Kolkata Knight Riders will look to iron out their flaws and get the better of a mis-firing Mumbai Indians when the two teams, placed on the opposite ends of IPL points table spectrum, clash on Friday. With six wins in nine games giving them 12 points and the second position in the IPL points table, a berth in the playoffs looks within the grasp of two-time winners KKR. But the Shreyas Iyer-led side will have to find consistency across departments and avoid any slip-ups in order to make it to the final four. Each of their three losses have come in the last six games for KKR, who were at the receiving end of a record run chase by Punjab Kings but did well to bounce back with a seven-wicket thrashing of Delhi Capitals. With the bat, KKR's requisite firepower in the ranks entwined with an ultra-aggressive approach has delivered the goods more often than not but it is their bowling which needs improvement. Mitchell Starc has given nearly 12 runs an over while managing a mere seven wickets in eight outings. On flat, batting-friendly pitches, the lanky Australian's lack of control has also been exploited well by zealous batters. Harshit Rana is among those with most wickets (11) for KKR this season but the right-arm seamer will serve a one-match ban for his animated celebrations after dismissing DC's Abhishek Porel. Vaibhav Arora's nine scalps in five games make him KKR's best bet with the ball. A small Wankhede Stadium with a batting-friendly wicket tends to encourage scores in excess of 200 and the team would be mindful of that. Spotlight will also be on Rinku Singh, whose exclusion from India's main squad for the T20 World Cup, has triggered an outpouring of sympathy for the 26-year-old. The power-hitter has not got enough game time this season which probably tilted the scales against him. For Mumbai Indians, the race to the IPL playoffs seems lost even though the five-time winners have five more games to play. Even if Mumbai Indians win each of these, they can only get to 16 points and somewhere in the middle of the points table ¿ not necessarily challenging those who have been consistently good. Also Read: BCCI cheers, fans jeer Jasprit Bumrah (14 wickets) and Gerald Coetzee (13) have been MI's best bets with the ball but despite their impressive showing, the batters' collective failure has resulted in the team's underwhelming season. Tilak Varma has been MI's best batter with 343 runs, including three fifties this IPL, but his performances have not been enough to hide the failings of others. Ishan Kishan has struck the ball well but severely lacks consistency at the top and losing wickets in heaps in the powerplay has been one of MI's biggest woes in this season. India skipper Rohit Sharma's (315 runs at strike rate of 158.29) selfless approach with the bat has not given him big scores consistently but his form will be in focus given the T20 World Cup is now just one month away. All eyes will also be on Suryakumar Yadav who has two fifties in seven IPL games this season, but it is not the consistency which is expected from the batter of his calibre. Mumbai Indians' under-fire skipper Hardik Pandya has neither dazzled with the ball nor the bat after a long injury lay-off. but the fact that he finds himself in the Indian side as vice-captain for the World Cup should motivate him to turn things around. KKR vs MI live updates: Full squads Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Varma, Harvik Desai (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood. 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, Gus Atkinson, Allah Ghazanfar, Phil Salt KKR vs MI live updates: Dream11 prediction Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt, Ishan Kishan Batsmen: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, Tim David All-rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine (c) Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Gerald Coetzee, Varun Chakaravarthy KKR vs MI live updates: Toss update Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl against Kolkata Knight Riders. MI made one change, bringing in Naman Dhir in place Mohammad Nabi, while KKR have decided to field the same playing XI. Interestingly, MI have kept Rohit Sharma as an Impact Sub for the match. KKR vs MI live updates: Confirmed playing XIs Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara. Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Philip Salt(w), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer(c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy 7:50 PM: 33/3 (3.3 Overs) KKR are in troubled waters at the moment as skipper Shreyas Iyer departs and Thushara claims his third wicket of the day. Sunil Narine is joined by Venkatesh Iyer now. 7:38 PM: 14/1 (1 over) In-form Philip Salt gets caught by Tilak Varma off Nuwan Thushara's delivery. KKR lose their first wicket but Raghuvanshi comes in and smashes a six over leg side.
