Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar urges players to play and excel in Test cricket. He also said that the traditional format brings real honour to the players. Dilip Vengsarkar said that parents nowadays get lured by the fame and pay cheques in the T20 leagues but the focus should be on red ball cricket. It would also help them gain success in other formats "Parents are overawed with the success of IPL, its teams and players," Vengsarkar said here at an event to launch cricket coach Jwala Singh's book, titled Pathway to Cricketing Excellence and Beyond. Dilip Vengsarkar also mentioned that parents might lean on training their children to become batsmen but bowlers hold equal importance irrespective of the format. Also Read: IPL 2024: England players return home for international duties "The bowlers also have a big role to play not just in the IPL but also Test cricket, they can be match-winners. Try to play Test cricket for your country, if you are a good Test cricketer you can play other formats of the game," he said. "You will be rated only by what you have done for the country in Test cricket. IPL is a good format, it is good entertainment and it also meets the finances, which is also very important but Test match cricket is the ultimate," Vengsarkar added. Jwala Singh, who is known for taking India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal under his wings at a young age, said the role of parents and right coaches is equally important. "When you play any sports there are three pillars, one is the player, and the second is the parents and third is the coach. It has to be a combined effort of all three and that is what this book is about," Jwala said while giving insights into his book which he has co-authored with Sreekar Mothukuri. "The parents, today, they watch the IPL and so much of media (attention) and the (overall) outcome, they think their child would become a cricketer and he will earn a lot of money and fame. But that is not the way to play a sport," added Jwala, who has also coached India batter Prithvi Shaw. The coach said if a child is passionate enough, he should be given a certain number of years to harness it. "If any of the parents are thinking that, it is absolutely wrong. If a child has passion (for the sport) and it continues for (a number of) years, that is how it will work out," he added. (With PTI Inputs)
13 May,2024 10:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPunjab Kings' all-rounder Liam Livingstone returned to England from the IPL 2024 for knee recovery ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Along with him, Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Will Jacks and Reece Topley have also left the IPL 2024. These players will now join the England team for the T20I series against Pakistan. The series is set to begin on May 22. In the IPL 2024, Punjab Kings only managed to win four matches out of 12 games and are placed at the bottom of the table. Also Read: IPL 2024 | "...that is what Virat Kohli brings": Harbhajan Singh on RCB's turnaround in the tournament "IPL done for another year, had to get my knee sorted for the upcoming World Cup, Livingstone wrote on his Instagram wall. Thanks once again to the Punjab Kings fans for all their love and support. Disappointing season as a team and personally, but as always, I loved every minute of playing in the IPL, he added. Livingstone will not feature in Punjab Kings' last two IPL 2024 matches against Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The injury is not serious but the England management, as per ESPNcricinfo, decided to give him more time to get it treated before their home T20I series against Pakistan. After the Pakistan series, England will travel to the West Indies and the USA for the T20 World Cup 2024. They will start their campaign on June 4 against Scotland in Bridgetown, Barbados. Livingstone had a lean IPL this season, scoring 111 runs from seven matches and took just three wickets. Meanwhile, other England players in the IPL who are part of their World Cup squad Moeen Ali (CSK), Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow (PBKS) and Phil Salt (KKR) will be home-bound very soon. (With PTI Inputs)
13 May,2024 09:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe toss for the clash between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Monday here at the Narendra Modi Stadium has been delayed due to bad weather. According to ESPNcricinfo, a slight drizzle was witnessed that led to centre covers being firmly on the field. KKR have already qualified for the IPL playoffs with 18 points following their win against Mumbai Indians last Saturday at the iconic Eden Gardens. In a game reduced to 16 overs a side due to rain, a fantastic comeback effort by KKR spinners helped derail the MI run-chase of 158 runs, restricting them to 139/8 in 16 overs in the IPL 2024 clash making the two-time champions the first team to reach the playoffs. Also Read: IN PHOTOS | IPL 2024, GT vs KKR: A must-win game for the Titans! The Knights equalled the record for most wins at a particular venue along with five-time champion Mumbai Indians which is 52 in the history of the cash-rich league. While GT chances of featuring in the playoffs are quite slim. If they clinch victory in their remaining two games, then they will be able to move 14 points their qualification will depend on their net run rate. Gujarat Titans Squad: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, David Miller, Matthew Wade(w), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Kartik Tyagi, Sandeep Warrier, Abhinav Manohar, Sharath BR, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Spencer Johnson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Manav Suthar, Sushant Mishra, Vijay Shankar, Kane Williamson, Wriddhiman Saha. Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Philip Salt(w), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Suyash Sharma, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Dushmantha Chameera, Srikar Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Sherfane Rutherford, Sakib Hussain, Allah Ghazanfar. 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.
