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The Burden of a ‘Like’: Social Media’s Vice-Like Grip on Virat Kohli

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Virat Kohli (PC: IPL/BCCI) If you do a Google search for “Virat Kohli like”, you will find over a hundred news articles – perhaps even a few hundred. And you realise how futile the whole thing is. The moot point is that Kohli had liked a post by someone. Frankly, who cares? Hey, stop – we do. Social media does. Idiotic social media does. And some have even gone so far as to suggest that Kohli is getting a divorce! Events like this tell you about the futility of social media and also show how you can’t live your life on it, come what may. Kohli is a prisoner of this, and to an extent, he is responsible as well. During the last controversy, he tried to offer a justification. Why, though? He can go ahead and like any post from anyone. He can post photos with anyone. As long as his family doesn’t have an issue with it, who on social media has any right to object? You sense that Kohli is trapped within the contours that his own larger-than-life persona has created. He can’t do the thin...
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SRH vs CSK: “We executed it well” – Eshan Malinga after three-wicket haul

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Eshan Malinga (PC: BCCI/IPL) Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Eshan Malinga delivered a match-winning spell against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 29 in his four overs to earn the Player of the Match award. Speaking during the post-match presentation, Malinga shared insights into his strategy, the conditions, and how he planned to deceive the CSK batters. Emphasising the team’s preparation, he said, “We had a good plan as a bowling team, and we understand the behaviour of the Hyderabad wicket. After 10 overs, the ball starts to reverse, and we executed it well.” After setting a challenging target of 195, SRH bowlers held their nerve to restrict CSK to 184/8, sealing a 10-run win in Hyderabad and registering their third victory of the season. While Malinga led the attack with three wickets, he was well supported by Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, and Sakib Hussain. When asked about his approach with the ball, Malinga highlighted his insti...
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IPL 2026: SRH Hold Their Nerve to Edge CSK by 10 Runs in Thriller

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SRH vs CSK (Image: IPL/BCCI) Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs after defending a total of 194 at their home ground. Here are the key highlights from the match. Abhishek’s Powerplay Carnage Stuns CSK Abhishek Sharma unleashed a breathtaking assault against Chennai Super Kings in the powerplay, making full use of the first six overs and tearing apart the bowling attack. The Sunrisers Hyderabad opener raced to the fastest half-century in franchise history, reaching the feat in just 15 balls. A brutal sequence of 4,4,4,6,6 off Matthew Short summed up his brilliance, as Abhishek looked in sublime touch throughout. He was eventually dismissed by Jamie Overton in the eighth over when he edged the ball and was caught behind by Sanju Samson. He scored 59 off 22 balls, striking at 268. Klaasen Holds Firm Amid Collapse Heinrich Klaasen anchored the innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad after Abhishek Sharma’s departure, standing tall as wickets fell around him. With Ish...
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SA-W vs IND-W: “We could not capitalise as a batting unit” – Smriti Mandhana after 1st T20I loss

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Smriti Mandhana (PC: BCCI Women/X) India Women put up 157/7 in 20 overs against South Africa Women on April 17 in the first of the five-match T20I series, but the Proteas chased it down comfortably with six wickets in hand in Durban. Reflecting on the performance during the post-match presentation, Smriti Mandhana admitted that while the team started well with the bat, they could not function as a unit. “We definitely started well with the bat. Shafali Verma really got going. We could not capitalise as a batting unit,” she said, pointing out that the early momentum was not converted into a bigger total. She also highlighted the team’s fighting spirit with the ball despite losing control at one stage. “Even though we lost our way in the bowling innings, we came back really well to take this match to the last over, speaks a lot about the players,” she added, emphasising the positives from the comeback effort. Looking ahead, she stressed that the team would take lessons from the ma...
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Gill Outshines Green as GT Seal Last-Over Win Against KKR

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Shubman Gill (PC-BCCI) Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) struggles continued as they remained winless, despite posting 180 after opting to bat first. Gujarat Titans (GT) chased it down in the final over, with Shubman Gill’s 86 (50 balls) leading the way to seal a five-wicket win. KKR Falter Early KKR’s troubles began with team selection, as Tim Seifert opened alongside Ajinkya Rahane – a move that misfired instantly. Rahane fell for a golden duck to Mohammed Siraj, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi followed soon after, leaving the innings in disarray. Kagiso Rabada removed Seifert at a crucial juncture, and by the end of the powerplay, KKR were three down. Forced into recovery mode, they lost momentum early. GT Bowlers Dominate GT’s bowlers operated with precision, striking regularly to deny KKR any partnerships. Rabada led the charge with three key wickets, while Siraj and Ashok Sharma chipped in with two each. Rashid Khan was carted around by Cameron Green, but with pressure building once...
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Air Shreyas… pure magic

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Shreyas Iyer pouched a blinder v MI. Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai  It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s Shreyas Iyer.  T20 cricket is raat gayi, baat gayi stuff. You watch it, enjoy it and forget it. Some actions transcend the stereotype and stay with you. Sheryas’ catch, assist actually, to dismiss Hardik Pandya produced the moment of magic in the Mumbai Indians versus Punjab Kings game at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The scoreboard read: Pandya c Bartlett b Jansen 14. Never mind. Neville Cardus deemed the scoreboard as an “ass” long ago.  Xavier Bartlett bowled a knuckleball to Pandya who slapped it towards long-on. It looked like he gave it enough power to clear the rope. Shreyas, though, sensed an opportunity. He started to run, dived back and was almost parallel to the ground when he caught the ball. He was in a limbo but still had the strength and the presence of mind to throw the ball back to Bartlett. Pandya was convinced and started to walk back to the pavilio...
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Singhs are king at Wankhede

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MI VS PBKS (PC- BCCI) In the end, Punjab Kings made short work of a victory target of 196. Arshdeep Singh set it up for them, and Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer did the rest. They won by 7 wickets with 21 balls to spare. MI suffered their fourth straight defeat and went deeper into the mire Bend it like Arshdeep Arshdeep came into this game with an economy rate of 10.5 and just two wickets over the first four matches in this IPL. At Wankhede Stadium, he found his swing. In fact, he moved the ball in the air and off the deck. His first over was a thing of beauty. Ryan Rickelton was a sitting duck. The first ball shaped away and beat the outside edge. A delivery later, the MI opener was beaten again by late swing. Arshdeep bowled fuller and beat the outside edge again. Rickelton was struggling to lay a bat to ball. In his next over, Arshdeep put the southpaw out of his misery to reach 100 IPL wickets. Off the next ball, he accounted for Suryakumar Yadav, moving it away from...
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