Danijones

Joshua Kimmich Heads Bayern Munich Past Arsenal Into Champions League Semi-Finals

Danijones8 months ago06 mins

A 63rd-minute Joshua Kimmich header gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over Arsenal and a place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. The 3-2 aggregate quarter-final victory means Bayern return to the last-four for the first time since winning the title in 2020. Bayern will face Real Madrid for a place in the final after the 14-time champions overcame holder Manchester City on penalties. The result continues a poor week for Arsenal, who conceded top spot in the Premier League table on Sunday with their first league loss of 2024. “We can enjoy this one. The first half was cagey and then we upped the tempo,” Bayern striker Harry Kane told TNT. “These games are tough and we had to find our way through them. “It’s going to be a tough semi final whoever we play.” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side had “wanted it so badly”. “However, you can see with many other clubs that sometimes it takes six or seven years to get to that stage. We were very close, that is the reality.” Unlike last week’s four-goal spectacle in London, Wednesday’s match was a cagey affair, with few clear chances for either side in a testy opening half. Midway through the second-half and with extra-time on the horizon, Kimmich burst through the Arsenal box and headed in a perfect Raphael Guerreiro chip. Guerreiro, pushed from wing-back to the forwards due to Bayern’s injury woes, impressed as a creative presence when freed up from his usual defensive duties. Six-time Champions League winners Bayern join fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, who face Paris Saint-Germain, in the semi-finals. Hit by injuries to several first-team attackers including former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry — who scored along with Kane in the first leg — and Kingsley Coman, Tuchel pushed Guerreiro into an unfamiliar advanced role. The move worked early, with the Portuguese finding space down the left flank and linking well with Jamal Musiala in the centre. Arteta opted for the defensive stability of Takehiro Tomiyasu in place of Jakub Kiwior at left-back to neutralise Leroy Sane but the Japanese, who was making his first start since December, notably lacked rythym. Tomiyasu completely misjudged a Musiala pass early, allowing Sane to stroll through the Arsenal box and force a corner. Gabriel Martinelli was the visitors’ most dangerous player in the opening half. He scuffed a curling ball just wide of the post after seven minutes and then shot directly at Manuel Neuer with the goal beckoning on the half-hour mark. Bayern were the better team after the break and went close immediately, Leon Goretzka heading a clever Kimmich cross onto the woodwork. The pressure began to tell and Bayern broke through after 63 minutes when Kimmich, among the shortest players on the pitch, was allowed to slip through a crowded Arsenal box and head in a Guerreiro chip. The hosts almost doubled the tally moments after when Kane found an unmarked Sane in the box, but the Germany winger blasted his shot skywards. Arsenal pushed for an equaliser and went close in stoppage time when Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka lashed at a bouncing ball in the box but could not break through, ending the visitors’ hopes of a return to the Champions League semis for the first time since 2009. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

IPL 2024 Points Table, Orange Cap, Purple Cap: Delhi Capitals Gain Big With Win Over Gujarat Titans

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

Sharp glovework by skipper Rishabh Pant and some inspired bowling set up a crushing six-wicket win for Delhi Capitals after Gujarat Titans fell to their IPL lowest of 89 on Wednesday. Medium-pace bowler Mukesh Kumar stood out with figures of 3-14 to help bundle out Gujarat in 17.3 overs and Delhi raced to their target in 8.5 overs in Ahmedabad. Delhi, who were without injured David Warner, registered just their third win of this season to jump three places to sixth in the 10-team table. Meanwhile, GT, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians lost a place each to slip to the seventh, eighth and ninth spots, respectively. Rest of the points table remained unchanged with Rajasthan Royals holding the top spot. Here is the updated IPL 2024 points table: Virat Kohli led the run-scorers’ chart with 361 runs from 7 matches, while Yuzvendra Chahal was on top of wicket-takers’ list with 12 scalps from 7 games. Talking about the Gt vs DC game, Pant, who returned to this year’s IPL after surviving a horror car crash, stood unbeaten on 16 after Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk made a brisk 20. The 26-year-old Pant, a left-hand batsman, has scored 210 runs, including two half-centuries, in a boost to his chances of a return to the T20 World Cup in June. India fast bowler Ishant Sharma dismissed captain Shubman Gill for eight in the second over of the match and Gujarat kept losing wickets to some disciplined bowling. The fielding remained impressive after Sumit Kumar sent back Sai Sudarshan for 12 with a direct throw at the non-striker’s end. Pant was nimble behind the stumps and started with a diving catch to dismiss David Miller off Ishant. The wicketkeeper affected two stumpings when his quick work sent back Abhinav Manohar, for eight, and Shahrukh Khan, for a duck in th espace of three balls off South African spinner Tristan Stubbs. Gujarat slipped to 66-7, but Rashid Khan resisted from one end with his gritty 31 off 24 balls before he fell caught behind with Pant taking a regulation catch behind the stumps. Gujarat’s total is the lowest this season in a contrast to some big scores including two record highs of 277 and then 287 by Sunrisers Hyderabad. (With AFP Inputs) Topics mentioned in this article

