Lewis Gregory stars as Somerset overcome Essex inside two days

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Green revolution: Meet the next generation of Indian pitches

CHENNAI: Toss. Weather. Conditions. Pitch. Dew. Outfield. These are just some of the factors that have a significant say in the way a team approaches a match, irrespective of the format. Among the above, pitch takes prominence for how it behaves could dictate the pace at which play progresses. While cricket is still scratching the surface when it comes to data, significant technological advancements have been made in many other aspects, including the pitch. Whether it is drop-in or conventional, there are different types of pitches based on the soil used, and so on. Over the past decade or so, hybrid pitches, too, have come into practice, especially for the white-ball format. SISGrass, a UK-based synthetic turf manufacturer, has been a pioneer in the field not just in cricket but also in football, rugby and hockey. With over 650 hybrid pitches installed across the globe, including Dubai, where conditions are vastly different from England. And now, joining hands with Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), they have installed four hybrid pitches on the square of the scenic venue at the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range and two pitches in the nets outside. While they are used just for practice at the moment, it is the first time a venue in the country has installed hybrid pitches. Now, what is a hybrid pitch and how is it different from a conventional surface? Paul Taylor, former England cricketer and International Sales Director, Cricket at SIS Grass, explains. There are different kinds of hybrid pitches. There is an artificial hybrid, a concrete base with a carpet on top and then a soil profile on top of that. There's a carpeted hybrid, which is a synthetic carpet. It's then filled with soil, and then grass grows within that soil. Then there's the stitched hybrid, which is what we do. It takes your existing natural turf pitch and we inject synthetic fibres into that surface. And the stitching is at 20*20m centres. It covers the whole pitch, and it extends beyond the stump lines by about a metre to make sure that the back foot contact for the bowlers is part of the system. The fundamental thing that is different about our pitch, is that it's still 95 percent a natural turf surface. There's only 5 percent of fibre injected into it, Taylor tells this daily. The stitching goes to a depth of 90mm but we can stitch deeper. In cricket, we only stitch to 90mm because that's all that's really needed. The fibre that we use is a polyethylene monofilament fibre. It's the latest technology in terms of how that's made. It's resilient and durable. It enhances performance. It doesn't fade in UV light and things like that. And it comes in different colours as well. We have a green fibre, a beige fibre, then a mixture of green and beige, so whatever the surface that we're stitching into, we can pick the suit, he adds. The 5 percent fibre is expected to keep the wear and tear in check; it also enables the grass to recover after a match. The fibres help the grass plant to become stronger. There's a natural air space around the fibre when it's injected, obviously, water will go down. And all the nutrients that are put onto cricket squares will also get down to the root. So the grass is a lot stronger, a lot more durable. You get up to three times the amount of cricket on one pitch that you would ordinarily get with a fully natural surface, says Taylor. However, when it comes to pitches, it is never one size fits all. The conditions in England, where SIS Grass began working in 2017, is very different from India, a country where different states will have different climatic conditions throughout the year. This is where the other factors like soil content and clay content come into play. It is different in different places. However, we have installed it in Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and so on. One of the things we noticed when we installed the pitches in the UK is that the moisture content within the soil profile needed to be about 40% to allow the injecting needles to inject the fibres. In India, because the clay content is a lot higher, I think in Dharamsala it was around 66%, the moisture content we had to get into the profile was anywhere between 60-80%. Again, it's all part of learning. We now know how to install in the north of the country, but installing it in Mumbai and installing in Kolkata could be very different. We can adapt how we install to suit the conditions, Taylor explains. The type of grass used too plays a crucial role based on the climatic conditions, even more so in a country like India where cricket is played all throughout the year. What we need to understand is the different types of grass. The squares over here tend to be Bermuda grass rather than Rye grass, which is what they are predominantly in the UK. So the outfield at Dharamsala is a Rye grass outfield and by the way, it looks beautiful. It's absolutely stunning when I was there last time. The issues they have had previously have been rectified. Credit to the ground staff for getting that back. The other thing that is worth mentioning is we actually have a system in that outfield called SISAir, which is a drainage system and an aeration system specifically designed to improve the outfield performance. That is now working well, it has made a big difference to the outfield. That's a first for India as well. So, Dharamsala is leading the way in terms of cricket technology, said Taylor. I think what we're looking to work out at the moment is in what parts of the country, and times of year that we can install these pitches. They only take one pitch, and will take about four hours to install. So it's quite a quick process as long as we've got the appropriate moisture content in that pitch. So the preparation of those pitches is the important thing from our side. If we can get the moisture content in, we can actually stitch the pitch in four hours. We're actually developing a new machine that's going to be able to stitch in three hours. That is the plan, which will be developed over the next few months. But the universal machine will stitch one pitch in four hours. So the installation at Dharamsala took about two weeks, and that's mainly through finding out about the conditions about the soil content, the moisture content, the clay content. So there's a little bit of research initially over the first three or four days before we actually start to work. The challenge, however, remains when it comes to red-ball cricket. At the moment, they have the ICC's approval for using hybrid surfaces in white-ball cricket but not in tests. However, they have gotten approval to use hybrid pitches in the 2024 England County season on a trial basis. The practice surfaces at the HPCA Stadium are put to use on Saturday as the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings prepare for their return leg contest to be played on Sunday. But for SIS Grass, this is just the beginning. Mumbai and Ahmedabad are next in line but Taylor wants to take the technology to the masses. It's a product that we want to cascade throughout the cricketing network in India. So that's working with schools, local clubs, local communities and so on. Yes, it enhances the professional game. More importantly, from my perspective, it enhances the grassroots game as well. Because if we can get young players playing on the same sort of surfaces as the international players, that's got to be a bonus for development of the game in India, says Taylor. For HPCA, it is about embracing the new technology and having the best of the facilities at the venue, ensuring that the youngsters can give themselves the best chance to improve on their game. The pitches offer a consistent, smooth, even playing surface to the players, especially the youngsters, which will enhance their skills. This should be implemented in other grounds across the country so that players are well versed with playing on these grassy wickets, which are the future of the game, Avnish Parmar, HPCA Secretary, told this daily.

Technology is there to take care of human error: Umpire Madanagopal

CHENNAI: Former Tamil Nadu cricketer and noted umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal will be making his World Cup debut in the T20 World Cup to be played in the West Indies and USA from June 1. Nitin Menon is the other umpire on the panel from India. They are part of a panel of 20 umpires who will be officiating 55 matches across nine venues. Having made his debut in women's one-dayers back in 2013, Madanagopal stood as an umpire for the first time in a men's international during the 2021 India-New Zealand T20I at Ranchi. He has also officiated in an international match at his home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium. A smooth-stroking batter for Tamil Nadu, Madanagopal, has been a coach of TNPL teams and First Division teams in the TNCA league too. Since 2007, he has been on the BCCI panel of umpires and will be emulating the likes of S Venkataraghavan and S Ravi, the other umpires from Tamil Nadu, to officiate in a World Cup. Madanagopal is delighted to be part of the World Cup panel and spoke to this daily about pressure, DRS, fitness of umpires and more. Excerpts from the interview. Any pressure to be part of the WC panel? The job will be the same. I have been officiating International matches for the last three years. So the expectations and challenges remain the same. It won't be any different, but it's definitely a great opportunity (ICC T20 World Cup). On DRS and pressure With DRS everything is out in the open, almost black and white. So it is an instinct. Umpiring is always an instinct. You do your preparation, you study the angles and then, based on the evidence in front of you, make a decision. There's no pressure. The game is getting benefited. Right decisions are made. The game moves on in the right direction. It's absolutely fine. It's not about pressure. It's about getting the game in the right direction. So we are happy with DRS. An on-field umpire gives a decision not out, the fielding side opts for DRS and gets it reversed. Does he get upset or does the decision upset his concentration? No. It is part of the game. And what we need to see is the game remains unaffected because of a human error. That is the most important thing. The game has to flow in the right direction. And human judgment is corrected by technology, which is what the game requires. So that should be the mindset. It is not about an umpire making a mistake or umpire getting it correct. It is about the game. The game needs to go in the right direction. That is why technology is there to take care of any human error that may possibly be there. Another challenge for umpires today is intimidation from players in high-profile games? For us, our job is about making decisions and controlling the game. And that is why we are there, out in the middle. We are expected to handle some high-profile players and that is what we have to do. So this is where we prepare ourselves for that. There is no intimidation from big players. On fitness of umpires It (umpiring) is just basically an extension for me. Right from playing days, I have been used to this kind of lifestyle, travelling and staying. So it is a natural extension for me. Right from twelve years, I've been travelling and being in a team environment. So, okay, it is definitely not new for me. I've been doing this for the last 30, 35 years now. Noise is definitely a problem with large crowds out there. The hearing may not be, you know, like in a normal domestic game or something. But then you adapt to those situations. You adapt to the conditions, your awareness is so much heightened when you get into a situation like that. Yeah, there are other clues that you are trying to pick up and it kind of set into your system. You get adapted to the system. On improving his skills over the years The growth has been constant. I have been learning right through whatever and whenever I get an opportunity. Every game is a learning experience for me. Definitely, I've learned and am improving. And it's a continuous process. It doesn't stop,'' explained the genial umpire. Does he watch his own videos to study and improve? Nowadays, almost all the games are televised, so I get to watch and dissect decisions. Yes, there is some homework that I do. There is a process that I follow. I take some feedback. I work on my game (umpiring).

