'God's plan, baby': Yash Dayal redeems himself

Yash Dayal had the haunting memory of Rinku Singh's five consecutive sixes last year when Mahendra Singh Dhoni lofted his full-toss over the Chinnaswamy stadium roof in Saturday's crucial IPL match in Bengaluru.

Watch: Dhoni Skips Handshakes With RCB Players, Kohli Then Does This

MS Dhoni didn't wait for RCB players to finish their celebration and returned to the dressing room after without shaking their hands.

'The Best Thing To Happen...', DK Claims Dhoni's Masssive Six Proved Helpful In Sealing Playoffs Berth

Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) 27 run victory over the five-time champions CSK, wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik revealed about how it was a massive six by MS Dhoni that made all the winning difference for RCB as the Faf du Plessis side sealed a playoffs berth after a forgetable start to their IPL 2024 campaign. RCB's road to the playoff is unlike anything we have ever seen. The team that spent time at the bottom of the table during the first half of the season turned on a switch and went on to win six games on the trot whilst displaying tremendous efforts with the bat, ball and in the field. CSK needed 17 runs off the last over to secure the final playoff berth and it was the man who many bowlers fear, MS Dhoni on strike. Yash Dayal was trusted to bowl to the Indian veteran and was smashed for a 110 meters massive six after the left arm pacer bowled a hip-high full toss which was sent out of the Chinnaswamy stadium. According to Karthik, due to the ball being lost and a new ball was given to the bowlers, helped the team win the game. The best thing to happen today was Dhoni hitting that six outside the ground, and we got a new ball, which was much better to bowl with, Karthik said in a video posted by RCB on social media. Dhoni was then dismissed on the very next delivery after the ball was replaced as Dayal bowled a slower one on leg which found the edge of the bat and resulted in the catch being taken, turning the game heavily into RCB's favor. Yash, that was good bowling. When in doubt, always bowl a hip-high full toss on leg stump. Wherever he is, its a good mantra to follow when the ball is wet, he added jokingly.

Ruturaj To Lose CSK Captaincy After IPL 2024? Pathan's Big 'Jadeja' Warning

It has been a topsy-turvy run for Chennai Super Kings and their new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in the ongoing IPL 2024.

RR vs KKR, IPL 2024: Match Preview, Pitch And Weather Reports

The teams who finish in the top two positions on the points table will play Qualifier 1 on May 21.

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'MS Knows What He Is Going To Do': CSK Bowling Coach Eric Simons Claims Dhoni Has Made Up Mind On His Future

Chennai Super Kings: Following the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) elimination from playoff contention with a loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), CSK bowling coach Eric Simons spoke out about MS Dhonis contribution to the team and his future. Dhonis retirement from the IPL is one of the biggest talking points as the 42-year-old former Indian captain is speculated to have played his last game for the men in yellow, a team which he has led to five IPL titles. There are so many memories of MS Dhoni, the knocks that he plays get you out of trouble. I was in the dugout and said it was incredible we are in a situation with our backs against the wall and he is at the wicket you just don't stop believing he can win for you, So I think that is one of the things that he brings to the group is the incredible self-belief. But he has a very simple structure and understanding of the game. I think that's what a lot of cricketers should strive for to, really understand the game and he does and he helps guys with that sort of information and knowledge so it is not to play like MS but understand your game and that's where MS is tremendous, said Eric. RCB pulled off a major comeback to upset the CSK fans as the team now sitting in fourth place was lurking towards the bottom end of the table for the first half of the season. What followed was incredible as they won the next six games on the trot to progress to the next stage where they will face either Rajasthan Royals or Sunrisers Hyderabad depending on the final two league games of the season. But I think anybody wants to speculate about his future, that is crazy. MS knows what he is going to do. I know that this year I have seen him hit the ball from the pre-tournament camp. So he is playing extremely well and he will make the decision. But he is a fantastic guy to be around. He has been fantastic to witness from the days I was with India and now with CSK. He is an incredible cricketer and an incredible individual in terms of his understanding of cricket and life. I think in many ways that what he passes on to guys is the incredible self-belief, never say die and a simple understanding of the game of cricket he can put it in simple words and I think that is one of the best things about him, added Simons.

Faf Defies The Law Of Physics!

Stationed at mid off, Du Plessis 'flew' with his right hand stretched out to pluck it out of the air. The 39 year old timed his jump to perfection as he was 2.3 metres off the ground when he grabbed the ball.

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings, IPL 2024: Players To Watch Out For

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 69 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Cannot Sleep At...: MS Dhoni Reveals His Daily Routine Amid IPL 2024

Over the past few seasons, there have been talks surrounding MS Dhoni's future in the IPL.

SRH vs PBKS: Match Preview, Fantasy Picks, Pitch And Weather Reports

Match 69 of the Indian Premier League, 2024, has Sunrisers Hyderabad taking on Punjab Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on May 19 at 03:30 PM IST.

Loyalty test in Bengaluru amidst rain

BENGALURU: Despite the lack of tactical advantage at the venue, M Chinnaswamy Stadium has always bled red for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Even on the morning of the clash against Chennai Super Kings, one could see fans chanting RCB, RCB, RCB from a BMTC bus while crossing the ground on Queens Road. And yet, as the evening wore on, despite the rain forecast, the colour began to change. Yellow slowly started creeping in. The No. 7 (MS Dhoni) yellow jerseys seemed to be the most visible one around the venue, followed by the No. 18 Virat Kohli T-shirts. One of the fans even took it to the next level, donning a MS Dhoni No. 7 jersey in RCB colours. That pretty much set the mood for the contest. Inside the venue, it was hard to tell who the home team was. Every RCB chant was matched by a CSK chant with almost equal number of yellow jerseys in the stands. It was understandable to a large extent, considering how it could well be the last game of Dhoni should Chennai end up on the losing side. With the prediction of rain around, Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to field, and RCB openers Kohli and Faf du Plessis came out all guns blazing. In the second over, Shardul Thakur went for 16 runs followed by a 13-run over from Tushar Deshpande as RCB raced to 31/0 in three overs. That is when the sky opened up and the rain stopped playing. Now, RCB have been on a bit of a winning streak, with five wins in a row. But the road to here has been far from smooth. At one point, RCB had seven losses in eight games and were at the bottom of the points table. It is not just the losses that hurt, but also the manner in which they happened. Before their one-run loss in Kolkata (7th one), they had conceded a record total at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad and lost by 25 runs, largely thanks to Dinesh Karthiks heroics. Among the many honest conversations that happened within the dressing room was a discussion within the spin bowling group. Until the KKR game, RCB had played a frontline spinner Karn Sharma only once; in the opening game of the season against CSK. Since then, they had opted for batting depth and went with part-timers, but it clearly hadnt worked. That is when Karn, Swapnil Singh and other spinners went to the team management. We had a chat, especially as a spin group, we talked to the coach and said we havent used the spinners so well. They took it in a very nice way, recalled Swapnil in a chat with this daily. Karn played against KKR, in their next game, an away contest in Hyderabad, RCB went back to playing two spinners, including Swapnil. That, among other things like Rajat Patidar and Will Jacks getting into the groove, proved to be a crucial piece of the puzzle. RCB won that match by 35 runs. And the spin duo Karn and Swapnil shared four wickets between themselves. Since then, the two spinners have played every game and RCB has continued to win all four. God has been kind, says Swapnil with a big smile. We have had two spinners all the way through till now that has been the changed and things have worked out for the spin group as well, he adds. Even as the play resumed on Saturday after a 41-minute break, once again, RCB would rely on Swapnil and Karn to do the job later in the night for them to get across the line.

