'Perfect Moment': Bhuvneshwar Kumar Salutes RCB Fans After First-Ever IPL Win
Bhuvneshwar Kumar dedicated Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden title victory on Tuesday, June 3, to the franchise's loyal supporters, who never gave up on them despite years of heartbreak in the Indian Premier League. The experienced RCB seamer saluted the team's emotional fanbase that kept filling the stands and sent prayers for the team's success.
Bhuvneshwar also made a point to remember former RCB stars, including legends AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, for their contributions.
'It means a lot. Everyone had been waiting for this moment for 17 years. With such a massive fanbase and so many prayers behind us, it's a perfect moment for us, for all the former RCB players, and everyone who's been a part of this journey," said the veteran quickly in a post-match interaction with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In a video posted by the franchise, Bhuvneshwar hailed the fans for acting as a motivation to end the painstaking 18-year trophy drought.
Released by his former franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bhuvneshwar saw uncertainty ahead of him as his disappointing performances in IPL 2024 pulled the Indian seamer's stocks drastically. But his fortunes changed at the pre-season auction where RCB showed faith in the ageing IPL great with a bid of 10.75 crores.
Known for his new-ball swing and death-overs expertise, Bhuvneshwar emerged as a dark horse in RCB's attack, taking 17 wickets in 14 matches and forming a great bowling duo with spearhead Josh Hazlewood. While Hazlewood got the accolades for picking 22 scalps in RCB's inspiring run, Bhuvneshwar once again played an underrated role, including in the final, where he took two crucial wickets of Punjab Kings batters Nahel Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis.
The twin strikes curtailed the wings of a power-packed PBKS line-up that fell six runs short of ultimate glory after RCB had posted an imposing 190/9 in the high-pressure finale. Bhuvneshwar had played a similar role in Qualifier 1 versus the same opponent, dismissing in-form opener Prabhsimran Singh early to dismantle PBKS' plans. The 2016 and 2017 Purple Cap winner has a career IPL tally of 190 wickets to his name with an economy rate of only 7.69.
First Published:
June 05, 2025, 23:58 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
16 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola's applications were not genuine: AIFF
A day after its top official claimed that World Cup-winning Spanish great Xavi Hernandez was among the applicants for India football coach's position, the All India Football Federation said that the e-mail received in his name was found to be "not genuine" and three others have been short-listed for the job. The AIFF did not reveal the names in the pruned list but it is widely believed that Khalid Jamil, currently the head coach of Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC, is the front-runner for the post left vacant by Spaniard Manolo Marquez. "The AIFF received an e-mail furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the e-mail applications were not genuine," AIFF stated in a media release. One of its officials, on conditions of anonymity, had stated on Friday that the application of Xavi could not be processed as the AIFF did not have resources to hire his services. The IM Vijayan-headed Technical Committee, it is learnt, has also kept Englishman Stephen Constantine, who has previously coached India, and Slovakia's Stefan Tarkovic in the short-list. Constantine has coached the Indian team in two phases earlier, while Tarkovic is the most decorated among the shortlisted candidates having managed Slovakia during the 2020 Euro Championship, where his team beat a fancied Poland which had Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski in its ranks. "Following comprehensive discussions and a rigorous selection process, 10 candidates were selected for the committee to review, following which, the TC shortlisted three," the release also stated. "Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the short-listed pool for final consideration," former India skipper Vijayan was quoted as saying in the release. "Other prominent applicants, many of whom are highly qualified international coaches, will be taken into account for long-term strategic roles in the future," he added. National Team Director Subrata Paul, also a former India skipper, spoke about preference being given to those with some understanding of Indian football. "It is a very important moment for Indian football, and we are committed to appointing a coach who not only brings technical expertise but also understands the unique style, culture, and dynamics of Indian and Asian football. "We believe such a coach will be able to connect with our players quickly and effectively," Paul stated.
Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Chess World Cup: Humpy, Deshmukh draw Game 1 in final
Mumbai: Moments before Divya Deshmukh shook hands with Koneru Humpy, she sat pressing her eyes and covering her face with her left hand for a few seconds. Quite visibly and evidently, the 19-year-old wasn't too pleased about the end result of the opening game of the FIDE Women's World Cup all-India final in Batumi, Georgia on Saturday. Koneru Humpy. (HT) A draw isn't the worst outcome for the youngster playing with white, but Divya could look back with a sense of missed opportunity after she couldn't manage to press home the advantage from an aggressive opening. Instead, a draw after 41 moves ensued, which would give the seasoned Humpy a slight advantage going into Game 2 of the title clash on Sunday. The two-time World Rapid champion will play with white in the second classical game and press for a decisive result. Should the deadlock remain on Sunday, tie-breaks will have to be unlocked on Monday to determine the new World Cup champion – who, either way, will be an Indian. Divya had her chances to make a critical push towards that, and even Humpy, 38, admitted she came out of that contest having avoided a potentially tricky slope. Asked in the official post-match interview by FIDE if she felt she had overcome a very complicated situation, Humpy said, 'Ya, I agree', before highlighting the 'clearly better position for white'. Divya placed herself in that better position after a Queen's Gambit Accepted opening. 'I think she prepared for my game, which I played earlier. I just misplayed in the opening and she got into an advantage,' Humpy said. By the 12th move, the teen had gained a positional advantage, as was reflected in the evaluation bar. The key miss came on the 14th move, for which Divya took significant time and was even seen smiling a little while staring at the board. Instead of pressing the attack by developing her queen, Divya traded on b7 and then played It pulled her down on the evaluation bar and brought Humpy back on level terms. Both players then made little inaccuracies. Divya was also now battling time pressure, constantly looking at the clock as it came down to below 15 minutes. Time pressure can often lead to blunders but Divya did not let the clock unsettle her into making one. Humpy, who had plenty more time, remained good in defence. Both players could have agreed to a draw much earlier but carried on looking for any kind of opening. The position was fully balanced once Divya, whose body language remained more animated, came down to under five minutes on the clock. With the black secure and Humpy feeling 'out of danger' after a point, she sat composed. Soon, after another three-fold repetition, the players shook hands.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Curious About Rishabh Pant's Moon Boots? Here's What They Are And Why He Needs Them
Last Updated: Cricket shoes are lightweight, flexible, and feature spikes to provide traction on the pitch. They are designed for quick movements. Moon boots are rigid and heavy Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant is known for his fearless batting and fiery presence on the field. But off the field, he's showing the same fighting spirit—this time, against injury. After suffering a painful foot injury during the recent Manchester Test against England, Pant has turned heads not just for his resilience, but also for the unique medical shoe he's now wearing: a moon boot. On July 23, 2025, during Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, Pant was batting fluently on 37 off 48 balls when disaster struck. In an attempt to play a reverse sweep against pacer Chris Woakes, the ball slammed into his right foot. The impact caused immediate swelling and bleeding. Medical staff rushed in, and Pant was taken off the field via a medical cart, visibly in pain. In the days that followed, images of Pant wearing a bulky, futuristic-looking boot went viral. That was not a regular cricket shoe—it was a moonboot, a medical device often used to aid recovery from foot or ankle fractures. What Is A Moon Boot? This specially designed boot serves three critical purposes: Made with a hard plastic shell, thick padding, and Velcro straps, moon boots are sturdy yet surprisingly lightweight. Pant, diagnosed with a metatarsal fracture, has been advised by the BCCI medical team to wear one for a minimum of six weeks. How Much Does A Moon boot Cost? The price of a moon boot in India ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000 for standard models. However, top-end brands used in elite sports recovery—like Ossur or DJO Global—can go up to Rs 10,000 or more. As a centrally contracted player, Pant likely received a premium-grade boot tailored for his recovery needs. Moon boot vs Cricket Shoe: What's The Difference? Cricket shoes are lightweight, flexible, and feature spikes to provide traction on the pitch. They are designed for quick movements—running, wicket-keeping, or bowling. Moon boots, on the other hand, are rigid and heavy. They are not made for performance but for protection and healing. There are no spikes, and they restrict movement intentionally. Pant's Recovery Timeline According to a BCCI update on July 24, Pant has been advised six weeks of rest and physiotherapy. He will wear the moon boot throughout this period. If his recovery progresses well, light training could begin by September, with a potential full return to competitive cricket by October, when India is scheduled to host New Zealand for a Test series. For Pant, the moon boot is more than a recovery tool—it's a stepping stone towards yet another comeback. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
