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Former England football manager Gareth Southgate was on Thursday spotted soaking in the electric atmosphere at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur during IPL 2025, as Rajasthan Royals faced off against the in-form Mumbai Indians.
Dressed in a Rajasthan Royals jersey and flashing a cheerful smile, Southgate blended seamlessly with the crowd, visibly enjoying the festive energy of the IPL. The man once commanding England’s tactical lines at Wembley was now reveling in the roar of boundaries and pinpoint yorkers under the dazzling stadium lights of the Pink City.
His presence was noticed early in the match, shortly after Royals skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first. Southgate was fully engaged, clapping and cheering as Mumbai openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton walked out to the middle. His animated support suggested a genuine interest in the game, even if his allegiance raised a few eyebrows online.
While cricket fans were surprised by his unexpected appearance, it was football fans who lit up social media with playful banter. “Southgate supporting RR? If they choke, I know why,” quipped one user, taking a cheeky jab at England’s near-miss history in major tournaments under Southgate’s leadership.
“Gareth Southgate in a Rajasthan Royals jersey giving very `Polar bear in Arlington Texas` vibes`, wrote another.
Gareth Southgate in a Rajasthan Royals jersey giving very “Polar bear in Arlington Texas” vibes pic.twitter.com/2RepSrFThK
— The Stats Kid (@TheStatsKid1523) May 1, 2025
However, not all responses were tongue-in-cheek. Many fans embraced the moment as a delightful sporting crossover, welcoming the former Three Lions boss to the chaotic charm of the IPL. Some even applauded him for immersing himself in different sporting cultures post-coaching.
As Southgate settled into the Jaipur evening, the Mumbai Indians made their intentions clear. After five overs, they reached 45 without loss, with Rickelton batting fluently on 27 and Rohit Sharma providing steady support with 17. MI, riding a wave of five consecutive victories, looked set to extend their winning streak with another dominant performance.
At the time of writing, Mumbai were 126 for two wickets, with in-form Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Hardik Pandya at the crease. Earlier, Ryan Rickleton and Rohit Sharma unleashed their carnage with the bat contributing 61 and 53 runs, respectively.
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