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IPL 2024: RCB's crucial win over GT keeps campaign alive

CHENNAI: Captain Faf du Plessis hit a 23-ball 64 while Virat Kolhi cracked 27-ball 42 to keep Royal Challengers Bengaluru's slim playoff chances alive in the ongoing IPL. Chasing 148 for victory against Gujarat Titans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, Faf was dealing in boundaries as RCB accumulated an impressive 92 runs in the powerplay. His 28-minute stay at the crease involved 10 fours and 3 sixes before he was dismissed by Josh Little, who later went on to finish with a four-wicket haul. Soon after the Faf's dismissal, things got complicated for the home side as they lost wickets in quick succession. The onus was on Kolhi to guide the team home but he was also dismissed for 42 by the 11th over. However, Dinesh Karthik displayed his experience to steady the ship along with Swapnil Singh, helping the team record a much-needed win with 38 balls to spare. The four-wicket victory, in the process, pushed RCB from bottom to seventh in the IPL standings. Earlier, Shahrukh Khan's 37 and David Miller's 30 had helped Gujarat to post 147 in 19.3 overs. Shahrukh's controlled aggression came in handy while Miller put the short handle to effective use and was harsh on Karn Sharma before eventually losing his wicket to the same bowler. Reeling at 19 for 3 after 5.3 overs, Shahrukh and Miller played the rescue act. After being asked to bat, Gujarat got off to a disastrous start as Wriddhiman Saha was sent back by Mohammed Siraj in the second over. The onus was on captain Shubman Gill and the in-form B Sai Sudharsan to take charge and help Gujarat get a good start. With the team lying at eighth spot going into the match, it was a must-win game for Gujarat as well. ''The talk is to win four in four. It's important to turn up and deliver our best. I feel our fielding has let us down. We have had a chat about it. We need to be a better team as a fielding unit. IPL is such a long tournament. It's important to turn up on the day. We have two changes, Manav Suthar makes his debut and Josh Little comes in,'' said Gill had said before the match. However, Gill (2 off 7 balls) didn't last long as he fell to Siraj. He got out while trying to whip a good-length delivery towards the on side. He closed the face of the bat too soon and found the top edge. The deep third fielder, Vyshak Vijaykumar, came in and claimed the catch. Vijaykumar later claimed two wickets. Soon, it became a nightmare situation for the visiting side as Sai Sudharsan was also dismissed soon. Cameron Green outfoxed Sai Sudharsan with a change of pace. That's when Shahrukh and Miller intervened. Later, Rahul Tewatia hit 21-ball 35 to help the team cross the 140-run mark. Brief scores: GT 147 in 19.3 ovs (Shahrukh 37, Tewatia 35; Siraj 2/29, Dayal 2/21, Vijaykumar 2/23) lost to RCB 152/6 in 13.4 ovs (Faf 64, Virat 42; Little 4/45).

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IPL 2024: Was Sick, Wasnt Going To Play At All, Reveals Mohammed Siraj After Brilliant Spell V GT

Indian Premier League: Fridays rain ahead of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru-Gujarat Titans clash meant that fast-bowlers could get some help in Saturday's clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here. It happened exactly like that as Mohammed Siraj, Vysakh Vijaykumar and Yash Dayal were spot-on with their lengths and found movement to bowl out Gujarat Titans for just 147 in Match 52 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Siraj got the ball to move both ways in his Power-play and that helped him in dismissing Wriddhiman Saha for the fourth time in seven innings. He then forced Shubman Gill to whip and ended up being caught at deep point off a leading edge. He eventually finished with figures of 2-29, earning him Player of the Match award after RCBs four-wicket win. I was actually sick since last night and wasn't going to play at all today, so this is great. When I got up this morning I thought it was better to rest but the almighty made me play. I kind of manifested it this morning because I envisioned it in a way that I would get Saha out like that, caught behind. I had been playing red-ball cricket for long and hadn't played with the white ball since the ODI World Cup. So my rhythm was missing a little bit when I came here. But it came back gradually as I worked and practised more and more, said Siraj after the match ended, where it seemed he was getting his white-ball mojo back, especially with the T20 World Cup starting immediately after IPL 2024. With the bat, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli gave RCB a blazing start with a 92-run opening stand off just 35 balls. Du Plessis, the RCB captain, was the more aggressive of the two, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball 64. Du Plessis felt the phase where RCB lost six wickets in quick succession is something to be taken note of while appreciating his bowling group for being consistent. There was more bounce in the wicket, we got that information and the bowlers were consistently really good. We dropped a catch but have been really consistent. Something around 180-90 would have been a good score, but we've seen the way the game has changed. Don't look at the scoreboard and play the way that we want to play. It was a bit nerve-racking, another wicket, another wicket. Probably not the best (way to complete a chase) but you're trying to be positive, get your NRR up. It makes sense from that point of view but it gets to the point when you need to show a bit of calmness and composure - probably around four down, so some lessons to be learned from that. It took Dinesh Karthiks 21 not out and Swapnil Singhs unbeaten 15 to get RCB over the line in 13.4 overs and help them jump to seventh place in the points table. Karthik was having tea and drank cappuccino after four overs, with the thought being his batting chance wouldnt come, but he had to come in to save the day. But things happened and then I had to have a bat. How to hit boundaries, basic cricketing skills come through. I backed myself to get the job done. The pitch was good to bowl on, having been under the covers there was a bit of moisture, said Karthik. Good toss to win but the bowlers did the job beautifully. The way Faf and Virat batted, I don't think they would have played the same shots batting first! Play for the one that comes in (on advice to Swapnil). Said the sweep is a good option, but commit to it, he added. RCBs win also meant GT slid to ninth place, while Mumbai Indians became the new occupants of tenth position in the points table. GT captain Shubman Gill admitted his batters should have posted 170-180 on board, with their playoff hopes now hanging by a slim thread. It depends on the wicket. First couple of overs you get a good idea and play according to that. I think 170-80 on this wicket would have been a good total. How we batted in the Power-play, and how they bowled, decided the game. We would have had one extra bowler but losing three wickets in the powerplay (changed planning). Very important to start from zero in our next match and move on from this game. Learn from mistakes and not repeat them. All about winning from here on, said Gill. RCB will now travel to Dharamsala, where they will take on Punjab Kings on May 9 at the HPCA Stadium while GT will return home to Ahmedabad and rest before preparing to host defending champions Chennai Super Kings on May 10 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Faf Du Plessis Fifty, Bowlers Carry RCB To Four-Wicket Win Over GT

Royal Challengers Bengaluru pressed the self-destruction button halfway but a blazing fifty by captain Faf du Plessis had enough torque in it to carry them to a four-wicket over Gujarat Titans.

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IPL 2024: Bowlers, Du Plessis Keep RCBs Playoff Hopes Alive With Four-wicket Win Over GT (ld)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Riding on a superb performance by their fast bowlers and a blistering 64 from captain Faf du Plessis, Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept their playoff hopes alive with a four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. After Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Mohammed Siraj picked two wickets each in a superb bowling performance to bowl out GT for a below-par 147, du Plessis and Virat Kohli gave RCB a blazing start with a 92-run opening stand coming in just 35 balls. Du Plessis was more aggressive of the two, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball stay at the crease. After he fell, GT triggered a spectacular RCB batting implosion by picking up six wickets from overs 6-11. It took Dinesh Karthiks 21 not out and Swapnil Singhs unbeaten 15 to get RCB over the line in 13.4 overs and help them jump to seventh place in the points table. RCBs win also meant GT slid to ninth place, while Mumbai Indians became the new occupants of tenth position in the points table. On a two-paced surface, Dayal, Vyshak and Siraj got their lengths and rhythm spot-on to bundle out GT for the lowest total at the venue in IPL 2024. They were also supported by Cameron Green and Karn Sharma taking a wicket apiece. Shahrukh Khan, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia chipped in with sizeable 30s, but none of them converted it into a big knock to make it the third time GT have been bowled out this season. Electing to bowl first, Siraj found late movement on a short and wide ball, which was good enough to find an outside edge of Wriddhiman Saha. It was also the fourth time Siraj took out Saha in the IPL. Siraj found late movement again when he forced Shubman Gill to whip and ended up with deep point taking a catch off a leading edge. The consistent B. Sai Sudharsan was next to fall, pulling without footwork and top-edge caught by mid-off against Green, as GT ended their power-play at a paltry 23/3, the lowest total in this six-over phase of IPL 2024. Post a horror Power-play, GT got some boundaries flowing, starting from Shahrukh glancing and cutting off Vyshak in the seventh over. He and Miller, dropped on 23 by Karn off Green, got some sublime timing on their shots to keep GT innings going as 38 runs came from overs 8-11. Shahrukh brought up the 50-run stand for the fourth wicket in the 11th over by smashing Green high over long-on for a 94-metre six. But RCB launched a fight-back in successive overs - Miller holed out to long-on off Karn after hitting a six over extra cover, while Shahrukh was run out by a direct hit from Virat Kohli at non-strikers end. Tewatia took a liking to Karn by smashing three fours and a six to take 19 runs off the 16th over, followed by Rashid taking two boundaries off Siraj in the next over. But Dayal brought a halt to the 44-run stand by castling Rashids leg-stump with a yorker, before taking out Tewatia with a short ball, with the diving third man taking the catch off the top edge. Vyshak came back to take out Manav Suthar and Vijay Shankar, while Mohit Sharma was run out in the final over as RCB got a team hat-trick to bowl out GT with three balls unused in their innings. Kohli began RCBs chase of 148 by lofting and whipping Mohit Sharma for a brace of sixes in the opening over. Du Plessis greeted Joshua Little with a pulled four, followed by taking two fours and a six in the 20-run second over. He then took the attack to debutant spinner Manav Suthar, taking a six and four in the third over, followed by heaving Mohit over mid-wicket to bring up RCBs fifty in just 19 balls. There was just no stopping du Plessis as he took three more fours off Mohit in an 18-run fourth over. After a sublime Kohli dispatched Suthar for two sixes, du Plessis completed his fifty in 18 balls and went on to slam Little for two fours and a six in the last over of Power-play. But Little had the last laugh by cramping du Plessis for room and a short fine leg took the catch on top-edge, as RCB ended Power-play at 92/1. The fast and furious-styled scoring from RCB in Power-play was brought to a halt afterwards by GT as Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell and Green perished quickly. When Kohli nicked behind off Noor Ahmad to fall for a 27-ball 42, the RCB supporting home crowd was left stunned over the batting meltdown resulting in the hosts being at 116/6 from 92/0. Amidst incredible pressure, a calm Karthik came out to diffuse the tension in the run-chase by taking down Rashid Khan with three fours a whip over mid-wicket was followed by pull over square leg and a firm carve over cover in a 16-run 12th over. A brace of lovely sweeps from Swapnil Singh off Noor, followed by the batter slamming Rashid down the ground for a huge six ensured RCB got over the line with 38 balls to spare, which is a big win in the race to playoffs heating up in IPL 2024. Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 147 all out in 19.3 overs (Shahrukh Khan 37, Rahul Tewatia 35; Yash Dayal 2-21, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2-23) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 152/6 in 13.4 overs (Faf du Plessis 64, Virat Kohli 42; Joshua Little 4-45, Noor Ahmad 2-23) by four wickets