03 May,2024 07:53 PM IST | Wankhede | mid-day online correspondentIndia have retained their top position in ODIs and T20Is but slipped to the second position in the annual ranking update of the latest ICC rankings in Test cricket issued on Friday. India conceded the top spot in the five-day format to Australia, the reigning World Test champion, following the annual update that drops results from the 2020-21 season and reflects all series completed since May 2021. India (120) are just four points behind Australia (124) and 15 points clear of third-placed England. South Africa are the fourth team above the 100-point mark with 103 points. India slipped mainly because their 2-1 series win in Australia in 2020-21 has dropped from the ICC rankings. The order of teams ranked from third to ninth remains the same. Only nine teams are now ranked as Afghanistan and Ireland have yet to play sufficient Tests, while Zimbabwe too are out as they have played only three Tests over the past three years. Teams need to play a minimum of eight Tests over a three-year period to get on the rankings table. Also Read: Team India's forensic analysis India, however, remain atop the ODI and T20I rankings after the annual updates, that weight matches completed prior to May 2023 at 50 per cent and subsequent matches at 100 per cent. India may have lost the ODI World Cup final to Australia but have increased their lead over them from three to six points, leading the table with 122 points. There are no changes in the top 10 but Ireland have overtaken Zimbabwe to 11th position. Third-placed South Africa have closed the gap with Australia from eight to four points, while Sri Lanka are just two points behind fifth-placed England. The T20I rankings see Australia move ahead of England to second place but they are seven points adrift of India, who lead with 264 rating points. South Africa are just two points behind England after leapfrogging two places from the sixth position that they had before the update. New Zealand also have 250 points like South Africa but behind on fractions, while the West Indies are at 249 points, which means that just three points separate third-placed England from sixth-placed West Indies. In other movements, Pakistan have dropped two places to seventh, while Scotland have overtaken Zimbabwe to 12th position. (With agency inputs)
03 May,2024 07:11 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentIndia head into the World T20 tournament with more on their mind than simply winning all of its league matches only to falter in the end. For Rohit Sharma and Co., it is a chance to pick up the pieces after a shock World Cup final exit last year and put behind them the 'chokers' tag dangling ominously overhead. There are reasons to be worried, for their most recent ICC trophy triumph dates back to 2013, thanks to MS Dhoni's exemplary leadership skills. India's 2022 World Cup campaign, while filled with anticipation and hope, ultimately culminated in disappointment and introspection. Expectations soared to their zenith, as they often are for one of cricket's powerhouse nations, but the journey was fraught with challenges and unfulfilled potential. Right from the outset, India's batting, typically a source of strength, showed signs of vulnerability. The opening partnership failed to provide the desired platform, leaving the middle order under immense pressure to salvage innings. Despite glimpses of brilliance from individual players, the team struggled to build substantial partnerships or capitalize on momentum. Furthermore, the absence of key players due to injury and poor form only added to India's woes. Notably, the void left by Jasprit Bumrah's absence in the bowling attack was keenly felt, disrupting the balance and potency of the pace battery. While some emerging talents showed promise, the overall performance of the bowling unit lacked consistency and penetration against quality opposition. Tactical decisions, mainly selection choices and batting order, came under scrutiny as the tournament progressed. Questions arose regarding the utilization of resources and the team's adaptability to different match situations. The reliance on a conservative approach in batting, particularly evident in crucial encounters, raised concerns about India's ability to evolve with the rapidly changing dynamics of T20 cricket. Also Read: BCCI cheers, fans jeer Ultimately, India's journey in the tournament was marred by missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. Despite flashes of brilliance and individual contributions, they fell short of meeting the lofty expectations. The disappointment of yet another ICC event slipping through their grasp serves as a reminder of the challenges and uncertainties inherent in competitive sport. As the team reflects on their performance and looks towards the future, there is a sense of urgency to address the shortcomings and identify areas for improvement in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Lessons India can learn from their failed T20 World Cup campaign Over-reliance on Kohli-Suryakumar India's batting prowess largely hinged upon the formidable duo of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Kohli, yet again, dominated the runs tally, amassing 296 runs at a commendable average of 98.66. However, scrutiny fell upon his strike rate, which stood at 136.40. In contrast, Suryakumar exhibited sheer aggression, smashing 239 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 