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2022-06-21 18:35

Chennai Open chess: Indian IMs Srihari, Nitin among leaders

Chennai, Jun 21 (Chess News) Little-known Indian players L R Srihari, S Nitin and Srijit Paul hogged the limelight with wins to be among the leaders with four points after four rounds in the 13th Chennai Open International Grandmaster chess tournament 2022 here on Tuesday.

International Masters Srihari, Nitin and Srijit Paul defeated Arjun Tiwari (India), Luong Phuong Hanh and Nguyen Thanh THuy Tien, both of Vietnam, respectively in round four to join top-seed Boris Savchenko and Belarus' Kirill Stupak on four points.

Also on four points and in joint lead are: Vahe Baghdasaryan (Armenia), Jubin Jimmy (India) and Asyl Abdyjapar (Kyrgyzstan).

In the upset of the day, Chennai lad B Vignesh got the better of Grandmaster Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam. In a quiet middle game the Vietnamese GM overlooked an intervening check when his position collapsed in 33 moves. He had in the earlier round, held experienced Grandmaster Fedorov Alexei (Belarus) to a draw in a Guicco Piano game that lasted 50 moves.

Earlier, highly rated IM Aronyak Ghosh (Elo 2494) went down to Vietnamese Woman International Master Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien (Elo 1996) in the third round.

As many as 11 Grandmasters and 14 International Masters are taking part in the 275-player 10-round Swiss tournament which carries a total prize money of Rs 15 lakh.

Results: Round 4 (Indians unless specified): Boris Savchenko (4 points) beat P R Hirthickkesh (3 points), Raset Ziatdinov (USA) 3 lost to Kirill Stupak 4, Ajay Karthikeyan 3.5 drew with B T Murali Krishnan 3.5, Luong Phuong Hanh (Vietnam) 3 lost to S Nitin 4, L R Srihari 4 beat Arjun Tiwari 3, Srijit Paul 4 beat Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien (Vietnam) 3, Ravichandran Siddharth 3.5 drew with Harshit Pawar 3.5, Asyl Abdyjapar (Kyrgyzstan) 4 beat Daksh Goyal 3, M Vijay Anand 3 lost to Vahe Baghdasaryan (Armenia) 4, Jubin Jimmy 4 beat Shrayan Majumder 3, B Vignesh 3.5 beat Nguye Van Huy (Vietnam) 2.5.

Round 3: S S Manigandan 2 lost to Savchenko Boris 3, Fedorov 2.5 drew with B Vignesh 2.5, Aronyak Ghosh 2 lost to Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien 3, S Prasannaa 2.5 drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy J 2.5, Stupak 3 beat Daakshin Arun 2, S Rohit 2 lost to Ajay Karthikeyan 3, Nitin 3 beat Arpith S Bijoy 2, Dinesh Kumar 2 lost to L R Srihari 3, Priyankara Chamil (Sri Lanka) 2 lost to Srijit Paul 3, Harshit Pawar 3 beat Hari Madhavan NB 2, Krishna Raaju J 2 lost to Abdyjapar 3.

Also Read : Neeraj Chopra wins the gold medal at the Kuortane Games in Finland

News Source : PTI

2022-06-07 19:33

Success of Indian captains in IPL augurs well for national team: Dravid

New Delhi, Jun 7 (Cricket News) Success of Indian players as captains in a tournament like IPL will eventually benefit the national team since leadership role helps in accelerating the growth of cricketers, Head coach Rahul Dravid said on Tuesday.

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to title in its maiden season while KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Sanju Samson too did a commendable job while leading their respective franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rahul led new entrants Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in their maiden season and Samson impressed with his captaincy as he took Rajasthan Royals to a runners-up finish this season.

"It is great that we have a lot of Indian captains doing well. Hardik was one of them. Brilliant. KL did a good job at LSG and Sanju in RR. Shreyas in KKR," Dravid said at a press conference.

"It is really great to see the young batters leading the team. It helps people grow and develop as players, having to lead teams to make the decisions. It helps you grow as a person and as a player.

"It is great from our perspective that the younger Indian players are leading well in the IPL," he added.

India are set to lock horns with South Africa in a five-match T20 series starting here on Thursday.

Several new faces have been named in the Indian squad while the series is also set to feature Pandya and Dinesh Karthik, who make a comeback after stellar IPL campaigns.

Pandya, who struggled with a back and was dropped from the team after team's disappointing group-round exit from the T20 World Cup last year, returned to competitive cricket in the IPL.

He played a key role in Titans' success, contributing with the bat and the ball, something that the Indian team had missed desperately during the World Cup last year.

"It is really pleasing to have him back. Hardik at his best is a fantastic cricketer with both bat and ball. He's been very successful in white-ball cricket and has shown some really good form in this IPL as well," Dravid said.

The former Indian cricketer was impressed by the Baroda player's captaincy skills, adding that they are working at utilising Pandya's full potential for India.

"His leadership was very impressive in the IPL and he performed well. You don't have to be designated as a leader to be part of the leadership group.

"At this point of time from our perspective it is a positive that he has started bowling again. It is really about ensuring that we can get the best out of him as a cricketer in terms of contributions.

Also Read : Parkar hits double ton on debut as Mumbai declare at 647/8 against Uttarakhand

News Sourcee : PTI

2022-06-06 18:35

Ranji Trophy: Once struggling for training slots, young Gharami announces arrival with hundred

Bengaluru, Jun 6 (Cricket News) Young Sudip Gharami finally did justice to his talent with maiden first class hundred that steered Bengal to a commanding 310 for one against Jharkhand on the first day of Ranji Trophy quarter-final, here Monday.

Jharkhand's pedestrian effort with the ball also helped Bengal's cause as Gharami, who had a highest score of 27 in his four previous appearances, showed fine temperament and impressive technique en route his unbeaten 106-run knock that came off 204 balls with 13 fours and a six.

The stylish Anushtup Majumdar (85 batting, 139 balls) also played attractive shots as they added 178 runs for the unbroken second-wicket stand.

While Gharami was methodical in his stroke-play, Majumdar's batted with utter disdain for rival bowlers as his innings could be called a highlight package of "pull-shots".

The Jharkhand attack was also hamstrung when Rahul Shukla sustained an injury while fielding just before the second new ball was taken.

Bengal were inflicting the similar kind of ignominy that Jharkhand had inflicted on Nagaland when they made a mockery of a contest in the pre quarter-finals by scoring 880 runs.

Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (65) and Abhishek Raman (41 retd hurt) laid the foundation by blunting the new ball attack and then on a good batting surface, it was all about punishing the loose deliveries.

Gharami comes of age ------------------------ In the past two seasons, good things were heard about Gharami, who had made his debut during the 2020 Ranji Trophy finals against Saurashtra but appeared shaky during that high-profile game.

Head coach Arun Lal, who has seen the 23-year-old as a teenager at his own cricket academy, always had faith in his talent and that shone through on the day.

"He was once rejected from district age-group team because the authorities had problems with me. I remember when he was a teenager, he would accompany me to various coaching centres across districts for a net session as clubs wouldn't enrol him," Gharami's childhood coach Debesh Chakraborty told PTI. "Once Arun saw him (Gharami), he gave the boy chance to have a place to practice permanently." "Once, a club told us that we need to come at 5:30 am in the morning and we will get two hours to have nets till 7:30 am before their boys turn up for training. I would arrange for four net bowlers who would bowl to Sudip. This Ranji century is an ode to his struggles," said Chakraborty, known as one-stop solution for any cricketer wanting to get match practice.

A fine back-foot player, Gharami prefers the on-side more and the drives and the pulls that he executed against Jharkhand was indicative that he was confident about his scoring areas.

To help his cause, all the Jharkhand pacers bowled either short on both sides of the wicket or bowled wide outside the off-stump.

Against quality spinners like Shahbaz Nadeem (0/61) and Anukul Roy, Gharami used his feet well and would time and again come down the track and drive on either side of the wicket.

Even in his 90s, there was no nervousness as he flicked Sushant Mishra (1/75) to reach 99 and then completed his hundred.

Gharami's father was once a daily contract labourer and to ensure that his son is never deprived of anything, worked his way up and is now a labour contractor.

"They weren't well off at one stage but over the past few years, they have moved up the ladder. His father is doing well and Sudip, apart from playing first-class, plays for CAB's top club East Bengal. But Sudip isn't money-minded and that has helped him as cricketer," the coach said.

Brief Scores: Bengal 310/1 (Sudip Gharami 106 batting, Anushtup Majumdar 85 bating, Abhimanyu Easwaran 65;Sushant Mishra 1/75) vs Jharkhand.

Also Read : UAE's ILT20 to be held from Jan 6 to Feb 12, 2023; Reliance, KKR, GMR, Adani own 4 out of 6 teams

News Source : PTI

2022-06-02 19:36

Will be fully fit in 6-8 weeks, says Rahane on hamstring injury

Mumbai, Jun 2 (Cricket News) Out-of-favour India batter Ajinkya Rahane said it would take at least six to eight weeks to recover fully from the hamstring injury he had sustained while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in this year's Indian Premier League.

Rahane had sustained the injury in KKR's second last game and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

"That (injury) was really unfortunate. But my rehab is going really well. I am recovering really well. I was in Bangalore (at the NCA) for nearly 10 days and I am going there again for my rehab and recovery. It's been on track," Rahane told PTI. "So right now my only focus is on getting better. Get fit as soon as possible and be on the field. I am not sure (when) I will be able to get (fully) fit, it is expected to be around 6-8 weeks but at this moment it is about taking one day at a time, one week at a time," added the elegant right-handed batter.

Rahane was speaking after the trailer launch of web-series 'Bandon Mein Tha Dum' to be streamed on 'Voot Select', based on India's 2020-21 Test series triumph in Australia. India won the series 2-1 after losing the first Test in Adelaide.

Turning out for KKR, Rahane scored 133 runs from seven matches in the just-concluded IPL, but the Mumbaikar termed his experience as a "good one".

"My experience with KKR was really good. I really enjoyed playing for KKR and the atmosphere there was really good. It is kind of a family atmosphere. We enjoyed each other's success on and off the field but unfortunately we couldn't qualify for the play-offs," he added.

"They (KKR team management) gave me a lot of freedom to play my game and I thought it was something special. Playing under (then KKR head coach) Brendon McCullum, I learnt a lot." Rahane, who scored a match-winning 112 in the 2020 Melbourne Test that scripted the turnaround for India, said it was a "special" knock.

"Definitely that hundred (in Melbourne) was really special and I think that is one of my best hundreds so far overseas and also in Test cricket.

"Considering what happened in Adelaide, 36 all out, losing the Test match and then going to Melbourne with a different mindset and getting a hundred there and winning the Test was more special.

"My hundred was special because we won the Test match there and from there we got the momentum and eventually went on to win the series," he signed off.

Also Read : Indian domestic players can walk into South Africa's side any day: Luus

News Source : PTI

2022-05-31 08:44

India's got Talent: IPL unearths next gen of fast bowlers, potential captain

New Delhi, May 30 (Cricket News) Where talent meets opportunity: the IPL lived up to its motto yet again with the 2022 season unearthing a battery of pacers -- some raw and some already polished -- and a potential India captain in Hardik Pandya.

In his first full season for Hyderabad, Umran Malik attracted the world's attention with his ability to clock 150kmph plus with ease, also forcing the Indian selectors to take notice while young left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan impressed with a lethal combination of pace and accuracy for the new Lucknow franchise.

The competition reinforced India's rise as a fast-bowling powerhouse with the likes of Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh (both Chennai Super Kings), Yash Dayal (Gujarat Titans) and Kuldeep Sen (Rajasthan Royals) also making their presence felt in the world's biggest T20 league.

There were young batters too who instantly showed they belonged to the higher level. They included Mumbai Indians' Tilak Varma who was praised by none other than his captain Rohit Sharma, who called the southpaw an India material.

Then there was Jitesh Sharma who drew praise from India great Virender Sehwag with his exploits as a wicketkeeper batter for Punjab Kings. His team failed to make the play-offs again but he made the most of the opportunity.

The other uncapped batters who may not be new to the IPL but had a memorable season included Hyderabad's Rahul Tripathi, who was unfortunate to miss out on an India call-up and Abhishek Sharma, who excelled as an opener.

Hardik makes his case for future India captaincy ---------------------------------------------------- Before the start of the IPL, there were serious questions marks over the star all-rounder's fitness but by the end of it, he not only ticked most of the boxes with bat and ball, but also emerged as an astute leader who could captain India in the future.

Having not played since India's early exit at the T20 World Cup last year, Hardik silenced all his critics after facing a lot of flak for his fitness and for not being able to bowl regularly.

He relished batting at number four, and when there was need for him to roll his arm over, he came up with vital contributions, including a match winning spell in the IPL final.

The oldies still got it ---------------------- It was also a season to remember for the experienced Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha and Dinesh Karthik, who made yet another India comeback after excelling in the finisher's role for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

His team Kolkata Knight Riders may have made a premature exit, but Umesh made the ball talk in the early part of the tournament, providing regular breakthroughs for his team in the powerplay.

He was never rated highly for the T20 game but this season he showed he can very much thrive in the shortest format.

Playing for the victorious Gujarat team, Saha rediscovered himself with bat as he opened alongside Shubman Gill.

Left out of the Indian Test team, Saha had a point to prove and with his ability to play strokes all around the ground, he helped Gujarat get off to a flier on a number of occasions. COVID struck IPL again but BCCI ensured smooth conduct --------------------------------------------------------------- After the pandemic, it was the first IPL that was held in India in its entirety with the BCCI pulling off a challenging task to stage 74 games in over two months, 14 more than the last edition following the addition of two new teams.

It did face a few hiccups with Delhi Capitals reporting multiple cases in their camp, forcing the board to reschedule a few games.

However, with the COVID situation in control in the country, there was never any threat to the tournament even after an outbreak in the Delhi franchise.

Also Read : Hope to have more Bengal players in KKR: CAB president

News Source : PTI

2022-05-31 02:20

Hope to have more Bengal players in KKR: CAB president

Kolkata, May 30 (Cricket News) Cricket Association of Bengal on Monday urged city's IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to have more players from the state.

In the past many from Bengal, including the former India captain Sourav Ganguly, Manoj Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami and Mohammed Shami played in the purple colours.

But it's been a long time since a player from Bengal represented the two-time former champions in the IPL.

"We would love to see more Bengal players in KKR. I had raised the issue of reviving the catchment area concept in IPL in BCCI," Avishek said on the sidelines of the inter-school KMC Mayor's Cup final at Eden Gardens.

St James School defeated Nava Nalanda High School by eight wickets to win the tournament involving 32 school teams.

"We are giving utmost importance to this meet because we want more players to come through the ranks and sons of soil to make up for the Bengal team. The Cricket Talent Search Committee will also look into these young talents." The tournament returned after a two-year gap following the COVID-19 pandemic.

KKR are one of the sponsors of the meet and Avishek said: "We can hope to see junior knights from these players. The money given by them will be utilised for the development of budding cricketers." Jagmohan Dalmiya remembered ========================= The final of the tournament coincided with former ICC and BCCI president late Jagmohan Dalmiya's 82nd birth anniversary.

Remembering the talent search programme initiated by Dalmiya during his tenure as the BCCI president, Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim said: "This was his initiative and he's responsible for bringing out so many great cricketers today.

"We fondly remember him on his birthday today and show our deepest respect towards him.

"He had given his entire life to the game of cricket and transformed the game on its head. He brought meaningful changes to cricket structurally, administratively and in its outlook both at the national level as BCCI chief and at international level as ICC Chairman." CAB president Avishek Dalmiya, vice-president Naresh Ojha, mayor Hakim, CAB secretary Snehashis Ganguly, assistant secretary Debabrata Das among others paid floral tributes to Dalmiya on his birthday.

Also Read : Gavaskar feels Hardik has emerged as contender for India captaincy

News Source : PTI

2022-05-28 14:08

This is different Virat, one who has made more mistakes in one season than his entire career: Sehwag

New Delhi, May 28 (Cricket News) Virat Kohli has made "more mistakes in one IPL season" than he has in his entire 14-year international career, feels Virender Sehwag, who is seeing "different version" of the former India captain than what one is normally used to.

Kohli, who hasn't scored an international hundred for more than two-and-half years, is enduring his worst slump, having scored 341 runs in 16 IPL games at a below-par average of 22.73 and two half-centuries. In fact, he opened the innings in most games.

"This is not the Virat Kohli that we know. This is a different Virat Kohli playing this season. Otherwise the number of mistakes that he has committed this season, he hasn't done it in his entire career," Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

Sehwag, one of India's greatest match-winners during his prime, however empathised with Kohli as he feels that India's No.1 batter has got out in all possible manners in his desperate bid to try out different tactics.

"It can happen when you are not scoring runs. You try looking at various options to get out of bad patch and that leads you to getting dismissed in various ways. This season, Kohli has been out in all possible ways that one can think of," the man with 17,000 plus international runs across formats, added.

In the second qualifier, Kohli chased a fast, rising delivery from pacer Prasidh Krishna, which was wide outside the off-stump, giving a simple catch to Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson behind the stumps.

"When you are out of form, then you have tendency of trying to middle each and every delivery. A batter thinks, if I can middle the ball, I will gain more confidence.

"However Virat did leave a lot of deliveries in that first over (from Trent Boult) but this is what happens when you are out of form. You tend to chase the deliveries wide outside the off-stump. You start following each of them. So when you have luck going your way, even in bad form, you will not edge it but here this didn't happen," the former opener explained.

What did catch Sehwag's attention was his indecisive poke at the delivery.

"The delivery that he got out to -- it had pace and bounce. So he could have either left it or may be just go hard at it. Who knows, it might have flown over keeper's head but what he did was give simple catch practice. It was as if he was giving catching practice like we do for the slip fielders during net session," he analysed.

Sehwag didn't mince words when he said that Kohli did disappoint his millions of fans as one expects stars to own the big stage.

"He has certainly disappointed everyone. We all expect that in a big game, the big player will perform, he disappointed not only himself but also his legion of fans and the RCB fans," Sehwag added.

In fact, former keeper Parthiv Patel raised a pertinent point about Kohli not having the cut shot in his repertoire, which at times comes in handy during lean patches.

"On a bouncy track, one needs to play the cut shot. But Virat never plays the cut shot, that's not his technique. So the delivery that got him out, a very similar delivery was also bowled to Rajat Patidar, who slashed hard and it went over fielder's head for four runs," Parthiv said.

Also Read : Sanju has been exceptional as player and skipper, says Sangakkara

News Source : PTI

2022-05-24 18:48

The day I lose my passion for experimentation, I will be done with game: Ashwin

Kolkata, May 24 (Cricket News) India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says he has "found a purpose in life", which is pushing the experimental boundaries without worrying much about the criticism that comes your way when you choose an uncharted terrain.

Ashwin is relishing one his "happiest IPL seasons" even as his 11 wickets and 183 runs won't exactly describe the kind of impact he has made on Rajasthan Royals' campaign.

Ashwin, the T20 batter has been as much a revelation as Ashwin, the bowler, who bamboozled the dangerous Andre Russell with a gem that can easily be counted as one of the best deliveries this season.

"This is one very different year as far as I am concerned as a cricketer and a person. Truth be told, this has easily been one of the happiest years of my experience at the IPL," Ashwin told Rajasthan Royals social media team in an interview.

For Ashwin, this year has been about exploring less traversed areas, whether it was growing as a finisher with the bat or give the team a blazing start as pinch hitter. "Nothing to do with performance and qualifications. It is about how much I have enjoyed in terms of performance. The day I stop experimenting, the day I stop losing the passion for that, is the day I will be done with game," Ashwin, India's second highest wicket-taker in Tests, said.

"I have been able to my thought processes to a different level this year. How do I coin this, it's tricky? They call it freedom of expression," said current Indian team's only "cricket scientist".

The delivery he bowled from round the wicket to beat Russell neck and crop in a tense game against KKR was a signal that "some things are just meant to be." "I am one of those very lucky few people who have found the purpose of life. The happiest moment for me was dismissing Russell in the KKR game. I genuinely believed that turned the tide.

"Previous day at practice, I worked on running from different angles over the wicket. First time I executed that, the game was in balance and he got out, then Yuzi hattrick happened. From that moment I felt things are meant to be," he said.

But the experiment could have gone south but Ashwin was ready for that.

"Earlier, I have tried this and it didn't work and people questioned. I don't know how people would have reacted if it didn't work, but it worked." "It's been a journey, I have made lot of mistakes. Years ago we had this head coach Duncan Fletcher and I would go and ask him, how do I improve this, how do I improve that, how do I get get better? He said only way you get better is by making mistakes and failing in front of people." "That's I have done all my life. I have received a lot of criticism from people on how I have tried to expand beyond the realms sometimes people may feel, 'Why the hell is he doing such things? Is he over ambitious, is he trying to do too much? "But that's just me, if you try to take that out of me you won't get this person. So I come with a lot of problems. If I am utilised and given the form of expression I require, I think I can explore boundaries," he said.

Royals played the season with "no expectations" ---------------------------------------------------- For Ashwin, the "greatest strength of this team has been playing with freedom and no expectations." "We should continue that and put a lot of pressure on whoever is coming up against us in rest of games that's left for us." He feels that the team might be onto something special. "It's a good beginning. Last time we qualified was when Shane Warne was around. Looks like we are on to something special. It's been a great effort if I look back at season.

"We have had our low moments but we have been pretty standard in how we have managed our inner space. Honeymoon with RR has been very good and hope it continues," he said.

Also Read : Path is going to be challenging, continue to work hard: Sachin tells son Arjun

News Source : PTI

2022-05-19 13:00

RCB hope to qualify as they take on top seed GT in match no 67

(Cricket news) After KKR’s loss yesterday the fight for the last place is now between RCB and DC. With 14 points to their name, RCB will be aiming to defeat table-toppers GT comprehensively in their final game of the league phase to give themselves the best chance of progressing into the playoffs. But if they lose, it would be an exit door for the franchise as they have a negative NRR of -.323. Even if RCB emerge victorious they won’t be guaranteed a place in the top 4 considering their poor net run rate.

RCB’s main concern this season has been the topsy turvy form of Virat Kohli as he needs to score runs at the top of the order if RCB are to win big against the table topper Gujarat. RCB may need one of their big three Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell to play a match winning innings. The other silver lining is that Rajat Patidar is making the number three spot his own with useful contributions and Mahipal Lormor is also making useful contributions with the bat this season. Dinesh Karthik will again be the key batsman heading into the match, a lot will rest on his shoulder to finish the innings for RCB. On a positive note, Wanindu Hasaranga has bagged 23 wickets so far and is subsequently the second highest wicket taker this season. In the pace department Josh Hazelwood needs to bounce back after ending up with sorry figures of 0 for 64 from four overs as Johnny Bairstow went on a six-hitting spree against him, on the other hand, Siraj has conceded 85 runs in his last seven overs in this IPL as he needs to improve his death bowling.

GT have already qualified for the playoffs and will try some different combinations and permutation before playing the first qualifier in Kolkata. Wriddhiman Saha has provided them with much needed impetus in the Powerplay over the last few games while Shubman Gill has compiled over 400 runs this season as their opening combination has been one of the main reasons for their success. One of the worries for the side is the form of their skipper Hardik Pandya, who has scored only 56 runs in his last six matches after his blistering start to the season. In the bowling department, Rashid Khan is finally getting back to his deadly best as he has picked up seven wickets in his last three matches. GT's seamers have been brilliant this season with the new ball, taking 25 wickets in the PowerPlay this season, Shami alone has taken 11 wickets in the powerplay. Rashid Khan vs Dinesh Karthik will be an interesting battle as Rashid has dislodged Karthik three times and given away only 30 runs off 28 balls.

Pitch and weather report: The Wankhede pitch has been a high scoring venue this season like we saw in the last match, SRH vs MI. The decks at the Wankhede have tended to offer spongy bounce through the course of the tournament and batters find it difficult to bat early on. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees with no chance of rain as dew may play a factor in the second innings.

Interesting facts:

GT seamers have the best death overs economy rate in IPL 2022.
RCB and GT are undefeated at the Wankhede Stadium this season with
Titans have hit the fewest sixes (59) in this year's IPL but the most fours (210).
Saha has a strike rate of 138.40 in the powerplay this season.
Mohammed Shami has dismissed Kohli five times in 60 balls and conceded only 80 runs.
Rahul Tewatia has hit Harshal Patel for 40 runs off 21 balls without getting dismissed
Maxwell has the highest strike rate (200.00) against spinners
Virat Kohli needs one catch to reach 150 catches in T20 cricket.
Mohammad Shami requires three wickets to reach 100 wickets in the IPL

Also read: LSG pull-off last ball thriller after de Kock's sensational hundred

Probable XI for RCB:

1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Rajat Patidar, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Mahipal Lomror, 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Probable XI for GT:

1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Matthew Wade, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 R Sai Kishore, 9 Lockie Ferguson/Alzarri Joseph, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Pradeep Sangwan/Yash Dayal

2022-05-19 11:16

LSG pull-off last ball thriller after de Kock's sensational hundred

Navi Mumbai, May 18 (Cricket News) Quinton de Kock struck a sensational hundred and shared a record opening stand with skipper K L Rahul as Lucknow Super Giants pipped Kolkata Knight Riders by two runs in a last-ball IPL thriller to seal their play-off spot here on Wednesday.

De Kock gave a batting masterclass enroute to an unbeaten 140 off 70 balls as he and Rahul (68 not out off 51) fired LSG to 210 for no loss, the highest opening stand in IPL history.

It was a steep chase but KKR stayed in the game through Nitish Rana (42) and captain Shreyas Iyer (50) but it was too big a task for the lower-order. Their innings ended 208 for eight in 20 overs.

Just when it looked KKR were down and out, Sunil Narine (21 not out off) and Rinku Singh (40 off 15) started smashing the LSG bowlers around the ground to reignite hopes of the dug out.

KKR needed 38 runs off the last two overs and they both brought the equation down to 21 off the final over.

Rinku came up with couple of sixes and a four to make it five off the last three balls but he fell to a special one handed catch from Evin Lewis to bring LSG back into the game.

With three needed off the final ball, Marcus Stoinis landed a yorker to dismiss Umesh Yadav and help his team win a humdinger.

The loss knocked KKR out of the competition, while LSG, who had lost their last two matches, moved back into the top-two with the win.

Earlier, Rahul and de Kock got the measure of the wicket in the powerplay, reaching 44 for no loss, before flaunting their wide range of strokes on way to the third highest stand in tournament history.

The South African hammered 10 sixes and as many fours in his whirlwind innings, while Rahul collected four sixes and three fours in his 51-ball 68 not out. De Kock, who was dropped by Abhijeet Tomar off Umesh Yadav in the third over, made KKR pay heavily by getting the highest score of the season. His memorable innings was also third highest individual score in tournament history.

The South African was in his elements smashing the spinners and pacers with equal disdain.

He used the pull shot against the faster bowlers and was at his innovative best against the seasoned spin duo of Sunil Narine and off coloured Varun Chakaravarthy.

Out of the sixes he hit, de Kock's reverse sweep off Narine stood out. Anything short from the pacers, de Kock was happy to put it away over deep square leg region.

De Kock cruised to his hundred in the 18th over with a cut shot off Russell and the innings meant a lot to him, something that was visibly by his down on knees celebration.

The southpaw was in no mood to stop even after reaching three figures. Tim Southee was poor in the death overs as he fed balls after balls in the slot for de Kock to deposit it into the stands.

His 19th over yielded as many as 27 runs with de Kock finding the boundary at will.

Rahul watched de Kock's breathtaking knock from the best seat in the house. The skipper did not have much to do in the slog overs but he too played some sublime strokes on way to his third half century of the season.

Rahul also completed 500 runs in the tournament for the fifth season in a row. PTI KKR bowlers leaked 88 runs in the last five overs with Southee and Russell proving to be the most expensive bowlers.

Also Read : Sensational de Kock, consistent Rahul power LSG to 210-0 against KKR

News Source : PTI

2022-05-18 15:46

ECB appoint Matthew Mott as England Men's White-Ball Head Coach

(Cricket news) Matthew Mott has been appointed England Men’s White-Ball Head Coach, as announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The 48 year old has signed a four year contract and will take charge for England’s three-match ODI series against the Netherlands in Amsterdam next month.

The ECB's selection panel of Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison, Managing Director of England's Men's Cricket Rob Key, Strategic Adviser Andrew Strauss and Performance Director Mo Bobat unanimously agreed that he was the standout candidate for the role during the competitive interview process. Mott previously guided the Australian Women’s Team since 2015 and has one of the best winning records across international sport. Under him, Australia won consecutive ICC T20 World Cups, this year's ICC Women's 50-Over World Cup and are undefeated in four Ashes series. Mott also helped Australia win 26 consecutive one-day internationals, a record in either the men's or women's game.

Before taking up his post with Australia women in 2015, Mott worked as Head Coach of New South Wales - leading them to victory in the Champions League T20 tournament in 2009 - and then coached Glamorgan, reaching the final of the Yorkshire Bank 40 in 2013, before working as a consultant for Ireland during the 2015 ICC Men's World Cup. Commenting on the appointment of Mott, Managing Director of England's Men's Cricket Rob Key, said: "It is a real privilege to be able to announce Mathew Mott as the Head Coach of our men's white-ball team. He has had an incredible coaching journey with so many varied experiences that have brought him to this point where he was outstanding in the interview process and the perfect fit for our white-ball teams.

"We are lucky to be able to appoint a Head Coach that has not only been involved in international cricket for the last few years but he has also worked in franchise cricket around the world. More importantly, what he has done with the Australian Women's team is what will be asked of him to achieve for our men's white-ball sides. I'm confident that in Eoin Morgan and Matthew Mott, we have a formidable partnership that can push for more trophies in the coming years and that Matthew will be able to oversee any transition that team will go through in the future. Furthermore, Matthew will also help us invest in English coaches getting them as much experience as possible over the next few years."

England Men's White-Ball Head Coach, Matthew Mott, added: "I am delighted to accept the opportunity to take this white-ball role with England. Whilst I am Australian, I have deep connections, and several of my closest friends are in the UK, having spent considerable time in Scotland, Wales and England, both as a player and coach. When this role became available, I was attracted by the chance to work with such an established and successful team under the astute leadership of Eoin Morgan and now Rob Key, whom I have always admired as an excellent cricket mind.

"The idea of the split roles and the chance to work alongside Brendon McCullum in his red-ball role is an opportunity that I am incredibly enthusiastic about and certainly provides the right balance for my family as we embark on this exciting journey. It was always going to take something special to leave the role that I have loved for the past seven years with the Australian Women's team. However, I genuinely believe that the time is right to play a role in helping the England Men's ODI and T20 group continue to evolve as one of the best teams in the world.

"I am fully aware that this team has been functioning well and part of my initial plan is to work with the playing group and support staff on how we can firstly maintain, then enhance, the success they have started to build over the past few years. Since the excitement of accepting this role, I, like many people around the world, have been trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of my great mate Andrew Symonds. The support of his beautiful family and close friends in the coming days will be vitally important, so I respectfully request some time to process his passing and the immense loss before making any further comment on the role at this stage."

Also read: KKR look to keep their playoffs hopes alive as they face LSG

2022-05-18 14:36

KKR look to keep their playoffs hopes alive as they face LSG

(Cricket news) KKR’s slim hopes of qualifying for the playoffs this season rely on them to win against a strong LSG squad. On the other hand LSG will be on the back of two losses and will hope to bounce back and secure their position in the top 4. All KKR can make sure is that they get a big victory in order to get their NRR (0.160) ahead of Delhi Capitals (0.255). That would mean DC's game against Mumbai Indians will be a must-win game for them.

For LSG their batting has been the reason for the good run in the tournament but over the last two matches it has somewhat deteriorated. LSG since the auction have had the best opening combination as they have an average of 36.13 for the first wicket which is the second-best in IPL 2022. But their batting problems start after the pair of Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul are separated. From batting position 3 to 6, LSG batters have averaged only 21.88, which is the worst of any team in this year's IPL. They have tried different players at different batting positions but none have paid dividence as of now. They have tried as many as nine batters, including K Gowtham, Jason Holder and Karan Sharma, at number 3 and 4. One saving grace for this team are the fast bowlers as both the young bowlers in Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan have seriously impressed with the correct line and length. KKR have lost 38 wickets to short or short-of-good-length balls from fast bowlers, expect Jason Holder and Chameera to bowl a lot of short balls

KKR and opening batting combination have been a niggling theme this season, they have already used five opening batting combinations this season, and finally managed to get a first 50-plus opening stand through Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane against MI. But with Rahane ruled out, they will be forced to change their opening pairing yet again. KKR over the last few matches have been heavily reliant on Nitish Rana to score the majority of the runs, he has scored 176 runs in his last five games at an average of 44 and has also hit 22 sixes, which is subsequently the most by an Indian batter this season, and has taken on the spinners especially in the middle overs. Shreyas Iyer also needs to lead from the front after a blistering start to the tournament he has been struggling to score runs recently. In the bowling Andre Russell has become their leading wicket taker with 17 wickets this season as Umesh Yadav (6.9) and Tim Southee (7.0) have been the most economical. All three fast bowlers will need to perform if KKR are to get a massive victory.

Pitch and weather report: The DY Patil pitch has been tiring out as winning the toss and batting first becomes important. The older the ball, the more difficult it becomes to bat on this pitch. Batters need to take advantage of the power play if they are to post a respectable total. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees as no rain is expected today.

Interesting facts:

LSG have a run-rate of 11.30 at the death is the best of any team in IPL 2022, while KKR are at the bottom of that list at 9.82.
KL Rahul has been dismissed for 10 or less for 12 times since the start of 2018 - six of have come in this season alone and subsequently four of those have come in the last five innings
Shreyas Iyer has only 115 runs in his last 6 innings, at an average of 19.17 and a SR of 104.55
Sunil Narine has an economy rate of only 5.48 this season
Andre Russell needs 28 runs to reach 2000 runs for KKR in the IPL.
Tim Southee needs five scalps to take 50 wickets in IPL

Also read: GT look to continue winning run, RCB need big victory to remain in play-off race

Probable XI for LSG:
1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 KL Rahul (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Ayush Badoni, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Avesh Khan, 9 Mohsin Khan, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Dushmantha Chameera

Probable XI for KKR:
1 B Indrajith, 2 Venkatesh Iyer, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sam Billings (wk), 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

2022-05-17 12:49

AB de Villiers, Gayle inducted into the RCB Hall of Fame

Mumbai, May 17 (Cricket News) Legendary cricketers Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have become the first two players to be inducted into the Royal Challengers Bangalore's Hall of Fame.

Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli made the announcement about the inductions of his two dear mates.

"AB has truly changed the game of cricket with his innovation, brilliance, and sportsmanship which truly defines the RCB Play Bold philosophy," Kohli said in a statement posted on the franchise's website.

"It's truly special for me to be doing this for both of you. We saw videos of how you have changed the way the IPL has been played over the years. Two people who have had a huge impact in IPL being where it is today; and RCB being where it is today," he added.

While South African great de Villiers had been an integral part of RCB from 2011 to 2021, dashing left-handed batter Gayle from West Indies was with the franchise for six years.

De Villiers, who had joined the induction virtually, gave an emotional message to everyone in the team camp.

"To the RCB boys sitting there, what an amazing privilege. Quite emotional to be honest," he said.

"Virat, thanks for the kind words. Mike (Hesson), Nikhil, everyone from the franchise who set this up, it's a really special touch. We had some amazing times together as a team, and the sun has moved on for Chris and I now, but we're still very much part of the family and will always be.

"So yes, thank you very much for the very special touch. Faf and the guys sitting there, Virat and the guys that know me really well for many years know how special stuff like this is to me. You guys know how much of an amazing journey I had during the IPL, especially with my RCB family, and how it changed my life. So, huge privilege to be part of this. I don't have enough words to thank you for this touch." West Indies batting stalwart Gayle, who has played for RCB from 2011 to 2017, said: "I want to thank the RCB family for the opportunity, for everything. It's been really special to me as well. And to be inducted is something fantastic, and I will always keep RCB close to my heart.

"I share a lot of memories with some special players, some special coaches as well. It’s been really, really fantastic. And to Virat, thank you for the kind words as well, fantastic sharing the dressing room with you guys as well."

Also Read : KKR eye big win to keep slim hope alive, LSG look to seal play-off berth

News Source : PTI

2022-05-17 12:07

KKR eye big win to keep slim hope alive, LSG look to seal play-off berth

Navi Mumbai, May 17 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders need a big win in their final round-robin match to keep their slim IPL play-off hopes alive, while Lucknow Super Giants will look to seal their position in the top four when the two teams face off here on Wednesday.

With seven losses and six wins, KKR are placed at the sixth spot with 12 points and they will not only have to win but do it with a big margin and then hope that other results go their way to salvage any hope of sneaking into the knockout stage.

LSG already have one foot at the play-offs as they are placed at the third spot with 16 points but with a number of teams jostling it out for remaining three berths, they will look to add two more points to avoid any last-minute hiccup.

Two-time former champions, KKR, which had reached the final last year, have managed to keep their theoretical chances alive after coming good in the last two matches against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Shreyas Iyer's men rode on Andre Russell's all-round brilliance and near perfect execution from the bowlers to notch up a comprehensive 54-run win over SRH in their last match.

While Russell and Sam Billings lifted KKR to 177/6 to set up the win, the top-order once again couldn't produce the goods after being reduced to 72 for 3.

Ajinkya Rahane's struggle at the top was evident as he found it difficult to rotate strikes, while Venkatesh Iyer too continued to disappoint in his second season.

Nitish Rana has blown hot and cold, while skipper Iyer's bat has been silent in the last three games. KKR also lost pace spearhead Pat Cummins, who was ruled out owing to a hip injury but it didn't matter much as the Kolkata outfit dished out a stellar bowling effort the other day.

Back in the team after recovering from a calf muscle injury, Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee kept things tight, while Russell snapped three crucial wickets.

Spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy too were in their elements and KKR will hope for another clinical show from their bowling unit. LSG, on the other hand, are coming into the match after suffering two successive defeats and will have to put up an improved show to end things on a high.

The main concern for LSG is their poor batting show in the last two matches with the batters struggling in the powerplay against quality bowling.

LSG's batting is a lot dependent on skipper KL Rahul, who has done bulk of the scoring with two hundreds but he has been off-colour in the last three games.

Other opener Quinton de Kock, who has scored three half centuries, too has been dismissed for 11 and 7 in the last two games, which added to the team's woes.

However, Deepak Hooda has been rock solid and it was his fifty that kept LSG in the hunt in the last game.

Young Ayush Badoni too will be eager to prove he is not a one-game wonder, while Krunal Pandya also has to step up in the rear end of the tournament.

LSG will also look to use Marcus Stoinis better as he is one of the most prolific all-rounders in world cricket.

Bowling has proved to be the weak link for LSG though the likes of Avesh Khan and Jason Holder have delivered with 17 and 14 wickets so far but Mohsin Khan was taken to the cleaners in the last game.

Spinner Ravi Bishnoi picked up two wickets against Rajasthan Royals and LSG would expect him to keep things tight in the middle overs on Wednesday.

Teams (from): Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Quinton De Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya. Jason Holder.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Aaron Finch, Abhijeet Tomar, Ajinkya Rahane, Baba Indrajith, Nitish Rana, Pratham Singh, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Ashok Sharma, Pat Cummins, Rasikh Dar, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Aman Khan, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammed Nabi, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson.

Match starts at 7:30 PM.

Also Read : Mixing up deliveries paid off against Punjab, says Shardul

News Source : PTI

2022-05-15 12:08

Why change something that's working: Moody happy to continue with Williamson as opener

Mumbai, May 15 (Cricket News) Defending the decision to persist with the out-of-form Kane Williamson at the top, Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody said "why change something that's working for something that's not working," adding that the other batters in the side are excelling in their roles.

Skipper Williamson is enduring a wretched run in this season of the IPL. The Kiwi has collected just 208 runs from 12 games at an average of 18.92.

"Rahul Tripathi has batted exceptionally well at No. 3 and (Aiden) Markram has been one of the leading batters in the tournament at No. 4," Moody defended the move to retain Markram and Tripathi at No. 3 and 4 respectively, at the post-match press conference.

"So, we felt why change something that's working for something that's not working." Williamson has struggled to get going in this edition. In the 54-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, the skipper hit 9 off 17 balls.

"We have trusted Kane with his quality, there's no question of his world-class quality. So, that's why we haven't made that move because as we have seen throughout the tournament where the batting has been functioning really well.

"That is Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, Tripathi at 3, Markram 4 and (Nicholas) Pooran 5." The Sunrisers were on course to seal off a playoff berth after they were on a five-match winning streak, but things have gone awry for them since then as they have now lost five games on the trot, severely denting their hopes of qualifying for the next stage.

"We did get on a nice winning roll, started to play some good cricket and had everyone available for selection and then we missed a game that we should've won to make it six in a row," Moody said.

Moody said the team lost "a little bit of confidence" when the two of its frontline bowlers -- Washington Sundar and T Natarajan -- suffered injuries.

"Then we had injuries to Washington and Natarajan. Every team has their injuries, but they play pretty key roles for us in the side and that's where I think we lost a little bit of confidence and also as a bowling unit a bit of rhythm to our game and method to our defence of 120 balls." Russell can do special things: Southee ========================= Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Tim Southee heaped praise on allrounder Andre Russell, whose all-round brilliance kept the team's slim hopes of a play-off.

"He has been tremendous throughout the whole tournament, not only with the bat but also with the ball. There are few guys around the world, who can do special things and Russell is one of those guys," Southee said.

"He thrives on those moments and most times than not, he turns in with a performance that the team needs." Russell first smashed an unbeaten 49 off 28 balls to take KKR to 177 for six after they were down and out at 94 for 5 and then returned to snap three wickets for 22 runs to limit SRH to 123 for 8.

"The partnership was crucial. We lost a few wickets in the middle and we needed to have two overseas players coming together and grab the game and take us to a competitive total. We played here a couple of days back so we knew it was going to be tougher in the second innings." KKR now have 12 points from 13 games with a net run-rate of +0.160. With Rajasthan Royals (14 from 12) and RCB (14 from 13 games) having chance to move up, even a victory in their final match is unlikely to be enough for the franchise to make it to the play-offs.

"Every game is a must win game for us and with one game left, it helps. Last two games we had convincing wins and it just showed the nature of the tournament. It tends to happen majority of the years where you get into that stage where there are number of teams that still are able to make the final play off spots. It is not over till it is over."

Also Read : We had nothing to lose, mindset was outstanding: Shreyas Iyer

News Source : PTI

2022-05-15 12:03

We had nothing to lose, mindset was outstanding: Shreyas Iyer

Mumbai, May 14 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer was all praise for his team's "outstanding mindset" during its 54-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad as the players had nothing to lose at this stage of the tournament.

KKR remained in play-off contention, albeit with a slim chance but what Iyer liked was that his team was able to bring their 'A' game to the fore.

"The mindset we came up in this game, it was outstanding. All the boys did the right things, played fearless cricket. Everything panned out really well," Iyer said after the match.

"We have nothing to lose now. We haven't played our A-game yet, that's what I spoke today before the game," Iyer said.

On the gameplan front, Iyer said that at the back-end, they wanted Andre Rusell (49 no and 3/22) to take as much strike as possible.

"We were going over-by-over. The plan was to give Russell the strike as much as possible. We knew Washi (Washington Sundar) had one over left, that was the over we were going to target. It worked out pretty well, hope it works out well in the final game as well," the skipper said.

"It was an over-par total. Sunil (Narine) and Varun (Chakravarthy) stepped-up, they bowled smart and got crucial wickets. We never allowed them to get under our skins, kudos to that." Skipper "clarifies" his CEO "comment" --------------------------------------------- It was a day of back-tracking and after CSK batter Ambati Rayudu went back on his IPL retirement plans, it was time for KKR captain to predictably take back his words after inadvertently spelling out that CEO Venky Mysore is involved in team selection.

Questions were raised after KKR played 13 different combinations in 13 games so far, some forced due to injuries but a few just for the heck of it.

It was known that KKR management have had a word with Iyer and told him to clarify as his comments reflected poorly on the all-powerful Mysore.

"When I took the CEO's name, I wanted to say that he's there to console the players who've been sitting out. It's tough for us as well while picking teams," Iyer said.

We lacked momentum, says Williamson -------------------------------------------- This year's IPL has been a lesson for him, admitted skipper Kane Williamson as he was at pains to explain how SRH have now managed to lose five games on the trot and are almost out of play-off contentions.

"The game teaches us lessons and I am learning it right now," Williamson said on his own wretched form.

"We have been struggling with creating momentum in the last few games. Sundar stepped up in the last over. Using our resources a little early didn't work for us today.

"We wanted to get off to a good start. There were glimpses and signs but wasn't to be. The run rate got up and we were not able to pull it back."

Also Read : Kolkata Knight Riders beat SRH by 54 runs in must-win IPL game

News Source : PTI

2022-05-14 13:50

LSG look to confirm IPL play-offs berth with win over RR

Mumbai, May 14 (Cricket News) In impressive form throughout the season, Lucknow Super Giants would look to bounce back from their previous match defeat and register a win to confirm their IPL play-offs berth when they face another aspirants, Rajasthan Royals, here on Sunday.

LSG were on top of IPL points table with four wins on the trot before relinquishing that position after losing to Gujarat Titans in their previous match.

The KL Rahul-led side, which is now at second spot with 16 points, would not want to lose another game just before the start of the knockout round.

The Royals would also look to make amends for their all-round failure in their comprehensive eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Capitals in their last match.

With 16 points from 12 matches, a win for LSG on Sunday will confirm their play-offs berth. For the Royals too, a victory will take them on the verge of securing a last-four stage spot.

Captain Rahul and his opening partner Quinton de Kock will have to score the bulk of runs once again for LSG. Both fell cheaply against the Titans and they would look to bounce back against the Royals.

Rahul, the tournament's second most prolific batter with 459 runs from 12 matches, has been in impressive form with two centuries and as many half centuries.

De Kock has scored three half centuries to accumulate 355 runs from 12 outings.

Deepak Hooda is another batter who is in form with 347 runs and three half centuries, and he has the ability to make a difference.

The Royals will rely heavily on England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who has scored 625 runs from 12 matches with the help of three centuries and as many half centuries. His team-mates though have not been in the best of form.