‘Bholi si surat’: Rohit Sharma laughs at 20-year-old self for ‘struggling’ to get a beard. Watch | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma engaged in a humorous conversation with teammate Romario Shepherd in the MI’s dressing room, where images of the 2007 T20 World Cup final adorned the walls. That was the time when Indian captain Rohit burst onto the international arena. Upon seeing the images, the West Indian all-rounder Shepherd joyfully teased him by saying “Young Ro”.“Small Boy, No Beard. I was struggling to get beard,” Rohit replied.“How old were you there?” Romario asked. “I was twenty”, Rohit answered. In six matches this IPL season so far, Rohit has scored 261 runs at an average of 52.20 and a strike rate of over 167, with a century.Rohit was at his vintage best in the match against CSK, scoring 105* in 63 balls but MI fell short by 20 runs. His knock was studded with 11 boundaries and five sixes.Amid the fall of wickets around him, the former skipper held the fort at one end, blazing away at a strike rate of 166.67. He also became the first Indian to smash 500 sixes in T20 cricket during the match.IPL: Points Table | Orange Cap | Purple CapRohit recently expressed his intention to “extend his career for a few more years,” driven by a strong desire to clinch the 2027 ODI World Cup.Reflecting on the disappointment of the 2023 edition, where victory eluded him due to “just one bad day,” he is determined to seize the trophy in the upcoming tournament.“I haven’t really thought about retirement. But, I don’t know where life takes you. I am playing well at the moment and I am thinking of continuing for a few more years. I really want to win that World Cup,” he said in a YouTube chat show ‘Breakfast With Champions’ that was also attended by British pop singer Ed Sheeran.

Watch: Match referee Javagal Srinath and umpire Nitin Menon explain ‘Smart Replay System’ in IPL | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Javagal Srinath, former Indian cricketer and current match referee for the Indian Premier League (IPL), has hailed the introduction of the innovative ‘Smart Replay System‘ as a game-changer, emphasizing its significant impact on speeding up match proceedings.“Literally we are saving 8-9 minutes per innings. Which is sometimes almost 20 minutes per game,” Srinath remarked, highlighting the efficiency brought about by the new technology.IPL 2024: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPOne of the key issues the system addresses is the contentious decision-making around waist-height full tosses.Srinath explained how the Smart Replay System has provided a solution to this long-standing challenge, enhancing both speed and accuracy in umpiring decisions.Contrary to concerns about technology overshadowing umpires, umpire Nitin Menon emphasized that the system does not render umpires redundant. “Technology is not stopping the umpires from making decisions. They still have to make the decisions,” Menon affirmed, underlining the continued importance of umpires in the decision-making process.WATCH: The Smart Replay System, implemented in the ongoing IPL season, operates by providing TV umpires with direct inputs from two operators of the Hawk-Eye system. These operators, stationed in the same room as the TV umpire, utilize images captured from eight high-speed cameras strategically positioned around the ground.One notable change brought about by the new system is the elimination of the TV broadcast director’s role as a mediator between the umpire and the Hawk-Eye operators. Instead, the TV umpire now directly interacts with the operators, streamlining the decision-making process.Furthermore, the Smart Replay System allows the TV umpire to analyze a wider range of visuals, including split-screen images. Live broadcasts of the TV umpire’s interactions with the Hawk-Eye operators provide viewers with transparent insights into the decision-making process.The enhanced system enables umpires to make more informed decisions, particularly in scenarios such as judging catches near boundary ropes, determining caught behind, leg-before, stumping, or low catches taken inches off the turf. With clearer visuals from multiple angles, the Smart Replay System promises to elevate the standard of umpiring in the IPL and beyond.(With inputs from PTI)

IPL 2024, KKR vs RR: Shreyas Iyer fined Rs 12 lakh for over-rate offence

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

The IPL organisers fined Kolkata captain Shreyas Iyer Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their last-ball thriller against Rajasthan at Eden Gardens on Tuesday. Iyer has copped the penalty for the team’s first over-rate offence of the IPL 2024 season. “As it was his team’s first offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to a minimum over-rate offences, Iyer was fined Rs 12 lakhs,” the IPL said in a release. The IPL 2024 match between KKR and RR ended at around 11:35 pm, well past the scheduled finish time. The hot and humid conditions in Kolkata on Tuesday evening did not make it easy and both teams took time because of the thrilling nature of RR’s chase. Jos Buttler battled cramps to hit a match-winning hundred, which is being dubbed as one of the greatest in IPL history. It was not easy for Shreyas Iyer to marshal his troops as Jos Buttler’s threat remained even as the England opener did not fire from the word go. However, Buttler switched to 6th gear in the end overs, single-handedly helping RR chase down 48 runs in the last 3 overs. Buttler remained unbeaten on 107 off 60 balls as RR equalled their own record for the highest-successful chase in IPL history, gunning down 224. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule Sunil Narine’s maiden IPL hundred and his heroics with the ball went in vain for the Knight Riders, who missed out on an opportunity to top the IPL 2024 points table. WHAT IS THE OPTIMUM OVER RATE? “The minimum over rate to be achieved in IPL Matches shall be 14 overs per hour (ignoring the time taken by time-outs). In uninterrupted matches, this means that the 20th over should finish within 90 minutes (being 85 minutes of playing time plus 5 minutes of time-out) of the start of the innings. For delayed or interrupted matches where an innings is scheduled to be less than 20 overs, the maximum time of 90 minutes shall be reduced by 4 minutes 15 seconds for every over by which the innings is reduced,” according to the rulebook of the IPL. Notably, Delhi captain Rishabh Pant was fined Rs 24 lakh earlier in the month for two successive over-rate offences. The rest of his teammates were also fined 25 percent of their match fee. Pant is in danger of facing a one-match ban as captains are penalised with a ban for a 3rd over-rate offence in a season. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Apr 17, 2024 Tune In

When and where to watch Pakistan vs West Indies on TV and online? – India TV

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

Image Source : GETTY IMAGES PAK-W vs WI-W. Pakistan’s quest to remain in the top five of the ICC Women’s Championships 2022-25 brings them against West Indies as the two teams prepare to battle it out in a three-match ODI series starting April 18 (Thursday). Pakistan are fifth on the table and are just above India with 18 points and a net run rate (NRR) of 0.392. Leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima who was involved in a car accident recently has been rested for the series as she continues to recover from minor injuries whereas former skipper Bismah Maroof’s participation is subject to fitness clearance. On the other hand, the West Indies are ninth, having played 12 games in the cycle. The Women in Maroon have only managed to win three of their 12 games and lost seven. Two of their fixtures couldn’t yield a result. Wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz has been recalled to the ODI squad. She last played in the 50-overs format during South Africa’s tour of Pakistan in September 2023. Where to watch the Pakistan women vs West Indies women ODI series online? The Pakistan women and the West Indies women ODI series will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website. Pakistan women vs West Indies women ODI series schedule: Date Match Venue April 18, Thursday 1st ODI National Bank Stadium, Karachi April 21, Sunday 2nd ODI National Bank Stadium, Karachi April 23, Tuesday 3rd ODI National Bank Stadium, Karachi Pakistan squad for ODI series: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar West Indies squad for Pakistan tour: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams, Kate Wilmott

