IPL

Indian Premier League 2025: Line-up, Clubs, Betting Trends and Specialist Breakdown

Indian Premier League 2025: Line-up, Clubs, Betting Trends and Specialist Breakdown

The National Cricket Series 2025 is more than just a match league — it’s a celebration of bats in India. As an Indian T20 expert who has followed the IPL since its inception, I can confirm the 2025 league (the 18th IPL season) was one of the most thrilling versions. This post provides a thorough overview of IPL 2025, including the full timetable and structure, club adjustments, tournament features, and a dedicated spotlight on IPL stake strategies https://ipl-bet.in. Whether you’re curious about the IPL 2025 kickoff, the squads and latest guidelines, or exploring for odds advice on IPL fixtures, this specialist breakdown has you sorted.

IPL Season 2025 Timetable and Venues

The program of Cricket League 2025 was filled with constant matches and dual encounters on weekends. The series was originally slated to run until closing May weeks, but due to an unforeseen interval halt, the title match was moved to June 3, 2025. Despite the brief obstacle, coordinators guaranteed the full series was completed efficiently.

Essential moments in the Indian Premier League 2025 program:

  • Opening Match: March 22, 2025 – Riders vs Challengers at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. (Defending title-holders KKR launched at stadium, but Challengers spoiled the celebration with a success in the initial match.)
  • Knockouts: The last rounds were organized at fair arenas for fairness. Qualifier 1 and the Exit Play took place in Chandigarh venue, and Qualifier 2 was in finalist arena.
  • Championship Match: June 3, 2025 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Team at Gujarat Venue, Ahmedabad.

Throughout the edition, contests were hosted across 13 arenas in Nation, demonstrating the competition’s nationwide popularity. Each squad competed stadium events at their primary regional venue, and some teams adopted additional stadiums to connect with more followers. For example, RR staged a couple of encounters in Assam Ground, and Punjab Team played events at the fresh facility in Mohali extension. Delhi Capitals even arranged some stadium events in southern arena. The Cricket League truly covered the full width of the subcontinent – from the famous domestic venue in Maharashtra, and iconic arena in Bangalore to legendary Kolkata stadium in metro and Chennai ground in city, plus stunning stadiums like northern arena in the north.

Series Structure: The ten teams were grouped into two conceptual pools for planning, but all clubs ultimately competed 14 encounters each (facing every other franchise at least once, and a few clubs again). The top four clubs in the standings qualified to the knockouts. The last rounds structure stayed the same:

  • Qualifier 1: between the top two teams (victor goes straight to decider).
  • Removal Contest: between the 3rd and 4th standing clubs (loser is removed, victor goes).
  • Qualifier 2: between the fallen side and winning club (finalizes the other finalist).
  • Last Contest: between the victors of first final and Qualifier 2.

This arrangement rewards reliability (top two squads obtain two chances to qualify for the final) and delivers anticipation for followers and stakeholders alike, as the cutoff matches are heated all-or-nothing contests.

Clubs and Significant Roster Shifts in 2025

One of the most fascinating parts of Cricket League 2025 was the grand bidding and the considerable cricketer transfers before the league. Teams faced some major modifications, with clubs pouring on celebrity players to upgrade their clubs. Here’s a squad-based breakdown of the Cricket Series 2025 franchises and notable alterations, including appointed skippers and top picks:

  • Yellow Army: Four-time victors the squad brought back seasoned player Ravichandran Ashwin (brought in for ₹9.75 crore) and overseas multi-skilled player Sam Curran (₹2.4 crore) to bolster their roster. With the renowned MS Dhoni leaving after 2024, Ravindra Jadeja assumed as leader of CSK. The club centered on veterans and bowling arsenal, maintaining core players like Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad (a reliable hitter), and Deepak Chahar (who recovered from recovery to head the line-up). Chennai’s strategy was to mix seasoned Indian players with a few impactful global athletes, continuing aligned to their pattern of reliability.
  • Delhi Franchise: Delhi performed a big signing by acquiring KL Rahul for ₹14 crore. Rahul’s arrival was meant to fill the absence of Rishabh Pant (their previous leader and wicketkeeper). With Pant dropped into the bidding, Delhi bought Rahul as a veteran hitter and possible head. They also picked Proteas veteran Faf du Plessis at lowest bid (₹2 crore) to add guidance at the beginning and mentor developing talents. southpaw seamer T. Natarajan (₹10.75 crore) was another important signing to fortify Delhi’s end-game pace. These decisions marked a reset: DC constructed their batting around Rahul, Prithvi Shaw (if in performance, though Shaw was oddly unsigned at auction), and all-rounder Axar Patel, who was kept. Leadership for the squad in 2025 passed to KL Rahul, bringing his command experience from past clubs.
  • PBKS: Punjab went through a captaincy restructure, bringing Shreyas Iyer for a giant ₹26.75 crore to be their fresh head. Iyer had impressively headed Kolkata Knight Riders to the trophy in 2024, and the squad looked he could deliver that winning energy. the franchise also invested ₹18 crore in famous turner Yuzvendra Chahal to sharpen their attack. versatile player Marcus Stoinis (₹11 crore) and aggressive batter Glenn Maxwell (₹4.2 crore) were signed to strengthen the middle order. the franchise secured starter Shikhar Dhawan (one of IPL’s most regular strikers) and rising quick Arshdeep Singh (matched via RTM for ₹18 crore) to keep some consistency. With these moves, the squad created a dominant squad and indicated they were determined about closing their title drought.
  • LSG: the franchise finalized the highest deal of the auction – celebrity keeper Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore, making him the most valuable player in Indian Premier League history. Pant signed with the squad as the new head, succeeding KL Rahul. His aggressive performance and versatile stumping were regarded as appropriate for LSG’s plans. the side also recruited seasoned international player David Miller (₹7.5 crore) and Oz utility man Mitchell Marsh (₹3.4 crore) to add explosiveness (though Marsh’s health was a problem ahead of the league). They kept major global players like Nicholas Pooran and Mark Wood (although Wood’s readiness was scarce in prior seasons) and persisted with domestic cricketers like spinner Ravi Bishnoi. With Pant, Pooran, and Miller in the franchise, LSG had a formidable line-up on paper.
  • Mumbai Indians: Five-time winners the franchise persisted with their core of Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. They did, however, complete some significant acquisitions to refresh the roster. MI re-signed ace seamer Trent Boult (₹12.5 crore) to partner Bumrah, reviving a successful couple from 2020. They also acquired Kiwi cricketer Mitchell Santner (₹2 crore) to strengthen their rotation arsenal, adding range alongside Piyush Chawla (if kept or as a guide role). the franchise’s formula has always been to mix their famous foundation with strategic moves; in 2025 they concentrated on bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, rejoining from injury, was carefully returned into the edition (he missed the first couple of weeks but came back the squad in April). The presence of Boult, Bumrah, and Jofra Archer (although MI swapped Archer to Rajasthan for 2025) signified the squad’s bowling attack remained potent. On the scoring front, with Ishan Kishan switching to another squad, the franchise believed in upcoming talent Tilak Varma at the beginning, alongside Rohit and SKY.
  • Kolkata Knight Riders: The current cup holders Kolkata experienced notable changes. They surprisingly did not retain English hitter Jos Buttler, and he was signed by Titans. the team also gave up their championship skipper Shreyas Iyer to Punjab in the sale. To replace, Kolkata allocated majorly to keep Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore), marking they view him as a foundation for the long term. Venkatesh, a dynamic all-rounder, stayed with Kolkata and shouldered bigger burden. Kolkata also bought wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock (₹3.6 crore) to occupy the top spot left by Buttler and acquired seamer Anrich Nortje (₹6.5 crore) to fortify their pace stocks. With Shreyas moved, Nitish Rana (retained by KKR) or even Venkatesh Iyer might have been considered for head role. the franchise still had veteran members like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Lockie Ferguson (if held) to offer decisive performance. The big doubt was how KKR would adjust without Shreyas’s command and Buttler’s explosiveness, but the club stated confidence in their rebuilt franchise.
  • Royal Challengers Bangalore: the franchise, a team with a huge following, finally had their historic edition in 2025. They performed savvy moves in the auction, recruiting aggressive player Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore) to bring punch to the middle ranks and developing gloveman-batsman Jitesh Sharma (₹11 crore) as a end-game batsman. They also secured rising pace talent Rasikh Salam Dar – an untried Indian quick bought for ₹6 crore (the highest for an uncapped signing). These additions backed the stalwarts Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. (Maxwell was actually dropped and picked by Punjab, so Bangalore parted with him but covered the slot with Livingstone’s multi-skilled hitting.) RCB’s arsenal was fortified by reacquiring foreign seamer Josh Hazlewood (₹12.5 crore) and bringing in senior homegrown speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 crore) to support the bowling. Notably, Faf du Plessis, who skippered the franchise in 2022-24, was freed and signed by Delhi, so the team’s headship likely returned to Virat Kohli. The 2025 campaign proved iconic for the franchise – under Kohli’s guidance, they got rid of the “unfulfilled” tag and secured their first-ever championship after 18 years of struggles.
  • Pink Army: The team parted ways with some notable players, deciding not to keep Jos Buttler (who transferred to GT) and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (to PBKS). They instead spent in fast bowling and all-round talent. the team acquired rapid pacer Jofra Archer for ₹12.5 crore, trusting on his quickness despite prior injury setbacks (interestingly, Archer shifted from MI to RR, coming back to the club where he started in 2018). They also bought overseas cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga (₹5.25 crore) to partner with R Ashwin (if Ashwin was still with RR; actually Ashwin shifted to CSK, so Hasaranga filled the bowling slot). Sanju Samson persisted the skipper and the striking core, with backing from rising starter Yashasvi Jaiswal. RR looked to develop a balanced line-up with Samson’s leadership, hoping the new players would integrate quickly. They persisted to play some fixtures in local venue and carried a couple to city ground to reach audiences in the region.
  • Hyderabad Team: the squad saw a restructuring time in 2025. After a unsuccessful 2024, they dropped leader Aiden Markram and many others. At the bidding, the squad’s major buys included wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan (₹11.25 crore) to energize their batting start and long-time pacer Mohammed Shami (₹10 crore) to command the line-up. They also reacquired Harshal Patel (₹8 crore) to bolster the closing overs attack and signed leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (₹3.2 crore) for rotation options. Without Markram, SRH needed a latest commander; possibilities were Bhuvneshwar Kumar (if retained, although Bhuvi actually signed to RCB in the bidding) or perhaps a junior athlete like Abhishek Sharma. (In reality, SRH might have selected someone like Mayank Agarwal or another homegrown as leader, but Mayank was unretained, so the squad’s captaincy was a bit of a issue). Regardless, SRH’s team had a mix of prospects and experience, but on paper came across like one of the smaller clubs – handing them the underdog tag.