Captain Sanju Samson has, again, failed to realise his full potential though he has not done bad either. He has scored 327 runs from 12 matches with two half centuries.

The good news for the Royals is that Devdutt Padikkal (295 runs from 12 matches) has shown some consistency with 31 and 48 in the last two matches though he is yet to make a big one.

The same is the case with Shimron Hetmyer (291 from 11 matches), who has shown a lot of promise but is yet to fire, though his 31 not out off 16 balls was instrumental in the Royals' six-wicket win over Punjab Kings.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the top-scorer for the Royals in their previous match against Delhi Capitals and his utility as a batter can be exploited by the Royals.

The Royals will once again depend on spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who is at joint top among wicket-takers with 23 scalps from 12 matches, to deal with the likes of Rahul and de Kock, even as R Ashwin, Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna look to chip in.

For LSG, bowling is the weaker department and the likes of Avesh Khan and Jason Holder will have to step up to restrict Buttler and other RR batters.

Both were among wickets against the Titans while Mohsin Khan was economical with figures of 1/18 in four overs. The teams (from): Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Quinton De Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya. Jason Holder.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Riyan Parag, KC Cariappa, Navdeep Saini, Obed McCoy, Anunay Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Tejas Baroka, Kuldip Yadav, Shubham Garhwal, James Neesham, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rassie van der Dussen, Daryl Mitchell.

Match Starts at 7:30pm.

Also Read : Do or die game for KKR and SRH in match number 61

2022-05-14 13:25

Do or die game for KKR and SRH in match number 61

(Cricket news) For both the teams it will be a do or die fixture as they seem to have a very slim chance of qualifying for the playoffs, given their low tally of 10 points and their negative Net Run Rates. Delhi Capitals, with an NRR of +0.210 on the other hand, appear much better placed. But for both KKR and SRH, a victory isn't going to hurt whatever's left of their campaign.

For KKR their coach Brendon McCullum became the new England test match coach in the middle of KKR's campaign, meaning there's already a sense of flux in the camp and how the team responds to the news will be fascinating to watch. KKR will be without Pat Cummins for the entire campaign as he is flying back home after suffering a hip injury. In the batting department, KKR reverted back to their original opening partnership of Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkiya Rahane. Venkatesh's 24-ball 43 was essential to Knight Riders posting their first fifty opening stand with a score, 64 for 1 in the powerplay, against Mumbai Indians last match. KKR’s lower middle order of Rinku Singh and Andre Russell have been consistent this season but they need the top order to produce runs. In the bowling department, their highest wicket taker this Umesh Yadav needs to fit as they are missing that experience in the pace bowling department.

After 4 wins on the trot for SRH, their campaign has somewhat gone downhill due to the injuries in the squad. Sunrisers have tried out different bowling options, but Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kartik Tyagi, J Suchith and Shreyas Gopal haven't quite provided the control and wicket taking ability that Natarajan and Washington brought. The good news for Sunrisers fans is that both Natarajan and Washington are likely to be fit for this match. In the batting department, Captain Kane Williamson's powerplay strike rate of 79.52 is the lowest among batters who have faced more than 50 balls this season. His opening partner Abhishek Sharma's form has also cooled off after a hot start but their middle order of Aidan Markarm and Nicholas Pooran have been consistent with their performances. In the bowling department, Shreyas Iyer struggles against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, having scored 44 runs in 49 balls and dismissing him 3 times at an average of 14.67 with a strike-rate: 89.79. Since his five wicket haul, Umran Malik has figures of 4-0-48-0, 4-0-52-0 and 2-0-25-0, which needs to improve if they are to make the playoffs.

Pitch and weather report: The toss in Pune matters a lot as nine of the 12 games in Pune have been won by teams batting first but teams are still reluctant to defend totals. Last match we saw the pitch being on the slower side as the spinners played a massive part in the game. The temperature is going to hover around 26 degrees with no chance of rain as dew will not be a factor in the second innings.

Interesting facts:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the edge over Rahane in the IPL, having got him six times in 15 innings while keeping him to 89 runs off 96 balls
Andre Russell has smashed Bhuvneshwar for 51 off 21 balls at a strike rate of nearly 243 while getting just once in the IPL.
This is going to be Shreyas Iyer's 100th IPL game.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have won only one out of their five IPL matches in Pune.
Kolkata Knight Riders have won seven out of eight IPL matches in Pune.

Also read: Punjab Kings demolish RCB by 54 runs riding on half-centuries from Bairstow, Livingstone

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Venkatesh Iyer, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Sam Billings (wk), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Umesh Yadav/Shivam Mavi, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Probable XI for SRH:

1 Kane Williamson (capt), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Washington Sundar/J Suchith, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Marco Jansen/Fazalhaq Farooqi/Romario Shepherd, 10 Umran Malik, 11 T Natarajan/Kartik Tyagi

2022-05-13 13:43

IPL 2022: SRH face KKR in battle of survival

Pune, May 13 (Cricket News) Struggling after four straight losses, Sunrisers Hyderabad will need to sort their bowling woes when they take on an inconsistent Kolkata Knight Riders as both the teams look to stay afloat in the IPL play-off race here on Saturday.

A series of losses after a five-match winning streak has dropped SRH to the sixth spot with 10 points and they would need to win all the remaining three games to salvage any hopes of making it to the play-offs.

With 10 points, KKR, however, are on the brink of elimination. Shreyas Iyer's men have just two more matches to go and wins in both will only take them to 14 points, which might not be enough with Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore already sitting pretty in the top four with 14 points from 12 games.

One of the main reasons behind SRH's awful run in the last few games is injuries to frontline bowlers -- Washington Sundar and T Natarajan -- and the sudden loss of form of speedster Umran Malik.

It culminated in SRH conceding more than 190 plus runs in each of the last four games.

While Sundar had injured his bowling hand again, death over specialist Natarajan had picked up a niggle. But coach Tom Moody was hopeful of the duo's return against KKR.

Malik, who looked fast and furious in the earlier games clocking 150kmph consistently, has gone wicketless and conceded too many runs in the last few games and his form will be key for SRH.

Fazalhaq Farooqi and Karthik Tyagi were taken to cleaners by RCB in their last game, further adding to SRH's problems.

In batting, SRH have the quality but skipper Kane Williamson will have to take more responsibility as he has just one fifty to show this season. Although Abhishek Sharma has given them solid starts, the youngster has not been able to anchor the innings.

Rahul Tripathi, Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram too have been among runs but SRH batters will need assistance from their bowlers, who will have to ensure that they limit their opposition to reasonable totals.

KKR, on the other hand, are paying the price for making constant changes to their playing XI and are now staring at elimination after losing seven of their 12 games.

KKR, however, are coming into the match after beating Mumbai Indians in their last game and they would look to end things on a high.

The 2021 finalist have struggled in the powerplay this season but with Venkatesh Iyer, who was dropped due to his lean run, back in the mix, KKR produced a good effort against MI.

The seasoned Tim Southee and Pat Cummins too were back in the XI and produced a solid effort, sharing four wickets against MI.

But according to reports, Cummins will miss KKR's remaining matches as he is heading home early to recover from a minor hip injury.

KKR's highest wicket-taker Umesh Yadav had missed the last game after pulling his calf muscle and the team would be hoping he recovers for the match.

Teams (from): Kolkata Knight Riders: Aaron Finch, Abhijeet Tomar, Ajinkya Rahane, Baba Indrajith, Nitish Rana, Pratham Singh, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Ashok Sharma, Pat Cummins, Rasikh Dar, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Aman Khan, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammed Nabi, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson (C), Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Priyam Garg, Vishnu Vinod, Glenn Phillips, R Samarth, Shashank Singh, Romario Shepherd, Marco Jansen, J Suchith, Shreyas Gopal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sean Abbott, Kartik Tyagi, Saurabh Tiwary, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.

Match starts at 7.30PM IST.

Also Read : Absence of DRS was unlucky, set off chain of events that went against us: Fleming

News Source : PTI

2022-05-12 13:55

Struggling MI take on CSK in the IPL El Classico in match no 59

(Cricket news) For the majority of the 14 seasons before 2022, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have dominated the league with 9 titles between them, and have raised the roof whenever their paths have crossed. Although this season has not been smooth sailing for both the teams as they occupy the bottom two places in the table. For MI, their star player Suryakumar Yadav is out for the season, same applies to CSK with Ravindra Jadeja.

CSK dealt with a major blow when their former captain Jadeja was ruled out for the season with a rib injury. In the batting department, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway are forming a terrific opening pair. The two have put together one half-century and two century stands in just four innings. Along with that the finishing skills of MS Dhoni are coming in handy as he is only proving to the world that age is just a number. In the bowling department, Mukesh Choudhary seems to have turned the page after a poor start to the season and is their leading wicket taker this season, last match we saw Simranjeet Singh also perform well along with some season pros in the side. For CSK, Dwayne Bravo will hold the key as he has dismissed Rohit five times in the IPL before.

For MI, Suryakumar Yadav who has been the most successful batter this season for them, has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a forearm injury he suffered during the match against Gujarat Titans. In the batting department MI is clearly struggling to get any real partnerships going, the top order as well as the middle order have failed miserably this season. Mumbai can try out uncapped South African Tristan Stubbs in the playing XI as he could replace Ramandeep Singh, with Basil Thampi coming in for Riley Meredith to keep the overseas players' count to four. The batting really needs some reinforcements and Stubbs can bring that unknown quality to the table as the CSK bowlers must not have seen too much of him.

In the bowling department both Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah will be the key, Pollard has dismissed Conway three times in 17 balls for just 17 runs. He has been successful against Robin Uthappa also with three dismissals in 32 balls for only 42 runs. Against Moeen Ali, he has two dismissals in 25 balls for 25 runs. Bumrah fresh after his fifer against KKR, will look to get the better of Shivam Dube as he has dismissed him twice and scored just 10 runs in 17 balls against him.

Pitch and weather report: The Wankhede Stadium has historically been a high scoring venue with chasing being easier considering it's a small ground and dew playing a major part but the last two matches, the team batting first have won the match. The pacers will get a lot of pace and bounce with the new ball but once the ball becomes old, batting will be easier. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees with 10% chance of rain

Interesting facts:

MS Dhoni has scored 710 runs at a strike rate of 130.8 against MI in the tournament
Rohit Sharma has near-identical numbers against CSK - 752 runs at a strike rate of 125.3, including seven half-centuries
In IPL 2022, Pollard has scored only 144 runs in 11 innings at an average of 14.40 and a strike rate of 107.46.
Rohit Sharma has been dismissed 4 times against spin this season, scoring only 33 runs off 32 balls.
MS Dhoni will be batting his 200th innings for Chennai Super Kings in T20 cricket
Robin Uthappa (4951) is 49 runs away from completing 5000 runs in the tournament
Jasprit Bumrah (248) needs two scalps to complete 250 wickets in the T20 matches.
Devon Conway (3996) needs just four runs to complete the landmark of 4000 runs in T20 cricket.

Also read: Marsh's all-round heroics power DC to eight-wicket win over RR

Probable XI for CSK:
1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Robin Uthappa, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Simarjeet Singh, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Mukesh Choudhary

Probable XI for MI:
1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Tristan Stubbs/Ramandeep Singh, 5 Tim David, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 Hrithik Shokeen, 9 Kumar Kartikeya, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Basil Thampi/Riley Meredith

2022-05-11 15:54

Mumbai Indians to play for pride, Chennai Super Kings survival

Mumbai, May 11 (Cricket News) Their IPL play-off hopes hanging by a thread, Chennai Super Kings will face their fiercest rivals, a down and out Mumbai Indians, in their bid to stay afloat in the competition here on Thursday.

This has been a season to forget for both Mumbai and CSK. While Mumbai will be playing for pride, CSK still have an outside chance to progress if they win their remaining games and other results go their way.

CSK will be eliminated if they lose to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.

The M S Dhoni-led side would take confidence from their 91-run win over Delhi Capitals in their last outing and hope the batters build on their brilliant showing. Opener Devon Conway is in sublime form and has hit three back-to-back half centuries. He tore apart the Delhi Capitals attack with his whirlwind 87 and would need to provide an aggressive start with fellow opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who too has found form but can be more consistent.

The season got worse for Ravindra Jadeja who was left out for the last game against Delhi due to an injury after handing back the captaincy to Dhoni. It remains to be seen if he is back in action against Mumbai.

If CSK have to post a big score, like they did against DC, all batters will have to fire in unison.

Last time when the two sides met, a vintage Dhoni, 'the best finisher' sealed the game on the last ball of the game.

CSK bowlers were right on the money when they bundled DC for 117. Tweaker Moeen Ali picked three wickets, while young pacers Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh also fared well.

The trio will need to once again deliver along with key spinner Maheesh Theekshana, whose four overs can also change the game's fate. Another important cog is Bravo, who has the knack of breaking partnerships.

For Mumbai, all the remaining games are 'dead rubbers' and they would need to give a 'complete performance' with an improved batting show.

Skipper Rohit Sharma' (200 runs) will need to lead from the front and Ishan Kishan (321 runs) can build on his half century in the last game. MI's middle order batters, which crumbled against KKR, will also need to get the act right.

With Suryakumar Yadav ruled out, the likes of Tilak Varma, Tim David, Ramandeep Singh and Kieron Pollard, who has been a failure, will need to take greater responsibility.

In bowling, Bumrah found his mojo back and clinched a maiden five-wicket haul in IPL history. But he needs support from other bowlers -- Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith and Kumar Kartikeya Singh, who will need to contain the CSK batters.

While Mumbai would eye revenge, for Chennai the game is about "survival".

Teams (From): Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Anmolpreet Singh, Rahul Buddhi, Ramandeep Singh, Tilak Verma, Tim David, Arjun Tendulkar, Basil Thampi, Hrithik Shokeen, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat, Jofra Archer, Mayank Markande, Murugan Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Tristan Stubbs, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Daniel Sams, Dewald Brevis, Fabian Allen, Kieron Pollard, Sanjay Yadav, Aryan Juyal and Ishan Kishan.

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayadu, Robin Uthappa, Mitchell Santner, Chris Jordan, Adam Milne, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Dwaine Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Tushar Deshpande, KM Asif, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Subhranshu Senapati, K Bhagath Verma, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary. Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Playoff hopefuls DC take on Hetmyer less RR in match no 58

News Source : PTI

2022-05-10 11:38

There is lot of noise outside, but that doesn't affect me: Bumrah

Navi Mumbai, May 10 (Cricket News) Mumbai Indians pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who picked his maiden fifer in the IPL, said he is happy with his rhythm in the ongoing season and the "noise outside" doesn't affect him personally.

Despite the five-wicket haul, Bumrah has been able to take only 10 wickets in this IPL season from 11 matches.

"Look we prepare for the tournament and we have our process, we don't look at the end result," Bumrah said at the post-match press conference after MI lost to KKR by 52 runs.

"If you understand the game, you have to really observe what's going on, what is the game like, what situation you are bowling like, and for me personally I was very happy with the rhythm going on throughout the tournament." Bumrah bowled exceptionally well to restrict KKR to 165 for 9, but the MI batters faltered yet again, as the team suffered its ninth loss in eleven games.

"I know there is a lot of noise outside that goes on but it doesn't really affect me. Because I am not a person who judges my performance on what others think or what the experts are saying or whatever people want to say," he said.

Bumrah hasn't been able to pick wickets consistently this season but the pacer said the way he contributes to the team is more important for him.

"I look at my personal evaluation is very important, I look at the processes that I have to follow and I look at the end result on how I can contribute to the team, by sometimes bowling a good over and however I can help the team.

"So this is how I play cricket and this is how I always wanted to play cricket and that is how I will do (play) going further as well." 'Searching for complete performance' ================================== Mumbai are already out of the play-offs race and Bumrah admitted that the team was still searching for a "complete performance".

"You said it right, we didn't manage to close games, in a lot of games, we came very close and we crumbled in crucial scenarios. This is a new team and our youngsters are understanding and making their game better,” said Bumrah, one of the senior members.

"This is not an excuse that you lost because of it. But when new youngsters come they take time to understand their game. We are searching for a complete performance and we are trying and working hard, but it hasn’t worked this time,” he added.

Bumrah said MI will look to put up a good show in the remaining three matches.

"In the remaining games, our focus is to give an ideal performance where everything clicks and how we can come in the best case scenario," he signed off.

Also Read : India to play 3 T20s at home against Australia in September

News Source : PTI

2022-05-10 10:25

Kolkata Knight Riders remain in competition with big win over Mumbai Indians

Navi Mumbai, May 9 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders finally found the team balance they were looking for to outclass Mumbai Indians by 52 runs here on Monday and keep their slim IPL play-off hopes alive. Lead Mumbai Indians pacer Jasprit Bumrah picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in IPL history to restrict KKR to 165 for nine after fine knocks from Venkatesh Iyer (43 off 24) and Nitish Rana (43 off 24).

Barring a 43-ball 51 from Ishan Kishan, Mumbai batters struggled to get going in the chase as their innings ended at 113 all out in 17.3 overs.

KKR finally played Tim Southee (1/10) and Pat Cummins (3/22) together and the move worked with the seasoned pacers sharing four wickets. Andre Russell too chipped in with couple of wickets.

Another big positive was the return to form of Venkatesh Iyer, who had to be dropped earlier in the competition due to his lean run after a sensational debut season in 2021. While MI were already out of the play-off race, KKR, who have five wins from 12 games, can still sneak into the top four with two games remaining.

In the run chase, Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma (2) fell to a controversial DRS call in the first over after the on-field adjudged him not out for a caught behind appeal.

Going by TV replays, the UltraEdge spike came just before the ball went past the bat but the on field call was overturned, leaving Rohit shake his head in frustration.

Earlier, KKR openers Venkatesh and Ajinkya Rahane (25 off 24 balls) added 60 runs in just 5.4 overs after they were put into bat but the Shreyas Iyer-led side failed to capitalise on that promising start.

Rana blazed his way to a 26-ball 43, with three boundaries and four sixes, but it was Bumrah (5/10), who took five wickets in two overs, to put the brakes on KKR, who suffered a middle-order collapse.

In the 15th over, Bumrah removed Russell (9) and Rana and then clinched three wickets -- Sheldon Jackson (5), Cummins (0) and Sunil Narine (0), in the 18th over, a maiden, to bring MI back into the game.

Venkatesh smashed three boundaries and four sixes, but perished in the sixth over, giving a sitter to Daniel Sams at point, with spinner Kumar Kartikeya Singh (2/32) getting his first wicket.

Venkatesh was brutal on spinner Murugan Ashwin (1/35), hitting him for his first maximum, a pull shot and then hammered a boundary.

The southpaw then walloped his second six over deep mid-wicket off Daniel Sams (1/26), as KKR raced to 26/0 after three overs. He then targeted Riley Meredith (0/35), hammering him for boundary and a six, a scoop shot, in the fifth over where KKR amassed 17 runs.

Mumbai bowlers conceded only 23 runs from overs 7-10.

Kartikeya cleaned up Rahane, with a full delivery that turned in as the opener was beaten while attempting a reverse-sweep. After Rahane's dismissal, Rana upped the ante and launched into Kartikeya, hitting him for two successive sixes, one over long-on. He then tore into Kieron Pollard, hammering two sixes and a boundary in the 13th over, where the side got 17 runs.

But then it was Bumrah, who wreaked havoc with the ball and firmly brought MI back into the contest.

Also Read : Bumrah's first ever five wicket haul in IPL helps MI limit KKR to 165/9

News Source : PTI

2022-05-09 16:24

Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants look to seal IPL play-off berth in match against each other

Pune, May 9 (Cricket News) On a slippery slope after back-to-back losses, Gujarat Titans will need their batters to fire when they take on high-flying Lucknow Super Giants as both teams look to seal IPL play-offs berth here on Tuesday.

The two new entrants are having a dream run in their maiden season.

While Gujarat led the points table for most part of the league, Lucknow moved ahead of them to take the top spot. The Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat side's winning streak came to an end with back-to-back losses against Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians last week.

Both teams have 16 points each from 11 outings and a win for either of them will confirm the passage to the next stage.

LSG, who have won their last four games, would be brimming with confidence as they head to the fixture with a morale-boosting 75-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders.

KL Rahul has led from the front and the opener is the second highest run scorer in the tournament, collecting 451 runs from 11 games with two hundreds and as many fifties.

The team has relied heavily on him to get the job done with the bat. But the likes of Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda have taken more responsibility in the recent games which will definitely take the pressure off Rahul.

Their bowling unit has been right on mark. While LSG were able to defend 153 against Punjab Kings, they polished off KKR for just 101, with pacers Avesh Khan and Jason Holder proving to be too hot to handle for the former champions.

Pacers Mohsin Khan (5.35) and Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera (7.90) have bowled economically as has Krunal Pandya (6.64), while Ravi Bishnoi (8.23) and Avesh (8.14) have been a tad expensive. But the bowling unit has often found a way to get over the line.

Gujarat's stellar run in the IPL can be attributed to their ability to come back from tough situations. They had different players winning games for them but that was not the case against MI when they failed to get nine runs off the last over in what should have been an easy run chase.

The batting department needs to be more consistent. The top order batters have failed to take their innings deep.

Shubman Gill has endured a hot and cold season, while Wriddhiman Saha has shown good intent.

Skipper Pandya, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia have also looked off colour recently and need to get into the groove again in the business end of the tournament.

Gujarat have a lethal bowling attack, studded with world-class bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan.

But Shami hasn't been able to live up to expectations recently. The senior India pacer has given away 124 runs while taking only two wickets in the last three games.

However, he can can wreak havoc with the new ball while Ferguson's ability to generate extra pace is a cause of concern for any batting line-up.

Rashid continues to remain economical but the star Afghan spinner will be eager for more wickets.

The Teams (from): Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Quinton De Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya. Jason Holder.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Alyssa Healy, Keshav Maharaj win ICC 'Player of Month' award

News Source : PTI

2022-05-09 13:48

If we make play-offs great but if we don't it's not end of world: Dhoni

Navi Mumbai, May 8 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings might have had a "perfect game" against Delhi Capitals but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni doesn't want to lose his sleep over play-off qualifications as he feels that even if they fail in that pursuit, it won't be "end of the world".

CSK beat Delhi Capitals by 91 runs and moved to the eighth position in the league table and will now need to win three games and depend on other results to make it as fourth place entrants in the play-offs.

"If we make the playoffs, great. But even if we don't it's not the end of the world," a pragmatic Dhoni said after completing a 'Capitals Demolition'.

"I am not a big fan of maths. Even in school, I wasn't good at it. Thinking of the net run-rate doesn't help. You just want to enjoy the IPL. When two other teams are playing, you don't want to be under pressure and thinking. You just have to think about what to do in the next game," he said.

However, he did admit that the cricket they are playing now could have been played a few game earlier.

"It would have been better if we would have had a win like this somewhere early. It was a perfect game." We were outplayed in each department: Pant ============================ Rishabh Pant had no hesitation in admitting that his team was outplayed in every department of the game but it was good to get such a one-sided defeat out of the way.

"I think they outplayed us in all departments. As Delhi Capitals, we have played a lot of close games, there had to be a game where there is a massive difference between the two sides and unfortunately we are on the receiving end," he said.

Pant said that the equation is simple for DC from hereon as they must win three games and not depend on any other result to qualify.

"The only thing we can look forward to is the next three matches, if we win them then we will qualify." With a net bowler being found COVID-19 positive and opener Prithvi Shaw in the hospital, Pant agreed that a lot of off-the-field incidents were happening but at the same time wouldn't like to use them as an excuse.

"There is a fair bit going on amongst us, especially COVID-19 and we had few stomach infections, but we are not making an excuse and we just want to keep improving.

"Right now, we can be more positive and that's what we are going to be talking about to the boys, let's be more proactive and let's be in a good frame of mind to make good decisions in the next few matches," he concluded.

Also Read : Struggling KKR take on already out of the playoffs MI in match no 56

News Source : PTI

2022-05-09 13:05

Struggling KKR take on already out of the playoffs MI in match no 56

(Cricket news) It's not the best of times for Kolkata Knight Riders to face MI, seeing that their head-to-head with Mumbai Indians is pretty ordinary, for some reason MI always had their measure against KKR. When KKR played MI this season, Daniel Sams ended the match with an over to forget, as Pat Cummins took 35 off that over to score the joint-fastest half-century in the IPL, but with the majority of the season done, both teams look like out of the playoffs race already.

KKR’s main concern has been selecting a consistent side over the league phase as they have used close to 20 players to play in the playing XI. There have been honest confessions from the head coach Brendon McCullum about being aware that the opposition is testing his batters with a barrage of bouncers, but they haven’t found any answers to counter it as yet. Much like how their woes in the batting powerplay despite trying out five different opening combinations have hampered them from giving them a get start at the top of the order. In the bowling department, Sunil Narine will hold the key as he has the best economy rate of 5.23 in the IPL this year. His record battle against Rohit Sharma will be one to watch out for, he has dismissed him nine times in 170 balls, conceding runs at a rate of 107.65, Tim Southee has also been fairly successful against the MI skipper.

MI will be confident after getting two wins on the board and will be proud of the effort in the last match, where they defended 9 runs of the last over to win against the table topper Gujarat Titans. In terms of batting all the Indian cricket fans would want to see Rohit Sharma score some runs this tournament as he has hardly got going in this year's edition, the MI young guns have been carrying the mantle of scoring the majority of the runs this season. One positive over the two wins was that Tim David played brilliant finishing knocks to take his team to victory as his hefty price tag is finally paying some dividence. In the bowling department, the five-time champions have managed the second-worst economy rate (9.04) of all teams in the middle overs but could exploit KKR’s powerplay struggles. Riley Meredith could be used to test the KKR batters with bouncers as Bumrah vs Russell will be a battle to look out for, he has dismissed the hard-hitting West Indian thrice in 49 balls, conceding runs at a rate of only 134.69.

Pitch and weather report: The DY Patil pitch has been a hard surface as batting becomes easier once the batsman is settled and can negate the early swing. Last match proved that chasing would have its advantages even as Delhi Capitals fell 91 runs short of Chennai Super Kings' score on Sunday evening. The temperature is going to hover around 31 degrees, the conditions are expected to be cloudy with high humidity levels as dew might play a part later on.

Interesting facts:

With 328 runs, Tilak Varma is Mumbai India's leading run-getter of the season so far and the highest run getter for uncapped players
Mumbai have won 22 of their 30 games against Knight Riders. Their win percentage of 73.33, the highest win percentage against another team in IPL history.
In all T20s since the start of 2021, no batter has hit more sixes in the death overs than Tim David (47).
Rohit's average of 19.80 in IPL 2022 is his worst in any season of the tournament.
Mumbai are set to play their 250th T20 match overall.
Shreyas Iyer needs to hit four more sixes to reach 100 sixes in the IPL.
Andre Russell (1972) needs 28 runs to complete 2000 runs in the IPL

Also read: Head coach Brendon McCullum rues KKR's power play struggles

Probable XI for KKR:

1 B Indrajith (wk), 2 Aaron Finch/Sam Billings, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Anukul Roy, 8 Shivam Mavi/Venkatesh Iyer, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Harshit Rana/Umesh Yadav

Probable XI for MI:

1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Tim David, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 M Ashwin/Hrithik Shokeen, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Kumar Kartikeya, 11 Riley Meredith

2022-05-09 11:50

Conway pummels DC attack as Chennai Super Kings score massive 208 for 6

Navi Mumbai, May 8 (Cricket News) Devon Conway continued his red-hot form, smashing his third half-century on the trot as Chennai Super Kings put up an imposing 208 for 6 against Delhi Capitals in an IPL match here on Sunday.

Conway scored 87 off 49 balls with seven fours and five sixes and also added 110 for the opening wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad (41 off 33 balls) to lay the foundation for a big score.

Conway added another 59 runs for the second wicket with Shivam Dube (32 off 19 balls) before MS Dhoni (21 no off 8 balls) added insult to DC's injuries at the fag end.

The South Africa-born New Zealander has been one of the key players for an ageing CSK side in transition and has responded nicely to captain Dhoni's call of being a like-for-like replacement of Faf du Plessis.

What makes Conway a standout performer among most overseas recruits is his mastery over spinners which is an absolute must to be a consistent success in IPL.

Whether CSK make it to play-off this time or not, Conway in all likelihood will be serving the franchise for the next five years at least.

Along with Gaikwad, Conway showed how aesthetically pleasing stroke-play can destroy the confidence of rival bowlers. There weren't any lap-scoops, switch hits, reverse flicks but shots within the 'V' with immaculate use of feet wile negotiating the spinners. It did help that DY Patil Stadium track resembled a highway due to its flat nature.

Kuldeep Yadav's (3-0-43-0) length was completely in disarray as Conway repeatedly came down the ground to loft the deliveries with disdain.

If the delivery was flighted, Conway would come down the track and hit it down the ground or wide of long-on. If the bowler kept it flat, he would thump it through the covers and if it was fast an full, he would play the conventional sweep shot over deep square leg. The shot that stood out was a cover drive which was more like a slap with minimal back-lift.

Conway's third consecutive fifty came off 27 balls as poor Kuldeep had no clue as to what had hit him. His deliveries were like cannon fodder as he was hit for four fours and two sixes in his first spell.

Conway repeated his 'dancing down the track' act in Kuldeep's second spell with another lofted six.

It didn't help matters that Antich Nortje (4-0-42-3) and Shardul Thakur (3-0-38-0) bowled short during their first spell with Khaleel Ahmed (2/28 in 4 overs) being the only saving grace.

Conway's brutal yet classical assault gave Gaikwad time to gather his composure and play his own game at the other end as CSK reached 100 off 10 overs.

Finally, Gaikwad (41 off 33 balls) was dismissed when DC stuck to their gameplan and the opener was left in a tangle trying to tackle to a 152 kmph bouncer hurled by Nortje.

Also Read : Head coach Brendon McCullum rues KKR's power play struggles

News Source : PTI

2022-05-09 11:22

Women’s World C'ships: India boxers handed mixed draw; Lovlina to begin campaign on opening day

New Delhi, May 8 (Cricket News) Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will take on former champion Chen Nien-Chin in her opening bout as Indian pugilists were handed a mixed draw in the 12th edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, starting in Istanbul on Monday.

Borgohain (70kg) will kickstart India’s campaign on Monday, as she will be up against the Chinese Taipei boxer, who won gold and bronze medals in 2018 and 2016 editions respectively.

However, Borgohain, who will be making her first competitive outing since her podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics, will head to the fixture with some confidence having defeated Chen in the Olympic quarterfinals last year.

Two-time Asian champion Pooja Rani (81kg), Nandini and Nikhat Zareen (52kg) have also been handed tough draws in their respective categories.

Pooja will start in the round of 16 against two-time World Championships bronze medallist Timea Nagy of Hungary, while Nandini (+81kg) has received bye in the opening round but will face last edition's bronze medallist Khadija El-Mardi of Morocco in the quarter-finals.

On the other hand, Nikhat will face Mexico's Herrera Alvarez in the opening round and if she wins, she is likely to meet 2021 Asian Championships bronze medallist Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg of Mongolia in the round of 16.

Jaismine (60kg) will lock horns with two-time youth Asian champion Porntip Buapa of Thailand in the opening round.

If the Indian gets past the first hurdle, she may clash against former World Championships bronze medallist Rashida Ellis of USA in the last eight stage.

Among other Indians, Ankushita (66kg) got a comparatively easier draw alongside Nitu (48kg), Anamika (50kg), Shiksha (54kg), Manisha (57kg), Parveen (63kg) and Saweety (75kg).

Ankushita will begin her challenge in the round of 16 after getting bye in the opening round.

The Indians have garnered 36 medals, including nine gold, eight silver and 19 bronze, so far in the 11 editions of the prestigious event.

India’s tally is the third highest after Russia (60) and China (50).

In the last edition held in Russia in 2019, the Indian boxers clinched one silver and three bronze medals.

More than 400 boxers from a record 93 countries are set to take part in this year’s event, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the prestigious event.

Indian squad: Nitu (48kg), Anamika (50kg), Nikhat Zareen (52kg), Shiksha (54kg), Manisha (57kg), Jaismine (60kg), Parveen (63kg), Ankushita (66kg), Lovlina Borgohain (70kg), Saweety (75kg), Pooja Rani (81kg), Nandini (+81kg).

Also Read : Head coach Brendon McCullum rues KKR's power play struggles

News Source : PTI

2022-05-08 12:55

Head coach Brendon McCullum rues KKR's power play struggles

Pune, May 8 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders were found wanting on more than one front, but head coach Brendon McCullum singled out their struggles in the power play, as a disappointing IPL campaign neared its end.

Former champions KKR suffered their seventh defeat on Saturday night, a 75-run drubbing by Lucknow Super Giants here.

"We struggled in the power play which has been a frustration for us throughout the season," McCullum said, adding that the team needs to find a way to be more aggressive without losing wickets in the first six overs.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side now finds itself on the brink of elimination.

"We've been good throughout the middle phase and not too bad at the death," McCullum said at the post match press conference.

"But in the power play we've been a little stuck and we've to find a method to not lose many wickets and also throw a few punches and get a few boundaries," he reiterated.

KKR have used several opening combinations this season but failed to find the one that clicks. Their openers have not been able to give kind of starts required for teams to win matches.

"If you look around other teams at the top of the table, one of their opening batters is also one of their highest run-scorers. It's an area we haven't been able to settle. Unfortunately, some of the guys haven't been in the form that they would have liked to.

"That happens, sometimes. In a quick tournament, you do have to sometimes change personnel. It's been a little frustrating. But the guys have been working really hard, it hasn't necessarily worked out for us but can't fault their effort." Taking about the chopping and changing of the playing XI throughout the season, the New Zealander said: "Few changes were forced upon us with overseas players joining in late in the tournament plus a couple of injuries and loss of form.

"It's not always easy but we need to find a method to deal with the attacks that come to us." KKR retained Venkatesh Iyer ahead of the auction but the all-rounder, who enjoyed a breakout last season, struggled to put up good performances with the bat and ball and was eventually dropped from the side.

"He did not get as many runs as he would have liked to. We were forced into a situation where we had to look for other options. That's disappointing for someone who has represented India in the last 7-8 months on the back of what was a very good IPL last time in the UAE.

"That's a little bit of frustrating for him as well. He is working hard at the nets, trying to get his form back. That will certainly be a consideration. He is certainly not out of contention for the games to come." McCullum feels teams have done their homework on the all-rounder and figured out how to play him.

"It's Venky's second year. Teams do a little bit more homework, it's been historically the case in this tournament even in international cricket.

"It's an opportunity for Venkatesh to work on his game and improve, to come back stronger.

"He is a real talent, has got a good head on his shoulders. I know he is determined to take that next step and start to perform more regularly," McCullum added.

Also Read : Didn't get the respect I deserved, wasn't treated properly: Gayle on opting out of IPL-15

News Source : PTI

2022-05-07 23:38

De Kock's 50, bowlers take LSG closer to playoff berth with crushing victory over KKR

Pune, May 7 (Cricket News) Quinton de Kock laid the platform with a commanding fifty and his pacers then terrorised Kolkata Knight Riders to record a crushing 75-run victory for Licknow Super Giants which put them on top of the table with an IPL play-off berth being a formality now.

For last year's runners-up KKR, eight points from 11 games with a deflating negative run-rate now puts them closer to the exit door with lacklustre performance and unimaginative captaincy combining for what has turned out to be a disastrous season so far.

Invited to bat, De Kock slammed a 29-ball-50 but Lucknow almost frittered away a solid start before some lusty hitting in a 30-run penultimate over off Shivam Mavi took them to 176 for 7.

The LSG bowlers then raised to the occasion to bundle out KKR for 101 in 14.3 overs, despite the heroics of Andre Russell (45 off 19 balls) to gather two crucial points and take their overall total to 16 points in the IPL standing.

KKR remained at the 8th spot after suffering their 7th loss in 11 games.

Defending 177, LSG left KKR tottering at 25 for four with four bowlers picking up their first wickets. While Mohsin produced a wicket-maiden to get rid of to Baba Indrajith, Chameera sent back Shreyas Iyer after rattling him with a short and quick delivery.

It has now been an all too familiar script for KKR skipper whose discomfort while facing quick bouncers is well-documented and national coach Rahul Dravid would only be worried with this glaring technical deficiency.

Aaron Finch too perished as his miscued pull was poached by de Kock as KKR slipped to 23 for 3 in the first six overs.

Nitish Rana was then cleaned up by Avesh Khan with a yorker as KKR looked down the barrels.

Russell then used his brute force to hit Holder all across the park. One was whacked at midwicket for a maximum, the second one was slapped to deep, while a flat-batted pull earned him another six and the last one was a four over short third.

After amassing 25 off the Holder over, Russell produced another maximum off Ravi Bishnoi as KKR reached 64 for 4 in 10 overs.

He and Sunil Narine (22 off 12) produced a small partnership but once Russell was out to Avesh Khan in the 13th over, it became a downward slide for KKR as they folded in 14.3 overs.

Avesh and Holder returned with three wickets each.

Earlier, De Kock, who was involved in a terrible mix up with skipper KL Rahul, who got a 'Diamond Duck' (out for 0 without facing a ball), redeemed himself with an innings studded with four boundaries and three maximums.

He added 71 with Deepak Hooda (41 off 27 balls) to give LSG a good start after being invited to bat.

Hooda made up for the loss of Rahul's with his back to-back boundaries over extra cover off Shivam Mavi (1/50 in 4 overs), while De Kock too joined in with a special treatment to Tim Southee, clobbering him for two fours and a six in the 3rd over.

Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy and pacer Harshit Rana were next in line as De Kock smashed the former for a four before lunching into the latter for a four and two sixes to take LSG to their best score in the powerplays this season, a 66 for one.

De Kock, however, couldn't stay much longer as he was holed out in deep only two balls after completing his fifty.

Hooda, who hit four boundariers and two sixes in his entertaining 27-ball knock tat took LSG past 100-run mark before falling to a Andre Russell delivery with his miscued pull ending in safe hands of skipper Shreyas Iyer.

Krunal Pandya then tried to keep the run-rate high and slammed two fours before ending at the hands of Aaron Finch at deep point.

The decision to promote Ayush Badoni (15 not out off 18) didn't bear result as the young Delhi batter was under pressue after a quiet over and couldn't find his rhythm with runs drying up between 12th to 16th over.

However, Marcus Stoinis (28 off 14 balls) changed things when he clobbered Mavi for three successive sixes before holing out. However, new man Jason Holder (13 off 4 balls) slammed the next two balls for two more maximums as the 19th over yielded 30 runs for LSG.

In the bowling front, KKR missed the experience of Umesh Yadav, who missed out due to a muscle pull, with Hooda and de Kock going hammer and tongs early on.

However, Andrew Russell (2/22) was rewarded for bowling back of length , while Sunil Narine (20/1) and Tim Southee (1/28) also kept things tight but the rest of bowlers bled plenty in their stipulated overs.

Also Read : De Kock scores 50 as LSG put up 176 for 7 vs Kolkata Knight Riders

News Source : PTI

2022-05-03 16:27

Players should be allowed to review wide, high no-balls: Vettori, Tahir

Mumbai, May 3 (Cricket News) Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and South African spinner Imran Tahir reckon that wides and height no-balls should also come under the DRS scanner as umpires' call sparked fresh debate during Rajasthan Royals' IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders here.

Defending 18 runs from the last two overs, Royals skipper Sanju Samson was visibly upset by umpire Nitin Pandit's three wide calls despite considerable movement from the batters -- Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana -- on a couple of occasions in the penultimate over on Monday.

Samson then went on to ask for a review when the ball was miles away from the bat in his sarcastic way of protest.

It sparked a fresh debate for call of wides and waist height no-balls for review with the Kiwi former all-rounder speaking up on the issue once again.

"I don't think there was any thought of it actually being out... Absolutely (players should be allowed to review wides). The players should be able to decide in such crucial matters," Vettori, a former Royal Challengers Bangalore coach, told ESPNCricinfo.com.

"Today it is a little bit different where it always looked like KKR are going to win. But we have sat here so many times and seen decisions go against bowlers that are so close and the umpire has got it wrong.

"So therefore the players should have some avenues towards rectifying those mistakes. That's why DRS was brought in: to rectify mistakes. I would like to see that happen. And players are very good judges of that. They get it right more often than not." According to the ICC rule 22.4.1 on wides, "The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a Wide, if the striker, by moving, either causes the ball to pass wide of him/her, or brings the ball sufficiently within reach to be able to hit it by means of a normal cricket stroke." Rajasthan Royals were involved in yet another controversy -- this time involving a no-ball in their match against Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals.

Chasing a mammoth 223, Delhi needed 36 from the final over and Rovman Powell upped the ante, smashing three sixes in a row.

The third six came off a waist-high full toss but the on-field umpires did not call it a no-ball, nor did they choose to refer it.

It led to unprecedented scenes in the Delhi dugout as Pant started calling back the players and their assistant coach Pravin Amre stepped on the pitch in a blatant violation of the Code of Conduct.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Tahir said: "Yeah why not (review)... There is not much for bowlers in the game. When batters are hitting you all over, you don't have much choice than bowling wide yorkers or bowling wide leg breaks. If that becomes a wide, you are in trouble." "But look, it was a close call. Samson was a little bit frustrated. It was a 50-50 thing. I don't think it should be a big issue. Kolkata played well, and they were going to win it. But yeah there should be a review that a player can go for," he added.

The KKR duo of Rana and Singh scored 17 runs in the penultimate over to seal a seven-wicket win with five balls to spare.

Also Read : Those sixes off Cottrell at Sharjah instilled self-belief in Rahul Tewatia: Gavaskar

News Source : PTI

2022-05-03 15:00

Has Kolkata Knight Riders' retention policy failed already?

(Cricket news) The IPL went through a major change this season by becoming a 10 team tournament with two new teams. A mega auction was staged where old teams were allowed to retain a maximum of 4 players while new teams could pick 3 players outside of the Auction. Kolkata Knight Riders who finished runners up in last season's final decided to retain their star overseas players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. Their two Indian retention's were Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer.

Russell and Narine are legends of KKR and this season the pair continue to consistently put in good performances. Their retention wasn't a big surprise as they have an incredible history at the club. Eoin Morgan and Lockie Ferguson were the two other options but the choice was always going to be Russell and Narine. The other two retentions were extremely bold. KKR did not retain Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana or Prasidh Krishna instead opting for Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer.

Chakravarthy has had two incredible seasons with KKR but his time with the Indian team hasn't been good. His consistent injury issues have been an issue as well. KKR chose a player who has played well for only two seasons and that too for 8 Cr which was a little risky. This season Varun Chakravarthy has been a shadow of the player he previously was. The mystery spinner has not been effective at all this season having picked up only 4 wickets in 8 matches with an economy of 8.82. He was dropped after these below par performances which suggests that KKR management may have lost patience with him.

Venkatesh Iyer on the other hand burst onto the scene in the 2nd leg of the 2021 IPL where he scored 370 runs in 10 matches and also picked up 3 wickets. After that he had an amazing campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Iyer made his debut for India in T20Is as well as ODIs and put in some good performances. This season he has been up and down the order as he started as an opener after which he was asked to bat lower. He was then asked to open again before being dropped in the last match against Rajasthan Royals.

KKR's retention policy hasn't been fruitful yet. KKR have used a total of 19 players this season, more than any other franchise. They have constantly chopped and changed players as well as team combination. Players are not getting an extended run in the team at all. As of now they are still in the race to qualify but the management need to find a combination and playing XI that works. There is still a chance that Iyer and Chakravarthy could return to the playing XI but their confidence must have taken a massive hit.

Also read: Battle of weak-links: CSK, RCB square off in important mid-table clash

2022-05-03 11:33

Trying to perform anchor's role after 7-8 years in IPL: Rana

Mumbai, May 3 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders batter Nitish Rana said having plied his trade in the IPL for considerable number of years, he is now trying to adapt to the role of an anchor, which was on full display against Rajasthan Royals here.

Rana, who hit an unbeaten 48, anchored the 153-run chase on a slow-paced Wankhede wicket to help KKR beat RR by seven wickets on Monday and snap their five-match losing streak.

"A lot of things depend on factors like opponent team and what total we are chasing and what number I am batting. I have been playing IPL for seven-eight years now and trying to perform the anchor or main player.

"I have been successful till date and hope that in the coming matches, I play such innings for the team," Rana said at the virtual post-match press conference.

"...the role which the team is giving me according to match situation, I am trying to bat like that. Today, I had to play the anchor's role.

"I knew that if I was there at one end, then things would become easy for us with players like Rinku, Andre Russell, and Anukul (Roy) waiting in the wings. So we had depth in batting but my role was to play from one end so that we could easily chase the target," he added. Rana also heaped praise on young Rinku Singh, who played an unbeaten 42-run cameo of 23 balls.

He said his efforts to calm down a "hyper" Rinku yielded rich dividend for KKR.

"I am very happy for the way he (Rinku) batted as I know him for 5-6 years and he has worked a lot, scored in every domestic season. The way he was batting, I knew he would do something big for our team once he gets the chance," said Rana.

"When he walked in to bat, I tried to calm him as I know he is a little-hyper and told him (if) we bat, we can finish the game in any over. I am very happy for him and hopefully he will continue batting the same way for KKR and himself," he added. Rana also took a dig at their critics, who have questioned KKR's team selection. "In our eyes we have got the best XI, probably the outsiders feel that we haven't. We comfortably won without any big player (making an impact). If we win like this, any eleven is best." RR's Kumar Sangakkara rues lack of runs ********************************** Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumara Sangakkara rued the batter's inability to put on big scores behind the team's defeat in the last two games.

"Two scratchy games and we didn't get enough runs on the board. In Mumbai (Indians games) we were 130 with four overs to go, should have been 170. Today we just got little-bit bogged down in the middle," he said.

"Sanju (Samson) batted well and Hetty (Shimron Hetymer) at the back end got us some respectability. The bowlers in both the games did their utmost to take into the last over, but a lot to improve on and a lot to think about as we go into that next game."

Also Read : Kolkata Knight Riders restrict RR to 152/5 despite Samson's fifty

News Source : PTI

2022-05-03 10:28

Way Rinku maintained his calm under pressure was outstanding: KKR skipper Iyer

Mumbai, May 2 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer on Monday lavished praise on Rinku Singh for showing "outstanding" calmness under pressure, calling him an "asset" for the team.

