Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 started with a mixed day as 4 matches got washed out in the rain. A few Indian stars made their comeback in the white-ball format to catch the attention of the selectors. Meanwhile, players like Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag, Tilak Verma and Abdul Samad scored runs for their respective teams to announce themselves on the national level.
Performers from the Day 1 | Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022
7 centurions on Day 1 | Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022
The Day 1 of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 saw seven tons. Priyank Panchal, the Gujarat captain scored 136 as they put up a huge score of 337/6 against Manipur. Riyan Parag scored his maiden List-A ton against Rajasthan. Parag scored 117 runs against a Rajasthan bowling lineup comprising Rahul Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad's dream form in domestic cricket continued as he scored another century for Maharashtra. Gaikwad remained not out on 124 while chasing 219 against Railways.
Ruturaj Gaikwad in action. Image: The Hindu
Another star performer from Day 1 with the bat was Aijnkya Rahane (59*) who guided Mumbai in a small chase (123) against Bengal. Rinku Singh also shone with the bat as the southpaw scored 82 to take UP to 242 in the first inning against Tripura. Harvik Desai looked good with the bat as well for his 68 at the top of the order for Saurashtra. Meantime, Negi's 80 helped Uttrakhand win a great match against Odisha. They were 27/4 within the first five overs of the chase. But, Negi's inning was the saviour for the North-Indian team.
Virat Singh showed his hitting abilities against a much weaker side in Sikkim. Virat scored 75 as Jharkhand put up 309/3 in the first inning. But it was Himachal Pradesh vs Hyderabad match which produced three centuries. K. Rohit Rayudu (156) and Tilak Verma (132) scored two tons for Hyderabad. On the other hand, A.R. Kumar's 103 and Prasant Chopra's 70 went in vain as HP lost by 17 runs in the VJD method.
Madhya Pradesh's Yash Dubey's 121 was not enough for them as Abdul Samad (66) and Abid Mushtaq's 42 off 19 balls took Jammu and Kashmir home at the end of the day.
Koitan, Ishant Sharma, Shreyas Gopal shine with the ball | Five-for for Rahul Shukla and Akash Singh
Bowlers did not have a great day on the first day of the Vijay Hazare trophy 2022 except for a few. Rahul Shukla of Jharkhand took 5/19 in 7 overs to dismiss Sikkim for just 116 runs. Akash Singh's 5/38 went in vain as Nagaland lost by 167 runs against Baroda.
But, it was Tanush Koitan of Mumbai who started the day in the best possible way for his team. Koitan troubled Bengal batters and picked up 4 wickets for 31 runs as Bengal was bundled out for just 121 runs. Ishant Sharma looked good after making his comeback in the white ball format after quite a long time. The Indian pacer took 3 wickets for 24 against Vidarbha.
However, Shreyas Gopal was perhaps the best all-rounder of the day with his 64 with the bat and 3/21 with the ball. Himangshu Bisht started the tournament on a great note as he took 4/26 against Odisha in a winning cause for Uttarakhand.
India A's squad for the tour of England: Easwaran named captain, Karun Nair makes a return
Abhimanyu Easwaran was named the captain of the India A team for the tour of England as the BCCI announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour starting from 30th May 2025.
Abhimanyu Easwaran was named the captain of the India A team for the tour of England as the BCCI announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour starting from 30th May 2025.
India A will play two first-class matches against the England Lions at Canterbury and Northampton. Then they will play a practice match against the senior Indian team to prepare them for the big series against England.
Karun Nair was rewarded for his excellent domestic form as he made a return to the India A side. His performance for the A side might decide whether he will be given a chance for the senior team or not.
Abishek Porel, who was named in the last India A's tour to Australia, has been replaced by Ishan Kishan in the side.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who will be busy in the Indian Premier League for the Gujarat Titans, will join the squad from the second match.
A sinking tale of playoffs: Can LSG make it to the top 4 in IPL 2025?
Currently in 7th position with 10 points, LGS's playoff hopes are indeed a sinking tale. Their struggle to build momentum left the fans with one BIG question; can LSG make it to the top 4 in IPL 2025?
After a promising start, Lucknow Super Giants' 2025 IPL campaign started to sink, leaving slim chances for playoff qualification.
Find out what went wrong and everyone's answer to the ultimate question: Can LSG make it to the top 4 in IPL 2025?