13 May,2024 08:10 PM IST | Ahmedabad | ANIFormer Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that Royal Challengers Bengaluru should bring back Virat Kohli as captain to take the side forward from the next season. In the IPL 2024, Virat Kohli tops the chart of the leading run-scores. He has 661 runs in 13 innings with a strike rate of 155.16. RCB is currently in the fifth position with 12 points. "If they don't qualify, they should look to get some Indian guy. Why not bring Virat Kohli back as captain? As Dhoni has a lot of impact in Chennai, Virat Kohli is a big leader, he knows the kind of cricket they need to play," Harbhajan said in the latest episode of the Star Sports' Press Room. "Now they are playing with lot of aggression, lot of intent and that is what Virat Kohli brings. I would like to see Virat Kohli leading the side going forward." Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma, Jay Shah pose with India's WC jersey The upset conversations between Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjeev Goenka and captain KL Rahul have been the talk of the town. Following the matter, Harbhajan Singh opened up saying that the talks have been behind the doors. "There can be differences between captain and the management but the talks should be behind doors which is better for everyone. The talks should have been inside the dressing room. Whatever talks are going on, it is not good for the team's atmosphere. "The timing was also not right," he said. Harbhajan Singh gave the example of Kolkata Knight Riders' owner Shah Rukh Khan. "KKR is a great unit, huge fan of Khan sahaab. Hats off to that guy, he just doesn't interfere at all when it comes to cricket. Their dressing room looks very secured. That's what a good mentor does, wherever he goes, ensure that everyone is on the same page and play as one unit. A happy team is a winning team," he said. Following the campaign of Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024, Harbhajan said, "Cricket is a team game, we win together we lose together, not a single individual can win you a tournament. You have to do well collectively and that didn't happen. Of course, there were lot of issues with captaincy change, we heard people were not willing to accept Hardik Pandya as captain. "These are all rumours but they didn't play like Mumbai Indians. They didn't play well collectively as a team," he said. Harbhajan also heaped praise on leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's performance in the ongoing IPL. "He (Chahal) is the only bowler who is bowling like a spinner. He is spinning the ball, he's got flight, he's got variation and using it very wisely. When I look at him bowling and other spinners, there is a vast difference." The former India off-spinner also highlighted the significance of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Chennai Super Kings side. "I still believe Dhoni has a lot of impact. The game at Wankhede he scored 20 odd runs and that was the difference in the end. What else do you need, his guidance, he delivers when it matters the most."Former India batter Ambati Rayudu, meanwhile, wants Rajasthan Royals to open with Sanju Samson once Jos Buttler returns for national duty. "They should open with Sanju Samson, he has been terrific form. With Sanju at the top he can control the innings, can carry his bat for 20 overs," he said. (With PTI Inputs)
13 May,2024 07:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs the T20 World Cup 2024 is inching closer, BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Team Indian captain Rohit Sharma posed with the new jersey holding in their hands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. "It is time to welcome our team in new colours," BCCI said in a post on X with a video that showed Jay Shah and Rohit Sharma going to the Narendra Modi stadium and holding the jersey that has vibrant colours. "Presenting the new T20I #TeamIndia Jersey with our Honorary Secretary @JayShah Captain @ImRo45 and official Kit Partner @adidas," BCCI added. The jersey was unveiled on May 6. BCCI's official kit sponsor Adidas shared a video featuring Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav while Team India also reposted the video on their social media handle. Also Read: IN PHOTOS | IPL 2024, GT vs KKR: A must-win game for the Titans! "One jersey. One Nation. Presenting the new Team India T20 jersey," the caption of the video read. India's jersey for the upcoming ICC showpiece event has tri-colour lines on a v-shaped neck