Bhuvi key as SRH look for good show vs PBKS

HYDERABAD: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the most economical bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, so far. With other bowlers struggling to contain runs, the former India pacer stands tall even if his figures too seem to be at the higher end. To start with, Bhuvneshwar has not had the best of the season as he went wicketless in the five of the first 10 games. Bhuvneshwar gradually found his mojo back to not only claim wickets but also bowl miserly. With the team in the play-offs, the bowlers form gains more significance and SRH assistant coach Simon Helmot is confident that his experience will be invaluable. Hes one of the leaders of our attack. Hes been in many playoffs before. We know his experience will be invaluable, Helmot said on the eve of the match. Sanjay Rastogi, childhood coach of the bowler, also echoed the sentiments and said his ward has remained the same even after years of international cricket. No matter which match he plays, be it a practice game or a club match or an international fixture, he always plays with the same intensity. I know the team management decides on the combination and its the prerogative of selectors to pick up the squad but the way Bhuvi has been bowling, I strongly feel he should be there in the team. The team will miss him during the T20 World Cup, Rastogi told this daily. With SRH taking on Punjab Kings in their last league outing on Sunday afternoon here in Hyderabad, Bhuvneshwar will have to be at his best as a win will help the team to finish second on the points table giving them two chances to qualify for the final. Helmot also knows how important Bhuvneshwar is for the team. I know hes a person who Pat (Cummins) will often lean on, especially out in the middle when the pressures on. But Bhuvi as well as a number of our senior players are obviously going to be really important when it comes to big matches, he signed off. Rain threat It rained heavily at Uppal, where the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium is situated, on Saturday evening. The heavy downpour meant SRH had to cancel its training. There is a forecast of rain for Sunday.

Universe Boss Cheers RCB

Anushka Sharma, Sakshi Singh Dhoni cheered on their better halves from the stands along with other celebrities including IPL legend Chris Gayle.

I Know That This Year...: CSK Coach On MS Dhoni's Potential Retirement

The CSK coach gave his take on the speculations building around MS Dhoni's future and disclosed the best thing that he feels about the seasoned finisher.

IPL 2024: RR V KKR Overall Head-to-head, When And Where To Watch

Kolkata Knight Riders: Rajasthan Royals (RR) will lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 70 of the IPL 2024 on Sunday evening. If the RR win the match, it will guarantee them the second spot in the table. The top two teams will play in Qualifier 1, the winner of which will directly make the final. In the RR v KKR head-to-head, the two teams have played each other 29 times in the IPL with both the Royals and the Knight Riders winning 14 matches each with one game being abandoned. RR v KKR head-to-head 29- Rajasthan Royals: 14 Kolkata Knight Riders: 14 Abondoned: 1 RR v KKR 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) RR v KKR match venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati RR v KKR Live broadcast on television in India: The RR v KKR match will be broadcast live via Star Sports Network. Live stream in India: The live streaming of RR v KKR is available on JioCinema Squads: Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Suyash Sharma, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Dushmantha Chameera, Srikar Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Sherfane Rutherford, Sakib Hussain, Allah Ghazanfar Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Kuldeep Sen, Donovan Ferreira, Shimron Hetmyer, Abid Mushtaq, Shubham Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathore, Navdeep Saini

Vintage RCB Batting Lights Up Stadium

RCB's openers gave the hosts the perfect start, before the middle order delivered once again to take the hosts to a defendable total. Cameos from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell added the final flourish.

IPL 2024: SRH V PBKS Overall Head-to-head, When And Where To Watch

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will play host to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match 69 of the IPL 2024 on Sunday afternoon. As a washout in Hyderabad on May 15 confirmed a playoffs berth for SRH while PBKS will be looking to end their campaign with a resounding victory. The two teams have met 22 times in the IPL with SRH holding an advantage in the head-to-head matchups. SRH v PBKS head-to-head 22- Sunrisers Hyderabad: 15 Punjab Kings: 7 SRH v PBKS match time: The match starts at 3:30 PM IST (10:00 AM GMT) with the toss taking place half an hour before the match i.e., 3:00 PM (9:30 AM GMT) SRH v PBKS match venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad SRH v PBKS Live broadcast on television in India: The SRH v PBKS match will be broadcast live via Star Sports Network. Live stream in India: The live streaming of SRH v PBKS is available on JioCinema Squads: Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins(c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, T Natarajan, Abhishek Sharma, Umran Malik, Mayank Agarwal, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Marco Jansen, Mayank Markande, Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, Anmolpreet Singh, Upendra Yadav, Jhatavedh Subramanyan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Maharaj Singh Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Ashutosh Sharma, Tanay Thyagarajan, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Shikhar Dhawan, Chris Woakes, Atharva Taide, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary, Vishwanath Singh

Is This The Last Time We Will See Him?

The whole stadium gave Mahendra Singh Dhoni a standing ovation as he walked back after his dismissal in the final over -- in what could be his final walk off a cricket field.

Not Dhoni, This Ex-India Star Was First-Choice Captain For CSK In IPL 2008

MS Dhoni led CSK to record-equalling five IPL titles. Be it from the CSK franchise or its fans, the player has earned immense love and respect.

Definitely Not Trends As Fans Fear They've Seen Last Of MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni hasn't yet confirmed if he plans to continue playing for CSK next year or hang his boots.

Viral Video: RCB Fans Block Road, Celebrate Team's Playoffs Qualification

Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans thronged streets late into the night after their team qualified for the IPL 2024 playoffs with a thrilling victory against Chennai Super Kings.

Kohli's Animated Chat With Umpire After RCB Star's No Ball vs CSK Viral

There was a point during the CSK innings when Kohli and Faf du Plessis chatted animatedly with the umpires.

Not Kohli, Du Plessis Dedicates Player Of The Match Award vs CSK To...

CSK, in fact, needed 17 off the final over but Dayal held his nerves despite being hit for a towering six by Dhoni in the first ball to seal it in the end for RCB.

Virat, Anushka Can't Hold Back Tears As RCB Beat CSK To Enter Playoffs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated defending champions Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs to secure the fourth and final play-off spot in the Indian Premier League

I dedicate my man of the match award to Dayal: Faf

Pacer Yash Dayal kept his cool in a tense final over to seal a 27-run win against Chennai Super Kings and send RCB through to the play-offs.

Du Plessis: 'I dedicate the Man of the Match to Yash Dayal'

RCB's captain also said the Chinnaswamy pitch 'felt like a day-five Test match in Ranchi' after the rain interruption early in their innings

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IPL 2024: Batters, Yash Dayal Shine As RCB Enter Playoffs With A Stunning 27-run Win Over CSK (ld)