LSG in IPL 2025 so far
Nicholas Pooran during his 61 runs off 38 balls against GT in IPL 2025. Image | NDTV
LSG won 5 matches out of 11 played so far, with a poor net run rate of -0.469 and 10 points. They had a decent start to the tournament with players like Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Ravi Bishnoi and Digvesh Rathi stepping out for the team.
They struggled to build momentum later on in the tournament, which led them to just 1 victory in their last 5 matches.
Net Run Rate (NRR): -0.469, which is the worst among the top seven teams
What exactly went wrong?
Rishabh Pant after his dismissal in their crushing defeat by 37 runs against PBKS. Image | Facebook
The following factors significantly disrupted LSG's gameplay, which resulted in their miserable position for the playoffs:
Rishabh Pant's poor form: Captain Rishabh Pant is having a disappointing season with the bat, which has practically crushed the team's backbone. He managed to score only 128 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate below 100.
Inconsistent top-order: The opening pair, despite having good individual performances, haven't consistently fired together.
Middle-order Reliance: Players like Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad have shown brilliance in some matches, but they weren't enough to carry the team forward after their regular collapse of top order.
Bowling Inconsistencies: LSG's bowling attack has failed with their execution in matches, and was seen struggling to contain the batters in the death overs.
Poor Fielding: They dropped catches at crucial times in the game, which cost them heavily. Additionally, the players could have saved more runs with more on-field efforts.
Playoff scenario and hopes for a miraculous comeback
LSG after their disappointing defeat against MI by 54 runs in IPL. Image | Pinterest
LSG currently has a huge burden of net run rate, which can have a damaging impact even if they win their 3 remaining matches in IPL 2025. They can reach a maximum of 16 points to end the group stage.
In IPL, ending with 16 points would promise a place in the top 4, but the scenario for LSG is different this year. Additionally, they will also need other factors to be in their favour.
Factors and mathematical possibilities
The chances are slim, but here's what they need to consider for qualification:
Last 3 hurdles: They have 3 remaining matches to play with RCB (9th May), GT (14th May), and SRH (18th May).
Wins required: LSG must win all three matches with huge margins to make their NRR better.
Reliance on otherteams: They will need to depend on other teams to lose which will be beneficial for them in case of tie-breakers of same points. The team having a better NRR will eventually qualify.
Elimination Scenario: LSG will be eliminated from IPL 2025 playoff contention if they lose a single match. They will also lose their chances of being in the top-4 if rain washes away any of their matches.
IPL records - Batters with most 500+ runs seasons: Kohli breaks Warner's records
With his fourth consecutive fifty in the IPL 2025 in the RCB vs CSK match, Virat Kohli has now gone past 500 runs for 8th time in his career. Here are the players to have the IPL records of the most 500+ runs seasons.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a stage for batting brilliance, with a select group of players consistently amassing over 500 runs in multiple seasons. With this fourth consecutive fifty of the IPL 2025, Virat Kohli now leads the pack, followed by David Warner, KL Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan.
Here are all the batters having the IPL records of having the most 500+ runs season in IPL.
4. Shikhar Dhawan: 5 Seasons
Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian cricketer with five 500+ run seasons, has been a reliable run-getter for multiple franchises, notably Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Known for his crisp cover drives and steady starts, Dhawan’s 618 runs in 2019 reflect his ability to deliver under pressure.
Dhawan first crossed 500 runs in the 2102 season, playing for Delhi Capitals. That season, he scored 569 runs at a 40.64 batting average. Four seasons later, in 2016, Dhawan scored 501 runs while playing for SRH.
He then crossed the 500-run mark in three consecutive seasons in 2019, 2020 and 2021. All fo those runs came for Delhi Captials.
KL Rahul has notched up 500+ runs in six IPL seasons, showcasing elegance and consistency for his teams. Be it at the top of the order or in the middle overs, KL Rahul has always shown versatility to score at his will for his team.
His 670-run haul in 2020 underlines his prowess as a modern T20 great. From 2018 to 2022, Rahul went past the 500-run mark in five consecutive seasons. The first four seasons were for Punjab Kings while the 2022 season was while playing for LSG.
Rahul's last 500+ run season was in 2024, while playing for LSG. With already 371 runs this season, it looks like he will go past the 500-mark this season as well.
David Warner, with seven 500+ run seasons, is one of the greatest batters in IPL history. The former Australian opener’s aggressive style and knack for big scores have been pivotal for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in the past.
Warner’s three Orange Cap titles highlight his consistency, with his 2016 season (848 runs) being a standout.
