It has been four months since they led the way for Australia with two sizable deals but fortune appears to have turned its back on both Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the ongoing IPL season. After sparking an intense bidding battle among top IPL franchises at a swish multi-purpose venue in Dubai last December, Starc fetched a handsome Rs 24.75 crore, with comrade Cummins the only other top name in the fray, having been acquired for Rs 20.5 crore. Besides Starc and Cummins, Daryl Mitchell, Harshal Patel, and Alzarri Joseph have encountered a lacklustre start to their campaign this season. If we assess their performances, it becomes evident that four out of the five most expensive players would fall into the lowest tier. Additionally, three others among the current top seven have only slightly improved but still remain below par compared to expectations. Surprisingly enough, however, Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell, and Shahrukh Khan have yet to make an appearance for their franchises, not even as ‘Impact Players’, in a single game, wonder why! Also Read: A tale of two loyalties The allure of potential and promise often overshadows the realities of performance, leading to inflated price tags for players who may not necessarily justify such investments through their on-field exploits. But with veterans Starc and Cummins in charge, who could have dared to object! Although, needless to say, while the IPL serves as a platform for showcasing talent on a global scale, the pressure to excel under the weight of astronomical price tags can prove to be a double-edged sword, stifling creativity while amplifying expectations to unattainable levels. While glimpses of brilliance are there for everyone to see, the inability to sustain peak performance levels over an extended period casts a shadow over players’ perceived value, doing more harm than good in this case. Cricket, in particular, demands consistency and resilience, virtues that seem to elude certain players despite their exorbitant price tags. This particular nature of success underscores the importance of not merely possessing talent, but harnessing it with discipline and determination to withstand the rigours of competitive T20 cricket. Also Read: The price of passion! The pressure of expectations looms large over IPL players who command staggering auction prices like the Aussie pair as they are tasked with justifying their worth through exemplary on-field displays. This way, the burden of proving one's mettle under the scrutiny of millions of fans and their own franchises can be overwhelming, often leading to a paralysis of performance rather than an amplification of potential. The difference between the soaring aspirations of fans and the stark realities of cricket can create a breeding ground for disillusionment, as players often find themselves caught in a perpetual cycle of striving to meet unattainable standards. In fact, the discrepancy between their auction prices and on-field performances epitomises the inherent complexities of everything that cricket truly is. While players like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni may thrive under the weight of expectation and deliver performances befitting their price tags, others falter in the face of insurmountable pressure, struggling to reconcile the chasm between perception and reality. In order to be able to bridge this divide requires a nuanced understanding of the many factors shaping a player’s on-field performance, from his form and fitness to the pressures of adaptation on a global platform. As the league continues to evolve, the quest for balance between aspiration and achievement will remain a perpetual endeavour, shaping the destiny of players and the league alike.
19 April,2024 03:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarMumbai Indians' key batsman Suryakumar Yadav provided an update on his fitness after his heroic knock of 78 runs during the IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings on Thursday. Yet again PBKS took the game to the final over and fell short to secure a win. During the IPL 2024 match against MI, Ashutosh Sharma displayed his skills and impressed everyone. After recovering from his ankle surgery, Suryakumar returned to action during the IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals. He underwent surgery for both his ankle and sports hernia. Due to his surgeries, he was ruled out of the Afghanistan series which was the final T20I series for India before the T20 World Cup 2024. After playing a crucial hand in PBKS's downfall, Surya opened up about his fitness and said during the mid-innings interview, "It is going really well, I am almost there I have started fielding I am also training well so slow and steady hoping that all 40 overs I will be on ground." Also Read: "Virat has set a benchmark and Rohit carried it": Rahul on Rohit-Kohli's captaincy So far playing in the IPL 2024, Suryakumar has registered two ducks and two fifties in four matches. "That teaches you there are ups and downs in life," Surya said while talking about