Indian Premier League: Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal starred with 2-42, including taking out MS Dhoni in a seven-run final over, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their nerve to enter the IPL 2024 playoffs with a stunning 27-run win over Chennai Super Kings in front of their faithful fans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. After captain Faf du Plessis (54), Virat Kohli (47), Rajat Patidar (41), and Cameron Green (38 not out) excelled in a collective batting show to post a challenging 218/5, with a 40-minute rain interval in between, RCB then had CSK in trouble right from the start of the chase. Though Rachin Ravindra made 61 which Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni shared a 61-run stand off 27 balls, it wasnt enough as CSK were restricted to 191/7 to bow out of the competition, as RCB got their sixth consecutive win of the competition to grab the last remaining playoffs spot. Its the fourth time RCB entered the IPL playoffs in the last five seasons and they will now play the Eliminator on May 23 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB have also become the first team to qualify for the playoffs with seven wins in a 10-team competition. Kohli and du Plessis set the platform for the big total through the 78-run opening stand. It was followed by Patidar and Green having a 71-run association for the third wicket, with Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell firing in late cameos to get a massive total on board for RCB. Tournaments leading run-getter Kohli began in stunning fashion with a square drive off Shardul Thakur for four, before skipper Faf du Plessis drove the all-rounder for four more and thumped a six over the bowlers head. Kohli used his supple wrists to flick Tushar Deshpande for six, before pulling him for another maximum in the third over, while also completing 3000 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Just as Maheesh Theekshana was to bowl the fourth over, heavy showers lashed the venue and forced players as well as on-field umpires to get off the field, with covers quickly covering the field of play. After 40 minutes of interruption, with moisture caused by rain seeping into the pitch, Theekshana and Mitchell Santner found turn, grip, and bounce. It meant RCB didnt get many runs and ended their power-play at 42/0. Despite Kohli striking some lovely boundaries off Santner and Ravindra Jadeja, he fell three runs short of his fifty when he whipped uppishly to wide long-on off the former. Du Plessis continued the attack by hitting Jadeja for four and back-to-back sixes in his third over before reaching his fifty. But his knock ended when Santner got a finger off a straight drive from Patidar before the ball hit the stumps at the bowler's end, catching the batter short of the crease. After several replays, umpire Michael Gough confirmed du Plessis bat was in the air and adjudged him out for 54 off 39 balls. Patidar and Green hit three boundaries collectively off Simarjeet Singh, before giving the same treatment to Shardul Thakur. Patidar then smashed Deshpande for a brace of sixes, before Green hit consecutive maximums off Thakur. But Patidar fell for a 23-ball 41 after holing out to long-on off Thakur. Karthik and Maxwell hit quickfire boundaries in the last three overs of the innings as RCB slammed 80 runs in the last five overs to post their highest total against CSK in the IPL. In reply, CSK were never in the hunt to chase down 219 from the word go. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for a golden duck after top-edging a short ball straight to short fine leg off Maxwell. Daryl Mitchell couldnt do much, lasting just six balls before miscuing a loft to mid-off against Dayal. Ravindra, with his cuts and pulls, along with Ajinkya Rahane steadied CSK's ship after the early blows by hitting seven boundaries between themselves in a 66-run stand off 41 balls for the third wicket. But pressure built by RCB spinners meant Rahane looked to take on Lockie Fergusons first ball, but top-edged to wide mid-off to fall for 33 off 22 balls. Ravindra marched forward to get a 31-ball fifty, his first in the IPL, by heaving Ferguson over deep mid-wicket for six. Luck was going CSKs way when Siraj dropped Shivam Dubes catch at long-on. But in the same over, a massive mix-up resulted in Ravindra being run out for 61 off 37 balls. Though Jadeja was dropped by Karthik off Green, RCB continued to strike as Dube holed out to long-on off Ferguson, while du Plessis took a leaping one-handed catch at mid-off to dismiss Santner cheaply. Jadeja and Dhoni hit nine stunning boundaries between themselves to valiantly take CSK close to 200, but once the latter fell to Dayal in the final over, the match turned in RCBs favour. CSK needed 10 runs to qualify off the last two balls, but Dayal got his redemption by not giving a single run to spark frenzied celebrations in the venue. Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 218/5 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 54, Virat Kohli 47; Shardul Thakur 2-61, Mitchell Santner 1-23) beat Chennai Super Kings 191/7 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 61, Ravindra Jadeja 42 not out; Yash Dayal 2-42, Cameron Green 1-18) by 27 runs

CSK knocked out as RCB win six in a row to make playoffs

Yash Dayal held his nerve and gave away just seven runs in the final over to help RCB seal a thriller

Nathan Lyon gets better of Ben Stokes to give Lancashire the upper hand

The pair have engaged in several compelling arm-wrestles in the Ashes through the years and another clash was the headline attraction on Saturday. The post Nathan Lyon gets better of Ben Stokes to give Lancashire the upper hand appeared first on Cricket365 .

IPL 2024: Delight for RCB, heartbreak for CSK

BENGALURU: A month ago, Bengaluru had seemingly gone beyond the point of no return. After eight matches, they had won one and lost seven. Now, in the most incredible of circumstances, they have engineered a run to the knock-out stages for the ages. In a do-or-die clash against Chennai, five-time champions Chennai, they won by 27 runs for their sixth win on the trot. In the process, they leapfrogged MS Dhoni & Co (was this his last match?) on NRR. In a couple of days, they will walk out in Ahmedabad, the scene of where the rejuvenation began against Gujarat when Will Jacks and Virat Kohli finished a 200+ run chase with more than three overs to go. When the match began on Saturday, Kohli and Faf du Plessis, as they have done lots of times already in the second half of the campaign in 2024, started like a train (31/0 in three overs). After all, they knew what was at stake play-off spot for them and what to expect rain interruptions. Having lost the toss, they had no choice but to start in fourth gear. And that is exactly what they did. Kohli took on Tushar Deshpande two sixes in the third over, one of which hit the roof to set the momentum, but that is when rain had put the brakes. A much-needed relief for Chennai captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who immediately brought on the spinners when play resumed. Maheesh Theekshana and Mitchell Santner operated from either end something that probably should have happened even before the rain break keeping the RCB openers quiet. And it worked. In the next three overs, they could manage only 12 runs. Kohli decided to step up. He, first went hard against Ravindra Jadeja and then against Santner to keep the boundaries coming. It is a facet of Kohli we are seeing this season, attempting to take on the spinners at will. Much to the delight of the crowd, he even employed his newfound slog sweep to smash Jadeja into the stands. And once he fell to Santner, Du Plessis did his part by smashing Jadeja for 20 runs. It was almost as if they were applying the mathematics rule of two negatives (match-ups) making a positive. Santner, once again, came to the rescue, getting rid of Du Plessis but it only brought a better hitter of spin to the crease Rajat Patidar. Now until a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like the black magic spell that was cast on Patidar had followed him into the RCB dressing room. But it all wore off in Hyderabad. It is no coincidence that RCB started winning once he started taking apart spinners for fun in the middle-overs. Such was his spin-hitting that Gaikwad turned to pacers once he came in a move that provided to be anticlimactic this time. Patidar hit Simarjeet Singh and then Theekshana came, followed by Thakur, who too was taken for 17 runs. With Cameron Green for support, Patidar became the hero RCB needed. They added 71 runs from 28 balls as RCB looked well set for score closer to 220. That is when Patidar fell, trying to hit Thakur into the stands. When things are going your way, you seldom put your foot wrong. RCB were in one such zone as they promoted Dinesh Karthik ahead of Glenn Maxwell, ensuring Gaikwad did not finish Jadejas quota of overs. Karthik hit a six and a four before passing the baton to Maxwell. The Australian started with a top edge for four and followed it with two more boundaries as RCB posted 218/5 in 20 overs. In the end, it proved to be good enough for the hosts. Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 218/5 in 20 ovs (Du Plessis 54, Kohli 47, Patidar 41) bt Chennai Super Kings 191/7 in 20 ovs (Rachin 61, Jadeja 42 n.o; Dayal 2/42).

IPL PIX: RCB knock out CSK; qualify for play-offs!

A spirited performance from their bowlers saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru outclass Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs to qualify for the play-offs.

Tom Alsop fights for Sussex but Yorkshire have the edge

Gritty innings keeps hosts alive in low-scoring dogfight at Hove

'New Jofra Archer' makes stunning impact on first-class debut

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Stoneman century puts Middlesex in command

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Brooke Guest's 76* keeps Derbyshire in the game

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Jofra Archer Shows Promise In Low-key Comeback Ahead Of T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup: The England white-ball team got some good news on Saturday as pacer Jofra Archer made an appearance for Sussex's second XI as he amped up preparations for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to start on June 1 in the USA and the West Indies. Archer was named in England's T20 World Cup squad for the tournament beginning next month but has very little professional cricket up his sleeve after the stress fracture that saw him sidelined last year. In a lively spell for Sussex's second XI, after being parachuted in for the fourth day's play, Archer took a wicket in six impressive overs, said a report on icc-cricket.com. Archer last played for England on the tours of South Africa and Bangladesh in 2023, after missing England's title-winning T20 World Cup campaign in 2022, but even then he was on a comeback trail. Archer hit his straps in terms of pace and bounce, and his sharp spell strengthened the belief that the seamer could finally be ready for some international action when England take on Pakistan next week in a bilateral series ahead of the T20 World Cup. Skipper Jos Buttler was pleased with Archer's showing but chose to play down expectations around Archer ahead of the big tournament. Everyone knows what he is capable of and the attitude he possesses, Buttler told the PA Media. As a captain, he is someone you can always turn to in a game because he always has a trick up his sleeve. It's great to be able to call on him but it's important to manage expectations. He has been out of it for a while now so we will need to look after him and realise that it might just take him a little while to be the Jofra of 2019, he added. He is a proper superstar, but we do have to be smart with him. It's a jump in intensity from what he's doing now to international cricket and you can't really replicate it, Buttler concluded. England are drawn in Group B at the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, Namibia, Scotland and Oman.