From 2014 to 2020, he scored 500+ runs in six seasons, with only 2018 being a miss, when he did not play. In the 2023 season, he managed his 7th 500+ runs season with 516 runs for Delhi Capitals.
1. Virat Kohli: 8 Seasons
Like many other IPL records, Virat Kohli now also holds the record for the most 500+ runs season. He has now scored 500+ runs on 8 occasions, going past David Warner's record.
Kohli scored more than 500 runs in 2011 (557 runs), 2013 (634 runs), 2015 (505 runs), 2016 (973 runs), 2018 (530 runs), 2023 (639 runs), 2024 (741 runs) and 2025 (505 runs and counting).
Kohli's record 973 runs in the 2016 season is still the most runs scored in an IPL season.
Virat Kohli became the first-ever batter to score 400 plus runs in 11 different IPL seasons. Let's take a look at five batters who have scored most 400 plus runs in an IPL season.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which began in 2008, is presently in its 18th season. It is considered one of the hardest and most energizing T20 leagues in the world. Consistently scoring runs isn't a simple thing to do in the IPL, indeed for world-class batsmen. With plenty of world batters playing in the IPL, it's not simple to be among the best run scorers. However, a few players have stood the test of time and have reliably performed within the IPL.
On that note, let's take a look at five batters who have scored most 400 plus runs in an IPL season.
Former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma occupies the fourth spot on this list. Rohit, powered MI to five titles, is among four players with over 6,000 runs in the IPL. Rohit smashed 400 or more runs in seven different seasons - 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019. He also bolstered the now-defunct Deccan Chargers initially with his power-packed knocks.
4. David Warner | 9 Times
Like Dhawan, Australia's David Warner also has a knack for smashing the bowlers in the Powerplay. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer (6,565) in the IPL after Rohit Dhawan and Kohli. Warner also holds the record for slamming 400 plus runs in most IPL seasons among overseas players. The dashing left-handed batter attained this feat in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.
3. Shikhar Dhawan | 9 Times
Shikhar Dhawan remains one of the most prolific run-scorers in IPL history. He is one of only three players with over 6,700 IPL runs, the other being Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Notably, Dhawan has slammed 400 or more runs in nine different IPL seasons (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022).
2. Suresh Raina | 9 Times
Suresh Raina, who was once the backbone of Chennai Super Kings' batting line-up, scored 400 plus runs in nine different IPL seasons. Raina, also known as Mr. IPL, is still the highest run-scorer of CSK in the IPL.
Overall, the stylish left-hander owns 5,529 IPL runs with 40 fifty-plus scores. He scored 400 plus runs in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018.
Virat Kohli continued his record-breaking run in the IPL 2025 after continuing a good run of form during the clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The 36-year-old etched his name in the history books as he completed 400 runs in the ongoing tournament in a run that seen him make five-centuries in the season.
This is the third successive season in which Kohli has managed to cross the 400-run mark in a season, while the 11th time in his career, making him the first player to achieve the most 400 plus runs in an IPL season. Infact, no player before Kohli had even reached the milestone 10 times in their career.
Kohli is also the leading run-getter in IPL history and is nearing the 8500-run mark. He is the only player with 7000 and 8000 runs in the league's history. He also holds the record for the most centuries with eight tons.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time IPL Champions have not been able to perform the way it was expected from them in this year's IPL, which is why CSK is at the bottom of the points table, and this shows CSK's struggles in IPL 2025.
CSK's struggles in IPL 2025 leads them to the bottom of the points table in IPL 2025
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time IPL Champions known for their consistency and tactical moves which usually leads them to success, find themselves in an unfamiliar position this season. CSK is at the bottom of the points table with just 2 wins out of their 9 matches, marking their worst IPL season till date.
The main reasons of CSK’s struggles in IPL 2025 are a combination of poor auction strategy, some important players getting injured, very weak & out of form batting line-up, horrible fielding performances, and being unable to find a proper & effective playing 11 combination despite playing half of their matches in IPL 2025.
From the Auction Table only, CSK’s management started making mistakes by failing to grab impactful players who could fill the gaps in their squad.
Instead of investing in young and in-form players, the management made some confusing choices by buying mediocre players with poor form like Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar, especially with a few key players nearing the end of their careers like Ravichandran Ashwin.
Former CSK great, also known as “Mr. IPL”, Suresh Raina has publicly criticised CSK’s poor auction strategy by pointing out the missed opportunities to buy match-winning players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Faf Du Plessis, etc., due to a lack of funds.
