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First week of IPL17: Record-breaking show at Hyderabad and same old story for MI

Records galore at Hyderabad The Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians (MI) clash in Hyderabad saw several records being broken with the home team smashing IPL’s best 277-3 in the allotted 20 overs, to surpass the previous innings highest by Royal Challengers Bangalore (263-5 v Pune Warriors India in 2013). The match also witnessed 36 sixes, the most in an IPL with an aggregate of 523 runs, also the tournament’s record. The game also saw four batsmen (SRH’s Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen and Tilak Varma of Mumbai Indians scoring half-centuries in less than 25 balls, the first in a cash-rich league.    Same old story for Mumbai Indians A change in captain couldn’t change the fortunes of MI as the five-time IPL champions got off to a disappointing start yet again for the 12th consecutive time in the tournament. Newly-appointed skipper Hardik Pandya called correctly at the toss and asked Gujarat Titans (GT) to bat. The hosts were restricted to 168-6 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to 3-14 off four overs by pacer Jasprit Bumrah. In reply, former skipper and opener Rohit Sharma provided MI with a solid start. The visitors, however, lost the game by six runs after being firmly placed at 107-2 in 12 overs, with 56 required off 48 balls. Captain Hardik Pandya (right) and Rohit Sharma during Mumbai Indians's opening encounter against Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad last Sunday. PIC/AFP Home teams dominate The first week of IPL-17 saw home teams dominate handsomely. Overall in nine matches in the week, to everyone’s surprise, the hosts won all nine. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were the only two teams to play both their matches at home, while Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, who have played all away matches, are yet to register victories. Rajasthan Royals players celebrate their win over Delhi Capitals at Jaipur on Thursday. PIC/AFP Champs CSK stay on top CSK started from where they ended last year. The defending champions beat Royals Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in the season’s opening encounter. The newly-appointed skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side continued to dominate at home as they went on to defeat last year’s runner-up GT by a massive 63-run margin. Chennai Super Kings's players celebrate their win over Gujarat Titans on Tuesday. PIC/PTI Fans await MSD’s batting magic  Mahendra Singh Dhoni handing over CSK captaincy to Gaikwad has speculated that this could be the wicketkeeper-batsman’s last IPL. Hence, Dhoni’s fans are eagerly waiting to see him score big with the bat. However, to much of their disappointment, the fans were kept waiting to see him bat in the first two matches with the former India skipper dropping to No. 8. Mahendra Singh Dhoni. PIC/PTI

29 March,2024 11:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan Koli
Travis Head in action. Pic/AFP

Mid-Day Premium Travis Head's batting onslaught: A spectacle to behold!

