All the world's cricketers walked into a bar. The LOLs, the chatter, and the occasional mini-brawls, they were endless. And the news cycle was never the same again! Welcome to ESPNcricinfo's Buzz, your go-to destination for all the bantz, the jousts, and little bit of eavesdropping from the social media playground and beyond.
October 2
Imagine answering your phone and having your favourite cricketers say hullo and have a chat? Since pandemic regulations prevent players from interacting with their fans face to face, Alyssa Healy and Delissa Kimmince take the time to call up and thank fans for attending their matches against New Zealand in Brisbane.
October 1
Who's the worst singer in the RCB squad?
Who sucks at pool volleyball and whose mike should be muted during karoake?
A fun game of pool volleyball and a karaoke night, the Royal Challengers embrace the bonding sessions on rest days with plenty of smiles and laughter.#PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/GJqPT4ckB0
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 30, 2020
RCB also have a mentorship programme, which pairs Navdeep Saini with Dale Steyn and makes us totally jealous.
Bold Diaries: RCB Mentorship Programme
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 1, 2020
Every RCB cricketer is paired with a buddy from the team, giving each other an opportunity to learn, mentor and share. Mike Hesson explains this unique team bonding initiative. #PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/AwseoA94il
Life in a bubble
We'd totally be open to playing international cricket during a pandemic if it means someone can give us decent haircuts.
Masterclass with Zaheer Khan
Twenty-one-year-old fast bowler Digvijay Deshmukh hasn't made his IPL debut yet but he's still getting plenty out of his time with the Mumbai Indians.
Don't hold me back
Andre Russell looks unstoppable.
The save
Ajinkya Rahane is on point, eh?
September 30
Life in the bio-bubble ain't easy, especially when your team-mates (but not your state mates) keep nicking your food supplies.
This is unbelievable scenes..... especially as the quote of the tour is "anything for the Vics". Remarkable @MollyStrano https://t.co/dNBuQ2Y3YU
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) September 30, 2020
Graeme Swann is the new Shikhar Dhawan
Any IPL franchise looking for a hard-hitting opener?
Thanks to @Oakley for providing the Shikhar Dhawan shades for tonight's #selectdugout @StarSportsIndia my left handed stroke play is sure to improve from this point onwards! pic.twitter.com/QbNZnFsOv6
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) September 29, 2020
The restriction
Travel app Ixigo uses Nicholas Pooran's amazing catch against the Rajasthan Royals to make a point about Indian parents.
Abba nahi maanenge #Pooran #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/pAcxRblIp2
— ixigo (@ixigo) September 28, 2020
September 29
So many feels for the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab
The Royal Challengers Bangalore-Mumbai Indians match was the second of two IPL thrillers in two days - 402 runs were scored before the game went into a Super Over, where RCB prevailed. How were Mumbai feeling at the end of the game? There were some who could empathise.
Feel ya, @mipaltan #RCBvMI pic.twitter.com/3AdnM44cOD
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) September 28, 2020
Well at least I'm on my couch #IPL2020
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) September 28, 2020
The fashionistas
New Zealand's Jess Watkin and Hayley Jensen on what well-dressed cricketers wear in a bio-bubble.
Brendon McCullum protests colossal waste of good cake
Baz makes a very valid point and we'll protest all this cake smashing and smearing too if anyone ever gets us one.
Dressing-room joy for Tewatia and his Rajasthan Royals team-mates
The Royals bask in the glow of their thrilling win over the Kings XI Punjab. Captain Steven Smith congratulates Rahul Tewatia and Sanju Samson fos their innings; Tewatia acknowledges the challenge the bowlers faced at the death and awards the team turban to Samson, who then passes it to medium-pacer Ankit Rajpoot.
And Tewatia on what his grandmother told him before his innings.
Jonty is impressed
Jonty Rhodes is a fan of Nicholas Pooran's gravity-defying save at the boundary.
I promise I wasnt fishing for compliments @sachin_rt that really was the most spectacular piece of fielding I have seen; anywhere!! @lionsdenkxip will keep on entertaining #IPL2020 #saddapunjab https://t.co/sMLHk2eHSb
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) September 28, 2020
September 28
Rahul Tewatia's rollercoaster innings in the Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab match last night had us all at the edge of our seats. Yuvraj Singh's nails were bitten down to the quick too, but for a slightly different reason.
Mr @rahultewatia02 na bhai na thanks for missing one ball ! What a game congratulations to rr for a spectacular win !!! #RRvKXIP @mayankcricket great knock @IamSanjuSamson brilliant !
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) September 27, 2020
Ponting's post-match pep talk for the Delhi Capitals
Ricky Ponting's post-match debrief is the reality show we need right now.
Yuvi's reliving past glories
The rest of the world may be watching the IPL, but Yuvraj Singh is throwing back to some special moments and dishing out tongue-in-cheek compliments to former team-mates.
Well, no, he's also watching the IPL, but with a keen eye for brand placement
Nice bat mr gill who's bat is that?
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) September 27, 2020
Missed all the chatter last week? Catch up here