    • Each team’s reworked squad made IPL 2025 highly unpredictable. For supporters and punters, the club shifts were essential information – appointed heads and big names can significantly influence a squad’s play and betting odds. For instance, the team’s rates improved after bringing in Pant, whereas the squad’s cup chances might have reduced slightly after giving up Shreyas Iyer and Buttler. We’ll review more on chances and top picks in the odds part, but first, let’s look at how the event played out.

    League Key Moments and Memorable Showings

    IPL 2025 Final: The Bangalore Team stood as the victors of T20 League 2025, finally winning the championship for the first time in line-up history. In a exciting final, the squad triumphed over PBKS by 6 runs at the ground. It was a storybook tournament for the franchise and their massive of supporters, as the club overcame an 18-year trophy wait. experienced Virat Kohli was openly moved as he embraced the cup at long last, having been part of the club since the inception. PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer, delivered a impressive effort to get to their inaugural championship since 2014, but fell just behind in the title decider.

    Elimination battles: The playoffs were full of anticipation. the franchise had concluded in the first two of the points table and claimed first decider clearly against Punjab to confirm a place in the last game. Punjab then had to face the knockout against the qualified team of the sudden death (Mumbai Franchise). the side triumphed over MI in Qualifier 2, thanks to a brilliant captain’s knock by Shreyas Iyer, to qualify for the final. the side and Gujarat Franchise were the other two qualifier sides; MI secured the sudden death against GT but couldn’t beat Punjab. Notably, defending champs the team did not advance for knockouts, demonstrating how challenging the campaign was – no club is secured wins in the IPL, making predictions all the more uncertain!

