IPL Bulletin on March 20: LSG Receive Speedster Boost to Captains Meet & Opening Ceremony Performers Revealed

With the season 18 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) fast approaching, there has been lot of development around the biggest franchise cricket tournament in the world, from team news to previews and the grand opening of the the campaign.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) may have received a slight boost in terms of their young speedsters availability, while captains are set to meet today in Mumbai, where BCCI is likely to discuss the lifting of saliva ban in the upcoming season of IPL.

Plus, the BCCI also revealed the performers list for the IPL season opener in Kolkata as Wednesday (March 19) saw several teams hold press meets before their tournament openers, discussing about what's ahead and how the league has help shape their career. Here is a look at the latest new around the IPL:

Mayank Yadav likely to play near full season

Lucknow Super Giants may have received a boost after reports emerged that speedster Mayank Yadav, who was a major injury concern for the campaign, is likely to be available for near full season.

According to a report in MyKhel, the young pacer, who is set to miss the initial part of the season, is looking in great shape to make his comeback in T20 cricket with a few sessions of spot bowling at 50 to 60 per cent effort.

BCCI contemplates lifting saliva ban in IPL

In a move that could have global impact, the BCCI is considering lifting the ban on applying saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League beginning March 22. The proposal has been discussed at length internally within the BCCI and will be floated to captains of all IPL teams in a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the age-old practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent. The IPL too included the ICC ban in its playing conditions in the aftermath of the pandemic but its guidelines are outside the purview of the sport's governing body.

IPL Captains Meet in Mumbai today

The captains of all 10 teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 meet on Thursday, March 20, in Mumbai for the customary captains' meeting and photoshoot, which will take place at the BCCI headquarters, two days before the season opener in Kolkata.

Hawkeye likely to be used in DRS for Wide calls

The IPL is set to approve the use of Hawkeye and Ball Tracking in DRS for height wides and wides outside the off-stump. Until the previous season, Decision Review System was used for wide calls, but the third umpire made the judgement based on just the video evidence

MI announce captain for CSK clash

India's T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Mumbai Indians (MI) side in the franchise's opening clash of the 2025 campaign against fellow five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday (March 23) in the absence of regular skipper Hardik Pandya.

Hardik received a one-match ban after the team's last encounter in IPL 2024 against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for maintaining a slow over-rate. This was the third time in the league that the 31-year-old player had been penalised with a one-match ban and a fine of Rs. 30 lakh.

Nicholas Pooran looking forward to playing under Rishabh Pant at LSG

The West Indies wicketkeeper-batter, who has also led the Lucknow Super Giants earlier, remains confident in Rishabh Pant's abilities and believes their on-field collaboration will be key to the team's success, adding the whole team is backing their new skipper.

Pooran also confirmed in an exclusive chat with MyKhel that Pant and himself share an open line of communication and will work together whenever necessary, further emphasizing that the captain has the full team's support, including the international contingent.

Sunil Narine opens up on impact of IPL on his career

The former West Indies spinner admitted that IPL is the hardest franchise competition in the world, but told MyKhel that the tournament has impacted his game for the good, helping him develop his cricket.

The veteran is is set to take the field for the 14th season in the Indian Premier League, continuing his decade and a half journey with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Narine has gone through struggles during his evolution, and revealed willingness to perform well for the team has played a key part in his success.

IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony Performers Revealed

he star cast for the curtain-raiser event has already been finalized, with Bollywood diva Disha Patani set to entertain fans ahead of the opening match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Singer Shreya Ghosal and Global Superstar Karan Aujla will also perform at the venue, with ICC chairman Jay Shah in attendance alongside several other BCCI and IPL officials as well as celebrities from the cine land.