Singh smashed an unbeaten 23-ball 42 studded with six boundaries and a six as he and Nitish Rana (48 not out) chased down a 153-run target with ease for a seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals.

"I was talking to my teammates in the dressing room and was like, the way he's maintaining his calm even in such pressure situations playing his second or third game, it's outstanding," Iyer said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

"Building that partnership with Nitish Rana in that situation, it's something we have to praise about and he's a great asset for the future in the franchise.

"The way he has given starts right from the first game, he doesn't look like a newcomer in the team." Iyer also praised his bowlers, especially veteran Umesh Yadav (1/24) and Sunil Narine (0/19) for consistently producing the goods for KKR.

"Right from the powerplay when our bowlers conceded just 36 runs and took a wicket, it was just the start we needed," he said.

"We have been talking about Umesh right from the start. He has increased his pace, bowls those hard lengths and as a captain you just have to give him the ball to deliver.

"Whenever I give Sunil Narine the ball, he gets me wickets, but the batsmen don't take chances against him. He is very economical, but when he gets a wicket, he gets a big one." One area where KKR has struggled is the opening slot and Iyer said they will have to address the issue.

"We are looking for a good start. I love pressure, but it sweats a lot of me to build the innings in every game." Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson blamed his batting unit for not being able to accelerate in the end.

"I think the wicket was a bit slow and they bowled really well, but with the batting we have I would have liked to score a few more boundaries at the end. I think we were short 15-20 runs," he said.

"With the bowling and fielding we showed some real fight. The body language and energy was amazing. I think we could have batted a bit better.

"I think you have to keep on assessing the game and who is batting with you. Wickets at intervals, that's what stopped myself to keep going with momentum. When I wanted to go hard, they bowled really well and we couldn't execute our shots." Samson also said he had "a niggle in the last few games." "But I'm recovering well and (my back) is fine. It was a great effort (in the field)."

Also Read : KKR win toss, opt to field against RR

News Source : PTI

2022-05-02 15:17

Brian MacNeice replaces Ross McCollum as Chair of the Cricket Ireland

(Cricket news) Brian MacNeice has assumed the role of Chair of the Cricket Ireland Board following today’s Annual General Meeting, replacing Ross McCollum who has been Chair since 2012. MacNeice was announced as Vice-Chair in 2021 and worked closely with McCollum over the last year as part of a transition process. He is currently a Managing Director at Teneo with more than 30 years’ experience in consulting across a range of industries, as well as acting as a strategic advisor to major businesses and sports organisations in Ireland and overseas. He was formerly the President of Clontarf Cricket Club, and was appointed to the Board of Cricket Ireland in 2020.

Following the AGM, MacNeice said: “It is an incredible honour and somewhat humbling to assume the role of Chair. I am acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with this position, and will work to my best endeavours in the best interests of Irish cricket at all times. We have such a vibrant sport with the potential for enormous growth over coming years, and I hope to play a part in guiding the sport into the next phase of its development.

“I would like to acknowledge Ross McCollum for his immense contribution over the last decade in the Chair’s role – spending the last 12 months working closely with Ross has provided a great insight into how committed he is about the improvement of Irish cricket, and he should be very proud of what has been achieved under his stewardship. Our standing with major stakeholders domestically and internationally has grown immeasurably in his time in the role.

“The role itself is a demanding and extensive one in terms of the brief, but the last year has allowed me the opportunity to get to grips with all of the areas of responsibility. I also spent part of this time travelling around various provinces and clubs in order to gather a better understanding of the priorities across the cricket community. I intend to do more of that in the coming year.”

MacNeice was involved in the development of the past three Cricket Ireland Strategic Plans, and through these projects he acknowledges a number of key challenges over the next five years: “Cricket Ireland’s latest Strategic Plan, that covers 2021-2023, sets out the future direction of the organisation, and establishes the foundations for creating the longer-term growth beyond 2023. Over the last decade, the rapid pace at which cricket on this island has transformed is astonishing. However, we still have much work to do to ensure that we continue to strengthen, support and grow the game sustainably and across all provinces. To achieve this, we recognise the role of clubs is crucial. Having been a past club president has given me a certain perspective and insight in this area.

“A strong grassroots allows the whole sport to flourish. To achieve this, we need to innovate and expand the reach of our game to make sure more people are encouraged to get involved at whatever level is right for them. We need to get more youngsters picking up bats and balls and having great fun through cricket. We need to create dynamic, exciting, engaging experiences for them and make it commonplace for kids everywhere across the island to see cricket as a natural option to consider. We are an open, inclusive, diverse sport and we embrace the different cultures that are drawn to the game.

“There are huge growth opportunities for women and girls, and this has already become a major priority area for Irish cricket. The success of our international teams has made us all proud. We need to continue to invest in our pathways and performance programmes to ensure we are competitive on the Men’s and Women’s international stage so that we can celebrate many more wonderful sporting successes on the world stage.

“We have much work to do too on the infrastructure for cricket in terms of facilities at club, regional and international level. So there is no shortage of things that will be sitting on the in-tray! And it will require focused planning, investment and shrewd use of scarce resources – both financial and people. It will also require us to work closely together across Cricket Ireland, the Provincial Unions, and the clubs. This will be a key focus of mine in the coming months and years. We have seen what has already been achieved with vision, ambition and hard work in the last decade. I have no doubt we will continue to build on the achievements to date and make cricket in Ireland stronger, better, and more sustainable into the future.”

And about his own cricket playing career?

“My journey in cricket started out as a seven-year old when I wandered down the lane at Castle Avenue into Clontarf Cricket Club. It opened the door to a lifetime of involvement and enjoyment. Since then I have been involved in many capacities. I have been a player, selector, administrator, and advisor to cricket ever since.

“My playing career was a modest one. I played on various representative sides at both underage and senior level including captaining Irish Schools and winning a few trophies with Clontarf along the way. Indeed a certain Ross McCollum’s swashbuckling innings in the 1990 Irish Senior Cup final denied me a winners medal that year. My military medium pacers were no answer to his attacking power at the crease.

“I spent eight years as a National Team selector, including two World Cup campaigns - the obvious highlight of which was the wonderful night in Bangalore in 2011. I was recently President of Clontarf Cricket Club - a club that I am very proud of and one which has had a history of producing many leading administrators that have contributed hugely throughout the years to cricket in Ireland. In a professional capacity I have acted as a strategic advisor to many sports organisations in Ireland and overseas, and hopefully I can bring that expertise to bear in continuing to build effective relationships with our key stakeholders domestically and internationally.

“There are very many people that I would like to thank for helping me on my journey in cricket so far. Far too many to name check all of them. However, there are some that have made a significant impact and whom I will always be indebted to. At Clontarf, I have been surrounded by great role models and tireless workers on behalf of others.

“Throughout my schoolboy years I benefitted from the work of volunteers from many clubs to provide great opportunities and a platform for building long-lasting friendships with my peers. In the latter years I have got more involved in the administrative side of cricket and I am forever astonished at the commitment and passion that so many people bring to their involvement within the game. They are the true heroes of our sport and the people that have helped bring cricket in Ireland to where it is today and they will be the people that ensure we continue to grow the game on the island. Finally, I am blessed with a supportive family and without whom I could not take on the role. To Miriam, Charlie, Jack and Dan thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.’’

Also read: Struggling KKR take on the might RR in match no 47

2022-05-02 14:14

Struggling KKR take on the might RR in match no 47

(Cricket news) For Kolkata Knight Riders, one more loss would mean an early exit from the tournament and one more defeat and they'll equal their 2019 record of six successive losses. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are also coming off a disappointing loss to MI. With KKR there have been too many changes in the playing XI and that has hampered the consistency of the squad.

For KKR they need to find a solution quickly if they are to make the playoffs after five consecutive defeats. Amidst all the chaos, Andre Russell has become undroppable despite blowing hot and cold. For them, three of their four retained picks have underperformed as captain Shreyas Iyer and the experienced Umesh Yadav have been their side's driving forces, with Knight Riders missing an outstanding contributor this season. In the bowling department Sunil Narine has been very economical but he hasn’t been able to pick up the majority of the wickets this season. Varun Chakravarthy has been very disappointing for the KKR franchise picking up just 4 wickets and being very expensive in the process. The matchup against Chahal with Andre Russell will be one to watch out as the batter has a strike rate of 216.22, averages 80 against Chahal and has made 80 runs in the 37 balls he's faced from Chahal.

For RR they will look to consolidate their position in the top four with a victory as they will be seeking some consistency from the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Sanju Samson and some solid contributions at the top of the order from Devdutt Padikkal. Their batting has been carried all by Jos Buttler, who leads the scoring charts, while Yuzvendra Chahal sits atop the wicket-takers' list. For RR, they have had plenty of silent performers who have slowly gone in the tournament doing their business quietly as the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Sen and Ashwin have been key contributors to the amazing season they have been having. The onus will be on Boult, Krishna and Sen to ensure they bag early wickets and keep the KKR batting unit under pressure like the other teams have done in the previous matches.

Pitch and weather report: The Wankhede pitch is proving to be a strange dilemma for the captains. The pitches have sometimes proved to be amazing for batting and the next game we see the ball swing around early on. The last two matches there have been won by teams chasing at this venue. The temperature is going to hover around 30 as there is 10% of rain tonight.

Interesting facts:

After nine matches, Butler has 566 runs. During the same stage, in his sensational 2016 season, Virat Kohli had made 561.
Knight Riders' average opening stand this season has been 14.2 runs, the second-lowest behind Chennai Super Kings' 12.6
Sunil Narine has dismissed Sanju Samson thrice in IPL history
Andre Russell needs 73 runs to complete 2000 runs in IPL
Sunil Narine needs 19 more to complete 1000 runs in the league.
Jos Butler has already broken RR’s record for the most runs in a single season as the previous best was Rahane's 560 in 2012

Also read: Running out of time, Punjab face a team to beat Gujarat Titans, who have Play-offs spot in mind

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Aaron Finch, 2 Venkatesh Iyer, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sunil Narine, 6 B Indrajith (wk), 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Harshit Rana

Probable XI for RR:

1 Jos Buttler, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Trent Boult, 9 Prasidh Krishna, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Kuldeep Sen

2022-05-01 11:32

KKR hope to end top-order woes, losing streak against Royals

Mumbai, May 1 (Cricket News) Guilty of making too many changes at the top, Kolkata Knight Riders would like to find a winning combination against Rajasthan Royals and snap their five-match losing streak in the IPL here on Monday.

The form of Venkatesh Iyer, who is experiencing second season blues, has a lot to do with the changes KKR have been forced to make regularly at the top of the order.

Venkatesh's performances have been underwhelming to say the least after a season that helped him get into the Indian team. After his struggles at the top, the team tried him in the middle-order but that too did not work.

The southpaw was back opening alongside Aaron Finch in the last game but runs deserted him again.

Making the play-offs from here looks improbable for KKR who desperately need to find their best XI and stick with it for the remainder of the competition.

"A lot of chopping and changing is happening, it's been difficult to set up the right combination, with all injuries not helping as well. We need to stick together, play some fearless cricket, not be conservative with the bat.

"Five more matches remaining, we need to play well, show belief and give something back to the team and the management, forget about the past, start fresh and back your instinct," said skipper Shreyas Iyer after the last game.

Shreyas has had a decent run as a batter with 290 runs at 36.25 but he has not got enough support from his teammates. In his first season as KKR captain, Shreyas has shown promise but needs to inspire his troops to script a turnaround.

Alongside Venkatesh, the dismal run of another retained player Varun Chakaravarthy has hurt the team. However, the move to drop him in the previous game did not yield the desired results as KKR lost their fifth game in a row.

The trio of Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav and Sunil Narine has been impressive and will be aiming to keep the in-form Jos Buttler quiet.

Rajasthan rely a lot on Buttler and his 566 runs at 70.75 are a big reason why they find themselves in the top-four. As the Englishman can't be expected to fire in every game, skipper Sanju Samson needs to step up and be more consistent.

They are arguably the best bowling side in the competition but could not defend 159 in their previous game against Mumbai Indians due to heavy dew.

With 19 wickets at 13.68, Yuzvendra Chahal leads the bowling charts this season and alongside R Ashwin, Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna, the Rajasthan attack has the ability to defend even below-par totals.

However, Royals will be looking for a much-improved batting effort to minimise the dew factor.

Teams (from): Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Aaron Finch, Abhijeet Tomar, Ajinkya Rahane, Baba Indrajith, Nitish Rana, Pratham Singh, Rinku Singh, Ashok Sharma, Pat Cummins, Rasikh Dar, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Aman Khan, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammed Nabi, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson.

Rajasthan Royals squad for 2022 IPL: Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Riyan Parag, KC Cariappa, Navdeep Saini, Obed McCoy, Anunay Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Tejas Baroka, Kuldip Yadav, Shubham Garhwal, James Neesham, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rassie van der Dussen, Daryl Mitchell.

Match starts 7.30 IST.

Also Read : If dew hadn't played a part, 158 would've been enough: Ashwin

News Source : PTI

2022-04-29 14:14

Titans look to continue 'Golden Touch', RCB seek Kohli's return to form

Mumbai, Apr 29 (Cricket News) Batting stalwart Virat Kohli's wretched form would once again come under scrutiny when Royal Challengers Bangalore face table-toppers Gujarat Titans in an Indian Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.

Kohli has scored a mere 128 runs in nine matches for RCB this season with 48 being his highest score. His promotion to opening slot in RCB's previous match after scoring back-to-back ducks too did not yield results as he was out for 9.

Kohli's form has been one of the reasons for the inconsistent show of RCB who are currently at fifth spot with five wins from nine matches.

The Bengaluru-based team, though, is hoping that the former India captain would return to form soon with captain Faf du Plessis backing him after their last match. On the other hand, the Titans have been the side to watch this IPL. Whatever they have touched have turned to gold with unlikely match winners emerging every time they were in trouble.

With seven wins from eight matches and on a five-match winning steak, the Titans are the clear favourites to win Saturday's match. If they do that, they will virtually book a play-off berth.

In their previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Titans were struggling in a stiff chase of 196 but Rashid Khan, known more for his leg-spin exploits, and proven finisher Rahul Tewatia struck four sixes in the last over to steal the match from their opponents.

The Titans have shown that if their top-order fails, there is assurance that the lower order can bail the team out, though captain Hardik Pandya was hoping that his side's luck does not run out later in the tournament.

For the Titans, Pandya has been the top scorer with 305 runs from seven matches and under his "relaxed" approach the team seems to be flourishing. He will once again be the top man to get the runs, along with the likes of Shubman Gill, David Miller and Wriddhiman Saha.

It is not that RCB do not have the batting depth but the problem for them is that they have not fired as a team on many occasions. Besides, Kohli's struggle, Australian Glenn Maxwell has blown hot and cold so far with just 124 runs from six matches and with one half century.

Only captain Faf du Plessis, Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed have done well so far and they have to once again take the responsibility of scoring the bulk of runs against a balanced bowling attack of the Titans.

It can be an interesting match-up in the bowling front as both sides have some of the best performers this season.

Mohammed Shami has been the best bowler for the Titans with 13 wickets and with fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and premier leg-spinner Rashid Khan -- though he went wicketless for 45 runs in the previous match -- in their ranks, the Titans have a lethal bowling attack which can decimate any opposition.

RCB also have firepower in bowling in death-over specialist Harshal Patel, who has taken 12 wickets so far, the equally successful Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (13 wickets) and along with quality pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Josh Hazlewood, they can stop the Titans' batters on their tracks.

If they do that, and the maestro Kohli clicks with the bat, it can be anybody's game on Saturday.

The Teams (From): Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Rajat Patidar, Siddharth Kaul.

Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

Match starts at 3:30pm.

Also Read : It's been difficult to set up right combination, shouldn't be conservative with bat: KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer

News Source : PTI

2022-04-29 10:39

It's been difficult to set up right combination, shouldn't be conservative with bat: KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer

Mumbai, Apr 28 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders have completely lost the plot with as many as 19 players being used in nine games and skipper Shreyas Iyer had no option but to admit that they haven't been able to get their combination right in IPL-15.

KKR have used as many as five different opening pairs and the team looked far from settled after its fifth straight defeat -- this time to Delhi Capitals by four wickets with an over to spare.

"No real excuses, we have to go back and assess where things are going wrong. A lot of chopping and changing is happening (at the top of the order), it's been difficult to set up the right combination, with all injuries not helping as well," an irritated looking Iyer said after the match here on Thursday.

He urged his teammates to play fearless cricket and not be conservative in their approach.

"We need to stick together, play some fearless cricket, not be conservative with the bat. Five more matches remaining, we need to play well, show belief and give something back to the team and the management, forget about the past, start afresh and back your instinct," he said on the way forward.

"You need to sit back and think where it's going wrong. We can't be overconfident, give your best, if we still lose, then it's fine," he said.

Once Khaleel is back from injury, we will have an idea of a set XI: Pant ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DC skipper Rishabh Pant was always confident that once they take the game deep, there was no way they won't win against KKR but he also believed that once Khaleel Ahmed is back from his hamstring injury, they will have a settled XI.

"We were thinking (of the wobble) because we lost too many wickets in the middle but at the same time we thought if we take the game deep, we can win it.

"We haven't thought (about this as the best XI) as hundred percent. Khaleel got injured and that was a forced change, once he is back then we will have our best XI." Pant made it clear that Rovman Powell is being seen as a finisher.

"We see him (Powell) as a finisher but like today when we lost too many wickets, he has to come up and do the job.

"We are not thinking about the points table and take one game at a time. We have to be more clear with our plans and that is something we can improve," he added.

No fear of failure, says Player of the Match Kuldeep ------------------------------------------------------- Having decimated KKR in the first leg, Kuldeep Yadav took another four wickets against his old team to inch closer towards the Purple Cap with 17 scalps, which is currently one less than Yuzvedra Chahal.

For Kuldeep, the fear of failure is no more there in him.

"I might have become a better bowler, but I am mentally stronger than before. When you fail in life you pick what you can improve on and that is something I had to improve. I don't get scared of failing now," the left-arm wrist spinner said.

Also Read : Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 4 wickets

News Source : PTI

2022-04-28 15:31

Umran Malik's raw and lightning pace is lighting the IPL on fire

(Cricket news) In Sunrisers Hyderabad's last ball thriller against Gujarat Titans, Umran Malik was named the Player of the match. GT ended up chasing the target of 196 with 5 wickets to spare thanks to some late fireworks by Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan. Despite being on the losing side Umran Malik was selected as the player of the match, which doesn't happen often especially in the T20 format but it was just that kind of spell by the Jammu bowler.

When Malik came into bowl, Gujarat were wicketless and cruising towards the target thanks to a brilliant opening partnership by Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill. He picked up the wickets of Gill, Saha, Hardik Pandya and Abhinav Manohar in his 4 overs. The speedster gave away only 25 runs in his 4 overs and bowled at lightning quick pace. In his wicket taking balls he clocked the speeds of 144.2 kmph, 145.1 kmph, 152.8 kmp, 148.7 kmph, 146.8 kmph. The 5 wicket haul was the first of the IPL season by a fast bowler.

As every game passes the pacer is making an excellent case for himself to make his international debut. If Umran Malik continues these types of performances then the selectors will have no option but to get him into the side. India will be hosting South Africa in the T20I series before travelling to England for the one off Test and white ball series. There will also be 2 T20Is in Ireland where the BCCI is likely to send a 2nd string side. If Malik doesn't find a place in the main squad then he will definitely be a part of the 2nd team. Many experts and former players have already suggested that he must be included in the Indian team before it's too late to see if he belongs to the level.

Other Indian players who perform well during the IPL all get a buzz for an international call up but with Umran Malik it's different. No one on the Indian side can do what Malik does, in fact no one even comes close. Clocking 150 kmph on a regular basis is very unique and if India has a bowler with that ability then it's going to be the bowling attack better than it already is. Malik has already been a part of the Indian side as a net bowler in last year's T20 World Cup. If he does get a call up and puts in a good performance then he might make his way into the T20 World Cup squad.

Also read: Struggling KKR take on a depleted DC squad in match no 41

2022-04-28 13:35

Struggling KKR take on a depleted DC squad in match no 41

(Cricket news) KKR come into this match in dismal form as they have lost four on the trot, their unsavoury run kick started against DC earlier in the month. Until then, KKR had been topping the table with three wins in four games. DC on the other hand have had a topsy turvy IPL season as they have been plagued with injuries and covid cases but will look to make a late playoff run in the second half of the season.

KKR have some worries going into the match as their top order and middle order are failing to perform, the KKR management need to find a solution. In terms of batting the KKR batters have been a hit and miss this tournament, Aaron Finch firing from the top of the order against Rajasthan Royals gave them hope but he had to sit out of the match against Gujarat Titans with a niggle as Shreyas Iyer also has been hot and cold this season. The only consistent player this season has been Andre Russell who not has been performing with the bat but also with the ball. Their bowling performance over the course of 4 matches has been awful as they have conceded almost 11.63 rpo in the death. The arrival of Tim Southee into the playing XI has brought some parity in the ball line up as he has a bowling average of 10 which is the best this season among the bowlers

DC have been heavily reliant on their opening batsmen to score the majority of the runs as the middle order has been performing that well. With Mitchell Marsh back after recovering from Covid might just slot straight into the playing XI as the number 3 position in the team has been very uncertain. They too would be hopeful of better results after Rovman Powell gave hints of delivering on his hitting promise, after a blistering knock against RR in the last match. Their death bowling too hinges solely on Mustafizur Rahman, which has proved to be cumbersome of late as batters usually take him on in the death. Andre Russell has been dismissed three times by Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman so far but he also maintains a healthy strike rate against them also, it will be interesting on how Rishabh Pant uses these two bowlers in the death overs.

Pitch and weather reports: The Wankhede pitch over the last five matches have been producing a lot of runs as the last five matches barring yesterday’s match was won by sides batting first as dew factors is not affecting the venue so much. We can expect a lot of runs especially with firepower that is on display today. The temperature is going to hover around 33 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

Sunil Narine needs one wicket to reach 150 wickets in the IPL
Prithvi Shaw has an average 56 and has a strike rate of 171 against KKR
DC have taken only eight wickets in the powerplay in IPL 2022 and it is the lowest amongst all teams in IPL 2022
Sunil Narine has dismissed Rovam Powell thrice in eight meetings, and Powell's average reads 7.3 against the mystery spinner
Umesh Yadav has dismissed David Warner four times in 55 balls
David Warner has the highest strike-rate of 171 in the powerplay this season

Also read: I had self belief in my batting, I've been working on it in last two years: Rashid

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Sam Billings (wk/Aaron Finch, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana/Baba Indrajith, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Venkatesh Iyer, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Shivam Mavi, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Probable XI for DC:

1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Sarfaraz Khan/Mitchell Marsh, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Lalit Yadav, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Khaleel Ahmed

2022-04-26 15:39

Battle of pace aces: It's Ferguson vs Umran as Titans face stern Sunrisers test

Mumbai, Apr 26 (Cricket News) The speed gun radar will be functioning overtime when Lockie Ferguson's 150 click thunderbolts meet their match in rising pace sensation Umran Malik's toe-crushers as table toppers Gujarat Titans clash with close-on-heels Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL here on Wednesday.

The IPL newcomers are currently in the midst of a dream inception year with six wins from seven games at the halfway stage and are placed on top of the table.

Interestingly, the only loss that Titans suffered in their campaign so far was against Sunrisers in an earlier meeting and Hardik Pandya wouldn't mind a sweet revenge for that defeat.

However, the 'Orange Army's' bowling attack especially their four-prong fast bowling unit has been exceptional as one saw when they demolished RCB for 68 in their previous encounter.

The disconcerting bounce and movement created by Marco Jansen (6 wickets from 5 games) is ably complemented by Umran's (10 wickets from 7 games) fiery pace, T Natarajan's (15 from 7 games) deceptions off the track and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (9 from 7 games) balancing it all with his experience.

So much so that a lightweight spin department manned by left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith in absence of an injured Washington Sundar, till now hasn't been a cause of worry for Kane Williamson and his band of men.

In fact, the rub of the green has gone SRH's way in this particular season as they now have five consecutive wins from five games where they have chased targets after the bowlers intimidated the rival batting unit.

For Pandya though, his bowling unit is no inferior to SRH as Mohammed Shami's artistry (10 from 7 games) and Ferguson's (9 wickets from 7 games) aggression has brought them a lot of success, not to forget Rashid Khan's (8 wickets from 7 games) ability to be more than decent even in a quiet year by his standards.

However, one area where Titans need to lift their game is Powerplay batting as Shubman Gill (207 from 7 games) has gone off the boil after the his 96 and Wriddhiman Saha, replacing Matthew Wade, has been downright mediocre.

In fact, Saha's propensity to waste balls upfront (dismal SR of 83 in 2 games) in both the matches that he played so far has forced skipper Pandya (295 from 6 games) and David Miller (220 from 7 games) to up the ante even before they can take some time to play themselves in.

For skipper Pandya, it will be important that he isn't plagued by a dodgy hamstring which led to his absence from one game and also created some degree of discomfort against KKR the other day.

The chink in Titans armoury is not having a quality keeper-batter for the format as Wade hasn't really had a great time in the first five games that he got and Saha has always been a player who takes time to settle down before he could play some shots.

There is Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the set-up but in order to play him, Titans would have to sacrifice a potent pace bowling option like West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph, which won't be the most wise thing to do.

Abhinav Manohar and Rahul Tewatia would also like to be more consistent in the finishers' role rather than being like a flash in the pan for a match or two.

However, Titans' bowling attack has the ability to catch the SRH batting unit off-guard considering that it hasn't been tested a lot with young Abhishek Sharma (220 in 7 games) and No.3 batter Rahul Tripathi (212 from 7 games) doing bulk of the scoring in easy chases.

If Titans could breach through the Sunrisers top-order, most of the middle-order batters including the dangerous Nicholas Pooran haven't yet got a decent hit in the middle and the rustiness under pressure could keep Titans interested.

If they manage to upset SRH's rhythm, it will take them closer to play-offs in their maiden year in the championship, no mean achievement in a competition of this class.

Teams (From): Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholos Pooran, Abdul Samad, Priyam Garg, Vishnu Vinod, Glenn Phillips, R Samarth, Shashank Singh, Romario Shepherd, Marco Jansen, J Suchith, Shreyas Gopal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sean Abbott, Kartik Tyagi, Saurabh Tiwary, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.

Match starts: 7.30 pm. IST.

Also Read : In form RR take on struggling RCB in match no 39

News Source : PTI

2022-04-23 22:46

Not thinking about India comeback, my focus on IPL now: Pandya

Navi Mumbai, Apr 23 (Cricket News) In red-hot form with three fifties in a row for Gujarat Titans, out-of-favour India all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Saturday said his national team comeback is not in his hands and he's just focused on doing well in the ongoing IPL.

The premier all-rounder, who sat out against Chennai Super Kings because of a groin injury, was back with a 49-ball 67 -- his third fifty in a row -- to lead Gujarat Titans to an eight-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Titans' third win on the trot consolidated their position on the top of the table.

"I don't think it's my (India) comeback anyway and secondly I don't focus on my comeback. I focus on the game which I play," Pandya said at the post-match media conference.

The 28-year-old made his last appearance for India against Namibia in the T20 World Cup in Dubai in November last year and then struggled to manage his bowling workload post his back surgery only to return to action in the IPL.

In the ongoing IPL, Pandya is sitting second in the run chart behind leader Jos Buttler with 295 runs from six innings at an average of 73.75.

"At the moment, I am playing IPL and will focus on IPL, then will see where the future takes. It's never in my hands now. I focus on the team which I'm playing in. We are doing well and I'm very happy," he added.

Pandya said he's relishing every bit of his captaincy role for debutants Gujarat Titans.

"Captaincy obviously helps. I'm always a cricketer who loves to take responsibilities. I have a bit of understanding of the game having batted for so many years," he said.

"You're successful because you've an understanding of the game. Having played so many matches, I'm able to use my experience. So far, so good," he added.

The Titans got off to a spectacular start, were 133/2 in 16 overs but they lost wickets in heap in the back-end -- four in the final over -- to settle for 156/9.

"I feel we were 10-15 runs short, they kind of finished very strong. But with the kind of bowling attack, I backed my chances. The wicket had up and down bounce. The back of the length ball was working pretty nicely," Pandya added.

For KKR, it was their fourth loss on the trot but head coach Brendon McCullum said they're confident to make the semi-finals.

"The confidence in the batting unit should stay relatively high. We still believe we're good enough to be in the semifinals and be the there at the thick end of the competition," McCullum said.

Chasing 157, KKR were going great guns with Russell on fire and needed 29 runs from the last two overs. But Alzarri Joseph produced a fine final over and dismissed Russell for a 25-ball 48 to derail their chase.

"Our batters have been very good so far. We scored 210-odd in the last game. We have got 170-plus batting first (against Sunrisers Hyderabad), our batters have been predominantly very good," he said, backing their batters.

"Overall I think we have been batting pretty well. From 34/4 and to be able to rebuild the innings and explode with Russell was pretty good but unfortunately that was not quite enough," he added.

Dejected at his side's loss, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer said: "The way we started in the powerplay while chasing and even with the ball. We shouldn't have conceded that much in these conditions." "I think 160-165 was a decent score and we did well to keep them below that. In this format, all matches that are close we need to win those and only then we can climb up the ladder.

"Three out of our last four were very close matches. The energy and vibe is high before the game and it is disappointing that we are unable to convert it," he added.

Also Read : Kohli gets back-to-back first-ball duck as Sunrisers skittle out RCB for 68

News Source : PTI

2022-04-23 22:40

Kohli gets back-to-back first-ball duck as Sunrisers skittle out RCB for 68

Mumbai, Apr 23 (Cricket News) Virat Kohli's wretched form continued as he was again dismissed outside the off-stump off the very first delivery he faced with Royal Challengers Bangalore huffing and puffing their way to a meagre 68 all out in their IPL match against Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Saturday.

This was the sixth lowest total in the history of IPL.

The Sunrisers pace attack led by Marco Jansen (3/25 in 4 overs) and ably supported by Umran Malik (1/19 in 4 overs) and T Natarajan (3/10 in 3 overs) left the star-studded RCB line-up rattled with pace, swing and seam.

In case of Jansen, it was seam movement off the pitch with a few that were angled across, some that held its line while Natarajan got some movement in the air and Malik was unleashing his thunderbolts at upward of 150 clicks.

In between, left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith (2/12) was also unrelenting as RCB never got elbow room to get some momentum going their way.

There couldn't have been a quicker end to a contest as Jansen removed Faf du Plessis (5), Kohli (0) and Anuj Rawat (0) off second, third and final delivery of the second over to make it 8 for 3.

It soon became 20 for 4 when Natarajan got Glenn Maxwell (12) caught brilliantly by skipper Kane Williamson at mid-off. The other player to reach double figure was Suyash Prabhudesai (15).

But, it is Kohli's dismissal that would certainly deflate his legion of fans as his problems outside the off-stump seems to have resurfaced.

Jansen did pose problems for Kohli during the South Africa Test series few months back and again bowled the ideal Test match length, full and getting the ball to either shape in or hold its line.

In the last match against Lucknow, it was the backward point that was in operation and Kohli's propensity to jab at deliveries on off-stump channel with hard hands caused his undoing with Aiden Markram snapping it in second slip.

There was not much resistance from the other batters and once Dinesh Karthik (7) was caught down leg-side off Suchith trying to sweep, it was all over for RCB.

Once it was 47 for 6 after nine overs, the lower order looked mortally scared facing the fast and furious Umran as it seemed as if the ball was hitting the bat rather than the other way round.

Natarajan also kept up the pressure, snuffing out the wickets as veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar wrapping up the innings.

Also Read : KKR restrict GT to 156 for 9 despite Captain Hardik Pandya's 67

News Source : PTI

2022-04-23 17:47

KKR restrict GT to 156 for 9 despite Captain Hardik Pandya's 67

Navi Mumbai, Apr 23 (Cricket News) Captain Hardik Pandya's third fifty of the season was the lone saving grace in Gujarat Titans' underwhelming batting show as they scored a below-par 156 for 9 against Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.

The Titans skipper missed the last game as a precautionary measure and looked a bit rusty even as he scored 67 off 49 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.

KKR bowled as many as 43 dot balls and were brilliant at the death as they conceded only 29 runs and took as many as seven wickets in the final five overs.

Andre Russell (4/5 in 1 over) got four wickets in the final over as Rinku Singh was a livewire in the field with four catches.

While Shubman Gill (5) was out early as Sam Billings collected a faint tickle down the leg-side off Southee's delivery, Wriddhiman Saha (25 off 25 balls), for the second match in succession, piled on the pressure, consuming too many dot balls.

However, an early breakthrough didn't stop Pandya from playing his natural, aggressive game as there was no marks for guessing as to who dominated their 75-run stand for second wicket stand.

David Miller (27 off 20 balls, 2x6), after a match-winning knock against CSK the other night, gave his skipper some support in a 50-run third wicket stand but there wasn't a lot of resistance from other batters.

Pandya started with a square cut off Southee and followed it up with a lofted drive over covers to set the tone.

When Shivam Mavi came into the attack, Pandya used his pace to play the ramp shot for a six and then came the classic cover drive as hardly a fielder moved from their respective positions.

However, one that was for the ages was the off-driven six 15 rows into the stands off a Varun Chakravarthy delivery that was pitched on length. It was a "hold your pose" kind of a shot.

The scratchy Saha did pull Umesh Yadav for a six and a four but wasted a lot of deliveries at the onset which needed to be compensated by Pandya.

At the start of the back-10, Saha got desperate and offered a dolly to Venkatesh Iyer at point off Umesh, who came for his second spell.

Pandya hit boundaries but also kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles. He did hamstring in going for a quick single and was dismissed trying to hit his way out of trouble.

Also Read : Skipper Hardik Pandya returns as GT wins toss and opt to bat against KKR

News Source : PTI

2022-04-22 15:05

Struggling Kolkata Knight Riders face stern Gujarat Titans test

Navi Mumbai, Apr 22 (Cricket News) Former champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be desperate to bring their flagging campaign back on track when they face leaders Gujarat Titans in the IPL here on Saturday.

Having suffered three defeats in a row, the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit has slipped to seventh in the table and the task gets tougher against the Titans, who have been a revelation in their maiden season.

The Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans have been firing on all cylinders, with their batting prowess and bowling might.

Pandya pulled out of their last match against Chennai Super Kings owing to a groin injury but it was business as usual for the Titans as stand-in skipper Rashid Khan led the team to a three-wicket win over the four-time champions.

The biggest plus in their win against CSK was Rashid's sensational form with the bat as he smashed a 21-ball 40 to help his team chase down the target with a ball spare.

GT's opening combination may not have given them the desired start and most of the times the middle-order has rescued the Titans.

It was David Miller (94 not out from 51 balls) who anchored the show against Chennai after half the side were back in the pavilion with 87 runs inside 13 overs.

According to Rashid, Pandya's injury was "not serious and there's nothing to be worried about." Pandya has been in superlative form with 228 runs from five innings at an average of 76.00.

The onus would be on Kolkata's bowlers to seize the momentum and stop the Titans' three-match winning run.

KKR's pace attack led by Pat Cummins and Umesh Yadav and spinner Varun Chakravarthy (30 runs from two overs) were taken to cleaners by the Rajasthan Royals batters in their last match.

It remains to be seen if the team think-tank would bring back Tim Southee in the XI as the key lies in getting early breakthroughs and giving Sunil Narine a perfect stage to restrict the flow of runs.

Narine, a vital cog in KKR's wheel for long, has once again been their go-to man and boasts of the best economy rate of 5.03 after seven matches.

The batters have stopped taking risks against the Trinidadian and he would hope that their pace battery gives some early breakthroughs to make the task easier for the wrist spinner.

The game also throws an interesting match-up between former KKR batter Shubman Gill and Narine.

Gill had a fine start to the tournament and scored 84 (vs Delhi) and 96 (vs Punjab) but has gone quiet since then.

As for KKR batting, captain Iyer is fresh from a fine 85 against Rajasthan Royals, but he would hope their opening issue is resolved.

KKR's investment in India Test batter Ajinkya Rahane (80 runs from five matches; average 16.00, strike-rate 100.00) as an opener has been a big letdown, forcing the think-tank to try out different combinations in the last two matches.

In such a scenario, the Titans bowling attack in Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Rashid Khan and Pandya would look to capitalise.

Teams (from): Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Aaron Finch, Abhijeet Tomar, Ajinkya Rahane, Baba Indrajith, Nitish Rana, Pratham Singh, Rinku Singh, Ashok Sharma, Pat Cummins, Rasikh Dar, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Aman Khan, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammed Nabi, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson.

Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

Match starts: 3.30 pm. IST.

Also Read : Rejuvenated DC take on a in-form RR in match no 34

News Source : PTI

2022-04-22 13:55

Rejuvenated DC take on a in-form RR in match no 34

(Cricket news) After the mini covid scare Delhi Capitals bounced back in emphatic fashion when they beat Punjab Kings in the last match. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals will be on cloud 9 after a thrilling victory over KKR in a high scoring encounter. Both teams will be looking for back to back victories and give their season the much needed momentum.

The Delhi Capitals have been heavily reliant on Prithvi Shaw and David Warner to give them good starts as they have been arguably the most destructive and in-form opening pair in the tournament but that is masking their problems in the middle order. Rishabh Pant has played a couple of cameos but Rovman Powell's form is a serious concern for the DC management . In five innings this season, Powell has scored only 31 runs, at an average of 6.20 and a strike rate of 100.00. In the bowling department the left arm bowlers have been brilliant for them, as they have held a sway over the oppositions batting lineup. Shardul Thakur has the edge over Devdutt Padikkal, dismissing him three times in 19 balls, as the Wankhede pitch will offer a lot of assistance to the left arm swing bowlers early on. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will be the key against Shimron Hetymer who is circumspect against wrist spin.

Rajasthan Royals this season have been reliant on three players, Jos Butler, Shimron Hetmyer and Yuzvendra Chahal to win them matches this season. If Buttler has been the chief power-anchor, then Hetmyer has ensured Royals have finished their innings with a crescendo. Among those who have scored at least 200 runs this season, Hetmyer has a strike rate of 179.83 which is the third-highest and both of them have scored more than 57% of Royals' total runs. With the bowl, Chahal is spinning webs around the opposition batters, having picked up 17 wickets in 7 matches already this season. Prithvi Shaw's struggles against Trent Boult as he has been dismissed thrice in 18 balls. The battle between Ashwin and Warner will be one to watch out as the offspinner has dismissed Warner five times in 127 balls while conceding 159 runs.

Pitch and weather report: The trend of winning the toss and bowling first will continue as the Wankhede pitch offers uneven bounce and pace up front, also the dew factor will come into play later on. Defending totals seems to be feasible at the Wankhede as the last two matches were won by teams defending a total. The temperature is going to hover around 33 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

Royals have the best economy rate (6.72) in the powerplay this season
Khaleel's economy rate so far this season is 7.15. It is the first time in five IPL seasons that he has gone for less than eight.
Prithvi Shaw averages just 18.29 against Rajasthan Royals
No team has hit as many sixes as Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022
Rajasthan have batted first in five matches this season as Sanju Samson has only won one toss
Delhi's openers - Warner and Shaw - have put on four consecutive 50-plus stands in IPL 2022
Also read: M.S Dhoni rolls back the years with thrilling last ball win over MI

Probable XI for DC:

1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Sarfaraz Khan, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Lalit Yadav, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Khaleel Ahmed.

Probable XI for RR:

1 Jos Buttler, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Karun Nair, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Trent Boult, 9 Obed McCoy, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal.

2022-04-22 13:51

Umran, Karthik in focus as upbeat Sunrisers square up against RCB

Mumbai, Apr 22 (Cricket News) Umran Malik's raw pace and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's consistency will be put to test against Dinesh Karthik's explosive batting and the finesse of Faf du Plessis when Sunrisers Hyderabad clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, here on Saturday.

Malik has caught everyone's attention with his fiery deliveries this season. His tearway pace has even troubled established batters such as Shreyas Iyer.

Alongside senior teammate Bhuvneshwar, the 22-year-old formed a match-winning partnership to defeat Punjab Kings by seven-wickets in their previous outing.

Sunrisers, who are targeting a top-4 position, also have yorker-specialist T Natarajan and South African Marco Jansen in their ranks. Jansen has also been able to tease batters with his angles and variations.

But the seasoned Du Plessis and Karthik have pummelled the best in the business.

The new RCB skipper roared back to form with a fine 96 as he anchored his team's innings after the top order once again collapsed against Lucknow Super Giants.

However, the veteran South African batter missed out on a much deserved maiden IPL hundred in the 18-run win on Tuesday.

On the other hand, Karthik is enjoying one of his best seasons in the league. The wicketkeeper batter has taken the centre stage with his heroics for RCB.

With scores of 32 not out, 14 not out, 44 not out, 7 not out, 34, 66 not out and 13 not out in seven innings, Karthik has seemingly been the best finisher this season.

But apart from the duo, the RCB batters will have their task cut out against Sunrisers, who have momentum on their side after winning four games on the trot.

All eyes will once again be on Virat Kohli, who would be eager to get out of the rut of low scores.

Opener Anuj Rawat, who apart from a 66 against Mumbai Indians, has failed to capitalise on the opportunity provided to him, S Prabhudessai and Glenn Maxwell too will be hoping to provide substantial contributions with the bat.

Their bowling unit, however, is their strong suite, which was not the case in the previous seasons.

Josh Hazlewood has quickly become an irreplaceable piece in the RCB set up. The Australian quick has managed to dominate opposition batters with his consistent line and lengths.

In Hazlewood, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Wanindu Hasarnaga, RCB have four match-winners, while Maxwell and Shahbaz Ahmed have also played their part well. They will be up against a SRH batting unit where every batter has taken the responsibility to take their side over the line.

Promoting Abhishek Sharma to the opener's spot has done wonders for the youngster, who has been fabulous at the top, providing SRH aggressive starts.

Skipper Kane Williamson is also back among runs while Rahul Tripathi has shown he too can win matches with the bat when he struck a 37-ball 71 against KKR.

And if the top order fails, the duo of South African Aiden Markaram and swashbuckling Nicholas Pooran are there to finish off matches or set huge targets.

A win for Sunrisers will elevate them to the top-4 while a victory for RCB will help them grab the top spot.

Teams (from): Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholos Pooran, Abdul Samad, Priyam Garg, Vishnu Vinod, Glenn Phillips, R Samarth, Shashank Singh, Washington Sundar, Romario Shepherd, Marco Jansen, J Suchith, Shreyas Gopal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sean Abbott, Kartik Tyagi, Saurabh Tiwary, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Rajat Patidar, Siddharth Kaul.

Match starts at 7:30pm.

Also Read : Like old times, Dhoni scripts thrilling last ball win for Chennai Super Kings

News Source : PTI

2022-04-21 13:40

Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals: It's Chahal versus Kuldeep in battle of spinners

Mumbai, Apr 21 (Cricket News) Yuzvendra Chahal's bagful of tricks will meet its perfect match in Kuldeep Yadav's guile as the two wrist spinners are expected to dictate the narrative when Rajasthan Royals clash with Delhi Capitals in an IPL match, on Friday.

With current 'Orange Cap' holder in Jos Buttler (375 runs) and 'Purple Cap' holder Chahal (17 wickets) in their ranks, Royals are a team that is looking pretty formidable at the moment even with a dysfunctional middle-order, save Shimron Hetmyer.

On the other hand, resurgent Capitals are battling the agony that comes with a mini COVID-19 outbreak in the camp but are still trying to put their best foot forward to stay afloat.

In this backdrop, the two wrist-spinners, who are currently dominating the bowling charts will be itching to show their wares with Kuldeep (13 wickets at No. 2) expected to pose some questions for in-form Buttler in case there is a match-up.

For Delhi, Kuldeep along with Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav would like to stem the run-flow but stopping Buttler will be on top of their agenda on a Wankhede track that is expected to be good for batting.

For Chahal, how he varies the pace against a rampaging David Warner or the ever-attacking Prithvi Shaw and skipper Rishabh Pant will be a delight for the fans.

In the past five years, life has come to a full circle for 'Kul-Cha' who were the 'taste' of the nation between 2017 and 2019 when wrist spinners were in vogue during the Ravi Shastri-Virat Kohli era.

While Chahal got a body blow after being dropped from the last T20 World Cup squad and was sporadically picked in white ball formats, Kuldeep also lost his way.

He got very little support from either erstwhile national team management or his previous IPL team (KKR) and also endured a career-threatening knee injury.

But now the smile is back and so is the guile. The left-arm wrist spinner's googly -- the one that turns away from right-hander -- is back and so is the conventional left-arm leg-break which comes into the right-hander.

However in these kind of games, the support cast becomes more important as they can create those little game-changing moments that impact the final outcome of the game.

Mustafizur Rahaman's cutters and Khaleel Ahmed's clever change of pace could also trouble the likes of Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag.

Similarly, if Trent Boult gets one to tail in first-up, Shaw's response and technique will be tested in earnest.

But Royals have now got a calm death bowler in West Indies' Obed McCoy, who was brilliant while bowling the final over against KKR.

McCoy, who made his IPL debut in the last game, is tall and looked like using his height to a good advantage to create awkward angles and length for the Delhi batters.

If middle-order non-performance is an issue for Royals, the DC doesn't seem to have found the second Indian batter in that middle-order slot apart from skipper Pant, who can take the bowling apart.

Mandeep Singh was a massive failure against genuine quick bowling but Sarfaraz Khan is trying to play himself in.

Rovman Powell till now has failed to show his destructive self and these are the players, who need to push the envelope when it comes to maintaining the momentum.

Teams (From): Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shubham Garwal, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldip Yadav, Kuldeep Sen, Tejas Baroka, Anunay Singh, KC Kariappa, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Rassie Van der Dussen, Nathan Coulter Nile, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Karun Nair, Obed McCoy, Navdeep Saini, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (Captain), 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 and KS Bharat.

Match Starts at 7:30pm.