IPL PIX: Batters propel RCB to huge total vs CSK

Images from the IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings.

IPL 2024: Batters Collective Show Takes RCB To 218/5; Need To Restrict CSK To Under 200 For Playoffs Spot

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Captain Faf du Plessis (54), Virat Kohli (47), Rajat Patidar (41), and Cameron Green (38 not out) starred in a collective batting show as Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a challenging 218/5 against Chennai Super Kings in a winner-takes-the-playoffs-spot clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday. On a pitch that looked like a batting beauty before it took a turn after a 40-minute rain break, Kohli and du Plessis set the platform for the big total through their 78-run opening stand. It was followed by Patidar and Green having a 71-run association for the third wicket, with Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell firing in late cameos to get a massive total on board for RCB. They now need to restrict CSK to 200 or below if they are to enter the IPL 2024 playoffs. The tournaments leading run-getter, Kohli began stunningly by placing a Shardul Thakur square drive for four, before skipper Faf du Plessis drove off the all-rounder for four more and thumped a six over the bowlers head. Kohli used his supple wrists to flick Tushar Deshpande for six, before pulling him for another maximum of the third over. During his unbeaten 19 off nine balls, Kohli also completed 3000 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Just as Maheesh Theekshana was to bowl the fourth over, heavy showers lashed the venue and forced the players as well as on-field umpires off the field, with covers quickly covering the field of play. After 40 minutes of interruption, with moisture caused by rain seeping into the pitch, Theekshana and Mitchell Santner found turn, grip, and bounce. It meant RCB didnt get many runs and ended their Power-play at 42/0. Despite Kohli striking some lovely boundaries off Santner and Ravindra Jadeja, Kohli fell three runs short of his fifty when he whipped uppishly to wide long-on off the former. DU Plessis continued the attacking job by hitting Jadeja for four and back-to-back sixes in his third over before reaching his fifty. Du Plessis knock, though, ended when Santner got a finger off a straight drive from Patidar before the ball hit the stumps at the bowler's end, catching the batter short of his crease. After several replays, umpire Michael Gough confirmed du Plessis bat was in the air and adjudged him out for 54 off 39 balls. Patidar and Green hit three boundaries collectively off Simarjeet Singh, before giving the same treatment to Shardul Thakur. Patidar then smashed Deshpande for a brace of sixes, before Green hit consecutive maximums off Thakur. But Patidar fell for a 23-ball 41 after holing out to long-on off Thakur. Karthik and Maxwell hit quickfire boundaries in the last three overs of the innings as RCB slammed 80 runs in the last five overs to post their highest total against CSK in the IPL. Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 218/5 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 54, Virat Kohli 47; Shardul Thakur 2-61, Mitchell Santner 1-23) against Chennai Super Kings

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RCB post a challenging 218/5 against CSK

RCB post a challenging 218/5 against CSK

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RCB vs CSK, IPL 2024: Virat Kohli was caught on the boundary ropes by Daryl Mitchell off Mitchell Santner

LBW decision off last ball of 2019 IPL final was turning point in my career: Umpire Nitin Menon

HYDERABAD: Nitin Menon is the lone representative from the county in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. With the BCCI assigning him the responsibility to officiate in the 2024 IPL final, Menon, who hails from Indore, is on the verge of surpassing the record held by Australia's Simon Taufel. This will be his sixth consecutive IPL final, one more than Taufel. Menon has already officiated in two T20I World Cups and one ODI World Cup and is ready to officiate in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. He recently stood in his 100th IPL match between Gujarat and Bengaluru in Ahmedabad and is set to surpass S Venkataraghavan's record of 125 international matches as an on-field Indian umpire in the T20 World Cup. Firoz Mirza, in an exclusive chat with the renowned umpire, got him the open up on topics like his best decisions, the life of an umpire and how technology is helping them evolve. Excerpts: On your switch from domestic cricketer to umpire When I was playing, till U-19 I was doing well. But when I went past that stage, the performances were not that good so I was dropped from the team. I was struggling to get a place in the Madhya Pradesh team. That time my father gave me advice that the BCCI was going to conduct examinations for umpires, so why don't you appear in it and have an alternative career. So I went ahead, took exams and cleared it. Actually, I found umpiring more challenging and more rewarding than playing cricket. Hours of net batting, power hitting irrespective of formats during Andhra camp: Reddy's mantra for success On his thought process I weighed all the pros and cons. It was not an easy decision as I had been playing cricket for 15 years. Suddenly you have to give up that. You have worked hard for 15 years and suddenly switching to another profession was not easy. Ultimately, I took the risk at 23. I took the risk and I can say that it has paid off. On how he copes with his schedule Like players, we have to travel a lot. But we are used to it now. When the domestic season starts, it's quite hectic. Because after games, you have to travel to different venues. But now we are used to that constant travelling. What I do is that once my game is finished, I actually don't go and watch live cricket again. Because once the game is over, it's done for me. The two-to-three-day gap that I get between games, I don't watch much cricket. That's my downtime, which helps me focus on the next game. So that break is something I cherish. I don't want to discuss or talk much about cricket during that time. On his mental and physical fitness routines During game time, when we stand for four to five days, 90 overs in a day, our fitness is automatically tested. Off the field, we hit the gym, do cardio and weight training, all those things. For mental fitness, I haven't done a lot of yoga or such activities, but for me, if I'm enjoying the game, then I'm automatically focused on it. I enjoy the game, and that keeps me mentally ready and prepared. As far as mental toughness or preparedness is concerned, I don't do anything extra. Enjoying the game keeps me positive and focused. I work out six days a week, alternating between cardio and weight training, especially focussing on lower body and core muscles. Standing six to seven hours requires strong legs and core. I keep Sundays free. T20 World Cup: Selectors keep faith in old in youngest format When did you start doing physical exercises? Since I was playing, I knew what to do and what not to do. There hasn't been a gap for me between playing and umpiring regarding fitness. My fitness schedule has always been ongoing. On statistics, success rate of decisions and whether it puts you under pressure When I walk onto the field, I don't think about getting decisions right or wrong. I focus on giving my best, and the results take care of themselves. So basically, I focus on my process and not the end result. Even if I make one or two errors in a game, it doesn't affect me too much. I understand it's part and parcel of my game. Being a human, I am bound to make errors. I focus more on the correct decisions I've made in various formats of the game. For me, that's the positive way of looking at things rather than focusing on errors I have committed. That makes me more aware and focused and keeps me motivated. On remembering any incorrect decisions For me, as I said, all errors are the same. I don't keep my errors in my mind because they are part and parcel of the game and I don't have to worry much about it. I learn from them and move on. I focus on the good decisions I've made, which helps me stay positive for future games. On a decision you are proud of Two decisions come to mind. The first was in the 2019 IPL final when CSK needed two runs off the last ball against MI in Hyderabad. CSK didn't have any reviews left. So for me to get that LBW decision right off the last ball bowled by Lasith Malinga was very important because if by any chance I had committed an error at point of time, CSK would have thought they lost the final because of me. It was a career-changing decision for me. In 2019, I was not part of the elite panel. I was just on the international panel of umpires. BCCI trusted me and thought I could do a good job in the IPL final. So it was a big moment for me. I am happy I could repay the faith the BCCI and IPL put in me. So that is the one decision I cherish. The second decision was during the last Ashes when I gave Steve Smith not out for a run-out. There was a lot of criticism from a part of the commentary team saying how can I give that not out. Probably they were unaware of the law but I was very convinced and assured as the third umpire that the decision I am arriving at was as per the law. On the law The law is about the complete removal of the bail. The bail should be removed from both ends, not just one end. In that scenario, only one end of the bail was removed when Steve Smith was outside the crease, but when both ends came off, he was inside the crease. There was confusion among some players and spectators that it was out since one part of the bail was up. It was a challenging and crucial decision as Smith is one of the best players in the world. At that time, the match was in the balance. So I am very proud that I was able to make that decision. Throughout the process of making that decision I was very composed and confident that yes 'I was going in the right direction'. On the reputation of players and if that plays a role in the decision-making process Honestly, it has not affected me till now. I am sure if you ask other umpires, they will also say no. They don't think whether a big star is batting or a big star is bowling. For us, it's bat and ball, we just watch the ball and try to make the right decision without thinking about the players involved. If we think along those lines, then we will put more pressure on us and that might not be a good sign for umpires as that could make us more prone to errors. On the role of technology in aiding the process I love technology. It is very helpful because when I see my decisions getting stamped by the technology, I know I am watching the game, I am watching the ball correctly. I am hearing everything correctly. So when technology backs my decision, I get that self-assurance. Also sometimes, when you make a decision, there is a little doubt. Did I get it right or wrong? So when technology backs it, I know I am thinking in the right way, my perception is correct. Let's say even if I get a decision wrong and technology corrects me, it only helps me to understand I have to get better to get the decision right next time. The technology is there to help us. On tech positively impacting umpires One advantage is that technology corrects errors we might make on the field. But because of the technology, that error gets corrected so there is no animosity between umpires and players especially when it is a crucial stage of the match. So I think technology is very important and when a team has DRS, they can challenge the umpire's decision and when it gets corrected, everything is back to normal. There is no bad blood between umpires and players. On watching videos Not regularly, but sometimes I do. We get immediate feedback on the field through replays on the big screen or we can ask the third umpire what the technology is saying about that decision. So, generally, we don't have to go and see videos of the decisions we have made. But if I feel the need to do that I do it sometimes. On your form going into the World Cup I feel that I am in a good headspace going into the T20 World Cup because IPL is a big platform, a challenging tournament with a lot of pressure. A lot of big players playing here so if you officiate here and get most of the decisions right, it gives you confidence that I am watching the ball well, hearing it well despite the capacity crowd. On hearing sounds in a full, noisy stadium Sometimes we can hear the sounds despite the noise but sometimes we cannot, so we cannot guess. So for us, it's important to gather the clues, such as sounds, players' reactions, and trusting our eyes and ears. All these factors come into the picture when we make specific decisions like caught behind or an inside edge especially when it is full inside. On getting the work-life balance I don't get enough time with my family, but I do get some time. My family understands my job, they understand my job requires me to travel a lot. That's a big advantage for me because my father was also an umpire and used to play for MP, he was also on the road for most of the time. So from there, it has transferred to me. So the family understands it's a part and parcel of my job.

