Cricket

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

Danijones7 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

Danijones7 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

Danijones7 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

‘Please stop wearing that shirt immediately’: AB de Villiers asks RCB’s ‘bad omen’ | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Former South African and Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricketer AB de Villiers has requested former New Zealand and Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Scott Styris to stop wearing the RCB jersey. The Bengaluru-based franchise has been struggling in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, with only two points from seven games, placing them at the bottom of the table. Styris, who has been seen sporting the RCB jersey on match days, is now considered a bad omen for the team. In response to Styris’ post, De Villiers commented, “Please stop wearing that shirt immediately!!!!” Styris, however, has thrown down the gauntlet to De Villiers, declaring that he will stop wearing the RCB shirt for the team’s upcoming matches if the South African legend agrees to wear a Chennai Super Kings shirt once. The former New Zealand all-rounder stated, “I said I would wear the shirt. It has been a bad omen. I am a bad mascot for RCB, which is pleasing from my perspective. So I am prepared to put out a challenge back to AB de Villiers because he says it’s time for me to stop wearing the shirt. I will stop wearing the shirt for RCB matches moving forward if De Villiers wears the CSK shirt once. He is coming back for The Insiders (Jio Cinema’s programme) for the last week of the playoffs.” Former England captain Eoin Morgan, who was part of the show, agreed with Styris that the counter-challenge to De Villiers was ‘fair’.RCB’s latest setback came against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who set a new IPL record for the highest total, amassing 287-3 on Monday. The match also witnessed the highest aggregate for a T20 game, with a combined total of 549 runs. ALSO SEE: IPL 2024 POINTS TABLEDespite valiant efforts from Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Dinesh Karthik, RCB fell short by 25 runs, resulting in their sixth defeat of the season.

Hardik Pandya: Hardik Pandya’s inclusion in T20 World Cup squad depends on IPL bowling performance: Report | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma recently held a meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai during the ongoing IPL 2024 season, according to a media report. The primary agenda of the meeting, which took place at the BCCI headquarters, was to discuss the squad composition for the upcoming T20 World Cup.According to a report by The Indian Express, a crucial decision was made regarding Hardik Pandya‘s inclusion in the team.The trio decided that bowling regularly during the IPL 2024 will be key to Pandya’s chances of making the cut in the squad.IPL 2024: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPThe meeting focused significantly on the selection of fast bowling all-rounders for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean islands in June. However, the selectors face a challenge due to the limited quality options available. Despite this, they are closely monitoring Shivam Dube, who has been impressive with the bat but has only been utilized as an Impact Player by his franchise, Chennai Super Kings, due to their abundant bowling resources. Hardik Pandya, who is also leading the Mumbai Indians this season, has been struggling with his bowling form. In six games, he has bowled 11 overs, taking three wickets but conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 12 per over. The Indian team management hopes that Pandya can find his rhythm, as his seam bowling adds balance to the playing XI, and his powerful hitting provides depth to the batting lineup.Reports suggest that the Indian selection committee is set to meet later this month to finalize the squad for the T20 World Cup, with the performance of the hopefuls in the ongoing IPL expected to play a significant role in their decision-making process.

Dharamsala to get India”s first ”hybrid pitch”

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. | Photo Credit: AFP The picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium has become the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a state-of-the-art ‘hybrid pitch’ and future international and IPL matches will be held on this track. The Netherlands-based ‘SISGrass’, a part of the SIS Pitches group of companies, has been roped in for the first-ever hybrid pitch installation. According to a press release, “this cutting-edge technology will transform the game by providing a more durable, consistent, and high-performing playing surface.” HPCA president R.P. Singh said, “The arrival of ground-breaking hybrid pitch technology in India signifies a game-changing moment for our national cricket.” Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS’s international cricket director said, “As we inject new and improved technological advancements into India’s vibrant cricket ecosystem, we foresee a catalytic effect on its growth trajectory.” “At SISGrass, and working with fine turf specialists Greater Ten, our delivery partner in India, we are committed to investing in this ecosystem by providing top-notch facilities such as hybrid pitches,” he added. SIS forayed in India after the ICC allowed the use of hybrid surfaces for T20 and 50-over competitions. Following the success of installing hybrids across English cricket grounds, SIS decided to develop the technology in India. The surface contains a small percentage of polymer fibre with the natural turf inside cricket stadiums. This composition is believed to be more resilient to stresses created during play, while prolonging life of the pitch, guaranteeing an even bounce and easing pressure on groundstaff. The completed installations are still predominantly natural grass, with only 5% polymer fibre used to ensure that the characteristics of an all-natural pitch are maintained. ‘The Universal’ machine, used in Dharamshala for the hybrid pitch, will be taken to Ahmedabad and Mumbai to create further such pitches. It will remain in India for future projects. In the U.K., hybrid pitches are approved for T20 and 50-over competitions and will also be used in the four-day County Championship matches this season. The Universal machine has been used to install SISGrass at various grounds in England such as Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. It must be noted that Dharamsala pitch and outfield came under scanner during the ODI World Cup last year and the entire playing surface was refurbished.