Also Read : Struggling MI take on defending Champions CSK in match no 33

News Source : PTI

2022-04-20 13:47

DC look to avoid the covid scare as they face PBKS in match no 32

(Cricket news) DC look to avoid the mini covid scare they had in their camp as they take on PBKS. Mitchell Marsh and four members of the DC support staff had tested positive; a fourth round of RT-PCR tests was conducted on Tuesday morning but fortunately it returned with negative results. Further decisions will be made after another round of tests on the morning of the game. Both the sides haven’t had the best of starts this season as they will look to get their season back on track.

DC will be without Mitchell Marsh who was taken to the hospital after testing positive for covid. David Warner and Prithvi Shaw have given them valuable starts, but the middle order has failed to build on the foundation. Incidentally, the duo have added 67(45), 93(52) and 50(28) in their three outings so far. Their main problem this season has been filling up the number three void as Mitchell Marsh was supposed to occupy the position after his recovery from injury but Ricky Ponting and co have the same problem once again. Rovam Powell so far has been a major flop for the DC franchise and needs to show his worth to the team. In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav has been taking majority of the wickets but his spin-bowling colleague Axar Patel has just one wicket to show from 17 overs this season.

PBKS on the hand are the most aggressive side in the powerplay, scoring at 9.81 an over but are scoring at just 9.22 in the death overs, which is least by any IPL side this season. Barring Liam Livingstone, most other batters have struggled to keep momentum and end with a strong finish. He is PBKS top-scorer with 224 runs, striking at 185.12, but their next-best is Shikhar Dhawan, who has 205 runs, but has been only striking at 128.93. Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith have particularly struggled to end with a flourish for their side. In the bowling Kagiso Rabada will hold the key, he has dismissed David Warner five times in 13 innings across all competitions. Warner only averages 19.20 against Rabada, but has a record of scoring 11-plus fifty-run against PBKS. He has scored 945 runs in 21 innings at 49.74, so Punjab will really hope to see the back of him early in the contest.

Pitch and weather report: The Brabourne Stadium has been a high scoring venue like we saw in the last between RR and KKR where 427 runs were scored. The trend of winning the toss and electing to field first will continue as the dew plays a major role in the venue. The temperature is going to hover around 33 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

The overseas trio of Rovman, Seifert and Marsh have hit 69 runs at an average of 8.63, SR of 93.24 and a highest of 21.
David Warner needs to hit four more fours to become the second player after Shikhar to score 100 fours against Punjab Kings in the IPL
Prithvi Shaw needs 19 runs to reach 1500 runs in IPL
Shikhar Dhawan (5989) is 11 runs away from reaching 6000 runs in the IPL
Khaleel Ahmed needs five wickets to reach 100 wickets in T20 matches

Also read: Du Plessis and Hazelwood take RCB over the line against LGS

Probable XI for DC:

1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Sarfaraz Khan/Yash Dhull/Tim Seifert, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Lalit Yadav, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Khaleel Ahmed

Probable XI for PBKS:

Prabhsimran Singh, 2 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 3 Jonny Bairstow, 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Shahrukh Khan, 7 Odean Smith/ Benny Howell/Rishi Dhawan/Raj Bawa, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Arshdeep Singh

2022-04-19 15:15

Rajasthan Royals edge Kolkata Knight Riders in all time IPL classic

(Cricket news) Rajasthan Royals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 runs in what was one of the best T20 matches of all time with so many great individual performances. Shreyas Iyer elected to bowl first after winning the toss before announcing 1 change as Shivam Mavi replaced Aman Khan. RR on the other hand made 4 changes as they roped in Trent Boult, Obed McCoy and Karun Nair for Rassie van der Dussen, Jimmy Neesham and Kuldeep Sen.

RR posted a mammoth total of 217/5 which was the highest total of the season. Jos Buttler continued his incredible form with his second century of the season as he scored 103 off 61 balls. The Englishman hit 9 fours and 5 sixes in his blockbuster innings. Sanju Samson played a good knock of 38 as hit 3 boundaries and 2 maximums in his 19 balls. Shimron Hetmyer once again finished the match well with a 13 ball 26 including 2 fours and 2 sixes. Andre Russell, Pat Cummins and Shivam Mavi picked up a wicket each. In a high scoring game Sunil Narine worked his magic as he ended the innings with the figures of 2/21. Varun Chakravarthy's struggles continued as he got smashed for 30 runs off his 2 overs and didn't get a chance to bowl again.

KKR opened with Aaron Finch and Sunil Narine as Venkatesh Iyer was slotted into the middle order. The plan didn't get tested as Narine was run out without facing a single ball. Finch on the other hand scored 58 off 28 balls hitting 9 boundaries and 2 sixes. The Australian has finally shown signs of his excellence in the IPL and KKR will be hoping that it continues that way. Shreyas Iyer played a captain's knock as he hit 7 fours and 4 sixes in his 51 ball 85. Umesh Yadav hit 21 off just 9 balls to take the game deep but in the end KKR fell 7 runs short.

Despite being expensive in his first 3 overs, Yuzvendra Chahal ended with the figures of 5/40. His 4th over which was the 18th over of the match was nothing short of legendary as he picked up a total of 4 wickets including a hat-trick. The leggie has made sure that the Indian selectors can no longer have the guts to drop him from even one series. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a magic ball to dismiss the dangerous Andre Russell for a golden duck while Prasidh Krishna took the important wicket of Aaron Finch. Obed McCoy on his IPL debut was given the responsibility of bowling the last over which he did incredibly well by picking up the last 2 wickets.

Also read: Karthik can play finisher's role for India in T20 World Cup: Gavaskar

2022-04-19 11:21

Chahal showed why leg-spinners are considered match-winners in IPL, says Malinga

Mumbai, Apr 19 (Cricket News) Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Lasith Malinga said Yuzvendra Chahal showed why leg-spinners are considered as match-winners in the IPL with a brilliant 17th over in which he recorded the first hat-trick of the season.

Chahal (5/40 in 4 overs) removed Venkatesh Iyer off his first delivery in the 17th over and then Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Mavi and Pat Cummins off the fourth, fifth and sixth balls to completely turn the match on its head and hand RR a close seven-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday night.

This was after Jos Buttler's 61-ball 103, his second ton of the season, helped Royals scored an imposing 217 for five.

"Chahal has more international experience. He is the most experience leg-spinner in the country and in this tournament. He showed how to control the skill. That's more important for him going forward to prove he is good enough to play any competitive cricket," Malinga said at the post-match press conference.

"Leg-spinners have more wicket taking options and he showed today how he can get wickets and changed the game in a single over. I think he showed all the leg-spinners that they are the match-winning bowlers in this competition." KKR head coach Brendon McCullum said it was a good game of cricket but Chahal and Buttler simply took away the match from his side.

"You can't allow good players like Chahal to enter the game when there's pressure on. We played a good game but just made a couple of silly mistakes.

"But that's what happens sometimes. Jos Buttler got a hundred on their side, Yuzi Chahal got a five-for including a hat-trick and we lost by seven runs, so we played a good game but ran second," McCullum said.

"With four overs to go, we were in the driver's seat but then some silly mistakes and not being able to handle pressure as well as we should have cost us the game." With six points from seven games, KKR are currently placed sixth in the points table and the Kiwi said they need stick together as a unit and keep pushing one another.

"From our point of view, we've had three losses in a row and we're going to have to find a way to keep our morale high which is so vitally important. There can be a tendency to run away from things when you haven't got across the line in a couple of key games.

'We just have to keep pushing ourselves, make sure we stick together and stay composed. We've been there before and it's going to test us again this time," MCCullum said.

Also Read : Ton-up Jos Buttler makes merry as Royals post 217 for 5 vs KKR

News Source : PTI

2022-04-19 10:59

Ton-up Jos Buttler makes merry as Royals post 217 for 5 vs KKR

Mumbai, Apr 18 (Cricket News) Jos Buttler's dream season just got a bit better after he knocked the stuffing out of a quality Kolkata Knight Riders attack with a magnificent second IPL hundred to power Rajasthan Royals to an imposing 217 for five here on Monday.

Buttler's 61-ball-103 had nine fours and five sixes, some of which were out of the ordinary, including one off Umesh Yadav (0/44 in 4 overs) which landed into the adjacent tennis courts of Cricket Club of India.

When he finally got out trying to hook Pat Cummins (1/50 in 4 overs), Royals had crossed 180-run mark and by then the Australian Test captain was hammered for as many as seven fours and a six, bulk of them by the dashing England keeper-batter.

Buttler added 97 runs for the opening wicket stand with Devdutt Padikkal (24 off 18 balls), who only faced deliveries worth three overs in the first 10 overs.

He was then joined by skipper Sanju Samson (38 off 19 balls), who was equally destructive in their 67-run second wicket stand in just 5.4 overs.

None of the KKR bowlers save Sunil Narine (2/21 in 4 overs) looked like posing any threat to Buttler, who seems to be walking away with the Orange Cap with an aggregate of 375 runs in six games so far.

Varun Chakravarthy (0/30 in 2 overs) is getting from bad to worse during the season as neither there is bite nor any mystery in his deliveries and it was like cannon fodder on a Brabourne batting beauty.

The fifth bowling option turned out to be a nightmare as Andre Russell (0/29 in 2 overs) completed Chakravarthy's quota as they cumulatively gave away 59 runs in 4 overs.

Shivam Mavi (1/34 in 4 overs) and Umesh started off well during the first two overs primarily because Padikkal is out of sorts.

However, showing cricketing smarts, Padikkal gave Buttler bulk of the strike and that changed the course from the third over of the match.

Umesh, who had started the tournament on a bright note, got back to his old self of being erratic as Buttler lofted him for a four and a six off successive deliveries.

The floodgates opened after that as he literally toyed with Chakravarthy, whom he hit for a six by rocking back and having enough time to send him into the orbit.

If there was a wide yorker, he would steer past third-man, short deliveries were pulled and those on the legs were tucked behind square.

Also Read : My plan was to bat till end, couldn't continue with run-rate after Finch's dismissal: Shreyas Iyer

News Source : PTI

2022-04-19 10:48

My plan was to bat till end, couldn't continue with run-rate after Finch's dismissal: Shreyas Iyer

Mumbai, Apr 18 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer was dejected that he couldn't bat till the end despite taking his team close with a 51-ball-85 as Rajasthan Royals won by seven runs in a high-scoring IPL thriller on Monday.

KKR were all-out for 210 in reply to Royals' 217 for 5 but Iyer along with Australian white ball skipper Aaron Finch (58 off 28 balls) did make a match of it before things went downhill in the 17th over by Yuzvendra Chahal.

"We went in line with the run-rate from the start thanks to Finch. We could not continue which was bad but it is a part of the game. My plan was to bat till the end," Iyer said.

Asked if Nitish Rana's dismissal by Chahal actually became the turning point, Iyer felt that the leg-spinner's better record in match-ups with Delhi southpaw went his way.

"Yuzi had a favourable matchup against him. Jos started slow but he took off, he manoeuvred the ball well and continued really well." Iyer didn't find dew to be a factor on the day despite 400 plus runs being scored across two innings.

"Conditions-wise, there was not much dew and the wicket was amazing to bat on. The ground has not been good for us but we will look to come back positively." For Iyer, pressure of scoreboard gets the best out of him.

"I love pressure. I did not think of what the teammates thought of the score, I wanted to go all in. I thought if they can get it, so can I." Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson was all praise for Obed McCoy for bowling a brilliant last over for the Royals.

"The guy doesn't speak much but gives an impression that he is under control. It was very impressive considering he was making his debut," Samson said.

While he was effusive in his praise for Yuzvendra Chahal, Samson didn't forget to praise Ravichandran Ashwin for his doosra that cleaned up the dangerous Andre Russell.

Yuzvendra Chahal wanted to bowl full and wide ---------------------------------------------------- Yuzvendra Chahal's relaxed hattrick celebration pose was inspired from a meme that went viral during the 2019 World Cup in a game where he was seen relaxing in the sidelines.

"I had to take wickets in this match to change the result. I worked on my bowling. I spoke to the coaches and the skipper. I was planning to bowl full and wide," Chahal said on his match-turning 17th over that fetched him four wickets.

The googly to get Venkatesh Iyer stumped was certainly the most well-planned delivery out of the five.

"My googly was coming out well and sent it down to Venkatesh Iyer as he would have played my leg-break well." On the hattrick delivery, a classical leg break to Pat Cummins, he said that he didn't want to take chances.

"I was thinking of a googly but then I didn't want to take a chance. Would have been a happy with a dot ball as well on my hat-trick ball."

Also Read : KKR opt to field against Royals; Mavi comes in place of Aman, Boult, McCoy and Karun included in RR XI

News Source : PTI

2022-04-18 18:57

With 7 T20Is in June, Umran Malik will be in selection committee's radar

New Delhi, Apr 18 (Cricket News) Pace bowling sensation Umran Malik could be fast-tracked into the Indian team as early as June when it will play seven T20 Internationals against South Africa and Ireland respectively.

India will play South Africa in a five-match T20 International series at home (June 9, 12, 14, 17, 20) and two matches in Ireland's Malahide (June 26, 28) where a second-string team comprising white-ball specialists will be plying their trade as the big guns prepare for the series-deciding fifth Test against England, starting early July.

Umran was a net bowler during India's last World T20 campaign in the UAE.

The BCCI is keen on having a bigger pool of fast bowlers going into the upcoming World T20 in Australia and Umran, with his scorching pace, has a high probability of making it to the squad if all goes well and he remains fit over the next two months.

The pool of premier bowlers whose workload management will be paramount are Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar (if fit), Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.

The three bowlers from the fringe pack, who might get a go in some of the 20 plus T20I matches in the run-up to the World Cup are Umran and left-armers T Natarajan and Arshdeep Singh, all of whom have been impressive in the IPL.

Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach and fast bowling legend Dale Steyn has termed the Jammu man a "genius".

"My job with Umran is to ensure he runs fast and make players play differently. My job is to try and make him forward-thinking as to what the batters are planning on doing.

"It's exciting for us to sit back and watch what a genius he is. I don't want to turn him into what I was, all I want is his geniuses to come out," Steyn said on 'Star Sports' 'Cricket Live' programme.

It is understood that chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma and his committee will be keeping a close eye on Umran, who is now India's fastest bowler by a distance, regularly clocking 152 plus (approx 95 miles/hr).

He has nine wickets from six games for SRH this season and the manner in which he intimidated an established international batter like KKR's Shreyas Iyer was an exhilarating sight.

Sunil Gavaskar, commentating for the IPL broadcasters, said that Malik will become more lethal once he is able to stop spraying deliveries on leg-stump and wide off it.

"A lot of guys who bowl at that speed tend to spray the ball around but Umran bowls very few wide deliveries. If he can control the wides down the leg side, he will be a tremendous bowler because that will mean he'll be attacking the stumps all the time, and with his pace, it's not easy to hit straight.

"If he bowls wicket-to-wicket, he's going to be pretty much an unplayable bowler. He's going to play for India," Gavaskar said.

Former opener WV Raman, one of the most respected voices in Indian cricket, feels that time is ripe for Umran to be drafted into the Team India set-up straightaway.

"He is a special talent. He has pace and now he is slowly picking up the ropes of fast bowling. When a young bowler has pace, don't wait for three seasons before you blood him.

"If he is young and as quick as Umran is, you should seriously look at him," Raman, who has been a former NCA batting coach, apart from working with KKR and the Indian women's team, told PTI.

"When Umran is bowling, you could hear that the ball is hitting the bat. But also when you have a bowler like that bowling at 150 consistently, then you also need good slip catchers as the ball will travel at quite a speed," Raman added.

Raman also analysed that when it comes to express pace bowlers, they have a better chance of making their international debut much earlier compared to batters, who are doing well in IPL.

"If you look at our batting unit, we have a lot of experience and if you are an uncapped player making a mark as a specialist batter within No. 4, it is a bit difficult to get a look-in. After that you have multi-dimensional cricketers coming in.

"Also you will produce more quality batters than bowlers. Therefore when a special bowler comes in the horizon, he is bound to create a certain degree of interest," Raman explained.

Former selector Devang Gandhi, however, feels that raw pace can be counter-productive as batters at international level can score quick runs.

"I believe that India will bank on experience going into the World Cup considering that Australian pitches for the ICC tourney will be great for batting.

"But having said that, in the run-up to the World T20 you can check out on various options and there is no harm if they decide to try out Umran and see what he can bring to the table," Gandhi, a member of the last selection committee, said.

Also Read : Killer Miller leads GT to incredible run chase against CSK

News Source ; PTI

2022-04-18 13:06

KKR are looking to bounce back against RR in match no 30

(Cricket news) After their blistering start to the campaign for KKR, their season has somewhat derailed with two successive heavy defeats as a victory against the high flying Rajasthan Royals is a must. On the other hand, RR have similar woes but will start as favourites for this clash, their talisman bowler Trent Boult might be back for this all important clash.

KKR started off the season with a bang but in the last two matches their weaknesses were exploited very badly by Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR’s top order this season have scored the least amount of runs at a very poor strike rate. For KKR, they need Venkatesh Iyer to perform as he has only passed the 20 run mark once this season. The team management needs to make a call whether to continue with Aaron Finch at the top or promote someone like Billings who missed the last match due to illness. Against Chakravarthy, Buttler has only scored 12 runs in 8 balls, and has been dismissed twice. Samson, meanwhile, has fallen thrice to Umesh and Narine, striking at 79.67 and averaging 15.67 against the West Indian off spinner. KKR may also look to push Shreyas Iyer down the order to tackle the Chahal threat in the middle overs.

Rajasthan Royals have been heavily reliant on the top order to get the majority of the runs. Shimron Hetmyer has been RR’s trump card this season, he has strike rate of 262.00 which is the best strike rate of any batter who has faced at least 20 balls in this phase this season. In the bowling department all eyes will be on the two spinners Chahal and Aswhin, as both have the edge over Aaron Finch and Nitish Rana. Ashwin may be given a few overs in the powerplay, while they could hold Chahal back for when Rana comes to the middle, with the leg spinner getting the middle-order batter 4 times. Rana averages just 14 against Chahal, striking at 109.80. For them the absences of Trent Boult played a major role in the last defeat as the New Zealand pacer will be the key in the death overs to negate the threat of Andre Russell.

Pitch and weather condition: The Brabourne Stadium has been the highest scoring venue this season and even big targets are not safe considering the boundaries are very small. Dew plays a major role at this venue considering the high humidity that is there. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

Sunil Narine will play his 150th match for KKR
Samson is 49 runs away from the 5000 mark in T20 cricket.
Trent Boult has returned 78 wickets in 58 games, averaging 21.71 with an economy rate of 7.69.
After scores of 55 & 30 to start the season, Samson has scored 32 runs in the next 3 innings.
Andre Russell has the highest strike rate for anyone with any one having 1500 IPL runs. His strike rate is at 178.61 with 1879 runs.

Also read: Miller magic seals three-wicket win for Gujarat Titans against CSK

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Venkatesh Iyer, 2 Aaron Finch/Sam Billings, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sheldon Jackson (wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sunil Narine, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Aman Khan, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.

Probable XI for RR:

1 Jos Buttler, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 James Neesham/Trent Boult, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Prasidh Krishna, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Kuldeep Sen.

2022-04-16 15:25

Reflecting on Joe Root's captaincy tenure and decision to step down

(Cricket news) Joe Root on friday announced his decision to step down as England Test captain after 5 years of leading the team. The decision comes after England lost the West Indies tour 1-0. The England cricket team is going through a major overhaul as coach Chris Silverwood was sacked after the Ashes tour and managing director Ashley Giles also stepped down from his role.

Root took over as England captain in February 2017 after Alistair Cook's resignation. He scored a century against South Africa at Lord's to become the first England player to score a ton on his captaincy debut. His personal form after initially dropping with the captaincy gradually increased and towards the end were phenomenal. Root holds the record for most matches as England captain. His tenure was a complete mixed bag in terms of team performance and development. The 2-0 series win away at Sri Lanka was his last as a captain. England lost to India away after which they trailed 2-1 to India with 1 postponed Test match left to play.

The Ashes series down under was a major blow as England lost 4-0 against Australia and not one match was a close contest. The West Indies series was supposed to start a revamp and comeback. Senior bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad were dropped from the squad. Things got worse after England lost the West Indies series that too without a win. Root's personal form during the last year or so was incredible as he won the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year award. The team has been underperforming which does call for a change.

The change however wasn't necessarily in captaincy as the system of England cricket is flawed. England's county system has come under a lot of scrutiny for a number of things. Recent videos of Alistair Cook and Rory Burns bowling has infuriated the English fans about the condition of the domestic tournament. County cricket needs to go through some changes like schedule and pitch quality to begin with. The good thing about Root's resignation is that he can now concentrate on his batting and perhaps try to make a comeback into the limited overs squad.

Root hasn't played a white ball game for England since July 2021 and now that he doesn't have the burden of captaincy, he could eye a comeback. Root was a great ODI batter a few years ago and it's not like he cannot cope with the format. Ben Stokes, who was Root's deputy, is likely to take over as the captain. Stokes is definitely committed as he decided to not take part in the IPL to concentrate on red ball cricket for England. Up next, England play a 3 match Test series against New Zealand before playing the last Test against India.

Also read: SRH defeat KKR to get 3rd consecutive win of the season

2022-04-16 13:09

Struggling MI take on an in form LSG in match no 26

(Cricket news) Mumbai Indians are struggling and one more loss would mean that they will virtually be out of the playoff race but on the other hand the new franchise Lucknow Supergiants have played 5 and won three. Mumbai Indians must win eight of their remaining nine league matches to have a fair chance of making the playoffs, after losing five in a row to begin with. However, miracles do happen in sport, like when Kolkata Knight Riders won nine games in a row on their way to a second IPL title in 2014.

One of Mumbai's problems is that their senior core of Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah have not contributed a lot but their youngsters Tilak Verma and Dewald Brevis have shone on the big stage. Suryakumar Yadav is the only batsman that is scoring big but isn't getting much support from the other players. The very fact that MI are playing with just three overseas players says that something is wrong in the MI camp, as they should look to play Tim David or Fabin Allen to give them that extra all rounding option. Except for Jasprit Bumrah the rest of the other bowlers are proving to be really expensive as Rohit Sharma and co need to figure something out really quickly. Thampi, Ashwin and Jaydev Unadkat have never dismissed de Kock in a T20. Moreover, his strike rate against them reads 173, 153 and 145, respectively.

The Lucknow Supergiants suffered a disappointing defeat against the Rajasthan Royals in their last match and will look to bounce back and go to the top of the table. There have been many other contributions with the bat from Hooda, KL Rahul and the impressive Ayush Badoni, and with the ball from Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, K Gowtham and Pandya. The LSG will look to send Marcus Stonis up the order from him, get settled and play a big innings rather than playing the finisher role in the team. Ravi Bishnoi has enjoyed reasonable success against MI batters (Surya, Rohit, Kishan and Pollard) and has managed to keep them quiet as the three spinners in Krishnappa Gowtham and Krunal Pandya will be the key in this fixture.

Interesting facts:

Rahul has the most runs in the IPL since 2018 with 2680 runs at an average of 53.6
Dushmantha Chameera has got Rohit Sharma out six times in T20Is
The No. 3 spot has yielded only 21 runs as they will look to get Marcus Stoinis at no 3
Five defeats for Mumbai Indians is also their joint-longest losing sequence in IPL. They lost each of their first five matches in 2014 edition and the first four matches in 2015

Also read: Tripathi, Markram star in SRH's third straight win

Probable XI for MI:

1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Dewald Brevis, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Tymal Mills/Tim David, 8 Jaydev Unadkat, 9 Mayank Markande/M Ashwin, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Basil Thampi/Fabian Allen

Probable XI for LSG:

1 KL Rahul (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Marcus Stoinis, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 K Gowtham, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Ravi Bishnoi

2022-04-16 11:32

Tripathi, Markram star in SRH's third straight win

Mumbai, Apr 15 (Cricket News) Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram’s effortless batting display along with the pacers magnificent show formed the cornerstone of Sunrisers Hyderbad's comfortable seven-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL match here on Friday.

The SRH pace unit comprising the likes of T Natarajan (3/37), Umran Malik (2/27), Marco Jansen (1/26) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/37) restricted KKR for 175 for 8.

Tripathi, who smashed 71 off 37, and Aiden Markram (68 not out of 36) then produced hostile knocks to take SRH to their third successive win with 13 balls to spare For KKR, Nitish Rana scored 54 while Andre Russell was unbeaten on 49.

SRH now have three wins from five games while it was KKR's third loss in six games.

With the green track not aiding the spinners, Sunrisers' Tripathi took the KKR's spin-heavy bowling unit to the cleaners.

Playing against his previous franchise, Tripathi smashed Varun Chakravarthy for a four followed by two back-to-back sixes in the eighth over, that yielded 18 runs. He brought his maiden fifty this season off just 21 balls.

Tripathy found an able ally in Markram, who smashed six fours and four sixes and when the former was out he took the onus upon himself to take his side over the line.

Earlier opting to field, South African Jansen used the bounce and swing on offer really well to draw first blood as he sent Aaron Finch (7), who is playing his first match of the season, back to the hut in the second over. Natarajan then bowled a sensational fifth over, snaring two wickets.

Natarajan first bowled a brilliant length ball, pitching just outside off to account for Venkatesh Iyer (6), who looked unsettled during his stay, with the flamboyant Sunil Narine (6) following his teammate a couple balls later as KKR slumped to 31 for 3.

Kane Williamson introduced spin but left-armer Jagadeesha Suchith (1/32) looked rusty and struggled with his line.

Young Malik then struck twin blows, snapping the wickets of Shreyas Iyer (28) in the 10th over and Sheldon Jackson (7).

Noticing Iyer, who looked uncomfortable facing Malik’s raw pace, shuffling across the pitch, the 22-year-old fired a scorching 148.8kmph yorker in the blockhole to cut short the Knight Riders captain's innings.

However, Rana kept the score board ticking, hitting singles and boundaries alike in his 36-ball knock.

Rana smashed six fours and two maximums. He was involved in 39-run stands with skipper Iyer and Russell each.

However, his stay in the middle was cut short by Natarajan in the 18th over as SRH broke the potentially dangerous partnership.

Russell, whose 25-ball innings was laced with four boundaries and as many six, including two in the final over. The West Indian helped KKR add 55 runs in the last five overs.

Also Read : Senior India batter Cheteshwar Pujara falls cheaply on Sussex debut

News Source : PTI

2022-04-15 15:15

MI in rebuilding mode, you will see great players coming out in few years: Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai, Apr 15 (Cricket News) Star batter Suryakumar Yadav urged one and all to show some patience with an out of sorts five-time champions Mumbai Indians as it currently undergoing a transition phase which will yield results in coming seasons.

MI have already lost their first five matches and it is now near impossible for them to get back into the reckoning for play-offs as they would need to win at least eight of the remaining nine games.

"As you have seen, it is a fresh auction and we are building this team for the next three-four years, coming a few years down the line, you will see some great players coming out from this team," Surya said at the virtual pre-match press conference which was an indicator that MI's current season could well be over even before it reaches mid-phase of the league.

In a bold gamble at the IPL mega auction, MI think-tank have spent Rs 8-crore on English star pacer Jofra Archer despite his unavailability for the season, while it let go their left-arm pacer Trent Boult.

Their bowling has lost the sting in absence of the Kiwi pacer and the spin duo of Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya.

They workload has come heavily on Jasprit Bumrah as the likes of Daniel Sams, Tymal Mills, Basil Thampi and Jaydev Unadkat have looked pedestrian.

Surya cited emergence of young South African batter Dewald Brevis and young left-handed batter Tilak Varma to prove his point.

"There have been a lot of positives, not only a few; you can see Dewald (Brevis), Tilak (Varma), and many more new faces," he added.

No need to press panic button =================== The record five-time champions are still in search of their first win of the season as they languish at the bottom of the table, yet to open their account after five matches.

But Surya said they're not a team to press the panic button.

"We are playing some good cricket from game one and there is no situation like panicking for a team like MI. We have been following good processes in the past few years and we are just sticking to it.

"If we just keep doing it, we will eventually get our first win and we just have to keep working hard towards our goal together, which we are doing in practice sessions, and that is about it," he added.

Asked whether seniors in the team should take more responsibility, he said: "Everyone is trying their best, no one actually gets out like that, I mean it is all about a few games and the way they are playing, the way they have been putting hard work in the practice sessions, I am sure it is going to come on," he added.

So how does Surya motivate his teammates? "Everyone around is motivated already, I don't need to push anyone. If you play for Mumbai Indians, that self motivation is always there." After his comeback from injury, Surya has been in good form and he said sticking to what he loves doing has reflected on his performances.

"And speaking about myself, I have been just sticking to what I love doing, doing the same thing during practice sessions and it is reflecting on the game. I am really happy about it," he said.

Flexible to bat anywhere =============== For the past two years, Surya has been batting at No 3, but this season he is seen batting lower down the order -- at four and five.

"That is a management's call, but like I have always said, I am always flexible to bat at any position, be it three, four, five or six. The number doesn't matter to me, what matters is what I can do in that situation," he signed off.

Also Read : Resurgent SRH take on the mighty KKR in match no 25

News Source : PTI

2022-04-15 13:50

Resurgent SRH take on the mighty KKR in match no 25

(Cricket news) SRH are riding high after two consecutive victories but take on the mighty KKR who will look to bounce back after their disappointing loss against the Delhi Capitals. For SRH they will be without their only spinner Washington Sundar as he suffered an injury last match. On the other hand KKR will welcome the Australian captain Aaron Finch to the squad and maybe can even go start into the playing XI.

For the Sunrisers the main positive over the last two matches has been the opening pair of Kane Willamson and Abhishek Sharma who hit 75 and 42, Kane Williamson scored 32 and 57. It looks like Rahul Tripathi and Nicholas Pooran have also hit form at the right time. Their bowling has been quietly effective lately, with T Natarajan leading the way with eight wickets, and Sundar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar being economical alongside their occasional strikes. Heading into the clash the main concern for Tom Moody and co will be the injury to Washington and who will ultimately replace him in the playing XI. For the SRH, Bhuvi will be the key man upfront as he has a good record against the KKR top order which has been topsy turvy this season, One thing they need to be aware of is KKR's lower middle order which can win matches single handedly.

KKR have mostly banked on individual brilliance for their three victories but as a collective unit they are yet to hit full flow. The most runs scored by KKR in five matches is Andre Russell with 130, 70 of which came in a single innings while Venkatesh Iyer has only one score above 20, Shreyas Iyer has crossed 30 only once, Sam Billings has got starts but has failed to fire on all cylinders, Ajinkya Rahane has scored only 80 runs at a strike rate of exactly 100 despite opening each time, and same applies to Nitish Rana. The KKR management might replace Rahane at the top with Aaron Finch or a relatively unknown quality in Abhijeet Tomar. Umesh Yadav has ten wickets in five matches and has an economy rate of 7, Sunil Narine boasts the best economy rate of 4.85.

Pitch and weather report: The Brabourne Stadium pitch has usually been a high scoring venue as the average first innings score is 180. Dew over the last few matches at this venue is not affecting the outcome as much as it should, the spinners will play a crucial role in restricting the opposition in a small ground. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees with no possibility of rain.

Interesting facts:

Since 2020, Sunrisers Hyderabad haven't beaten Kolkata Knight Riders
Rahul Tripathi has career strike rate of 221.42 and 160.61 against Umesh Yadav and Sunil Narine
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has picked 28 wickets against KKR - the most he has picked against any franchise
If Aaron Finch gets picked in the playing XI that will be his 9th franchise, which will be the most
With a strike rate of 99, Rahane and Venkatesh have been the slowest opening pair this IPL

Also read: Skipper Hardik Pandya shines as Titans beat Royals by 37 runs

Probable XI for SRH:

1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Kane Williamson (capt), 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Shreyas Gopal, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Marco Jansen, 10 Umran Malik, 11 T Natarajan

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Ajinkya Rahane/Aaron Finch, 2 Venkatesh Iyer, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Sam Billings/Sheldon Jackson (wk), 5 Nitish Rana, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Pat Cummins, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Rasikh Salam, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

2022-04-15 13:42

Royal Challengers Bangalore need Harshal boost to get campaign back on track against DC

Mumbai, Apr 15 (Cricket News) Their winning streak halted by the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore will hope Harshal Patel returns to the playing XI and contribute in bringing their campaign back on track when they face Delhi Capitals in an IPL match here on Saturday.

RCB were flying high with three successive wins before Chennai Super Kings outwitted them by 23 runs in their last outing.

It was absence of Harshal which hurt the team as skipper Faf du Plessis looked out of options to control the rampaging duo of Shivam Dube and Robin Uthappa, who took the bowlers to the cleaners as CSK posted a huge total on board.

Known for his variations and death bowling skills, Harshal is a vital cog in RCB's wheels and Du Plessis had admitted that the team missed his services after he left the bio-bubble on Sunday following the death of his cousin.

"You see the value of Harshal, and what he offers. He has the ability to stop the game. We missed that tonight, we had a similar tone to the bowling. We lacked the variety we needed in our attack. Hopefully, we can have him soon again," du Plessis had said after their loss to CSK.

The 31-year-old from Haryana, who had taken 32 wickets in the 2021 edition, has emerged as one of the best T20 bowlers with his variations, which include off-cutters and slower ones, bowled with variable arm speed.

This season too, Harshal has snapped six wickets from four games at an economy of just 5.50 and remains the go-to-man for du Plessis whenever the going gets tough.

Among others, pace duo of Mohammad Siraj and Akash Deep has been taken for runs, while Wanindu Hasaranga claimed two wickets but he bled 35 in three overs in the last match.

Spin duo of Glenn Maxwell and Shahbaz too was blown away and skipper Du Plessis will expect a better show from his bowlers on Saturday.

In batting, Du Plessis and young left-hander Anuj Rawat have given the team good starts, while Dinesh Karthik has played the role of the finisher well. Engineer-turned cricketer Shahbaz Ahmed too has impressed with his batting so far.

Former skipper Virat Kohli has blown hot and cold with two 40 plus scores but lacked consistency.

The Capitals, on the other hand, are heading into the match after a massive 44-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders.

With two back-to-back fifties, opener Prithvi Shaw has been in sensational form, while seasoned Australian opener David Warner has provided the team solidity at the top as he provided the fireworks to set DC's massive win over KKR.

The number three spot, however, remains a concern with none of the batter tried by the team able to grab the chance. Skipper Rishabh Pant too will expect more runs from his batting.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has emerged as their top bowler with 10 wickets so far, while pacer Khaleel Ahmed too has taken seven scalps in three games.

South African Anrich Nortje, who looked rusty in his only outing, also remains an option, while Delhi also have plenty of bowling all-rounders such as Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur and Lalit Yadav to count on.

However, Rovman Powell has looked subdued so far and DC would expect more from him.

With four out of five matches ending in a win for the team batting second, toss might also be a key factor at the Wankhade stadium.

Teams (From): Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (Captain), 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.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Rajat Patidar, Siddharth Kaul.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Mumbai Indians in search of perfect eleven as they take on powerful Lucknow Super Giants

News Source : PTI

2022-04-13 19:31

I can't see why Umesh would not do well for India in T20 cricket: Tim Southee

Kolkata, Apr 13 (Cricket News) In 2008, when Tim Southee was making waves in competitive cricket as a 19-year-old, Umesh Yadav had only started considering a career in the sport.

Nearly a decade and a half later, Southee, a year younger and 366 international wickets ahead of Umesh, is so impressed with his Kolkata Knight Riders teammate's bowling in IPL-15, that the New Zealander is backing him to wear the India jersey again in the shortest format, having last played a T20I more than three years ago.

"I'm a fan of Umesh, he is a tremendous bowler. I was fortunate enough to share the new ball with him a few times when we both played at RCB," Southee said in an interview to PTI.

"The way he's been managed suits Umesh's style of bowling. If he keeps performing the way he's been doing I can't see why he would not do well for India in T20 cricket." Maintaining a great line and length, the 34-year-old Umesh has been very effective for KKR this season, giving crucial breakthroughs in the powerplays. He has taken 10 wickets from five matches so far, at an economy of 6.60 while bowling the highest number of dot balls (62).

His scalps include those of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma inside the powerplay, while against Punjab Kings, he delivered a magical double-wicket maiden in the middle overs to skittle them out for 137.

In the auction, Umesh was bought by KKR at his base price or Rs 2 crore.

Credit goes to KKR think tank ================== Giving credit to the team's think tank for bringing the best out of Umesh, the 33-year-old Kiwi said the side has benefitted from it.

"The way the KKR has used him has been outstanding. (Head coach) Brendon (McCullum) and (captain) Shreyas (Iyer) have used him obviously as an attacking weapon with the new ball, maximising his strengths with the new ball and coming back in the middle overs to try and pick up wickets make the phase a bit easier.

"He's had a strong start to the tournament. To open the bowling with some of the great bowlers, and someone who you don't usually get to deal with, that's the beauty of this tournament. you are able to open the bowling with the very fine Indian fast bowler." With premier Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins leading the pace attack, and Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy handling the spin department, KKR have their bases covered in the bowling department, Southee said.

"It's really exciting. You look at the experience and the pace that the three have and then we throw in the exciting talents of the young Indian bowlers who we have in our side.

"On top of that you have got two of the great mystery spinners of the game so I think as a bowling attack that covers all the bases.

"It's great to be a part of such a great lineup. You got the experience of Sunil Narine, Pat and Umesh and then throw in some exciting young Indian talents, it's great to be around." Impressed with young pace duo ==================== Southee also praised the young pace duo of Rasikh Salam and Ashok Sharma.

The 22-year-old Kashmir pacer, Rasikh made his debut for the franchise against his former team Mumbai Indians and was tidy against the explosive duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, returning with figures of 0/18 from his three overs.

"Rasikh Salam who played his first game the other day is just a very skilful bowler and can swing the ball both ways. Then there's Ashok (Sharma).

"It's always an eye-opener when you come to India and see these young Indian talented guys. They are asking some tough questions which are great to see," Southee concluded.

Also Read : Mumbai Indians opt to field against Punjab Kings, Tymal Mills back in playing XI

News Source : PTI

2022-04-09 16:30

MI look for their first victory against a resurgent RCB in match no 18

(Cricket news) Mumbai Indians suffered their third consecutive defeat against KKR in a match which looked there’s to lose as Pat Cummins caused havoc in the Mumbai bowling line up. On the other hand Royal Challengers Bangalore are on a roll after Dinesh Karthik helped them finish off the innings with a brilliant knock and the added fact that they will have their talisman Glen Maxwell along with Josh Hazelwood available for selection, will help boost their confidence.

Mumbai Indians have quite a lot of issues to address as their bowling line up of Basil Thampi, Tymal Mills and Daniel Sams have leaked runs with the ball, while their older batting hands Rohit and Kieron Pollard are yet to find some form in the tournament. We can expect the inclusion of Fabian Allen to perform the Krunal Pandya role in place of Daniel Sams who was taken to the raptors by Pat Cummins last match. MI may also consider swapping out Basil Thampi for more experience in the form of Jaydev Unadkat, who had his breakthrough season in 2017 playing on the two-paced Pune pitches. Rohit needs to be wary of how he uses Jasprit Bumrah’s four overs as in the last match his use of him was really sceptical, his record against Kohli is one to watch out as he usually has the edge over him in IPL games.

RCB are riding high on Dinesh Karthik’s brilliance after him and Shabaz Ahmed guided them to a fine victory and now with Glenn Maxwell coming into the playing XI, they now all of a sudden possess a really strong middle order. The RCB management will want more from Anuj Rawat, although he has had two fifty partnerships with Faf Du Plessis, his individual scores read, 21 (20), 0 (2) and 26 (25) as Mike Henson will hope that the opener maximises the powerplay. David Willey and Shahbaz Ahmed will be used as floaters, to tackle leg spinner M Ashwin and left-arm finger spinner Fabian Allen. David Willey is strong against leg spinners, as is his T20 strike rate of 134.40 against them. Hasaranga will hold the key in terms of the bowling department.

Pitch and weather report: The Pune pitch has been the most unpredictable pitch this year as the four games held here have had different outcomes. Pune assures one thing, that the pitch will be a two paced wicket, where the spinners will play a major part in the game. Early on we might see the pacers getting some pace off the wicket. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees as dew will not be a big factor compared to the Mumbai venues.

Interesting facts:

Karthik has dominated Jasprit Bumrah in T20s; he has scored 54 runs off 33 balls at a strike rate of 163.63 without getting out
Bumrah has dismissed Maxwell, r seven times in 15 innings while giving up 75 runs off 65 balls.
Harshal Patel has picked up 18 wickets in ten matches against MI at an economy rate of 7.59 and average of 12.94.
RCB and MIi have the worst death-overs economy rate in IPL 2022 with (13.32) and (12.94) respectively.
Rohit is 51 runs away from becoming the second Indian after Kohli - to 10,000 T20 runs.

Also read: Rahul Tewatia and Shubman Gill lead GT to a 6 wicket win over PBKS

Probable XI for MI:

1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tim David/Dewald Brevis, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Fabien Allen, 8 M Ashwin, 9 Tymal Mills, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Basil Thampi/Jaydev Unadkat

Probable XI for RCB:

1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Anuj Rawat/Mahipal Lomror, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 David Willey, 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Akash Deep

2022-04-09 16:17

Big test awaits Rishabh Pant as Delhi Capitals take on Iyer's KKR

Mumbai, Apr 9 (Cricket News) Skipper Rishabh Pant will face a big test when Delhi Capitals lock horns with table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders, led by their former captain Shreyas Iyer, in a much-anticipated IPL clash here on Sunday.

Iyer, one of the architects of the Delhi franchise's resurgence in the IPL, having taken them to their maiden final in 2020, was replaced as skipper of the team last season after he missed the first half due to an injury. The franchise didn't retain the 27-year-old, who was picked up by KKR at the auction.

Under his captaincy, the Knight Riders are perched at the top of the league with six points from four outings, their only loss coming against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The Capitals on the other hand, after a winning start, have slumped to back-to-back defeats and are placed seventh.

Both Pant and Iyer are touted as future India captain and it will be interesting to see how the two fare. However, the wicketkeeper-batter might be feeling the pressure, having won just one game so far.

The Capitals have lost a close match to new entrants, Lucknow Super Giants, after falling to the other new team, Gujarat Titans.

While the return of pace spearhead Anrich Nortje, who had been nursing an injury, bolstered the bowling unit, the South African, who hasn't bowled since the T20 World Cup in November, looked understandably rusty.

Despite having plenty of options, the bowling department has not looked potent, leaking runs against Gujarat Titans and LSG. Mustafizur Rahman has been their top performer but others need to complement him better.

Their batting unit has also looked out of sorts, with skipper Pant again expected to do the bulk of the work with the willow.

The Capitals will be counting on Prithvi Shaw, who smashed 61 off 34 against LSG, and seasoned opener David Warner, to provide a solid start as their middle order is yet to inspire confidence.

KKR head into the match high on confidence, having defeated Mumbai Indians with Pat Cummins scoring a 15-ball 56.

The former champions have looked like a cohesive unit capable of tackling all situations.

Umesh Yadav has been in imperious form, rolling out impressive performances in the powerplay, and alongside Australian Cummins, make for a formidable pace attack that can trouble Delhi's inexperienced batters. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine can also turn on the heat.

Venkatesh Iyer shone in the previous game with the bat but the seasoned Ajinkya Rahane is finding it tough and one will have to wait and see how long the team management persists with him. Skipper Iyer would also be on the lookout for a big score.

The Brabourne pitch has worked for the batters. With the dew factor unlikely to affect the day game, the captains might be tempted to bat first. Teams (from): Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Aaron Finch, Abhijeet Tomar, Ajinkya Rahane, Baba Indrajith, Nitish Rana, Pratham Singh, Rinku Singh, Ashok Sharma, Pat Cummins, Rasikh Dar, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Aman Khan, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammed Nabi, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson.

Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (Captain), 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.

Match starts at 3.30 PM.

Also Read : Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opt to field against Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

News Source : PTI

2022-04-09 12:51

CSK and SRH look for their first victory in match no 17

(Cricket news) Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have had terrible starts to the season but will look to rejuvenate their season with an important victory. The panic button has not yet been pressed, but for both CSK and SRH, that point may not be far away. Both the captains are a bit under pressure to perform as this year the margin of error is very less especially with 10 teams.

For CSK, nothing has gone their way this year, the defending champions are missing Deepak Chahar who is likely to make his comeback somewhere near 25th April. Super Kings have had a 0-3 start to IPL 2022, with key players from the IPL 2021 not yet firing, missing the dominant top-order runs Ruturaj Gaikwad has not had the ideal start to the season but he did started off IPL 2021 in similar fashion and ended up with the Orange Cap. Robin Uthappa v Washington Sundar in the PowerPlay has all the makings of an intriguing tussle as the swashbuckling opener will look to roll back the years and reproduce the kind of start he got in the tournament when he played for KKR. For the CSK fans one thing to cheer is the form of MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube who have found some form with the bat.

For SRH, nothing has clicked this season, as they might just have bigger problems than their opponents. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson have the poorest combined strike rate (76) among all teams in the powerplay yet and both haven’t survived the full powerplay as well. Rahul Tripathi in recent years has been most successful in the IPL as an opener and Aiden Markram has an T20 average of 57 from No. 3. Williamson on the other hand is batting as the opener but his best IPL numbers are from No. 4. The SRH management will look to shuffle the batting order in order to achieve the best result. Their economy rates for the last seven overs from overs 15 (9.6) and 16 to 20 (11.7) are among the poorest of all the teams, with Umran Malik, Washington Sundar and Romario Shepherd all proving expensive.

Pitch and weather report: The last afternoon game at the DY Patil stadium saw Jos Buttler score a big hundred as winning the toss won’t be very important, since dew won’t play part in the afternoon game. The one thing that can affect the players is the heat and humidity as the temperature is going to hover around 34 degrees with no possibility of rain.

Interesting facts:

It is going to be Jadeja's 150th T20 match for the Super Kings. Only Suresh Raina (200) and Dhoni (217*) have played more matches
Dhoni has a strike rate of 195 (his best among all teams) against them and has hammered Bhuvneshwar for 97 runs in 49 balls with zero dismissals
Williamson has struggled against Super Kings, averaging 26.50 in five innings
But Kane Williamson has scored 338 runs in 10 innings against CSK at a strike rate of 142.62
Ambati Rayudu has been a menace against SRH, scoring 513 runs in 16 innings at 132.22, including an unbeaten century

Also read: Gill, Tewatia star in Gujarat Titans' dramatic 6-wicket win over Punjab Kings

Probable XI for CSK:

1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Robin Uthappa, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Ravindra Jadeja (capt), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Dwaine Pretorius, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Tushar Deshpande

Probable XI for SRH:

1 Rahul Tripathi, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Shreyas Gopal, 11 T Natarajan

2022-04-08 11:57

Rohit urges MI teammates to show desperation and hunger after 3 losses

Pune, Apr 8 (Cricket News) Not one to blame individuals for the team's poor show, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma has called on his teammates to show little "desperation and hunger" to cross the finishing line in the upcoming games after suffering their third successive loss in the IPL here.

Five-time champions MI has endured a disappointing start to the season, losing their first three matches against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders.

"We seriously cannot be blaming individuals here. It's all of us. We win together, we lose together. That is as simple as that for me," Rohit said in a passionate speech in the dressing room after the game against KKR.

"I think slight desperation is required from each one of us. That desperation is very, very, very important when we play, especially in this tournament. Because opposition are different, they come up with different plans all the time. We just need to stay ahead of them. We just need to stay on top of them.

"And the only way we can do that is by having that slight hunger and that desperation on the field - with the bat, with the ball," he added.

But Rohit said there is no need to panic as yet and urged his teammates to play as a unit to nail those crucial moments, which eventually makes the difference.

"So we are doing some good things. All three games that we've played, we've done some really good things. It's just that those little moments, and that indication, you know an individual has to understand, in that period of time when the game is happening," he said.

"There will be an indication that 'this is the over'. What we do in that over, those little, little things - that we need to try and squeeze that, and get it towards our side. Get that momentum towards our side.

"We don't need to panic. Honestly, we talk about talent, potential and everything in this room – but until we bring that desperation and hunger on the ground, oppositions are not going to hand us wins just like that." The three losses, notwithstanding, the skipper said there is still plenty of time for MI to make a turnaround in the 10-team tournament. "There's no point in putting our heads down at this point, because it's still early days. Still early days. And I feel that, in these three games that we've played, we've shown some character. It's just that collectively, all 11 of us inside - whoever goes inside - need to come together.

"That's all. Let's keep our heads up. I don't think we need to look down and start worrying about things. Honestly, we don't need to worry about things," Rohit said.

"...I think it's in there, what we want to achieve as a group. Again, this is not the bowling group or batting group, this is all of us – all of us here. We need to come together, not one or two individuals. Everyone needs to come together." MI will play Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next IPL game here on Saturday.

Also Read : Quinton De Kock dazzles as Super Giants slay Delhi Capitals

News Source : PTI

2022-04-07 17:04

Former South Africa captain Mignon du Preez calls time on ODI and Test career

Johannesburg, Apr 7 (Cricket News) South Africa batter Mignon du Preez, who played a major role in knocking India out of the recent Women's World Cup, has announced her retirement from ODIs and Tests with immediate effect.

The former South Africa captain took the decision to concentrate on T20 cricket and spend more time with family.

"I've been wonderfully fortunate to play in four ICC ODI World Cups to date. These have been some of my most treasured memories in life. I would however love to prioritise time with my family and hopefully start a family of my own soon," she said in a CSA statement.

"I feel the time is right to announce my retirement from the longer format of the game and focus my attention on T20 cricket going forward. Thus, I decided to retire from ODI cricket at the completion of our recent World Cup in New Zealand.

"I feel South African women's cricket is in a very healthy state and the time is right to step away and allow the next generation of exciting cricketers to continue to grow this beautiful game of ours." Slight in stature but brimming with passion for the game of cricket, Du Preez will always be synonymous with the Proteas Women’s journey from a budding team to a world-renowned side currently ranked second in the one-day format.

The 32-year old made her international debut in 2007 as a teenager and went on to don the green and gold in 154 ODI matches, including a ground-breaking reign as captain in 46 ODIs, where the team also transitioned into a fully contracted outfit.

The electric right-handed batter ends her 50-over career as South Africa’s leading run-scorer with 3,760 runs at an average of 32.98, with 18 half-centuries and two centuries, including a 116 not out against Ireland in 2016.

In this year’s World Cup, Du Preez notched up her 150th appearance against New Zealand and scored her last fifty in ODI cricket in what will go down as a World Cup classic, where she guided South Africa to a historic run chase against India in Christchurch.

Du Preez will also not be adding to her solitary Test cap despite the upcoming one-off red-ball clash against England in June this year. In her only four-day game, the Pretoria-born and raised player recorded a debut hundred (102) against India in 2014, in what was South Africa’s last Test match to date.

Also Read : Pat Cummins onslaught leads KKR to victory over MI

News Source : PTI

2022-04-07 13:34

We need to be ruthless in finishing off games, says MI coach Jayawardene

Pune, Apr 7 (Cricket News) Mumbai Indians have endured a torrid start to the season, losing three games in a row and the team's head coach Mahela Jayawardene feels the five-time IPL champions need to adopt a ruthless attitude to finish off games.

A lacklustre MI lost by five wickets to Kolkata Knight Riders here on Wednesday night to slump to their third consecutive defeat of the season. The Rohit Sharma-led side had lost to Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in its opening two games.

"We were in the game pretty much all the way but then in the last few games we have not been ruthless enough to close games off," Jayawardene said at the virtual press conference.

"It's always tough when you have a start like this but we need to look at the positives. We are playing some good cricket but it's just that we are not closing games off. All three games we were in it but we were not able to finish it off.

"So these are concerns, specially with the ball we are not executing at the back end under pressure. Our execution has been poor so we need to make sure we brush up on that," he added.

Regarded as one of the world's best in contemporary cricket, Australia's Pat Cummins smashed a record-equalling fastest fifty -- 15-ball unbeaten 56 -- to power KKR to a comfortable five-wicket win over MI.

Jayawardene felt MI bowlers erred in their strategy while bowling to Cummins.

"We probably could have held on to the hard lengths against Cummins rather than bowling those extra change ups. The short boundaries are on the leg side so it is quite easy for Pat to hit a few slog sweeps," he said.

The Sri Lankan, though, lauded his middle-order for taking the team to a par score after a poor first 10 overs.

"We knew that they have a strategy where they bowl their spinners at the back end as well so we needed to make sure that we had guys who could take them on and Suryakumar (Yadav) was one of them but initially it was a tough wicket, there was step bounce and there was little bit in it," Jayawardene said.

"We got stuck a little bit and then we were behind and we needed to have that par score. So that was the plan in the 13th over and with a couple of big overs we got to a par score in the end." The coach said MI need to return to winning ways soon to keep themselves afloat midway into the tournament.

"It's a long tournament, (losing) three games, yes it is tough but we need to make sure we get a win and get into that good habit. We just need to make sure we are in it midway through the season," Jayawardene said.

Also Read : Kolkata Knight Riderswin toss, elect to bowl against Mumbai Indians

News Source : PTI

2022-04-07 13:23

LSG look to continue their winning streak against DC in match no 15

(Cricket news) Lucknow Super Giants will look to continue their fine form and get a win against a Delhi Capitals side which are still missing some key players but the likes of David Warner and Anrich Nortje will most likely return to the playing XI, making it an exciting encounter to witness. All eyes will be on the two future captains of India as KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will battle out with each other on the field.

The Lucknow Supergiants will be further boosted by the arrival of Marcus Stoinis who might go directly into the playing XI and can give the top order much needed stability with him batting at no 3 or 4. Meanwhile, Avesh Khan got back to his best after conceding nine runs per over in his first two matches but his brilliant four-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad will give him a lot of confidence as he's going to be the one leading this pace attack again for the Super Giants who were further boosted in bowling department with the arrival of Jason Holder, who gave them the assurance of bowling in the death. On the other hand, some concerns for the Super Giants are that Andrew Tye has been a bit expensive in his last two outings and Manish Pandey hasn’t started the tournament well with the bat. The battle between Warner vs Ravi Bishnoi tells a compelling story as the leggie has bowled four balls conceded five runs and has got him out twice.

Delhi Capitals will be delighted that David Warner and Anrich Nortje will likely walk into the Capitals XI with the opener finally out of quarantine and the fast bowler having recovered well from a back injury. Warner will likely replace Tim Seifert while Nortje could come in place of Khaleel Ahmed, with the Capitals having played only three overseas players in their last games as the partnership of Nortje and Mustafizur will be an interesting watch, the main question would be that can they replicate the same partnership that Nortje had with Kagiso Rabada, only time will answer that question. The battle between Quinton De Kock and the DC spinners will be an interesting watch, his vulnerability against spin early on especially those that turn away from the batter, could make Kuldeep Yadav and Lalit Yadav be viable options for DC to use them in the powerplay. DC need to keep one eye on Ravi Bishnoi, as he has kept Rishabh Pant quiet, conceding only 24 runs off the 23 balls he has bowled to him, while also dismissing him once.

Pitch and weather report: The DY Patil pitch has been the most unpredictable pitch in this year’s tournament as we have witnessed runs galore as well as plenty of wickets fall. The temperature is going to hover around 32 degrees as there is no chance of rain but dew is going to play a major part in the second innings due to the humidity as the groundsmen have been using APSA-80, the chemical agent which is used to prevent moisture from forming

Interesting facts:

The average first-innings score at DY Patil stadium in this IPL has been 174 as winning the toss doesn’t have a major effect with the results going 2-2
Deepak Hooda is enjoying a fine start to the season as his strike rate is 86 (first ten balls), 165 (11-20 balls), 180 (21-30 balls), 186 (30+ balls).
Since IPL 2016, David Warner averages 76.89 in the powerplay,
Both Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan, since IPL 2021, have taken 8 wickets in the powerplay, 7 in the middle overs and 16 in the death.
Rishabh Pant is set to become the joint second-most capped player for Delhi Capitals in the IPL,
Shardul Thakur needs 3 more wickets to reach 150 wickets in T20 cricket

Also read: Cummins equals record for fastest IPL fifty as KKR beat MI by 5 wickets

Probable XI for LSG:

1 KL Rahul (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Marcus Stoinis, 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Ayush Badoni, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Ankit Rajpoot, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Avesh Khan

Probable XI for DC:

1 David Warner, 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Sarfaraz Khan/Yash Dhull, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Lalit Yadav, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

2022-04-07 10:46

I probably think I'm most surprised by that innings, says Cummins after 15-ball 56

Pune, Apr 6 (Cricket News) Regarded as one of the world's finest pacers, Pat Cummins said he was more surprised than anyone else after his IPL record-equalling fastest fifty in Kolkata Knight Riders' five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians here on Wednesday.

Cummins reached his half century in just 14 balls, same as KL Rahul, to help KKR chase down MI's total of 161 with four overs to spare.

"I probably think I'm most surprised by that innings. I'm glad that it came off. I was thinking of having a swing if it was in my area. Wasn't trying to overthink it," Cummins said at the post-match press presentation ceremony.

The Australian added, "Very satisfying to do it on my first game this season. Was just trying to pepper the shorter boundary. The hard thing after a big auction is that there are a lot of changes from last year. It's a good mix of talent out there and quite relaxed with the boys." It was unbelievable stuff from Cummins as KKR, needing 35 from 30 balls, got them all in just six deliveries with the Australian Test captain hitting six sixes and four boundaries in his 15-ball 56, leaving his skipper Shreyas Iyer as well as rival captain Rohit Sharma stunned.

"Extraordinary! I couldn't believe the way he (Cummins) was hitting the ball. Because yesterday in the nets, he was getting bowled now and then, I was batting in the nets beside him then," Iyer said.

Venkatesh Iyer batted through the KKR innings to remain not out on 50 off 41 balls.

"During the timeout, the plan was for Venky to drop anchor and tell Pat to just swing at everything because that's what he was doing before too. When I went into bat, I told him to just time the ball because he was overhitting the ball a bit.

"We have to take responsibility as top order batters. All of us have the ability to hit the ball long. In the powerplay both innings, the pitch was quite the same. After the powerplay, it got a lot easier I guess," Iyer added.

Veteran Kieron Pollard complemented Suryakumar Yadav's brisk half-century by smashing 23 runs in the last over to propel MI after KKR kept things tight for a major part of their innings.

After an 83-run fourth-wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav (52) and Tilak Varma (38 not out), Pollard (22 not out) hit Cummins for three sixes to end MI's innings on a high, which eventually proved to be too less for KKR.

Rohit said Cummins' onslaught will be hard to digest.

"Never expected him to come and play like that! Lot of credit to him for the way he played. With the bat we didn't start well. Over the last four overs, to get 160-plus was a great effort...

"We had the game until the 15th over, but the way Cummins played... We thought we could have them. But this will be hard to digest - the way it turned out to be in the last few overs. There is a lot of hard work we need to put in," Rohit said.

Also Read : Cummins equals record for fastest IPL fifty as KKR beat MI by 5 wickets

News Source : PTI

2022-04-07 08:23

Cummins equals record for fastest IPL fifty as KKR beat MI by 5 wickets

Pune, Apr 6 (Cricket News) Premier pacer Pat Cummins shone with the bat like never before, equalling the record for the fastest fifty in the IPL, including amassing 35 in an over, as Kolkata Knight Riders crushed Mumbai Indians by five wickets here on Wednesday.

Cummins blazed away to his fifty in just 14 balls, joining KL Rahul on the top of the leaderboard, while opener Venkatesh Iyer batted through the innings for his unbeaten 41-ball 50, as KKR completed a chase of 162 with as many as four overs to spare.

It was unbelievable stuff from Cummins as KKR, needing 35 from 30 balls, got them all in just six deliveries with the Australian Test captain hitting six sixes and four boundaries in his 15-ball 56.

Daniel Sams bore the brunt of Cummins' onslaught the most, conceding 35 runs in the 16th over, which sealed it for KKR.

Together with Iyer, Cummins, who came in at number six, shared 61 runs in just 2.1 overs to overhaul MI's total of 161 for four.

MI, thus, slumped to their third defeat in as many matches.

KKR made a sedate start reaching 16 off the first four overs. The wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and skipper Shreyas Iyer made life difficult for KKR as they slumped to 35 for two in the sixth over.

Sam Billings made 17 off 12 balls before he dismissed by Murugam Ashwin.

Iyer, on the other hand, went about his business in his own way and kept the scoreboard ticking.

While Iyer stood firm at one end, wickets kept tumbling from the other as Nitish Rana failed once again, caught at deep midwicket by Sams off Ashwin.

Andre Russell played a five-ball 11-run knock before he left Iyer stranded, top-edging a Tymal Mills short delivery to Dewald Brevis.

Cummins then took the attack to the opposition and struck Mills for a boundary and a six of consecutive balls.

Having conceded 23 runs in the final over when MI batted, Cummins clobbered the MI bowlers to all parts of the ground to take KKR home in a grand fashion.

Earlier, veteran Kieron Pollard complemented Suryakumar Yadav's brisk half-century by amassing 23 runs in the last over to propel MI after KKR kept things tight for a major part of their innings.

After an 83-run fourth-wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav (52) and Tilak Varma (38 not out), Pollard (22 not out) smashed the world's premier fast bowler Pat Cummins for three sixes to end MI's innings on a high.

Opting to bowl first on a fresh pitch with plenty of grass, KKR's opening bowlers used the conditions to perfection as pacer Umesh Yadav (1/25) and debutant Rasikh Salam (0/18) relied on back of length deliveries to trouble MI's opening duo of skipper Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

Umesh and Cummins (2/49) picked up early wickets to reduce MI to 55 for three.

Umesh looked more threatening of the two as he consistently tested the high-profile MI opening batters with his probing length, producing a fantastic first over which yielded just one run.

Salam tried to match his senior pro.

Umesh struck first blood in the third over with a back-of-length delivery to get Rohit for the fifth time in IPL, with the MI skipper failing to control a pull.

Then came another debutant Dewald Brevis (29), known as 'Baby AB' for his 360 degree shot-making abilities, and he tried to attack the KKR bowlers.

He succeeded in his endeavour for a brief period, hitting two fours and as many sixes, but fell to Varun Chakravarthy (1/32).

All this while, MI's man-in-form Ishan Kishan (14 off 21) was a quiet spectator at the other end.

Unlike his last two innings, Kishan seemed to be struggling from the onset and a poor start didn't help his cause either.

Kishan's struggle came to an end in the 11th over when he miscued a pull off Cummins to KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer.

Varma got a reprieve in the 13th over when Ajinkya Rahane spooned him after a confusion with Billings.

Yadav struck a four and a huge six in the final two deliveries of the same over to give MI's innings some momentum.

Varma grabbed the missed chance with both hand and scooped Cummins over fine leg for a maximum and then followed it with a slash over mid-wicket for a boundary off Chakravarthy.

Yadav, on the other hand, looked in ominous form after returning from injury, dealing mostly in fours and sixes to notch up his fifty in 34 balls.

Also Read : Want to learn how to play one-handed shots from Rishabh: Warner

News Source : PTI

2022-04-07 07:55

Veteran Kieron Pollard lifts MI to 161/4, hits Cummins for 23 in last over

Pune, Apr 6 (Cricket News) Veteran Kieron Pollard complemented Suryakumar Yadav's brisk half-century by amassing 23 runs in the last over to lift Mumbai Indians to 161 for four after Kolkata Knight Riders kept things tight for a major part of their innings in the IPL here on Wednesday.

After an 83-run fourth-wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav (52) and Tilak Varma (38 not out), Pollard (22 not out) smashed the world's premier fast bowler Pat Cummins for three sixes to end MI's innings on a high.

Opting to bowl first on a fresh pitch with plenty of grass, KKR's opening bowlers used the conditions to perfection as pacer Umesh Yadav (1/25) and debutant Rasikh Salam (0/18) relied on back of length deliveries to trouble MI's opening duo of skipper Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

Umesh and Cummins (2/49) picked up early wickets to reduce MI to 55 for three.

Umesh looked more threatening of the two as he consistently tested the high-profile MI opening batters with his probing length, producing a fantastic first over which yielded just one run.

Salam tried to match his senior pro.

Umesh struck first blood in the third over with a back-of-length delivery to get Rohit for the fifth time in IPL, with the MI skipper failing to control a pull.

Then came another debutant Dewald Brevis (29), known as 'Baby AB' for his 360 degree shot-making abilities, and he tried to attack the KKR bowlers.

He succeeded in his endeavour for a brief period, hitting two fours and as many sixes, but fell to Varun Chakravarthy (1/32).

All this while, MI's man-in-form Ishan Kishan (14 off 21) was a quiet spectator at the other end.

Unlike his last two innings, Kishan seemed to be struggling from the onset and a poor start didn't help his cause either.

Kishan's struggle came to an end in the 11th over when he miscued a pull off Cummins to KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer.

Varma got a reprieve in the 13th over when Ajinkya Rahane spooned him after a confusion with Billings.

Yadav struck a four and a huge six in the final two deliveries of the same over to give MI's innings some momentum.

Varma grabbed the missed chance with both hand and scooped Cummins over fine leg for a maximum and then followed it with a slash over mid-wicket for a boundary off Chakravarthy.

Yadav, on the other hand, looked in ominous form after returning from injury, dealing mostly in fours and sixes to notch up his fifty in 34 balls.

Also Read : Want to learn how to play one-handed shots from Rishabh: Warner

News Source : PTI

2022-04-06 13:02

MI are looking for their first win as they take on KKR in match no 14

(Cricket news) Mumbai Indians have always been slow starters to the league but this time they have played two matches and have been beaten quite convincingly. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are riding high after Andre Russell’s show against Punjab Kings and they look to stay at the top of the table.

Mumbai Indians have made it a bad habit by starting slowly before revving up as mid-season approaches and then pouncing on teams at the back end. They have continued the same trend this season having started poorly this time also, but the margin for error could be smaller in a 10-team pool. In both their losses so far, Mumbai have failed to capitalise on their batters giving them good starts, both the left-handers in Ishan Kishan and Tilak Verma have given this Mumbai side the much needed impetus at the top but it is the middle order which is not really performing. With Suryakumar Yadav fit, he will most likely replace Anmolpreet Singh in the playing XI. Another headache for Rohit Sharma would be whether to pick Basil Thampi or Jaydev Unadkat, but the only hitch is he's nearly like-for-like to Tymal Mills, in terms of his bowling but after last match and considering Dre Russ can take the bowlers out of the park, he just might get the nod ahead of Thampi.

Kolkata Knight Riders have destroyed their opposition with their pace attack and with Pat Cummins back, their pace attack looks even meaner. Brendon McCullum always emphasised on the fact of playing an aggressive brand of T20 cricket and they certainly showcased it against PBKS last match. One problem heading into the match would be KKR’s death-overs problem with Tim Southee, Russell, Venkatesh Iyer and Shivam Mavi leaking runs in the end but the introduction of Cummins will allow Shreyas Iyer to breathe a bit easier. KKR need to be wary of Bumrah’s threat, the West Indian all-rounder has been dismissed thrice in the last 61 deliveries by Bumrah and averages just 20.33. The KKR management would also expect a lot more from the likes of Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane as they are the key to utilising the power play to the fullest. The KKR management will have a good selection headache whether to drop Billings or Southee for Cummins, both these players have been really good with bat, ball and in the field.

Pitch and weather report: The Pune pitch has been very kind to the bowlers bowling in the second innings. In the previous two matches, bowlers have been able to defend their scores as in Pune dew doesn’t play a major part because of the less humidity but the trend of winning the toss and bowling first will continue. The temperature is going to hover around 29 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

Mumbai's win percentage of 75.8% is the highest win percentage for a team against an opponent in all of the IPL.
In 16 IPL games at the MCA, pacers have picked up 3.8 wickets per innings as compared to spinners 1.6 wickets
MI have won 22 matches against KKR in the IPL, which is the most by a team against an opposition in the league
Rohit Sharma needs 54 runs to reach 10,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Sunil Narine needs five more wickets to become the first player to take 150 wickets for KKR in the IPL.

Also read: Dinesh Karthik stars in RCB's come from behind win over Royals

Probable XI for MI:

1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav/Anmolpreet Singh, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Tim David, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 M Ashwin, 9 Tymal Mills, 10 Jaydev Unadkat/Basil Thampi, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Venkatesh Iyer, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sheldon Jackson, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sunil Narine, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

2022-04-05 13:19

In form RR take on RCB in the battle of the Royals in Match no 13

(Cricket news) The Rajasthan Royals have ticked all boxes this season as they have convincingly won their first two matches, on the other hand Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to take the confidence after their victory over KKR in the last match. Rajasthan Royals have turned it on already this IPL, winning two matches and posting mammoth scores of 193 and 210.

Last year RR finished second from bottom with just five wins from 14 matches but this year they just look like a completely different team, having fixed their gloring holes in the squad. Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson have hit a total of 16 sixes and they also have the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Shimron Hetmyer who are contributing heavily with the bat as they can notch up big hits without spending too much time in the middle. While other teams have taken a pragmatic approach in the middle overs, Royals have scored at 10.07 runs per over in this phase, the highest for any team in IPL 2022. The biggest storyline will be Chahal facing his old team as he will hold the key to make breakthroughs in the slog overs. Both Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna will also play a crucial role in the powerplay and mainly stop the likes of Faf and Virat to settle in.

RCB will be without Glenn Maxwell, who will be available for selection from 9th April but will have the Australian quicks Jason Behrendorff and Josh Hazlewood available for selection. If RCB are to put on a big total or even chase a big score then Virat Kohli needs to be in form, as he has an exceptional record against Prasidh and Boult and his strike rate jumps to 140 or above against these pacers. Kohli has the edge over Ashwin as well, as he has gotten out to Ashwin only once in 20 innings and averages 162 against the offspinner and will be looking to dominate again. Hasaranga had a good start to the season with five wickets, but the key battle will be against the in-form Sanju Samson as has troubled him in the past, dismissing him thrice in four T20s in the span of 11 balls. Butler also has little success against Hasaranga, he is yet to hit a boundary in the 23 balls that he has faced from him in the T20s.

Pitch and weather report: The three games played at the Wankhede have been won by the teams chasing. There has been a lot of assistance for the pacers with Umesh Yadav (twice) and Mohammed Shami being certain examples. Any captain winning the toss will likely bowl first as the dew factor plays a vital role in the second innings. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

Faf du Plessis has hit 30 sixes since IPL 2021 which is the second most since last year
Hetmyer has a strike rate of 248.14 in this years IPL,
Chahal has picked up 23 wickets in 17 matches since IPL 2021
Rajasthan Royals have hit 58 boundaries and 25 sixes in the two matches they have played
Harshal Patel (69) needs four more wickets to become the second highest wicket taker for Royal Challengers Bangalore

Also read: KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda and Avesh Khan lead LSG to victory over SRH

Probable XI for RR:

1 Jos Buttler, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Navdeep Saini, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Probable XI for RCB:

1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Anuj Rawat, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 David Willey, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Akash Deep

2022-04-04 12:42

With momentum on their side, Rajasthan face RCB in battle of Royals

Mumbai, Apr 4 (Cricket News) Rajasthan Royals would aim to build on their promising start to the season when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, a side that is yet to unlock its potential, in the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday.

Rajasthan come into the game following their 23-run win over Mumbai Indians. Bangalore, led by Faf Du Plessis, head into the match after a narrow three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders and would be looking to be more convincing.

The Wankhede track has been aiding the pacers initially and both the teams can take advantage of it.

For Rajasthan, opener Buttler is in sublime form and can pummel any attack to submission, like he did on Saturday en route to a memorable hundred.

He would however, need support from fellow opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and one-down Devdutt Padikkal, who would be itching to get among the runs.

After his half-century in the first game, RR skipper Sanju Samson was unable to convert the start against Mumbai Indians. Knowing his ability to hit sixes at will, Samson would be more than keen to find consistency and lead from the front.

Another important cog in their wheel is West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer, who has played useful cameos in the first two games. The top five, if they get going, can make things hard for the RCB bowlers.

On the bowling front, RR are unlikely to tinker with their combination. Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna and Navdeep Saini held their nerve against Kieron Pollard and were right on the money.

Eight overs of Ashwin and Chahal can turn the game on its head and their contribution could prove decisive.

For Bangalore, their bowlers led by Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga performed their task with perfection against KKR.

While Hasaranga will be key in stopping Samson and Co, pacers David Willey, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, who combined to take four wickets against KKR, would need to come good again.

Also death overs specialist Harshal Patel will have to be at his best if RCB aim to contain a powerful RR batting unit.

More than the bowling, batting has been a concern for RCB.

While opener Anuj Rawat needs to show consistency, Du Plessis also will have to lead from the front and get a big score.

It is still not clear whether Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will be available for the team's third game of the season. Teams (from): Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Rajat Patidar, Siddharth Kaul.

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shubham Garwal, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldip Yadav, Kuldeep Sen, Tejas Baroka, Anunay Singh, KC Kariappa, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Rassie Van der Dussen, Nathan Coulter Nile, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Karun Nair, Obed McCoy, Navdeep Saini, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Under pressure after three losses, Jadeja lucky to have Dhoni by his side

News Source : PTI

2022-04-04 11:24

We need to find ways to come stronger, says Jadeja as he defends Ruturaj's poor show

Mumbai, Apr 3 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings skipper Ravindra Jadeja wants his team to find ways to come back stronger even as he defended opener Ruturaj Gaikwad's poor form after his team's third successive defeat in the IPL.

After having lost to Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Supergiants in the first two games, CSK on Sunday suffered a 54-run loss to Punjab Kings.

"I think we lost too many wickets in the powerplay and didn't find momentum from ball one. We need to find a way to come back stronger," Jadeja said after the match.

Asked if he has concerns about Ruturaj Gaikwad's form, the skipper said: "No, we need to give him [Gaikwad] confidence as we all know he's a very good player. I'm sure he will come good." He also praised Shivam Dube, who has now scored back-to-back fifties.

"Dube has been batting well and I think keeping him in a good frame of mind is the key. We will try our best to work hard and come back stronger." I had no advice for Liam Livingstone, said Agarwal ------------------------------------------------- An ecstatic Mayank Agarwal was all praise for his teammates after a clinical show.

"I said nothing to Livingstone. Everyone holds their breath when he's batting," Agarwal said.

He also lavished praise on Vaibhav Arora who got two wickets for 21 runs.

"Vaibhav was with us a couple of years back and we saw the talent. KKR picked him up, but we wanted him because he's something different." Agarwal attributed Anil Kumble's eye for talent in finding Jitesh Sharma.

"With Jitesh, Anil bhai had seen him at Mumbai Indians. He has great intent and he's a fantastic keeper. The standout thing about him is his attitude. We will definitely look to play hard, positive cricket. We have to be emotionally intelligent if it doesn't come off," he said.

I play my own way, says Livingstone ----------------------------------------- Punjab Kings' costliest buy Liam Livingstone was happy with his 32-ball-60 and said that he has his own way of playing.

"I've been swinging hard, so nice to get it off the middle today. But it was all about the seamers. I play my own way and I struggled a bit with Rajasthan as well. Hopefully, this will bring some confidence." About his wickets, Livingstone said: "Bowling is something I really enjoy and I keep practicing. Hopefully, I'll come more and more into the game. I also bat in the nets with Odean Smith," he said.

Also Read : Dashing Livingstone, rookie Arora star in Punjab Kings' 54-run win against CSK

News Source : PTI

2022-04-02 16:43

Gareth Delany's quickfire fifty guides the ireland wolves to victory

(Cricket news) A rapid-fire 72 from Irish international Gareth Delany has led the Ireland Wolves to victory and level the series 1-1 against Namibia at the Wanderers Cricket Ground today. Player of the Match Delany hit what is his highest list a score from just 55 balls, featuring six sixes and three fours, and contributed to a match-deciding 105-run stand with Stephen Doheny (37). The pair came together at a precarious moment, with a target to win of just 162, the Wolves top-order had collapsed from 39-0 to lose three wickets in six balls without adding to the score.

Doheny and Delany settled quickly and found their rhythm soon after. Initially the pair displayed a patient approach to their batting, but then unleashed a more aggressive style as the innings progressed. In the 24th over, Delany brought up his half-century with a maximum, passing the milestone from 50 balls.

He then began to stamp his authority on the game with all-out attack, striking a further three sixes as he moved from 53 to 72 in just five balls. However, on 72 Delany was caught on the long-on boundary trying to finish the game quickly. Doheny fell shortly after, but it mattered little as captain Neil Rock came in and finished off the scoring with a boundary and a six to give the Wolves the win.

Earlier in the day, Rock won the toss and chose to bowl first, with the Wolves seeking to make amends for the loss in Game One. Graham Hume started with a good line and length, getting some movement off the seam, and he took the wicket of Davin La Cock (15) with a lovely bouncer, which he nicked to Delany at first slip in the 7th over.

Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who had scored 74* in the deciding T20 last week, came in and tried to steady the Namibian innings, but he struggled to sustain any sort of early partnership, as both Stephan Baard (21) and Gerhard Erasmus (2) fell to Mike Frost (2-27), who was making his tour debut, inside the first 17 overs.

Despite struggling, Loftie-Eaton eventually found some rhythm and sought to anchor the innings. He was almost run out on 30, with Doheny just missing with a direct hit attempt. Malan Kruger (21) came and went with the home side on 93-4 in the 26th over. It was then that leg-spinner Ben White was introduced. White conceded 10 from his first over, but bounced back with the next four dismissals - he caught and bowled both JJ Smit (4) and Dylan Leicher (6), trapped Reuben Trumplemann in front (6), then ended Loftie-Eaton’s innings (67) inducing a mis-timed shot to deep square leg.

Between the three spinners – White, Frost and Delany – the Wolves captured 8 wickets, with Namibia eventually finished off for 161 from 43.1 overs. Following the match, Wolves captain Neil Rock said: “We’re delighted. We managed to put a lot of things right today that we were a bit off with the other day, particularly with the ball. I was really pleased with the way the guys bowled throughout the innings. A lot of our guys have spent the winter indoors, so this has been our first match outdoors for a while - and our squad is a little bit light at the minute, but we’ve made use of what we have.”

Player of the match Gareth Delany said: “We started off really well with the ball. Mike Frost and Ben White bowled really well so it gave us a good chance to chase a low score. We were unhappy the other day with how we batted so we just made sure of it today. You have a little bit more time in 50-over cricket, and we just seemed to get better as the day went on and it became easier to bat.”

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Wolves v Namibia Men, 3rd One-Day game, Windhoek, 1 April 2022

Namibia 161 (43.1 overs; N Loftie-Eaton 67, M Kruger 21; B White 4-51)

Wolves 165-5 (27.4 overs; G Delany 72, S Doheny 37; G Erasmus 1-8)

Ireland Wolves won by 5 wickets (series 1-1)

Upcoming fixture schedule

3 April: Ireland Wolves v Namibia A – 4th ODM (Windhoek; start 9.30am local time)
5 April: Ireland Wolves v Namibia A – 5th ODM (Windhoek; start 9.30am local time)

All matches will be livestreamed on Cricket Namibia’s Facebook page.

Also read: Russell and Umesh Yadav star as KKR bounce back with win over PBKS

2022-04-02 12:45

MI look for their first victory over the resurgent RR in match no 9

(Cricket news) Mumbai Indians' trend of losing the first match continued as they lost to Delhi Capitals, on the other hand Rajasthan Royals produced a clinical display against SRH to win their first match. The certain sub plots of Mahela Jayawardene vs Kumar Sangakkara & Lasith Malinga, Rohit Sharma vs Sanju Samson, Kieron Pollard vs Shimron Hetmyer, Jasprit Bumrah vs Trent Boult, M Ashwin vs R Ashwin surely promises to be a mouth-watering one.

Mumbai Indians have always been slow starters as they gradually grow into the tournament and it looks like that the trend is continuing this season as well. Suryakumar Yadav is back and fit again to be back in the playing XI after having missed Mumbai's opening game against DC because of a hairline fracture he suffered during the series against West Indies last month. The key for MI will be to get early wickets if they are to stop their swashbuckling openers from scoring big as Jasprit Bumrah leading the bowling attack can be the kryptonite against this batting line-up. Bumrah has an exceptional record against the two talisman for RR, Jos Buttler averages 12.67 against him with three dismissals, while Samson and Padikkal 24 and 4 respectively with 2 dismissals each. Heading into the match the batting looks very solid for MI but wouldn’t want more from Tim David, who had a below par first game for them as the team management requires him to finish matches for his franchise.

Rajasthan Royals made the perfect start to the season with a huge win over SRH as the Royals have also been Mumbai's bogey team. Since IPL 2018, they have won five of the eight games between the two sides in the last four years but this season their bowling attack ticks all boxes, and their batting line-up boasts of dynamic T20 players as the only concern heading into the match would be the number 7 spot. In the last match, Nathan Coulter Nile was given an opportunity but was taken out of the park by Washington Sundar, if needed then can call upon Jimmy Neesham or Daryl Mitchell to do the job for the team. If RR are going to win then the spinners could hold the key, Ishan Kishan averages just 15 against Chahal, as both the RR spinners, Ashwin and Chahal will be crucial in the middle overs. Kieron Pollard holds an average of just 15 and 16 against them respectively.

Pitch and weather report: In the two matches at the DY Patil, teams chasing have gone on to win just like the trend in this IPL. The trend of winning the toss and opting to chase is likely to continue. However, since it's a day game, dew won't be a factor going into the game. The temperature is going to hover around 35 degrees as there is no chance of rain

Interesting facts:

Trent Boult has the edge over Rohit Sharma in T20 cricket, getting him out four times in 47 balls for 66 runs
Hetmyer has struggled against Bumrah in T20s, getting out to him three times in six innings while averaging 4.0 and striking at 92.30
Samson is to feature in his 200th T20 game
Ishan Kishan last four IPL innings: 81* vs Capitals, 84 vs Sunrisers, 50* vs Royals, 72* vs Capitals.
Sanju Samson has won Player of the Match in his second match of a season on four occasions (2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020).

Probable XI for MI:

1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 N Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tim David, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Daniel Sams/Fabian Allen, 8 M Ashwin, 9 Tymal Mills, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Basil Thampi

Probable XI for RR:

1 Jos Buttler, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Nathan Coulter-Nile/Jimmy Neesham, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Also read: Russell and Umesh Yadav star as KKR bounce back with win over PBKS

2022-04-02 10:55

Awesome feeling as I knew what I could do in that position: Russell

Mumbai, Apr 1 (Cricket News) Andre Russell felt "awesome" while hitting those eight monster sixes against Punjab Kings as he always knew what he needed to do when he walked in with KKR's score reading 51 for four.

Russell scored an unbeaten 70 off 31 balls and what looked like a tricky chase at one point ended in an anti-climax as the big Jamaican muscled the maximums into the stands.

"Feeling awesome, this is the reason why we play the game. In that position, I know what I can do," Russell said after the match.

Russell had indicated to his partner Sam Billings that once he was nicely warmed up, he will go for the shots.

"It was good to have someone at the crease like Sam who can rotate and help us stick through the tough time. Once I started sweating, I just said that I am gonna go. I backed my ability and that's what I did tonight. I am happy to bring the team over the line." The strategy was to see off Rahul Chahar's spell as left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar didn't seem threatening.

"I knew we were the two guys who'll definitely look to get a partnership. I told Sam, 'listen, let's just bat a few overs and see what happens.' But we had to attack earlier because the left-arm orthodox wasn't spinning the ball and nothing was happening.

"So we decided to take charge from one end and look to get singles from the other end. Chahar was bowling extremely well, it was gripping as well. We didn't want to take much chance against him. We knew it'd get easier. I am going to say one (when asked how many he got off the middle)." Russell isn't bowling a lot and also suffered a shoulder niggle in the last game but is happy if skipper Shreyas Iyer wants him to do so.

"I am happy to do whatever the team requires. I am looking to bowl in the death. If the captain wants me to bowl one in the powerplay, I am more than happy to do that but we have a good amount of bowlers. We have a few guys that can actually chip in one or two as well.

"I know in some games I won't be bowling four but if at least I bowl two overs, I can feel a part of the game and feel like an all-rounder. These things do happen, some games it's gonna be easy and I may not bowl a ball." As you grow old, you need to work harder on fitness, says Umesh ======================================= Umesh Yadav, who has been a revelation in this edition after having played two games in last two seasons, said that it's his work ethic that has kept him going.

"I need to work hard. Getting older and when you know when you play just one format, I look to bowl as much as possible. When someone improves at practice, they do well during the match as well.

"Whatever is happening now, has been because of what I have practiced with my coaches. If you bowl at 140kph, you need to be accurate, you need to bowl at the stumps."

Also Read : Umesh Yadav, Andre Russell fire KKR to big win over PBKS

News Source : PTI

2022-04-02 07:46

Umesh Yadav, Andre Russell fire KKR to big win over PBKS

Mumbai, Apr 1 (Cricket News) Umesh Yadav continued his dream run with a four-wicket haul before Andre Russell returned to his brutal best to fire Kolkata Knight Riders to an easy six-wicket win over Punjab Kings here on Friday.

Umesh (4/23), coming into the season with just two games over two IPL seasons and going unsold initially at the auction, produced career-best T20 figures to help KKR dismiss Punjab for a below par 137 in 18.2 overs.

It was supposed to be a straight forward chase but Rahul Chahar raised Punjab's hopes with a double wicket maiden to reduced KKR to 51 for four.

However, Russell (70 not out off 31 balls) came out in the middle and changed the game with his barrage of sixes, eight in total, to make it a cakewalk in just 14.3 overs. He smashed three sixes off Odean Smith in an over that went for 30 runs.

No rope is long enough when Russell is going all guns blazing and he was in that kind of zone on Friday night. The Jamaican dasher fittingly ended the game with a couple of sixes off Liam Livingtsone's friendly leg-breaks. It was KKR's second win in three games while Punjab suffered their first loss of the season after the win over RCB.

Earlier, KKR bowlers stifled a power-laden Punjab Kings batting line-up.

With heavy dew setting in later half of the games, fielding first has become a no-brainer this IPL and KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer called it right at the toss.

Punjab, which had successfully chased 200 plus in their opening game, enjoyed a good powerplay that yielded 62 for 3 in six overs.

Veteran pacer Umesh, who has been proving his critics wrong this season., once again provided the breakthrough early in the game, removing opposition skipper Mayank Agarwal, who was found plumb in front after missing a rather straight and full delivery in the first over of the match.

Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 9) who had produced a match-winning knock in the first game, looked in sensational touch at the Wankhede Stadium.

In his brief stay in the middle, the top-order batter hammered three fours and as many sixes, mostly towards the mid-wicket region, leaving the spectators in awe. His breathtaking effort was perhaps the lone bright in an otherwise underwhelming innings.

Iyer impressed with his leadership. He brought back Umesh in the middle overs to ensure there was no fightback from Punjab. He also employed a slip in the 15th over and was rewarded for that with the wicket of Rahul Chahar.

His new ball partner Tim Southee and KKR's retained spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine were also too good for the Punjab batters.

Livingstone (19 off 16) could convert his start while India U-19 star Raj Angad Bawa found the going tough for the second game in a row.

Kagisa Rabada (25 off 16), playing his first game of the seasons, saved Punjab the blushes by getting much needed boundaries to take the total close to 140.

Also Read : Umesh stars with ball again as KKR dismiss Punjab for 137

News Source : PTI

2022-04-01 16:29

Bowlers availability a big confidence booster for Royals: Sangakkara

Mumbai, Apr 1 (Cricket News) Rajasthan Royals' director of cricket and head coach Kumar Sangakkara said on Friday that the availability of a full-strength bowling lineup is a real confidence booster for the team at a time when many sides are struggling with their overseas recruits.

Boasting one of the best attacks of IPL-15 in Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, the Royals began their campaign in style, crushing Sunrisers Hyderabad by 61 runs.

"It's always nice to have such high quality in your attack. To have them available throughout is another great plus," the Sri Lankan great said in a virtual media interaction on the eve of their match against Mumbai Indians.

While many teams are struggling with the unavailability of overseas players, Royals have scored full marks in ensuring that bowlers such as Jimmy Neesham, Obed McCoy and Navdeep Saini are available for the full season.

"The bowling and batting equally make a huge impact in T20 cricket especially on flat wickets. So, it's really a confidence booster to have that bowling strength always present." One of IPL's leading wicket-takers (170 scalps from 122 matches), Lasith Malinga has also joined the Royals as the fast bowling coach after his retirement last year.

The prospect of Malinga working alongside the likes of upcoming Indian pacers Krishna and Saini excites Sangakkara.

"It's really exciting to have him. It's really huge. The bowlers really enjoy talking to him, while he's there at the top of their marks. Discussing and debating fields and deliveries. He's been exceptional," Sangakkara said.

On Malinga's role, he said: "He's just directing the players to keep things simple, what the strengths are and how they are going to approach the situations and the batters." They also have another former Mumbai player in Nathan Coulter-Nile.

"Everyone brings knowledge and experience into the mix. Players change around in terms of auctions at various times. It's good to have their experience in the side," Sangakkara said.

The middle-order batting has always been a concern for the Jaipur franchise, but Sangakkara said the players' are aware of their roles so that they can support each other well.

"There are always times when anyone can struggle in a long season. At various times, the key is to have the ability around to support that and to have players understand that.

"It's the natural way of cricket. Unfortunately we can't have good day everyday... we try and very hard. Good days and bad days are part and parcel of the game," he concluded.

Also Read : KKR look to get back to winning ways when they face PBKS in match

News Source : PTI

2022-04-01 13:03

KKR look to get back to winning ways when they face PBKS in match

(Cricket news) KKR will look to bounce back after a disappointing loss to RCB but on the other hand Punjab Kings will be full of confidence after their swashbuckling batting display against RCB in the first match. PBKS management will welcome Kagiso Rabada in the playing XI as he could be the X-factor that their bowling line up was missing.

KKR in the last match adopted a very strange game plan as each and every batsman lost their wicket to sceptical shots considering the match situation. Although the result didn't go in their favour, they stayed true to their playbook, hitting more boundaries than RCB. The one positive Brendon McCullum can take from the last match, was his side never giving up attitude as they almost defended a low score courtesy of Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee. Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum said that “the allrounder's shoulder was sore after he dived near the boundary”. If Russell doesn't recover in time, then KKR could instead call up Mohammad Nabi or Chamika Karunaratne.

PBKS will be high on confidence after their great batting display against RCB in the first match. They will be further boosted by Kagiso Rabada who is out of quarantine and trained with the team after having participated in the ODI series at home against Bangladesh on the other hand, Jonny Bairstow, is unavailable as he is yet to complete quarantine upon arrival from the Caribbean. Most of the eyes will be on an interesting sub plot will be Andre Russell vs Odeon Smith, Russell is still the gold standard of T20 cricket while Smith is the latest big-hitting allrounder from the Caribbean. Smith idolises Russell and has modelled his game on him and he recently won the T10 league with his idol at Deccan Gladiators in Abu Dhabi. If you see their head to head, Smith has bowled 13 balls to Russell in T20 cricket, keeping him to a mere eight runs while getting him out twice in three innings.

Pitch and weather report: There will be plenty of assistance for the bowlers and it will not be easy for the batters to come and straight away smash fours and sixes. Keeping wickets in hand will be the key to success. Again the dew factor can come into play as the trend of winning the toss and bowling first will continue. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees with no chance of rain.

Interesting facts:

Russell has the edge over Rabada in T20s,he has scored 79 runs off 39 balls at a strike rate of over 200 while being dismissed just once.
Umesh Yadav has 49 wickets in the powerplay in the IPL at an economy rate of 7.60. Only three bowlers have picked up more wickets than Umesh in the first six overs.
Sunil Narine has a very strong record against Kings,he has picked up 31 wickets in 21 games at an average of 18.22 and economy rate of seven.
Harpreet Brar had an economy rate of 6.04 in IPL 2021 which was the best among bowlers who had bowled more than ten overs last season.
Mayank Agarwal is 51 runs away from completing 4000 runs in T20 cricket .
Ajinkya Rahane needs just 6 runs away from him to complete 4000 runs in IPL.

Probable XI for KKR:
1 Venkatesh Iyer, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sam Billings, 6 Sheldon Jackson (wk), 7 Andre Russell/Chamika Karunaratne/Mohammad Nabi, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Probable XI for PBKS:
1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Mayank Agarwal (capt), 3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa (wk), 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Raj Bawa, 6 M Shahrukh Khan, 7 Odean Smith, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Rahul Chahar

Also read: CSK lose 2nd game in a row while LSG open IPL account

2022-03-31 14:46

Fit-again Surya joins MI ahead of IPL fixture against Rajasthan

Mumbai, Mar 31 (Cricket News) Having recovered from his finger injury, star India batter Suryakumar Yadav has joined the Mumbai Indians ahead of their second IPL game against Rajasthan Royals, the five-time champions said on Thursday.

