Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach Simon Helmot reckons that Mumbai Indians’ India batter Suryakumar Yadav will have a big influence in the T20 World Cup, to be held in USA and West Indies next month. Thanks to Suryakumar’s 51-ball 102 not out (12x4, 6x6), MI comfortably chased SRH’s 173-8 to outclass visitors by seven wickets with 16 balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. “On some days you just have to take your hat off and say well played and well played to him [Suryakumar]. He’s an exceptional cricketer and he’s always going to demand a spot in the Indian team and I’m sure he’ll have an influence in the World Cup,” Helmot said during the post-match press conference on Monday night. Helmot, 52, who earlier coached the Australia A team that visited India in 2008, admitted that it’s quite difficult for bowlers to bowl to Suryakumar. “It’s very difficult [to bowl to Suryakumar] and you guys have seen him close up for many years as I have. He’s a very difficult batsman to match up with when he’s in that sort of frame of mind, that sort of mood,” Helmot said. Suryakumar is currently ICC T20 World No.1 batter and is a key member of the Rohit Sharma-led India World Cup-bound team. The 2007 begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. India will then play USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.
08 May,2024 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureSuryakumar Yadav should bat No. 3, feels the legendary Brian Lara as he rooted for an India-West Indies final at the T20 World Cup next month. “My advice, and I don’t know if you’re going to like it or not, but SKY has to bat at three. He just has to bat at three. He is one of the greatest T20 players. And you speak to players like Sir Viv, and he’ll tell you he used to want to get out there in the middle. And I feel that it’s the same with SKY. So, get in on it as quickly as possible. He’s not an opener, get him out there and if he can bat for 10-15 overs, you know what’s going to happen. He’s going to put you in an unassailable position if you bat him first, or he’s going to win the game if he’s batting second. And then let everybody sort themselves outside of that,” explained Lara. Suryakumar usually bats at No. 4 for India with Virat Kohli at three. Kohli opening the innings alongside Rohit to accommodate Surya at three could be an option, but that will leave Yashasvi Jaiswal on the bench. “Just find a way to make Suryakumar bat at three,” stressed Lara. 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
08 May,2024 07:59 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIThanks to big-hitter Suryakumar Yadav, five-time IPL champs Mumbai Indians (MI) managed to end their four-match losing streak, beating Sunrisers (SRH) by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday night. Chasing SRH 173-8, MI lost their top three batters—opener Ishan Kishan (9), former captain Rohit Sharma (4) and one-drop Naman Dhir (0) with the score reading 31-3 in 4.1 overs. The ball was moving a bit when Suryakumar came to the crease and the attacking batter did well to begin cautiously before going on to unleash his aggression en route a 51-ball 102 not out with the help of a dozen fours and six sixes. It’s this controlled approach that drew praise from MI batting coach Kieron Pollard. Disciplined approach “It was a phenomenal knock. He [Suryakumar] played the situation just about perfectly when he went in. It was a tricky situation, where the ball was nipping around and moving around a bit. He got beaten a few times, but held his nerve, and that’s the sort of discipline we ask for”, Pollard said at the post-match press conference. “Then, he [Suryakumar] got into his work, manoeuvring the field, placing it into the gaps and counter-attacking. But it’s no surprise for us, that’s how he practices and plays. And when he scores, and he scores big, you often come out on the winning side,” added Pollard. No. 4 Suryakumar and No. 5 Tilak Varma (32-ball 37 not out, 6x4) stitched an unbeaten 143-run stand off 79 balls to see MI home comfortably in 17.2 overs. Also Read: IPL 2024 Playoffs: Can Mumbai Indians still make it to top four after KKR loss? ‘Tough to curb attacking instinct’ Pollard admitted that as a batting coach it’s tough to expect someone like Suryakumar to curb his attacking instinct. “He’s [Suryakumar] someone, who, by nature, instinctively, is very aggressive. He wants to take the bowlers on more often than not. But at times, it’s just a matter of understanding the situation and respecting the new ball when it’s moving around. If the conditions are not suitable for a certain amount of shot making, have that discipline in order to be there for a period of time and then get to your work. I think that’s the hardest thing—to try to curb the attacking instinct,” added Pollard. 102*Off just 51 balls 12No. of fours SixNo. of sixes 200Strike-rate