IPL-17: Im terrible at reading pitches, says Rajasthan Royals Kumar Sangakkara

Both PBKS and RR representatives, Nathan Ellis and Shane Bond respectively, had remarked that the wicket had behaved slower than expected at the post-match press conference

CSK Or RCB - Who Will Enter IPL Playoffs If Rain Washes Out Mega Showdown?

CSK are on 14 points from 13 matches (Net Run-rate +0.528) while RCB are on 12 points from 13 games (NRR +0.387)

IPL 2024: RCB Reach 31/0 In Three Overs Before Rain Stops Play In All-important Clash Against CSK

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru raced to 31 for no loss in three overs of their all-important Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash against Chennai Super Kings, before rain stopped play at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. RCB, currently on a five-match winning streak, need to beat defending champions CSK by at least 18 runs to get into the IPL 2024 playoffs. Leading run-getter Virat Kohli began in stunning fashion by placing a Shardul Thakur square drive for four, before skipper Faf du Plessis drove off the all-rounder for four more and thumped a six over the bowlers head. Kohli used his supple wrists to flick Tushar Deshpande for six, before pulling him for another maximum in the third over. During his unbeaten 19 off nine balls, Kohli also completed 3000 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Just as Maheesh Theekshana was to bowl the fourth over, heavy showers started at the venue and forced players as well as on-field umpires to get off the field, with covers quickly covering the field of play. Rain threat always loomed over the all-important clash which will decide who clinches the last remaining IPL 2024 playoffs spot. The winner of Saturdays clash will book a playoffs spot, joining Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the next round of IPL 2024. If CSK wins irrespective of the margin, they enter the knockouts. A washout would mean RCB would be out of the competition and CSK would book their playoffs spot. Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 31/0 in three overs (Virat Kohli 19 not out, Faf du Plessis 12 not out) against Chennai Super Kings

'Mahi bhai and I will be playing maybe for the last time': Virat Kohli's hints at MS Dhoni's last game tonight between CSK and RCB

The upcoming RCB Vs CSK clash has rain hovering all around the Chinnaswamy Stadium. In case the match gets abandoned, CSK will go through to the playoffs and RCB will be eliminated.

Rajasthan Royals search for winning mantra to hold on to second spot

A fifth straight defeat for RR in the back-end of the league stage could leave them outside the top two

IPL 2024: Think It's RCB's Turn To Do Something Special, Says Dinesh Karthik

Indian Premier League: With a playoffs spot on the line for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their all-important Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash against the Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes this is the turn of his side to do something special. Not so long ago, RCB were at the bottom of the points table, but they now enter Saturdays game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on a five-match winning streak and need to beat defending champions CSK by at least 18 runs to get into the playoffs. The way we (RCB) have played in the last five games is pretty symbolic of what RCB is capable of. Playing some good cricket, big names, playing some high octane cricket, great to be a part of it. I will remember this journey for a long time. Every year there's going to be a team at the halfway stage almost where we were. I am wishing that we take one step forward. I think it's RCB's turn to do something special. As a sportsman, these are the kind of games you live and die for literally. The tournament is on the line for us, weather permitting, we have to put up a good show. I think this has been one of those journeys people will remember for decades. After losing seven out of their first eight games (RCB) are in this position, there's still a lot of work to do though, said Karthik in a pre-match chat with the broadcasters. Talking of the challenge from CSK, Karthik said, We play against a solid team, but what a journey this has been. Three weeks can turn around your fortunes. We are trying to hunt down a side that has done really well in the tournament. We had nothing to lose a few games ago but now we know the value of pushing and recreating it again and again. They are a formidable and balanced side. The way they play their cricket is one of the most successful sides in this league. They come good in big games, it's a great challenge for us. Rachin Ravindra, CSKs opening all-rounder, thinks his team has in them to stop RCBs resurgent run in IPL 2024. It's going to be incredible, hopefully, the rain stays away and we can put up a show for our fans. The atmosphere has been electric here at the Chinnaswamy. Just keep your feet on the ground and take it as it comes. Siraj is a threat with the new ball, they've been on a run of five straight wins, RCB are a very good team, but hopefully, we can continue our work and stop them. Speaking of his maiden season with CSK, Rachin remarked, Amazing to be part of CSK, amazing players and the management, the support staff, they've kind, I haven't had the greatest run, have seen the ups and downs. To share the dressing room with the likes of Dhoni, Jaddu, and the incredible overseas players, it's been a learning experience. It's important to find your own experience because every journey is different, the things you learn are very useful.