his performance. Surya didn't resort to his typical slam-bang approach but took time before opening his arms. The explosive right-handed batter talked about his approach and if there were any special instructions from the management. "Nothing as much there was a talk going on. Last day we had a batters meeting that there will be a batter who will have to bat at least 15 to 17 overs because when we had a net session we felt that wicket will be a little difficult to get big runs on the board. But I just wanted to be myself. I took a little bit of more time today and after Rohit got out there had to be a batter who batted a little more I just continued the way I bat," Surya said. Recapping the match, star speedster Jasprit Bumrah (3/21) and Coetzee's (3/32) influential spells, along with a scintillating 78-run knock from Surya Kumar Yadav, helped the Mumbai Indians defeat the Punjab Kings by nine runs. MI survived an unprecedented Ashutosh (61 off 28) blitz after Suryakumar Yadav's 78 helped the visitors post 192/7. (With ANI Inputs)
19 April,2024 02:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFast bowler Mohammad Amir's return to international cricket was put on hold after the first Twenty20 between Pakistan and New Zealand was a washout on Thursday. Shaheen Shah Afridi clean-bowled debutant Tim Robinson for a duck and New Zealand was 2-1 after two balls before rain denied further play in a reduced five-over-a-side game. The toss was delayed for half an hour because of light drizzle in Rawalpindi, and just when Afridi was due to bowl the first ball, rain held up play for more than two hours. The teams will return for the second T20 of five on Saturday. Amir and allrounder Imad Wasim came out of retirements and made themselves available for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States in June, and the Pakistan selectors named them in the 17-man squad for the five-match home series against New Zealand. Imad wasn't picked to play but Amir was in his hometown for his first international in four years. Also Read: IPL 2024: Ashutosh Sharma admits his dream to play sweep against Jasprit Bumrah Both sides are using the series to prepare for the T20 World Cup under recalled white-ball captain Babar Azam. Pakistan named three debutants for the series opener Usman Khan, Irfan Khan and Abrar Ahmed after they impressed in the recent Pakistan Super League. Usman was banned by the Emirates Cricket Board for five years after the batter shifted his allegiance to play for his country of birth. He hit back-to-back centuries in the PSL and got the attention of the Pakistan selectors. Irfan was named the emerging player of the PSL, and Abrar shone with his leg-spin bowling. Pakistan wicketkeeper Azam Khan was ruled out of the opening game after experiencing discomfort in his right knee and calf while batting in the nets on Wednesday. New Zealand was without nine key players who were playing in the Indian Premier League. The squad was further depleted just before the tour when Finn Allen and Adam Milne were injured in training. New Zealand awarded a T20 debut to Robinson, who scored 298 runs at an impressive strike rate of 187.42 in the Super Smash back home. Rawalpindi will also host the third game on Sunday, and the series will move to Lahore for the last two games on April 25 and 27. 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
19 April,2024 02:00 PM IST | Rawalpindi | AP | PTIKL Rahul has been a successful captain for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and according to him trusting his instincts has helped him achieve it. Under Rahul's captaincy, LSG reached the play-offs in the first two years and the team could make it three in a row in the ongoing IPL 2024. Before captaining LSG, Rahul led the Punjab Kings in the two seasons but was not able to take them to the playoffs. The right-hander has also captained India and feels that backing his guts and listening to team management's advice has helped him find the balance. Also Read: IPL 2024 | "Unbelievable, playing the way he did": Pandya on Ashutosh Sharma "Building a team is about players you pick, key positions you can't afford to miss in the auction. First few years of me captaining, I am not shy to admit, I made a few mistakes as well," he said on fellow India teammate R Ashwin's YouTube channel. Rahul is currently working with head coach Justin Langer and has teamed up with Anil Kumble and Andy Flower in the past. "There is so much information coming as you captain. Which one to take and which one to not and see you have a gut feel which is against what the coaches are saying. "Initially, it was hard to go against that as culturally we are taught to respect the elders. Somehow things did not go according to plan and I was not being able to sleep. I have realised you need to build the trust and bond not only with the players but also with the coaches. We both want the same thing." When asked about the captaincy styles of current India captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli, Rahul said "Rohit brought sense of calmness in the dressing room. The passion remains the same. It also helps that people have understood their roles and have had enough time to adjust to those roles. "Virat had already set the benchmark on how to be on the field and Rohit carried on with a bit of calmness." He also labelled M S Dhoni and Kane Williamson as the true gentlemen of the game. (With PTI Inputs)
19 April,2024 01:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPunjab Kings batsman Ashutosh Sharma who gained the attention of fans after hitting a sweep to Mumbai Indians' lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah during the IPL 2024 match said that it was his dream to hit a sweep against the world's best bowler. Despite Ashutosh and Shashank Singh's heroics, MI's pacers Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee showcased their skills with the ball. Bumrah registered three wickets for 21 runs and Coetzee bagged three wickets for 32 runs. Also, Suryakumar Yadav smashed 78 run-knock which helped the side to put on a respectable total on board. Mumbai Indians beat Punjab Kings by nine runs in the 33rd fixture of the IPL 2024. Mumbai Indians survived a splendid Ashutosh (61 off 28) blitz after Suryakumar Yadav's 78(53) had helped the visitors post 192/7. Chasing 193, Punjab were bundled out for 183 with Shashank Singh (41) and Ashutosh (61) scoring the highest runs for their team. Ahustosh blasted 7 sixes and also mentioned that it was his dream shot against Bumrah. Also Read: Modern CC clinch Shamrao Thosar Memorial cricket title Ashutosh took full advantage of Bumrah's no-ball and swept the next ball for a six. "It was my dream to hit a sweep shot off Jasprit Bumrah. I have been practising these shots. It's a game of cricket so it's very common. we have to focus on our process. When I was playing I had the belief to pull off a win," Ashutosh said in a post-match presentation. Ashutosh revealed his conversations with the team's Head of Cricket Development Sanjay Bangar and said a "small statement" from him made a huge difference for the batter. "Sanjay [Bangar] sir told me that, 'you're not a slogger; you play proper cricketing shots and you should focus on [honing] that'. It was that small statement and a show of confidence from him that has made a huge difference for me and turned my game. I'm now just trying to follow that," Ashutosh said. Punjab Kings will play their next IPL 2024 clash against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. (With ANI Inputs)
19 April,2024 12:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya had relief after securing a nine-run win against Punjab Kings. He also added that all players' nerves got tested during the IPL 2024 game against PBKS. PBKS batsman Ashutosh Sharma almost pulled the game in the hosts' favour, but in the end, fell short as he departed for 61 runs in 28 balls. Punjab Kings were bowled out for 183 in 19.1 overs in the IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians. MI is now placed in the seventh position of the IPL 2024 points table with three wins out of seven matches. "(It was a) very good game. Everyone's nerves got tested. We spoke that the characters will be checked in this game. But (it is) natural (that) you (would) think you are ahead but IPL has a tendency to show that oppositions can come back and how," Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Also Read: Fourth week of IPL-17: Record-breaking score by SRH, yet again; Rohit Sharma's ton goes in vain Pandya also heaped praises on Ashutosh Sharma's stunning knock. "Unbelievable, playing the way he did and hitting the ball off the middle. (It is) great for his future. We did speak in the timeout about it, not about how we look, we will keep fighting and make sure (that) we don't bowl the soft balls. Batsmen played good shots but we were soft in certain overs," Pandya said. Punjab Kings' stand-in captain Sam Curran said it was heartening to see youngsters like Ashutosh and Shashank Singh rising to the occasion, despite losing some close matches in the recent past. "Another close one, I think this team likes a close one, but unfortunately another loss. Another incredible knock from the young guy (on Ashutosh), but another close loss," he said. "It's very tough. We have lost a lot of wickets at the start, the way the younger guys have taken the team so close is heartening." "They have incredible confidence, you see a guy like Ashutosh having the confidence to play the sweeps and the big hits against pacers, it's so great to watch them in action," Curran said. The Englishman said there were a lot of positives to take from such close defeats. "It's disheartening to lose close games, but there are a lot of positives in this team. We still have the belief in us, we believe we can turn this around, the sun will come up tomorrow and we will hopefully get on a winning run," Curran said. The player of the match Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled a brilliant spell of 3/21 said it was a much closer game than he anticipated. "(It was a) much closer game than what we thought. (I) want to make an impact early on. In this format, ball swings for two overs, and you want to make use of that," he said. Bumrah said the T20 format is cruel for bowlers and is tilted in favour of batters. "This format is a little difficult for the bowlers because the batsmanship is going over, plus the time restrictions and the Impact Player rule. What you can do is prepare your best and back yourself," he said. "Go out there and give your best. I try to relay messages from wherever I am on the field. You don't want to give too many messages," Bumrah added. (With PTI Inputs)