08 May,2024 07:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureJake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel slammed fifties in contrasting fashion, while Kuldeep Yadav and Mukesh Kumar bowled superb spells as Delhi Capitals kept alive their hopes of making playoffs in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with a 20-run win over Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Tuesday evening. Following fifties from Fraser-McGurk and Porel, Tristan Stubbs gave the finishing touches to the innings with a 20-ball 41 to propel Delhi Capitals to 221/8. In reply, Kuldeep Yadav and Mukesh Kumar bowled decisive spells of 2-25 and 2-30 respectively to restrict RR to 201/8 in 20 overs. The win sees DC jump to fifth place in the points table and they are now tied with LSG, SRH and CSK at 12 points. It is also the second straight time that RR, despite a brilliant 86 from captain Sanju Samson, have failed to complete a chase and need to wait longer to seal their Playoff spot. Khaleel Ahmed struck in his first over as he had Yashasvi Jaiswal miscuing a slower bouncer to mid-off. Sanju Samson upped the ante with sublime timing on his loft, drive, flat-batted smashes, punch, flick and piercing the gaps in cover with precision to hit five fours and three sixes in the power-play. Also Read: Fraser-McGurk of DC bonds with idol Warner to light up IPL But RR lost Jos Buttler in the last over of the six-over phase, as he chopped onto his stumps off Axar Patel, meaning his catch being dropped by Tristan Stubbs didn’t become costly for DC. With Axar and Kuldeep operating in tandem, DC forced a slowdown by giving 25 runs in overs 7-10, though Riyan Parag got two sixes and a four. That effort paid off as Parag was castled by a slower ball from Rasikh Salam which hit the top of off-stump. Samson went on to get his fifth IPL 2024 fifty in 28 balls by clearing his front leg and smacking Kuldeep over long-on for six off a free hit. Sitting deep in the crease, Samson hit Rasikh for six over long-on, followed by cutting and muscling him for four and six respectively. With 91 runs needed off 42 balls, Samson just cleared cover off Ishant for four, before Shubham Dubey punched and muscled the pacer for four and six respectively to take 17 runs off the 14th over. Khaleel giving away four wides in an 11-run 15th over meant the equation for RR became 63 runs off 30 balls for the win. Samson’s fine knock came to an end in dramatic circumstances when Shai Hope took a screamer of a catch at long-on, just millimetres away from the boundary rope off Mukesh. Though he walked up to the umpire in protest, it was in vain and Samson had to depart for 86. From there, DC came back in the match as Shubham Dubey holed out to long-on off Khaleel. Kuldeep trapped Donovan Ferreira plumb lbw and had Ravichandran Ashwin holing out to long-on in his final over. Despite a slow-over rate penalty in the final over, where DC could field only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle, Mukesh castled Rovman Powell, which was enough to get DC a crucial win. Earlier, Fraser-McGurk enthralled everyone with a 19-ball fifty, while Porel found boundaries consistently to hit a 36-ball 65. It was just the eighth time DC openers got the fifties in an IPL match. Moreover, this instance happened in New Delhi for the first time since 2015 – when Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer hit fifties as openers. Despite a mid-overs slowdown, Stubbs slammed three fours and as many sixes in his 41 off 20 balls to ensure the 200-run mark was breached in the first innings of an IPL 2024 game here for the fourth consecutive time. For RR, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of bowlers with his 3-24. Trent Boult began by testing Fraser-McGurk from around the wicket angle and was even hit on the box once. But Fraser-McGurk ended the opening over by chipping a length ball over mid-off for six. After Porel lofted and punched down the ground off Sandeep Sharma for a brace of fours, Fraser-McGurk brought out a lofted straight drive, slash and mis-hit to take a six and two fours off Boult in the third over. Fraser-McGurk’s takedown of Avesh began in the fourth over when he got going after getting a four off an inside edge. Staying leg-side of the ball, he hammered, sliced, lofted drive, and hit through the line with ease twice to get his fifty in 19 balls by hammering 28 runs in the over. His fun was ended by Ashwin, as he smacked a full toss straight to cover, followed by Hope's run-out due to Sandeep getting a deflection on the ball going to the non-striker’s end. Abishek dazzled with his leg-side boundaries and got his first fifty of the season with a pulled six off Avesh in the 11th over. But RR bounced back as Axar holed out to long-off against Ashwin, followed by Porel slicing to backward point against the off-spinner. After Rishabh Pant’s misbalanced slog-sweep was caught by deep backward square leg off Boult, DC looked in danger of missing out on 200. Stubbs and Gulbadin Naib had other ideas up their sleeve – to get a flourishing finish for DC. Naib smoked Chahal twice over long-on for six and four respectively, Stubbs brought out reverse-sweep, and paddle sweep for back-to-back boundaries and finished the 21-run over with a massive slog sweep over deep backward square for six. Though Naib was outclassed by a slower ball from Boult, impact substitute Rasikh Salam got consecutive fours on back-to-back scoops to take DC past 200. Stubbs smacked Sandeep for back-to-back sixes in the final over, before the pacer trapped the batter lbw with a pin-point yorker, followed by Kuldeep Yadav's run-out on the last ball of the innings as DC went past 220. Brief scores:Delhi Capitals 221/8 in 20 overs (Abishek Porel 65, Jake Fraser-McGurk 50; Ravichandran Ashwin 3-24) beat Rajasthan Royals 201/8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 86; Kuldeep Yadav 2-25, Mukesh Kumar 2-30) by 20 runs 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