    Notable athletes: IPL Season 2025 highlighted some remarkable solo achievements:

    • Orange Cap holder (batting title): promising GT striker Sai Sudharsan dominated the list with 759 points in the tournament. Sudharsan’s reliability and big knocks were a revelation, surpassing many more famous names. He proved to be a pillar of GT’s strike, even though GT could not match their trophy from 2022.
    • Bowling star (Purple Cap): franchise also produced the star pacer – seamer Prasidh Krishna grabbed 25 scalps. Prasidh, returning from an injury in 2024, executed a impressive bounce-back and was lethal with the line, especially in the closing overs.
    • MVP: SKY from Mumbai Indians earned the MVP award for Cricket Series 2025. SKY was in blazing shape, performing a set of explosive performances and also contributing in the defense. His skill to turn contests by himself made him the top player of the league.
    • Extra Standouts: Virat Kohli had a remarkable tournament for the squad, including a big innings that secured the franchise guarantee a entry. Rinku Singh (KKR) maintained his 2024 heroics with a few more death-over big hits performances. On the bowling end, Jasprit Bumrah’s recovery was impactful for MI (even though MI failed in knockouts, Bumrah contributed some outstanding overs). leggies like Rashid Khan (retained by GT) and Rahul Chahar (SRH) had their times, but overall 2025 was a positive year for speedsters on slightly quicker wickets.

    Updated Guidelines and Occurrences: The execution of the ICC rules created more severe consequences for athlete reactions or delayed over rates. We experienced a few examples of leaders being fined for over-rate offences early in the tournament as sides adapted to the fresh policies. Another ongoing rule was the “Impact Player” guideline (launched in 2023) which teams applied strategically – for example, some franchises regularly changed an additional pacer while guarding or a hitter while chasing to maximize their franchise. These deliberate adjustments created an extra level of drama to contests (and also to real-time betting choices, as an tactical choice could influence a match after the tactical changes created an extra dimension of suspense to matches (and also to in-play wagering decisions, as an tactical choice could shift a event after the toss).

    Overall, IPL Season 2025 will be celebrated for the franchise’s initial championship, some remarkable promising players performing through, and the tense fixtures that left us on the verge of our seats. Now, let’s move our view to the area of IPL Cricket 2025 odds – a matter of immense fascination for many followers looking to engage with the contests on a special perspective.

    IPL 2025 Betting: Odds, fields and Tips

    bat-and-ball predictions is enormous around the nations, and the league is the highlight for league wagerers. In the nation, while traditional odds play is mostly outlawed, competition digital wagering has a massive fan set through various websites (plus the growth of fantasy sports platforms where fans create fantasy squads for earnings). As a cricket expert, I observed that the thrill for IPL 2025 was not just on the ground but also in the wagering zones. Here we’ll discuss the first probabilities, famous betting markets in the league 2025, and some insider suggestions on predictions this league.

    Pre-Season Chances and Leaders

    Before the league 2025 commenced, sportsbooks published championship predictions for each team to claim the trophy. These numbers reveal squad potential, former performance, and market perception. Here’s an rough view at how the teams appeared with probabilities at the beginning of the tournament (smaller numbers = stronger possibility as likely winners):

    Franchise

    Opening lines (roughly)

    Mumbai Indians (MI)

    5.0 (5-to-1) – Favorites

    Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

    5.5 (last season’s champs)

    Gujarat Titans (GT)

    6.0

    Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

    6.5

    Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

    7.0

    Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

    8.0

    Rajasthan Royals (RR)

    9.0

    Punjab Kings (PBKS)

    10.0

    Delhi Capitals (DC)

    10.0

    Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

    12.0 – Underdogs

    These rates are suggestive and fluctuated slightly across different odds boards.