IPL 2024: Santner Replaces Moeen As CSK Elect To Bowl In Winner-takes-the-playoffs-spot Clash Against RCB

Chennai Super Kings: Mitchell Santner replaces Moeen Ali in Chennai Super Kings playing eleven as captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday. The winner of Saturdays clash will book a spot in the playoffs, joining Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the next round of IPL 2024. If RCB are to enter the playoffs, they need to beat CSK by at least 18 runs. If CSK win, irrespective of the margin, they enter the knockouts. A washout due to a huge rain threat would mean RCB, who are on a five-match winning streak, would be out of the competition and CSK would book their spot in the playoffs. Santner, the left-arm spin all-rounder, comes into the playing eleven as Moeen, the off-spin all-rounder, has returned to his home in England for international duty. The wicket looks good, conditions are overcast and we will look to make the most of the movement in the first 2-3 overs, said Gaikwad. It looks a bit damp, but we'll go with great intent. Every game in the IPL is must must-win, nothing changes for us, we'll take it ball-by-ball, and try and win the small processes. We've won some crucial games to go ahead of the pack in the middle, said Gaikwad. RCB skipper Faf du Plessis said he would have bowled as well and added his playing eleven is unchanged. Faf didnt mention though that Will Jacks is back in England and is replaced by Glenn Maxwell in the playing eleven. But we put up a good score when we batted first last (at the home venue). Losing the toss isn't ideal, but we'll take a lot of confidence from the last five games. The set-up is great, the last match before the knock-out stage, the scenario is nicely set up and we're happy to play our last league game in front of our fans. Not thinking a lot, we'll take it as it comes and do our best, he said. Playing XIs: Chennai Super Kings: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Daryl Mitchell, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh and Maheesh Theekshana Impact Substitutes: Shivam Dube, Sameer Rizvi, Prashant Solanki, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Yash Dayal, Lockie Ferguson and Mohammed Siraj Impact Substitutes: Swapnil Singh, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Himanshu Sharma

IPL-17: RCB vs CSK: Chennai Super Kings win toss; opt to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a do or die encounter

Chennai Super Kings brought Mitchell Santner in place of Moeen Ali while Royal Challengers Bengaluru are playing an unchanged XI.

LPL 2024: Colombo Strikers Pick Shadab Khan, Thisara Perera, And Glenn Phillips To Bolster Squad

The New York Strikers: The Colombo Strikers have bolstered their squad by picking some notable names, preparing for an impactful comeback in the fifth edition of the Lanka Premier League 2024 (LPL 2024). The Colombo Strikers, owned by Sagar Khanna, with support from coaches Simon Helmot, Carl Crowe, and Chaminda Vaas, significantly enhanced their performance through strategic signings to carry forward this success into the upcoming LPL season. In a bid to strengthen their squad, the Colombo Strikers have made direct signings of some noted names like Shadab Khan, the Pakistani all-rounder known for his dynamic leg-spin and aggressive batting; Glenn Phillips, the New Zealand powerhouse who brings a wealth of experience and explosive batting prowess; Thisara Perera, a seasoned Sri Lankan all-rounder who adds depth with his big-hitting abilities and reliable medium pace; and Sadeera Samarawickrama, the wicketkeeper-batsman who has been a consistent performer in Sri Lankan cricket. They have also retained key players such as Chamika Karunaratne, who was instrumental in securing many wickets in the previous edition of the Lanka Premier League, and Nipun Dhananjaya, a young and talented batsman known for his solid technique and anchoring abilities. Reflecting on the signings, Sagar Khanna, the owner of Colombo Strikers, said, We believe in assembling a team that embodies excellence and resilience. The retention of legendary icons such as Chamika and Nipun aligns perfectly with our vision of clinching victory and bringing glory to our franchise. Coach Simon Helmot, highlighted the strategic essence behind the recent signings, stating, At the core of our strategy lies the commitment to nurture a winning ethos. Through the inclusion of these cricketing stalwarts, we're poised to deliver exceptional performances on the field, leaving an indelible mark on the league. Also sharing on the Colombo Strikers' remarkable journey in the previous Lanka Premier League season, Khanna expressed confidence in their ability to maintain a competitive edge in LPL 2024, saying, Our team's adaptability across formats has set the bar high, and we're eager to meet the expectations this season. The Colombo Strikers' return in the fifth edition of this prestigious league is a remarkable testament to the prowess and determination of the New York Strikers franchise. From inaugural finalists to reigning champions, the New York Strikers are set to mark their participation in the upcoming Lanka Premier League, Lanka T10, and Abu Dhabi T10 later this year. Coach Carl Crowe emphasised the importance of carrying forward that momentum into the LPL. He remarked, The new signings bring a wealth of experience, which is crucial for our success this season. I am confident that these additions will enable us to play the exciting brand of cricket the Strikers fans expect from us. Each of our new signings exemplifies the balance and skill needed to make a significant impact in the league. Coach Chaminda Vaas, commenting on the recent signings, said, The strategic acquisitions made by the management reflect our commitment to building a formidable squad. Definitely, with the signings for Colombo Strikers, we aim to elevate our performance and leave a lasting impression in the upcoming season. The New York Strikers have been a destination for cricketing luminaries, including the iconic Babar Azam, who played for the Colombo Strikers when he was the number-one ODI batsman in the world. Babar Azams quick-fire century in the Lanka Premier League 2023 marked a historic moment as he ventured outside Pakistan for the first time to compete in an international league. As the pre-draft excitement builds, the Colombo Strikers are poised to deliver another memorable season, delighting fans with their competitive spirit and high-quality cricket. Fans can expect nothing short of a spectacular display of cricketing prowess as the team gears up to dominate the field and etch their name in the annals of cricketing history.

Impact Player has disrupted balance of game: Kohli

Virat Kohli has criticised the Impact Player substitution rule and said it is 'disrupting the balance' of the game.

IPL 2024: Captain Pandya's form mirrors MI's woes

Hardik Pandya had a below-par season in IPL 2024, scoring 216 runs at an average of 18 and taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.75.

Had packed my bags: Kohli on RCB's disastrous start

Reflecting on RCB's disastrous first half of the tournament, star batter Virat Kohli admitted he had his 'bags packed in April' itself.

Goenka Chats With Rohit After MI, LSG's Last IPL 2024 Game. Speculation On

IPL 2024: There has been speculation that Rohit Sharma might leave MI before next year's auction

SRH aiming for second spot with win over PBKS

High on confidence after making their first playoffs in three years, Sunrisers Hyderabad will aim for a second-place finish in the IPL points table when they take on Punjab Kings in their final league game in Hyderabad on Sunday.

IPL 2024: As A Batter, I Know I Didn't Live Up To The Standard, Says Rohit Sharma

Nassau County International Cricket Stadium: India skipper Rohit Sharma admitted he could not live up to the batting standards expected from him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 for Mumbai Indians, adding that despite his poor outing, his focus was to be in the right zone and work to iron out his flaws. Rohit, who was replaced by Hardik Pandya as MIs skipper ahead of the 2024 season, ended his tournament with a stunning 38-ball 68. Overall, Rohit amassed 417 runs in 14 innings at an average of 32.08 and a strike-rate of 150, including a century and fifty. As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard. But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well. All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing, Rohit told JioCinema. MI had a below-par time in IPL 2024, ending with an 18-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, to conclude their season at the bottom of the points table. Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them, added Rohit. His next assignment will be to captain India in the 2024 Mens T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. India will play their only warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1, before opening their campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the 34,000-seat modular Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Rohit also revealed that the majority of the Mens T20 World Cup squad was decided before the IPL 2024 began. We thought a lot about the team we ultimately selected for the World Cup. The spinners, seamers, batters, and keepers, we knew before the IPL who we would take to the World Cup. The IPL performances for everyone can be up and down, so we didn't focus too much on that. We needed to see the performances of certain players, but it was important for us to give everyone the clarity they needed. Everyone going into the IPL needed clarity of whether they would participate in the team and what their role would be so they could practice and play accordingly. All of these indicators we had shared with 70% of the team before the IPL, he concluded.