08 May,2024 07:32 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSRejuvenated fast bowler Mohammad Amir said he has “unfinished work” at next month’s T20 World Cup, 15 years after dazzling as a teenager when Pakistan last lifted the trophy. The 32-year-old, who was jailed for spot-fixing in 2011, came out of retirement last month and is grateful to have another crack at the World Cup. “It’s a great feeling to be playing for Pakistan again,” Amir told AFP by phone from Lahore this week ahead of the tournament in the United States and the West Indies beginning on June 2. Also Read: 'That's a phenomental knock': Pollard “I want to complete the unfinished work and, for me, the short-term goal is to win the World Cup.” The young Amir impressed in all formats after breaking into the Pakistan side in 2009 and playing at the T20 World Cup. Within a year he was one of the hottest young talents in cricket, but his precocious career then crashed to an infamous halt in 2010. Amir was one of three Pakistan players banned from cricket for five years for spot-fixing during a Test match in England after being caught in a newspaper sting. 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
08 May,2024 07:10 AM IST | Karachi | AFPBangladesh survived a late onslaught from Faraz Akram to beat Zimbabwe by nine runs in the third Twenty20 international and seal the five-match series 3-0 in Chittagong on Tuesday. Playing his first match in the series, Faraz hit an unbeaten 34 off 19 balls, a record for any Zimbabwean batting at No. 10, but the visitors still finished short at 156-9. Saifuddin, who made 3-42, held his nerve to concede only three runs from the last three balls. Towhid Hridoy earlier scored his maiden Twenty20 international with 57 off 38 balls, helping the hosts recover from a sluggish start after they were put in to bat first. Jaker Ali provided Towhid ample support with 44 off 34 balls as the pair shared 87 for the fourth wicket. 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
08 May,2024 07:08 AM IST | Chittagong | AFPThe battle for the Playoffs is hotting up. Four teams, who are better placed than the bottom four are in the fray for the third and fourth spots as the league phase enters the final stretch. Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals are perched at the top. Wednesday’s match between hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is crucial as the winner will get one step closer to the Playoffs. Run-rate vital Both teams have 12 points each from 11 matches with six wins and five losses. Both will also keep an eye on the run-rate as it will be vital in the end as Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the other two potential contenders in the race. Sunrisers have had a roller-coaster ride this season. Before losing to Mumbai Indians by a big margin they barely managed to squeak past RR by one run in their last home match. This season, SRH have a 3-2 record at home. As Cummins said after the toss in Mumbai that they need to win at least two matches for a Playoffs place. Apart from this match, SRH have to play two more matches, both at home. They host Gujarat Titans (May 16) before winding up the league phase with a match against Punjab Kings (May 19). On the other hand, LSG face DC in Delhi (May 14) and MI in Mumbai (May 17). Also Read: Clarke propounds 'fatigued' Rohit's rest as essential pre-World Cup strategy The trio of Travis Head, Abhisekh Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen, who were devastating with their big-hitting skills, have not produced the same red-hot form consistently that helped SRH rattle up big scores. They have been culled and SRH have choked. In a few matches, young Nitish Reddy stood up to the challenge and in the last match, Cummins took SRH to 173 with a late cameo. But otherwise, it has been a disappointing show in the second half of the season with even former Indian opener Mayank Agarwal failing in his comeback match in Mumbai. The SRH batters will be hoping to find their mojo in their last three matches at home. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero of SRH’s thrilling win over RR. He has found his rhythm and that is good news for SRH. H Natarajan has been good with his yorkers while Cummins has come up with useful spells. LSG skipper KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis have been top performers with the willow, but the former has come in for some criticism for his strike-rate. The bowlers have been a big disappointment. ‘Unseasonal rain expected’ SRH preferred to skip Wednesday’s net session, but LSG, who were scheduled to have a practice session too opted out because of rain. LSG assistant coach Sridharan Sriram said: “Unseasonal rain and thunderstorms are expected. Hopefully, we will have a full game.”