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

Danijones8 months ago07 mins

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — The 2009 champion Pakistan is aiming to tick all the right boxes in its preparation phase ahead of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup as it gears up for the five-match series under comeback captain Babar Azam against an understrength New Zealand. Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand Rawalpindi will host the first three games from Thursday. The remaining two games will be staged at Lahore on April 25 and 27 as both squads build up to the world tournament being staged in the United States and Caribbean in June. HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now! Babar returns as white-ball captain and will lead the squad for the third successive T20 World Cup. He replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi, who lost to the Black Caps 4-1 earlier this year in his maiden series as Pakistan’s T20 skipper. Babar led Pakistan to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates, where it lost to eventual champion Australia, and also skippered the side beaten by England at Melbourne in the 2022 edition. Fast bowler Mohammad Amir and allrounder Imad Wasim have come out of retirements to give Pakistan plenty of selection options after express fast bowler Haris Rauf was ruled out of the series due to shoulder injury and Mohammad Nawaz was dropped. Selectors rewarded several performers from the Pakistan Super League, including uncapped Usman Khan and Irfan Khan. Usman was banned by the UAE for five years after switching allegiance to his country of birth. He came into contention for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad after smashing back-to-back centuries for Multan Sultans in the PSL. “We have a very balanced side and we have covered all the aspects of the game in this squad,” said Azhar Mahmood, head coach for the series against New Zealand. “Definitely, with the comeback of Amir and Imad we have an edge and we can use them any time.” Mahmood was appointed on ad-hoc basis as Pakistan is still searching for a long-term head coach ahead of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan is also scheduled to play a three-match T20 series in Ireland next month and another four matches against England are lined up before the team flies out to America. Mahmood said he wants to give clarity of roles to the players during the series against New Zealand and could also rest key players, including Babar, to test the depth of the squad. “Definitely, it is quite possible we might give rest to Babar,” Mahmood said. “It’s the best available talent we have picked. We will see how the series goes and what the conditions are.” The core of New Zealand’s World Cup-bound squad, including captain Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and Lockie Ferguson, is playing in the Indian Premier League. Also missing from the Pakistan tour will be veteran Tim Southee, who was rested, and Tom Latham was given paternity leave. New Zealand’s squad was further depleted when power-hitter Finn Allen and fast bowler Adam Milne were ruled out because of injuries sustained during a training camp last week. The Black Caps will be led by Michael Bracewell, who hasn’t played an international game since March 2023 after rupturing his right Achilles during the T20 Blast and then breaking a finger. Mark Chapman, who scored 290 runs in a drawn T20 series in Pakistan last year, hoped players such as fast bowler Will O’Rourke and power-hitter Tim Robertson will do well. “Any team that plays for New Zealand is a team that’s extremely proud to be representing our country,” Chapman said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to show the depth that we’re building. Obviously the team generally has been pretty settled, but behind the scenes, there’s a lot of talent. “The young guys like Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke have played this year in test cricket and really impressed. Also, Tim Robertson was outstanding this year in the Super Smash and the guys are really excited because they know that a full-strength Pakistan team.” cricket: /hub/cricket This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

“Not A Great Day For Shah Rukh Khan”: Last Over Drama Makes Actor Tense In KKR vs RR IPL 2024 Game