In the annals of cricketing lore, there exists a narrative that transcends the boundaries of mere sport and ascends to the realm of epic saga. It’s a tale of relentless pursuit, unwavering determination, and unparalleled mastery etched upon the verdant canvas of cricketing arenas worldwide. At the heart of this saga stands a colossus, a modern-day titan whose exploits have rewritten the script of cricketing brilliance – Travis Head. To witness the Aussie unleash carnage on the cricket field is to behold a spectacle of raw power, exquisite finesse, and unyielding resolve converging in a symphony of sporting greatness. With the willow as his sceptre, Head commands the crease with regal authority, each stroke an ode to his indomitable spirit and insatiable hunger for success.  If the Motera showdown last November was not enough, the 30-year-old brought back nightmare for Indians with a 24-ball 62 to lead the batting carnage on Wednesday after Hyderabad batted first and went past the previous IPL best of 263-5 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013.  "The wicket was good but, no matter how good or bad you bowl, if the opposition gets 277 that means they batted very well," Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya said at the post-match press conference. The bowlers were good. It was tough out there. Close to 500 runs were scored so the wicket was helping the batters." With an impeccable blend of technique and temperament, he manoeuvres the cricket ball with surgical precision, dissecting bowling attacks with a surgeon's precision and inflicting carnage upon hapless opponents. The genesis of Head's cricketing prowess lies in the crucible of adversity, where trials and tribulations forged a steely resolve that would come to define his meteoric rise. It is on the hallowed turf of the cricket field that Head finds his true calling, his bat an extension of his being, each stroke a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence.  Whether caressing the ball through the covers with the finesse of a maestro or unleashing a ferocious onslaught of boundaries with the fury of a tempest, Head's batting transcends the ordinary and ascends to the sublime. But his greatness extends beyond mere statistics and accolades, it is rooted in his insatiable hunger for success and his relentless pursuit of perfection. With each innings, he pushes the boundaries of human potential, challenging the limits of what is possible and inspiring a generation of aspiring cricketers to dream big and aim high. In the cauldron of competition, Head emerges as a paragon of mental fortitude, his unwavering focus and unyielding determination serving as a beacon of inspiration for his teammates and fans alike. In the face of adversity, he remains resolute, his steely resolve undiminished, his spirit unbroken. "Head is one of my favourite batters, I really admire his batting. Had a great time with him," said Abhishek Sharma, who, inspired by the Aussie, smashed the fastest fifty in IPL’s history for SRH. In the crucible of competition, Head's leadership shines brightest, his tactical acumen and strategic brilliance guiding his team to victory against the toughest of adversaries. In an era defined by fleeting fame and transient glory, he stands as a beacon of hope, a symbol of perseverance, and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. To witness him unleash carnage on the cricket field is to bear witness to a spectacle of sporting greatness unmatched in the annals of cricketing history. With his bat as his sword and his spirit as his shield, Head conquers the cricketing arena with a ferocity and determination that leaves spectators in awe and opponents in fear. In the grand tapestry of cricketing lore, his legacy shines bright as a testament to the triumph of talent, resilience, and indomitable spirit.

29 March,2024 11:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee Majumdar
Representational Image. Pic Courtesy/iStock

Modern CA summer camp in Thane

Modern Cricket Academy will conduct their summer camp at Varsha Vandana ground, Panchpakhadi, Thane West, for boys and girls in the age group of 10-22 from April 2 to May 20. Former Mumbai Ranji coach Sulakshan Kulkarni will be a guest coach. For more details, contact Ankit Tiwari on 7972506118. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary

29 March,2024 07:07 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Hanuma Vihari

ACA serves showcause notice to ex-skipper Hanuma Vihari

The Andhra Cricket Association has served a showcause notice to Hanuma Vihari a month after the India batter accused the governing body of unceremoniously removing him from captaincy and vowed not to play for the state again. However, Vihari is yet to respond to the notice which was served after the ACA Apex Council meeting a few days ago. “Yes, we have served him a showcause notice and we are awaiting his reply,” an ACA official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. However, the official said the association did not want to prolong the issue. “This is just to find what made him react the way he did last month. He has not reached out to us, so this is a chance for him to come out with his grievances. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary “After all, we value Vihari and his contributions to the growth of state cricket as he has played a big part in Andhra going up in the ranks in domestic cricket,” he added. The train of unsavoury incidents began soon after Andhra lost to Madhya Pradesh in this year’s Ranji Trophy quarter-final. The 30-year-old right-handed batter took to social media to accuse the ACA of stripping him of captaincy right after Andhra’s first match of the season against Bengal. However, at that time, Vihari attributed the decision to “personal reasons.” But in his Instagram post, Vihari said the ACA acted under pressure from a local politician after his son, a 17th player during that match, complained that the middle-order batter shouted swear words at him. “I have decided that I will never play for Andhra where I lost my self-respect,” Vihari wrote in his emotional outburst. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

