
IPL 2025 preview: Jos Buttler, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone have point to prove
Whilst attention in England shifts to the beginning of the domestic red ball season, early Spring also signals the arrival of cricket’s most prestigious franchise tournament – the Indian Premier League.
Known as IPL, the tournament returns on Saturday for its 18th edition as reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket writer Dom Harris takes a look at some of the key talking points that will unfold over the next two months.

Champions Trophy news: England dumped out in Pakistan; Jos Buttler role in doubt
England’s woes in white-ball cricket continue to mount as an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore ended their Champions Trophy campaign with a game to spare.
After an opening-round defeat to Australia, England knew they had to win their two remaining games in order to qualify for the semi-finals but fell narrowly short in a nail-biting run chase, with Joe Root’s heroic century ultimately in vain.
Sports News Blitz cricket writer Dom Harris takes a look at the latest crisis for England.

Champions Trophy news: Can England recapture white-ball form and bid for unexpected glory?
The ninth installment of the ICC Champions Trophy is underway after an eight-year hiatus as Pakistan welcomes back a major international tournament for the first time since 1996.
It offers an important opportunity for England to rediscover a winning formula again in one-day cricket after a disappointing 18 months.
Sports News Blitz cricket writer Dom Harris takes a look at what to expect.

T20 World Cup news: Jos Buttler batters USA, then hails England’s ‘great options’
Jos Buttler feels England have got ‘great options’ ahead of the the T20 World Cup semi-finals in the West Indies and USA.