and the classic Adidas stripes on saffron colour sleeves. The jersey has a blue colour towards the front with 'INDIA' written at the centre of the jersey. It is time to welcome our team in new colors. Presenting the new T20I #TeamIndia Jersey with our Honorary Secretary @JayShah, Captain @ImRo45 and official Kit Partner @adidas. pic.twitter.com/LKw4sFtZeR — BCCI (@BCCI) May 13, 2024 Previously, BCCI announced India's 15-man squad ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Shubman Gill and Rinku failed to find spots in the main squad. Following the performances in the IPL 2024, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson secured their spots in the squad. The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin on June 2 in the USA and the West Indies. India is placed in Group A of the ICC tournament alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA. Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, India will play their first game against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The clash between the arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on June 9. The clashes against the USA and Canada will take place on June 12 and 15, respectively. India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), 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. SirajReserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan. (With ANI Inputs)
13 May,2024 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said that the "Green Shirts" need the same mindset in the T20 World Cup 2024 and strike rates as they had against Ireland in the 2nd T20I. Pakistan won the 2nd T20I match against Ireland by seven wickets at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin. The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin from June 2 in the USA and the West Indies. Initially, Pakistan lost two wickets for 13 runs in 1.4 overs while chasing a target of 194 runs. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan rescued the side and milked 140 runs off just 78 balls. Pakistan won the match with 19 balls to spare. Afridi lauded wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and batter Fakhar Zaman. Also Read: IPL 2024: Zaheer Khan praises RCB for their turnaround in the tournament "We needed this win. Well done team, sp the way Rizwan and Fakhar played. We need the same mindset in the World Cup and similar strike rates for most batsmen. Congrats to Shaheen on 300 intl wickets, well done," Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi wrote on X. Taking to X: We needed this win. Well done team, sp the way Rizwan and Fakhar played. We need the same mindset in the World Cup and similar strike rates for most batsmen. Congrats to Shaheen on 300 intl wickets, well done #PakvsIre — Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 13, 2024 Babar Azam's team successfully chased down Ireland's good total of 193/7 with more than three overs remaining, thanks to a 140-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan (75*) and Fakhar Zaman (78), giving Pakistan's powerful skipper a record-breaking 45th T20I triumph. During the 140-run stand, Zaman showcased his abilities by smashing 6 maximums, whereas Rizwan shouldered him during the run chase. While Fakhar was dismissed in the 15th over to provide the hosts with a glimmer of hope, Azam Khan joined the party to hit an unbeaten 30 from just 10 deliveries to guide Pakistan home. The final of the T20I series against Ireland will be played in Dublin on Tuesday. (With ANI Inputs)
13 May,2024 06:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Actions speak louder than words, they say. Actions can as well speak ‘as loud as words, sometimes. Perhaps, there is no better example than Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka. The emergence of a post-match video capturing Goenka's animated exchange with seemingly calm skipper KL Rahul does enough to fuel speculation surrounding the team's leadership dynamics and uncontrollable chaos back in the dressing room. Besides cricketers and commentators, several fans have voiced disapproval of Goenka’s public display of ire directed towards Rahul and coach Justin Langer. This sentiment even resonated with an ex-top order batsman of now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, which was also formerly owned by Goenka. “I understand there will always be differences. You will not always be backed by the manager, but this was no way to deal with it. KL (Rahul) is a reputable figure, imagine what others in the