    Major insights from the odds: historic powerhouses like the franchise and CSK were among the leaders, as usual, given their solid foundations and cup history. the squad, being title-holding victors, also had low numbers. Titans, new victors, were considered potent rivals especially after picking Jos Buttler. Royal Challengers Bangalore were given reasonable chances (around 8:1) – many spectators always hope RCB will succeed, but betting houses were wary due to RCB’s absence of past cups. Interestingly, the squad’ odds were around 10:1 at opening, but as their reshaped squad with Shreyas Iyer and others connected and they performed well, punters who supported PBKS beforehand got solid profits (they indeed made the cup decider). SRH were seen as underdogs given their change; few predicted them to succeed.

    For those wagering on the winner, an pro recommendation was to apply a insurance tactic: for example, if you bet RCB at 8.0 and they advanced to the cup decider, you could secure by betting on their rival to secure success. In 2025, anyone who staked on RCB initially got paid richly as RCB achieved the championship against the original predictions!

    Top T20 League 2025 Gambling Choices

    Odds on IPL games isn’t just about picking the eventual champion. There are countless of options presented for each contest and for the full series. Some of the most engaged wagering options that fans used during the league 2025 were:

    • Victory Bet (Winner) – The clear bet on who will win a single event. Each tournament game often had chances that fluctuated moment to moment, especially if you bet while ongoing.
    • Leading Run-Scorer / Top Bowler – Bets on who will score the most scores or claim the most victims in a match (or even throughout the season). For example, playing on someone like Virat Kohli to be top player or highest hitter in a fixture was popular.
    • Total Runs in Game / Number Prediction – playing on the combined tallies registered in the contest (by both teams combined) being higher or below a certain figure. IPL fixtures are big, so betting sites might decide a threshold like 330.5 tallies and you wager greater or lower.
    • Player Performance – particular predictions like a batsman to achieve 50+ knocks, or a spinner to take 3+ outs, etc. For instance, players often played on players like Jos Buttler or Suryakumar Yadav to score a fifty given their performance.
    • Maximums & Fours – the competition is famous for heavy hitting. segments such as “max hits in the fixture” or “who will make more sixes” were popular. With explosive batsmen in every squad, these bets are entertaining. In 2025, with athletes like Livingstone, Pant, and Maxwell present, many fixtures had a flurry of max hits.
    • Ongoing Odds (while ongoing) – Once the match kicks off, the chances and choices shift ball-by-ball. punters participated in ongoing prediction on things like “fall of wicket” (caught, bowled, etc.), “runs in the next over”, or simply betting on a side during a chase. the season’s volatile fluctuations make ball-by-ball wagering both entertaining and risky.

    Futures Betting: Beyond separate games, bettors also bet on futures like “Who will make the knockouts”, “Which two squads will advance to the championship”, “Most maximums by a star”, etc. In 2025, for example, a prediction on Sai Sudharsan to be the leading batsman would have been a risky punt, but it paid off! These kinds of outsider plays draw brave players.

    Seasoned Odds Recommendations for the league 2025

    Gambling smartly on the tournament takes a fusion of league understanding and awareness of lines. Here are some insider recommendations and insights from the 2025 campaign:

    • Prepare Well: Before placing plays, wise punters checked updates and conditions. For example, knowing surface was essential – a true pitch in the city stadium might result to a explosive contest (so playing on lots of scores/sixes makes sense), whereas a sticky surface in the south might favor turners (making a lower total or backing spinners for scalps a smart prediction). In 2025, some stadiums like the city delivered very huge tallies in initial fixtures, impacting predictions.
    • Follow Team Form and Shifts: The tournament flow can fluctuate, but confidence counts. During 2025, once Bangalore launched a success chain, many punters trusted them in next fixtures. Also, keeping check of participation was essential. For instance, if Jasprit Bumrah was rotated for MI in a fixture or if a club decided to replace imported performers, it shaped the betting rates.
    • Contribution of Recruits: With many incoming players in 2025, the initial part of the year was uncertain to bet on. professionals often tell to watch the first initial games to measure how teams are acting with their changed combinations before risking heavily. By mid-year, patterns emerged (like which squads are dependable, or which pacer is in purple cap performance) that helped smarter wagers.
    • Play Safe & Offset Risks: A essential advice is never to bet more than you can risk. The league games can change rapidly – a team ahead clearly can collapse in a few overs. If you made a outright bet (say on a squad to take the title at commencement), try offsetting if they qualify for a good stage. For example, if you had a play on the franchise to take the title at 10:1 and they got to the final against Bangalore, you could stake on RCB in the cup decider to lock in some returns either way. Hedging in playoffs is a approach many pro players apply.
    • Ground Support & Fans: The league 2025 went back fully to home-and-away fixtures with crowded arenas. Ground familiarity is major – franchises like the Yellow Army and MI have tremendous backing and experience with their surfaces. Betting odds do factor this in, but as a bettor, one might give a small advantage to home teams in 50-50 fixtures. However, in 2025 eliminations at off-city places, that element was neutralized, and indeed we witnessed the two top squads prevail.
    • Keep Informed on News: Sudden developments such as a star getting knocked in nets or a change in franchise can impact a match’s result. For instance, if a main utility man was ruled out right before a event, the predictions might change. Being aware of cricket news (via Twitter, media) enabled bettors react quickly. In one 2025 event, when a skipper did not play due to a niggle, ball-by-ball odds changed and quick punters seized opportunity.