SRH look to do their bit for top-two finish against weakened Punjab Kings

Jitesh Sharma will lead PBKS, who have only two overseas players available

Very Heartening: Gavaskar Praises Rohit After 68-Run Knock vs LSG

Mumbai Indians lost their last game of the IPL season by 18 runs against Lucknow Super Giants.

'I Was An Architect By Profession': Varun Chakaravarthy And Suyash Sharma Discuss Their Cricketing Journey And Meeting SRK

Kolkata Knight Riders: In an episode of the Knights Dugout, the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and young breakout star, Suyash Sharma got together to discuss their pasts, respective journeys, and how it was like meeting Shah Rukh Khan for the first time. I was an architect by profession. However, after my business didnt work, I decided to switch my career and play professional cricket. I started playing professionally at the age of 26 and it has worked out well till here, said Chakravarthy He also shared an interesting story about him being in a Tollywood film. Back then, I actually wanted to be an assistant director in that film but ended up being a side actor. But it was huge for me back then to be a part of such a big film, he added. Initially I wasnt sure if I would be picked as a player, but I was confident that I would be picked as a net bowler. On the auction day, my name didnt come up for a long time and Id given all hope. However, It was a pleasant surprise to be picked by KKR. I didnt expect to be picked by them, but the feeling was amazing. I was flooded with messages. I had the confidence in myself that one day I would play at the IPL, but I wasnt expecting it to be this early, said Suyash Sharma. The two spinners might have some healthy competition between them but there is no doubt with regards to who is the best spinner in this KKR side. Currently, Sunil Narine is sitting on 500 wickets in T20 cricket so theres absolutely no competition about who is the best spinner in KKR, said Varun. Varun and Suyash, both speak fondly about their first meeting with SRK, one of the biggest stars in India and also the majority stake owner in the Kolkata-based franchise. In IPL 2020, my first year at KKR, I picked up a fifer against DC in a crucial game. After the game, Shahrukh sir called me and congratulated me on my performance and it felt amazing, added Varun. Shahrukh sir had come to see my debut game for KKR. After the match, he came and spoke to me and told me that he would be praying for me that I play for India soon and it was an incredible moment, concluded Suyash.

Didn't Live Up...: Rohit's Stinging Criticism In 1st Review Of MI's Show

Rohit Sharma endured a wretched form in the second-half of the season, struggling to cross even a score of 20 in six matches for Mumbai Indians

IPL 2024: Jitesh Sharma To Lead PBKS In Their Final Match Against SRH

Punjab Kings on Saturday announced Jitesh Sharma as the captain for their final game of the ongoing Indian Premier League season against the Sunrisers Hyderabad

IPL 2024: 'We Will Play Fearless Cricket To Win,' Says PBKS Skipper Jitesh Sharma Ahead Of Final Game

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: With Sam Curran returning home to England for international duties and Shikhar Dhawan still not fit, Punjab Kings (PBKS) wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma will don the captain's hat for their final game of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday. While Punjab has not been able to progress further in the competition, Jitesh insisted that his side will display fearless cricket on Sunday and will aim to finish off the season with a victory. The mood is more positive in the dressing room than before because we have nothing to lose now. The season has been inconsistent for us. But we played really good cricket and we had many positives throughout the season. The way Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have played was excellent, and Harpreet Brar and Prabhsimran Singh have also been in good form throughout the season. In cricket, things can change in an instant. We just missed out on some luck, Jitesh summed up the season for his side at the pre-match press conference. Punjab Kings is famous for fearless cricket and we will be more fearless in the last game. Everyone will play with correct intent and we will be playing to win, the 30-year-old added. Along with Curran, explosive opener Jonny Bairstow has also returned to England while Liam Livingstone, who suffered a knee niggle during the season, and speedster Chris Woakes, who left the season early due to personal reasons, will also not be available for the final game. But Jitesh believes the absence of England players will not affect his side's morale against Hyderabad. We have selected a few players for different reasons and have a good bench. It's a good opportunity for us and Punjab Kings to test our ability and our talent. There is no loss or anything bad that English players are not there. Punjab Kings have had tough Power-play sessions with the bat this season, as the franchise lost early wickets in a few games. But Jitesh defended the top order and said that he is proud of the batting unit for always showcasing the right intent. I do not believe in numbers. I believe in good intent. The openers have shown good intent in each game. It's fine that the top order could not score more runs. But whenever they came to bat, they came to bat for the team, and not for themselves. You can see clearly, that they tried to give us a good start. That is more important, Jitesh said. On being asked to sum up his season, the right-handed batter said that he has learned a lot and is confident of showcasing improvement in the coming years. I am such a player who is never happy. But I love it when the team wins. I agree that I have had ups and downs this season. My intent was good. I want my team to win. Personal goals are different for me. I had a very good learning his year. Now I have seen this phase, it will be better in the coming years, Jitesh signed off. Punjab Kings will play their final game of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

RR vs KKR: Dream11 Prediction, 70th Match, Dream11 Team, Indian Premier League 2024

Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Dream11 Prediction, IPL 2024: The playoff matches in the TATA IPL 2024 will kick off on Tuesday as the tournament moves to the knockout stage. All four spots in the next round have been booked. However, the last group match will be played on Sunday evening. Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Rajasthan Royals at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. This clash will be important for both teams heading into the playoffs. RR need this win because it will help them finish second on the table. Meanwhile, KKR will look to try out some players that can play in the next round. RR vs KKR: Match Details Match Date : May 19, 2024 (Sunday) Time : 3:30 PM IST Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati RR vs KKR: Live Streaming Details The last group match of the tournament will be streamed live on the Jio Cinema mobile app or its website for free. Furthermore, the live telecast will be available on Star Sports channels in India. RR vs KKR: Head-to-Head Total Matches Played : 29 Rajasthan Royals : 14 Kolkata Knight Riders : 14 No Result : 0 RR vs KKR: Pitch Report As seen in the last game, this venue was helping the pace bowlers, and there was plenty of swing for the pacers to trouble the batters. That is expected in the coming game, so the toss will be important. The conditions will improve in the second inning. Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Teams Rajasthan Royals: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy RR vs KKR Dream11 Team Wicket-keeper : Sanju Samson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz Batters : Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal All-rounders : Sunil Narine (Captain), Andre Russell (Vice Captain), Riyan Parag, Ravi Ashwin Bowlers : Sandeep Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy Dream11 Prediction: RR have now lost four matches on the trot and are struggling. Meanwhile, KKR are on the roll and winning games with good margins. That is why we predict KKR to win this game. RR vs KKR Dream11 Prediction, Today Match Prediction, Today Match RR vs KKR, RR vs KKR Dream11 Team, RR vs KKR Head-to-Head Record, Fantasy Cricket Tips, RR vs KKR Pitch Report, Today Cricket Match Prediction, Today Cricket Match, Dream11 Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update of the match between Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Disclaimer :The fantasy team is purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your Dream11 team.

'Maybe for last time': Kohli drops major hint on Dhoni

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IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma Receives Special Medal For His Knock Against LSG

Mumbai Indian (MI) opener Rohit Sharma received a special medal after playing an explosive knock of 68 runs in a match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.