squad must be through if the captain himself is being publicly rebuked like this. I feel for him, he is not in the best of form at present and got dropped from the national team, and now things have come down to this. It is really unfortunate,” he told Mid-Day on the condition of anonymity. He continued: “The team management deserves to ask questions, but a more discreet venue, like the dressing room, could have been ideal for discussing their performance. Much respect for KL for handling it all so maturely. There is no harm in being respectful, when will they learn?” Also Read: Bats, balls and what not! Lucknow find themselves teetering on the brink of elimination from IPL playoffs, thrusting Rahul's future as their skipper into the spotlight. Following a resounding defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad last week, speculation swirls regarding the 32-year-old’s potential relinquishment of captaincy to focus on his batting prowess in the final two matches. However, amid the conjecture, the prevailing sentiment suggests that he will likely retain his leadership mantle for the upcoming must-win games. While no definitive decision has been reached, insiders have hinted that should Rahul opt to prioritise his batting, such a choice would be met with understanding from the team's management. The prospect of Rahul shedding the responsibilities of captaincy to channel his energy into bolstering the team's batting order looms large, albeit amid a backdrop of uncertainty. Rahul's struggles, particularly during the Powerplay overs, have been a recurring theme throughout the season, casting a shadow over the team's prospects. Despite amassing a commendable tally of 460 runs in 12 appearances, Rahul's strike rate of 136.09 raises concerns, positioning him unfavourably among the league's leading run-scorers. The stark contrast between his strike rate and that of his counterparts underscores the imperative for remedial action. Also Read: Controversies... a sure way to sustain IPL interest, right? If Rahul chooses to step down from his leadership role, vice-captain Nicholas Pooran emerges as the frontrunner to take charge for the remainder of the season. Pooran's prowess with the bat, coupled with his astute understanding of the game, position him as a compelling candidate to lead the team in Rahul's absence. As the season hurtles towards its climax, the onus falls on LSG's leadership cadre to navigate the choppy waters and steer the team towards redemption. While Lucknow's mathematical chances of playoff qualification remain intact, the daunting task of significantly bolstering their net run rate looms large. Come Monday, Rahul once again faces an uphill battle to salvage his team’s campaign from the brink of disappointment at the Kotla.
13 May,2024 05:49 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarFormer Indian pacer Zaheer Khan praised Royal Challengers Bengaluru for their turnaround in the IPL 2024. In the IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals, RCB won by 47 runs. The side has now registered five victories in five games and is currently sitting in the fifth spot with a net run rate of +0.387. Speaking to the JioCinema after the game, Zaheer said, "They lost six in a row and have now picked up five consecutive wins. This does not happen without passion, so you have to appreciate that. We do not usually see a team revive its season like this after so many losses, so RCB gets full marks. Whatever you can control is what you base your expectations on, and RCB is showing that. Their last match is against CSK, so one of those teams, or both of them, could end up with 14 points. Due to this, the other results are important. They have improved their run rate as well. If all these things go RCB's way until the final match, it will be an extremely interesting contest." Also Read: IN PHOTOS | IPL 2024, GT vs KKR: A must-win game for the Titans! The IPL 2024 match win against DC has helped the Challengers claim the fifth spot which was practically unattainable three weeks ago when they lost against Kolkata Knight Riders by just one run. RCB will now lock horns with Chennai Super Kings in their last league games. If RCB manages to secure a win against CSK, then they might get a chance to enter the playoffs, but only if other outcomes go their way since SRH and LSG (two games left for each side, both have 12 points) can both advance to 16 points and knock RCB out. Coming to the IPL 2024 match, DC opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Knocks