189.68. Following suit were Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, contributing 128 runs apiece, albeit slightly trailing the leading duo. Chahal put on sidelines Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who clinched the prestigious Purple Cap in IPL 2022, found himself on the sidelines for the entirety of the T20 World Cup. India's preference for Ravichandran Ashwin over him sparked criticism. Chahal managed to secure just six wickets, with three of them coming against Zimbabwe. Interestingly, the leading wicket-taker of the 2022 T20 World Cup was a wrist-spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka, who scalped an impressive tally of 15 wickets. Cautious batting did more harm than good India's cautious batting strategy proved to be their downfall once more in the ICC tournament. Remarkably, their three totals exceeding 170 runs were achieved against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Netherlands. However, when facing tougher opposition, India faltered, posting scores of 168/6, 160/6, and 133/9 against England, Pakistan, and South Africa respectively, highlighting the challenges they faced against stronger adversaries. Openers' failure to capitalise Powerplay The Indian opening pair of Rohit and KL Rahul struggled to make an impact during the Powerplay overs. Within the initial six overs, India maintained a modest scoring rate of just 6.02 runs per over, faltering with the loss of nine wickets and managing to hit only seven sixes. Skipper Rohit's individual performance was subdued, accumulating a mere 116 runs with a strike rate of 106.42. Meanwhile, Rahul's contributions against Pakistan, Netherlands, South Africa, and England amounted to scores of 4, 9, 9, and 5 respectively, reflecting a challenging phase for the talented batsman. Pace let us down India's fast bowling arsenal encountered significant challenges in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, sidelined due to injury during the tournament. Although Arshdeep Singh exhibited glimpses of potential with a tally of 10 wickets, stalwarts like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami struggled to make notable impacts. However, India found solace in Hardik's stellar all-round performance. He contributed significantly with both bat and ball, claiming eight wickets and amassing 128 runs, highlighted by a blazing 33-ball 63 in the semi-final encounter.
03 May,2024 06:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarIndia on Tuesday named their 15-member provisional squad for the T20 World Cup in the Americas with Rohit Sharma leading the side and Hardik Pandya being retained as his deputy. Sharma, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson form the top-order batting unit, while Pandya, hard-hitting batter Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will be India's designated all-rounders. Leg-spinner Chahal, who last played for India in August 2023, is the second wrist spinner in the team alongside Kuldeep Yadav. Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace battery comprising Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Siraj, while Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, and Rinku Singh will board the flight to the States as traveling reserves. The T20 World Cup begins on June 2 in the USA and the Caribbean. India are placed in Group A of the tournament alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA. Their campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the newly-constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York before they take on Pakistan in one of the most awaited matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue will then play USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively. India's squad for T20 World Cup Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan Also Read: BCCI cheers, fans jeer India's T20 World Cup group-stage schedule India vs Ireland - June 5 (New York) - 8.00 PM IST India vs Pakistan - June 9 (New York) - 8.00 PM IST India vs USA - June 12 (New York) - 8.00 PM IST India vs Canada - June 15 (Lauderhill) - 8.00 PM IST
03 May,2024 05:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe T20 World Cup 2024 will help build cricket's profile and popularity in the United States ahead of its appearance at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the sport's world body said. The showpiece 20-over event will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States in June with New York, Florida and Dallas as venues. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said it was confident the T20 World Cup 2024 would help the sport leave a mark in a land where baseball rules. "The fact that a World Cup has come to the US -- the largest sports market in the world -- that in itself has generated a lot of interest," Chris Tetley, the ICC's head of events, told reporters in a media roundtable on Tuesday. "This is a key stepping stone for the promotion of the game towards 2028 and beyond in terms of providing world-class cricket for the massive existing fanbase that the sport already has in the US," he added. "We are trying to give them something they haven't had on their doorstep before and maybe pique the interest of the American sports community by telling them that cricket's actually an older sport in the US than baseball." Also Read: BCCI cheers, fans jeer T20 Cricket will feature as one of five new