19 April,2024 11:45 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentJoint-highest run chase by RR RR players celebrate their win over KKR at Eden Gardens. Pic/PTI IPL-17 has so far witnessed many high-scoring encounters. On Tuesday, Rajasthan Royals (RR) achieved a mammoth 224-run target against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to register the joint-highest successful run chase in IPL. The earlier record too was held by RR when they chased 224 against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) at Sharjah in 2020. The match witnessed two centuries scored by players from both sides. Batting first, KKR opener Sunil Narine scored his maiden T20 ton (109) to propel KKR to 223-6 off 20 overs. In reply, RR were struggling at 128-6 after 14 overs. But thanks to opener Jos Buttler's unbeaten 107 off 60 balls, the inaugural IPL champions scored the required 96 off just 36 balls (an IPL record while chasing) to win the last-ball thriller by two wickets. Also Read: LSG need pluck now Record-breaking score by SRH yet again SRH's Travis Head is ecstatic after scoring a century against RCB. Pic/AFP Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) broke its own record of the highest-ever total in IPL, scoring 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Monday. This was just weeks after they scored 277-3 against Mumbai Indians (MI), the then IPL record. The visitors smashed the RCB bowlers all over the park, thanks to this season's fastest IPL hundred—39 balls—by SRH opener Travis Head. His innings was laced with nine fours and eight sixes. The match also witnessed several IPL records—22 maximums by SRH, the most in an innings with an aggregate of 549 runs. The game saw 36 sixes, the joint-highest in an IPL match. Rohit Sharma's ton goes in vain Rohit Sharma during his 105 against CSK at Wankhede. Pic/AFP MI opening batsman Rohit Sharma scored his much-awaited IPL century after 12 years. However, his unbeaten 105 off 63 balls went in vain as the hosts lost to defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankhede. Chasing CSK's 206-4, openers Rohit and Ishan Kishan gave MI a solid start reaching 63-0 in Powerplay. The hosts looked well settled at 118-2 after 12 overs, but CSK’s pacers managed to apply a brakes on MI’s run chase as they conceded just 17 runs in the next 24 balls, including two wickets. With 72 required off just 24 balls, the former MI skipper tried hard to bring the equation down, but the five-time champions fell short by 20 runs. Mitchell Starc not on the money KKR pacer Mitchell Starc. Pic/AFP IPL's most expensive player Mitchell Starc has not lived up to his reputation so far. The Aussie pacer, who was purchased by KKR for a whopping ₹24.75 crore during the IPL-17 mini-auction, has been amongst the most expensive bowlers this season, conceding 232 runs at a poor economy rate of 10.54 apart from claiming five wickets in six matches. Starc started the season conceding 53 runs without a wicket off four overs against SRH. He went for 0-47 off four overs in the next match versus RCB. The speedster claimed 2-25 against Delhi Capitals, but at an economy rate of 8.30, while he went for 0-29 off three overs versus CSK. He made a comeback against Lucknow Super Giants, claiming 3-28 off four overs, but was smashed for 0-50 by RR. Back-to-back last-over defeats for Punjab Kings at home Punjab Kings’s stand-in skipper Sam Curran. Pic/PTI Week 4 of IPL-17 witnessed two back-to-back last-over defeats for Punjab Kings and three consecutive overall at Mullanpur. Sam Curran led the side in the absence of injured skipper Shikhar Dhawan. Batting first against RR, the Punjab side managed 147-8 in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, RR were cruising at 79-1 after 11 overs, but the Punjab bowlers brought the game back in the hosts' favour by conceding just 35 runs in the next six overs, including three wickets. With 34 required off just three overs, it looked like the match was tilting towards Punjab, but Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 27 off 10 balls ensured a RR win with one ball to spare. In the next match, chasing MI’s 192-7, the Curran-led side were reduced to 14-4 in 2.1 overs, but a never-give-up attitude by Ashutosh Sharma (28-ball 61) and Shashank Singh (41 off 25 balls) made sure the hosts were comfortably placed at 165-7 after 16 overs. With just 28 required off 24 balls and three wickets in hands, it looked all over for MI, but the luck this time too wasn’t in the hosts’ favour as they were bowled out nine runs short with five balls to spare.
