Kolkata Knight Riders mentor and former India player Gautam Gambhir loves the IPL and the quality of cricket it produces, but at the same time does not want it to become a shortcut to the national team for young players. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube show, 'Kutti Stories with Ash', Gambhir said, "The bigger concern that arises is about how many youngsters want to play Test cricket for India. I hope the IPL is not a shortcut to play for India." Gambhir also mentioned that the cash-rich league has benefitted Indian domestic players. "Today, when I look at international T20 sides, apart from 2-3 teams, I don't see enough competition when it comes to playing for India," he said. "Not many teams can match the quality that India has. So, I feel that in today's day and age, IPL has become far more competitive than international T20 cricket. "Just the quality of the domestic players has changed, the way domestic players want to play in the IPL and the way they work around T20 cricket I think most of their focus is on playing T20 cricket." Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: England relish 'fear factor' of returning paceman Archer Gambhir played a crucial role in helping India win the ODI World Cup in 2011 and also led KKR to win two IPL titles in the years 2012 and 2014. In the IPL 2024, he returned to KRR as the team's mentor. Gautam Gambhir is known for his outspoken attitude and serious manner. Speaking on the same, Gambhir said, "I'm not breaking any rules. I want to be as aggressive as I can be. And what's wrong with that? "That's my nature. That's my characteristic because, for me, winning, it's an obsession, and I'm obsessed with winning. That's the problem I have." Gambhir also clarified that he doesn't need to smile since the fans come to watch him help the team win and that all he cares about is his players giving their 100% on the field. "Sometimes when people talk about he doesn't smile or love. He's always intense, grumpy, walking on the edge, old and has his game face on," he said. "People don't come to watch me smile. Unfortunately, people come to watch me win. That's the kind of profession we guys are in. I can't help it." "I'm not an entertainment. I'm not a Bollywood actor, or I'm not a corporate. I'm a cricketer into performing art. "My job is I want to come back in a willing dressing room. Fortunately, unfortunately, a winning dressing room is a happy dressing room is a winning dressing." (With PTI Inputs)
20 May,2024 10:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEngland are eager to release Jofra Archer's "fear factor" against Pakistan as the pacer gears up to return to action after an injury ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, says Sam Curran. Injuries have spoilt Archer's international career and has not featured in top-flight cricket for 14 months due to back and elbow issues. Five years ago, Jofra Archer made his debut for England but has managed to feature in just 15 T20I matches for the side. He has been named in theEngland's squad for the four-match T20I series against Pakistan which will be in action this week and will also feature in the T20 World Cup 2024. The 29-year-old has been building up his fitness by playing club cricket in Barbados and last week took a wicket for Sussex's second XI. "It's incredibly exciting to have a player of his quality," all-rounder Curran said on Monday. "I'm sure England fans and players are extremely buzzed to have him back. "He's obviously got that extra pace and fear factor we can bring to the opposition. We all hope his injuries are behind him now." Also Read: Usman Khawaja opens up on current Australian team "Jof's had a really tough couple of years we all hope he can come back and do what he does for England and bring the A game that we know he's got." England, who are reigning T20 world champions, are desperate to find form ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States. Curran is one of eight squad members who returned early from the IPL 2024 ahead of the Pakistan series. The players had little time together before the defence of their 50-over title. "The messaging from (captain) Jos (Buttler) and the coaching staff was they wanted to get the group back together and we probably didn't have that last time," said Curran. "We've been apart for a while so these games are going to be really crucial. We want to be playing as a team and get used to our roles. "There's a lot of buzz around the group, it seems like we're back to our energy and it seems like the boys are really fizzed about this trophy hopefully coming back." England will lock horns with Pakistan for the first T20I match of the series at Headingley on Wednesday. (With AFP Inputs)