sports at the Los Angeles Olympics. Cricket's only previous appearance at an Olympics was in 1900 in Paris, where a team from Great Britain defeated France. Nassau County's Eisenhower Park, near New York, has seen a 34,000-seater temporary stadium, with a drop-in cricket pitch, constructed. It will host the hotly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on June 9 among its eight scheduled World Cup games. "We are really happy with the pitch," said stadium manager Damian Hough. "Everything that we have done has exceeded expectations. I can't predict scores, that's for the batters. "We hope that we have got a typical T20 pitch where there is good bounce, good pace and value for shots. Obviously you want batters to play shots all around the ground." Also Read: Team India's forensic analysis Hough and his team introduced drop-in pitches more than a decade ago at Adelaide Oval, where he is head curator. But creating the stadium in Nassau County has seen different challenges, including growing the pitch in the sub-tropics of Florida before transporting it 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) north through multiple climatic zones. Tetley said the stadium would be dismantled after the T20 extravaganza, but the "world-class facilities" would leave a lasting legacy for cricket in the United States. (With AFP inputs)
03 May,2024 05:02 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the T20 World Cup 2024, former all-rounder Ajay Jadeja wants Rohit Sharma to bat at number three and instead Virat Kohli should open the innings for India. The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin in June in the USA and the West Indies. India announced their 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup and will begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5. "For me, Virat Kohli opens. Who goes back? Rohit Sharma bats at three. He gets a little cushion and gets to understand the game, he has so much going on, in his mind as a captain," Jadeja told Jio Cinema. "If you have Virat in your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get, so, might as well use him. He's best at the top and the powerplay allows him to settle in," he added. Also Read: IPL 2024, MI vs KKR: A turnaround for Paltan at the Wankhede? Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, Ajay Jadeja also backed the selection of all-rounder Hardik Pandya who is currently struggling with his form. "The spotlight is on him for obvious reasons. He's a special player, a rare commodity you find in our country where somebody bowls seam-up and can make it to the side with his batting," he said referring to the furore caused by his elevation to Mumbai Indians captaincy replacing Rohit. Pandya, who is enduring a poor run in the IPL 2024, will be Rohit's deputy during the T20 World Cup 2024. "The selection has not been on form, there's no doubt about it. It depends on how you want to play. It's one of the things I look at this team and think they don't have many options. "You have established players in the side, everybody is so solid with the numbers that they play at, and what stage they play. It will all depend on what Rohit thinks," Jadeja said. (With PTI Inputs)
03 May,2024 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Indian pacer S Sreesanth ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 said that Hardik Pandya's presence and Virat Kohli will make a great combination while chasing the totals for India. With Pandya struggling with his form, the selectors backed him for the 15-man squad by looking at his past performances and ability to shift the momentum quickly with the bat and ball. If his selection in the squad was not enough, many were surprised by his appointment as vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the West Indies. But Sreesanth backed the selector's decision to include Pandya in the squad. "We have seen what he can do on the field minus this year's IPL. The way he's been batting and the way he's been bowling, for the country, he even led the country in one series and we won," Sreesanth remarked during a discussion on Star Sports. "It was asked to Rohit about that and he said sometimes I'm the captain and sometimes I'm not. But that doesn't change the team's aura and atmosphere. Also Read: IPL 2024, MI vs KKR: A turnaround for Paltan at the Wankhede? "So, it's one good thing that Hardik Pandya comes in and bats, especially when he's chasing and Virat is on the other side, I think the combination they create is great." Hardik Pandya last represented India during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 against Bangladesh. Later, the veteran recovered from his ankle injury and was named as the captain of Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2024. Speaking about Pandya's bowling, Sreesanth said, "Hardik can take the new ball or the old ball, especially against Pakistan, but it's not only against Pakistan, we are going to play a lot of different teams. "So, it's an opportunity for Hardik to forget what he's done in this IPL and maybe, you never know, there are a few matches left and he may just come up." Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody also supported Pandya's selection in the Rohit-led team, saying he currently stands head and shoulders above other contenders. Hardik Pandya in the IPL 2024 has been underwhelming with the willow as well as with the ball. So far, he has been able to score 197 runs in 10 IPL 2024 matches and with the ball he has registered six wickets. "Name me three other people who can do what Hardik Pandya is doing. That's the bottom line. That skill of being a genuine all-rounder who can bat in your top six and potentially bowl four overs for you is very rare in India at the moment," Moody said. "Yes, there are a few others that play domestic cricket and are okay, but not in international cricket, which is of a different standard. So, I think he stands head and shoulders above anyone who is competing for that particular role. "I think (chief selector) Ajit Agarkar has recognised that that is the case and we have to give him a longer rope with regards to his recovery, with regards to his form, and everything else, because he is a very precious commodity in this country," Moody added. The Aussie also said Shivam Dube should bowl a lot at training so that he is ready for the job when required during a match. Moody described his selection as a "smart move". "I'd be incredibly surprised if Dubey hasn't been doing his bowling workloads, which is basically, not bowling out in the middle in competition but bowling at practice and bowling in pre-games, getting his number of balls up per week to make sure that his body is conditioned to bowling. Even though he might not have to bowl in match situation, but he's got the bowling, so it's not like he hasn't bowled for two months and then suddenly called upon to bowl in a World Cup tournament. "So, he'll be up and ready physically for the opportunity. So, to me Shivam Dubey is a smart pick," Moody said. (With PTI Inputs)
03 May,2024 03:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A smiling Rohit Sharma sat down for the press conference on Thursday afternoon at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. After the usual instructions from the media in-charge, the floor was opened to questions. One might have anticipated that the initial inquiry would center on the World Cup itself. However, this wasn't the case. Instead, Rohit Sharma found himself fielding a question he did not expect to be asked so soon. “Hi, Rohit! How does it feel to be a captain (to a player), then be captained (by the same player), only to be a captain again (to the same player)?” Rohit smiled and said: “Not everything goes your way. See, it is part of life. Not everything will go your way. It has been a great experience. Before (also), I have not been captain and I have played under a lot of captains. It is no different or new to me.” Also Read: Record 262-run chase in T20 history; half-century to century off just 10 balls for Will Jacks “Whatever is there and you go by it and then try and do what is required from you as a player. I have only tried to do that in the last one month or so,” he hastily remarked. Poor Rohit! What else was he going to say? That he wasn’t expecting to be removed from MI leadership so suddenly? Of course not. However, his response to the question was somewhat playful yet calculated, lacking the usual extensive and convoluted explanations he often engages himself in. Nonetheless, it proved sufficient to make headlines. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, seated next to Rohit, staunchly defended the inclusion of the under-fire Pandya in India's Twenty20 World Cup campaign. Questions regarding his dip in form are circulating in the media and while he hasn’t been completely ineffective, he is leaking runs more than usual. Although Pandya took over the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians this IPL season from Rohit, he has faced relentless jeering from spectators due to his inability to match the form of his esteemed predecessor. The 30-year-old’s appointment as vice-captain for the upcoming tournament, co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, was particularly astonishing. "Nothing discussed with regards to vice-captaincy...you want all guys to be in good form. He's come after a long-ish layoff... The hope is that he keeps building on that form," Agarkar said. "We know what he brings, how much balance he gives to the team. I don't think there's a replacement for the things that he can do as a cricketer at the moment, especially when it comes to the way he bowls. It will give Rohit options to play different combinations." If Pandya the bowler is at all the reason he made it to the squad, there is every reason for an average Indian cricket fan to feel anxious. Although he has scored 197 runs at a strike rate of 150.38 with the willow this IPL, his bowling has been worrisome. In about ten games thus far, the right-arm bowler has scalped six wickets at an average of 42.16 and an economy rate of 11. Speaking about the ‘balance’ Agarkar believes Pandya will bring to the team, the last time the Baroda all-rounder stepped onto the field donning an India jersey was in October last year during the World Cup. To play under alien conditions in the States, his past deeds with the ball will be of minimal utility, truth be told. It is always the current form that matters. But Agarkar harbours lofty expectations and it will remain that way. "We have another month and a little bit, till we play our first game. So, we know that he is doing that and the hope is that he keeps building on that form. His fitness, for us, is critical and so far he has gone okay in this IPL," said the former India pacer. Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views and do not represent the views of Mid-Day.