19 April,2024 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan KoliModern Cricket Club registered a six-wicket win over Mazgaon Cricket Club in the final of the 67th MCA Late Shamrao Thosar Memorial cricket tournament, organised in association with Mumbai Cricket Club at Central Maidan, Thane, on Wednesday. Electing to bat, Mazgaon CC were dismissed for 170 runs in 38.2 overs. Left-hander Aagneya Aadi top-scored with 47, while Adnan Ansari scored 38 to lift the innings. Also Read: WCG rink hockey: Don Bosco enter U-14 final Left-arm spinners Bhavin Darji (3-28) and Saif Shaikh (3-35) excelled for Modern CC. In reply, Modern CC comfortably chased the target, reaching 171 for the loss of four wickets in 34.1 overs. Middle-order batters Aakash Savla and Nishant Mane cracked unbeaten half-century knocks of 65 and 55 runs respectively for the victors. Brief scoresMazgaon CC 170 all out in 38.2 overs (A Aadi 47, A Ansari 38, O Karandikar 28*; B Darji 3-28, S Shaikh 3-35) lost to Modern CC 171 for 4 in 34.1 overs (A Savwwla 65*, N Mane 55*, R Vishwakarma 41) by six wickets
19 April,2024 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIn a stunning disclosure, Australia’s six-time World Cup-winning former women’s cricket team captain Meg Lanning has said that her early retirement at 31 was forced by bouts of depression and weight-loss due to “over-exercising and under-fuelling”. Also Read: Ex-pacer Zaheer echoes Rohit’s view on subs Lanning took a six-month mental health break after winning the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham to work in a coffee shop. She eventually retired after skipping three international assignments, including the Ashes, in 2023, but did not disclose her reasons at that time. “It sort of just spiralled and I was in denial, even though everyone kept telling me something wasn’t quite right. I was not in a place to be able to go on tour and play cricket and give the commitment levels required for that Ashes series, mentally and physically,” Lanning told The Howie Games podcast. The most successful skipper in the history of Australian cricket, Lanning’s last big success was leading the team to victory in the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023. The 32-year-old said it reached a point where she lost appetite and began eating only two meals a day after running around 90km a week, which led to significant weight loss. 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
19 April,2024 07:30 AM IST | Melbourne | PTIEchoing the views of Rohit Sharma, former pacer Zaheer Khan on Thursday raised serious concerns over the Impact Player rule in the IPL, saying it produces “half-baked all-rounders”. Also Read: Former England Test player Raman Subba Row dies at 92 “I completely agree it’s debatable, little concern for sure. But we need to find a way on how to deal with it. In Impact Player rule you will find half all-rounders, but not a complete one,” Zaheer said during an online interaction facilitated by Jio Cinema. 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
19 April,2024 07:25 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIFormer England Test batsman Raman Subba Row has died at the age of 92, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Thursday. Also Read: LSG need pluck now At the time of his death, he was England’s oldest living men’s Test cricketer. Subba Row played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and then joined the powerful Surrey side of the 1950s, which won seven successive County Championships. Unable to secure a permanent first-team place at The Oval, he moved to Northamptonshire, where he was appointed captain in 1958. In that year, Subba Row win the first of his 13 England caps and in 1961 he scored a century in both his first and last Tests against Australia. In all, he scored 984 Test runs at an average of over 46. After retiring to pursue a business career, he was the manager of England’s tour of India and Sri Lanka in 1981. Subba Row also served five years as chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board, the forerunner to the ECB, from 1985. He later became one of the International Cricket Council’s first match referees, overseeing 160 fixtures. 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
19 April,2024 07:20 AM IST | London | AFPADVERTISEMENT