20 May,2024 09:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAustralia batsman Usman Khawaja said the current Australian team is as good as any other team that has represented the country in cricketing history. He also called it one of the strongest teams he has played in. Last year Australia won the ICC World Test Championship title for the first time against India in which Usman Khawaja played a crucial role. He scored 1,210 runs in 13 test matches at an average of 52.60. The veteran also had three centuries and six half-centuries with the highest score of 195 runs in 2023. In the 2021-2023 WTC cycle, Usman Khawaja accumulated 1,621 runs at an average of 64.84. He then registered six centuries and seven half-centuries with a best score of unbeaten 195 runs. "I think this current Australian team is as good as any other team that's played before," Khawaja boldly declared as quoted by ICC. Also Read: IPL 2024: RCB skipper Faf du Plessis opens up on team's playoff qualification "I mean, you look at the bowlers that we have - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon and then you mix it in with the batting, particularly the World Test Championship team that won it last year with David Warner and Steve Smith." "I think it is as good as any of the other teams that I have grown up watching. And I do not say that lightly," he added. The batter still remembers the team Steve Waugh captained to a record 16 straight Test triumphs between October 1999 and February 2001 and the side led by Ricky Ponting between 2005 and 2008 that matched that effort of 16 consecutive Test wins. Those Australian sides that dominated Test cricket around the turn of the century are littered with famous names, and Khawaja knows how good they were. "I have grown up watching some amazing Australian teams, and I would never say we are better than any of them, never," he said. "Those amazing teams, especially those of the early 2000s, did some amazing feats. But this team, the balance, what it has, it is one of the strongest ones I have played in," he added. His resurgence back into Australia's Test side also culminated in claiming the ICC Test Player of the Year award last year, and the veteran believes the honour bestowed upon him is as high as anything he has previously achieved in cricket. "It has to be probably the greatest honour that I have received," Khawaja said. "It is not just in Australia, it is not domestic cricket, it is worldwide. When you look at the list of cricketers who've won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, (Kumar) Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, some of the greats of the game, and it is quite humbling to have won the same trophy." "If you had told me any time in my career, particularly two years ago, that I would be winning ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, I would have laughed in your face. It is something, and I think it is probably going to be one of the most cherishing awards that I have in my career," he concluded. (With ANI Inputs)
20 May,2024 09:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRoyal Challengers Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis his happiness on his team's comeback and sealing their place in the IPL 2024 playoffs. On Saturday, the side won the IPL 2024 against Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs which helped them qualify for the playoffs. RCB made an outstanding comeback from winning just one match out of the first eight games of the IPL 2024 to securing consecutive victories in the next six matches. Faf-led RCB finished the league stage at the fourth spot with seven wins, seven losses and a total of 14 points, securing a higher net-run-rate than CSK, Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) who also had 14 points. Also Read: IPL 2024: Find out the reason behind Abhishek Sharma's "L" celebration RCB skipper took to Instagram and wrote, "How fun was that... so proud of everyone the way they have made the impossible happen. Special night. Special group. Look forward to the next one." View this post on Instagram A post shared by F A F D U P L E S S I S (@fafdup) RCB will now clash with Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 22. The team winning the match will play the Qualifier 2 in Chennai on May 24. The winner of Qualifier One will go to the IPL 2024 final on May 26 in Chennai. In the ongoing IPL 2024 season, Faf has scored 421 runs at an average of 30.07 and a strike rate of above 163, with four half-centuries and a best score of 64. Coming to the IPL 2024 match, CSK won the toss and opted to bat first. RCB put on a fine score of 218/5 on the board, with skipper Faf Du Plessis (54), Virat Kohli (47) putting on a 78-run partnership, setting a fine platform for Rajat Patidar (41) and Cameron Green (38*) to put on a 71-run stand for the third wicket. Cameos from Dinesh Karthik (14) and Glenn Maxwell (16) took RCB to a 200-run plus total. RCB needed to restrict CSK below 201 runs to qualify for the playoffs and surpass their net run rate. In the run-chase of 219 runs and the task of scoring 201 runs at least to book the top four spot, CSK lost two wickets early and were reduced to 19/2. Rachin Ravindra (61) and Ajinkya Rahane (33) put up a 66-run stand to bring the side into the game. RCB sunk CSK to 129/6, but a partnership between Ravindra Jadeja (42*) and MS Dhoni (25) threatened to take the match away from RCB. However, Yash Dayal defended 11 runs in the final over, restricting CSK to just 191/7 in 20 overs. (With ANI Inputs)