29 March,2024 07:03 AM IST | Bangalore | PTI
Chandrakant Pandit and David Wiese

Russell backs head coach Pandit after Wiese’s ‘militant’ claim

Senior all-rounder Andre Russell on Thursday supported Kolkata Knight Riders’s head coach Chandrakant Pandit, whose coaching style was termed “militant” by former KKR all-rounder David Wiese. Jamaica’s Russell, an integral part of KKR’s core group, sounded different. “We’ve been working with him from last year. I think when you’re working with a coach for the first time, you have to make sure that you adjust to their philosophy. There have to be rules. We are professionals. So, we don’t complain,” said Russell at the pre-match press meet here. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary “I try to do the best for this franchise. He’s been doing an amazing job, and we’ve gotten coming back as well,” he added. Pandit had taken over as KKR coach ahead of IPL 2022. “He [Pandit] is known in India as a very militant type of coach. He is very strict, very disciplinarian that type of stuff. Sometimes in franchise cricket, when you have overseas guys, who’ve played all over the world, they don’t need anyone coming and telling them how they need to behave, what they need to wear and what they need to do the whole time. So, that was tough,” said Wiese on the podcast Hitman for Hire. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

29 March,2024 07:02 AM IST | Bangalore | PTI
RCB skipper Faf du Plessis trains ahead of their match against KKR in Bangalore on Wednesday. Pic/Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Fight night in Bangalore!

After a decade and a half of being about Virat Kohli and an assortment of international batsmen ranging from Chris Gayle to AB de Villiers and Shane Watson to Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis, Royal Challengers Bengaluru might finally be breaking the mould. The first two matches of IPL 2024 have seen a couple of young guns come to the fore. Anuj Rawat, the 24-year-old left-hander, announced himself in the tournament opener against Chennai Super Kings last Friday, even if his 25-ball 48 during a sixth-wicket stand of 95 with Dinesh Karthik went in vain.  Impactful Lomror Three nights later, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the first of three consecutive home games for RCB, another 24-year-old left-hander, Mahipal Lomror, took the Impact Player tag to heart. Lomror made only 17 not out, but they spanned a mere eight deliveries and were as integral to RCB’s victory over PBKS as Karthik’s 28 not out (10b) during the course of a game-sealing 18-ball stand of 48. Armed with the confidence that there is more to their batting than just the top-order, RCB will approach Saturday night’s fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders believing a second win on the bounce isn’t beyond them. KKR are coming off a terrific home win against Sunrisers Hyderabad after braving a sensational late onslaught by Heinrich Klaasen and while they enjoy an excellent record at the Chinnaswamy, they won’t take RCB for granted, as ace all-rounder Andre Russell acknowledged on Thursday. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary Russell, who had a middling 2023 season, unleashed a ferocious unbeaten 64 the other night and, armed with a slightly tweaked technique and a massively altered mindset, looms as just one of several dangerous protagonists in the KKR ranks. Late replacement Phil Salt was the only one in the top five to reach double digits, so skipper Shreyas Iyer and the rest will look for game time and to hit their straps early in the season if KKR are to reprise their glory days of 2012 and 2014. One-time RCB lad Mitchell Starc, the most expensive buy in IPL history at R24.75 crore, will look to make amends after leaking 53 in his four overs against Sunrisers. His ability to swing the ball into the right-handers is his biggest asset and if he can do that with any consistency on the morrow, he will pose innumerable problems to RCB’s right-heavy top order. Kohli on song Kohli warmed up for the challenges ahead with a fluent 77 on Friday against Punjab Kings, after which he proclaimed that he’s ‘still got it’. He will, however, expect greater support from du Plessis and Maxwell, who between them have made just 45 runs in four innings. Maxwell has contributed a mere three of those, but he is capable of pressing the reset button at the drop of a hat, which is precisely what a partisan RCB crowd will be hoping for.