from Rajat Patidar (52 in 32 balls), Will Jacks (41 in 29 balls,), Cameron Green (32* in 24 balls, with one four and two sixes) and Virat Kohli (27) took RCB to 187/9 in their 20 overs. Rasikh Salam (2/23) and Khaleel Ahmed (2/31) were the pick of the bowlers for DC. In the run-chase of 188 runs, Delhi was restricted to 30/4 at one point. A partnership of 56 runs between Shai Hope (29 in 23 balls) and Axar Patel helped DC back into the game. Stand-in captain, Axar scored his second half-century of the season, making 57 in 39 balls to keep his side alive. However, RCB bowlers kept the run flow in control and bundled out DC for 140 runs in 19.1 overs, winning by 47 runs. Yash Dayal (3/20) and Lockie Ferguson (2/23) were among the top bowlers for RCB. Cameron Green secured the 'Player of the Match' award for his knock of 32*, figures of 1/19 in four overs and a run-out of in-form Tristan Stubbs. (With ANI Inputs)
13 May,2024 05:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShubman Gill's return to form will provide a big boost to Gujarat Titans as they square off against table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders in their must-win IPL game on Monday. Gill roared back into form with his fourth IPL hundred to keep GT's slim playoff hopes alive with a comfortable win against Chennai Super Kings at home in their last outing. Gill and Sai Sudharsan's twin centuries were the cornerstone of the hosts' huge total and their role will be crucial once again as they face KKR, which has become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. As many as seven teams are still in the race for the IPL 2024 playoffs. While Rajasthan Royals (16) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (14) are well-placed at second and third position, three teams -- CSK, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants -- are at 12 points each. GT and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are at 10 points and can reach a maximum of 14 points. With a negative net run-rate, GT's chance are the least and it will take a miracle for the former champions to sneak into the top four. However, one thing is clear, GT will once again have to play out of their skin and register big wins to keep their mathematical chances alive. In case Gujarat win both their upcoming matches, even if they win their last two fixtures, they are likely to miss out on NRR. Hence, they will first have to beat both KKR and SRH by unforeseen margins. IPL 2024 playoffs: Qualification scenarios at a glance Kolkata Knight Riders: 18 Points (NRR: +1.428) Remaining Matches: Gujarat Titans (13 May), Rajasthan Royals (19 May) Qualification Scenarios: In case they win both: KKR have already sealed their place in the playoffs, becoming the only team to do so in IPL 2024. Winning their last two matches would mean they will end the league stage in the top spot. In case they win one: Even if they win one match, they are likely to finish first as only Rajasthan Royals can acquire 20 points and their NRR is much lesser. In any case, KKR will still play in Qualifier 1. If they lose both: Unless Rajasthan win both of their last two matches and Sunrisers Hyderabad do the same and win the last two fixtures by massive margins, KKR will be playing in Qualifier 1 even if they lose their next two games. Also Read: KL Rahul vs Sanjiv Goenka row: ‘There is no harm in being respectful’ Rajasthan Royals: 16 Points (NRR: +0.349) Remaining Matches: Punjab Kings (15 May), Kolkata Knight Riders (19 May) Qualification Scenarios In case they win both: Their wins will guarantee Royals not only a Playoff berth, but also a Qualifier 1 ticket. In case they win one: They will still qualify for the playoffs in this case. However, their ticket to Qualifier 1 will depend on SRH’s outcome in the last two matches. In case they lose both: Royals are still likely to qualify for playoffs as only CSK, SRH and LSG can acquire a maximum of 16 points, and LSG have a poor NRR. Hence, the Sanju Samson-side will be through as long as Lucknow don’t win both of their last two matches by huge margins, with both CSK and SRH getting to 16 points. Also Read: Controversies... a sure way to sustain IPL interest, right? Chennai Super Kings: 14 Points (NRR: +0.528) Remaining Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (18 May) Qualification Scenarios In case they win: If CSK win, they will acquire 16 points. Owing to their healthy NRR, 16 points will be just enough to qualify for the playoffs, unless SRH also get to 16 points and LSG win both