IPL 2024: Du Plessis, Karthik Ensure RCBs Playoff Hopes Are Alive With Four-wicket Win Over GT

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Captain Faf du Plessis top-scored with a blistering 64 while Dinesh Karthik applied the finishing touches after a batting wobble as the duo ensured Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept alive their playoff hopes with a four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. After Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Mohammed Siraj picked two wickets each in a superb bowling performance to bundle out GT for a below-par 147, du Plessis and Virat Kohli gave RCB a blazing start with a 92-run opening stand coming in just 35 balls. Du Plessis was more aggressive of the two, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball stay at the crease. After he fell, GT triggered a spectacular RCB batting implosion by picking up six wickets from overs 6-11. It took Karthiks 21 not out and Swapnil Singhs unbeaten 15 to get RCB over the line and help them jump to seventh place in the points table. RCBs win also meant GT slid to ninth place and Mumbai Indians became the new occupants of tenth position in the points table. Chasing 148, Kohli began by lofting and whipping Mohit Sharma for a brace of sixes in the opening over. Du Plessis greeted Joshua Little with a pulled four, followed by taking two fours and a six in the 20-run second over. He then took the attack to debutant spinner Manav Suthar, taking a six and four in the third over, followed by heaving Mohit over mid-wicket to bring up RCBs fifty in just 19 balls. There was just no stopping du Plessis as he took three more fours off Mohit in an 18-run fourth over. After a sublime Kohli dispatched Suthar for two sixes, du Plessis completed his fifty in 18 balls and went on to slam Little for two fours and a six in the last over of power-play. But Little had the last laugh by cramping du Plessis for room and a short fine leg took the catch on top-edge, as RCB ended the Power-play at 92/1. The fast and furious styled scoring from RCB in power-play was brought to a halt afterwards by GT as Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green perished quickly. When Kohli nicked behind off Noor Ahmad to fall for a 27-ball 42, the RCB supporting home crowd was left stunned over the batting meltdown resulting in the hosts being at 116/6 from 92/0. Amidst incredible pressure on RCB, a calm Karthik came out to diffuse the tension in the run-chase by taking down Rashid Khan with three fours a whip over mid-wicket was followed by pull over square leg and a firm carve over cover in a 16-run 12th over. A brace of lovely sweeps from Swapnil Singh off Noor, followed by him slamming Rashid down the ground for a huge six ensured RCB got over the line with 38 balls to spare and relief written large on the faces of their camp. Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 147 all out in 19.3 overs (Shahrukh Khan 37, Rahul Tewatia 35; Yash Dayal 2-21, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2-23) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 152/6 in 13.4 overs (Faf du Plessis 64, Virat Kohli 42; Joshua Little 4-45, Noor Ahmad 2-23) by four wickets.

IPL PIX: RCB fumble before scripting win over GT

IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Bengaluru, on Saturday.

IPL Points Table: How RCB's Win Impacts Its Playoff Chances, Hurts Others

Skipper Faf du Plessis smashed a 23-ball 64 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a convincing four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans.

Du Plessis, bowlers seal see-saw win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB lost six wickets for only 25 runs in the chase after a strong start, but Karthik and Swapnil counterpunched to complete the win

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IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans labour to 147 against Royal Challengers Bangalore

CHENNAI: Shahrukh Khan's 37 and David Miller's 30 helped Gujarat Titans to post 147 in 19.3 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Saturday. Shahrukh's controlled aggression came in handy. David Miller put the short handle to effective use and was harsh on Karn Sharma before eventually losing his wicket to the same bowler. Reeling at 19 for 3 after 5.3 overs, Shahrukh and Miller steadied the Gujarat ship. After being asked to bat, Gujarat got off to a disastrous start as Wriddhiman Saha was sent back by Mohammed Siraj in the second over. The onus was on captain Shubman Gill and the in-form B Sai Sudharsan to take charge and help Gujarat get a good start. With the team lying at eighth spot going into the match, it was a must-win game for Gujarat. ''The talk is to win four in four. It's important to turn up and deliver our best. I feel our fielding has let us down. We had a chat about it. We need to be a better team as a fielding unit. IPL is such a long tournament. It's important to turn up on the day. We have two changes, Manav Suthar makes his debut and Josh Little comes in,'' Gill had said before the match. However, Gill (2 off 7 balls) didn't last long as he fell prey to Siraj. He got out while trying to whip a good-length delivery towards the on side. He closed the face of the bat too soon and found the top edge. The deep third fielder, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, came in and claimed the catch. Vyshak later claimed two wickets. Soon, it became a nightmare situation for the visiting side as Sai Sudharsan was also dismissed. Cameron Green outfoxed Sudharsan with a change of pace. That's when Shahrukh and Miller intervened to carry out the rescue act. Later, Rahul Tewatia hit 21-ball 35 to help the team cross the 140-run mark.

Bengal Pro T20 League: Look At IPL, You'll Realise How Important T20 Cricket Is, Says Sourav Ganguly

The Bengal Pro T20 League: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has highlighted how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has made an impact on the careers of the young budding cricketers in the country. Many players have been selected for the national team based on their performance in the IPL. Recently, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Shivam Dube was named in India's squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup following his exploits in the 2023 and the ongoing editions of IPL. Sourav Ganguly, while speaking at the unveiling of the Bengal Pro T20 League trophy here in Kolkata, said the upcoming T20 League is an important opportunity for the young players to shine. The Bengal Pro T20 League trophy was unveiled in the presence of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehasish Ganguly, Sourav and former woman cricketer Jhulan Goswami. It is an opportunity for all the young players to showcase their talent on the big stage. That's how careers start and you take it as it goes. Look at the impact, IPL has and when you see a young player play for the country, you realise how important T20 cricket is. I thank all the franchise owners, who have showcased their interest in the sport, Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying in a release on Saturday. Bengal Pro T20 League is the official franchise-based T20 league of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Speaking about the same to the media, Sourav said, Its (T20 Leagues) happening in every state. We are probably 5-6 years late on this. Any way of playing the sport will always be very helpful. T20 is an important part of cricket these days and this will be a huge opportunity for everyone to perform. Servotech Power Systems Ltd has been recently onboarded as the franchise owner for one of the teams in the Bengal Pro T20 League. During the event, Servotech Power Systems Ltd Founder and Managing Director Raman Bhatia, Director Sarika Bhatia and Marketing Head Rishabh Bhatia were facilitated by Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami. The much-awaited inaugural edition of the Bengal Pro T20 League is set to kick off on June 11 in Kolkata as eight teams get ready to showcase their talent on the big stage.

Big Mistake: Pak Star, Targetting T20 WC Return, On Spot-Fixing Saga

The Pakistan star is sick and tired of former international players from the country time and again bringing up his involvement in the infamous spot-fixing scandal.

IPL 2024: Superb Bowling By Dayal, Vyshak, Siraj Sees RCB Bowl Out GT For 147

Indian Premier League: Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Mohammed Siraj picked two wickets each in a superb bowling performance as Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowled out Gujarat Titans for a below-par 147 in match 52 of IPL 2024 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. On a two-paced surface, Dayal, Vyshak and Siraj got their lengths and rhythm spot-on to bundle out GT for the lowest total at the venue in IPL 2024. They were also supported by Cameron Green and Karn Sharma taking a wicket apiece. Shahrukh Khan, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia chipped in with sizeable 30s, but none of them converted it into a big knock to make it the third time GT have been bowled out this season. Pushed into batting first, Wriddhiman Sahas poor form continued when Siraj found late movement on a short and wide ball, which was good enough to find an outside edge. It was also the fourth time Siraj took out Saha in the IPL. Siraj found late movement again when he forced Gill to whip and ended up with a deep point taking a leading edge. The consistent Sai Sudharsan was next to fall, pulling without footwork and top-edge caught by mid-off against Green, as GT ended the Power-play at a paltry 23/3, the lowest total in this six-over phase of IPL 2024. Post a horror Power-play, GT got some boundaries flowing, starting with Shahrukh glancing and cutting off Vyshak in the seventh over. He and Miller, dropped on 23 by Karn Sharma off Green, got some sublime timing on their shots to keep GT innings going as 38 runs came from overs 8-11. Shahrukh brought up the 50-run stand for the fourth wicket in the 11th over by smashing Green high over long-on for a 94-m six. But RCB launched a fight-back in successive overs - Miller holed out to long-on off Karn after hitting a six over extra cover, while Shahrukh was run out by a direct hit from Virat Kohli at non-strikers end. Tewatia took a liking to Karn by smashing three fours and a six to take 19 runs off the 16th over, followed by Rashid taking two boundaries off Siraj in the next over. But Dayal brought a halt to the 44-run stand by castling Rashids leg-stump with a yorker, before taking out Tewatia with a short ball, with the diving third man taking the catch off the top edge. Vyshak came back to take out Manav Suthar and Vijay Shankar, apart from a run-out of Mohit Sharma in the final over as RCB got a team hat-trick to bowl out GT with three balls unused in their innings. Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 147 in 19.3 overs (Shahrukh Khan 37, Rahul Tewatia 35; Yash Dayal 2-21, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2-23) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru

IPL PIX: RCB bowlers restrict Gujarat Titans to 147

IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Bengaluru, on Saturday.

What sort of Ekana track will greet high-flying KKR?

Two points here will go a long way in helping both teams break away from the mid-table rush, and hosts LSG will be wary of KKR's strengths in both the spin and six-hitting departments

Ex NZ all-rounder Anderson to play for USA at T20 WC

The 33-year-old last played for New Zealand in 2018 and debuted for his adopted country in the home T20 series against Canada last month.

IPL-17 | Mayank likely to miss rest of season: head coach Langer

Speaking on the eve of his sides clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, Langer said Mayank suffered a muscle tear during his sides last game against Mumbai Indians.

IPL-17 | Impact Player rule changes things a fair bit, says Mitchell Starc

Having conceded nearly two runs a ball this season, Starc did not hesitate in spelling out the challenges for bowlers due to Impact Player rule.

Watch: SRH Stars Irritated By Fans, Social Media Blasts IPL Franchise

SunRisers Hyderabad are currently in great form in the IPL 2024 and are fourth in the points table

IPL-17 | Decision on Deepak Chahar will be taken by medical team, says Eric Simons

th Chahar ruled out and no clarity on Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, CSK coaching staff has had individual conversations with the bowling group.

Dhoni is playing my father's role in my cricket life: CSK's Matheesha Pathirana

CHENNAI: Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has termed the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a father figure in his cricketing career, saying the former Chennai Super Kings skipper's advice has given him a lot of confidence. The 21-year-old slinger made his Indian Premier League debut in 2022 and has since become a vital cog in CSK's pace attack, including their title success last season. Speaking on the guidance he received from Dhoni, Pathirana said in CSK's 'Lions up close' show on the franchise's YouTube channel, After my father, in my cricket life, mostly he's (MSD) playing my father's role. He always takes care of me and gives me some advice on what I have to do -- similar to my father's thing when I'm doing in my home. I think that's enough. He's not telling a lot of things when I'm on the field and off the field. He's just telling me small things, but it makes a lot of difference, and it makes a lot of confidence for me. At the moment, he knows how to maintain the players. Off the field, we don't talk much. If I have to ask something from him, definitely, I'd go to him and ask him, he said. The lanky Sri Lankan has had a great IPL 2024 season so far, being the team's second-highest wicket-taker after Mustafizur Rahman (14), grasping 13 wickets in six matches at an economy of 7.68, including a four-wicket haul. As for Dhoni, he has been in good touch with the bat this season, especially as a finisher. While there has been speculation about Dhoni's future for the last three seasons, this year, too, has been no different. Rumours continue to swirl around that it could well be Dhoni's final season in this high-profile Twenty20 league, but the veteran is yet to make a formal announcement. But, inspired by him so much, Patheerana has emotionally requested Dhoni to continue at least for one more season. Mahi bhai, if you can play one more season, please play with us if I'm here (chuckles), he said. CSK has had an unstable season this term under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. In 10 matches, CSK have lost five and won as many games and are placed fifth on the points table.

70 Stitches Removed: On Wife's 2nd Cancer Surgery, Sidhu Shares Details

Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday shared an important update regarding her wife's cancer surgery

PCB Identifies The April 7- May 20 Window For PSL 2025; To Clash With IPLs Next Season

The Pakistan Cricket Board: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has identified a window between April 7 to May 20 for hosting the 2025 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). It means that the PSL 2025 will clash with the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with this years tournament starting on March 22 and slated to end on May 26. The shift in PSL 2025 dates is caused due to the 2025 Champions Trophy that Pakistan will be hosting in February-March. It comes after the PCB met six franchise owners of the PSL, in the buildup to their General Council meeting, at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Saturday. Due to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 being held in the traditional event window, the event window for the 2025 event will be April 7May 20. Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi to host matches in Pakistan with each side playing, at least, five matches on home ground. The PCB will continue to explore additional venues. Four playoffs proposed to be staged at a neutral venue, stated the PCB in a release on Saturday. A possible clash between IPL and PSL dates in 2025 will impact the overseas players' participation in both leagues for the very first time. As always, we had a very exciting and interesting brainstorming session with the franchise owners on the window for Pakistan Super League 2025. The passionate franchise owners provided their all-rounded insight and views on the PCB-recommended window and playoff venues for the 2025 event and beyond. At the back of this meeting, and in relation to the most suitable window for PSL 2025 and beyond, the PCB will share further data with the franchise owners so that they can discuss amongst themselves, make a more informed decision and share their ideas and thoughts at the General Council meeting. We look forward to working closely with the franchisees to make timely decisions for the future trajectory of one of Pakistans biggest brands, said Salman Naseer, PCB Chief Operating Officer.

Big blow for LSG! Mayank Yadav won't return for IPL

Langer informed the media that Mayank sustained a tear at the same area where he was injured earlier.

'Our plan of action is to keep winning'

Entering the contest with a positive mindset and on the back of two solid victories, Joshi said that his side will stick with the same playing combination.

IPL 2024: Little And Suthar Come In As Unchanged RCB Win Toss, Elect To Bowl First Against GT

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: An unchanged Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to bowl first against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 52 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday evening. RCB are at the bottom of the points table with six points from 10 games. On the other hand, GT are in eighth place with eight points from 10 matches. The last time these two teams met in IPL 2024, a whirlwind century from Will Jacks and fifty from Virat Kohli helped RCB beat GT by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After winning the toss, RCB captain Faf du Plessis said his playing eleven is unchanged. We are going to chase. The conversation has been good. To make that shift from the beginning, that's pleasing. From a batting perspective, we have found our mojo. The guys can come in and bat freely, he said. GT skipper Shubman Gill said left-arm fast-bowler Joshua Little and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who is making his IPL debut, have come into the playing XI. Suthar, hailing from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, picked 10 wickets in five games for India A in the Emerging Mens Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka last year. He also played two games for India A in this years four-day matches against England Lions in Ahmedabad. Little and Suthar come into the GT playing eleven in place of seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore, who is nursing a niggle. The talk is to win four in four (remaining games). It's important to turn up and deliver our best. I feel our fielding has let us down. We have had a chat about it. We need to be a better team as a fielding unit, we have had a chat. IPL is such a long tournament. It's important to turn up on the day, he said. Playing XIs: Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill (c), B. Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma and Joshua Little Substitutes: Sandeep Warrier, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Darshan Nalkande, B.R. Sharath Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Swapnil Singh Substitutes: Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Akash Deep, Rajat Patidar

Meet bowler Pathirana's father figure at CSK

But, inspired by him so much, Patheerana has emotionally requested Dhoni to continue at least for one more season.

IPL 2024: Why MI's Loss Is Good News For RCBs Playoff Chances?

RCB are currently reeling at the bottom of the points table with only six points and a poor net run rate of -0.415.

Punjab Kings' chance to hit CSK for a six

They have secured five wins on the trot against Chennai Super Kings and will be very keen to better that as the IPL moves to Dharamsala for the first time this season

Jaldi Aaya Practice Mei: Kohli-Gill's Reunion Post T20 WC Announcement

Gujarat Titans are all set to avenge their big defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru as both the teams will be facing each other again on Saturday.

IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya Looked Like A Man Under Pressure, Says Graeme Smith

Kolkata Knight Riders: Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith said Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has looked like a man under pressure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after the five-time champions suffered a 24-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday evening. This is also their eighth defeat in 11 matches of this season so far, leaving MI in ninth position and more importantly, their playoffs chances are now hanging by a slim thread. Hardik has really struggled; he's looked like a man under pressure. That's created a little turmoil in the air, who knows how that's affected the people. But even the batting lineup, they look like they're confused. Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir were fighting in the middle order, Dhir was batting at three, and Hardik moving all over the place. They should have had Tilak at 3, Sky at 4, and Hardik batting at 5 throughout the season, with David at 6. Then, figure out your bowling units. All over and all around, they've been a very confused team this season and it's been hugely disappointing from one of the mega franchises of the IPL. A lot of people in the MI fanbase and camp will be very sore after this, said Smith to JioCinema. Apart from a leadership role, Hardik is enduring a horrid time in IPL 2024 with both bat and ball. With the bat, he has amassed only 198 runs, averaging just 19.8, while picking only eight wickets at an economy rate of 11. Shane Watson, the former Australia all-rounder, was left baffled over certain on-field decisions from the MI camp. To keep bowling Naman Dhir when it was so critical (KKR were at 57-5), it was a big mistake from the leadership of the Mumbai Indians, whether it was Hardik Pandya making the decisions or information coming from the sideline. Bumrah had bowled only one over at that stage, so (they needed to) get him in the game again to try and break the partnership of Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey, but they didn't. They just let them cruise and build momentum in the partnership. Before you know it, they hadn't played a shot in anger and that built the partnership to a point where it was too late when he came in. There were a lot of baffling decisions from the Mumbai Indians' leadership, which is going to be hard to explain, he said. Amidst all the gloom for MI, Suryakumar Yadav rose to be the bright light via his 35-ball 56. With Sky at the crease, you always believe you have a chance. He was head and shoulders above every other batter in the MI lineup, nobody looked at all comfortable with the conditions, the pressure, or with their games. Sky came right with excellent stroke play, the usual hitting the ball in awkward areas. He played spin well, he played seam well, front-end or back-foot. While he was there, the whole fanbase of MI thought they had a chance, concluded Smith. Mumbai Indians will next take on fourth-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

How Hardik's Mumbai Indians Can Still Qualify For IPL 2024 Playoffs

In the ongoing IPL, Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians (MI) stand in ninth place with six points and a net run rate of -0356 after winning just 3 of 11 matches in the tournament.