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SRH vs PBKS: Dream11 Prediction, 69th Match, Dream11 Team, Indian Premier League 2024

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings Dream11 Prediction, IPL 2024: Fans will enjoy two games on Super Sunday in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. The group stage is about to end, and the top four spots are filled. Match No. 69 will host a contest between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings. This match will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. PBKS will be without their main stars in this game; there will be plenty of new faces. Meanwhile, SRH can take the most of this chance and win this match to give itself a shot at second place on the table. SRH vs PBKS: Match Details Match Date : May 19, 2024 (Sunday) Time : 3:30 PM IST Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad SRH vs PBKS: Live Streaming Details This SRH vs PBKS contest will be live on TV on Star Sports Networks in India. Meanwhile, live streaming of this game will be available for free on the Jio Cinema app or website. SRH vs PBKS: Head-to-Head Total Matches Played : 22 Sunrisers Hyderabad : 15 Punjab Kings : 7 No Result : 0 SRH vs PBKS: Pitch Report The pitch in Hyderabad is a batting-friendly wicket that works in favour of the batsmen. But bowlers will get some help with new balls, and there is some grip for the spinners. The toss will be crucial because the chasing team has a better record at this venue. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings Predicted Teams Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head,Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk),Ashutosh Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh SRH vs PBKS Dream11 Team Wicket-keeper : Heinrich Klaasen, Jitesh Sharma Batters : Rilee Rossouw, Travis Head (Captain), Abhishek Sharma (Vice Captain), Ashutosh Sharma All-rounders : Shashank Sharma, Nitish Reddy Bowlers : Bhvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Harshal Patel Dream11 Prediction: PBKS will miss the services of Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone and Sikandar Raza. That is why we predict Sunrisers Hyderabad to win here. SRH vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction, Today Match Prediction, Today Match SRH vs PBKS, SRH vs PBKS Dream11 Team, SRH vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record, Fantasy Cricket Tips, SRH vs PBKS Pitch Report, Today Cricket Match Prediction, Today Cricket Match, Dream11 Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update of the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Disclaimer :The fantasy team is purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your Dream11 team.

IPL 2024 Live: RCB, CSK Face Off In Knockout Game

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I didn't live up to standard but overthinking was not an option: Rohit Sharma

MUMBAI: India skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that he could not match the expected batting standards in the ongoing IPL but instead of indulging in over-thinking, his endeavour was to stay in the right zone and keep working on his flaws. The five-time IPL winning skipper endured a wretched form in the second-half of the season, struggling to cross even a score of 20 in six matches for Mumbai Indians. As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard. But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well, Rohit said on JioCinema Match Centre Live. He returned to form with a 38-ball 68 in their last match against Lucknow Super Giants but MI ended up on the losing side and finished the season at the bottom of the table. All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing. Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them. '70 per cent of T20 WC players had clarity' The Indian skipper said they knew what their the T20 World Cup-squad would be like and 70 per cent of the players had clarity about their roles going into the IPL. We thought a lot about the team we ultimately selected for the World Cup. The spinners, seamers, batters, and keepers, we knew before the IPL who we would take to the World Cup. The IPL performances for everyone can be up and down, so we didn't focus too much on that. We needed to see the performances of certain players, but it was important for us to give everyone the clarity they needed. Everyone going into the IPL needed clarity of whether they would participate in the team and what their role would be so they could practice and play accordingly. All of these indicators we had shared with 70% of the team before the IPL. India begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5.

IPL 2024: Jitesh Sharma To Lead Punjab In Their Final Match Against Hyderabad

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday announced Jitesh Sharma as the captain for their final game of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), set to take place at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday. Jitesh will take charge from Sam Curran, who has returned to England for international duty. Curran was named in Englands five-match T20 series squad against Pakistan and will join the team for the first T2OI, scheduled on May 22 at Leeds. Kings are already eliminated from the race to the Playoffs and are currently positioned at the ninth position of the points table. PBKS have only won five matches out of 13 games and will look to end their campaign on a big note.

IPL 2024: It's Very Heartening To Watch Rohit Bat The Way He Did Against LSG, Says Sunil Gavaskar

Star Sports Cricket Live: Mumbai Indians lost their last game of the IPL season by 18 runs against Lucknow Super Giants. Following the game, former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Rohit Sharmas 38 ball 68 runs innings, calling it very heartening. The match between Mumbai and Lucknow was a dead rubber clash as both sides had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Lucknow put up a total of 214/6 on the back of a blistering innings from Nicholas Pooran who scored 75 runs off 29 deliveries. Well, that was such a nice thing to see. Because look, we know that Mumbai Indians can't qualify, but to see Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain for the T20 World Cup starting in about 15 days' time, batting the way that he has, it's very heartening. That's exactly what you want. You want Rohit Sharma to be setting the team off to a good start, so that the lower-order batters can come in and finish it off, potentially getting 200-plus every time they play, said Gavaskar while Speaking to Star Sports Cricket Live. Despite the huge total, it was the former MI captain, Rohit Sharma, who gave the five-time champions a great start to the encounter. Sharma came to bat as an impact player and scored 68 runs off 38 deliveries to give his side the perfect start to the game despite them going on to lose by 18 runs. Rohit Sharma will now head to the United States of America on June 24 with the first batch of players who will be representing the country at the T20 World Cup starting on June 1 (June 2 as per IST). The second batch of players will be the ones who are representing their respective franchises during the playoffs of the IPL. The second batch will be joining the squad after the conclusion of the tournament on May 26.

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Is This IPL 2024's Best Fielding Effort?

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'As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard'

India skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that he could not match the expected batting standards in the ongoing IPL but instead of indulging in over-thinking, his endeavour was to stay in the right zone and keep working on his flaws.

Entertainment Is One Aspect Of The Game But There Is No Balance: Kohli On Impact Player Rule

Indian Premier League: Following the comments made by Rohit Sharma in which he criticized the Impact player rule, Virat Kohli has come to the support of his national team captain and spoken against the rule as it disrupts the balance of the game. I agree with Rohit. Entertainment is one aspect of the game but there is no balance, said Kohli to Jio Cinema. The impact player rule was introduced in the 2023 IPL season and has seen massive changes to the way which teams approach the game. The 2024 season has seen three of the highest scores in IPL history being scored (SRH v RCB, SRH v MI & KKR v DC.) Bowlers are feeling like what they should do. I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede four or a six on every ball. We are playing a high level of cricket and it should not be that dominant in my opinion. There is a beauty about having an equal balance between bat and ball. Not every team has a Bumrah (Jasprit) or the mystery of Rashid Khan, added the all time IPL leading run scorer. Virat Kohli is currently the orange cap holder of this edition of the Indian Premier League having scored 661 runs in 13 games played so far. What is even more impressive is the impressive 155.16 strike rate he is batting at, the best ever of his stellar IPL career, a stat that he attributes to the introduction of the impact player rule. I am telling you, with one extra batter there is a reason I am playing with 200 plus strike rate in the powerplays. I know there is a batsman waiting at No 8 as well. I think it has disrupted the balance and a lot of people are feeling this way, not just me, Kohli said. Virats comments stem from Rohit Sharmas comments in which the team India captain heavily criticized the impact players rule as the captain believes it hinders the development of all-rounders and will have a negative impact on the national team. I'm not a big fan of impact player. You are taking out so much from the game just to make it little entertainment for the people around. But if you look [at] genuinely just the cricketing aspect of it. I can give you so many examples - guys like Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube are not getting to bowl, which for us (India team) is not a good thing. I don't know what you can do about it, but I'm not a fan of it honestly speaking, said Rohit Sharma on the Club Praire podcast.

Can RR beat KKR, end losing run and secure No 2 spot?

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Impact Player rule has disrupted balance of game: Virat Kohli

India's Virat Kohli has criticised the Impact Player substitution rule, which he believes disrupts the balance of the game. The mid-innings substitution rule, adopted in the previous edition of the IPL, has sparked a row with India skipper Rohit Sharma. Kohli has urged for a rethink of the rule, stating that it will hold back all-rounders and that cricket is played by 11, not 12. The rule has led to eight 250-plus totals in the current edition, and Kohli believes that bowlers should not be dominant in the game.

RCB Star's Don't Care War Cry Before Facing Dhoni's CSK For Playoff Spot

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The IPL 2024 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans got washed out due to heavy rain in Hyderabad on Thursday.

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Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher really felt bad watching skipper Hardik Pandya face hostile reactions and boos from fans throughout the disastrous IPL campaign and admitted that it did affect the star all-rounder, something the management would need to address in coming days.