of their last two matches by huge margins. In case they lose: In case CSK lose to RCB, they will be at the mercy of other teams. Firstly, they will have to hope that they lose by a narrow margin, so as to finish ahead of RCB on NRR. Even then, they will have to hope that either SRH lose their last two matches, or LSG lose at least one of their last two fixtures, with DC not winning their last match by a humongous margin. Sunrisers Hyderabad: 14 Points (NRR: +0.406) Remaining Matches: Gujarat Titans (16 May), Punjab Kings (19 May) Qualification Scenarios: In case they win both: If SRH win both of their last two matches, they will finish with 18 points and a place in the playoffs will be assured. They might also play in the Qualifier 1, depending on Rajasthan’s results. In case they win one: If SRH win one of their remaining couple of fixtures, they are still likely to qualify for the playoffs, unless both CSK beat RCB and LSG win their last two matches by exorbitant margins. If they lose both: Should SRH not win a match from here onwards, they will have to hope for multiple favourable outcomes – firstly, a CSK win over RCB, and then, at least one defeat for LSG and even if DC win their last match, it should not be by a big margin. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 12 Points (NRR: +0.387) Remaining Match: Chennai Super Kings (18 May) Qualification scenarios: If they win: Not only will RCB need to win against CSK, but they need to close the NRR gap by approximately chasing a 200-run target in 18.1 overs, or getting an 18-run victory if they are batting first and getting the same score. If they are successful in doing so, RCB will have to hope that LSG don’t win both of their last two matches, and DC don’t win their last match by a margin this competition has never seen. If they lose: They will crash out of the tournament. Delhi Capitals: 12 Points (NRR: -0.482) Remaining Match: Lucknow Super Giants (14 May) Qualification Scenarios: If they win: DC’s chances of making it to the playoffs will be slim even if they beat LSG in their last match. Firstly, they will have to win by a big margin. Secondly, they will have to hope that CSK beat RCB and SRH lose their last two matches by huge margins. If they lose: They will crash out of the tournament. Lucknow Super Giants: 12 Points (NRR: -0.769) Remaining Matches: Delhi Capitals (14 May), Mumbai Indians (17 May) Qualification Scenarios: If they win both: Despite having the worst NRR among the top 7 teams, Lucknow will qualify for the playoffs if they win their last two matches, provided RCB beat CSK. In case CSK win that fixture, SRH will have to lose their last two matches to make way for LSG. If they win one: If LSG win one of their remaining two fixtures, their chances of qualification are practically nil, owing to their NRR. Mumbai Indians: 8 Points (NRR: -0.271) Remaining Match: Lucknow Super Giants (17 May) Qualification Scenario: Mumbai are already out of the Playoffs race, but other teams can bank on the five-time champions to jeopardise LSG’s chances. Punjab Kings: 8 Points (NRR: -0.423) Remaining Matches: Rajasthan Royals (15 May), Sunrisers Hyderabad (19 May) Qualification Scenario: Much like Mumbai, Punjab Kings are also already out of the hunt.
13 May,2024 04:34 PM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentCaptain Sikandar Raza said Zimbabwe will try to rebuild the team and add new players in order to "secure" their future in all three formats. Brian Bennett is one of the players who helped Zimbabwe win the fifth T20I against Bangladesh with an impressive all-around performance. In order to prevent his team from losing a 5-0 BAN vs ZIM T20I series whitewash, Bennet, who made his debut for his country last year after Zimbabwe was eliminated from the 2024 men's T20 World Cup, bagged 2 wickets conceding 20 runs and scored a 49-ball 70. Zimbabwe will miss its fourth ICC tournament since 2019, the 2024 T20 World Cup. "This is the vision. Because we are not going to the World Cup, we want to rebuild the team. We want to secure our future in all three formats. The senior guys will be there for a bit longer in ODIs and Tests, but in T20s we are trying to build a new team. The long-term vision is for these guys to gain the confidence from T20s to filter into ODIs and Tests," Raza told ESPNcricinfo. "I can tell those youngsters that we tried our hardest (in the qualifiers) but it wasn't meant to be. For those coming into the changing room, there's still the right guidance available. Hopefully, our advice and guidance will help you kids cross that hurdle, and get to the World Cup if you ever have to play the qualifiers," he added. The BAN vs ZIM T20I series was eye-opening for the team in transition. After the first match, they rested seasoned hitters Ryan Burl and Sean Williams for a few games. Craig Ervine was also replaced at some point following the third T20I. They intended to give Bennett, Jonathan Campbell, and Tadiwanashe Marumani more playing time. Also Read: IPL 2024 playoffs: Who's in, who's out? Check what's at stake for the 10 teams Bennett batted in three places throughout five games. He struggled at first, but scoring 70 in the sixth game gave Zimbabwe hope. He also used his off-spin to take vital wickets, including Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto in the fourth T20I and Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy in the fifth. "I am very pleased with my performance. It is Mother's Day, so this one will be for my mum. I am grateful it came out today. I am fine batting anywhere in the order. I don't really have a set position to bat. I can play my normal game during or after the powerplay," Bennett said after the game. "It is much easier as an allrounder these days to get your name out there. I am working on my bowling a bit. Hopefully, it will get better as my career goes on. It is something that I am definitely willing to get better at," he added. Meanwhile, Raza said they are keeping an eye on the rankings and points system. "For some reason, Zimbabwe play great in qualifiers but in the do-or-die match, all of us tend to fall off. We just want to make sure we qualify directly, and we don't have to play these qualifiers again," Raza said. (With agency inputs)
13 May,2024 02:52 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSpinner Varun Chakravarthy returned bowling figures of 2-17 as Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday became the first team to qualify for IPL 2024 playoffs with an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians, with skipper Shreyas Iyer hailing his side's 'many game-changers'. Two-time champions Kolkata posted 157-7 as Venkatesh Iyer top-scored with 42 off 21 balls after being invited to bat first at their home Eden Gardens in a rain-shortened 16-overs-a-side match. Bowlers combined to defend the total after Mumbai raced to 65-0 and Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner who was named player of the match, got the big wickets of Rohit Sharma, who made 19 after coming in as impact substitute, and skipper Hardik Pandya, who was caught out for two. Five-time winners Mumbai, who are already out of the play-off race, finished on 139-8 as Tilak Varma hit a 17-ball 32 before he fell to fast bowler Harshit Rana, who took two wickets in the last over. Pace bowler Andre Russell also took two wickets, including that of Suryakumar Yadav, as table-toppers Kolkata got their ninth win in 12 matches to become the first team to book a play-off berth. Also Read: KL Rahul vs Sanjiv Goenka row: ‘There is no harm in being respectful’ The Knights are almost certain of a top-two finish. The top four teams will make the play-offs, but teams number one and two will have the advantage of getting an extra match to enter the final on May 26 in Chennai. The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will play host to the three playoff matches and grand finale of IPL 2024. IPL 2024 playoffs: Qualification scenarios at a glance Kolkata Knight Riders: 18 Points (NRR: +1.428) Remaining Matches: Gujarat Titans (13 May), Rajasthan Royals (19 May) Qualification Scenarios: In case they win both: KKR have already sealed their place in the playoffs, becoming the only team to do so in IPL 2024. Winning their last two matches would mean they will end the league stage in the top spot. In case they win one: Even if they win one match, they are likely to finish first as only Rajasthan Royals can acquire 20 points and their NRR is much lesser. In any case, KKR will still play in Qualifier 1. If they lose both: Unless Rajasthan win both of their last two matches and Sunrisers Hyderabad do the same and win the last two fixtures by massive margins, KKR will be playing in Qualifier 1 even if they lose their next two games. Rajasthan Royals: 16 Points (NRR: +0.349) Remaining Matches: Punjab Kings (15 May), Kolkata Knight Riders (19 May) Qualification Scenarios In case they win both: Their wins will guarantee Royals not only a Playoff berth, but also a Qualifier 1 ticket. In case they win one: They will still qualify