03 May,2024 03:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarThe five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), are struggling to perform in various departments in the IPL 2024. Having won just three matches out of 10 games, the Paltan has been placed at the bottom of the table. Under Hardik Pandya's captaincy, the Mumbaikars do not seem to be at their absolute best. Pandya-led MI faced three consecutive defeats at the start of the IPL 2024. They won their first IPL 2024 game in their home ground Wankhede Stadium. After posting 234, they defeated Delhi Capitals by 29 runs. In the very next game, Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced a defeat against Paltan at the Wankhede Stadium. Also Read: IN PHOTOS | IPL 2024, MI vs KKR: Here's all you need to know During Delhi's match, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Tim David and Romario Shepherd delivered impressive knocks. After showcasing a big show with the willow, pacer Gerald Coetzee too bagged four wickets at the venue, followed by lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah who registered two wickets. In RCB's game, Kishan, Rohit and even premier batsman Suryakumar Yadav delivered stunning knocks. Facing just 19 balls, Suryakumar smashed 52 runs including 5 fours and 4 sixes. Ahead of today's Wankhede clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, will MI be able to turn the tables in their favour? The team has seen an unexpected drop in Rohit Sharma's form. With Rohit and Suraykumar being quite aware of the Wankhede track, the dugout will heavily rely on these two. KKR has a very poor record against MI and will eagerly look to make it better. Also, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer being a Mumbai lad will be quite aware of the Wankhede's conditions. The clash between the Mumbai boys will be worth watching ahead of the IPL 2024 match. Paltan needs to win all their remaining matches by maintaining a good net run rate and later have to depend on other matches' results. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Varma, Harvik Desai, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood.
03 May,2024 01:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRecord run chase in T20 Shashank Singh celebrates Punjab Kings's win over KKR at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. PIC/AFP IPL-17 will be known for breaking records week after week, and this week was no different. Punjab Kings successfully chased a 262-run target—the highest ever in T20 cricket as the visitors beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens with eight wickets and eight balls to spare. Batting first, KKR smashed 261-6. In reply, to everyone's surprise, the target was easily chased thanks to a century from comeback man and opener Jonny Bairstow and an unbeaten 28-ball 68 from Shashank Singh. The match also witnessed 42 sixes, the most in a T20 match, including 24 sixes by Punjab Kings, the most in a T20 innings. Also Read: IPL 2024: Will Rinku Singh be able to put on a show vs MI at Wankhede? Half-century to century off just 10 balls for Will Jacks Will Jacks celebrates his century and RCB’s win over GT at Ahmedabad recently. PIC/AFP The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) top-order batter shocked one and all by going from half-century to century in the span of just 10 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT). The Englishman, who, at one stage, had a run-a-ball 17, smashed a 41-ball hundred to guide RCB home. The right-handed batter reached his century off 31 balls, but he went berserk thereafter, smashing six sixes and two fours in the next 10 balls as the bottom-placed side scored 58 runs in two overs to chase the 201-run target comfortably with four overs to spare. Jacks's unbeaten knock was laced with five fours and 10 sixes. Two losses, both last-ball defeats for RR SRH pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of RR’s Rovman Powell off the last ball. PIC/AFP TABLE-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a near-perfect run in this edition of IPL, with just two defeats, both coming off the last ball. Earlier last month, they failed to defend 196-3 against GT. On Thursday, they endured a one-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Batting first, SRH posted a challenging 201-3, thanks to half-centuries by Nitish Reddy (76 not out), opener Travis Head (58), and a quickfire unbeaten 19-ball 42 by Heinrich Klaasen. RR, in their chase, were cruising at 181-4 in 17.1 overs. With 21 required off 17 balls, they seemed poised for their ninth victory and a confirmed place in the playoffs. However, the inaugural IPL champions suffered a dramatic collapse, managing just two runs in the next 10 balls for the loss of two wickets. With two required off the final ball, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar trapped Rovman Powell leg before wicket, handing RR their first defeat in five games. T20 World Cup-bound players fail to deliver India’s T20 World Cup-bound RR leggie Yuzvendra Chahal during his 0-62 against SRH. His most expensive figures in IPL. PIC/PTI The T20 World Cup selection must have brought a sigh of relief to Indian players. However, none could celebrate by producing a match-winning effort. On selection day, Mumbai Indians's (MI) Rohit Sharma (4), Suryakumar Yadav (10), Hardik Pandya (0) failed with the bat. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah produced an economical spell, but went wicketless. MI skipper Pandya claimed two wickets with the ball, but in a losing cause against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). On Wednesday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Shivam Dube was dismissed for a duck and conceded 14 runs in the only over bowled against Punjab Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed just two and went for 0-22 off three overs in CSK's losing cost. On the other hand, Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh was smashed for 52 off four overs. While on Thursday, RR skipper Samson was dismissed for a duck and leggie Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 0-62 off four overs, his worst figures in IPL. RR opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only one to continue his fine form, scoring 40-ball 67. However, his effort went in vain against SRH. Below 200 is no guarantee for victory With IPL-17 witnessing 200-plus runs scored every other day, 200 or less is now seen as a below-par total, with the team batting second winning without much hiccups. Last Saturday, despite LSG propelling to 196-5, the chase seemed like a cakewalk for RR as the Samson-led side won easily with seven wickets and an over to spare. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday too witnessed similar results. Delhi Capitals managed 153-9 on Monday in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, KKR won with 21 balls to spare. On Tuesday, MI were restricted to 144-7. LSG faced no major problems despite completing the chase in the final over. While on Wednesday, Punjab chased CSK's 162-7 with seven wickets and 13 balls to spare.
03 May,2024 12:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Rohan KoliIndia’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed on Thursday that there were no concerns whatsoever within the selection panel over Virat Kohli’s strike-rate when they got down to pick the team for next month’s T20 World Cup. “Experience matters a lot, there was never any talk [among the selectors] regarding Virat’s strike-rate. There’s no point over-thinking,” Agarkar said at a press conference at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. While opening the innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in this IPL, Kohli has amassed 500 runs in 10 games at a strike-rate 147.49. He was India’s top run-getter (296 in six games) at the 2022 T20 World Cup in UAE. “We have not been discussing his [Kohli] strike-rate. There’s a difference between IPL and international cricket. You need experience. We have got enough balance and power in the team. You try and take the positives from what is happening in the IPL. The pressure of a World Cup is different,” remarked Agarkar. Though MI’s Rohit (315 runs in 10 IPL games), Kohli and RR’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (249 runs in nine games) are opening the innings for their respective IPL teams, Rohit made it clear that the Indian team management has not decided who will open in the tournament that will be held in the US and West Indies. Also Read: Pacer Chahar’s injury doesn’t look good: Coach Fleming India 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. When asked why hard-hitting batsman Rinku Singh was not considered, Agarkar admitted it was a tough call: “It’s probably the toughest thing that we have had to discuss, frankly. He [Rinku] has done nothing wrong, nor has Shubman Gill for that matter. Again, it’s just the [team] combination. Like Rohit said, we are not quite sure what conditions we’ll get, so we wanted to have enough options.” When mid-day asked the India captain how he will use Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube as bowling options, Rohit gave the impression that their chief role will be with the bat: “The bowlers with some kind of skill sets have good chances of success in this format. If we need Shivam to bowl a few overs, he will bowl a few overs. Same with Hardik. He’s been bowling regularly in the IPL whenever required. He has played all [IPL] games, so fitness-wise, there’s no issue.” On what caused the exclusion of KL Rahul, the chief selector said: “KL is a terrific player. We were looking at someone who bats in the middle [order]. At the moment, he [KL] is batting at the top. Sanju [Samson], we like to believe has the ability to come down the order, if need be. Rishabh [Pant] is batting down the order for DC [Delhi Capitals]. It’s about the slots we needed [to fill]. We felt these two are better and have spent more time down the order which might be needed at the World Cup.” One of the main aspects of criticism over the latest selection is the fact that there are four spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal —in the squad. Rohit responded to that, saying, “I don’t want to go too much into detail on it. I definitely wanted four spinners. We have played a lot of cricket there [WI]. We know what the conditions are like. The matches start at 10 or 10.30 in the morning, so there is a bit of a technical aspect involved in this. Maybe in the first press conference I do in the West Indies, I’ll give more details on this. I’m not going to say it in public now, but I’ll definitely say it there. I wanted four spinners for sure,” Rohit added.
03 May,2024 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureADVERTISEMENT
