The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently held a meeting with the owners of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to discuss future plans, including the possibility of a mega-auction before IPL 2025. Although some franchise owners expressed opposition to the idea of a mega-auction, it seems likely that the BCCI will go ahead with it. Under the proposed format, each franchise would only be allowed to retain between four and six players. Additionally, the Right to Match (RTM) card, which allows teams to retain a player by matching the highest bid made for them at the auction, might make a comeback.

Amidst this backdrop, a viral claim on social media has created a buzz among cricket fans. According to the claim, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have approached Suryakumar Yadav with an offer to captain the team in IPL 2025. Suryakumar has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad since 2018, and KKR is reportedly interested in acquiring him through a trade. This speculation has led to numerous social media posts and discussions about the possibility of Suryakumar switching teams and taking over the captaincy at KKR.

However, the reality of such a move is more complex. Even if KKR were considering replacing their current captain, Shreyas Iyer, with a new leader, the rules around the mega-auction make it impossible for them to sign Suryakumar Yadav before IPL 2025 through a trade. According to IPL regulations, there is no trading window prior to a mega-auction. Therefore, Suryakumar would need to be released by MI and enter the auction pool. If he enters the mega-auction, multiple franchises are likely to compete fiercely for his signature, making his move to KKR uncertain.

While it remains possible for Suryakumar Yadav to rejoin KKR, where he played earlier in his career, his acquisition would depend on KKR making the highest bid during the auction. No guarantees can be made in an auction environment, given the high demand for top-tier players like Suryakumar, who is also the current T20I captain of Team India.

A more straightforward route for KKR to bring Suryakumar Yadav on board would be through a trade, but this option would only become available after the IPL 2025 mega-auction. A trading window is expected to open before IPL 2026, which would allow KKR to negotiate a trade with MI or whichever team secures Suryakumar during the mega-auction. Until then, the speculation remains just that speculation, with no concrete basis for any immediate change in team rosters.

Rishabh Pant's exceptional performance during India's previous tour of Australia has left a lasting impression on batting legend Matthew Hayden. The former Australian opener believes that Pant's "muscle memory and thirst for victory" will make him a crucial player for the Indian team when they embark on their upcoming five-Test series in Australia later this year.
The highly-anticipated Test series is set to commence on November 22 in Perth, and Pant's presence in the Indian lineup is expected to be a significant factor in their quest for success.

The inaugural edition of the Delhi Premier League T20 2024 (DPL T20 2024) is set to kick off on August 17.

Six teams - Purani Dilli 6, South Delhi Superstars, East Delhi Riders, Central Delhi Kings, North Delhi Strikers, West Delhi Lions - will compete in this T20 cricket extravaganza at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The domestic T20 league of Delhi will feature some of the biggest names from Indian cricket. The national capital has given some big talents to the national team, both now and in the past. Featuring the likes of Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma, the franchise tournament would hope to kickstart in style in its inaugural season.

When the squad for the revamped Duleep Trophy was announced on Wednesday, it was looked at as a mixed bag of selections. Veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin were not included, a decision that was on expected lines, but the likes of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad were the hot picks of their respective star-studded squads. The Duleep Trophy would be played from September 5 with India A, B, C and D squads battling for the trophy over a period of 17 days, all six matches being played in Anantpur.

India's Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has a chat with Rishabh Pant during the Sri Lanka series.
The format has been tweaked keeping in mind the importance of giving some players much-needed practice ahead of a long Test season ahead, comprising 10 matches at home and Australia. The tournament becomes all the more crucial for Iyer and Rahul, who are still raw having last played a Test match in March. The responsibilities will multiple for Gill, Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who have been named captains of India A, D and C respectively. As for India B, Abhimanyu Easwaran will be leading a squad featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj and Pant.