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

Shah Rukh Khan during the last over of KKR vs RR IPL 2024 game© Twitter It was the day of another last-over drama at the IPL 2024. Kolkata Knight Riders looked like pocketing the match against Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens but Jos Buttler had some other idea. The RR star batter scored 107* as RR chased down a target of 224 – the highest ever in IPL history – on the last ball of the 20th over. With the win, RR consolidated their top spot with 12 points from seven matches while KKR are second with eight points from six matches. The match also saw KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan many different emotions. When Sunil Narine scored century, SRK’s joys knew no bounds. But then, as the last-over drama ensued with RR needing nine off six balls, a tense image of Shah Rukh was displayed on the screen. The internet reacted to the photo. Not a great day for KKR and Shahrukh Khan at the Eden Gardens. King Khan. #ShahRukhKhan #SRK #KKRvRR #IPL2024 #TATAIPL2024 pic.twitter.com/27Ml2IseD0 — Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) April 16, 2024 2024 IPL winner – KKR pic.twitter.com/rzM3jZ8z6X — (@DynamicSRK) April 16, 2024 From Clapping to crying…Time changed to fast for Shahrukh Khan. pic.twitter.com/qndT8RKK9O — Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) April 16, 2024 Jos Buttler swung his bat merrily on way to a 60-ball 107 and single-handedly lifted Rajasthan Royals to a sensational two-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, pulling off the IPL’s biggest run chase on Tuesday. Asked to bat first, Sunil Narine’s 109 off 56 balls powered hosts KKR to a formidable 223/6 in front of a packed Eden Gardens. But Buttler had other ideas as he dragged the Royals, dead an buried at 121/6 in the 13th over, past the target of 224 in the last ball of the game after the visitors needed 46 runs in the last three overs, and 28 in 12 balls. With ANI inputs Topics mentioned in this article

IPL | Maxwell opens up about why he got himself dropped

Danijones8 months ago011 mins

This is an age when sportspersons are shielded from even the mildest of criticism. In this context, Glenn Maxwell must be praised for volunteering to face the media and answer tough questions. It came as a surprise when Maxwell walked into the room in the post-match press conference here on Monday. The Australian played no part in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the run-fest. And with 32 runs in six IPL games, he has been woefully out of form. Maxwell made an admirably honest admission when asked if he missed the match due to an injury. “I went to Faf (du Plessis) and the coaches after the last game and said I felt it was probably time we tried someone else. I have been in this situation in the past where you can keep playing and get yourself deeper into a hole. I think now is actually a good time for me to give myself a bit of a mental and physical break; get my body right. If I’m required to get in during the tournament, I can hopefully get back into a really solid mental and physical space where I can still have an impact,” Maxwell stated. THE GIST Maxwell has only scored 32 runs in six IPL games this season The Australian says he has not put a timeline on the duration of his break, but he will hope to get back to form in time for the T20 World Cup The hard-hitting batter went through a similar bad run of form in 2020 when he played for Kings XI Punjab Maxwell made just 108 runs in 11 innings — in a season best forgotten The 35-year-old adds that the physical and mental toll of a tough IPL 2024 wore him down “We have had a pretty big deficiency straight after the PowerPlay, which has been my area of strength over the last couple of seasons. I felt like I wasn’t contributing in a positive way with the bat, and with the results and the position we find ourselves on the table, I think it’s a good time to give someone else an opportunity to show their wares. Hopefully, someone can make that spot their own,” Maxwell added. Fickle nature of T20s The 35-year-old did not put a timeline on the duration of his break, but he will hope to get back to form in time for 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which commences in a little over a month. Maxwell was unable to pinpoint exactly what went wrong this season, putting it down to the fickle nature of T20 cricket. “T20 cricket can be like that sometimes — it’s a pretty fickle game. Even if you look at the first game, I ran one off the middle of the bat to the ’keeper. I picked up the length really well, saw a scoring opportunity, but opened the face a little bit too much. When you are going well, that goes wide of the gloves, you get a boundary, you are four off one, and you are away for the tournament. Glenn Maxwell being a team man and acknowledging he’s not at his best at the moment! 🫡 Come back stronger, Maxi. 🤝#PlayBold#ನಮ್ಮRCB#IPL2024pic.twitter.com/qbaILus9hK — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 16, 2024 “I probably just haven’t got away — it’s as simple as that. In the first few games, I feel I made reasonably good decisions, but I was still finding ways to get out. It can happen in T20 cricket and when it snowballs like that, you can go searching and try too hard and forget the basics of the game,” Maxwell said. The hard-hitting batter went through a similar bad run of form in 2020, when he played for Kings XI Punjab. Maxwell scored only 108 runs in 11 innings — in a season best forgotten. In later interviews, Maxwell stated that KXIP team management did not utilise his full potential by keeping him low down the order. Different scenario Asked if the RCB team management could do more to support him, Maxwell said: “That was probably a different scenario. Back then the thing that was hurting me was that I was bowling really well. So I was actually playing more as a spinner who was used at the back end with the bat. We had K.L. Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, who were the two leading run-scorers in the competition at that time, so there wasn’t a lot of balls left in the game for me. So I wasn’t able to get any match rhythm. And when I was, it was only for a few balls here and there. “So I said the same thing to the KXIP management that we can have an overseas bowler in my place. But we didn’t have an off-spinner as well. So I sort of played as an overseas off-spinner who could bat a little bit,” Maxwell said. “The management here at RCB has been outstanding. We’ve been working together on taking a fair bit of ownership and the off-field leadership staff is trying to help out as much as they can. Glenn Maxwell. | Photo Credit: MOORTHY RV Unfortunately, runs just haven’t come the way they should have when you are in really good form. I don’t think I’ve had a better six months in cricket leading into this tournament. So it’s frustrating when it ends up like this. But if I can get my body and my mind right, there’s no reason I can’t finish the tournament well if I do get another opportunity,” Maxwell said. Maxwell afforded a laugh when asked if he would have liked to put off his break by one more game. After all, Monday’s encounter produced a record number of runs — SRH piled up 287 for three, and RCB responded with 262 for seven. “I did notice during the PowerPlay that the pitch was not as slow and two-paced as it has been in the first few games….