20 May,2024 08:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIPL 2024 broadcaster Star Sports on Monday denied airing the audio of any personal conversation involving Rohit Sharma after the Indian captain accused the channel of "breaching" his privacy despite his requests to stop the recording. Following the matter, former Mumbai Indians' captain Rohit Sharma tweeted, "The lives of cricketers have become so intrusive that cameras are now recording every step and conversation we are having in privacy with our friends and colleagues, at training or on match days". Taking to X: The lives of cricketers have become so intrusive that cameras are now recording every step and conversation we are having in privacy with our friends and colleagues, at training or on match days. Despite asking Star Sports to not record my conversation, it was and was also then… — Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) May 19, 2024 However, the channel denied the charge in an official statement. "The clip, taken during a training session on May 16 at Wankhede stadium, for which Star Sports had authorised access, momentarily showed the senior player in conversation with his friends on the sidelines. No audio from this conversation was either recorded or broadcast." "The clip, which only showed the senior player requesting for the audio of his conversation to not be recorded, got featured in Star Sports' live coverage of pre-match preparations and lacked editorial relevance beyond this," the channel stated. Also Read: Of course Rohit has a point…definitely, says Michael Holding The video in which Rohit Sharma was seen having conversations with Abhishek Nayar leading the speculation about his future with the Mumbai-based franchise was posted by Kolkata Knight Riders' official social media handles. Later, following the controversy the video was taken down by KKR. "The need to get exclusive content and focused only on views and engagement will one day break the trust between the fans, cricketers and cricket. Let better sense prevail," Rohit said on Sunday. Also Read: IPL Qualifier 1: Salt-less KKR take on Hyderabad in power-hitting slugfest The channel said it was committed to protecting players' privacy. "Respect for players' privacy while bringing fans, moments of intense action and preparations, sits at the core of this ethos, which the broadcaster remains committed to," it stated. Later, on May 16 during the training session at the Wankhede Stadium, ahead of the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants, Rohit was seen having a conversation with Dhawal Kulkarni which was recorded by Star Sports.
20 May,2024 07:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSunrisers Hyderabad opening batsman Abhishek Sharma revealed why he made the "L" celebration after winning matches and attaining important milestones during the IPL 2024 matches. In the IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings, successive knocks from Abhishek and Heinrich Klaasen helped Sunrisers Hyderabad chase 215 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Speaking about the celebration in a video posted by the Indian Premier League (IPL) official X handle, Abhishek revealed that this celebration was started by him and his opening partner Travis Head. "It is personal to us. It stands for love, we are spreading love," said Abhishek. He also said about having his family at the stadium, "My whole family, except my father, is here. It is special to me if they are able to come here and see me, celebrate with me in such moments." Also Read: IPL 2024: How Swapnil Singh's talent found opportunity at RCB On Sunday, Abhishek Sharma achieved a historic feat by becoming the Indian batsman with the most number of sixes in a single edition of the Indian Premier League. In the IPL 2024 match against PBKS, Abhishek scored 66 runs off 28 deliveries which were laced with 5 fours and 6 sixes. He batted with a strike rate of 235.71. In the IPL 2024, Abhsihek has registered 41 sixes under his name overtaking RCB Virat Kohli's IPL 2016 record of 38 sixes. He also overtook Heinrich Klaasen's tally of 33 