    In conclusion, the season 2025 delivered thrilling gambling markets, but it also showed everyone that this format is beautifully unpredictable. Likely winners don’t always succeed (as demonstrated by unexpected results throughout the Top picks don’t always succeed (as proved by upsets throughout the tournament), so it’s essential to leverage research and also listen to your gut at times. Always stake for enjoyment and the enhanced excitement, not as a certain money-making method.

    Fan FAQs (FAQ) about Cricket League 2025

    Q: When did the season 2025 open and close?
    A: The league 2025 began on March 22, 2025 and the decider was conducted on June 3, 2025. The competition ran a bit longer than initial expected due to a short mid-season break, but all 74 games were done by June 3rd.

    Q: Which teams featured in the IPL 2025 title match and who won?
    A: The last game was held between the squad and Punjab Kings on June 3, 2025. Royal Challengers Bangalore captured the league 2025, beating the team by 6 runs to take their initial IPL.

    Q: Who will capture the competition 2025?
    A: Before the competition, it was hard to tell who would triumph the cup 2025, as all teams were formidable. Many fans expected that champions like MI or Yellow Army might take, or that the franchise could keep their trophy. However, the series is unpredictable – and indeed the underdog result came true as the franchise rose as the cup winners. In hindsight, RCB’s success stunned those who believed other clubs.

    Q: How many games were played in the competition 2025?
    A: There were 74 games in total during the competition 2025. Each of the 10 clubs featured in 14 round-robin matches, and then 4 playoff fixtures (first final, cut-off game, next playoff, last game) were contested.

    Q: What were the new regulations in the tournament 2025?
    A: The main revision in the season 2025 was the execution of the global code for teams, adapting the tournament’s disciplinary policies with ICC standards. Otherwise, the layout and rules of play (featuring the Impact Player system implemented in 2023) lasted unchanged to recent seasons.

    Q: Is Jasprit Bumrah playing the tournament 2025?
    A: Yes, Jasprit Bumrah played in the season 2025 for MI. He was returning from a back injury that had kept him out of the season 2023. He did sit out the early fixtures of the season 2025 as he was introduced back to shape, but he came back to the MI club in April and took part in their matches subsequently.

    Q: Where can I watch IPL 2025 live?
    A: In Bharat, the competition 2025 games were streamed live on the television channel station (on TV) and live streamed on the platform site (broadcaster operates the platform).

    Q: Who were some standout performers in the league 2025?
    A: Several athletes produced outstanding displays in the competition 2025. To note a few special performers: Virat Kohli (RCB), Sai Sudharsan (GT), Prasidh Krishna (GT), Suryakumar Yadav (MI), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS), Jasprit Bumrah (MI).

    In conclusion, the competition 2025 was a historic edition that had it all: an extended fixture list, revamped squads, massive sales, and an surprise triumph. Fans celebrated not just the fixtures but also the buzz and betting excitement around each match. IPL continues to be the most entertaining T20 series in the globe, and that is what makes it so fun for followers and punters alike. Here’s to the next IPL, with its never-ending buzz and delight for cricket lovers!

    672

    Comments

    comments