Surya, who was undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy after suffering a finger injury during the home series against West Indies last month, missed MI's IPL opener against Delhi Capitals on March 27.

"Suryakumar Yadav exited his mandatory quarantine and joined the team (on Wednesday) for the gym session in the company of his mates Kieron Pollard, Ishan Kishan and Jasprit Bumrah... The mood in the camp is upbeat," MI said in a statement.

"The team underwent a strength and conditioning session yesterday under the watchful eyes of Paul Chapman. The session involved weight and fitness training, with the focus on working on core fitness and building strength." Mumbai Indians had lost to Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their IPL opener at the Brabourne Stadium here.

Mumbai failed to defend 178 as Delhi shot off the target in just 18.2 overs, thanks to an unbroken 75-run stand between Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav for the seventh wicket.

Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah had a lacklustre outing, leaking 43 runs from 3.2 overs and it was their English debutant Tymal Mills who impressed returning with figures of 3-0-26-1.

Mills struck in his very first over for MI, removing Delhi captain Rishabh Pant.

Death bowling all about mindset: Mills ======================= As someone who employs a lot of variations to win the battle in the slog overs, Mills said it's about mindset.

"Bowling at the death is a lot about the mindset. You need to want to bowl the difficult overs when the pressure is on. It is something that I enjoy," the English pacer said.

"I understand that I am not gonna come out on top every time but when I do, it is a great feeling.

"Obviously, practice is very important so that when you are in those pressure situations, you are confident of your execution," he added.

One of the best operators in the world at the death, Mills has picked up 42 wickets in the last four overs of a T20 innings at an economy rate of 7.78 and averages 14.83 per wicket since 2018.

Also Read :Hasaranga spins his webs as RCB defeat KKR by 3 wickets

News Source : PTI

2022-03-31 12:32

Both LSG and CSK are looking for their first win in match no 7

(Cricket news) Both Lucknow Supergiants and Chennai Super Kings are looking for their first win. Lucknow suffered a disappointing loss against newcomers Gujarat Titans as CSK also went down to KKR in their first. Both the new captains will hope for their first victory out of the way and hopefully take momentum from the result into the season.

The Chennai Super Kings will have Moeen Ali back as he missed the first game because of visa issues but is now likely to come in for Mitchell Santner and straight away slot in the number 3 role that he played in last year. Along with his explosive batting at the 2021 T20 World Cup, Moeen was impressive with the ball in the powerplay. In 11 overs, he picked up five wickets at an economy rate of 5.7. Jadeja can certainly use him against De Kock who has taken 53 runs off 38 but also has dismissed him four times in eight T20 innings. Jadeja will particularly be happy with MSD’s form after he scored his first fifty since 2019 and played the perfect finishing role. With Deepak Chahar out, Tushar Deshpande will continue and will have big responsibility to make important breakthroughs for the team.

The Lucknow Supergiants have probably the best opening pair on paper but last match both the experienced players were disappointing and the so-called fragile middle order had to steady the ship for the team. Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni played crucial knocks and helped them recover from a precarious 29 for 4. Ayushi Badoni, a relatively unknown commodity, showed everyone the plethora of talent that exists in the Indian domestic circuit as he pretty much assured himself a place in the playing XI now.

In the last match, one thing Rahul might rue is his use of Dushmantha Chameera. Chameera was SuperGiants' most threatening bowler on the night but didn't even get to bowl his full quota. Krunal Pandya could be SuperGiants' trump card against CSK as he has an exceptional record against the CSK middle order. In T20s, Krunal has conceded 37 off 33 against Robin Uthappa with two dismissals, 28 off 25 against Ambati Rayudu (two dismissals), 15 off 15 against Ravindra Jadeja (two dismissals) and 17 off 24 against Dhoni.

Pitch and weather report: The Brabourne pitch is more of a two paced wicket as in the middle phase of the game where the teams will face a lot of challenges to score runs . The wicket will suit the spinners and it will not be easy to go against them. Taking the pace off the ball will help the pacers on this pitch. The temperature is going to hover around 32 degrees with no chance of rain as dew will again be a factor going into the game.

Interesting facts:

Since 2018, Rahul has hit the most sixes (110).
Dhoni has most sixes for an Indian in overs 16th to 20th. With 51 sixes
Jadeja has never dismissed Rahul but he has conceded only 39 runs off 38 balls
In the IPL, Adam Milne has taken only seven wickets at an economy of 9.47.
Outside of the IPL, he has taken 144 wickets in 127 games at an economy of 7.52.

Probable XI for CSK:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Moeen Ali, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 Ravindra Jadeja (capt), 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Shivam Dube, 9 Dwayne Bravo, 10 Adam Milne, 11 Tushar Deshpande

Probable XI for LSG:

1 KL Rahul (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Ayush Badoni, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Andrew Tye/Mohsin Khan, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Avesh Khan

Also read: Royal Challengers Bangalore RCB beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 3 wickets

2022-03-30 16:15

Top overseas debutants to look out for in the Tata IPL 2022

(Cricket news) Every year plenty of overseas players make their debut in the IPL and then play for their respective nations based on the performances in the league. The IPL is one tournament where the biggest of names play, however, what makes the league exceptional is every year there is some debutant who manages to capture everyone's imagination by taking on the seasoned pros. Let us take a look at this years overseas debutants

1) Chamika Karunaratne (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The Sri Lankan all-rounder ever since he made his debut has impressed everyone whenever he has played and that was the biggest reason behind him being picked by KKR for a base price of Rs 50 lakh only, which could be a bargain buy in the future. Karunaratne is a proper fast bowling all rounder who can perform in all three departments of the game and mainly has the experience of finishing matches for Sri Lanka in the past. If Andre Russell gets injured, then Karunaratne will be a natural replacement. Karunaratne is a very underrated bowler as he can bamboozle the batters with his strong slower deliveries and in the IPL especially in the death when the batters are going for it, the slower ball is the best option to bowl.

2) Dushmantha Chameera (Lucknow Supergiants)

Chameera was bought by Lucknow SuperGiants for Rs 2 crore and one of the biggest reasons the LSG franchise went all out for the Sri Lankan pacers is because of the qualities he brings to the table as a quick bowler. Chameera is quite deceptive with his pace and he can beat the batters with pace as well as his slower balls. At the death, he’s a deadly sniper, bowling the yorker at will and along with being a good fast bowler he packs a few hefty blows at the end also with his bat as time and time again he has bailed Sri Lanka from precarious positions.

3) Dewald Brevis (Mumbai Indians)

Dewald Brevis took the world by storm when he had set the U19 World Cup on fire after scoring 506 runs. Labelled as Baby ABD, Brevis already has the attention of the world and one needs to see if he can actually live up to all the hype and excitement behind him. He was bought for whopping Rs 3 crore, the right-handed batter would be looking to bat at his favoured position of number 3 but the fact that only four foreigners are allowed to play makes it difficult for to straight away enter the playing XI but he's very young, the youngster might just be one for the future.

4) Odeon Smith (Punjab Kings)

Odeon Smith lit the third match of season with a blistering 25* off 8 balls to guide his side chase a mammoth target of 205 quite comfortably. Odeon Smith came into the limelight recently in the series against India as he showed the world that however big the boundaries he can hit the ball very far and no boundary is enough to sustain the batter. The right-handed batter has the experience of finishing T20I games for West Indies and this has already come in handy for Punjab Kings this season. He was bought for Rs 6 crore and along with Shahrukh Khan, with the duties of finisher as well as make important breakthroughs with his fast bowling. Someone who idolises Andre Russell's game is certainly moving in the right direction and it could be some exciting times for the Punjab fans.

5) Rovman Powell (Delhi Capitals)

In January, Rovam Powell smashed an unbelievable century against England in a T20I game and he hammered all the bowlers but what was wonderful about this innings was he read the situation really well and took control of the game. He was previously bought by KKR but never really got a game because of Dr Russ but now with age and maturity he’s become a mainstay for the West Indies team. He is a power-hitter and on his day he can take down any bowler at his own will. DC bought him for Rs 2.8 crore, as Ricky Ponting will hope that his all round skills come in handy and give DC that much needed batting all rounder that they have been searching for a long time

6) Bhanuka Rajapaska ( Punjab Kings)

The swashbuckling left hander from Sri Lanka lit the tournament with a blistering innings of 43 from just 22 deliveries, showing the Sri Lankan selectors what they have been missing. Bhanuka was recently overlooked by the Sri Lankan selectors for the India series for apparently not being match fit but he just showed the mental temperament and big hitting skills he possesses. Bought for his base price of 50 Lakhs in the mega auction, many raised an eyebrow considering the 30-year-old has played 18 T20Is for Sri Lanka and has scored 320 runs at an ordinary average of 26.67 but he brings ample of experience playing in the different leagues in especially in the subcontinent.

7) Romario Shepherd (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Sunrisers Hyderabad shelled out a massive 7.75 cr to buy Romario Shepherd as many teams were interested in him but ultimately SRH got their man. He came into the limelight after the Caribbean Premier League where he was not only a good T20 bowler, but he proved his batting abilities in the CPL 2021. For Guyana Amazon Warriors, he scalped 18 wickets in 7 games at 7.69, with a batting strike-rate of 165.15. He single handedly won some really tough games for the Warriors as a finisher. In overall T20s, Shepherd has scalped 55 wickets in 47 games, whereas he has scored 344 runs at a strike-rate of 159.25. In the recently concluded England vs West Indies series, he won a game on his own with his death bowling and explosive batting

8) Kyle Mayers (Lucknow Supergiants)

The latest left handed power hitter Kyle Mayers is making quite a name for himself in the international circuit with some impressive performances against some big teams around the world. The 29 year old averages over 40 and has a strike rate of over 150 in T20’s as Mayers has only played 4 T20s for West Indies which indicates that he’s relatively inexperienced in T20 cricket but if given the opportunity to play he will know that a good performance will mean that he will cement that opening slot for the West Indies team heading into the World Cup. Coming into the IPL, he will be in rich vein of form as he single handedly bowled England to make his country win a historic series.

Also read: Top 5 all rounders to watch out in the upcoming Tata IPL 2022

2022-03-30 12:33

RCB looking for their first victory as they take on KKR in match no 6

(Cricket news) Royal Challengers were left disappointed against the Punjab Kings as they couldn’t defend 205 runs, on the other hand Kolkata Knight Riders produced a clinical performance to get a victory over the defending champions CSK. Brendon McCullum, the coach of KKR and Mike Hesson the coach of RCB, the two men who orchestrated New Zealand's rise as a white-ball cricket will find themselves battling each other out when Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore.

RCB’s first match indicated that their batting runs deep but their same problem of leaking runs in the death overs continued as last match IPL debutants Odean Smith and Bhanuka Rajapaksa had a field day batting against a very docile bowling lineup. Glenn Maxwell is often that fulcrum for this RCB side, as not only is he the chief destructor with the bat through the middle overs but more importantly his off-spin is a vital counter to opposition stacking up left-handers and something that RCB will miss considering KKR have three powerful left handers in the team. One thing the RCB camp will be really pleased with is the form of Faf Du Plessis, who just missed out on a hundred against PBKS as fans will be hoping that he leads the side from the front with his exquisite batting.

KKR ticked all the boxes against CSK in the last match as Umesh Yadav wreaked havoc in the Chennai batting line up with his early swing movement. The Knights displayed their bowling might against CSK so much so that the batters simply had to turn up and play sensibly to seal the deal, which they did quite comfortably. Since IPL 2020, KKR are one of three sides that have conceded 10+ runs an over in the death overs as the likes of Shivam Mavi and Andre Russell conceded 47 runs in the last three overs but on the contrary, Narine and Chakravarthy at the other end against Super Kings conceded 11.6 runs per over. The KKR think tank needs to figure out the best way of utilising the 8 overs from their spinners as they hold the key to their chance of victory. In the last match, we saw Nitish Rana walk ahead of Shreyas Iyer at number 3, a decision which raised many eyebrows but Rana’s role was simple as he was given licence to play free, something that will continue in this match as well.

Pitch and weather report: As we saw in the previous matches that the pitch is a good one for batting. The bounce is good, the outfield is quick, the boundaries are short and the batters can definitely score a lot of runs on this pitch. The temperature is going to hover around 38 degrees with chances of rain

Interesting facts:

Faf du Plessis won the Man of the match twice against KKR last season,
Mohammed Siraj has not taken a wicket in the PowerPlay in the last 10 IPL games
Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have strike rates of 215.12 and 196.43 respectively.
Russell has hit 75 sixes which are the second most in the tournament since 2019
Ajinkya Rahane needs 15 runs to 4000 IPL runs and become the ninth Indian to do so

Probable XI for RCB:

Probable XI for KKR:

1 Venkatesh Iyer, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sam Billings/Mohammad Nabi, 6 Sheldon Jackson (wk), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Shivam Mavi, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Also read: CSK, LSG seek improvement in top-order batting after opening losses

2022-03-30 11:50

CSK, LSG seek improvement in top-order batting after opening losses

Mumbai, Mar 30 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings will welcome the return of star all-rounder Moeen Ali as they eye a much improved batting performance in the IPL clash against Lucknow Super Giants here on Thursday.

Both the teams come into the game after a loss in their respective opening matches. A common factor in their defeats were the failure of the top-order and they would be looking to correct that at the Brabourne Stadium.

It is still very early days in the two-month long IPL but the toss is already playing a significant role in the game's outcome. With the second innings dew in mind, teams are preferring to put the opposition in.

The losses for CSK and LSG came after batting first at the Wankhede. Conditions are not expected to be very different at the nearby CCI ground with heavy dew likely to set in the second half of the game. Lucknow skipper KL Rahul and star opener Quinton De Kock had a forgettable outing on Monday and they would be keen to get some runs under their belt. Rahul needs to lead from the front with the IPL presenting a big test for his captaincy skills.

Seasoned campaigner Manish Pandey and Evin Lewis, who is a hard-hitting batter, on their day can take any attack to cleaners, had a forgettable outing and the team management would hope that they come to the party.

Lucknow would be pleased that their middle-order comprising Deepak Hooda, debutant Ayush Badoni and Krunal Pandya clicked when their top-order collapsed and the trio would again need to shoulder the responsibility.

But it was the Lucknow bowling, which would need to quickly forget the hammering they received at the hands of Gujarat. While pacer Dushmantha Chameera was right on the money, co-pacer Avesh Khan leaked 33 runs in 3.4 overs.

Also the role of spin trio of Ravi Bishnoi, Hooda and Krunal, could decide the match’s fate.

CSK would also look to put up a much better show with the bat after they managed only 131 in the first game. With Moeen Ali, a pinch-hitter available for selection alongside Dwaine Pretorius, they would indeed heave a sigh of relief.

In the first game, save a vintage Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the other batters faltered – be it Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Devon Conway or Ambati Rayadu.

New skipper Ravindra Jadeja would also be keen to get a big score individually and ditto for Shivam Dube, who is racing against time to prove his worth on the IPL stage.

But it remains to be seen who CSK leave out to include Moeen, who can come in at number three.

While all-rounder Dwayne Bravo claimed three wickets against KKR, others leaked runs and all of them would need to fire in unison. Teams (From): Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja (Captain), Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Ambati Rayadu, Robin Uthappa, Mitchell Santner, Chris Jordan, Adam Milne, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Dwaine Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Tushar Deshpande, KM Asif, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Subranshu Senapati, K Bhagath Verma, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (Captain), Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Quinton De Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya. Jason Holder.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Rajasthan Royals defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 61 runs (Indian Premier League)

News Source : PTI

2022-03-29 12:12

KKR look to consolidate position as Royal Challengers Bangalore eye first win

Navi Mumbai, Mar 29 (Cricket News) Seeking to consolidate their position after a winning start, Kolkata Knight Riders will have their task cut out as they take on a determined Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday.

The two outfits head into the game on the back of contrasting results.

While the Shreyas Iyer-led KKR humbled defending champions Chennai Super Kings by six wickets, Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a five-wicket loss to Punjab Kings, despite posting a 200-plus score.

For RCB, skipper Faf Du Plessis is in prime form after he made a scintillating 57-ball 88 and would like to continue in the same vein. Opener Anuj Rawat was unable to capitalise on a good start and would be aiming for consistency.

Unburdened by the captaincy pressure, Virat Kohli made a statement and played with more intent against Punjab. He will definitely look to rediscover his glorious touch and continue to torment the opposition bowlers like he did during his prime.

Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik also played a significant cameo and his role would be crucial once again, if RCB have to set or chase a big total.

If these four go all guns blazing, then it would be a daunting task for the varied KKR attack.

While the KKR bowling unit will have to be particularly cautious of the six-hitting prowess of Du Plessis, which was on display on Sunday, RCB bowlers would have to quickly forget the hammering they received at the hands of the Punjab batters.

A profligate Mohammed Siraj, who leaked 59 runs, will have to pull up his socks. Another key bowler is death overs specialist and last edition's Purple Cap holder Harshal Patel. Even the role of Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who is capable of spinning a web around the batters, could decide the fate of the match.

For KKR, they ticked all the boxes in their lung-opener against CSK and they would be hoping that they can repeat their performance.

The biggest positive for KKR was Ajinkya Rahane finding his mojo and scoring runs.

Although all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer managed only 16 runs in the first game, he is capable of pummelling any attack into submission.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer along with Sam Billings and Sheldon Jackson would need to shoulder responsibility in the middle-order.

On the bowling front, Umesh Yadav was sensational at the Wankhede. But others including Shivam Mavi, spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine would need to put up an improved show.

All-rounder Andre Russell’s role with the bat and ball could eventually be the difference between the two sides.

KKR are unlikely to tinker with their winning combination.

Being an evening game, dew would certainly be a factor and one can expect a high-scoring affair.

Teams (from): Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis (c), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Luvnith Sisodia, Siddharth Kaul.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Aaron Finch, Abhijeet Tomar, Ajinkya Rahane, Baba Indrajith, Nitish Rana, Pratham Singh, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ashok Sharma, Pat Cummins, Rasikh Dar, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Aman Khan, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammed Nabi, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Also Read : Elgar comfortable with SA players opting for IPL instead of Bangladesh Tests

News Source : PTI

2022-03-28 20:12

Abhijeet Gupta back in joint lead at Delhi International Open Chess tournament

New Delhi, Mar 28 (Sports News) Defending champion Abhijeet Gupta defeated Iran's Poormosavi Seyed Kian in the penultimate round to take a joint lead in the 19th Delhi International open chess tournament here on Monday.

With his sixth victory in a row following a disastrous start, Gupta reached 7.5 points to join overnight leaders Arjun Erigaisi, D Gukesh and Harsha Bharthakoti, while S P Sethuraman accounted for Pavel Ponkratov of Russia to match these four on points.

Poormosavi Seyed Kian, meanwhile, became the first player in the tournament to score an International Master norm. The other norm aspirant is Neelash Saha who needs a victory in the final round to make a Grandmaster norm.

At the top of the table, Erigaisi Arjun played out an effortless draw as black against Gukesh out of a Sicilian Najdorf, where the pieces changed hands right from the early middle game. The players soon reached an endgame where neither side had chances.

Bharthakoti drew with Saha, who played white, while Sethuraman was at his best in outwitting Ponkratov.

For Gupta, it was a good day in the office. The champion of the last edition in 2020 won a pawn in the Bishop and pawns endgame. The technicalities were never a problem and Gupta wrapped the issue in 45 moves.

Important Results Round 9 (Indians otherwise stated) :- D Gukesh (7.5) drew with Erigaisi Arjun (7.5); Neelash Saha (7) drew with Harsha Bharathakoti (7.5); Poormosavi Seyed Kian of Iran (6.5) lost to Abhijeet Gupta (7.5); Pavel Ponkratov of Russia (6) lost to S P Sethuraman (7.5); M R Lalith Babu (7) beat Abdisalimov Abdimalik of Uzbekistan (6); N R Visakh (6) lost to Himal Gusain (7); P Iniyan (6.5) drew with Viani Antonio Dcunha (6.5); Saptarshi Roy (6) lost to Karthik Venkataraman (7); Mirzoev Azer of Azerbaijan (6.5) drew with Divya Deshmukh (6.5); P Karthikeyan (6) lost to Tahbaz Arash of Iran (7); Nigmatov Ortik of Uzebkistan (7) beat Borgaonkar Akshay (6); Rohith Krishna S (6.5) drew with N Vignesh (6.5); Aradhya Garg (6.5) drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy (6) Delgado Ramirez Neuris of Praguay (6.5) beat Liyanage Ranindu Dilshan of Sri Lanka (5.5) Utsab Chatterjee (6.5) beat Mosadeghpour Masoud of Iran (5.5).

Also Read : Rajeev Khanna to be Premier Handball League commissioner

News Source : PTI

2022-03-28 13:20

Top 5 all rounders to watch out in the upcoming Tata IPL 2022

(Cricket news) All-rounders have always been a crucial part of the league since the beginning of the IPL. The likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya were unearthed through the IPL and have since become mainstays not only for their franchises but also for the Indian Cricket team. This time around a lot of all rounders fetched a lot of money, so let us take a look at the all rounders who can light up the IPL with their performances:

Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings)

The newly appointed captain of CSK and India’s best all-rounder has been a constant name in both the line-ups over the years and has consistently delivered. Heading into the IPL, he has been in the form of his life after his heroics against Sri Lanka and that could act as a huge boost for CSK going forward in the tournament. He is a very wily bowler, an impact batter and a gun fielder, Jadeja is well and truly a 3D factor on the field. Over the years, his batting has massively improved over the years as last season, he scored 227 runs from 12 innings at an average of 75.66 and scored at a good strike-rate of 145.51. Along with that he also picked up 13 wickets from 16 innings at an average of 26.61 and possessed an impressive economy rate of 7.06. The best part about Jadeja is that he can play any role as a batter in the team and being the captain of the side, we’ll see him batting higher up the order.

Jason Holder (Lucknow SuperGiants)

The West Indies all-rounder stocks have risen over the last few years and at the moment playing some of his best cricket. He can hit big, bowl wicket-taking deliveries as well as keep the batsmen in check in the frugal overs. In their recently concluded T20I series against England, he took four wickets off four balls, helping West Indies clinch the series 3-2 and becoming the first West Indian bowler to register a hat-trick in international T20Is. Jason Holder was the only shining star in SRH's dismal campaign last season as he picked up 16 wickets from eight matches at an average of 15.43 with an economy rate of 7.75.

He played some valuable cameos in the latter matches and it provided his side with a late surge lower down the order. In the last couple of years, Holder has become West Indies' joint highest wicket-taker along with Dwayne Bravo in T20Is with 26 wickets from 17 innings at an economy rate of 7.86 and SR of 14.1. Lucknow SuperGiants shelled out a massive Rs 8.75 crore for him and hope he continues his golden run of form.

Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans)

The newly appointed Gujarat Titans’ captain Hardik Pandya will have to prove his worth this season if he wants to make into the India squad for this year's T2O World Cup. Pandya announced himself on the world stage during the IPL, portraying his ability to strike the ball big, outstanding fielding, and some street-smart bowling really helped to become a top all rounder in the world’. The captain of GT, Pandya has some big couple of matches to prove his fitness and showcase his talent for his new franchise, who have put extreme faith in him despite being out injured for such a long time and even though he is out of shape because of the injury, he has to take responsibility with great vigor. If Gujarat Titans are to make the playoffs then they need a massive season from Hardik.

Andrew Russell (KKR)

The Jamaican cricketer who plays internationally for the West Indies has previously lit up the tournament with some swashbuckling hitting in the IPL but over the last two seasons he has struggled with a lot of injury issues and couldn’t really perform to his fullest ability. He has played in more than 300 Twenty20 (T20) matches for a number of sides in different leagues all around the world. KKR retained him as a main key player because of the all-round skills he possesses. Russell in the IPL averages a staggering strike rate of 169.8 and has become a very handy bowler in the death overs. In 2019, he won the MVP as he had scored more than 500 runs and had picked up 15 wickets in a season which actually showcased his full all round capabilities. KKR fans will be hoping that he is fit and firing because if he gets going then there is no ground big enough for him or even any bowler safe from his massive hits.

Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings) :

If Livingstone finds his groove, then be rest assured that there might be a lot of lost balls. He has this unique ability to hit big and make the opposition bowlers suffer. Along with being a power-hitter, Livingstone is a handy leg spinner as well, who can provide crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs if needed.In his short T20 career, he already holds the record for the fastest century by an England batsman when he got his 100 off just 42 balls against Pakistan at Trent Bridge last year. In this year's Hundred, he scored 348 runs at a strike rate of 178.46 playing for Birmingham Phoenix. In his short career he has a strike rate of 158.33 in T20Is which is quite mindblowing considering he doesn’t have a assured batting position in the side

His number as a so-called part-time leg-spinner is also decent in T20Is, picking up 12 wickets in 17 matches that he has bowled at an average of 19.58, with an economy rate of 7.12. He didn't have the best of times in his debut season, averaging just 8.40 with the bat from five innings playing for RR and this season he will come with a point to prove as he was bought for a whopping Rs 11.5 crore by Punjab Kings. He would certainly hope to make a mark and justify the price tag in his second season in the IPL

Also read: Top 5 bowlers to watch out in the upcoming Tata IPL 2022

2022-03-27 11:03

Kolkata Knight Riders beat CSK by six wickets in IPL opener

Mumbai, Mar 26 (Cricket News) A clinically all-round Kolkata Knight Riders beat defending champions Chennai Super Kings by six wickets as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's first tournament fifty in three years went in vain in the IPL lung opener here on Saturday.

Unburdened by captaincy, Dhoni, who relinquished the leadership role just two days back, smashed an unbeaten 50 off 38 balls to take CSK to 131 for 5 after being put in to bat.

But, KKR, who lost to CSK in the last season summit clash, chased down the target with nine balls to spare, with out of favour India batter Ajinkya Rahane top-scoring with a 34-ball 44.

Rahane, who was bought for Rs 1 crore by KKR after playing very few matches for Delhi Capitals last season, was in good touch as he hit six fours and one six during his knock. He shared 43 runs for the opening wicket with Venkatesh Iyer (16) and that was the highest partnership for KKR in the end.

Nitish Rana (21), new captain Shreyas Iyer (20 not out) and Sam Billings (25) made useful contributions to give KKR a winning start to the tournament.

Iyer thus started his KKR captaincy with a win while his counterpart Ravindra Jadeja, who took the place of the iconic Dhoni as CSK skipper, began his stint with a loss.

Iyer hit the winning runs, a boundary, as KKR reached 133 for 4 in 18.3 overs.

Dwayne Bravo (3/20) was the pick of the bowlers for CSK.

Earlier, KKR dished out a clinical bowling show to restrict CSK to 131/5.

CSK crossed the 130-run mark thanks to Dhoni’s unbeaten 50 off 38 balls (7x4; 1x6) and skipper Jadeja’s 26 not out off 28 balls (1x6). Dhoni's last IPL fifty was 84 not out versus Royal Challengers Bangalore on Apr 21, 2019.

CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) perished cheaply. after being caught by Nitish Rana in the slip cordon off pacer Umesh Yadav (2/20).

The typical Wankede track, which had a good amount of bounce, did aid the KKR bowlers and they took maximum advantage.

Devon Conway (3) and Robin Uthappa (28 off 21 balls) then tried to revive the CSK innings, but managed to add only 28 runs for the second wicket.

Conway, who was looking rusty, became Umesh Yadav’s second scalp.

Uthappa was brutal on Shivam Mavi, whom he hit for a boundary in the second over and followed it up by another boundary and a maximum in the fourth over. In between, he hammered Umesh for a six. But his stay was cut short, stumped by Shedlon Jackson off Varun Chakravarthy (1/23) in the eighth over as CSK found themselves in a spot of bother at 49/3.

They further slipped to 52/4, as a horrible mix-up between Ambati Rayadu (15 off 17 balls) and Jadeja led to the former’s dismissal. After 10 overs, CSK were tottering at 57/4.

CSK lost half of their side for 61 after Shivam Dube (3) gave a sitter to Sunil Narine at short-midwicket off pacer Andre Russell.

Then, Jadeja and Dhoni added 70 runs for the sixth wicket to take CSK to a respectable total. The past and present captain duo initially played a barrage of dot balls but Dhoni hammered three boundaries in the 18th over, in which CSK amassed 14 runs.

Showing glimpses of his famous match-finishing prowess, Dhoni fetched a boundary and a six in the penultimate over, from which CSK got 15 runs.

The duo added 18 runs in the final over with Jadeja hitting a six off the final ball, as CSK added 74 runs in the final 10 overs.

Also Read : Kolkata Knight Riders restrict CSK to 131/5 in IPL opener

News Source : PTI

2022-03-26 17:54

IPL 2022: Erudite Pratham looking to dazzle in KKR colours

New Delhi, Mar 26 (Cricket News) Left-handed batter Pratham Singh boasts of a solid academic background having completed his engineering and cracked India's top business school, ISB, but all he is really passionate about is cricket.

The 29-year-old from Delhi has been a consistent performer for Railways in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and even though he was picked up by now-defunct IPL franchise Gujarat Lions in 2017, he didn't get any game time.

A five-year long wait followed, which finally ended when he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders at the last mega auction.

Singh is now eager to prove his mettle at the Indian Premier League, a stage where many dreams have been realised over the years.

"It is a very good opportunity for any domestic cricketer and I have been doing well for Railways. In IPL, even one innings can change your life. If you can do well, you have an opportunity to play for the country," Singh told PTI.

"I have been with the team for the past two weeks and I am learning a lot from Brendon McCullum and Abhishek Nayar sir. I am looking forward to growing as a cricketer and making an impact." In his maiden appearance at the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Singh had amassed 438 runs in 10 matches at an average of 54.75 and strike-rate of 136.02 to help Railways top the group in the league stage.

In the 2020-21 season, he smashed 299 runs at an average of 74.75 with the help of a hundred and two fifties.

"I was the second highest scorer in Syed Mushtaq Ali in my debut season and we qualified. We had defeated Mumbai and I have been the top scorer in white ball for Railways in last 3 years, so I was expecting a call every year," said Singh, who had smashed four successive fifties in the 2019 edition.

"The struggle was there for last five years as I was not getting picked up. But better late then never. I am grateful and happy that I was picked up by KKR and I am looking forward to making the most of the opportunities that come my way." This year, Singh missed two matches at the Ranji Trophy after testing positive for COVID-19, but he returned to score a 75 in the first innings in Railways' nine-wicket win over Jammu and Kashmir.

"We missed out on the qualification this year in Ranji Trophy just by one point. I was down with COVID just a day before my first Ranji game. There were only three games, so it was frustrating to miss out on two games due to COVID. I scored 75 in the last game," he said.

"We have lot of youngsters. The team is at a building stage. Batting is our strength. We are looking forward to a great campaign next year. We will be there competing against the giants next year." With sports coming to a standstill due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, it has been a difficult time for the domestic cricketers, and Singh was no exception. But he decided to utilise the time in pursuing his education.

"I have done my engineering in electronics and communication and also got admission in Indian School of Business in Hyderabad but I am planning to pursue it once I am done with cricket.

"During first lockdown when everything was shut, we had nothing to do. So I had prepared for it then. Lot of things was going on in my mind. I was 27 and there was no cricket going on and I was not in any IPL team.

"But it was a blessing in disguise. So I thought of pursing my education as there was no clarity and then I cracked ISB, Hyderabad. But when cricket resumed, I wanted to play cricket as much as possible as it is my passion," he signed off.

Also Read : Confident India opener Shafali Verma eager to face South African pacers

News Source : PTI

2022-03-26 13:05

Top 5 bowlers to watch out in the upcoming Tata IPL 2022

(Cricket news) Bowlers have always played an important role in the Indian Premier League since the beginning and over the years we have seen some magical spells. In the last few seasons, the league has witnessed some stunning bowling by spinners and seamers alike. Let us take a look at the bowlers who have the ability to change the match on their own.

Kagiso Rabada (Punjab Kings)

After leading the bowling unit for four seasons for Delhi, where he also won the Purple Cap in the 2020 season, Rabada will now turn out for the Punjab Kings franchise who over the years never had a talisman leading their bowling line. KG is known for his breathtaking fast bowling and toe-crushing yorkers as South Africa's bowler Rabada has established himself as one of the best bowlers in the world. At Punjab kings camp, the 26-year-old will be the most experienced bowler and will be expected to produce some match winning performances with the ball in hand, which could help them win their maiden IPL title. With the Wankhede and the Brabourne Stadium offering ample bounce it is expected to give him a lot of assistance. Rabada is a proven match-winner and could prove to be lethal especially at the death. The pacer would also be keen to make up for the underwhelming season he had last year

Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in cricket across all formats and he’s a genuine game changer for MI, like he has done previously as well. Bumrah is a death overs specialist and probably the best T20 bowler around the world currently as he has been a consistent performer for Mumbai Indians with an ability to take wickets at any given period of the match. Since his debut in 2013, Bumrah has taken 130 wickets in 106 games at an economy of 7.42. Bumrah has been among the top 10 leading wicket-takers in every season since 2016 and will hope to continue the streak this season also. His brutal pace and movement in the first six overs, along with his accuracy at the death, makes him one of the most dangerous bowlers in the league and he is expected to continue to trouble the batters on the bouncy pitches of Mumbai and Pune.

Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans)

After being the mainstay for the Sunrisers Hyderabad since his arrival in the league in 2017, Rashid Khan will now play for new team Gujarat Titans. The Afghan leg-spinner has the best economy rate of 6.33 in the history of the tournament while also taking 93 wickets in 76 matches. He is known to choke the opposition for runs every time he has the ball in his hand, as batters often try to just play out his four overs without taking many risks. This season Rashid's role in the team will be as a potential leader as he has to spearhead the fragile bowling line up of GT. The 23-year-old is currently ranked as the fifth best T20 bowler in the world, his main skills in his variations as he can bowl flighted leg-spinners, googlies, flippers alongside other variations as well which make him a lethal player. With the league phase being played in Mumbai and Pune where the conditions might just aid the spinners considering its a subcontinent pitch, Rashid could be a lethal force to reckon with.

Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals)

In the past few years, Chahal had established himself as an integral part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore set-up as he quickly became the backbone of their bowling line-up as the same will be expected in the RR camp as well. He is ninth on the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in the IPL, having claimed 139 wickets in 114 games since his debut in 2013, as it actually speaks volumes about his skills and temperament. He enters the new season on the back of a good run of form and could be forming a match winning combination with India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the Rajasthan Royals, especially on the spin-friendly tracks in Mumbai, as the tournament progresses the tracks will get slower and spinners will get more assistance from the pitch which aid these two senior pros in the side.

Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Cummins is rejoining KKR for Rs 7.25 crore and this time he will be aiming to silence critics after his below-average IPL displays last season with the ball. Fast forward to 2022, the pacer from Sydney now has gained some momentum since recently becoming the Australia Test captain and has just led the side from the front with his magnificent bowling performances. The Aussie bowler will be hoping to impress this year and continue the same form that he is in this year, the slight problem for the KKR management is that he will not be available for the first 5 matches since he’s playing the ODI series against Pakistan. The Australian test captain has to lead this young KKR bowling from the front if they are to win their 3 title this season.

Also read: Cummins, Finch will miss KKR's first five matches: David Hussey

2022-03-26 10:58

Steve Smith ruled out of white-ball contests against Pakistan

Karachi, Mar 26 (Cricket News) Australia suffered a blow ahead of their upcoming ODI series and lone T20 against Pakistan with senior batter Steve Smith being ruled out with an elbow problem.

Cricket Australia said on Friday night that Smith will miss the white-ball leg of the tour of Pakistan to manage discomfort in his left elbow.

"Smith experienced some discomfort during the three-match Test series and, with a full schedule of international cricket over the coming 18 months, it was felt prudent to prioritise recovery and treatment at this time," a CA statement said.

Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson who failed to impress in the three-match Test series has replaced Smith in the white-ball squad.

Australia play three One-Day Internationals (March 29, 31 and April 2) and a T20 International (April 5), with all the matches taking place in Lahore.

Australia have already rested key players David Warner, Glen Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins for the series, while pacer Kane Richardson was also ruled out with an injury problem.

Cricket Australia's head of sports science and sports medicine, Alex Kountouris, said: "Steve has been experiencing some minor discomfort in his left elbow during the latter stages of the Test series in Pakistan and, given he had an injury with the same elbow last year, we felt it important to manage this proactively.

"Withdrawing him from the white ball matches means Steve will have the necessary time to rehabilitate his elbow to ensure his continuing availability and performance for Australia." Chairman of Selectors George Bailey said: "With the significant amount of cricket to come over the next 18 months, and the fact he has had an issue with the same elbow previously, it is appropriate for Steve to return home at the end of the Test series in Pakistan.

"We have opted not to name a replacement batter as we feel we have options within the existing squad, and Steve's absence offers up additional opportunities to players within the group." Australia's white-ball squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa.

Also Read : Shreyas Iyer is a superstar in making, says KKR coach McCullum

News Source : PTI

2022-03-26 08:55

Shreyas Iyer is a superstar in making, says KKR coach McCullum

Mumbai, Mar 25 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders coach Brendon McCullum on Friday said their new skipper Shreyas Iyer has all the qualities to be the franchise's "player of the decade".

Iyer, who led Delhi Capitals to their maiden IPL final in 2020, was snapped by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore after aggressive bidding and was subsequently made skipper of the two-time former champions.

"He's a great buy. He could be the franchise player for KKR for the best part of the decade. We've got to start somewhere and that's tomorrow," the New Zealand great said on the eve of their IPL-15 opening match against defending champions Chennai Super Kings.

"He's already incredibly well-respected around the world for what his game is about and what he's been able to achieve. His best years are certainly in front of him." "I think he's got the potential to be an absolute superstar of the game so I can't wait to work with him." Iyer has been in the form of his life and in the recent T20 series against Sri Lanka he remained unbeaten in three matches, hitting 57 not out off 28, 74 not out off 44, and 73 not out off 45, to be adjudged player-of-the-series in India's 3-0 rout.

Really excited to work with Shreyas Iyer ========================= The Kiwi legend is excited that their new skipper shares the same sort of attacking mindset he had during his playing days, something the head coach believes would take the team all the way.

"We both share a common value of how we like to see the game played, which is you get a group of guys together, paint a vision and get the guys play the game positively, and try and embrace those who are around you.

"We all will go on a journey together to try and achieve something not just special in terms of results but also in terms of the investment, which hopefully we're going to talk about for many years to come. So I'm really, really excited to work with Shreyas," McCullum said.

Umesh Yadav to lead pace attack in the absence of Tim Southee ======================================= KKR's pace bowling department has got a big setback as New Zealand pacer Tim Southee won't be available against CSK, McCullum confirmed.

The team is already missing their star Australian pacer Pat Cummins, who will be unavailable for the first five matches due to national commitments.

"Southee is not available for the first match unfortunately, just a little delayed with getting over here to India. So, he won't be available for the first match," MCCullum said.

In absence of the duo, KKR will bank on Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi to give early breakthroughs.

"We would probably go with more of a heavy Indian local players seam bowling lineup.

"Umesh Yadav was a really good pickup for us in the auction. His ability to swing the ball up front, and he's also a wicket-taker too," McCullum said.

"His statistics in the Power Play are really, really good. And that's what we look to try and use him.

"So hopefully, between him and the likes of Shivam Marvi and a couple of the other boys we're going to be able to hopefully get a couple of early wickets and then allow our spinners to enter the game with us on top," he said.

Asked about Ravindra Jadeja leading defending champions Chennai Super Kings for the first time after Mahendra Singh Dhoni relinquished captaincy, McCullum said: "Not really my problem..." "I know Jadeja pretty well... He plays the game pretty aggressively and he's going to have MS on the side. So look, I'm sure he'll do an excellent job." "From our point of view we just need to settle into the tournament and hopefully start with a win," he concluded.

Also Read : BCCI plans to start women's IPL by 2023, this season will have 4 exhibition games

2022-03-25 19:56

Lalith Babu noses ahead in Delhi International open chess tournament

New Delhi, Mar 25 (Sports News) Grandmaster and former Commonwealth champion M R Lalith Babu nosed ahead of the field after defeating young International Master Shahil Dey in the fifth round of the 19th Delhi International open chess tournament here on Friday.

With his fifth victory on the trot, Lalith, fresh from winning as many as four international events in different countries, maintained a clean slate at the halfway stage of the Rs 25 lakh prize money tournament.

Arjun Erigaisi's winning run was halted by fellow P Iniyan, who played out a draw. Arjun now shares the second spot with Iniyan and seven others with 4.5 points apiece. Five rounds are still left in the tournament.

Lalith capitalised on a massive oversight by Dey. Starting out with the Larsen opening, Dey got an even middle game as Lalith meticulously developed his forces.

On the 24th move, disaster struck Dey as he thought he was playing the winning move through a Knight sacrifice but overlooked a deft reply that turned the tables immediately.

Lalith, who has been in exemplary form, did not give a second chance and wrapped up the issue in 39 moves.

Iniyan employed a topical variation to counter Arjun's Sicilian Sveshnikov. The middle game was interestingly poised when Iniyan parted with his queen for two rooks but his earlier sacrifice had meant that Arjun also had an extra pawn.

However, with a handful of extra pawns, Iniyan made another sacrifice to create a brilliant fortress where Arjun's Queen was helpless against a lone rook. The game was drawn after 41 moves.

Important Results of Round 5 (Indians otherwise stated): GM Iniyan P (4.5) drew with GM Arjun Erigaisi (4.5); IM Shahil Dey (4) lost to GM Lalith Babu M R (5); GM Visakh N R (4.5) drew with GM Mirzoev Azer of Azerbaijan (4.5); FM Seyed Kiran Poormosavi of Iran (4) lost to GM Arjun Kalyan (4.5); GM Pavel Ponkratov of Russia (4.5) beat IM Neelash Saha (3.5); GM Neuris Delgado Ramirez of Paraguay (4.5) beat IM Harshvardhan GB (3.5); Gholami Orimi Mahadi of Iran (4) drew with GM Sethuraman S P (4); GM Mitrabha Guha (4) drew with IM Srihari L R (4); GM Harsha Bharathakoti (4.5) beat IM Anuj Shrivatri (3.5); GM Karthik Venkataraman (4.5) beat Yashita Rout (3.5); IM Shyaamnikhil P (4) drew with IM Sayantan Das (4); IM Krishna CRG (4) beat FM Liyanage Ranindu Dilshan of Sri Lanka (3.5); GM Gukesh D (4) beat CM Ojasva Singh (3); Manigandan SS (3) lost to Deepan Chakkravarthy J (4); Santu Mondal (3) lost to GM Masoud Mosadeghpour of Iran (4); IM Romesh Weerawardane (3) lost to GM Adham Fawzy of Egypt (4); Shaik Sumer Arsh (3) lost to IM Tahbaz Arash of Iran (4); IM Ortik Nigmatov of Uzbekistan (4) beat Ilamparathi AR (3); Sahib Singh (3) lost to Vignesh N R (4); Ritvik Krishnan (3) lost to IM Abdisalimov Abdimalik (4); Ambesh Pratap Singh (3.5) drew with Himal Gusain (3.5); Sidhant Mohapatra (3.5) drew with Sathvik Adiga (3.5).

Also Read : New Delhi Marathon last chance for Indians to qualify for CWG, Asian Games

News Source : PTI

2022-03-24 08:43

Cummins, Finch will miss KKR's first five matches: David Hussey

Mumbai, Mar 23 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders will miss the services of star Australian recruits Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch in their first five matches of IPL-15, the team's mentor David Hussey said on Wednesday.

It comes as a blow to the two-time winners who begin their campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings on the opening day of the tournament on March 26.

"Well, it is a concern, you want your best players available, but international cricket should be the para-limit. Every cricketer should want to play international cricket for their countries so they have commitments that way.

"I think Cummins and Finch will miss the first five games but they will be cricket fit and cricket ready," said Hussey during a virtual press conference.

"So, once they hit the ground running, both quality people and they will fit into the dressing room perfectly well," he stated further.

Australia's ongoing tour of Pakistan ends on April 5 while KKR's fifth match of the season is scheduled for April 10.

KKR were earlier dealt a blow after T20 specialist Alex Hales withdrew from the tournament citing bubble fatigue.

Adding to KKR's misery is the Australian duo of Cummins and Finch, who was roped in as Hales' replacement, missing the team's first few games as they are touring Pakistan.

Hussey believed new KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer has a good cricketing brain and has proved his skills as a leader during his stint as Delhi Capitals captain.

Iyer, who led Delhi Capitals to the final in 2020, was bought by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore at the mega auction last month.

"Shreyas is a born leader, just the way he walks around, he commands respect. Knowing Pat (Cummins) really well, he would be a good deputy and would also lead from the front," Hussey said.

"But the way Shreyas has captained in the past for Delhi, he has a very good cricket brain and a nice vision of how to play the game and I think he will express himself really well. I think it's a smart move from Brendon (McCullum) and KKR management." Asked how he would go about handling the 27-year-old, he replied: "The best coaching is to just leave the good players alone, let them go where they work.

"He is in rare form at the moment. I don't know him, I'm getting to know him but he comes across as true leader and a person who knows his game really really well." KKR also picked up out-of-favour Ajinkya Rahane, but Hussey is confident the former India Test vice-captain will come good.

"He's been a class player for over a decade, he's dominated for Rajasthan Royals and I believe he has at least 5-10 years of international cricket left in him.

"He might not be scoring the runs he wants recently but they way he is training he's going to dominate in the IPL and also he's a leader amongst the group as well." The former Australia all-rounder felt KKR have been able to build a "well balanced" bowling attack.

"Good to have Umesh Yadav back in the side. He works hard on his game and he's an absolute beast and hopefully he charges in and bowls exceptionally quick.

"We got good fast bowlers in Umesh, (Tim) Southee, (Shivam) Mavi and Cummins and good spin in Varun (Chakravarthy) and (Sunil) Narine," he said.

Asked if KKR are missing a quality wicketkeeper, Hussey said, "No, I think we are happy after the auction.

