The much-anticipated IPL 2025 El Clasico between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will take place at MAC Stadium in Chennai. MS Dhoni, who has been with CSK since its inception, will be the focal point, with the team relying on its strong spin attack to exploit the pitch conditions. MI, without India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, will miss a key weapon in their bowling ranks. Dhoni is just 19 runs away from surpassing Suresh Raina’s record of 4687 runs to become CSK’s highest run-scorer in IPL history. (PC: The Hindu / PTI)  

In the second match of IPL 2025 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faced Rajasthan Royals (RR). RR's stand-in captain, Riyan Parag, won the toss and elected to bowl, aiming to exploit the flat pitch for a successful chase. SRH's explosive openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, started aggressively, reaching 24/0 in just 2 overs. Their powerful batting lineup, including Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, and Heinrich Klaasen, set a formidable total. RR's bowlers, notably Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma, struggled against SRH's dominance. In response, RR's Indian batting core, with Parag at the helm, faced the challenging task of chasing the steep target. SRH's pace duo, Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami, effectively contained RR's batsmen, leading SRH to a comprehensive victory. (PC: The Economic Times)

Indian race walker Priyanka Goswami has set a new national record in the women's 35km event at the Dudince Race Walking Meet in Slovakia. She completed the race in 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 53 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 2:57:54 set by Manju Rani at the 2023 National Open Race Walking Championships in Ranchi. Goswami's achievement adds to her impressive track record, which includes a silver medal in the 10,000m race walk at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she clocked 43:38.82, breaking a three-year-old national record. Her consistent performance continues to elevate India's presence in international race walking competitions. (PC: Twitter)

On March 23, 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI), the two most decorated IPL franchises, will battle at MA Chidambaram Stadium. CSK, bolstered by spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, aims to exploit Chepauk’s turn-friendly pitch. MI faces setbacks with captain Hardik Pandya suspended and Jasprit Bumrah injured. Suryakumar Yadav will lead in Pandya’s absence. Historically, MI struggles in season openers, last winning one in 2012. With passionate home support, CSK seeks a strong start, while MI hopes to break their opening-game jinx in this thrilling contest. The match starts at 7:30 PM IST.  

In the second match of IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 23 at 3:30 PM IST at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Historically, SRH leads with 11 wins out of 20 encounters against RR. In the 2024 season, SRH triumphed in both matches, including a narrow one-run victory. Notably, SRH set a record in 2024 by hitting 178 sixes, the most by any team in an IPL season. Fans can watch the live broadcast on Star Sports Network and stream it on the JioHotstar App. (PC: DNA India)    

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) commenced their IPL 2025 campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. Opting to bowl first, RCB's Josh Hazlewood struck early, dismissing Quinton de Kock. However, KKR's captain Ajinkya Rahane (56 off 31) and Sunil Narine (44 off 26) forged a rapid 103-run partnership. RCB's Krunal Pandya then shifted the momentum, claiming 3-29, restricting KKR to 174-8. In response, RCB openers Phil Salt (56 off 31) and Virat Kohli (59* off 36) established a 95-run stand, propelling the chase. Captain Rajat Patidar added a brisk 34, guiding RCB to 175-3 in 16.2 overs. Kohli's unbeaten half-century marked his 400th T20 match, earning him the Player of the Match accolade. (PC: Jagran Josh, ESPNcricinfo)

In the IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets. KKR, batting first, posted a total of 174 runs, with contributions from Ajinkya Rahane (56) and Andre Russell (40). RCB's bowlers, notably Krunal Pandya (3/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/22), restricted KKR effectively. In response, RCB chased down the target in 16.2 overs, propelled by half-centuries from Phil Salt and Virat Kohli. Kohli's innings was particularly significant, as he became the first player to surpass 1,000 runs against a single franchise in IPL history.

In the IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) set a target of 175 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After losing Quinton de Kock early, captain Ajinkya Rahane (56 off 31 balls) and Sunil Narine (44 off 26) forged a 103-run partnership, propelling KKR to 107/1 in 10 overs. However, RCB's bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya (3/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2 wickets), restricted KKR to 174/8, conceding only 67 runs in the final 10 overs. RCB's chase began positively, with openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt providing a solid start. The match marked a nostalgic rematch of the inaugural IPL 2008 opener between these franchises. Virat Kohli is nearing his half-century here against Kolkata Knight Riders. Royal Challengers Bengaluru need 60 runs in 54 balls. Kolkata Knight Riders gets another wicket as Devdutt Padikkal departed after scoring 10 runs. 

In the IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane led a blistering assault against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After the early dismissal of Quinton de Kock, Rahane partnered with Sunil Narine, propelling KKR to 107 runs in the first 10 overs. Rahane's half-century off 25 balls showcased his dominance, while Narine contributed a swift 44 off 26 balls. RCB's bowlers struggled, reminiscent of their 2008 opener against KKR when Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 158 set the tone. Fans expressed frustration over RCB's recurring bowling woes. Notably, RCB's key pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, was sidelined due to a minor injury, further impacting their performance. (PC, The Indian Express & Sporting News)

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) commenced with a vibrant opening ceremony at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, featuring performances by Shreya Ghoshal, Disha Patani, and Karan Aujla. Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), added star power by introducing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Virat Kohli to the audience. The inaugural match saw KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, facing RCB under new captain Rajat Patidar. This encounter marked the first time since 2008 that KKR and RCB opened the IPL season, rekindling memories of the league's inaugural match where Brendon McCullum's explosive 158* set the tone for IPL's success. Both teams have undergone significant changes, with new leadership aiming to set a positive tone for the season. Virat Kohli and Phil Salt are off to an aggressive start in their run chase. RCB need a modest 175 runs to win the match but have the threat of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy to deal with in the middle overs. (PC, Cricket Addictor & Smartprix)