IPL 2024: We Will Stick To Winning Combination For CSK Clash, Says PBKS Spin Bowling Coach Sunil Joshi

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Experts have always opined not to change a winning combination and Punjab Kings will follow the wisdom handed down the ages when they take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings in Match 53 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday afternoon. On an upswing after two wins on the trot, Punjab Kings will face the five-time champions CSK for the second time within a few days as they attempt to move up from the seventh position they currently occupy in the standings and get into a position to challenge for a place in the Playoffs. Sunday's match is their first game at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala this season and PBKS spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi explained why his side enjoys travelling to Dharamsala for the IPL games. The ground in Dharamsala is one of the best grounds in the cricket world because of the location and the surface we get to play here. It's a fantastic ground, Joshi said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday. Punjab defeated Kolkata Knight Riders, chasing down the world T20 record total of 262 last week. Earlier this week, PBKS picked a big win over the Chennai Super Kings, chasing 163 with 7 wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare. Entering the contest with a positive mindset and on the back of two solid victories, Joshi said that his side will stick with the same playing combination. No, we do not think we will be making any changes. Because we want to keep up the winning squad, he said. The former Indian left-arm spinner further gave an update on skipper Shikhar Dhawan's injury status and also praised Sam Curran for taking over the leadership role effectively in Dhawan's absence. Dhawan's rehabilitation is on track. He is doing well. He is not available for the next game. Hopefully, he will be back for the final two games, Joshi said. Shikhar was also injured last year. He was playing well but Sam had to come up as captain because of his injury. Sam has come up as a leader yet again and he has stepped up with the team, he added. The tournament has reached a stage where all the teams are fighting to grab the top four spots and confirm a spot in the playoffs. Joshi insisted his side is focused on getting the right results and is not too focused on the points table calculations. The team conversations that we have had, our approach is to put in the best effort and to play to win the game. The table calculations will come on their own. We do not see that part very closely. What we look at is what are the areas we can do better, what we have not done over the past few games, what best we can do and how we can improve as a team. That is the conversation we have with the players, he said. Our plan of action is to keep winning. The challenge is always with the bat and ball. It's a good surface. I keep telling players to hold their horses and execute their skill, he signed off.

Check Out Tilak's Sensational Catch!

A look at Tilak Varma's stunning effort on the field

On Rohit-Rinku Viral Chat Post T20 WC Snub, IPL-Winning Coach Says This

After Rinku Singh's exclusion from the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup, India captain Rohit Sharma was seen having a chat with the youngster.

BAN vs ZIM: Dream11 Prediction 2nd T20 Match, Zimbabwe tour of Bangladesh 2024

Bangladesh won the first game of the five-match T20 series against Zimbabwe with an easy win. With this, they have taken a 1-0 lead in the series. Bangladesh are looking to prepare for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. For that, this series is very important. It is time for the second game now. These two teams will lock horns in the second game on Sunday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Bangladesh will be favourites heading into the next game and will look to take a 2-0 lead. BAN vs ZIM Match Details Date : 03 May 2024 (Friday) Time : 05:30 pm I.S.T. Venue : Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram BAN vs ZIM: Live Streaming Details In India, there is no option to watch the live telecast of the match. You can catch the live stream of the second BAN vs ZIM clash on the FanCode mobile app or website. However, it needs a paid membership to watch the game. BAN vs ZIM: Head-to-Head Bangladesh have faced Zimbabwe in 21 games in the shorter format so far. Bangladesh have a good track record with 14 wins, and Zimbabwe have won 7 matches. BAN vz ZIM: Pitch Report The pitch condition in Chattogram is very slow. It has an uneven bounce, which can be exploited by the bowlers. The slower bowlers will be more effective here, as there is a good amount of turn if you are a spinner. BAN vs ZIM: Predicted Teams Bangladesh : Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali (wk), Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain Zimbabwe : Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie (wk),Sean Williams, Brian Bennett ,Sikandar Raza (c), Clive Madande (wk), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza BAN vs ZIM: Dream11 Team Wicket-keeper : Litton Das, Clive Madande Batters : Craig Ervine, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan All-rounders : Sikandar Raza (Vice Captain), Mahedi Hasan (Captain), Sean Williams Bowlers : Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Dream11 Prediction : Bangladesh are very strong at home, and they have a good record in their own conditions. That is why we predict a win for Bangladesh in the second game against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Pandya 'Baffling, KKR Had No Right To Win': Ex-IPL Champion Shreds MI

Australia's World Cup-winner allrounder Shane Watson said that the Kolkata-based franchise didn't deserve to win the match as they lost the first five wickets very quickly

Dhoni Debuts New Look At Picturesque Dharamsala Ahead Of PBKS vs CSK Clash

In a viral video, MS Dhoni's new look caught the attention of the fans.

Rohit Failed Again...: Ex-India Star Raises Concern Ahead Of T20 WC

Rohit Sharma's scores in the last four matches are - 11 (vs KKR), 6 (vs RR), 8 (vs DC) and 4 (vs LSG).

IPL 2024: Looking To See More Attacking Fast Bowling From Siraj And Yash: RCB Head Coach Flower

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: As they return to M Chinnaswamy Stadium after nearly three weeks, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is upbeat going into the last third of its IPL 2024 campaign. A vital component of RCBs back-to-back wins in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad was their attacking fast bowling; head coach Andy Flower is eager to see more of that from the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal in today's clash against Gujarat Titans in front of the 12th Man Army. Our batsmen will definitely be looking to bat out there in the middle not only on a good batting deck but in front of our brilliant crowd. What I have enjoyed seeing is our fast bowling unit bowling in a really attacking fashion. We have seen them take more wickets in the powerplay in the last three games. So we are looking at seeing more of the attacking fast bowling from the likes of Yash Dayal and particularly Siraj who has been outstanding particularly with his yorkers, said head coach Flower on RCB match day.. With four games to go in RCBs IPL season, Flower is firmly keeping the faith. Playoff hopes are still alive and that is a brilliant position, obviously we would have liked to have been much closer to the playoffs than we are but we are still there, the chances are still there and we are still believing, he said. Meanwhile, captain Faf du Plessis is proud of how his team has shown character and turned things around over the last few matches. Pressure is always there for performance, that is part of the game. Pressure is there when you are winning as well, you need to perform. For me the nice thing from a captaincy point of view is that we are playing the style of cricket that we have been wanting to play for a long so it is more a happiness that we are doing ourselves justice whereas before, the opposite was happening. Proud of the boys and the way they have stood up. It takes a lot of character when you are down in the dumps, so the boys have responded really well and the way they have played the last three games has been really good, Du Plessis said. There has been some rain in the build-up to tonights match but coach Flower does not feel it will be a major factor. The rain hasnt really changed a lot in our preparation or selection. It is brilliant that Chinnaswamy has such a good drainage system, so I dont think that is a big factor but I do know that Bengaluru needs the water so it is brilliant to have some of this beautiful rain, coach Flower said.

IPL 2024 Live: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Host Gujarat Titans

RCB vs GT Live Score: From a maths perspective, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans can still reach the IPL playoffs.

Shah Rukh Khan skips watching MI Vs KKR match at Wankhede stadium; Suhana, AbRam Khan, Ananya Panday attend [Pics]

in 2012, SRK was involved in a heated altercation with the security personnel of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) while attending a game with his children at the stadium. This clash resulted in MCA imposing a five-year ban on the actor from their premises. However, the ban was revoked five years later, allowing Shah Rukh Khan to return to the stadium.

'MI a very confused team; Hardik looks flattened'

India vice-captain Hardik Pandya looks drained, flattened, under pressure and Mumbai Indians appear like a confused unit under him, reckon former cricketers Aaron Finch and Greame Smith.

IPL-17: LSG vs KKR | Playoffs hopeful Lucknow Super Giants wary of dominant Kolkata Knight Riders all-round firepower

With an all-round win by 24 runs over Mumbai Indians propelling the second-placed KKR to 14 points, the pressure will be on LSG to find a way past the threat.

IPL-17: PBKS vs CSK | Chennai Super Kings eye payback in second successive clash against Punjab Kings

Just three days back, Punjab Kings outclassed Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets at Chepauk, considered their fortress.