08 May,2024 07:03 AM IST | Hyderabad | N Jagannath DasSuryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten 102 to lead Mumbai Indians to a crushing seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday as teams jostle for a ticket to IPL 2024 Playoffs. Chasing 174 for victory, Mumbai slipped to 31-3 before Suryakumar put on an unbeaten stand of 143 with Tilak Varma to achieve the target with 16 balls to spare at their home Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai, however, find themselves grappling with a formidable path to the IPL 2024 playoffs, notwithstanding their recent victory. With only two league-stage matches remaining, Mumbai Indians confront a precarious situation, languishing in ninth place in the IPL 2024 standings. Having accumulated eight points from 12 games and acquired a net run rate (NRR) of -0.212, their victory over Sunrisers, while significant, failed to propel them to a secure playoff position. MI's post-season dreams rely on triumphs in their upcoming encounters against KKR and LSG. However, mere victories may not suffice. Their negative NRR presents a formidable obstacle, necessitating convincing performances to enhance their run rate. Also Read: Win or perish The challenge is compounded by the standings of rival teams contending for playoff berths. KKR and Rajasthan Royals have already amassed 16 points each, rendering it implausible for MI to catch up. Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and LSG are also on 12 points apiece, potentially congesting the mid-table. In this intricate scenario, MI's prospects hinge on multiple teams finishing the league stage with 12 points, granting them an outside chance based on a superior NRR. However, this scenario demands not only victories for MI but also defeats for their competitors. With Delhi Capitals holding ten points and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans on eight points each, the competition intensifies for playoff contention. With their post-season destiny in jeopardy, Mumbai Indians confront a formidable challenge ahead. They must approach their remaining fixtures with resolute determination, striving not only for triumphs but also for dominance on the field to bolster their NRR. (With agency inputs)
07 May,2024 06:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Australia captain Michael Clarke does not read much into Rohit Sharma's string of poor scores, but suggests that the "fatigued" Indian skipper take a break to freshen up ahead of the T20 World Cup. Rohit, who will lead India in the next month's 20-team global showpiece, has four single-digit scores in his last five outings for his franchise Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL. The 37-year-old has had a busy season this year with an intense five-Test series preceding the IPL for Mumbai Indians, who are all but eliminated from the race to the playoffs this year. "Rohit, being the wise judge of his own performances, will undoubtedly be disappointed, especially considering his strong start. In my view, he might be feeling a bit fatigued as well," Clarke told Star Sports. "A break to freshen up could do wonders for him, but as the Indian captain and a key player for Mumbai Indians, you're not getting a break. He's going to have to find form," Clarke continued. Rohit played as an impact substitute in their match against Kolkata Knight Riders last week, raising some concerns for the Indian camp. However, he played a full game against Sunrisers Hyderabad three days later. Also Read: Narine is KKR’s knight in shining armour Clarke said it is only a matter of time before Rohit gets back to his usual elements as a batter. "He was in a great mood. He's happy, which is a really good sign. He doesn't seem to be struggling with his timing; it's just a matter of getting out," he said. "With someone like Rohit, it's only a matter of time before he finds his form again. Hopefully, he stresses less and focuses on his game because he's too talented to keep missing out. He's at his best when he's timing the ball, rather than trying to force it," he added. Clarke, meanwhile, also had praise in store for Rohit's deputy for the T20 World Cup and MI skipper Hardik Pandya, who returned with 4-0-31-3 in their seven-wicket win over SRH on Monday. "In the last couple of games, he's been taking wickets with his bowling, making some adjustments along the way. For an all-rounder, success in one department boosts confidence across the board," Clarke said. "This aspect is crucial for Hardik Pandya's cricket in any format, he needs to contribute with the ball. Initially, he didn't bowl as much as expected or desired in the first half of this tournament. However, in the last three or four games, he's returned to form." Clarke also said Pandya used his bouncers effectively which is an essential weapon in his armoury. "He used his bouncer effectively, which I love seeing because it is a strong weapon in his arsenal. He executed the basics flawlessly, which is not only beneficial for Mumbai but also for Indian cricket as a whole, as it will enhance his overall performance," said Clarke. (With agency inputs)