“Bahut Hi…”: MS Dhoni’s Reaction Upon Hearing IPL 2024 Bhojpuri Commentary Is Intriguing

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

IPL is not just the celebration of the greatest cricketers on the planet but it is a melting pot of cultures too. Not just players from different countries, but a varied group of commentators can be seen and heard during the IPL. Nowadays, IPL is being broadcast is several languages including Gujarati, Bengali, Bhojpuri. The Bhojpuri commentary has popular actor Ravi Kishan donning a new hat. His commentary has gone viral on several occasions especially when MS Dhoni is playing. Recently, MS Dhoni’s long-time teammate Suresh Raina revealed the CSK star’s reaction upon hearing Bhojpuri commentary. Dhoni hails from Jharkhand. “MS Dhoni was discussing Bhojpuri commentary. He said, ‘Bahut hi gajabe commentary kar rahe Bhojpuriya me.’ (they are doing a great jop in Bhojpuri) I told him Haryanvi is also nice,” Raina revealed while speaking on Jio Cinema. You know you’re doing some good work when appreciates you #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema | @ImRaina | @rpsingh | @anantyagi_ pic.twitter.com/mXGLBY60gz — JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 16, 2024 Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the “batting template” for Chennai Super Kings’ death bowling, their bowling consultant Eric Simmons has revealed, saying that strategies that succeed against him in training sessions tend to work out fine in match situations as well. Recently, MS Dhoni slammed a four-ball 20 in IPL’s El Clasico against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. MI captain Hardik Pandy was at the receiving end of his fury. Ultimately, the 20 runs scored by CSK was crucial as the side won by 20 runs Dhoni is the “batting template” for Chennai Super Kings’ death bowling, their bowling consultant Eric Simmons has revealed. “They’re looking at restricting us to under 200 and then they’re suddenly facing 206 with an over like that. Every time — we live close to him — he continues to amaze us. To go out there and hit the first ball like that for six and then continue the way he does,” he said. “But he has been batting exceptionally well in the nets…just another unbelievable MS Dhoni moment,” added the South African. Simmons, a former India bowling coach, said Dhoni’s calmness is worth following. “His calmness at the wicket… we use him as a batting template when we’re bowling at the death, the pre-season because he’s so good at it. If we can test out our theories against him, then we know we’re going to do well,” he said. Topics mentioned in this article