"We got Sheldon Jackson, who is a wonderful wicketkeeper, good striker of the cricket ball and dominates in the Ranji Trophy, also he been the part of our team for long time now and I think he's going to set the tournament alight.

"Then we also have Sam Billings. He's also a quality wicketkeeper who has played Test cricket for England..."

Also Read : Shastri says India need an all-rounder at No. 6, rules out Hardik as pure batter

News Source : PTI

2022-03-23 16:05

Shreyas Iyer was born to be a leader, says Hussey, the KKR mentor

Mumbai, Mar 23 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders mentor David Hussey feels new skipper Shreyas Iyer has a good cricketing brain and has proved his skills as a leader during his stint as Delhi Capitals captain.

Iyer, who led Delhi Capitals to the final in 2020, was bought by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore at the mega auction last month.

He was named captain by KKR team management ahead of pacer Pat Cummins, who leads the Australian Test side.

"Shreyas is a born leader, just the way he walks around, he commands respect. Knowing Pat (Cummins) really well, he would be a good deputy and would also lead from the front," Hussey said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

"But the way Shreyas has captained in the past for Delhi, he has a very good cricket brain and a nice vision of how to play the game and I think he will express himself really well. I think it's a smart move from Brendon (McCullum) and KKR management." Iyer has been in sensational form recently for India.

Asked Hussey how he would go about coaching the 27-year-old, he replied: "The best coaching is to just leave the good players alone, let them go where they work.

"He is in rare form at the moment. I don't know him, I'm getting to know him but he comes across as true leader and a person who knows his game really really well." KKR were dealt a blow after T20 specialist Alex Hales withdrew from the tournament citing bubble fatigue.

Adding to KKR's misery is that the Australian duo of Cummins and Aaron Finch, who was roped in as Hales' replacement, are expected to miss the team's first few games as they are touring Pakistan.

"It is a concern to not have your best players available but saying that international cricket is paramount. They miss the first five games but they'll hit the ground running, match fit. Both are quality players. Hopefully they can perform as per the game plan," Hussey said.

KKR also picked up out-of-favour Ajinkya Rahane and Hussey is confident the former India Test vice-captain will come good.

"He's been a class player for over a decade, he's dominated for Rajasthan Royals and I believe he has at least 5-10 years of international cricket left in him.

"He might not be scoring the runs he wants recently but they way he is training he's going to dominate in the IPL and also he's a leader amongst the group as well." The former Australia all-rounder feels KKR have been able to build a "well balanced" bowling attack.

"Good to have Umesh Yadav back in the side. He works hard on his game and he's an absolute beast and hopefully he charges in and bowls exceptionally quick.

"We got good fast bowlers in Umesh, (Tim) Southee, (Shivam) Mavi and Cummins and good spin in Varun (Chakravarthy) and (Sunil) Narine," he said.

Asked if KKR are missing a quality wicketkeeper, Hussey said, "No, I think we are happy after the auction.

"We got Sheldon Jackson, who is a wonderful wicketkeeper, good striker of the cricket ball and dominates in the Ranji Trophy, also he been the part of our team for long time now and I think he's going to set the tournament alight.

"Then we also have Sam Billings. He's also a quality wicketkeeper who has played Test cricket for England and kept wickets in the shorter format so I think we are pretty well versed in the keeping department and we are well balanced in all departments of our squad."

Also Read : Our aim is to reclaim IPL title after 13 years, says RR keeper-batter Buttler

News Source : PTI

2022-03-21 19:51

Worked on few new shots during rehab at NCA, you might see few cheeky shots in IPL: Shubman Gill

New Delhi, Mar 21 (Cricket News) Shubman Gill has all the classical shots in his repertoire but time off due to shin injury allowed him to work on his technique at the National Cricket Academy and he is ready to show his improvisation skills when he competes for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL.

The 21-year-old Gill, one of the batting mainstays of new IPL franchise, in an exclusive interview to PTI spoke on various subjects, including his strike-rate in T20 cricket, preferred batting position, World T20 and how he is a firm believer in "pouncing on second chances".

Excerpts from the Interview: Q: What's kind of adjustments you need to make while playing for Gujarat after four seasons with Kolkata Knight Riders? A: It's obviously special if you get retained by any team but I haven't given much thought about adjustments, now that I am with Gujarat Titans. It will be a great challenge for me as it's a new franchise and Ashu bhai (head coach Ashish Nehra) and Gary Kirsten (Mentor) are great people to be around. I have just had a brief conversation with them and they seem to be great people. I am confident we will do fine as team Q: You have batted as an opener from the third season but are you ready to be flexible if the new team needs you to be? A: I started my IPL career with KKR batting at numbers 6 and 7. The first whole year (2018), I batted at No. 6 and may be once, if I remember did I open the innings in 14 games. I think I batted at No. 4 once that season.

In the second year, I batted at No. 7 and it was the third year really, when I got to open the batting. If you ask me what I prefer, I would love to bat at the top-order but if the team wants me to do a different role, I game for that.

Q: Did the long lay-off from injury allow you to work on any aspects of your batting? A: I did work on a couple of batting specifics at the NCA. I got the opportunity to work on my batting a bit and I have learnt a couple of new shots. I worked extensively on my technique with coaches at NCA.

Q: So Shubman that we know, prefers copybook technique even when he plays attacking shots. Will this IPL bring about any change or there is particular reason for sticking to basic grammar of batting manual? A: There isn't a particular reason. It's just that I back my strengths to be able to hit the bowler over his head rather than trying to be cheeky.

But yes, as a player, I should be capable of playing any shot in the book and on some particular wickets, it's difficult to hit bowlers down the ground. As a player, I am trying to learn more shots and how to be able to play all over the ground. You might see me play some cheeky shots in this IPL.

Q: Would there be extra pressure to perform as Team India's T20 top-order slots look more or less settled? How does it change your approach for Titans? A: Not really (doesn't change anything). It is because I feel as a player what's most important for me is to do my job well for the team (Gujarat Titans) and I think if I am able to do well, then it is also doing well for myself.

And if we (GT) go on to play the play-offs and reach the final, I might get a chance to play for India in WT20.

Q: Your career strike rate is 124-plus and something that critics have pointed out. Do you feel any added burden to change that? A: I feel you have to close yourself from all the critics and do what the team wants from you. As a player, I should be able to play under any given situation. If my team wants me to bat at 160, 180 or even 200 strike-rate, I should be able to do that.

But if my team wants me to soak in the pressure in a tough situation and wants me to go at 110 strike-rate, I should be able to do that as well, being flexible in all situations.

As long as I am able to do that I am really happy and not focus on what people have to say.

Q: What is your process of internalising disappointments? How does your mind work and how do you seek solutions? A: What really motivates me when I am not able to perform is the next opportunity that comes along. I am always looking forward towards that next opportunity - both for myself and for my team.

I will give you an example. When I was injured, I was really looking forward to what we have next, and IPL was coming up.

During 2021, I had really bad first phase of IPL in India and also as a team, we hadn't done well. But knowing that we have another opportunity to make a comeback, may be winning six out of seven games, that challenge motivated me (KKR reached the title clash).

When I was going through that bad phase and then when phase two came, I thought this is my opportunity to correct myself. This is my chance to pounce on an opportunity and make most of it. I would keep thinking about that during my time at NCA.

Also Read : We are discussing roles players can take up during matches: Pant

News Source : PTI

2022-03-03 13:50

Top uncapped players to watch out for SRH, GT, LSG, RCB, RR

(Cricket news) With the IPL season set to begin from the 26th of March, it's time to look at the lesser known uncapped players in each of the teams who can make a significant impact. Over the years we have seen a plethora of players get the much needed pedestal in the IPL to showcase their talent and some players have gone on to represent the country also. So let us take a look at some of these players:

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Umar Malik)

The 22 year old fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir took the IPL by storm when he bowled the quickest delivery by an Indian - 153 Kph, but he didn’t get enough game time to actually prove his wicket taking ability. Seeing his raw talent the Indian selectors fast tracked his career and gave him the opportunity to bowl in the nets during the T20 World Cup last year. Like his deliveries, even his career has been on the fast-track.

Three years ago, Umar was struggling to get into Jammu & Kashmir’s team, but fast forward to last October, he was bowling to the likes Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers in the IPL, and in November he made his first-class debut for India A against South Africa A. He is still a raw diamond which needs some final touches as this season he will be given the mantle to lead the bowling attack for SRH which will showcase his talent.

Gujarat Titans (Abhinav Manohar Sadarangani)

The Gujarat Titans shelled out massive money for Abhinav Manohar Sadarangani as the 27 year old only made his domestic debut in November 2021, but made a huge impact in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, batting at no 5 he was the highest run-scorer for Karnataka, making 162 runs in four games at a strike rate of 150.00 and an average of 54.00. His performances caught the eye of many IPL franchises.

He played an integral part in Karnataka reaching the final where they eventually lost out to a last ball six by Shah Rukh Khan but Abhinav’s performances didn’t go unnoticed. He should add the much needed firepower in the middle order, and slot in alongside the likes of Hardik Pandya and Rahul Tewatia as the finishers in the team. Sadarangani looks like a promising talent who could deliver the goods for Hardik Pandya's side who look a bit unenterprising on paper.

Lucknow SuperGiants (Ayush Badoni)

The LSG franchise have the smallest squad in the IPL with the least amount of uncapped players but Ayush Badoni the 19 year old from Delhi will be part of their squad. Although in most likelihood he won’t get much game time but he’s a future investment for this new franchise. The 19 years old really got the recognition in a U19 test match against Sri Lanka when he put the Lankan players down with both bat and ball and his performance had been appreciated by many cricket experts. He bowled a brilliant spell of Off spin bowling and he scalped 4 of the key wickets in the first innings. Badoni actually stole the show when he thrashed the Srilankan bowling whilst batting at the no. 7, he played a magical innings of 185 runs in just 205 deliveries which clearly proves is skills at such a young age

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Anuj Rawat)

The left handed batsman, who can double up as a wicketkeeper as well was bought for a whopping 3.4 cr, he will mainly act as a replacement for Devdutt Padikkal in the squad. He was born in Ram Nagar in Uttarakhand and made his First-Class debut for Delhi versus Assam. Batting at No 7, Rawat scored 71 off 147 balls. The 22-year-old slammed 925 runs from 19 First-Class games at an average of 34.25 including two centuries and three half-centuries.

Rawat has scored 573 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at a superb of 44.07 including five fifties which is quite impressive considering his age. Rawat is a multi dimensional batsman who either bat as a finisher or could open the innings with Faf Du Plessis at the top, providing RCB with a left hand - right hand batting option. For Anuj it will be a big season since he has to fill in a major void left behind by Padikkal at the top.

Rajasthan Royals (Riyan Parag)

Riyan Parag over the years has become a mainstay for the teams and this year the team management have shown the same faith in him to finally perform to his full potential. He came into the limelight when Parag played for the India U19 team in the 2018 World Cup where he was captained by Prithvi Shaw and was bought by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2019 auction for his base price only. He created history when he became the youngest cricketer in the IPL to score a half-century at the age of 17 years and 175 days.

In 23 IPL innings for Rajasthan Royals, Parag has made 339 runs with just one solitary half-century at a strike rate of 118.50 and average of 16.90. He has hit 29 fours and 12 sixes so far. However, Parag’s actual credentials lie with Assam where he boasts a decent record for them in domestic cricket, with 659 runs in 13 First-Class matches with one century and 4 half-centuries. He has 756 runs in 29 List-A games with 6 half-centuries and the best score of 86. In 57 T20 games, he has 1019 runs with 8 half-centuries, the best score of 77* at an average of 24.85, and a strike rate of 126.27.

Also read: Top uncapped players to watch out for CSK, MI, KKR, DC, PBKS

2022-03-03 12:14

Rohit Sharma to begin Test captaincy reign against Sri Lanka in Mohali

(Cricket news) The men in blue return to red ball action for the first time since the disappointing series loss in South Africa. Team India start a new era under the leadership of Rohit Sharma who will take over from Virat Kohli. The captaincy is not the only change as senior players Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma have been dropped from the side after being an integral part of the team for so many years.

India's Possible Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma(C), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

Bench: Shubman Gill, Priyank Panchal, K.S Bharat, Jayant Yadav, Saurabh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Leaving Shubman Gill out is going to be a very tough call but it has to be taken as playing all of them will be surplus to needs. Kuldeep Yadav's return is very crucial for the side as India desperately need a wrist spinner in the Test set-up. Virat Kohli will be playing his 100th Test match and there is speculation that he could be promoted to number 3. Two seamers and three spinners has been the combination that India has used in Indian conditions but it does mean that one spinner will be under utilised.

Sri Lanka Possible Playing XI:

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera.

Bench: Niroshan Dickwella, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay.

Batting wise a lot will be dependent on the experienced Mathews and Karunaratne. Chameera's raw pace has the ability to trouble the Indian batters just like he did in the T20I series. He will once again be looking to get the better of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.

Pitch report and Weather forecast:

The weather is forecasted to be nice and sunny except for the 3rd day which could have a possible cloud cover. Mohali is usually a typical Indian pitch with assistance for the seamers at the beginning with the spinners coming into play as the days progress. The captain who wins the toss should look to bat first and get a big score on board.

Both the sides will be keeping an eye on the World Test Championship table. Rohit Sharma is yet to lose a game since becoming full time ODI and T20I captain and he will be looking to continue the same with red ball cricket. The team has a lot of changes which could backfire but it is definitely a start of a new era in Indian Test cricket history.

Also read: How KKR could fare under the new leadership of Shreyas Iyer

2022-03-02 14:20

Harmanpreet credits team psychologist for helping her come out of 'shell'

Christchurch, Mar 2 (Cricket News) India's ODI vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Wednesday revealed she was "going into a shell" before the team's psychologist Mugdha Bavare helped her get "clear ideas" and regain her lost form ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup.

Bavare is travelling with the team in New Zealand, which is hosting the ODI showpiece from Friday.

It is the first time that the Indian women's team has a sports psychologist on tour.

"Mugdha ma'am is travelling with us and she has been of a lot of help especially in the last four games which we played against New Zealand where my performance was not good and even I was going into a shell because the World Cup was coming," Kaur said during a virtual press conference.

"After I spoke to her I felt I was actually looking for that. I had things in my mind but I was not aware of it because of lot of pressure but after talking to her I got the solutions.

"I got clear ideas after talking to her, those things really helped during the last 2-3 games. I'm sure the team is also benefitting from her because I can see she's continuously talking to all the players, which is very important and that will really help us," Kaur added.

Bavare is a former national level swimmer and was engaged for the Indian men and women's wrestling teams, boxers and track and field athletes ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has also been associated with the Mumbai Cricket Association beside working with ace archer Deepika Kumari in the past.

The 32-year-old Harmanpreet was struggling with the bat in ODIs for quite some time now.

In the just-concluded ODI series against New Zealand, Kaur had scores of 10, 10 and 13 in the first three ODIs before she was dropped for the fourth game.

However, in the final game, she played a 63-run knock and followed that up with a century (104) in the World Cup warm-up match against South Africa.

Last month, skipper Mithali Raj had also said that the team was benefitting immensely from the presence of a sports psychologist during its tour of New Zealand and such professional help is the need of the hour.

Raj had earlier also spoken about the need for a psychologist to deal with the pressure of knockout games.

She had said that with tours now being played in bio-bubbles, professional help is all the more crucial now.

Also Read : Top uncapped players to watch out for CSK, MI, KKR, DC, PBKS

News Source : PTI

2022-03-02 13:50

Top uncapped players to watch out for CSK, MI, KKR, DC, PBKS

(Cricket news) With the IPL season set to begin from the 26th of March it's time to look at the lesser known uncapped players in each of the teams who can make a significant impact. Over the years we have seen a plethora of players get the much needed pedestal in the IPL to showcase their talent and some players have gone on to represent the country also.

Chennai Super Kings (Tushar Deshpande)

Tushar Deshpande ever since making his debut for Mumbai in first class cricket, he has been a force to reckon with. Tushar Deshpande spearheads the Mumbai attack in all formats for them in the domestic circuit thanks to his raw pace and match-winning performances. He has played in the IPL once with Delhi but didn’t get enough matches to showcase his raw talent. The 26-year-old took 50 wickets for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy last year and made valuable contributions with the bat also. His career trajectory is pretty similar to Shardul Thakur and CSK have identified him as a able replacement for him and this season he will have a massive part to play at the start of the season as Deepak Chahar won’t be playing the initial few matches because of an injury.

Mumbai Indians (Dewald Brevis)

Nicknamed as the “baby AB” for his similarities with the South African great AB de Villiers. Dewald Brevis captured all the headlines during the ICC U10 World Cup 2022 where Brevis got all the limelight for his excellent batting performance for South Africa. Although his team got knocked out in the quarter final, he ended up as the highest run-getter and made a lasting impression in the cricketing circuit . In his short U19 career he scored 506 runs at an average of 84.33 and a strike-rate of more than 90 .He played for the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) which was subsequently the same school from where his inspiration ‘Mr.360’ had done his schooling. This season MI went with a team for the future and Brevis can provide that much needed flare and elegance in the team.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Aman Khan)

The KKR franchise have a knack of identifying big hitters in the Indian domestic set up and Aman Khan certainly possesses that ability. Aman made his name by doing well in the T20 Mumbai league in 2018 as he scored 187 runs in 6 matches but with an unbelievable strike rate of 171.56. But he really made his name when he scored 137 off 60 in the DY Patil Cup which really impressed the selectors. In March 2021, he finally featured in List A fixture for Mumbai and then went to make play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 where he couldn’t really showcase his talent in those 4 matches he played. One thing going in favour for him is that he shares a very close bond with new KKR captain Shreyas Iyeras trained together at the Dadar Ground when they were young.

Delhi Capitals ( Yash Dhull)

The India U19 captain heading into the auction was a hot property especially after his wonderful 100 against Australia in the semifinals.Then recently Yash Dhull capped off a dream first-class debut by scoring his second hundred of the game as the Ranji Trophy Group H match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu. In the U19 World Cup he was fantastic at the top-order scoring 229 runs in the four matches he played at an average of 76.33. The fact that he missed a few matches due to covid and still managed to bounce back with match winning performances tells a lot about his mentality and leadership skills. He idolises Virat Kohli and is following in the same footsteps of his idol and if he's anything like him then Delhi have hit the jackpot.

Punjab Kings ( Benny Howell)

Howell is a French-born cricketer who is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium-fast. Howell has a vast variety of experience playing domestically for Hampshire County Cricket Club and Gloucestershire. He has also played all around the world being part of the Bangladesh Premier League for three seasons representing Rangpur Riders. Howell has played in the BPL alongside the likes of Ravi Bopara, Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, and Rilee Rossouw, all top quality players who have tasted success at the highest level. The 33 year old is a relatively unknown entity in India but Howell is well known for claiming to have developed 50 different varieties of slower which has been heavily influenced by work of pitchers in baseball. In 113 T20 Cup matches in England, Howell has taken 131 wickets at an average of 19.44 which is quite impressive considering he's a medium pacer.

Also read: KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer wants to be 'players' captain'

2022-03-01 18:54

KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer wants to be 'players' captain'

Kolkata, Mar 1 (Cricket News) Star batter Shreyas Iyer, who played a pivotal role in India's 3-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka in the recent ODI series, wants to be a "players' captain" for his new IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

This will be Shreya's second stint as captain as he had led Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2020.

"I would be coming in with a much different mindset now. I'm now more mature and experienced in terms of my decision making and captaincy skills," Shreyas, who scored 204 runs at a strike rate of 174 to be adjudged player-of-the-series against Sri Lanka, told KKR website.

"Personally, I feel that I'm a player's captain and I want to create an atmosphere where all of us are thinking towards one goal, which is winning." That KKR think-tank had identified Shreyas as captain was clear when they aggressively bid for the 27-year-old in the mega auction last month, making him the third most expensive player with a price tag of Rs 12.25 crore.

"Really waiting eagerly to work with every individual in the team, and build that synergy which could really help the team perform at a different level. I'm just going to love the responsibility, and I thrive under pressure," he said.

"You know, for me to be part of the KKR family is an enormous feeling. I want to really appreciate the work which has been done by all the great players in the past and I would like to follow the same footsteps, which they have created for KKR." The two-time former champions will begin their campaign against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26.

Excited to be working with coach Brendon McCullum, he said: "I feel is very aggressive. Even when you saw him playing for his country (New Zealand), he was someone who was very aggressive and he is kind of a risk taker.

"I absolutely love that. Obviously I've had few interactions with him after the auction. He's got that calm demeanour and I'm really looking forward to working with him, and to have some very successful seasons for KKR over the years." There was a bidding war for Shreyas with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Supergiants and Gujarat Titans too pitching in for the top-order batter.

Shreyas said he was nervous while watching the auction live with his India team-mates.

"I was trying to act relaxed, but you know, andar hi andar se, I was feeling a little nervous. Eventually KKR got me, that feeling was amazing. I'm really proud, considering the rich history and to be coming into the KKR setup," he concluded.

Also Read : What can people expect from India at the 2022 Women's World Cup?

News Source : PTI

2022-02-28 15:55

Unbeaten Shreyas Iyer guides India to whitewash and achieves rare feat

(Cricket news) India inflicted a 3rd consecutive whitewash in a T20I series this time against Sri Lanka. While the previous two against New Zealand and West Indies have been team performances this one on some level has been a one man show. If there is a singular reason why India won the series in convincing fashion, it was Shreyas Iyer.

Just under a year ago in an ODI against Sri Lanka, Shreyas Iyer dislocated his shoulder while fielding. He was subsequently ruled for the first half of the IPL 2021. With Rishabh Pant doing a fine job as stand-in captain, Iyer wasn't given back his captaincy upon returning in the second half. Since coming back from the injury, Iyer has gone from strength to strength. The 27-year-old scored a century on his Test debut against New Zealand and was named player of the match. He then fetched a Rs 12.25 crore bid for KKR in the IPL Mega Auction and was appointed their captain. Iyer was left out of the playing XI for the first 2 T20Is against West Indies and got a chance only when Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were rested in the 3rd match.

Pant and Kohli were once again rested for the Sri Lanka series while Suryakumar Yadav was ruled out with an injury. Iyer grabbed the opportunity with both arms and got the scores of 57*(28), 74*(44), 73*(45) scoring a total of 204 Runs at a Strike Rate 174.35. Iyer became the only Indian player along with Virat Kohli to score 3 fifty plus scores in a 3 match bilateral white ball series. The Mumbai batter also became the 2nd player after David Warner to score 200 plus runs in a T20I without being dismissed.

The harsh truth is that despite these performances Iyer may not find a place in the Playing XI for the World Cup. That will definitely not be the end of it as he has plenty more to look forward to. He is set to get a long run in the Test format starting against Sri Lanka after Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were dropped. Iyer may be asked to bat anywhere between number 3 and 5. Iyer may just be in the form of his life and a good Test series against Sri Lanka will just go on to prove that.

Rohit Sharma has a lot of positives in this series but the fielding has once again been sloppy at times. The only other negative is death bowlingas India bowling first in the last two matches leaked way too many runs in the last 5 overs. Former Indian Captain Sunil Gavaskar highlighted that the death bowling needs to be looked at as India can't afford to leak runs towards the end of the innings on a regular basis.

Also read: India equal Afghanistan's record by winning 12th consecutive T20I game

2022-02-25 17:30

IPL Governing Council announces format for TATA IPL 2022 Season

(Cricket news) The IPL Governing Council made certain key decisions about the TATA IPL 2022 Season. The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League will be held in a bio-secure environment at a single hub to restrict as much as air travel which is considered as a major threat for the spread of COVID-19 infection.

The tournament will begin from 26th March, 2022 and the final will be played on 29th May, 2022. A total of 70 league matches will be played in four international standard venues in Mumbai and Pune. The venue for the playoff matches shall be decided later.

Below is the breakdown of matches as per the venues:

Venue	Number of Matches
Mumbai - Wankhede Stadium	20 Matches
Mumbai - Brabourne Stadium (CCI)	15 Matches
Mumbai - DY Patil Stadium	20 Matches
Pune - MCA International Stadium	15 Matches

All teams will play:

4 matches each at Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium.

3 matches each at Brabourne Stadium (CCI) and MCA International Stadium, Pune.

The 10 teams will play 14 league matches in total (7 home matches and 7 away matches) totalling to 70 league matches, followed by the 4 playoff matches. Each team will play 5 teams twice and the remaining 4 teams only once (2 only home and 2 only away).

To decide on the above, teams have been assigned in two virtual groups based on the number of IPL Championships won followed by the number of final matches played by the respective teams.

The details of the teams having won the IPL Championships and number of times each of them has played a final match is listed below:

Team	Winner	Final
MI	5	6
CSK	4	9
KKR	2	3
SRH	1	2
RR	1	1
RCB	0	3
DC	0	1
PBKS	0	1
LSG	0	0
GT	0	0

The virtual groups are mentioned below:

	Group A		Group B
1	MI(5)	2	CSK(4)
3	KKR(2)	4	SRH(1)
5	RR(1)	6	RCB
7	DC	8	PBKS
9	LSG	10	GT

Each team will play twice with the teams in their group and with the team in the same row in the second group. With the rest of the teams in the second group they will play only once during the season.

For Example: In Group A, MI will play 2 matches each against KKR, RR, DC, LSG. MI will also play 2 matches against CSK and 1 match each against other teams in Group B.

Similarly, in Group B, RCB will play 2 matches against CSK, SRH, PBKS and GT. RCB will also play 2 matches against RR and 1 match each against other teams in Group A.

The schedule matrix of the TATA IPL 2022 is listed below:


Team--->	MI	KKR	RR	DC	LSG	CSK	SRH	RCB	PBKS	GT	Total
↓Opponent \| Season ->	2022	2022	2022	2022	2022	2022	2022	2022	2022	2022
MI	0	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	14
KKR	2	0	2	2	2	1	2	1	1	1	14
RR	2	2	0	2	2	1	1	2	1	1	14
DC	2	2	2	0	2	1	1	1	2	1	14
LSG	2	2	2	2	0	1	1	1	1	2	14
CSK	2	1	1	1	1	0	2	2	2	2	14
SRH	1	2	1	1	1	2	0	2	2	2	14
RCB	1	1	2	1	1	2	2	0	2	2	14
PBKS	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	2	0	2	14
GT	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	0

Also read: Was the Indian women's approach for the New Zealand series right?

2022-02-19 12:34

We plan to try out as many options as possible before T20 World Cup: Pant

Kolkata, Feb 19 (Cricket News) India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant says the team is looking at exploring as many options as possible in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, which is to take place in eight month's time.

Pant, who was appointed vice-captain in the absence of KL Rahul for the ongoing T20 series against the West Indies, smashed a brisk half-century in the team's win in the second game here on Friday night.

Among other questions, he was also asked about the plans for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

"There's still time for the World Cup, so the plan is to try out as many options as possible," the 24-year-old said at the post-match media interaction.

"We are trying to find out which positions suit whom and how they can benefit the team. So we're trying out several options, whatever seems right for the team eventually will be final." In the absence of the rested pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, seamer Harshal Patel held his nerves to help India emerge winner after West Indies big hitter Rovman Powell threatened to take the game away with back-to-back sixes in the final over.

Pant said the plan was to keep the ball outside off stump.

"After getting hit for two sixes, the talk was to try bowling outside off, but then he ultimately backed himself.

"There's obviously pressure in the game, but as individuals, we tend to focus on our skill rather than thinking too much," Pant added.

With the injury-prone Hardik Pandya not available, India are also looking to use seam-bowling all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer as a finisher.

Venkatesh, who caught the selectors' eye after impressing as an explosive opener for Kolkata Knight Riders in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, played an 18-ball 33-run cameo.

He, along with Pant, put on an entertaining 76-run partnership from 35 balls to lift India's total to 186/5.

"Yes, in the IPL he opened for KKR, but we can't be thinking too much about that. In the Indian team we are just trying to find different positions for different people. He used to play down the order (for Madhya Pradesh).

"When you come down the order, you know the situation. He (Venkatesh) is someone who reads the situation really well. He is a mature cricketer," Pant was all praise for Venkatesh.

Asked about their match-turning partnership after Virat Kohli (52) departed in the middle overs, Pant said the plan was simple.

"We talked about keeping it simple and not trying too many things. The plan was simple, see the ball, hit the ball." When asked how secured he's feeling batting at No. 5, Pant said: "It's all about the team plan. As an individual, I can't think about whether I've to secure this place or that place.

"I have to do whatever the team needs from me. It's about keep improving each and every day." India now have another spin option in 21-year-old Ravi Bishnoi, a googly specialist who returned with match-winning figures of 2/17 on debut in the first T20I.

In the second T20I, he took 1/30, and Pant was seen constantly egging on the youngster from behind the stumps.

"For a newcomer in the team, it's all about giving him confidence. The more you give him confidence, talk to him about what he feels as an individual, all these are important.

"Yes we can give our plans, but for a bowler, it's very important to know what he feels, especially for a youngster who has just come into the team. So if we give him the confidence and let him have his own plan, then he will also learn more," Pant signed off.

Also Read : That is where experience comes into play: Rohit on Bhuvi's four-run 19th over

News Source : PTI

2022-02-17 18:19

Captain Rohit's message: Team management clear with Shreyas that it wants all-round option

Kolkata, Feb 17 (Cricket News) Shreyas Iyer might have been the third biggest buy at the IPL auction but to fit into India's T20 combination, he would need to showcase all-round skills as that's what the team is looking for in the middle-order slot, skipper Rohit Sharma has said.

Wednesday was a mixed bag for Shreyas.

Around evening, Kolkata Knight Riders unveiled the worst kept secret in the IPL universe by announcing their Rs 12.25 crore recruit as franchise captain for 2022.

By 6:30 pm, however, it was clear that the former Delhi Capitals and new KKR captain isn't fitting into the specialist batter category in Team India for the T20 game against West Indies.

"Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him to be out and not making it to the XI, but it's what the team requires. We need that option in the middle, someone who can bowl," Rohit said, after India's easy six-wicket win in the first T20 International on Wednesday.

"It's always nice when you have those kind of competitions going on," he added.

Skipper Rohit gave a glimpse of what kind of team combination he is looking at in the shortest format and he made the hard but prudent call in picking a '360 degree' player like Suryakumar Yadav along with the less fancied Iyer -- Venkatesh, who brings in all-round skills to the table.

"We were very clear with Shreyas, we told him the team wants that option (of an all-rounder) going into the World Cup. They are all smart guys, professionals and they understand the team comes first," the Indian captain said.

"A lot of things go into deciding the playing XI, the opposition, the conditions, the dimensions of the ground. Yes, sometimes it can be tough for the guys missing out but we are making sure we are giving out a very clear message. Unfortunate but we want to put the team first," the skipper displayed no ambiguity in his statements.

It is also understood that Shreyas' technique against the short ball has been a bit susceptible and a lot of work is going into making him correct his body position to deal with express quicks in future.

All those who witnessed a couple of days' training at Eden Gardens saw how Rohit, himself a fine exponent of pull-shot, was seen explaining to Shreyas a thing or two about balance.

On the eve of the match after regular nets session, Shreyas wore the helmet and didn't have his pads on but team's throwdown specialist Raghavendra was seen standing at 10 yards and feeding him with fast but loopy balls, aimed at his helmet visor as he continuously played the pull-shot.

It was an exercise to perfect a particular shot as Rahul Dravid kept a hawk's eye on the proceedings.

As Rohit had mentioned before the match, IPL dynamics won't dictate how he builds a team, he walked the talk.

Hence it wasn't surprising to see Shreyas (Rs 12.25 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 crore), and Avesh Khan (Rs 10 crore) along with two retained players (Ruturaj Gaikwad Rs 6 crore) and Mohammed Siraj (Rs 7 crore) warming the bench.

Add to it Deepak Hooda's Rs 5.75 crore and Kuldeep Yadav's Rs 2 crore base price, India's reserve bench was worth more than Rs 50 crore.

"When the guys who are missing come back it's going to be very challenging to make the playing XI. But I'm happy with that challenge rather than not having players," Rohit said.

Also Read : Full strength Indian women look to avoid series defeat against New Zealand

News Source : PTI

2022-02-16 17:20

Kochi Blue Spikers keen on registering first win of the season

(Sports news) The Kochi Blue Spikers will play against Chennai Blitz in the thirteenth match of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The Blue Spikers, who had a close shave against Bengaluru Torpedoes in their previous match on 08 February 2022, are looking for their first win of the season.

Speaking ahead of their match against Chennai Blitz, Kochi's Erin Varghese said, "The long gap has helped us a lot since we had to rectify a lot of mistakes that we made in our first two matches. We've had enough time to work on many aspects of our game and we are prepared for the next match. The Chennai Blitz have lost three matches, so they will certainly come out all guns blazing against us and we are prepared for that."

When asked about his experience of playing at the RuPay Prime Volleyball League and the challenges he has faced in his volleyball journey, the attacker said, "The RuPay Prime Volleyball League is a great platform for me because I am a young player and this is my chance to showcase my talent. And it's been great to have the experience of playing with the foreign players as well. The biggest challenge I have faced in my volleyball journey is that we have coaches in India who can teach the volleyball techniques, but we don't have a lot of professionals who have good knowledge about physical training."

The Chennai Blitz, who are also yet to register a win in the season, will be looking to get on board in their next match. The Chennai skipper Ukkrapandian Mohan said that the team will produce a better performance, "We are preparing really well for our next match. We were disappointed after going down in our last three matches, but we still have hope that we will put up a better performance in our next match. We are practicing very well and we are ready to face the Kochi Blue Spikers. We'll play according to our plans and look to make a good start against Kochi."

When asked about the aspect the team needs to improve on, Ukkrapandian said, "We need to improve our serving in the upcoming matches. We have seen that the other teams are putting pressure on their opponents by serving well. We have lacked in the service department so far. However, I think we'll get better at serving in the upcoming games."

Also read: Calicut Heroes register their first victory in the league

2022-02-15 20:39

Focus on Blue: Rohit says IPL batting slot will not be considered for Team India

Kolkata, Feb 15 (Cricket News) An Ishan Kishan or a Shreyas Iyer may have been paid hefty sums to perform a particular role for their IPL sides but that won't be up for consideration when skipper Rohit Sharma decides what's best for India's T20 team going into this year's World Cup in Australia.

Back in 2011, the current India captain was one of the hottest mega auction picks for Mumbai Indians and he understands that the likes of Kishan (Rs 15.25 crore) or Shreyas Iyer (Rs 12.25 crore) must have gone through a plethora of emotions during the bidding frenzy involving them.

"It was understood that the guys will go through some emotions, some ups and downs," the Indian skipper said on eve of the first T20 International against the West Indies here.

He said that now that auctions are over, focus will be on national duty and that's something the team management has made clear to the players.

"Yesterday, we had a great meeting with everyone and asked them to focus on the colour 'Blue' for the next two weeks which is very, very important. Whatever has happened has happened and whichever team they are going to play, that's for the future.

"Right now, the focus of next two weeks is to play for India. All these guys are professionals...nothing else matters," the skipper was crystal clear.

Kishan opens for MI, ditto for Venkatesh Iyer (KKR), and Shreyas Iyer bats at No.3 or 4 for his franchise. Rohit said those positions won't dictate the players' slots in the national team.

"Honestly, there is no consideration of IPL here. We are not going to look at where they are going to bat in IPL. What matters is where they are going to bat for Team India, as simple as that," the message was loud and clear.

The Indian team will follow its own playbook, which is not concerned about the dynamics at work in franchise cricket.

"These guys play different roles for their respective franchises but what we need here from these guys is very important. We will be focusing on that and not IPL. We will take care of the IPL later," he explained.

Don't want to talk about auctions ===================== The skipper didn't like the discussion veering towards the big buys at the auction and he put the point across politely.

"I don't want to talk about IPL here. It's important we keep our focus on Team India rather than IPL," he stressed.

"It's played for only two months, whereas we play for India the next 10 months. It's important that we keep our focus here at the moment." The IPL auction and its corresponding emotions are all done and dusted, at least for Rohit.

"Yes, guys were nervous and showing their emotions all around during the auction.

"But that's done and dusted and no point talking about it now. We have important games coming up. we just need to focus on that." Focus on role clarity ============= As he had said earlier also, players have been provided clarity on their roles.

"We are expecting that they develop the mindset to bat or bowl in that fashion come the World Cup," Rohit added.

"The clarity is being given to them. it's up to them how they take it forward and get the maximum out of their potential."

Also Read : Kohli remains relaxed and positive, that hundred will come soon: childhood coach

News Source : PTI

2022-02-15 16:09

Mithali Raj stays at number 2 spot in ICC ODI women's rankings

Dubai, Feb 15 (Cricket News) India skipper Mithali Raj maintained her second spot in the ICC Women's ODI player rankings even as New Zealand batter Amy Satterthwaite moved up to number three after a splendid show in the series-opener against India.

Raj made 59 off 73 balls in India's 62-run defeat in the first ODI of the five-match series in Queenstown.

Satterthwaite, who smashed a 67-ball 63 and was involved in an important 98-run third wicket partnership with opener Suzie Bates, has overtaken Australia's Beth Mooney with a gain of 13 rating points.

She is now 15 rating points behind Raj, who is second with 744 in the list led by Australia opener Alyssa Healy who has 749 rating points.

Bates' 11th ODI hundred, which helped her team take a 1-0 lead in the series, has lifted her into the world's top 20 batters in ODIs for the first time in six months.

The former captain has advanced five places to 17th position in the latest weekly update that includes the last match of the Australia-England series.

Australia completed their Ashes triumph with another comfortable victory in the final ODI in Melbourne last week.

Tammy Beaumont returned to form for England with a half-century, as did Meg Lanning with an unbeaten 57, allowing both batters to gain three places for their efforts.

Beaumont and Lanning are now in fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with just one rating point separating them.

In the bowlers' list, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone was a bright spark in the final ODI, bowling her 10-over allocation and conceding just 18 runs while dismissing Rachael Haynes, taking an an excellent catch off her own bowling.

She has moved a place up to second, closing in on the opportunity to top both the ODI and T20I bowling rankings at the same time.

Ellyse Perry's return to all-round excellence also enabled her to gain three places with the ball and increase her lead over second placed Nat Sciver in the all-rounders’ table to an impressive 87 rating points.

New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu is up four places to 13th and India’s Rajeshwari Gayakwad is up five places to 16th. Both bowled economically in the first ODI in Queenstown to move up in the world's top 20 ODI bowlers.

In the T20I rankings, Beth Mooney is back in her third stint as the top ranked batter with captain Meg Lanning also gaining a slot to reach second position. India opener Shafali Verma is now third in the list.

New Zealand bowlers Amelia Kerr is up five places to eighth and her sister Jess Kerr is up 16 places to 34th, also making notable gains in the T20I rankings.

Also Read : My parents have finally agreed to stop working: Tennis-ball sensation Ramesh Kumar after landing IPL deal with KKR

News Source : PTI

2022-02-15 15:36

My parents have finally agreed to stop working: Tennis-ball sensation Ramesh Kumar after landing IPL deal with KKR

New Delhi, Feb 15 (Cricket News) A Rs 20 lakh contract may not sound like much when deals worth crores were sealed at the IPL auction but for tennis-ball sensation Ramesh Kumar, it has ensured that his father doesn't have to make a living as a cobbler and his mother no longer needs to criss-cross villages in Punjab's Fazilka district to sell bangles.

Ramesh, who is better known as 'Narine Jalalabad' in tennis-ball circles, was already a youtube star due to his exploits with both bat and ball. Post the auction and the signing with Kolkata Knight Riders last weekend, his remarkable story has reached a wider audience.

Even as a tennis ball 'nomad', he requested his ageing parents to stop working but they would "never listen" to him. An IPL deal, however, has finally convinced them that their son can have a future in the game and they need not slog.

"They have finally agreed to not work anymore. I never wanted them to do this work in the first place but it had to be done out of necessity," Ramesh, who once blasted a 10-ball 50 in a local tournament, told PTI.

He also plans to use the IPL money for the education of his younger brothers.

The phone has been buzzing non stop since KKR made a winning bid for him at the auction but Ramesh remains grounded and focussed.

"Life has not changed yet paaji, life will change when I perform in the IPL. The way I see it, I have finally got the platform I needed," he said.

The 23-year-old from Jalalabad plied his trade in tennis-ball tournaments across India for seven years but it was only last year he got a taste of 'leather' ball. Ramesh impressed in Punjab Cricket Association's district level tournament following which he was called for the Ranji Trophy camp.

He owes his career to senior Punjab batter and IPL regular Gurkeerat Mann who helped him reach the KKR trials in Mumbai.

KKR assistant coach and former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar was also convinced about his rare talent at the trials which eventually led to Ramesh's signing at his base price.

Having not played proper cricket at any level, it remains to be seen if Ramesh will be ready for his big break at the IPL but if T Natarajan can play for India after making his name in tennis-ball cricket, 'Narine Jalalabadi' too fancies his chances.

Ramesh fondly recalls the time he travelled the country for making Rs 500-1000 a day in tennis ball events, a career that also made him board his first ever flight.

"You must have seen my videos (on youtube) paaji. I am basically a tennis ball player. Since I could turn the ball away and turn back in, people advised me to play to with leather ball. They would say 'you might make it big'.

"But I didnt' have the support that I need to pursue the game professionally. I used to play an odd leather ball game but mainly it was all tennis ball cricket.

"It started with me playing all across Punjab, when I performed I got calls from other states too. Sometimes I made 500 in a day, sometimes it was 1000. It was just about enough to run the house and manage my travel expenses," he said.

Having got the stage he was desperately looking for, Ramesh now feels playing for India is also a possibility though he knows he has a long way to go.

He needs to improve his skills and fitness drastically.

"Paaji I used to bowl with cosco ball which is very light. The leather is ball much heavier and it is harder to make it turn but I am slowly getting better. I am sure the IPL stint with help my game in a big way," he added.

Also Read : My game is simple, to attack and take singles: Richa

News Source : PTI

2022-02-15 14:25

Time for Ishans, Iyers to impress as Rohit-led Team India hopes to rebuild side ahead of T20 World Cup

Kolkata, Feb 15 (Cricket News) Flush with exciting talent and focussed on the T20 World Cup in exactly eight months' time, the Rohit Sharma-led Team India would be aiming to get its combinations right when it takes on the West Indies in a three-match series beginning here on Wednesday.

India were the pre-tournament favourites but made a shocking group stage exit in the last T20 World Cup held in the UAE in October-November. The shambolic campaign exposed loopholes in the team combination and temperament, spoiling Virat Kohli's swansong as T20 skipper.

India will look to make amends and rebuild the side with a packed T20 calendar lined up ahead of the marquee event in Australia beginning October 16.

Rohit, under whom Mumbai Indians have won five IPL titles, would be looking to sort out issues such as the opening blues, the middle-lower order conundrum and also the bowling strategies.

And he will have a happy headache of plenty while trying to firm up the squad.

Just the other day at the IPL mega auction, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan hit the jackpot by landing a Rs 15.25 crore deal with Rohit's franchise Mumbai Indians.

In fact, 10 players from the current squad landed massive deals and all eyes would also be on the likes of Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders Rs 12.25 crore), Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rs 10.75 crore) and Shardul Thakur (Delhi Capitals, Rs 10.75 crore).

Opening puzzle ========== First up would be the opening combination and who would be ideal to partner the skipper in the shortest format with his regular KL Rahul out with a left hamstring strain.

Ishan opened in the first match of their preceding three-match ODI series against the Caribbean team in Ahmedabad but the skipper also tried out Rishabh Pant and Shikhar Dhawan.

While Ishan may be the preferred choice, Rohit also has options in Maharashtra run machine Ruturaj Gaikwad who has been in red hot form but has only been warming the bench.

Then there is Venkatesh Iyer, the KKR all-rounder who shot to prominence in the UAE leg of the last IPL as a big-hitting opener with 320 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 125. He was just behind Gaikwad who had more runs (407) in this period.

It will also be interesting if Virat Kohli comes out to open with Rohit to get among runs as he's been dealing with a lean patch. His last International century came at this very venue way back in November 2019 in the pink ball day/night Test against Bangladesh.

Middle and lower order conundrum ====================== India have a packed white ball calendar in the run up to their T20I World Cup opener against Pakistan on October 23.

So, it would not be a bad ploy for the think tank to give some much deserved rest to the dashing Pant as Ishan seems to be a confirmed selection in the side.

This will help Rohit try out both Shreyas Iyer and Surkyakumar Yadav in the same XI. The duo was in fine form in the recently-concluded ODI series.

Suryakumar was the top scorer in the ODI series with 104 runs at an average of 52.00, while Iyer scored a match-winning 80 in their 3-0 series sweeping win in the third ODI.

India also have some exciting options lower down the order with the likes of Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Harshal Patel.

Patel impressed with a fine cameo of 11-ball 18 to prop up India's total to a match-winning 184/7 from 140/6 in his only outing in the series against New Zealand just after the World Cup.

Bishnoi will fancy his chances =================== Fresh from a stupendous comeback series in the ODIs, Yuzvendra Chahal will be India's regular spin option but it remains to be seen if exciting Rajasthan leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi gets a maiden call up.

He was rewarded after an impressive run in the IPL and domestic circuit to be selected for the series.

With Washington Sundar ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury, it remains to be seen if the youngster from Jodhpur will get his maiden International cap.

West Indies aim for improvements ===================== Unlike their flop show in the ODI series, the Kieron Pollard-led West Indies would look to give a strong fight to the hosts in their favourite T20 format.

Boasting of T20 specialists, the Windies came here after beating England 3-2 at home in a thrilling five-match series.

They bat deep and with some aggressive hitters, the West Indies will hope to give India a tough fight.

Jason Holder has been in fine form for them and took four wickets in four balls in the final ODI against England to return with career-best figures of 5/27.

With some exciting all-round options in Odean Smith and Akeal Hosein, Pollard's men would look to make it count at a venue where they won the T20 World Cup in 2016.

Dew factor, a concern? ============== With the chill in the air, dew can be a concern for both the teams at the Eden.

The CAB has kept four pitches ready for the three matches to be played in five days.

SQUADS: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav and Harpreet Brar.

West Indies: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Match starts: 7 pm IST.