07 May,2024 04:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEsteemed Australian opener David Warner recently shed light on his future plans, expressing a heartfelt intention to relocate to India upon concluding his illustrious cricketing career. Warner articulated his profound affection for the 'warm and hospitable' people of India and the nation's fervent cricket culture during an appearance on Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel. Warner, renowned for his immense popularity among Indian enthusiasts, particularly those from Hyderabad, owing to his association with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2014 to 2021, has endeared himself to Indian fans through various means. His admiration for Indian cinema, particularly action films, his upbeat and amiable demeanor during fan engagements, engaging social media presence, among other attributes, have endeared him to countless Indian fans, leading some to affectionately dub India as Warner's second home. During his conversation on Ashwin's platform, Warner revealed that although he currently does not possess a residence in India, he eagerly anticipates the opportunity to spend time in the country post-retirement. Describing himself as a 'people's person', he emphasized his readiness to engage with fans in public spaces such as malls, gladly posing for photographs. He also expressed admiration for the ubiquitous presence of cricket in the streets of India. "I do not have a house in India. I did look at some stages. I get a lot of people asking me if I want a house here. One day, maybe when I finish my cricket, I would like to come here and spend some time. Lifestyle is good. I am a people's person. I go to the malls with my girls and I embrace everything," Warner said. Also Read: IPL 2024 Playoffs: Can Mumbai Indians still make it to top four after KKR loss? "People say I am mad for going out without security and all that. But, at the end of the day, people have a lot of respect. I think people come and ask for photos, yes. But when you are out without your kids and embracing the culture, I think people understand and keep their distance. Sometimes, though, in some smaller villages, it can get a little difficult. We do take security with us. But it is great, I love it. You walk down the street in India and there's always a game of cricket on," he added. Warner shared his perennial joy upon visiting India, crediting the country's optimistic and affectionate populace for his elation. He attributed his profound connection with India to his humble upbringing, occasionally lamenting the perceived lack of humility among some individuals in Australia. "In Australia, sometimes we have the tall poppy syndrome. Always the negative mindset before the positive mindset," he continued. "As soon as you come here, everything is positive. People out here are loving life. In Australia, sometimes, we do not ground ourselves enough. I came from a very humble upbringing. I did not have much at all, but I was happy when I hung around with my friends, playing football and cricket. I enjoy every moment of my life, because you never know when it can all be taken away," Warner added. In the ongoing 2024 IPL season, Warner has amassed 167 runs in seven matches at an average of 23.85 and a strike rate of 135.77, with a solitary fifty to his credit. Currently sidelined due to a finger injury, Warner's team is scheduled to face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Tuesday at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. (With agency inputs)
07 May,2024 03:57 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentKKR (Kolkata Knight Riders) faced a challenging ordeal when their flight from Lucknow to Kolkata encountered multiple diversions due to adverse weather conditions, ultimately leading to an unexpected overnight stay in Varanasi. After securing a commanding 98-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 on Sunday, the Shreyas Iyer-led squad embarked on their journey back to Kolkata on Monday evening at 5:45 pm, aiming to reach their destination by 7:25 pm as scheduled. However, unfavorable weather conditions compelled the charter flight to first divert to Guwahati and subsequently to Varanasi, thwarting their plans to land in Kolkata. The KKR media team provided an update at 8.46pm, saying, "Due to inclement weather over Kolkata, the KKR charter flight has been diverted to Guwahati. We've just landed here." Then another update at 9.43pm said, "We've got clearance to fly back to Kolkata now, from Guwahati. Estimated arrival: 11pm." "Flight took off from Guwahati to Kolkata, was scheduled to land at 11 PM. Couldn't land once again due to bad weather, despite several attempts. Diverted mid-air to Varanasi now. Just landed here," said a fresh update. "The team would be checking into Varanasi hotel for overnight stay. Return flight to Kolkata TBD on Tuesday (7 May) afternoon," the KKR media team said in the final update at 3:00 am. Also Read: 'Mentor Gauti knows how to turn games in our favour': KKR’s Rana The KKR contingent spent the night in Varanasi and is scheduled to resume their journey to Kolkata this afternoon, as confirmed by the final update from the KKR media team at 3:00 am. Fortunately, KKR's upcoming IPL 2024 fixtures provide some respite from their travel woes, with their next game against Mumbai Indians at Edens Garden slated for May 11. Following this, the two-time former champions will face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 13 and Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on May 19 for their final two league matches. (With agency inputs)
07 May,2024 02:17 PM IST | Varanasi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