sixes this year David Warner's (31 sixes in 2016), and Travis Head's (31 sixes in 2024) tally to become the SRH player with the most sixes in a single season. West Indies legend Chris Gayle leads the six-hitting list, with 59 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2012 season. In the ongoing IPL 2024, featuring in 13 innings, the left-hander has scored 467 runs for SRH. He is placed at the ninth spot on the list of batters with the most runs this season. He has an average of 38.91 and a strike rate of 209.41. With this, Abhishek also has three half-centuries and a highest score of unbeaten 75 runs. Coming to the match, PBKS won the toss and elected to bat first. A hard-hitting half-century from Prabhsimran Singh (71) and knocks from Rilee Rossouw (49) and Atharva Taide (46) set the tone for a big total, taking PBKS to 214/5 in their 20 overs. T. Natarajan (2/33) was the pick of the bowlers for SRH. In the run-chase, after losing Travis Head for a duck, Abhishek Sharma (66), Nitish Kumar Reddy (37) and Heinrich Klaasen (42) played fiery knocks to propel SRH to 215/6 in 19.1 overs, winning the game with five balls left. Arshdeep Singh (2/37) was the pick of the bowlers for PBKS. Abhishek was the Player of the Match for his quickfire fifty. SRH is at number two in the points table, with eight wins, five losses and no result, with 17 points. PBKS is in the ninth spot with five wins, nine losses and 10 points. (With ANI Inputs)
20 May,2024 06:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRoyal Challengers Bengaluru's all-rounder Swapnil Singh has been playing a crucial role in the side's IPL 2024 campaign. The 33-year-old debuted for RCB last month in Hyderabad. He has been a part of the team through all their six consecutive victories in the IPL 2024. Having almost given up on his cricket career until he was picked up by RCB in the auction, Swapnil's story is one of fulfilment and redemption when talent meets opportunity in an enabling environment. Speaking on RCB Bold Diaries after RCB marched into the playoffs at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Swapnil revealed how he had contemplated retirement before RCB chose him at the auction in what was an emotional moment for him and his family. "The day of the IPL auction I was travelling to Dharamsala for a game. It was around 7-8 pm after I landed. Nothing had happened by then and the last rounds were on. When I missed out at first, I thought that's it. Frankly I thought it was all over," Swapnil said. Also Read: IN PHOTOS | IPL 2024: Indian places where overseas cricketers visited "I thought I would play out the ongoing (domestic) season, and if needed, I would end my career after playing the next season because I did not want to keep playing all my life. There are other things to do well in life as well. I was very disappointed," said the veteran cricketer, who had made his senior domestic debut back in 2006 as a teenager and also shared rooms with Virat Kohli at the age-group level. And then, the turnaround came, as RCB raised the paddle for Swapnil at the auction. Swapnil could not control his tears. "As soon as my family called, we broke down. Because no one else understands how emotional the journey has been." The all-rounder credited head coach Andy Flower for keeping faith in him during the IPL 2024 auctions. Previously, Swampnil's bowling impressed Flower in the nets. Later, Flower asked him to come for an RCB training camp. "Before RCB picked me in the auction, they had organized a trial-cum-camp. I spoke to Andy sir and told him all about how my (domestic) season had gone. I told him, 'Just give me one chance. This might be my last chance. Just have faith in me.' He told he had faith in me. He called me for the camp," Swapnil said. When he entered the side's dressing room, Swapnil knew that he would get an opportunity to play and was eager to contribute. "I never entered the ground thinking that I am not playing. My first practice session was the first match for me, it was not just a practice session. I knew that I would have to be on target from ball one if I had to play even one game. So, nets was my match," Swapnil said. "I would tell my brother that I have neither scored a four nor a six in the IPL, and I have taken only one wicket. So I really want to hit a four and a six." When Swapnil debuted for RCB, he didn't disappoint. He smashed a six and a four during his 12-run knock which came in six deliveries. With the ball, he also picked up a couple of wickets. "I knew that if I got a chance to play, our captain Faf (du Plessis) would definitely give me an over to bowl. And in my first over, I did not bowl six balls, I bowled seven. I did not know I would bowl a no-ball. And I got a wicket off the seventh ball, so it is god's blessings," Swapnil signed off. (With ANI Inputs)
20 May,2024 05:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDaren Sammy has to defy history to win again as a head coach after leading the West Indies to two Twenty20 World Cup titles as a captain. In the first eight editions, no host has won the tournament on the home soil and Daren Sammy hopes to create history with the T20 World Cup 2024. The marquee event is set to begin in June and is jointly hosted by the USA and the West Indies. In the 2012 final, Sri Lanka went closest to their title hunt but fell short against West Indies in Colombo. Sri Lankans were bowled out for 101 runs during the run chase of 138 runs, the win is remembered for the famous Gangnam Stayle celebrations by the WI players. In 2016, West Indies again registered the title to their name during the final match against England at the Eden Gardens. Carlos Brathwaite was the man to guide WI to their second title. He smashed four consecutive sixes in Ben Stokes' over. In the previous year, Daren Sammy was appointed as the head coach of West Indies' limited-overs squads. Johnson Charles and Andre Russell are the only two-time champions in the current Caribbean squad. We know how to select winning teams, Sammy said in a news conference with Caribbean media to announce the squad. We've done it before and I think, as a selection group, we're really excited about it." It's an exciting time, and this preparation did not start now. It started from the last World Cup in Australia," Sammy was quoted as saying by CNC3. "What we've been able to do throughout the last year as a T20 group, the players we've exposed, has brought us to this moment, and I think we're about to knock it out of this world.' Also Read: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar casts ballot, bats for youth to vote West Indies bowling great Curtly Ambrose was confident that the squad could play smart and consistent cricket to win the T20 World Cup 2024. West Indies and England are the only teams to have won the title twice, and no host has ever won, he said, so all that is motivation for the guys to do well. The last two T20 World Cups in the United Arab Emirates in 2021 and Australia in 2022 didn't go well for West Indies. Kieron Pollard-led team was eliminated in the group stage in the UAE with just a win. Nicholas Pooran's side didn't qualify for the main round in Australia the following year. It was a setback for West Indies cricket, dating back to the late 1800s when a collection of mainly English-speaking Caribbean nations and territories began playing under a unified banner. And, it's something Sammy's squad is determined to put right, coming off some solid individual performances in the Indian Premier League. Without the pressure of the captaincy, Pooran could be a key to success in the middle-order. The left-hander had an impressive outing in the IPL, scoring 499 runs at a strike rate of 178.21 for Lucknow Super Giants. The absence of Sunil Narine, who helped Kolkata Knight Riders top the IPL 2024 standings this season with his batting and bowling exploits, will be difficult to cover. Sammy said he'd had conversations with Narine since the last Caribbean Premier League season, but couldn't convince him into a West Indies comeback: As the news clearly stated, Narine is retired. But, led by captain Rovman Powell, West Indies has enough batting firepower to challenge the leading teams and the advantage of playing in the CPL. Young fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who has just played three T20s and is yet to make his T20 International debut, was selected ahead of Matthew Forde as the West Indies looked for extra speed in the bowling attack. Shamar Joseph has the pace, he has skills with the new ball, Sammy said. Not saying Matthew Forde doesn't but when you look at the role, it makes it easier for us to now pick the personnel to fit that role. West Indies will be playing its first two Group C games against Papua New Guinea and Uganda at Providence on June 2 and June 9 before taking on higher-ranked New Zealand and Afghanistan at Torouba and Gros Islet on June 13 and June 18. The top two teams from each of the four groups in the league stage will advance to Super 8. The T20 World Cup 2024 starts June 1 with a North American rivalry between the US and Canada in Dallas and concludes with the final on June 29 at Bridgetown, Barbados. (With AP Inputs)