29 March,2024 07:01 AM IST | Bangalore | R Kaushik
Jasprit Bumrah

Smith, Pathan slam Pandya for not using Bumrah first up

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya’s decision not to give Jasprit Bumrah (0-36) more than one over until the 13th over of the Sunrisers Hyderabad innings on Wednesday night came in for criticism from all corners as the hosts blazed to 277-3, the highest total in the history of IPL. After bowling one over in the Powerplay, Bumrah was introduced in the attack again only in the 13th over. By this point, the Sunrisers had amassed a formidable 173-3, putting them in a strong position to accelerate their scoring. Australian batsman Steve Smith said he was perplexed with MI’s bowling changes. “I was perplexed with some of their bowling changes in the first innings for Mumbai. Bumrah bowled in the fourth over, he went for five and then we didn’t see him again till the 13th over when they were on 173. All the damage had been done, you needed your best bowler to be coming back and take some wickets in that period and I think they missed a trick there, bringing him back only in the 13th over,” said Smith. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also didn’t hold back in criticising Pandya’s captaincy. “The captaincy of Pandya has been ordinary to say the least. Keeping Bumrah away for too long when the carnage was on, was beyond my understanding,” Pathan wrote on X. He went on to slam Hardik’s batting. “If the whole team is playing with the strike of 200, captain can’t bat with the batting strike rate of 120.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

29 March,2024 07:01 AM IST | Hyderabad | IANS
Pat Cummins

That was insane: SRH skipper Cummins

“Insane” was the only word that Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins could think of to sum up the six-hitting slugfest against Mumbai Indians here on Wednesday. It was a game of many firsts as SRH smashed 277 for three, the highest total in IPL history. Mumbai Indians kept themselves in the game before ending at 246 for five. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary For the first time, 500 runs were scored in a game, including a record 38 sixes. “That was insane. The ball was really pinging around. Not until we bowled, it got a bit too close for comfort. They found a boundary whenever they needed it, but we finished it off well,” said Cummins at the post-match presentation. It was a batting beauty, but Cummins did not envisage such a big total. “You never play for 270, but we wanted to be positive and be aggressive, take the game on. It was a good wicket, so we have to suck it up knowing we would go for a few boundaries.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

29 March,2024 07:00 AM IST | Hyderabad | PTI
Captain Hardik Pandya during MI’s match against SRH in Hyderabad on Wednesday. He conceded 46 off four overs. Pics/AFP

‘We couldn’t do anything about it’: Tim David

It was a night to cherish for cricket fans. A record number of runs were scored (523) while two emerging southpaws—Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma—stole the limelight with their willow work at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Wednesday. Local boy Varma of Mumbai Indians (MI) is already hailed as the next big thing on the cricketing horizon, while Punjab-bred Abhishek of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) continued his explosive Syed Mushtaq Ali Ali T20 tournament form to make his case in emphatic fashion. Abhishek’s big-hitting skills were a revelation, coupled with his calibre, consistency and commitment. ‘A special innings’ Tim David described teammate Varma’s 34-ball 64 as special. “Tilak batted beautifully and hit the ball cleanly. That was close to the best Tilak has got. We saw a special innings,” said the Australian T20 specialist batter. Tim David; (right) SRH’s Abhishek Sharma during his  23-ball 63 on Wednesday With as many as 18 sixes being hit in SRH’s record total of 277-3, David admitted that Travis Head (24-ball 62), Abhishek (23-ball 63) and Heinrich Klaasen (34-ball 80 not out) played some amazing shots. The trio blasted 17 sixes in all. “Sixes were flying and hit the advertising boards; three over my head. That is hard to a bowler who has to come back and bowl and try taking the momentum away from the batter. They put the pressure on our bowlers. We couldn’t do anything about it,” David admitted. Also Read: Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai, says Manoj Tiwary Asked why the team’s most experienced bowler Jasprit Bumrah was not given the new ball, David pointed to planning. “I think whenever Boom [Bumrah] is going to bowl, he is going to make a massive impact. There is a lot of faith where he wants to bowl,” he said, hinting that Bumrah might take the new ball from the next match after the MI bowlers were thrashed by SRH’s batsmen. “But I am not the one who makes the decision,” he stressed. Even though MI lost by 31 runs in a record high-scoring chase, David felt it was very entertaining in an amazing match: “Although we did not successfully chase the runs, it was a great batting performance from our side too.” ‘SRH were able to take the pace off’ David felt the pitch was a pretty true surface. “There was a lot of seam movement and a bit of spin. We saw in the end, SRH taking the pace off and that is the hardest thing to hit. I think they [SRH] did what we did not,” he remarked. Player of the match Abhishek said he did not realise this was the fastest 50 (off 16 balls) for SRH. Indeed, the 23-year-old has grown in stature. The left-hander had hit 112 off 51 balls in Punjab’s record 275-6 against Andhra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. His other scores were a 38-ball 82 against Railways, 26-ball 53 v Manipur and a 56-ball 112 against Gujarat. SRH skipper Pat Cummins was very pleased with Abhishek’s brilliant show. “In the IPL, you play with a lot of pressure, but he plays with great freedom,” said the skipper. The promising batter, meanwhile, revealed that new captain Cummins and coach Daniel Vettori have allowed him to go out and express himself. “The positivity and energy that they brought to the team is very good,” said Abhishek.

