also accepted the punishment given by the match referee.

This is not the first disciplinary issue for Delhi this season. Captain Axar Patel was fined Rs 12 lakh after their sixth game - their only loss so far - against Mumbai Indians due to a slow over-rate.

Patel's contribution as bowling coach

Despite the controversy, Munaf Patel's contribution as bowling coach has been remarkable, as he is credited with Delhi's excellent bowling efforts. This performance played a vital role in turning the tables during the match.

Also Read: IPL 2025 facts: KKR has won every game when this player has played for them

Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match for his crucial spell. He took 1 wicket for 36 runs in his 4 overs, with the 20th over being particularly crucial in taking the match to the Super Over.

With the win, Delhi Capitals reclaimed the top spot in the IPL 2025 points table. With five wins from six matches, they became the first team to reach 10 points this season.