20 May,2024 03:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLegendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar cast his vote during the ongoing India General Elections 2024 on Monday in Mumbai. Notably, Tendulkar has been recognised as the 'national icon' of the Election Commission (EC) to raise voter awareness in the electoral process. His son, Arjun Tendulkar, who plays for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI), was also present with his father. His wife Anjali and daughter, Sara, could not make it to Mumbai because of the latter's post-graduation convocation ceremony, as per sources. Later, Sachin and Arjun showed off their inked finger after voting. "I would like to say that problems happen because, one, you act without thinking, and two, you just keep thinking but do not act. I would urge people to cast their vote. It is extremely important for our nation's future," said Tendulkar to the media. Sachin is the leading run-scorer in international cricket, with 34,357 runs and 100 centuries in 664 international games. He is the only cricketer with a century of experience in international cricket. Sachin was also part of the Indian team that won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar, son Arjun, cast vote in Lok Sabha electionsRead @ANI Story | https://t.co/Lz7fVhAoT0#SachinTendulkar #LokSabhaPolls #cricket #LSPolls #Elections2024 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Vq2cgSgYCE — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 20, 2024 The fifth phase of the India General Elections 2024 marks an important part of the seven-phase electoral process, with extensive arrangements made to ensure a smooth and secure voting experience for all citizens. Elections in 6 Lok Sabha seats of Mumbai are underway for Phase 5. The seats are Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central. The other constituencies of Maharashtra that are a part of the ongoing election in the fifth phase include Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi and Thane. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: IPL Qualifier 1: Salt-less KKR take on Hyderabad in power-hitting slugfest The fifth phase witnesses key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success. Eight states/UTs going for polls in phase 5 are Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In a bid to create a peaceful atmosphere for the electors, a total of 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock across the 94,732 polling stations. (With agency inputs)
20 May,2024 01:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentHigh-flying Kolkata Knight Riders and an unpredictable Sunrisers Hyderabad, teams that have built their IPL 2024 campaign on power-hitting, will look to outmuscle each other in IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. If KKR were the first team to make IPL playoffs this year, SRH gave themselves a huge boost by inflicting a four-wicket loss on Punjab Kings on Sunday to eventually finish second with 17 points, ahead of Rajasthan Royals. While the two top teams from the 70-match league round have enjoyed some time off courtesy incessant rains during their respective clashes over last 10 days, the lack of turnaround time to compete in a high-intensity playoff game will also pose a unique challenge. KKR and SRH will get only a day's time to traverse thousands of kilometres and get here for the first half of the playoffs as they both featured on the final day of the league round on Sunday. SRH would feel they have hit their strides following a comprehensive win over PBKS and having also got recent game-time, which isn't the case for KKR whose last complete game was on May 11. Shreyas Iyer's KKR had won four games on the trot before rains washed away their last two league games and the two-time winners. Table-toppers KKR (19 points) will also have to fill in the huge void at the top with their second-highest run-scorer and wicketkeeper Phil Salt (435 runs) leaving the camp for national duties with England ahead of the T20 World Cup. Salt had forged a devastating partnership with Sunil Narine (461) at the top and KKR were immensely benefited by their ultra-aggressive approach with the bat, backed up well by a potent middle-order even though skipper Iyer (287) has not had a major impact yet. The washed out contest against RR in particular robbed KKR of an opportunity to give expected replacement Rahmanullah Gurbaz a go at the top with Narine, something that would have settled a few concerns certainly. Also Read: Of course Rohit has a point…definitely, says Michael Holding For KKR, the form of Nitish Rana adds more solidity to the middle-order while a fiery Andre Russell among the finishers promise them vital runs. In many ways, SRH match KKR's firepower on paper and that is what adds more to the lure of this contest. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have both got their runs at a strike rate exceeding 200 while inspiring their side to rewrite a few records. Australian southpaw Head has in many ways redefined aggressiveness with the bat while also remaining successful (533 runs with one century and four fifties). His fearlessness has also brought the best out of the young Indian batter Abhishek (467), who has clobbered an overall 41 sixes this IPL ¿ 10 more than his overall tally of 31 in the previous six seasons. SRH have also managed to find answers to a couple of questions which were lingering on for a while. At No 3, the 2016 winners have found a dependable option in Rahul Tripathi who can both accelerate as well as weather storms when bowlers are on-song. Additionally, Heinrich Klaasen has rediscovered his form after a dip in the middle of the tournament. With a crucial knock of 42 against PBKS, Klaasen has signalled having found his mojo back, which only makes SRH even more formidable. At Ahmedabad, as seen in the World Cup final last year, teams batting second have had more success, winning four out of six completed games while only twice the team which batted first could defend successfully. Also, against the style of play for both these teams ¿ to bury oppositions under mountains of runs ¿ this venue has had only two scores of 200 or above in 12 innings, which means the bowlers will also have their say. If KKR have a battery of spinners to back their fast bowlers led by Mitchell Starc, SRH's pace bowling attack led by skipper Pat Cummins has time and again produced unified efforts to make their mark. In their only meet earlier this season back in late March, KKR had pipped SRH by four runs in a high-scoring game. IPL 2024 Qualifier 1: Squads Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), KS Bharat (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aiden Markram, Abdul Samad, Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, Anmolpreet Singh, Glenn Phillips (wk), Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Upendra Yadav (wk), Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Sanvir Singh, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Marco Jansen, Akash Maharaj Singh, Mayank Agarwal (With agency inputs)
20 May,2024 11:48 AM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentAs he stood at the top of his bowling mark, waiting for the replacement ball to be tossed to him, a gamut of emotions was running through Yash Dayal’s mind. Tasked with defending 17 runs in the final over to secure Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s fairytale entry into the Playoffs, the left-arm quick had just been smashed over long-leg and out of the stadium by the Finisher Supreme, maybe on his last legs but with plenty of fight still left in him. Dhoni, Jadeja in flow Mahendra Singh Dhoni threatened to script one of those dream fightbacks in his trusted lieutenant Ravindra Jadeja’s company at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on a magical Saturday night. In a match with so much at stake for RCB and holders Chennai Super Kings, the hosts had rattled to 218 for five; in effect, they had to prevent CSK from scoring 201. 200 or under, and RCB would knock CSK out and make it to the Last Four. RCB were well on course when CSK, timidly, slumped to 129 for six. No one was talking 219; all eyes were on 201 when Dhoni walked out, 72 needed for qualification in five overs. Surely not again. Jadeja and Dhoni orchestrated a special alliance that brought the equation down to 17 off six deliveries to qualify. It was Dayal against Dhoni. Who would blink first? Just last season, Dayal, then with Gujarat Titans, had conceded five sixes in a row in the last over to Rinku Singh as Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off an improbable win. His mind briefly flashed to that fateful night, but Dayal immediately cast those thoughts aside. An excellent slower one forced Dhoni to pick out long-leg off the next ball, and Dayal only conceded a single in the next four deliveries. CSK were restricted to 191 for seven, RCB’s 27 run-win, their sixth victory on the trot, catapulting them to the Playoffs. “After what happened to me last time, there was nervousness,” Dayal, remarkably calm, conceded afterwards. “When I got hit off that first ball, I subconsciously went back to that place [the Rinku onslaught]. But I have done well in the past, I have done well after that, so all that was running through my mind was to deliver a good ball. I didn’t want to look at the scoreboard or the result. I just wanted to bowl well. I was confident in my execution.” Slower delivery to the rescue The slower delivery was Dayal’s ally in the last over. “Since I have come to this RCB set-up, I have practiced a lot and delivered in matches. All that was going through my mind was to deliver two balls well. Even if I didn’t execute well, there were seniors standing right behind me. That helped me a lot.”Quite the raging force, RCB will be hard to stop once the Playoffs begin. It should be a fun last week of IPL 2024.
20 May,2024 08:11 AM IST | Bangalore | R KaushikADVERTISEMENT