IPL-17 | Hardik Pandya looks flattened, drained and under pressure: Aaron Finch

Pandya once again walked out to loud boos around the Wankhede Stadium on Friday during Mumbai Indians' yet another disappointing outing, which they lost by 24 runs to Kolkata Knight Riders

CSK looking for revenge against Punjab Kings

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will look to set their house in order and get back to winning ways when they face an upbeat yet unpredictable Punjab Kings for the second time in a row in the IPL match in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Refusing An ICC Event Can Backfire, Cautions Rashid Latif Amid Uncertainty Over India's Participation In Champions Trophy

Pakistan Cricket Board: Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif said India will have to provide a logical answer to the World governing body if they refuse to travel to Pakistan for next years Champions Trophy, and the decision of not participating in an ICC event can ackfire. Sources told IANS earlier that Team India might not participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. There are discussions about potentially shifting the venue for the event or considering a hybrid model, it said. Reacting to this, Rashid Latif told IANS, You can refuse the bilateral series. But it will be tough to refuse ICC events. When ICC chalk out its plan, the teams know where they have to play, like Pakistan knew that they have to go to India to play the World Cup, and contracts are signed accordingly for cricket boards. It seems a bit tough to refuse ICC events... In the 1996 World Cup, Australia and West Indies refused to go to Sri Lanka and the entire group changed and Sri Lanka became the champion. This was a very big mistake... If India or Pakistan has signed in, they will have to go for that event. If any circumstances occur on a government level, then you have to provide a logical answer as to why not coming. You can refuse the bilateral series citing the conditions in Pakistan are not right etc etc... In my opinion, refusing an ICC event can backfire, the former wicketkeeper-batter added. It is learnt that the Pakistan Cricket Board has proposed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India's qualifying round matches during the Champions Trophy next year be scheduled exclusively in one city. According to information received, the PCB has, meanwhile, selected Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore as the venues for the event, with Lahore hosting the final match.

LSG vs KKR: 54th Match, Dream11 Team, Indian Premier League 2024

Sunday will host two big games in the TATA IPL 2024. The evening game will be played between two teams that are sitting within the top three positions on the point table. Lucknow Super Giants will host Kolkata Knight Riders at Ekana Stadium in match no. 54. KKR has 14 points, and they are second on the table at the moment. If they win this game, they will jump to the top position on the points table. Meanwhile, LSG, who is third on the table, needs this win to strengthen their position on the points table. LSG vs KKR: Match Details Match Date : May 04, 2023 (Saturday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow LSG vs KKR: Live Streaming Details The live telecast of match no. 54 will be available in India on Star Sports channels that also give the option to watch the live action in regional languages. Fans can also enjoy the live stream on Jio Cinema with its app or website for free. LSG vs KKR:Head-to-Head The head-to-head record is in favour of Lucknow Super Giants. They have three wins out of four games played between these teams while Kolkata Knight Riders have won win. LSG vs KKR: Pitch Report The pitch at Ekana Stadium is slow, and slow bowlers can exploit these conditions pretty well. The teams that bat first will face more challenges as it is hard to adjust to the conditions. Hence, the toss will be a big factor as well. LSG vs KKR: Predicted Teams LSG: KL Rahul (c & wk), Ashton Turner, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran,Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav KKR : Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi,Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh , Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy LSG vs KKR: Dream11 Team Wicket-keepers : KL Rahul (Vice captain), Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt Batters : Shreyas Iyer All-rounders : Sunil Narine (Captain), Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis Bowlers : Varun Chakravarthy, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Naveen-ul-Haq Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Dream11 Prediction: KKR is in good form, as they are coming off a few consecutive wins. But beating LSG in Lucknow will be tough, and we predict LSG to win this game on Sunday against KKR.

PBKS vs CSK: 53rd Match, Dream11 Team, Indian Premier League 2024

It is time for a rematch between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings. These two teams played match no. 49 on Wednesday at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. PBKS came out victorious and registered their fifth consecutive win over CSK in the IPL. Now, these teams will face off against each other once again on Sunday afternoon. This time, the game will be played at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. PBKS has the momentum on their side, and they will look to fancy their chances once again. But the defending champions need this win to stay alive. PBKS vs CSK: Match Details Match Date : May 04, 2023 (Saturday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala PBKS vs CSK: Live Streaming Details You can watch this PBKS vs CSK clash live on the Jio Cinema Mobile app or website. The live telecast will also be available on Star Sports and its regional channels in India. PBKS vs CSK: Head-to-Head Chennai Super Kings have won 15 out of 29 matches played against Punjab Kings in the IPL. Meanwhile, PBKS has won the remaining 14. PBKS vs CSK: Pitch Report The HPCA surface is a very sporting wicket. Bowlers can swing the ball with a good bounce, and batters can play their shots on the up. But this venue is slightly more in favour of the bowling teams. PBKS vs CSK: Predicted Teams PBKS: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran (c), Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh CSK: Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Richard Gleeson PBKS vs CSK Dream11 Team Wicket-keepers : Jonny Bairstow Batters : Daryl Mitchell, Shashank Singh, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captan), Rille Rossouw All-rounders : Sam Curran (Vice Captain), Ravindra Jadeja Bowlers : Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Matheesha Pathirana Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Dream11 Prediction : CSK will look to bounce back after their defeat in the last game. But the conditions might favour PBKS bowlers more because they have four different types of pacers. That is why we predict PBKS to beat CSK in the coming game on Sunday in Dharamsala.

LSG, KKR in battle to cement berth in IPL play-offs

With a dominant 24 runs victory over Mumbai Indians propelling second-placed KKR to 14 points and a step closer to qualification for the play-offs, the pressure is on KL Rahul's LSG to find a way past the threat that Shreyas Iyer's side poses.

Did Venky Outshine SKY?

Don't forget Manish Pandey's gritty innings.

Rohit played as Impact Player because of 'mild back stiffness'

Piyush Chawla says it was a precautionary measure

Perspective, Priorities Have Changed: 'Father' Hardik Pours His Heart Out

Hardik Pandya revealed how his priorities and perspective towards life changed after he became a father.

Australia pacer Starc says no impact player rule in T20 WC will force captains to think tactically

MUMBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders and Australia pacer Mitchell Starc believes not having Indian Premier League's Impact player rule will force the captains to think more tactically when the T20 World Cup begins in the Americas next month. The impact player rule, which was implemented last year, has witnessed teams batting with more aggression and fearlessness, leading to totals in excess of 200 being scored consistently. The IPL this year has been particularly high-scoring with totals in excess of 250 being notched up at least on three instances. The impact player rule changes things a fair bit. Everyone gets to bat a lot deeper having a batting and a bowling XI, Starc told the media after KKR defeated Mumbai Indians by 24 runs here on Friday. I guess there's a lot made of that rule and there's been a lot of high scores, which is the nature of the wickets and the grounds we play on here. Impact player rule has had a fair part to play in that, when you are going to have batters and batting all-rounders come in at Nos 8 or 9, it's a long batting lineup. There's no fear in the powerplay when all you have to do is clear the infield and score runs. Certainly, there has been some really good batting, don't get me wrong, it's not just the rules that play a part there. Starc, who took 4/33 in KKR's win, said having no such rule in T20 World Cup could witness the impact on the scores. There's been some fantastic scoring, some fantastic partnerships and some individual brilliance with the bat. On the flip side, time (will) tell, we got the World Cup coming next month, there's no impact player rule. Whether that affects the scores, is yet to be seen, he said. It probably will. There's been talk about balance of team and when you can't just bring someone in, your all-rounders come back into play, certainly world-class all-rounders that balance the team now. Captains (will) have to think a bit tactically too when you have just 11 players. It's been interesting to experience it first hand in the IPL, he added. Starc, who was bought for a record price tag of Rs 24.75 crores, found himself on the receiving end of the batters' aggression this season but the Aussie bowler said there was no price-tag pressure on him. I didn't set my price tag, so it is what it is, he said. The 34-year-old said IPL is serving as a perfect opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup but at the same time he is not thinking too far ahead and is focussed on helping KKR get close to their target of winning the tournament. I haven't really thought too much about it. It's T20 cricket, it's not as demanding as Test match cricket. Physically (it is) not a problem and (it is a) fantastic lead-in to play here in the best T20 league in the world, he said. You're playing some high quality cricket leading into the World Cup, a lot of players at this tournament are going to be at the World Cup. In that regard, it's a great thing to see and test your skills. In terms of length of time, that's part and parcel of international cricket. My main focus is in two days' time play in Lucknow, the World Cup is next month. At this moment, it's (about) trying to help KKR win the tournament.

Change Is Inevitable: Ganguly On The Impact Of T20 Games On Cricket

The Bengal Pro T20 League: Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly believes that T20 cricket is an integral part of the sport, poised to propel it forward. Ganguly feels that the shortest form of the game is not going anywhere and will remain a significant aspect of the sport. He also praised the T20 format and explained why it has become so important in cricket.Ganguly made these remarks during the unveiling of the Bengal Pro T20 League trophy here in Kolkata on Friday. The Bengal Pro T20 League trophy was unveiled in the presence of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehasish Ganguly, Sourav Ganguly and former Indian women's cricketer Jhulan Goswami. It is a great introduction to the game. Change is inevitable in everything. Many of us who started playing 2-day cricket and 4-day cricket will have to accept that T20 cricket is here to stay and it is something that will take the game forward, Ganguly said during the event. Bengal Pro T20 League is the official franchise-based premier T20 cricket league of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Speaking about the same to the media, Ganguly said, Its (T20 Leagues) happening in every state. We are probably 5-6 years late on this. Any way of playing the sport will always be very helpful. T20 is an important part of cricket these days and this will be a huge opportunity for everyone to perform. The much-awaited inaugural edition of the Bengal Pro T20 League is set to kick off from June 11, 2024, in Kolkata as 8 teams get to ready showcase their talent on the big stage.