While other franchises focused on acquiring young and dynamic talent, CSK appeared to rely heavily on their tried-and-tested players like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, etc., who are unable to perform in crucial situations for CSK in IPL 2025.
CSK’s management overlooked many promising domestic and overseas players who have been performing nicely in other T20 leagues, which resulted in a poor out-of-form bunch of players.
Some auction picks like Noor Ahmad and Khaleel Ahmed were great buys for CSK in IPL 2025, as these 2 players are performing really well and clinching wickets on a regular basis.
Batting Collapses in almost every match has been one of the reasons of CSK's struggles in IPL 2025
CSK’s batting has been one of the weakest in this season. Their top-order batsmen like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have failed to perform consistently, and batted with a very low strike-rate in power-play which leads the team one step backwards from the start of the game.
The middle-order batsmen like Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dubey, and Vijay Shankar have failed to capitalize in the middle overs, and batted with a slow strike rate, and poor shot selection, which made most of their chases or first innings totals look below par.
Even their reliable lower order batters or finishers like Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni haven't been able to rescue them as they are also out of form and being overburdened with responsibility. So, the lack of a proper finisher is glaring.
Some young and new batters of CSK like Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, and Dewald Brewis who got a chance to play from the previous 2-3 matches have performed nicely and played exceptionally well and showed potential that they can be the future stars of CSK.
After the recent loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, MS Dhoni highlighted the problems because of which CSK is continuously losing matches this season.
His words were, “In a tournament like this, if there are one or two areas to plug in the holes, then it's good, but when a majority of the players are not doing well, then you need to make changes. You can’t just keep going. We are just not putting enough runs on the board”, while addressing the post-match presentation.
(3) Poor Fielding and Catch Drops at Crucial Moment
CSK have dropped the most catches so far in IPL 2025
CSK’s fielding, which was a strength for them earlier, has been horrible this year. CSK has dropped 13-14 catches in IPL 2025 till now which is most by any team this season and after these catch drops of important players at crucial moments, all those players scored a good number of runs and lead their respective teams to a very good total or chased the runs made by CSK.
In a highly competitive league like the IPL, every run saved with a good fielding effort makes a difference and creates pressure on the opposition, but CSK has failed to do this in this IPL season, which is one of the reasons for CSK’s struggles in IPL 2025.
MS Dhoni’s wicket-keeping skills is the only thing which deserves appreciation when CSK is fielding. At the age of 43, Dhoni’s wicket-keeping is still lethal with lightning-fast stumping and very smooth ball receiving technique.
CSK’s bowling has also been very outstanding this season. Bowlers of CSK, like Khaleel Ahmed and Noor Ahmad, have taken crucial wickets continuously. They have been able to create chances with their effective bowling, but the fielders were not able to grab those chances and take advantage of them.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of IPL 2025 because of injury and Devon Conway have returned to New Zealand
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Captain of CSK, got injured and was ruled out of this IPL, which made the CSK batting line-up very weak and inexperienced. Devon Conway has to return to New Zealand because his father passed away.
After Gaikwad’s exclusion from the playing 11 because of an unfortunate injury, MS Dhoni has again become the Captain of CSK and Ayush Mhatre has been signed by the CSK management as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Poor Batting Performance and Horrible Display of Fielding shows CSK's struggles in IPL 2025
After losing 7 out of 9 matches, and with 5 games left, only CSK’s qualifying chances for IPL 2025 Play-offs are practically gone. Even MS Dhoni seems to be looking ahead to next season, as after their recent loss to Mumbai Indians, Dhoni highlighted the importance of getting a secured playing XI for the next year, while addressing the post-match presentation.
As the season progresses, one thing is clear: CSK's struggles in IPL 2025 serve as a reminder that even the most successful teams need to evolve and adapt to the current playing style to stay competitive.
If CSK wants to bounce back next season, they need figure out what went wrong in 2025 and correct those things as soon as possible. The auction errors, poor on-field execution, poor display of batting & fielding, and over-reliance on aging players have all contributed to a season they’ll want to forget.
The Chennai Super Kings have built a legacy over the years. But this year, that legacy has taken a hit and only a superb comeback in the next season of IPL can earn them their respect again which CSK deserves, and as we all know that CSK is also known as the Comeback Super Kings so every CSK fan will pray for their team’s strong comeback in the next season of IPL.
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