IPL
Thank you, Mumbai, we will remember this one: Kohli after MI's win seals RCB's playoff berth
Mumbai, May 22 (Cricket News) "Thank you, Mumbai, we will remember this one," said Virat Kohli after Royal Challengers Bangalore sneeked into the playoffs following Mumbai Indians' thrilling five-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in their last game of the IPL here.
On Saturday, MI chased down a victory target of 160 in 19.1 overs to knockout Delhi from the competition and paved the way for RCB's entry as the fourth and final team in the knockout stage.
"It was unbelievable. The emotions in the changing room were unbelievable. Thank you, Mumbai, we will remember this one," Kohli said in a release.
RCB had defeated table-toppers Gujarat Titans by eight wickets in their final league match to keep their hopes alive for a playoff, which depended on the clash between DC and MI.
Delhi needed to win the match to make it to the playoffs but they came a cropper against bottom-placed MI.
RCB skipper Faf Du Plessis said the entire team watched the match together and was cheering each and every move made by the Mumbai team.
"It was so good, I think first of all it was really nice to see that everyone was here from the start of the game, so we watched it together," he said.
"We were all shouting for every wicket that Mumbai got and then when they are chasing every boundary. It's good for everyone to watch together and then the celebration towards the end was awesome to be a part of." RCB will now take on third-placed Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator at Edens Gardens on May 25.
"The last game we played we felt almost like we played our best game of cricket of this campaign so far and that is how you want to enter the knockout stages, so we needed someone to do us a favour and Mumbai did that for us, we are very thankful for that," Du Plessis said.
"Obviously now the work starts again, and we get our work mode back on." RCB has never ever won the IPL and allrounder Glenn Maxwell feels the team is very close to achieving that dream.
"Amazing result for us tonight. There is just one small step in us going further, we are that close to making history for RCB in this tournament. We needed another team, but from now on it's all us."
Also Read : No doubt in my mind that Pant is right choice for captaincy: Ponting
News Source : PTI
No doubt in my mind that Pant is right choice for captaincy: Ponting
Mumbai, May 22 (Cricket News) Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has backed Rishabh Pant to continue leading the side, saying the wicketkeeper batter is still young and learning the ropes of captaincy and remains the right choice for the job.
Pant's captaincy has been under the scanner all season with the youngster making some dubious calls during IPL-15.
On Saturday, in DC's must-win game against Mumbai Indians, a strategic blunder cost the team a spot in the play-offs.
With MI at 95 for three in 14.3 overs while chasing a target of 160, Pant made a strategic blunder as he refused to call for DRS after Tim David nicked the first ball of his innings and the on-field umpire didn't give him out.
It came back to haunt DC as David slammed 34 runs off just 11 balls with the help of two boundaries and four sixes to take the game out of DC's grasp.
"Absolutely, no doubt in my mind that Rishabh even in the last season he was the right choice for captain. Rishabh did a terrific job with the team after he took over from Shreyas (Iyer) after he injured his shoulders," Ponting said during the press conference after DC lost by five wickets against MI.
"...he is just a young man and still learning captaincy. Being captain of a T20 team, especially in IPL, which is a high pressure tournament, is not easy thing to do and unfortunately, every single thing you do will be scrutinised. He certainly got my full backing." Ponting said he was "gutted" to see the match slip away but didn't blame Pant for the loss.
"It is always hard to put a finger on one single aspect of the game. Top of the order our batting was poor, we were four down for 40, which is not the ideal way to start a T20 game, specially big games which you have to win," he said.
"Obviously, Tim David played well. He was probably out first ball but there are so many aspects of the game we will be disappointed with. The players need to learn from games like that.
"I feel pretty gutted that the game slipped through out of our hands, we didn't close out the match in the last few overs." Reflecting on the season, Ponting felt the DC bowling group outperformed the inconsistent batting unit.
"If I look at our entire season, it's pretty fair to say that our bowling group have probably done a better job on a whole than our batting group. Our batting group has been really inconsistent and probably haven't scored the amount of runs that we should have scored." The DC squad had a tough season with several members of the franchise testing positive for COVID that saw two of their games being shifted to a different venue.
Apart from that key players like pace spearhead Anrich Nortje and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh missed a few games as they were coming off serious injuries.
"I'm not making excuses, but we've had quite an interrupted season with Covid, injuries and other illnesses that we've had through our camp. So it's been one of those up-and-down and inconsistent seasons.
"We've all been delighted with Khaleel Ahmed, (Chetan) Sakariya in the games he played. Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the finds of the tournament. You always know what you're going to get with Axar Patel.
"Shardul (Thakur) had some really good games at the back end of the tournament as well. So, I think it's fair to say that on a whole, our bowling group probably did outperform our batting group," Ponting said.
Also Read : Rohit not losing sleep over disappointing season, says one minor adjustment away from finding form
News Source : PTI
Rohit not losing sleep over disappointing season, says one minor adjustment away from finding form
Mumbai, May 22 (Cricket News) Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that a lot of things didn't go his way with the bat but he is not losing sleep over his "disappointing" season as he is just one "minor adjustment" away from finding form again.
Rohit endured his worst IPL season, failing to score a single half-century for the first time since his debut in the inaugural edition in 2008. The swashbuckling opener managed to score just 248 runs at an average of 19.14 and a strike rate of 120.17 in 14 outings.
"A lot of things that I wanted to do didn't happen. I am very disappointed with me season. But this has happened with me earlier as well, so it's not something I am going through for the first time," Rohit said after MI's last match of the season on Saturday.
"I know cricket doesn't end here; there is a lot of cricket ahead. So I need to take care of the mental aspect and think about how I can return to form and perform.
"It's only a minor adjustment and I will try to work on that whenever there is some time off," he added.
The most successful team in the IPL, MI capped off a disappointing season in which they finished last, with a five-wicket win over Delhi Capitals.
After starting their campaign with eight consecutive losses, MI managed to pick up four wins in the second half of the season.
"It was a bit of a disappointing season for us as we couldn't execute our plans at the start of the tournament. And we know that in tournaments like the IPL, you have to build that momentum.
"Initially, when we kept losing games one after another, that was a difficult time. For us, what was important was to make sure that whatever we had planned, we came out and tried those things. It didn't happen exactly the way we wanted to." The India skipper said the players, perhaps, struggled to adjust to the new team dynamic.
"But it happens sometimes when you have a new team as some players take some time to understand their roles. Certain guys were playing for the first time for this franchise.
"And they play different roles when they play for their country, for their state, or in different leagues. And when they come here, they get different roles. So it takes a little time to get adjusted."
Also Read : Delhi Capitals lose by 5 wickets against MI to crash out of IPL
News Source : PTI
Delhi Capitals lose by 5 wickets against MI to crash out of IPL
Mumbai, May 21 (Cricket News) Delhi Capitals exited from the Indian Premier League after losing by five wickets against Mumbai Indians in their must-win last league match here on Saturday.
DC first made 159 for 7, a target which MI chased down with five balls to spare. Earlier sent into bat, DC were in a spot of bother at 50 for 4 before skipper Rishabh Pant (39) and Rovman Powell (43) joined hands and shared 75 runs for the fifth wicket to rescue the batting side.
Jasprit Bumrah (3/25) picked up three wickets for MI.
Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals: 159 for 7 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 43, Rishabh Pant 39; Jasprit Bumrah 3/25).
Mumbai Indians: 160 for 5 in 19.1 overs (Ishan Kishan 48, Tim David 34; Shardul Thakur 2/32).
Also Read : Bumrah shines but DC manage 159/7 against MI
News Source : PTI
Bumrah shines but DC manage 159/7 against MI
Mumbai, May 21 (Cricket News) Jasprit Bumrah snapped three wickets as Mumbai Indians produced a clinical bowling display to restrict Delhi Capitals to 159 for seven in their last IPL match, despite Rovman Powell's fighting 34-ball 43.
Opting to field, MI bowlers, led by Bumrah (3/25) left DC tottering at 50 for four in 8.4 overs but Powell and skipper Rishabh Pant (39 off 33 balls) shared 75 off 44 balls to rescue the innings and take them to a decent total in their must-win match.
Daniel Sams (1/30) and Riley Mereditch (0/9 in 2 overs) bowled well as did the spin duo of Mayank Markande (1/26) and Hrithik Shooken (0/34).
Ramandeep Singh (2/29 in 2 overs) also managed to scalp two wickets.
Returning to the team after recovering from a bout of typhoid, Prithvi Shaw looked in good touch as he pulled Sams across the mid-wicket boundary and then danced down the track to send the bowler over long-off for a maximum.
However, Sams produced the first breakthrough when he had David Warner caught by Bumrah at short third man.
Bumrah then turned the heat as he first found the outside edge of Mitchell Marsh with Rohit Sharma taking a low catch and then returned to sent back Shaw with an unplayable bouncer.
It was time for Markande to shine next as Sarfaraz Khan nicked one outside the off-stump to see DC slump to 50 for four in ninth over.
With Shokeen and Markande bowling in tandum, DC scored their lowest total at the halfway mark this season -- 55 for four.
While Pant dropped anchor, Powell exploded in the 12th over, smashing Shokeen for two maximums and a four to pick up 20 runs.
Markande was next in line as Powell deposited him over long-off, before MI conceded a bye four.
MI were also sloppy on the field with Tilak Varma and Bumrah's misfields giving two fours to DC.
Meredith bowled a tight over, conceding just two.
Rohit's decison to give an over to Ramandeep seemed to have backfired as he bowled three wides and conceded a six and a four before taking Pant's wicket in his final ball.
Powell then pulled Bumrah over deep square leg, while Axar Patel (19 not out) produced a timely six off Sams.
However, Bumrah produced his trademark toe-crushing yorker to disturb the timbers of Powell and nearly had another wicket, only if Dewald Brevis could have held on to a one-handed catch.
Ramandeep took a wicket in the final over which yielded 11 runs.
Also Read : I have worked on power-hitting and inside out shots, says Velocity skipper Deepti Sharma
News Source : PTI
Mumbai Indians win toss, elect to bowl against Delhi Capitals
Mumbai, May 21 (Cricket News) Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl against Delhi Capitals in their final league match of the Indian Premier League here on Saturday.
MI made two changes, bringing in Dewald Brevis and Hrithik Shokeen in place of Tristan Stubbs and Sanjay Yadav, while opener Prithvi Shaw returned for Delhi after recovering from a bout of typhoid.
Shaw replaces Lalit Yadav in the must-win game for DC.
Teams: Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Sarfaraz Khan, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (w), Daniel Sams, Tilak Varma, Dewald Brevis, Tim David, Ramandeep Singh, Hrithik Shokeen, Jasprit Bumrah, Riley Meredith, Mayank Markande.
Also Read : Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings look to end season on a high
News Source : PTI
Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings look to end season on a high
Mumbai, May 21 (Cricket News) Their play-off hopes dashed, both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings will be keen to end their IPL season on a winning note when the two teams clash in a dead rubber here on Sunday.
Both teams were knocked out of the play-off race when RCB defeated table-toppers Gujarat Titans on Thursday.
The Sunrisers will be without the services of their skipper Kane Williamson, who has returned to New Zealand for the birth of his second child.
In his absence, either Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has led the side previously, or Nicholas Pooran are are likely to captain the Sunrisers in their last game this season.
While Sunrisers managed to snap their five-match losing streak by eking out a narrow three-run win over Mumbai Indians, Punjab succumbed to a 17-run loss to Delhi Capitals.
The fact that Mayank Agarwal and Co. could not win two games in a row sums up their inconsistent run all season.
High on spirits after thrashing RCB by 54 runs, PBKS suffered an inexplicable batting collapse in their must-win against Delhi.
The Punjab bating unit has been plagued by inconsistencies and will need to fire in unison to build or defend a huge total.
If not for the star batters -- Jonny Baitsow and Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan -- Punjab Kings have reliable Jitesh Sharma, one of the finds of this IPL, to finish the match or take them to a good total.
On the bowling front, lead pacer Kagiso Rabada (22) continues to be the highest wicket taker among fast bowlers this season. The South African has bowled at an average of 16.72 with an economy of 8.36.
Arshdeep Singh (10) has impressed many with his ability to land yorkers at will and has done especially well in the death overs.
The Sunrisers, on the other hand, won five back-to-back matches and looked on course for a top 2 finish but injuries to their frontline bowlers Washington Sundar and T Natarjan deflated their campaign as they slumped to a five-match losing streak. Skipper Williamson's wretched form didn't help their cause either.
On the bowling front, pace sensation Umran Malik, who enjoyed a good outing in the previous game, is likely to keep the speed gun radar busy.
Sunrisers also found star Afghan bowler in the form of medium pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who did the tremendous job in the previous game.
Both Bhuvneshwar and Farooqi will be eyeing another good outing, while Natarajan will have to forget the hammering by Tim David and find a way to nail his yorkers again.
Sunrisers batting unit has been spearheaded by Rahul Tripathi this season.
SRH made some tactical changes in the last game and they paid off. Priyam Garg was brought into the side and the youngster impressed. Abhishek Sharma has been good in patches while Aiden Markram has gone under the radar after a few good knocks.
Teams (From) SRH, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Priyam Garg, Shashank Singh, Romario Shepherd, Marco Jansen, J Suchith, Shreyas Gopal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sean Abbott, Kartik Tyagi, Saurabh Tiwary, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.
PBKS: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (C), Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Vaibhav Arora, Nathan Ellis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell.
Match starts at 7.30PM IST.
Also Read : On selection radar for South Africa series: Malik, Mohsin, DK
News Source : PTI
CSK were not good enough to win close games: Fleming
Mumbai, May 21 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings found it challenging to match their "catastrophic success" in IPL 2022 where the defending champions were not "good enough" to win tight games, feels head coach Stephen Fleming.
One of the most successful sides in the IPL, the four-times champions ended their campaign at the penultimate spot, managing just four wins in 14 games.
"There was mixed success. We sort of stuttered our way through. We had a number of games that were close, but we were not good enough to get across the line.
"That's the normal story of the season we don't qualify," Fleming said after CSK's five-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
The New Zealander added that the team, comprising several new players, found it challenging to play the same way as previous seasons.
"When you start a new cycle and have a number of new players and a new dynamic in the team it can be testing.
"We suffered from catastrophic success so just trying to play the same way, continue from our last four years, which were very successful, is a real challenge.
"Dropping back and understanding what the new players can do, it can take a little bit of time." Fleming, however, feels the underwhelming season will be a catalyst for the players for the next edition of the league.
"We didn't have a couple of form players that could get us through those early days, get the win and the momentum going.
"We had opportunity to do better than we did but the reality is we couldn't qualify for the semis and that will be the catalyst for next year." Fleming picked rookie pacers Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh's performance among the positives in CSK's lacklustre season.
"I think he was excellent. A nervous start, but we stuck with him and we reaped the rewards towards the end. He just got better and better. Simarjeet is also responding to the pressure. So, those two boys definitelyth were a positive." "The first year of the three-year cycle is a chance to see some players. This one today was great to have a look at a couple of guys under pressure." He added that all-rounders Moeen Ali, who scored a 57-ball 93against RR, and Ravindra Jadeja are key components of the team.
"Ali was superb. He is one of our marquee players and (on Friday against RR) I thought it was probably going to be a 250-run wicket, but the game suddenly changed at the halfway point of our batting.
"But Moeen has shown us his class with both the bat and the ball and his partner Jadeja make a key part of the side," Fleming added.
Also Read : We have done well in patches but what is important is to keep doing well as a team: Dhoni
News Source : PTI
We have done well in patches but what is important is to keep doing well as a team: Dhoni
Mumbai, May 20 (Cricket News) Soon after a forgettable IPL season came to an end with yet another defeat, there was a note of optimism in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's voice's as he looked forward to Chennai Super Kings' youngsters maturing into world class players in the coming years.
Four-time champions CSK finished the season in ninth place, having suffered 10 defeats while managing to win only four times over the last couple of months, the last being a five-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals here on Friday.
However, the spirited performance from the likes of Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana and Prashant Solanki ensured Dhoni leaves the season with the hope of a strong comeback next year.
"Whatever games they have got, they have learned a lot from it. One of the biggest examples is Mukesh. He has played all the games but what is impressive is to see from the first game to the last game how he has improved, how he can bowl at the death," Dhoni said at the presentation ceremony.
"Still what he will do is go back and learn out of the outings he has got. That's what we really want from players. Once they have got that experience, what is important from next year once they turn up from IPL is that they don't start from scratch again.
"That is what is needed from the youngsters and most of them have made the most of whatever chance they have got.
"Our Malinga (Pathirana), he's really good. It's difficult to pick him and I feel he will definitely contribute next year for us in a big way." CSK endured one of their worst IPL campaigns, as they went out of reckoning for a play-offs spot quite early in the season.
Most of CSK's senior players like Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa haven't had a great IPL and that has been the biggest failure of the 'Yellow Brigade'.
The bowling suffered a lot because of the absence of an injured Deepak Chahar and the inability to retain Josh Hazlewood.
"We have done well in patches but what is important is to keep doing well as a team. The crucial thing is whenever you get an opportunity, once you are in, you need to make the most of it whether you are a bowler or a batter and keep learning," Dhoni said.
"It's not a one-year tournament. You keep coming back year after year. So once you keep learning and once you mature, that's when you capitalize and be a big IPL player for the next 10-12 years. That's what you need from youngsters." After a blazing start, Moeen Ali slowed down considerably, and Dhoni said the team was a batter short which forced the England all-rounder to "change his momentum".
"What we need to realize is we're playing a batter light. Once we lost those quick wickets, Moeen had to change his momentum. I feel if one of the batters had batted with him, he could have continued his momentum.
"The role and responsibility got slightly swapped once we lost those wickets and that made it really difficult. So a batter light with the last four, they're not really known for their batting.
"If we went hard and lost another wicket there, we wouldn't have got anything that we would look to defend. I would say (we were) 10-15 (runs short)," Dhoni said.
RR skipper Sanju Samson said his team deserved to qualify for the play-offs in second place.
"The way we've played throughout the league stage stands out. We've had great games where almost everyone has stood up to win games. We deserve to be in this position is what I feel," Samson said.
Also Read : Disappointed Jayawardene concedes team didn't win crucial moments
News Source : PTI
Chennai Super Kings opt to bat against Rajasthan Royals
Mumbai, May 20 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat against Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League match here on Friday.
CSK made one change as Ambati Rayudu came back in place of Shivam Dube.
RR too effected one change only, with Shimron Hetmyer returning in place of Jimmy Neesham.
The Teams: Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c/wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (c/w), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, N Jagadeesan, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary.
Also Read : Experienced players will have to step up against MI: Ponting
News Source : PTI
Experienced players will have to step up against MI: Ponting
Mumbai, May 20 (Cricket News) Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting feels his team is peaking at the right time but wants his big guns to deliver in what will be a virtual IPL quarterfinal for them against Mumbai Indians here on Saturday.
A win against MI will take DC into the playoffs.
Speaking about their next game, Ponting said, "I have got full confidence in the players that they will have a really good game on Saturday. We strung back-to-back wins together for the first time (after Delhi Capitals' previous match against Punjab Kings) in the season.
"It's been an up and down season for us, but we've played some good cricket. I always talk about playing our best cricket at the business end of the tournament and peaking at the right time. I've got a feeling that the boys are about to do that." The Capitals have been an inconsistent lot this season, with seven wins and six defeats in their 13 games. There will be no margin for error, though, at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
The Australian legend added that the experienced players will have to step up for the team in the crucial match against Mumbai Indians.
"Davey (Warner) has done a really good job at the top of the order. We have also seen how destructive Mitchell Marsh can be at the number three slot. And among the bowlers, Kuldeep has been exceptional and Axar has been bowling economically as well.
"Shardul has shown good form in the recent matches. There are some good signs as far as our senior players are concerned and going into big games, you need your more experienced players to step up." Ponting also said that the environment within the Delhi Capitals camp has changed in the last two weeks.