Mild back stiffness forced Rohit Sharma to play as impact sub in MI-KKR clash

Chawla pointed MIs inability to attain momentum at any stage in this IPL as the reason behind their poor performance

IPL 2024: He Just Looks Really Flattered At The Moment, Says Finch On Hardik Pandya

Star Sports Cricket Live: Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch dwelled on Mumbai Indians performance after 24-runs defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday night. Finch also said that Hardik Pandya is feeling the pressure of a tournament such as an IPL. Jasprit Bumrah (3-18) and Nuwan Thushara (3-42) claimed three wickets apiece at each end of the KKR innings as Mumbai Indians restricted them to a paltry 169 despite brilliant fighting 70 off 52 balls by Venkatesh Iyer, who raised 83 runs for the sixth wicket in the company of Manish Pandey. You would expect them to chase 170 with the dew falling at the Wankhede stadium. It's a beautiful place to bat generally. Yes it was a bit uncharacteristic in the way it turned a bit more and a bit more two paced than what we have seen in the past, said Finch to Star Sports Cricket Live. Mitchell Starc claimed 4-33, bagging three wickets in four balls in the 19th over to end Mumbai's innings for 145 after spin twins Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy had reduced them to 61/4 with identical 2-22 hauls. He just looks really flattered at the moment, he looks really drained and someone who is feeling the pressure. And I feel for him, I have been in that situation myself where everything that you're trying personally doesn't seem to be working. And when the team isn't performing as well, that's a very difficult place to be. And that's one thing where you're not performing and the teams winning, that's something you'd take as a captain but you bare all responsibility as captain for the teams performance and that is an incredibly hard place to be, particularly in this competition where it's so brutal. KKR will next face Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on Sunday while Mumbai Indians will lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.

Saina's Royal Breakfast With Jos, Sanga

Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal caught with Rajasthan Royals' players and support staff.

England Women's Cricket Coach Jon Lewis Using AI To Pick Team

England Women's cricket coach Jon Lewis revealed Friday he is using artificial intelligence to aid team selection, saying the technology helped his side square last season's Ashes. Lewis first became familiar with the work of London-based PSi when he took charge of the UP Warriorz franchise in India's Women's Premier League. Now the 48-year-old former England paceman uses the company to assist with his decisions about squad composition, team balance and in-game match-ups between players. The system plots projected outcomes depending on the composition of each side. I can send multiple different line-ups to the PSi in London and they run, I think, about 250,000 simulations per team that I send, with all different permutations that could happen through the game, he said. We are able to run simulated teams versus the simulated opposition to give us an idea about how those teams may match up against each other. I came across it during my time at UP Warriorz and it's something I looked at and thought it could add some value to the England Women's cricket team. Lewis said he still favoured a people-first approach but he added: What data can do is give you a really objective view of what could happen and what has happened previously. I think it will help with borderline decisions in terms of selection and match-ups. Lewis, who has spoken to England's rugby union coach Steve Borthwick about his own use of the PSi model, said the system had proved its worth as his side drew last season's multi-format Women's Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia. There was one selection particularly last year, one period of the Ashes that we targeted as a team, said Lewis, speaking at the announcement of England's squad for T20 and ODI series at home to Pakistan later this month. There were a couple of selections where AI really helped because both players I was thinking about picking were both in really good form and were both really selectable and it did help with those selections. We saw a real strength in Australia and we matched up our strength to that. That worked really, really well and it helped us win the T20 series in particular, which got us back in the Ashes. AI is becoming an increasing feature of top-level sport, with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach saying last month it could help identify talented athletes in every corner of the world. Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates He said AI could also provide more athletes with access to personalised training methods.

Why Rohit played as 'Impact sub' in KKR defeat...

Playing as an 'Impact sub', Rohit scored just 11 runs off 12 balls during Mumbai Indians' 24-run defeat to KKR. The result has almost put the five-time champions out of the reckoning for a play-offs berth.

Virat Kohli throws lavish birthday bash for Anushka

Kohli took to Instagram to share a glimpse of the special evening,

IPL 2024: The Impact Player Rule Changes Things A Fair Bit For Bowlers Feels Mitchell Starc

The Impact Player: Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Mitchell Starc feels Impact Player rule changes things a fair bit for the bowler in the IPL 2024 after the star pacer claimed a four-fer to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to 24-runs victory over Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium after 12 years. The Australian pacer entered the tournament with a weight of expectations on his shoulders, having been the most expensive pick ever at an IPL auction. However, his performance on the field didn't quite match the anticipation initially. Starc had just seven wickets and an economy of 11.78 in his first eight outings, and had conceded more than 50 three times. On Friday, he bounced back with 4 for 33 in Kolkata Knight Riders' 24-run win over Mumbai Indians, and said the Impact Player rule has made things easy a bit for the bowlers. The Impact Player rule changes things a fair bit, Starc said at the press conference. Everyone gets to bat a lot deeper having a batting and a bowling XI. There's a lot made of that rule throughout the tournament and there's been a lot of high scores, which is the nature of the wickets and the grounds we play on here. When you have batters and batting allrounders come in at Nos. 8 or 9, it's a long batting line-up. There's no fear in the powerplay when all you have to do is to clear the infield and score runs. Certainly, there has been some really good batting, don't get me wrong, it's not just the rules that play a part there. There's been some fantastic scoring, some fantastic partnerships and some individual brilliance with the bat, he added. With a stellar performance against MI on Friday night, Starc not only silenced his critics but also showcased his resilience and determination. His four-wicket haul played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders' victory, proving his worth in the team. Reflecting on his turnaround, Starc emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions and strategizing accordingly. I haven't changed too much, he said. It's about assessing conditions after the first innings. We certainly spoke about it and the batters that came off throughout that first innings mentioned the wicket and the lengths that were the hardest to face. That created the bowling plans for us. As T20 cricket doesn't always go the way you want it to go, and of course I wanted to go a bit better at the start. But I am not the only bowler going for runs. It is what it is. The fact that we sit second [on the points table] and are building towards the more important games at the back end and are playing some good cricket, hopefully I can be a part of it too. Looking ahead, Starc remained unfazed by the impending T20 World Cup, expressing confidence in his ability to manage his workload effectively. With his focus firmly set on contributing to KKR's success in the IPL, he viewed the tournament as valuable preparation for the international stage. It's T20 cricket, it's not as demanding as Test match cricket, he said. Physically it is not a problem and it's fantastic lead-in to play here in the best T20 league in the world. You're playing some high-quality cricket leading into the World Cup, a lot of players at this tournament are going to be at the World Cup. In that regard, it's a great thing to see and test your skills. In terms of length of time, that's part and parcel of international cricket. My main focus is to play in Lucknow in two days' time. The World Cup is next month - at this moment, it's [about] trying to help KKR win the tournament. Starc expects the T20 World Cup to provide a more even contest between bat and ball, unlike the IPL where totals of over 200 have been commonplace. There's no Impact Player rule [in international cricket], so whether that affects the scores is yet to be seen. I think it probably will. People talk about the balance of the team when you can't just bring someone in. Your allrounders come back into play. Captains have to think a bit tactically, too, when you have just 11 players. It's been interesting to experience it first-hand in the IPL. Amidst his individual achievements, Starc commended the camaraderie within the KKR camp, particularly highlighting the young fast bowlers in the squad. Harshit Rana played all games before his one-match suspension and has taken 11 wickets at an economy of 9.78. Vaibhav Arora has picked up nine wickets in six outings at 9.42. Despite his experience, he approached his interactions with humility, aiming to lead by example and foster a supportive environment within the team. I am a bit more experienced and a bit older, at the same time I haven't played a lot of T20 cricket, Starc said of his interactions with them. [So it is about] working off each other in a way. I am certainly not there to tell people what to do, I am happy to answer questions if they have [any] or look to lead more by example at training and get my work in. We are a pretty good group, the whole group of players and staff is awesome to be around. I would like to think I am approachable, so happy to train with the boys. I was training with Harshit Rana the other night, made him run extra which he wasn't happy about (laughs). But no, it's a great group and a lot of time we have a lot of fun.

Why Was Rohit Dropped From Starting XI? MI Star And WC Winner Gives Reason

Rohit Sharma was not named in the playing XI but came out to bat during the chase.

Dhanush, Janhvi At Wankhede

Superstar Dhanush took some time off from his busy shooting schedule to catch the cricketing action.

Russell Fumes After Horrible Run Out, Big Debate On If It Was Iyer's Doing

Venkatesh Iyer struck a fighting half-century as KKR notched 169 despite some of its batters falling for low scores vs MI

'Thanks For Everything Mahi Bhai'

'It was a special feeling to share the same dressing room with a legend like you.'

Starc Finally Justifies Price Tag

So many amazing bowling performances on Friday night, let's look at the best spells...

Hardik Should've Missed Out: Ex Pak Star On Rinku's T20 World Cup Snub

Rinku Singh had a horror outing in his first game since the T20 World Cup omission.

IPL 2024: RCB V GT Head-to-head; When And Where To Watch

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will lock horns with Gujarat Titans (GT) in the match 52 of the IPL 2024 on Saturday. Bengaluru are sitting tenth in the points table with just three wins in ten games while Gujarat are placed eighth with four wins. Bengaluru and Gujarat have faced each other in 4 matches in IPL. Out of these 4 games, Bangalore have won 2 whereas Gujarat have come out victorious on 2 occasions. RCB V KKR head-to-head: 4 Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 2 Gujarat Titans: 2 RCB v GT match time: The match starts at 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT) with the toss taking place half an hour before the match i.e., 7:00 PM (1:30 PM GMT) RCB v GT match venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Live broadcast match of RCB v GT match on television in India: The RCB v GT match will be broadcast live via Star Sports Network. Live stream in India: The live streaming of RCB v GT will be available on JioCinema.

Impact sub Pandey finally gets his chance, and makes it count

Manish Pandey made 42 in 31 balls after walking out at No. 7 to take KKR to a total they defended well

What is going wrong for MI? Here's what Hardik said

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya seemed to be at a loss for words to explain the reasons for his team's disastrous showing in IPL 2024 so far.