29 March,2024 07:00 AM IST | Hyderabad | N Jagannath Das
Rajasthan Royals celebrating during the match (Pic: AFP)

IPL 2024, RR vs DC: Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs

Riyan Parag smashed a 45-ball 84 not out as Rajasthan Royals defeated Delhi Capitals by 12 runs in their IPL match here on Thursday. Sent in to bat, Parag hit seven fours and six sixes on way to his highest IPL score as RR recovered from 36 for 3 in the eighth over to post a challenging 185 for 5. Also Read: HI congratulates Sreejesh on being appointed co-chair of FIH Athletes Committee In reply, opener David Warner made a 34-ball 49 but DC crumbled under pressure with the bowlers producing a clinical display. Tristan Stubbs (44 not out) tried his bit but it was too little too late. Nandre Burger (2/29) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/19) picked up two wickets each. Avesh Khan (1/29) also did well. Earlier, Parag added 54 with Ravichandran Ashwin, who smashed three sixes on way to a 19-ball 29. Parag also shared 52 runs with Dhruv Jurel (20) and another 43 with Shimron Hetmyer (14 not out). Brief Scores:Rajasthan Royals: 185 for 5 in 20 overs (Riyan Parag 84 not out; Axar Patel 1/21).Delhi Capitals: 173 for 5 in 20 overs (David Warner 49; Nandre Burger 2/29, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/19). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

28 March,2024 11:46 PM IST | Jaipur | PTI
Surya Kumar Yadav (Pic: File Pic)

IPL 2024: Suryakumar Yadav likely to miss more matches for Mumbai Indians

World's number one T20 batsman Suryakumar Yadav will likely skip a few more IPL 2024 matches as he is still not fully recovered from sports hernia surgery. The National Cricket Academy is keeping track of his progress. India's T20I specialist Suryakumar Yadav has been missing the action in IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians. "Surya is making very good progress and very soon he will be back playing for MI. However, he might have to sit out for a few more games, having missed the first two," a BCCI source said. Also Read: IPL 2024: Kieron Pollard encourages Maphaka after the loss against SRH While the Mumbai-based franchise is missing the services of Suryakumar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India doesn't want to take any chances with the batter's fitness. Keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, he is expected to play a huge role for the "Men in Blue." The T20 World Cup 2024 will be hosted in the USA and the West Indies in June. "For BCCI, the main concern is if he is on course for World T20 which he is. Obviously he will play for MI but after a sports hernia surgery, he can't be rushed," the source said. Also Read: IPL 2024: Opening day registers record-breaking viewership Yadav often draws comparisons with former South Africa legend AB de Villiers for the variety of shots he has. The Indian batsman has a superb strike rate of 171.55 in the shortest format of the game. Featuring in 60 T20I matches for India, he has accumulated 21,41 runs. He also has four centuries under his belt. Coming to the Mumbai Indians' IPL 2024 campaign, so far the team has played two matches and has lost both games. The side lost the first match against Gujarat Titans by six runs. On March 27, the Mumbaikars faced their second defeat in the league against Sunrisers Hyderabad. They will now face Rajasthan Royal at their home ground, Wankhede Stadium. (With PTI Inputs)

28 March,2024 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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