for the playoffs in this case. However, their ticket to Qualifier 1 will depend on SRH’s outcome in the last two matches. In case they lose both: Royals are still likely to qualify for playoffs as only CSK, SRH and LSG can acquire a maximum of 16 points, and LSG have a poor NRR. Hence, the Sanju Samson-side will be through as long as Lucknow don’t win both of their last two matches by huge margins, with both CSK and SRH getting to 16 points. Also Read: Controversies... a sure way to sustain IPL interest, right? Chennai Super Kings: 14 Points (NRR: +0.528) Remaining Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (18 May) Qualification Scenarios In case they win: If CSK win, they will acquire 16 points. Owing to their healthy NRR, 16 points will be just enough to qualify for the playoffs, unless SRH also get to 16 points and LSG win both of their last two matches by huge margins. In case they lose: In case CSK lose to RCB, they will be at the mercy of other teams. Firstly, they will have to hope that they lose by a narrow margin, so as to finish ahead of RCB on NRR. Even then, they will have to hope that either SRH lose their last two matches, or LSG lose at least one of their last two fixtures, with DC not winning their last match by a humongous margin. Sunrisers Hyderabad: 14 Points (NRR: +0.406) Remaining Matches: Gujarat Titans (16 May), Punjab Kings (19 May) Qualification Scenarios: In case they win both: If SRH win both of their last two matches, they will finish with 18 points and a place in the playoffs will be assured. They might also play in the Qualifier 1, depending on Rajasthan’s results. In case they win one: If SRH win one of their remaining couple of fixtures, they are still likely to qualify for the playoffs, unless both CSK beat RCB and LSG win their last two matches by exorbitant margins. If they lose both: Should SRH not win a match from here onwards, they will have to hope for multiple favourable outcomes – firstly, a CSK win over RCB, and then, at least one defeat for LSG and even if DC win their last match, it should not be by a big margin. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 12 Points (NRR: +0.387) Remaining Match: Chennai Super Kings (18 May) Qualification scenarios: If they win: Not only will RCB need to win against CSK, but they need to close the NRR gap by approximately chasing a 200-run target in 18.1 overs, or getting an 18-run victory if they are batting first and getting the same score. If they are successful in doing so, RCB will have to hope that LSG don’t win both of their last two matches, and DC don’t win their last match by a margin this competition has never seen. If they lose: They will crash out of the tournament. Delhi Capitals: 12 Points (NRR: -0.482) Remaining Match: Lucknow Super Giants (14 May) Qualification Scenarios: If they win: DC’s chances of making it to the playoffs will be slim even if they beat LSG in their last match. Firstly, they will have to win by a big margin. Secondly, they will have to hope that CSK beat RCB and SRH lose their last two matches by huge margins. If they lose: They will crash out of the tournament. Lucknow Super Giants: 12 Points (NRR: -0.769) Remaining Matches: Delhi Capitals (14 May), Mumbai Indians (17 May) Qualification Scenarios: If they win both: Despite having the worst NRR among the top 7 teams, Lucknow will qualify for the playoffs if they win their last two matches, provided RCB beat CSK. In case CSK win that fixture, SRH will have to lose their last two matches to make way for LSG. If they win one: If LSG win one of their remaining two fixtures, their chances of qualification are practically nil, owing to their NRR. Gujarat Titans: 10 Points (NRR: -1.063) Remaining Matches: Kolkata Knight Riders (13 May), Sunrisers Hyderabad (16 May) Qualification Scenarios: If they win both: Even if they win their last two fixtures, they are likely to miss out on NRR. Hence, they will first have to beat KKR and SRH by unforeseen margins. If they win one: They will crash out of the tournament. Mumbai Indians: 8 Points (NRR: -0.271) Remaining Match: Lucknow Super Giants (17 May) Qualification Scenario: Mumbai are already out of the Playoffs race, but other teams can bank on the five-time champions to jeopardise LSG’s chances. Punjab Kings: 8 Points (NRR: -0.423) Remaining Matches: Rajasthan Royals (15 May), Sunrisers Hyderabad (19 May) Qualification Scenario: Much like Mumbai, Punjab Kings are also already out of the hunt.
13 May,2024 02:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