"I have just got the sense that the environment within the group has been a little different in the last couple of weeks and players need to take full credit for that.
"As a coaching group, we'll look to get the players well prepared for their next challenge and it's certainly a challenge that we are looking forward to.
"I am very excited about what Saturday holds for us and hopefully, we've got another week of cricket to play after that."
Also Read : Disappointed Jayawardene concedes team didn't win crucial moments
News Source : PTI
Disappointed Jayawardene concedes team didn't win crucial moments
Mumbai, May 20 (Cricket News) Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene was “brutally honest” in his assessment after their early exit from the IPL, saying they failed to take control of crucial moments and did not play good cricket.
Mumbai are likely to end up last on the points table even if they manage to win their last game against Delhi Capitals on Saturday.
“But having the quality that we have in the squad, yes, you have to be brutally honest, we haven’t played good cricket,” Jayawardene said on the eve of the game.
“Like I have said earlier, the intensity, we haven’t taken control of crucial moments in certain matches, we had that done (then) we had the confidence to get those four-five wins in a row, where we would be fighting for the play-offs, but it has been that kind of a season and (I am) definitely disappointed." Jayawardene said the main concern was not handling pressure situations in early stages of the tournament.
“As any season where we start slow, which is a concern for us. The intensity that we played the first four-five games, where we had the opportunity to win matches (but) we didn’t execute certain skills, made mistakes, that is something we need to rectify.
“Because getting those early wins always gives team confidence and then you win matches from nowhere that gives you the platform to get into the season and be dominant. So the intensity and execution, handling little pressure situations in those early stages of the tournament that probably was a main concern for us this year,” he elaborated.
“There were quite a few games that we had opportunities to win, usually we do finish those games and this year, we didn’t with the bat and ball, where we lost opportunities, so that is something we will speak to the guys and make sure that they are ready for challenges going forward,” he added.
Jayawardene hopeful injured Jofra Archer will play next season =================================== Mumbai Indians had invested heavily in English pacer Jofra Archer, knowing that he was set to miss this season due to injury. Now the speedster has been ruled out of the entire English summer due to a stress fracture.
But Jayawardene said the MI team would monitor his progress and was optimistic that Archer would be available next season, which was 10 months away.
“I think to be honest, it is too far ahead. Our team of experts will keep monitoring his (Archer’s) progress. He didn’t have these injuries in the past, so it is something new.
"Hopefully it is nothing too bad. So we will see how he progresses, but 10 months till next IPL, so there is a lot of time to assess his situation and we are hoping that he makes a strong recovery and he will be available for us next season,” he signed off.
Also Read : Cricket Ireland appoint Nathan Hauritz as new spin bowling coach
News Source : PTI
Delhi Capitals meet Mumbai Indians in virtual quarter-final, will Arjun Tendulkar get a game finally?
Mumbai, May 20 (Cricket News) Delhi Capitals will have their fortune in their own hands as they aim to pull all stops against season's favourite whipping boys Mumbai Indians in what will be a virtual IPL "quarter-final" clash for Rishabh Pant's men.
While DC have everything to play for, MI will like to cap off the season on a winning note although it would count for little for the five-time champions, who suffered due to poor auction strategy.
In case of Mumbai Indians, the only area of interest is whether legendary Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun finally gets a game after having warmed the bench for 27 straight games across two seasons.
Skipper Rohit Sharma has indicated that they would blood some new faces in the final game. So far 22 players have played in 13 games.
The equation is as simple as it can get for the Capitals (+0.255) as they simply need to beat Mumbai Indians to pip Royal Challengers Bangalore (-0.253) on better net run-rate.
While MI have endured their worst season this time, Capitals have been guilty of inconsistency with seven wins and six defeats in their 13 games.
In fact, it was their victory over RCB in the previous game that ensured back-to-back full points for them.
There have been days when Capitals have been extra-ordinary, with a David Warner (427 runs) or Mitchell Marsh (251 runs) or Rovman Powell (207 runs) upping the ante in batting. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav (20 wickets, 8.45), Axar Patel (6 wickets, 7.37) and Lalit Yadav (4 wickets, 8.33) have also done a decent job with the ball in a number of games.
However there are two areas where Capitals have floundered this season. One has been the pace department which has blown hot 'n' cold throughout, save Khaleel Ahmed (16 wickets at 8.08). Shardul Thakur despite his 13 wickets has conceded runs at more than nine runs per over.
And second and more importantly is skipper Pant's (301 runs) inability to convert some of his good starts into big scores.
What has worked for DC towards the business end is Marsh's batting form and his two half-centuries which has gone a long way in keeping them alive.
Mustafizur Rahaman (8 wickets at 7.62) was fantastic in the games that he played but the combination requirement has prevented Ricky Ponting from playing him in more games.
However what will ease a bit of pressure off Ponting ahead of a high-stakes game is Sarfaraz Khan's form as an opener.
After Prithvi Shaw was indisposed due to a bout of typhoid (he is still recuperating), Ponting used Kona Bharat and it didn't work out well for the team.
Finally, Sarfaraz did look the part with a 16-ball-32 in the penultimate game and Ponting is unlikely to tinker with the combination unless Shaw is fully fit.
As far as MI is concerned, the less the said about this season, better it is for them.
Save NT Tilak Varma's emergence as a stylish batter, who could be the next MI legend alongside Tim David, who has taken over the mantle from Kieron Pollard, there is not much to write home about.
Skipper Rohit would certainly like this ordeal to get over and get some much-needed rest before the next tour of England.
Teams Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Anmolpreet Singh, Rahul Buddhi, Ramandeep Singh, SuryakumarYadav, Tilak Verma, Tim David, Arjun Tendulkar, Basil Thampi, Hrithik Shokeen, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Murugan Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Tymal Mills, Kartikeya Singh, Daniel Sams, Dewald Brevis, Fabian Allen, Kieron Pollard, Sanjay Yadav, Aryan Juyal and Ishan Kishan.
Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (C), Ashwin Hebbar, David Warner, Mandeep Singh, Prithvi Shaw,Rovman Powell, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kamlesh Nagarkoti,Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Pravin Dubey, Ripal Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, KS Bharat and Tim Seifert.
Also Read : Virat Kohli returns to form at almost the perfect time
News Source : PTI
Kohli, du Plessis shine as RCB beat GT by 8 wickets to stay alive in play-off race
Mumbai, May 19 (Cricket News) Virat Kohli returned to form with a 54-ball 73 as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Gujarat Titans by eight wickets in their final league match to stay alive in the IPL play-off race here on Thursday.
Chasing 169, Kohli, who struck eight boundaries and two sixes, and captain Faf du Plessis (44) laid the foundation with a 115-run stand. Glenn Maxwell (40 not out off 18) provided the finishing touches as RCB romped home with eight balls remaining.
Earlier, skipper Hardik Pandya hit a unbeaten 62 to help GT post 168 for 5. Besides Hardik, David Miller (34) and Wriddhiman Saha (31) also made useful contributions with the bat.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans: 168 for 5 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 62 not out; Josh Hazzlewood 2/39).
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 170 for 2 in 19.2 overs (Virat Kohli 73; Glenn Maxwell 40 not out; Rashid Khan 2/32).
Also Read : Hardik's fifty takes Gujarat Titans to 168/5 (Indian Premier League)
News Source : PTI
Hardik's fifty takes Gujarat Titans to 168/5 (Indian Premier League)
Mumbai, May 19 (Cricket News) Skipper Hardik Pandya hit a unbeaten half-century to help Gujarat Titans post 168 for 5 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their final Indian Premier League round-robin match here on Thursday.
Hardik made unbeaten 62 off 47 balls and decorated his innings with four boundaries and three sixes after opting to bat.
Besides Hardik, David Miller (34) and Wriddhiman Saha (31) also made useful contributions with the bat.
Josh Hazzlewood (2/39) picked up two wickets for RCB.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans: 168 for 5 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 62 not out; Josh Hazzlewood 2/39).
Also Read : I'm actually in the happiest phase of my life, says out-of-form Virat Kohli
News Source : PTI