CRICKET POLL

Gujarat Titans have decided to rope in Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis as a temporary replacement for Jos Buttler in the playoffs of IPL 2025, should they get there. Buttler is available for three remaining league stage games - the last one at home against CSK on May 25 - before heading back the next day for England duty. Buttler is part of both squads for the white-ball series against West Indies at home, starting on May 29. Mendis arrives having never played in the IPL before, with a T20 strike rate of 137.43 in 167 innings. He joins for INR 75 Lakh.

In a frustrating development for the Lucknow Super Giants, who still cling on to slim hopes of playoffs qualification, their pace sensation Mayank Yadav, retained for INR 11 Crore before this season, will once again serve time on the sidelines with a back injury.

The fast bowler, who made a return from injury midway through the 2025 season, featured only in two fixtures, finishing with figures of 2-40 and 0-60 against MI and PBKS. LSG have decided to replace him with the tall and strapping quick from New Zealand - William O'Rourke, who comes in for a price of INR 3 crore.

Punjab Kings finally named a replacement for Lockie Ferguson, who suffered a hamstring injury more than a month ago in the defeat to SRH in Hyderabad. PBKS have roped in Kyle Jamieson to fill Ferguson's shoes for the rest of the season at a price of INR 2 Crore.

Jamieson has featured in the IPL before, first picked for a whopping INR 15 Crore by RCB in 2021 where he played in 9 games. He was then picked by CSK for INR 1 crore in 2023 but didn't get a game. He comes in with 94 scalps in 81 T20 innings.