Hayley Matthews' 78 helps West Indies finish series 4-1 against Pakistan

Pakistan collapsed around Sidra's 48 to lose seven wickets for 37 and eventually post 134

Bangladesh vs India: Role clarity for openers the way forward for India with World Cup around the corner

CHENNAI : The opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana has come a long way since 2019, the year Verma made her international debut at the age of 15. They recently became only the second opening pair to cross 2000 runs in international cricket, behind Australia's Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney. The duo has seen each other's growth as batters and has contributed to many of India's wins over the years. However, there is still scope for India to maximise the potential of this duo. A glance at the career strike rates of these two inside the powerplay and outside of it makes a very interesting read. Verma is known to be aggressive from the get-go and that is reflected in her powerplay strike rate of 135.2. Mandhana, on the other hand, because she is mostly letting Verma make most of the powerplay, has a strike rate of 117.2 (since Verma's debut in 2019). That number might look less compared with Verma's strike rate, but it is still amongst the top four players with a minimum of 50 matches since 2019. The other two players ahead of Mandhana are Healy and Danni Wyatt of England. The roles get reversed after the end of the powerplay overs. The more Mandhana bats, the better her strike rate gets. Her strike rate from 7-11 overs remains the same, but whenever she has batted between 12-16 overs, she has scored with a strike rate of 148.3. The more Mandhana stays at the crease, the more she makes of her opportunities. For Verma, though, the more she bats outside of the powerplay, her strike rate starts to decline. From 135.2 in the first six overs, it goes down to 124.4 if she lasts till the 11th over. It becomes increasingly harder for her to bat after the 12th over as her strike rate dips to 114.4. Again, just like Mandhana in the powerplay, these are not bad numbers at all, but strategic planning could make a difference between scoring 150, which has been the consistent batting first score of the side, to consistently going towards 170+ scores. If India allows Verma to make most of the powerplay fielding restrictions, with her usual flair without thinking too much about what she can do after the powerplay and lets Mandhana hold the fort without eating too many balls at the other end, India can set a foundation on which the middle order can thrive. With that clarity of roles for the openers, the middle-order, and a quality finisher like Richa Ghosh, India can then look to post a total that's outside of the opposition's reach. For this to work, the middle order has to come to the party as early as possible. However, for now, the support staff has the chance to assign that role clarity starting from the openers so the dependency on the pair could gradually go down.

IPL 2024: Bumrah sparks in fading Mumbai as KKR win at Wankhede after 12 years

CHENNAI: On Thursday, both T Natarajan and Sandeep Sharma, the two best Indian pacers not named Jasprit Bumrah in this year's edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), showcased their wares to perfection. On Friday, it was Bumrah's turn to show exactly why he's the undisputed figurehead. Coming into the game against the Kolkata Knight Riders, it was safe to suggest that the Mumbai Indians weren't themselves. Speculation had been rife that a leadership change had led to a divided house. Batters punching below their weight, spinners being ineffective and overseas bowlers not pulling their weight... You get the drift; it has not been a good campaign. But that principle doesn't apply to Bumrah, whose artistry shined once again. Under a floodlit Wankhede, he was divine. It was rather poetic that he started his innings the way he finished yorker targeting the stumps. When you watch a yorker in real-time, it can look deceptively simple. In reality, it's an extremely hard skill to master because of the margins at play. In his column for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) website in 2017, Shane Bond had written: One of the things I keep getting asked is whether bowling the yorker is becoming a dying art. I don't think so it is just that the yorker is being used differently, and bowlers are also experimenting with a range of slower balls. The yorker is not just one of the most difficult balls to bowl, the margin for error is also extremely small. Therefore, it becomes vital to use that weapon judiciously, the Kiwi speedster wrote. The margin is about 30 centimetres from approximately 22 yards out during your delivery stride after running in. Misalign it by a few centimetres on either side of that 30-cm mark and you will travel. Not if you are Bumrah, though. The control he has on the yorker is unusual for it's almost always on the money. The few times he fails to hit the mark, it's usually a low full toss, another difficult ball to get away. Over the last few matches Sunil Narine has played, bowlers have tried to home in full onto his pads. Some have overpitched it, others have conceded wides. Not the 30-year-old. His first ball to Narine is full and straight and the opener just about got an inside edge. He followed it up with another yorker that the West Indian squeezed away for a single. His next two balls to the southpaw were different; one was going away with the angle and the other was a bouncer, which pinged his helmet. There's a set pattern to how Bumrah has been used this year. One over in the powerplay, one in the middle phase and two at the death. If ever Pandya had to break that pattern, it was now. Kolkata, on a fresh but two-faced strip, had lost half their side for 57 just after the powerplay. The visitors used 'break glass in case of emergency' option Manish Pandey as an Impact Sub to steady a boat in danger of being shipwrecked. He last played in this format last year. Alas, Pandya stuck to the template and allowed Pandey and Venkatesh Iyer to stitch an 83-run stand. When he brought back Bumrah in the 14th over, they had already grown in confidence as Pandey ramped him for a six over third man. His third spell, though, splattered the stumps a few times, as both Mitchell Starc and Venkatesh had lost their stumps to deliveries out of a video game (magical, basically). He also snaffled Ramandeep Singh to return with figures of 3/18 in 3.5 overs. The problem, though, came from other sources. He has taken 17/274 across 11 games while averaging 16.11 at an economy of 6.25. The others have not been fit for purpose: Pandya (8/297 at 37; 11), Gerald Coetzee (13/341 at 26.2; 10.17), Nuwan Thushara (4/156 at 39; 10.40), and Piyush Chawla (5/222 at 44.4; 9.25). The other bowlers have frequently neutralised Bumrah's brilliance. It happened against Kolkata too. The others combined to concede 150 in 15 overs. Brief scores: Kolkata 169 all out in 19.5 overs (Venkatesh 70, Manish 42; Bumrah 3/18, Thushara 3/42, Hardik 2/44) beat Mumbai Indians 145 all out in 18.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 56; Mitchell Starc 4/33).

IPL 2024: A Special Win, Says Spinner Varun Chakravarthy As KKR Beat MI At Wankhede After 12 Years

Kolkata Knight Riders: Conceding that his team looked down and out despite a fighting 70 by Venkatesh Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Varun Chakravarthy said the 24-run victory over Mumbai Indians was special as it was their first win at Wankhede in 12 years. Jasprit Bumrah (3-18) and Nuwan Thushara (3-42) claimed three wickets apiece at each end of the KKR innings as Mumbai Indians restricted them to a paltry 169 despite brilliant fighting 70 off 52 balls by Venkatesh Iyer, who raised 83 runs for the sixth wicket in the company of Manish Pandey, rescuing their team from a precarious 57/5 at one stage. Chakravarthy praised Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey for pulling them to 169 which they eventually defended. This is a very special win because we were down and out in the first innings. The way Venkatesh and Manish pulled it back was great, said Chakravarthy at the presentation ceremony. Mitchell Starc claimed 4-33, bagging three wickets in four balls in the 19th over to end Mumbai's innings for 145 after spin twins Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy had reduced them to 61/4 with identical 2-22 hauls. Suryakumar Yadav waged a lone battle raising Mumbai Indians' hopes with a 35-ball 56, raising 49 runs for the seventh wicket with Tim David (24) before Andre Russell (2-30) and Mitchell Starc ended Mumbai's innings, sharing the last five wickets between them. Extremely good feeling, because we haven't won at Wankhede for 12 years. It was just a matter of one wicket (when David was batting and had brought down the equation to 26 off 11 balls], said Varun Chakravarthy. He said bowling in the second innings was very tough the dew made gripping the ball difficult. He said the wicket had also improved and the ball was not stopping and turning as it did when KKR batted. There was dew, but somehow we controlled our emotions. Second innings there was not much help (for the spinners) because of the dew. The batters did tell that the ball was stopping and turning. But when I came on to bowl, I realised it wasn't stopping, he said. Chakravarthy called fellow spinner Sunil Narine a legend as both of them finished with identical figures of 2-22 off four overs, bowling in tandem to start Mumbai Indians' downfall.

IPL 2024: Pandya Blames Lack Of Partnerships For Mumbai's 24-run Defeat To KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders: Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya blamed his batters' inability to forge partnerships for their 24-run defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 51 of the Indian Premier League despite a brilliant effort by his bowlers at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Jasprit Bumrah (3-18) and Nuwan Thushara (3-42) claimed three wickets apiece at each end of the KKR innings as Mumbai Indians restricted them to a paltry 169 despite brilliant fighting 70 off 52 balls by Venkatesh Iyer, who raised 83 runs for the sixth wicket in the company of Manish Pandey, rescuing their team from a precarious 57/5 at one stage. Mitchell Starc claimed 4-33, claiming three wickets in the 19th over to end Mumbai innings for 145 after spin twins Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy had reduced them to 61/4 with identical 2-22 hauls. Suryakumar Yadav waged a lone battle raising Mumbai Indians' hopes with a 35-ball 56, raising 49 runs for the seventh wicket with Tim David (24) before Andre Russell (2-30) and Mitchell Starc ended Mumbai's innings, sharing the last five wickets between them. Pandya said the lack of partnerships undid the super effort by the bowlers and it will take time to find answers to the questions raised by their dismal performance throughout IPL 2024. Obviously we couldn't form partnerships and kept losing wickets. There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now, not much to say, said Hardik at the post-match presentation. He said though the wicket played better in the second innings and there was dew too to make it tough for the KKR bowlers, he will have to go through the game again to see what they can do better. Bowlers did a fantastic job on this track. The wicket got better if I'm not wrong. Dew came in the second innings. Will go through the game and see what we can do better. Asked what his team can do now with their chances of qualifying for the Playoff virtually hanging by a thin thread, Pandya said they will continue fighting. You keep fighting, that's what I keep telling myself. It's challenging, but you take the challenges, he signed off. Mumbai Indians have six points from 11 matches now and the maximum they can reach is 12 points if they win the remaining three matches. With four teams already scoring 12 or more points, and two with 10 points with matches to play, their chances of qualifying for the next stage look very bleak.

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