Also Read : The top bargain buys of this years 2022 IPL auction

News Source : PTI

2022-02-15 14:00

The top bargain buys of this years 2022 IPL auction

(Cricket news) This year in the auction a lot of money was spent on the Indian players but certain international players went under the radar and subsequently did fetch too many bids from the other franchises. So let us take a look at the top 5 bargain buys at this auction:

1) David Warner (Delhi Capitals 6.25 cr)

Warner is one of the greatest players to play in the IPL and the DC management purchased him for a mere 6.25 crores as players like Nicohals Pooran and Liam Livingstone went above 10cr. In Warner, DC have found an opener who can play the aggressor or drop anchor and the proven fact that he is a IPL-winning captain and an ace fielder, as 6.25 crores seem peanuts for the exorbitant prices we saw in this year's auction. Along with that his rapport with head coach Ricky Ponting will come in handy. Most importantly Warner and Prithvi Shaw could be one of the IPL's best opening pairs in the powerplay. The added benefit of him being in top form after he single handedly took Australia to the World Cup title last year as he won the player of the tournament will certainly help them.

2) Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings 1cr)

The New Zealand international over the last 2 years has become one of the best white ball cricketers in the world. The left hander has had a dream start to his international career, as he averages 50.16 in T20’s after 20 games. He has made 602 runs at a strike rate of 139.35 with a high score of 99* alongside being a handy wicketkeeper as he in the future can replace MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Devon Conway offers a lot of flexibility in the batting order and can slot anywhere till no 5. He played a vital role in New Zealand's run into the finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, scoring 129 runs in very slow and difficult conditions. He was unfortunate to injure himself in the semi-final and was ruled out of the grand finale which played an important role in New Zealand losing the final.

3) Alex Hales ( Kolkata Knight Riders 2cr)

The English opener was bought by last year’s finalists in the accelerated auction and could be the answer if KKR again try to opt with their strategy of going all guns blazing in the powerplay . Venkatesh Iyer was arguably the find of the season after he fired on all cylinders in 2021 as both the tall openers can form a very destructive opening combination. Hales brings with him a T20 strike rate of 146.35 and along with that his consistency and his experience of playing in similar conditions in the Pakistan Super League goes in his favour. Alex Hales has fallen out of contention from the England team which means that he might be available for the entirety of the tournament. Hales comes into this year’s IPL with a point to prove after getting unsold in the previous auctions, he has scored plenty of runs all over the world but hasn’t been able to showcase his talent in the biggest league.

Also read: Prasidh Krishna: India's next fast bowling prodigy with the red ball

4) Chetan Sakariya (Delhi Capitals 4.2 cr)

Last year Sakariya took the tournament by storm as he slowly but steadily became Rajasthan Royals frontline bowler and not only that he led the RR bowling line up also later in the tournament. Chetan Sakariya had played 14 games for RR last season as he went on to grab 14 wickets at an average of 30.42. He had an economy rate of 8.19 and his best bowling figures were 3/31. Sakariya will be hoping that he forms a good pace trio with Shardul Thakur and Anrich Nortje as last year he didn’t get the same support from his fellow fast bowlers in RR. With the IPL most likely to be hosted in India, it will be interesting to see how the left arm pacer varies his line and length according to the Indian pitches.

5) Yuzvendra Chahal ( Rajasthan Royals 6.5cr)

He might be the most expensive buy on this bargain list but he brings excellent value for money especially for struggling side like RR. The spinner became one of the mainstays for RCB over the years especially for his ability to keep things tight on the flat track at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He’s been picked up at a cheaper price than several uncapped players as Chahal is arguably Indians best white ball spinner and his experience over the years playing for India and RCB will come in handy for RR. The most exciting prospect for the RR fans would be to see the two spin twins Ashwin and Chahal play together in the same franchise. Last year Chahal was one of the leading wicket takers in the league and RR will be desperate that he becomes a regular wicket taker, something that they have been missing over the years.

2022-02-13 22:52

Auction dynamics were very different and challenging this time: Kumble

Bengaluru, Feb 13 (Cricket News) Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble is extremely satisfied with the new players, including Liam Livingstone and Odean Smith, coming to his franchise during the IPL auction, the dynamics of which were "very different and challenging".

England batter Livingstone fetched a staggering Rs 11.50 crore deal from Punjab Kings, who also roped in West Indies fast bowler Smith for Rs 6 crore on the second day of the IPL mega auction here on Sunday.

"There is absolutely more demand than supply, but I guess there were challenges because there were 10 teams and it was different," Kumble said.

"I have been in couple of big mega auctions in 2011, 2014 and smaller auctions before this auction. This one has been really, really different and more challenging because every player, that whoever is going for, is going for a large sum of money, so the purse is dwindling no matter what value you have in your purse.

"The auction dynamics are very very different and you have to be nimble and that is something we realised in the last one and half days. You have to be even more nimble during this auction then the previous ones." The spin legend was glad to see the second rung of Indian fast bowlers getting good deals in the auction.

"Some of the players, especially the Indian fast bowlers, I am really happy for them, there has been a lot of demand for them and it is wonderful that they have been well rewarded for all their efforts." The first session's highlight was Livingstone, who hit the million dollar plus mark with five teams bidding for him at one point of time.

"I think we have been extremely satisfied with the way we have gone about so far, that squad that we wanted to put together, we are very close to achieving what we put together despite the challenging environment that you have at the auction." He also stressed on the leadership role and building a culture.

"I think, in a T20, the format or any new squad you want to put together, you would want to get some quality players, and also the leadership group, so yes the focus was not just on the players that we want to acquire but also acquire some leadership groups and build a culture.

Smith's price shot up as he recently impressed with his pace and control against India in the ODI series and also showed that he can hit the ball a long way.

On Smith, Kumble said, "He has showcased his power, bowling skills and also his batting skills and we saw that on display against India here in the one-dayers, so we have been tracking the players for a while and we are very glad that someone like Odean as an all-rounder for us we have been able to secure." Delhi Capitals assistant coach Pravin Amre said that the franchise is pleased with their buys.

On the second day of the auction, India batter Mandeep Singh was bought by the Delhi-based franchise for Rs 1.10 crore, while the left-arm duo of Khaleel Ahmed and Chetan Sakariya were acquired for Rs 5.25 crore and 4.20 crore, respectively.

"We have a good bank of Indian fast bowlers. Our strategy is to back Indian bowlers, because with Anrich Nortje in our squad, we can use various other combinations. We will get these options of combinations with a left-arm seamer like Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed," Amre said.

"Chetan Sakariya had a tremendous IPL season the last time, and we were expecting Sakariya's price to be higher. And, Khaleel is a player who was with us in the past, so we know him. He has also been performing well in T20 cricket for the past three years.

"So with the Indian pacers, we can use various combinations," added the DC assistant coach.

Left-arm pacer Sakariya, who made his IPL and India debut last year, had an impressive stint with Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021, picking 14 wickets in as many games at an average of 30.42 and an economy rate of 8.19.

Mandeep, who has represented teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings in the past seasons, had a remarkable season for the Punjab-based franchise in IPL 2012 when he was awarded the emerging player of the year award for scoring 432 runs in 16 matches.

Simon Katich, the assistant coach at Sunrisers Hyderabad, said getting Rahul Tripathi was a "big plus" for them.

"Been able to secure Rahul Tripathi who has been very, very good for KKR in the last few years and prior to that with the Pune Supergiants... getting him was a big plus for us and then getting the left-handed-keeper Nicholas Pooran who captained the West Indies..."

Also Read : Back pain forces veteran Afridi to call time on PSL career

News Source : PTI

2022-02-13 12:28

IPL's 'Home Truth': Ishan Kishan hits jackpot with USD 2 million plus deal as Indians enjoy 'Big Pay Day'

Bengaluru, Feb 12 (Cricket News) Ishan Kishan and Deepak Chahar clinched the most eye-popping deals as India's battle-hardened T20 exponents laughed their way to the bank on the opening day of IPL mega-auction where the franchises saved their highest bids for home-grown talent.

Kishan's Rs 15.25 crore winning bid from Mumbai Indians pipped the Rs 14 crore figure that CSK offered to retain Deepak Chahar on Saturday. Franchises showed prudence in overall spending but didn't hesitate to loosen the purse strings for proven performers, especially Indians.

In terms of US Dollars, there were 20 million-plus buys, the biggest by far at any IPL auction with most of the beneficiaries being Indian T20 specialists.

It was a satisfying 'Pay Day' for all current India internationals with Shreyas Iyer getting a staggering Rs 12.25 crore deal from Kolkata Knight Riders and the multi-skilled Shardul Thakur making Delhi Capitals break the bank with a Rs 10.75 crore.

These two, along with Kishan and Chahar, were the top four buys of the day.

"I'm really excited to be back at MI. I know everyone has treated me there like a family so I am really happy to be there and I hope to give my best to the team. Thank you so much," said the 23-year-old Kishan in a video posted on his twitter handle.

The big-hitting Kishan made his India debut last year and has been a Mumbai Indians player all along, performing consistently well for the side.

Young pacer Prasidh Krishna (Rs 10 crore) was paid big by Rajasthan Royals for his timely Man of the Series performance against the West Indies while Washington Sundar, another India regular, got richer by Rs 8.75 crore.

One of the expected big buys was pacer Avesh Khan, who was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 10 crore, the highest in the history of IPL for uncapped players.

Yuzvendra Chahal would be a bit cross as he came late in the day and could only get Rs 6.5 crore from Rajasthan Royals.

Even Nitish Rana, not an Indian regular but an IPL performer, was retained for Rs 8 crore by KKR while the uncapped Rahul Tripathi, who has been consistent in the league, very deservingly crossed the million dollar mark at Rs 8.50 crore.

Shahrukh Khan, another formidable domestic T20 finisher but one with a base price of a mere Rs 20 lakh, was taken for a 'mic-drop' deal of Rs 9 crore by Punjab Kings.

Rajasthan's former one-season wonder Rahul Tewatia was lapped up by Gujarat Titans for a mind-boggling Rs 9 crore.

It wasn't an auction to remember for the old guard and only two 35 plus players -- Shikhar Dhawan (Rs 8.25 crore, Punjab Kings) and Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 5 crore, Rajasthan Royals) -- got good deals.

Among other seniors Mohammed Shami was taken by Gujarat Titans for Rs 6.25 crore. His new ball partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar got Rs 4.6 crore from Sunrisers.

While this was the last mega auction, what was impressive was the discretion that franchises used while buying players as the focus was on top Indian players available in the market and currently playing white-ball cricket.

For Chennai Super Kings, the aim was to follow Mahendra Sigh Dhoni's template and retain their core base of players as much as possible as they waited to buy back Deepak, another multi-skilled cricketer on ascendancy for India.

KKR retained eight out of their top first 11 players from last season but are still looking short in the fast bowling department.

KKR didn't do too badly as they picked up Australian Test captain Pat Cummins at Rs 7.25 crore, which is less than half of what he was paid at last auction.

"To get back Pat Cummins at that price, we are very, very delighted. We thought he would go higher," KKR CEO Venky Mysore said.

"We could not be happier getting Cummins and Shreyas in the first round itself. Heart beats a bit more properly now, we can now have some fun looking at what else is going on," he added.

While Cummins is a captaincy candidate, he will not be available during the first two weeks even though Mysore didn't want to commit on captaincy.

"As far as captaincy is concerned, that's a decision our coach and the think-tank will take. Certainly, between Cummins and Shreyas, we have solid options for us. I'm sure the think-tank will make the right decisions," he added.

Franchises do their homework =================== In case of overseas recruits, the franchises focussed on those who have shown themselves to be consistent performers in previous IPLs and with a reputation of doing well on Indian tracks.

Like other years, none of the franchises got swayed by performances in Big Bash League, the Caribbean Premier League and the Pakistan Super League and concentrated solely on those who can bring value during the IPL.

So Wanindu Hasaranga, who is from Sri Lanka and currently the world's No. 1 T20 International bowler, fetched Rs 10.75 crore while West Indian Nicholas Pooran, despite a disastrous IPL the last time, got a similar amount from Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The same reason got England's keeper-batter Jonny Bairstow a Rs 6.75 crore bid from Punjab Kings.

It was a case of supply and demand and at what time of the auction one is placed as teams, save for CSK (Dhoni) and Delhi Capitals (Rishabh Pant), didn't have wicketkeepers.

Pooran is an optimistic buy considering that he can be destructive on his day.

The discretion was evident when one saw a David Warner going for Rs 6.25 crore.

It was a very good bargain buy for Delhi Capitals and same could be said about newcomers Lucknow Supergiants, who got a fabulous player like Quinton de Kock for Rs 6.75 crore.

"Absolutely excited to buy David Warner. I cannot believe that we got such a legend at Rs 6.25 crore. With Warner and Prithvi Shaw opening the batting, it will be an explosive start to every single Delhi Capitals innings," DC co-owner Parth Jindal said.

The paucity of all-rounders meant that Jason Holder (Rs 8.75 crore) and Shardul would have attracted solid bids.

"We are really excited to have Shardul as he can bowl in Powerplays and bowl at the death," Jindal said.

Their only dodgy buy is Mitchell Marsh, whose IPL career has been plagued by injuries and paying him Rs 6.50 crore could be a bit of an oversight considering he can't be played at No. 3, where he worked wonders for Australia.

Among domestic players, Riyan Parag's Rs 3.80 crore retention by Royals, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performer Abhinav Manohar's Rs 2.60 crore deal with Gujarat Titans were eye-catching.

South Africa's U-19 World Cup star Dewald Brevis, known as 'Baby AB' for his batting style's resemblance to AB de Villiers, was brought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 3 crore.

Abhishek Sharma, a left-arm spinner and left-handed batter, who many term as 'Poor Man's Krunal Pandya' for similar skill sets got a whopping Rs 6.5 crore from Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Foreign fast bowlers in demand ====================he Trent Boult came in the marquee set and still fetched a million dollars (Rs 8 crore) for his good show in previous years for Mumbai Indians as Rajasthan Royals aggressively bid for him.

But when his New Zealand teammate and slightly pacier Lockie Ferguson arrived in fast bowler's set, he got the paddles raised at frequent intervals and Gujarat Titans, who didn't have a great first day, suddenly got activated and bought him for Rs 10 crore.

For CSK, Josh Hazlewood's exit will be a big deal as the Australian pacer will now play for RCB with a deal of Rs 7.75 crore.

Another speed demon Mark Wood of England got Rs 7.5 crore from Lucknow Supergiants Good bargain buys by Lucknow Supergiants ========================== While RCB got their opening issues and captaincy sorted with a Rs 7 crore bid for Faf Du Plessis, Lucknow Supergiants claimed Quinton de Kock for Rs 6.75 crore.

Also, a currently out-of-sorts Manish Pandey, for Rs 4.6 crore, wasn't a bad bargain either.

Lucknow, however, bid big for Krunal and clinched him for a cool Rs 8.25 crore. His former Baroda bete noire Deepak Hooda was also taken by Lucknow for Rs 5.75 crore.

It is now up to Lucknow mentor Gautam Gambhir, who knows a thing or two about volatile temperaments, to see that team spirit is not hampered by the warring duo.

Pujara, Rahane, Ishant don't come under hammer, Saha unsold ======================================= Three prominent Test specialists Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma didn't come under the hammer on the day and it is understood that franchises didn't want to spend on players who don't bring value to the table with their T20 game.

They might come back on Sunday at the accelerated bidding process if someone expresses interests. Wriddhiman Saha, who has been told that he won't be picked for Test matches went unsold as teams are looking beyond the soon-to-be 38 year-old Bengal stumper.

Umesh Yadav, for his inconsistent white ball record, also went unsold and one of IPL's bonafide legends Suresh Raina found out that just playing IPL to IPL wouldn't work as Chennai Super Kings didn't bid for him. Ditto for Steve Smith who went unsold as there were no takers.

Also Read : After SRH snub, Warner looks to start afresh at where it all began in IPL

News Source : PTI

2022-02-12 14:50

IPL Auction: KKR get Shreyas Iyer for Rs 12.25 crore, Harshal Patel, Nitish Rana new 'million dollar babies'

(Cricket news) Stylish India international Shreyas Iyer predictably became the highest paid player among the marquee set with Kolkata Knight Riders clinching him for a whopping Rs 12.25 crore after an intense bidding war at the Indian Premier League auction here on Saturday.

India seamer Harshal Patel, who was IPL's top wicket-taker last year, enjoyed a fantastic auction as Royal Challengers Bangalore retained him for Rs 10.75 crore.

Some of the veteran India players like Shikhar Dhawan, bought for Rs 8.25 crore by Punjab Kings, and Mohammed Shami, gone for Rs 6.25 crore to new entrants Gujarat Titans, also enjoyed a good pay day.

Even Ravichandran Ashwin had no reason to complain as he earned a Rs 5 crore deal from Rajasthan Royals.

The young turk who raked in the moolah during the opening session was young left-hander Devdutt Padikkal, who got a Rs 7.75 crore (over USD 1 million) deal with Rajasthan Royals.

Among the foreign players, T20 specialists like West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder (bought for Rs 8.75 crore by Lucknow Supergiants), South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada (bought for Rs 9.25 crore by Pubjab Kings) and hard-hitting Shimron Hetmyer (bought for Rs 8.5 crore by Rajasthan Royals) all breached the million dollar mark among overseas cricketers.

Iyer's entry in the KKR fold ensures a captaincy candidate for them while the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise also got back their Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins for half the price at Rs 7.25 crore.

The KKR also managed to secure the services of another core player -- domestic giant and T20 specialist Nitish Rana -- for Rs 8 crore.

Cummins was bought for over Rs 15 crore last time and no wonder CEO Venky Mysore was very pleased with the outcome this time.

"To get back Pat Cummins at that price, we are very, very delighted. We thought he would go higher," Mysore said.

"We could not be happier getting Cummins and Shreyas in the first round itself. Heart beats a bit more properly now, we can now have some fun looking at what else is going on," the KKR CEO added.

While Cummins is a captaincy candidate, he will not be available during the first two weeks even though Mysore didn't want to commit on captaincy.

"As far as captaincy is concerned, that's a decision our coach and the think-tank will take. Certainly, between Cummins and Shreyas, we have solid options for us. I'm sure the think-tank will make the right decisions," he added.

There was lot of demand for Shikhar Dhawan, who has been a great IPL player of late for Delhi Capitals and even though his old franchise bid well, Punjab Kings got Mayank Agarwal's opening partner for the season.

"If you think Shikhar Dhawan is not a game-changer then you are making a big mistake. He is an outstanding player, we would also have been interested," Mohit Burman, co-owner PBKS, said.

"The way he plays at top of the order... if you see his stats and fitness I think he will keep going and going," he added.

CSK, MI hold their horses during first session ============================ While RCB got their opening issues and captaincy sorted with Faf Du Plessis' Rs 7 crore bid, Lucknow Supergiants had Quinton de Kock for Rs 6.75 crore.

Also, a currently out-of-sorts Manish Pandey for Rs 4.6 crore wasn't bad bargain either.

However, Chennai Super Kings, save for retaining MS Dhoni's trusted lieutenant Dwayne Bravo for Rs 4.40 crore and Robin Uthappa (for Rs 2 crore) didn't make any aggressive bids till Deepak Hooda came into the picture.

But Lucknow once again got the better of them them with a Rs 5.75 crore bid for one of the best performers of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy who is now an India player.

Mumbai Indians haven't yet made any big bids or bought anyone as they are probably waiting to retain Ishan Kishan.

Also read: Our middle-order batting in this series was good, says skipper Rohit

News source: PTI

2022-02-10 13:00

IPL: Here what DC, PBKS and RCB need to do in the auction

(Cricket news) With the IPL mega auction coming up, let us take a look at what Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore need to do in the auction to win their first IPL trophy and break the trophy drought.

1) Delhi Capitals

Retained: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje

The DC management did a wonderful job in the last auction as they purchased a plethora of talent and that is the reason why they have been one of the most consistent sides over the last three years. They go into the IPL mega auction with a purse of 47.5 crores. They have the lowest budget among all the teams and subsequently need to fill out 21 slots out of which seven are overseas slots. The DC camp might just go all in for Shikar Dhawan as he has scored 1726 runs in the last three years scoring 12 fifties and two hundreds in the meantime. If they can buy him back, he can fill a big part of that core given his experience of playing in the IPL. Dhawan can provide the much needed calmness and help Rishabh Pant in his captaincy.

One thing Delhi Capital needs to focus on is to buy an Indian fast bowler as they have plenty of options to pick from. The DC management might just target Prasidh Krishna especially after his wonderful start to his international career, they could also target Avesh Khan after his wonderful IPL season he had last year.

2) Punjab Kings

Retained: Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh

Punjab have retained the least amount of players and will enter the IPL auction with the largest purse amongst any other teams. The PBKS management will have to target a potential captain to lead this side and finally help this team reach the playoffs. The Punjab franchise over the years have been the most inconsistent side and need to have a good auction to stand any chance in making the playoffs. The Kings need to break their bank on David Warner as not only will he provide the much needed runs up to but also lead the side from the front and use his captain winning experience in the squad.

Steve Smith is most likely going to be low on the radar, especially in T20 cricket and this is a golden opportunity for a team like Punjab to get him as he can be a great candidate for the captaincy role. The Kings can also target Lockie Ferguson as the New Zealand fast bowler has express pace that can rattle the batters and has been impressive in the matches he has played for KKR. Punjab should look to get this player into the team and provide that extra injection of pace that this side has lacked over the years.

Also read: IPL: Here's what CSK, KKR and MI need to do in the auction

3) Royal Challengers Bangalore

Retained: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj

RCB is one more franchise that is in need of a captain after Virat Kohli decided to step down. They too might bid heavily for Shreyas Iyer or David Warner as potential candidates but according to rumours the RCB management want to go all out for Jason Holder and there is an outside possibility that the West Indian all rounder might be their new captain. Holder over the years has become the best all rounder in the world and with his captaincy experience he might be a value for money buy. The other area of focus should be getting a fast bowler who can hit the deck with his pace and a player like Pat Cummins might just fit the bill as he not only brings an abundance of experience but since the T20 World Cup he has been in exceptional form as he will look to bring the same form in the ipl

"For Holder, they have reserved ₹12 crore and another ₹8 crore for Rayudu and ₹7 crore for Parag. If they spend ₹27 crore approximately on these players, they would have another ₹28 crore left. The core with Kohli, Maxwell, Siraj, Holder, Rayudu and Parag will be set. Let's hope they can get two out of the preferred three," a source said.

2022-02-09 13:40

IPL: Here's what CSK, KKR and MI need to do in the auction

(Cricket news) With the IPL mega auction in two days we need to take a look at what these five teams need to do in the auction and how they can rectify their mistakes from last season and the previous auctions.

1) Chennai Super Kings

Retained: MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali

Chennai Super Kings have been the most consistent side over the past few years and many experts have often criticised their auction policy of selecting experience over youth but this strategy has paid off a lot as they were crowned champions last year. This year they have gone with the theme of continuity and will most likely go all out for their former players. One area the CSK management will look to invest heavily is finding a top order batsman to open with Ruturaj Gaikwad most preferably a left handed batter. Quinton de Kock, the South African wicket-keeper batter is a great asset at the top of the order and also very good behind the stumps and could be CSK’s ideal replacement for Dhoni in the long run.

The CSK management will try their level best to get the likes of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar back into the team as these two will be the main bid attractions, they not only provide quality bowling but also are very handy with the bat. CSK might think about bringing back Ashwin in the colours of yellow and form a lethal spin duo with Jadeja as over the past year or so he has been in exceptional form.

2) Kolkata Knight Riders

Retained: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer

Last year’s runner up KKR have retained their two West Indies talismans as the management have shown faith in Andre Russell after he had a below average IPL season last year. They have gone in with two rising stars in Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer as they showed last year in the IPL why they are so highly rated by the selectors. The main concern going into the auction for KKR would be finding a suitable captain and most preferably an Indian player leading their side. Shreyas Iyer may well be the perfect candidate, Iyer guided Delhi Capitals to the final of IPL 2020. He is a marquee player, and the KKR might just go for him as a captain candidate. Iyer has scored 2375 IPL runs at 31.66, which includes 16 half-centuries.

Another area that they have to heavily invest in is a good solid opening batsman who can give their side a good start, something that KKR have relied heavily on in the past years. The release of Shubhman Gill was a surprise for the KKR fans, and they can’t have him now since the Ahmedabad franchise got him. Devdutt Padikkal is the perfect candidate to replace Gill as he has just played a couple of seasons and has scored more than 400 runs in both seasons. Padikkal has been in terrific form in the domestic circuit l. He has scored 884 IPL runs at 31.37, with six half-centuries and one century.

3) Mumbai Indians

Retained: Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard

The MI management had to select four players out of the plethora of talent they had in the squad but ultimately they stuck with the four most experienced players. They will try hard to get their players back but it will be a tough task since the other 9 franchises will have one eye on them. According to rumours, Ishan Kishan will be one of the few marquee players that MI will go for as he is not only an explosive batsman but also can keep wickets for his side if needed.

The MI franchise will need to target a spinner, especially if the IPL is hosted in India as they can go for Yuzvendra Chahal in the auction although a lot of teams will eye him but knowing he can be a game changer they might just go all in for him. Another area of concern heading into the auction would be to find an ideal pace partner for Jasprit Bumrah as they can go after either Lungi Ngidi or Kagiso Rabada to form a lethal pace duo which will not only instil havoc in the opponents eyes but also provide them with 8 overs of quality bowling.

Also read: Kohli says he was approached a few times by IPL franchises in past

2022-02-09 07:33

Windies all-roudner Akeal wants to impress in ODI series ahead of IPL auction

Ahmedabad, Feb 8 (Cricket News) Rising Windies all-rounder Akeal Hosein is aware that a significant performance in the ongoing ODI series against India could open the doors for him for the big-ticket IPL.

Trailing 0-1 in the three-match ODI series here, the Kieron Pollard-led side is faced with a must-win situation in the second rubber here on Wednesday as the left-arm spin all-rounder wants to make all the difference in the slow conditions on offer.

"Yes, we know, the IPL is the best league around. But I'm not really focused on that (IPL). The task at hand right now is these two games. They are very important for me, because it will determine the series," the 28-year-old said in a virtual media interaction on the eve of the second ODI.

"Having said that, I think once I do the right things and perform well for my team, the doors will open. For me, it's all about these two games and winning this ODI series." I see myself as a complete all-rounder ======================== A slow-left arm spinner and a dasher down the order, Akeal declared himself as a 50-50 all-rounder, who is hugely influenced by his fellow Trinidadians Pollard and Sunil Narine.

"I think I'm a 50-50 perfect proper batter, proper bowler. Having said that, over the last couple of years, I've played CPL, different formats and what not. Then you find yourself you might flex down the order if given an opportunity to bat.

"I definitely see myself as a total all-rounder and it's just about working my way up the ladder. Hopefully people can see that I am a genuine allrounder," he said.

Akeal, who was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders net bowling squad in the second phase of the IPL in UAE last year, said his fellow Trinidadian Sunil Narine played a big role during the stint.

"For me, having the opportunity to spend more time with him in KKR setup helped me a lot because the World Cup was played in Dubai as well," Akeal said.

How Narine helped Akeal during the T20 World Cup ================================ Akeal remembered he was feeling "terrible" at the nets on the eve of their T20 World Cup match and it was the two-time IPL winning KKR all-rounder who helped him.

"It was actually the day before the game, so it was a bit worrying. But Sunil said 'don't be surprised. That's how it goes. Some days you'll feel terrible in the nets, and then the next day you will see the ball coming out of your hand perfectly in the match.' "His advice was spot on. I didn't take it (the feeling) on too much and surprisingly in the match the ball came out beautifully," Akeal, who was their best wicket-taker with five to his kitty in the T20 World Cup, said.

"I was able to get a feel of the pitches and worked closely alongside, always giving me advice and information and little cues, the type deliveries, trajectory. Immediately after the IPL, we had the World Cup and I thought I didn't do too bad there." "Sunil is not only a friend to me but a big brother. He's very quiet but very open at the same time. He would share almost everything with all his tricks and ideas." "And if he thinks it's a trick that can't work and doesn't work for him, he will definitely shared with me as well.

Terming the duo of Pollard and Narine as his 'big brothers', he said: "It's always a blessing to have these guys around. They're more than friends. I consider them big brothers and they always look out for you in any way possible. I'm very thankful." "These guys are always around. We play with the same club back home -- Queen's Park. So it's where our relationship grew from. No matter where you are, these guys are just a phone call away." West Indies put up an ordinary show and collapsed against the spin force of Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar to be bowled out for a paltry 176 as India secured a six-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.

"Yes, we've lost the match and it's a short series -- three matches. Although we lost, there were still positives. It's just about how we plan to bounce back and come back strong.

"The message is to stay positive and get ourselves in proper positions to play strong scoring shots. That's definitely something we're going to stick with, no matter the surface and condition. Once we do those things we'll be able to get through," he concluded.

Also Read : PCB appoints Wasim Bari as wicket-keeping consultant of high performance centre in Karachi

News Source : PTI

2022-02-08 14:32

Was asked to quit cricket and drive auto after 2019 IPL: Mohammed Siraj

New Delhi, Feb 8 (Cricket News) India pacer Mohammed Siraj says he was asked to "quit cricket and drive auto" with his father after a poor 2019 IPL season, making him think that his career in the league was over before MS Dhoni's counsel came to his rescue.

Siraj's seven wickets in nine matches with an economy rate of nearly 10 reflected his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore's disastrous outing that season as they lost six straight games at the start and finished at the bottom.

His worst performance came against Kolkata Knight Riders when he was hit for five sixes and 36 runs in 2.2 overs, which included two beamers, forcing captain Virat Kohli to take him off bowling.

"When I bowled those two beamers against KKR, people said 'quit cricket and go back and drive autos with your father'," Siraj told The RCB Podcast.

"There were so many such comments. And people don't see the struggle behind all this. But I remember when I first got selected how Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) told me to not listen to everything the people have to say about me.

"'You do well today and they'll praise you and when you don't the same people will abuse you. So don't ever take it seriously.' And yes, the same people who trolled me incessantly back then say 'you're the best bowler bhai'. So, I know. I don't want anybody's opinion. I'm the same Siraj I was back then." The 27-year-old has since come a long way and is one of the three players retained by the franchise that is still eying its first ever title in the lucrative league.

Riding on his impressive showing in the 2020 IPL season, Siraj made his India debut during the team's tour of Australia, where he cemented his place with a magnificent five-wicket haul in the triumphant Gabba Test.

However, he had faced a personal tragedy during the same tour when Siraj lost his father. With travel restrictions in place owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Siraj couldn't see his father before taking off for the tour of Down Under as he flew with the team directly to Australia after the conclusion of the IPL in the UAE.

"Dad wasn't keeping well in 2020. So whenever I used to speak to him, we were always crying on the call. So I didn't talk a lot with him because he'd keep crying and it made me feel very helpless," Siraj revealed.

"When the IPL got over, nobody told me dad was so seriously ill. Whenever I called or asked, they'd say he's sleeping or he's resting, so I'd tell them okay don't disturb him. It was only when I reached Australia that I got to know that dad was in such a critical condition.

"I fought with my entire family ... 'why didn't you tell me sooner'. They'd say we didn't want it to affect your career or your concentration and it made me angry. I told them if you would've told me earlier I would have at least met him before leaving for Australia.

"When he finally spoke to me, all he asked of me was to focus on playing for the country, fulfilling my dream and making the country proud. That's all I remembered and that's the only reason I stayed back...

"I thought of leaving the day he passed, but his words were the only thing that kept me back in Australia." His father struggled a lot to ensure Siraj gets to play cricket and pursue his dream of playing for India.

"My dad used to save the cut-outs from newspapers if my photo got published after a good performance and standing there (on Test debut) singing the national anthem I couldn't stop thinking how proud he would have been and how proud he would have been of me seeing him in India jersey, playing for the country.

"His words kept ringing in my ears even as I sang the national anthem."

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News Source : PTI

2022-02-03 10:06

Skipper Dhull follows Kohli's footsteps to score Cup ton as India U-19 pile up mammoth 290/5 vs Australia

Osbourn, Feb 2 (Cricket News) Skipper Yash Dhull gave a glimpse of his enormous talent with a superbly-crafted hundred while deputy Shaik Rasheed ideally complemented him with 94 as India scored a mammoth 290 for 5 against Australia in the second semi-final of the ICC U-19 World Cup here on Wednesday.

Dhull (110 off 110) was able to a complete a fine century but Rasheed (94 off 108) fell short of the mark by 6 runs as they added 204 runs for third wicket to pile up a score that might well be beyond Australia's reach.

He also became third Indian captain to hit a hundred in the tournament history after illustrious Virat Kohli and the prodigious Unmukt Chand, also hailing from Delhi.

India opted to put runs on the board after wining the toss, knowing it wasn't the easiest of pitches to bat on.

Australian pacers bowled well in the opening powerplay and the fact that Indian openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi (6 off 30) and Harnoor Singh (16 off 30) were also overtly defensive, helped them build pressure.

William Salzmann rocked Raghuvanshi's off-stump with a beauty that straightened after pitching.

Harnoor, who has not met the high expectations he set for himself, tried to pull a rising ball on leg stump from Tobia Snell only to glove it back to the wicketkeeper, leaving India at 37 for two in the 13th over.

India's two best batters, Dhull and Rasheed, then got together to lift the team out of a spot of bother. Playing only their third game of the tournament after missing two due to COVID, Rasheed and Dhull showed maturity beyond their age to build the innings.

Dhull got a lot of runs square and behind the square with deft late-cuts off spinners being one of his pet shots.

Rasheed, whose first boundary was an aerial straight drive, ended up eight fours and a six.

The straight six he hit late in his innings off Jack Nisbet took him into the 90s. His punch shot through the cover off Salzmann was the most attractive shot he played.

The highly rated Dhull played another sublime knock. The pitch was on the slower side but he rotated the strike at ease before accelerating to pick boundaries at will, collecting 10 fours and a six in total.

He got to three figures with a two in the 45th over and next ball was a pull shot off Tom Whitney for the second six of the innings.

After Dhull's departure, Rasheed could not get to a deserving hundred after being caught at backward point off Nisbet.

Australia were sloppy in the field through the innings. Rasheed was dropped on 24 and missed an easy run out chance of Dhull who was batting on 74.

With two set batters gone in quick succession, the flow of the innings was slightly disrupted before Nishant Sindhu (12 not out off 10), Dinesh Bana (20 not out off 4 balls) and Rajvardhan Hangagekar (13 off 10) came up with the big shots in the death overs.

The last over from pacer Tom Whitney yielded as many as 27 runs including three sixes and two fours.

Also Read : Need players who can adapt to all conditions: KKR bowling coach Arun

News Source : PTI

2022-02-03 09:56

Need players who can adapt to all conditions: KKR bowling coach Arun

Kolkata, Feb 2 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders newly appointed bowling coach Bharat Arun said that the franchise would look to pick players who can adapt to all conditions during the upcoming IPL mega auction.

As things stand now, the venue of the tournament slated to be held in the last week of March is yet to be decided and with 10 days left for the auction the KKR think tank are busy preparing their strategy.

"You need to pick players who can adapt to different conditions. Even before the pandemic, when you picked bowlers for home conditions, you still needed them to play seven away games in the IPL," former India bowling coach Arun told kkr.in.

Arun said having seen most of the international players his experience would come in handy.

"Having watched most of the top players around the world up close, you have a fair idea as to what they can do. And it helps you to prepare and take your calls better, and also plan more effectively during the matches," he said.

The two-time former champions, who finished runners-up in the last edition, have retained the West Indies all-rounders Andre Russell (Rs 12 crore) and Sunil Narine (Rs 6 crore) along with Indian duo of Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 8 crore) and Varun Chakravarthy (Rs 8 crore).

KKR are now left with a purse of Rs 48 crores for the mega auction which will see 590 players go under hammer in the two-day auction in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

He further said they may see a shift in the IPL auction with so many premium fast bowlers out there for grabs.

"I sincerely think so, because even though a lot of people think cricket is inclined towards the batsman, I would look at it differently.

"I would say that therein lies an opportunity for me as a bowler to excel. Yes, there are limitations for bowlers. But again, they know that if they execute and if they can build a little more guile around their bowling, they have a chance to be a hero," he added.

Arun, who was credited for transforming the Indian fast bowling unit that's feared all around the world, said they would need bowlers who can excel in all conditions.

"It has been a privilege to be a part of the Indian team before this. In a way, I was blessed to have had a group of bowlers who are so multi-talented.

"It was a conscious effort, I think, with Virat (Kohli) and Ravi (Shastri) to be the Number 1 team in the world. And to be so, it was important that we win under all conditions. Preparing this bunch of fast bowlers was our biggest challenge and the way they responded... The rest is history." "With the Indian side, our goal was always to be Number 1 in any conditions. To be able to achieve that objective, I think the biggest challenge was to have bowlers who could excel and who could get to 20 wickets in all conditions. We did exactly that, and that's why we were successful."

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News Source : PTI

2022-01-27 18:14

Tough road awaits Kuldeep, Harbhajan wants Team India to 'stick by' him

New Delhi, Jan 27 (Cricket News) When Kuldeep Yadav had gone for a skier during a Kolkata Knight Riders practice session in the UAE last September, little did he know that within seconds his world would come crashing down with a twisted knee.

Those present at the Dubai training facility were horrified seeing his condition as he lay there writhing in pain, waiting to be stretchered out.

In a week's time, he underwent a major knee surgery in Mumbai, which cast doubts on how long it would take for him to get fit for competitive cricket.

He visited Mathura with his family on Thursday to offer prayers on his comeback, for Kuldeep really needed some divine intervention to make his way back into the Indian team.

Otherwise, all that he could have done was to wait at home to hear from the BCCI if it would hold the now-postponed Ranji Trophy, where he was supposed to lead Uttar Pradesh.

"It will be a very tough road ahead for Kuldeep. He hasn't had any proper domestic games under his belt and it's not easy to make an international comeback just like that," one of India's greatest spinners, Harbhajan Singh, told PTI when asked about his expectations.

"He wasn't playing regularly before surgery and when you are making a comeback in white ball, the first thing that's at the back of your mind is 'I don't want to get hit'.

"So it's like striking a balance as you are naturally dealing with a lot of insecurities. It's a test of mental fortitude," said Harbhajan, who saw Kuldeep from close quarters at KKR nets.

But Kuldeep has the skills and the 'Turbanator' expects that he can get a few early wickets and make it a different ball-game.

"Let me make it clear. If he gets a couple of early wickets, he will be a different bowler but things may not go as per plan. It might take some time for him to get back the rhythm.

"My only suggestion would be that stick with him since you have shown conviction based on his past performances and give him enough time and confidence. He is a man who can deliver the goods for India," said the holder of 700-plus international wickets.

The national selectors made an exception for him as he is one of the rare cricketers who is coming back without having to prove his match-fitness as there is no domestic cricket at the moment.

The rub of green finally seems to be going Kuldeep's way after enduring rough times as his exclusion from the playing XI wasn't always a cricketing one during the earlier regime of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri.

Call it India's bare spin cupboard and injuries or poor form of some elite spinners, the fact is that the 27-year-old Kanpur man is back in the national mix after an eventful near three years.

During this period, he was first called, "India's No. 1 overseas spinner" by Shastri after a five-wicket haul in Sydney, only to not play a single Test in the next two years.

It didn't help that some unwanted individuals were spreading canards about him to people close to the team management and no one knows if that had an adverse effect on his chances.

Childhood coach Pandey knows his "boy" is tough =============================== Kuldeep's childhood coach Kapil Pandey is a former first-class cricketer from Services and has nurtured him since he was only nine years old when he came at his camp at the Rovers ground in Kanpur.

"My boy (Kuldeep) is mentally very tough. He hasn't lost an iota of skill. Yes, the more he bowls, the better he will get. Rhythm is nothing but attaining a perfect execution level based on repetition of skills to create the muscle memory bank," Pandey, who has worked with Kuldeep after he resumed his skills training said.

So how was it after he came back from his initial rehab phase at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru? "We followed the routine provided by the NCA. Initially, he was told to start bowling two to three overs per day to just get the feel. That was at NCA and then when he came at the academy to train, he was bowling around five to six overs as per advice of NCA physio and Strength & Conditioning coach, the doctors.

"Obviously at the start, he would be slightly wary about the state of his knee while landing but with time, it became perfectly okay," Pandey, a former Indian Navy man said.

"Bowling between 15 to 20 overs a day" ======================== The coach said that it will be wrong to presume that Kuldeep hasn't bowled a lot as he arranged for red-ball practice games at the STI ground where he bowled to the U-19 and U-23 state level players.

"Since Kuldeep was supposed to lead in Ranji Trophy, we were practising with red ball and he played three to four red ball practice games and looked very comfortable. He would either play a mach or train a lot coming to the ground at 9:30 am and leave only after 5:30 pm," Pandey said.

So how many overs was he bowling every day? Pandey said that in the three practice games, he had bowled between 15 to 20 overs a day.

"I think it is a decent amount of overs. He would bowl in three spells of seven to eight in the first one followed by two six or seven over spells. He was releasing the ball well. He was giving it air and also getting a lot of drift and got it to turn both ways," Pandey said.

In fact, during the skills session, Pandey got Kuldeep to bowl to more left-handers as southpaws like David Warner and Usman Khawaja had played him well.

"He was practising taking the ball away from left-handers (conventional left-arm leg-break or 'chinaman') rather than bowling googlies (stock delivery for slow left-arm orthodox)." "His skill-set is intact" ============= Pandey believes that it's all in the mind as far as comebacks are concerned.

"Skill is an essential part and I don't agree with anyone who believed that Kuldeep had lost his mojo. Yes, rhythm was an issue but his skills remained intact. When you make a comeback after three or four months, it's all in the brain.

"If your head says, that everything is fine, you will get into the rhythm quicker," Pandey seemed confident.

"Don't forget he has 100- plus ODI wickets and two hat-tricks. I can visualise that my boy will get another hat-trick," Pandey signed off.

Also Read : Justin Langer inducted into Australian cricket Hall of Fame, Raelee Thompson too honoured

News Source : PTI

2022-01-24 11:54

Balance of ODI side an issue, accepts head coach Dravid, rues missing likes of Hardik and Jadeja

Cape Town, Jan 24 (Cricket News) India's head coach Rahul Dravid had no hesitation in admitting that the ODI squad lacked balance with the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja unavailable to execute their all-round skills at numbers six and seven respectively.

India lost the three-match ODI series 0-3 and Dravid answered a range of questions covering the poor show in middle-overs both in batting and bowling, KL Rahul's nascent captaincy career and how Venkatesh Iyer is not being thought of as a top-order batter.

"Yeah, we understand the template. Obviously, a large part of the template is also dependant on the balance of your squad," Dravid replied when asked if the Indian team needs to revisit its template in 50-over cricket.

"I think if you are a little bit honest, some of the guys who help us balance the the squad out and give us those all-round options at Nos 6, 7 and 8 are probably not here, and available for selection," Dravid said, clearly talking about the absence of Pandya, who is trying to get his bowling fitness back and Jadeja, who is recuperating from a knee injury.

"Hopefully, when they (Hardik and Jadeja) come back, it will give us lot more depth, it allows us then to probably play in a slightly different style," Dravid made it clear as to what he missed in the series.

KL did a decent job but captaincy is about execution of skills by your players =============================================== Dravid's assessment of his namesake's leadership skills was pretty lavish as he wanted people to factor in that he could only do as much with the kind of squad he had at his disposal.

"I thought he did a good job. Not easy to be on wrong side of the result. He is just starting out as captain," he said.

".....and he will learn and a large part of captaincy is execution of skills by your players and quality of side you have got. We were a little bit short on the ODI side of things and I thought he did a very decent job, someone who is growing and will constantly be improving and get better as a captain." Better batting required in middle-overs ========================= There was no denying that India's batting lacked momentum in all three games especially between overs 20 to 40.

"We certainly could do better with batting in middle overs," Dravid said.

"But having said that, even South Africa who batted first on two occasions scored 290 as well and if I think back and look at the 30th over in both those games, we should have chased them down.

"We didn't because we played some poor shots and we didn't play some smart cricket at critical situations," he said without naming anyone.

People will get security but we will also demand performances ======================================= Dravid isn't someone who believes in taking names but when he spoke about demanding performances in lieu of security and extended run given to some middle-order batters, he obviously meant Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant.

"We certainly want to give them that consistency and we want to give them that security," he said in a reassuring tone.

But then came the actual rider.

"...and once you give them that consistency and security, you also got to demand performances, really big performances and that is an expectation you have when you play at this level, when you play for your country, you have to put in big performances and that's a requirement. But idea is to give as much stability as you can." He also reminded that people like Shreyas need to put their hand up and perform considering that their is so much competition for slots.

"Whether you bat 4, 5 or 6, you have got to know what the team's requirements are. Shreyas has gone in pretty early in all three games and he has had enough time (out there in the middle).

"We know guys have done well and we would like to back them as much as possible. Sometimes they would have good tours and sometimes, it won't be possible, that's just the way it is.

"Obviously, there tends to be a lot of competition, people pushing for places and its not easy in that kind of a situation," he said.

Trying to develop Venkatesh but eye is still on Hardik return ===================================== Dravid was clear about one thing and that's Vekatesh Iyer will have to fit himself in the middle-order if he wants to play white ball cricket for India.

Venkatesh, who made a stunning entry into national side on the basis of half an IPL and that too opening the innings for KKR, the Indian top-order is all but set, indicated head coach.

"Idea is to develop people like Venkatesh Iyer as sixth bowling option. Whether its Venkatesh or whether its Hardik when he potentially comes back and we have got option of someone like a Jadeja, who can potentially bat at No 6 in certain times when he is back, that will give us a lot more options," Dravid hinted.

He made it clear that Venkatesh has been communicated his role in the team.

"It can happen if you are sixth bowler in a team, you are not required to bowl. We have been clear with him that in our team with number of options we have, he has batted at the top of the order for KKR, in our team we are looking at No 6, someone who can be that sixth bowling option.

"...and that was the kind of role we had for him over here, we have quite a few options at the top of the order and when someone like Rohit comes back, there aren't too many spots open in 1, 2 or 3." We will know core but can't set time-frame ========================== For Dravid, the South Africa tour is an "eye-opener" but he believes that the more ODIs that they play in the run-up to the 2023 Worl

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