IPL 2024: Dinesh Karthik’s 83 not enough as SRH’s 287 too good for RCB

Danijones7 months ago010 mins

Dinesh Karthik’s heroic effort was not enough for RCB as SRH secured a 25-run win over the hosts in the IPL 2024 run-fest in Bengaluru on Monday. Over 500 runs were scored, but Hyderabad managed to squeeze in a superb win over RCB. RCB managed to reach 262 but still fell 25 runs short of SRH’s record-breaking 287 for 3 in the match. With this batting effort RCB also the first team to score over 250 when chasing in an IPL match. It was their 2nd-highest total in the IPL and 5th-highest total in the tournament history. In what could easily be regarded as one of the finest display of batting in a T20 encounter, close to 550 runs were amassed in this match, precisely 549. However, despite witnessing an astounding total, Hyderabad emerged victorious, boasting an insurmountable lead. This fixture not only saw an unprecedented scoring spree but also shattered numerous records, officially securing its place as the highest-scoring T20 game ever recorded. With a staggering count of 79 boundaries, comprising 43 fours and 36 sixes, the sheer magnitude of this achievement is almost unfathomable. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule Bengaluru suffered their sixth loss in seven games and remains rooted at the bottom of the table but this shows how underwhelming they have been with the ball. The batters gave it their all but 288 to get in 120 legal deliveries is almost unthinkable. Both Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis started aggressively and got a plethora of boundaries away but Kohli got out for 42, after which Faf went on a rampage, but the next three batters that came in couldn’t even get into double figures. Faf du Plessis eventually got out on 62, after which Dinesh Karthik took matters into his hands and just about kept Bengaluru with a 1 percent chance of a win. He made a sensational 83 off 35 balls but got out in the 19th over and even Anuj Rawat’s little cameo in the final over wasn’t nearly enough to get them that crucial win. Defending a massive total of 287 runs, Hyderabad couldn’t pick up a wicket in the Powerplay and were a bit unlucky with the edges and ended up conceding 79 runs. It was then Mayank Markande who knocked over Virat Kohli right after the Powerplay and then skipper Pat Cummins got a couple of quick wickets to hand Hyderabad the advantage. With 5 wickets already in the bag, the visitors couldn’t capitalize and seemed nervous in the death overs. Cummins did provide one more breakthrough but they kept conceding boundaries at an alarming rate and it was T Natarajan who finally got DK in the penultimate over that sealed the game. Overall, not the best bowling performance but there were some positives, especially the way Cummins bowled. HEAD POWERS SRH TO 287 Travis Head’s blistering century powered SRH to a staggering 287 for three against a struggling RCB in their IPL 2024 encounter. This marked a new record, surpassing their previous high of 277 against MI earlier in the season. Head led from the front with a scintillating 102 off just 41 deliveries, marking his maiden T20 hundred. He formed crucial partnerships, first putting on 108 runs with Abhishek Sharma (34 off 22 balls) and then adding 57 with Heinrich Klaasen, who blazed his way to 67 off 31 balls. The left-handed Head’s batting style may lack elegance, but his sheer effectiveness was evident as he relentlessly punished the RCB bowlers. His approach was simple yet devastating: anything in his hitting zone was dispatched with authority. Even the introduction of debutant Lockie Ferguson failed to stem the flow of runs, with Head taking a particular liking to his bowling. Ferguson’s first over was forgettable, conceding 18 runs as Head unleashed his power with disdain. Despite losing Head after his hundred, Hyderabad’s onslaught continued unabated, with Klaasen taking over the role of aggressor. The South African hammered the spinners, including a brutal assault on Mahipal Lomror, yielding 18 runs in a single over. Hyderabad’s assault culminated in a monumental total, with Aiden Markram’s single off Vysakh Vijayakumar marking the historic moment as they surpassed their own record total. Hyderabad, as habitual to begin on a flier, started off exactly in the same way. After examining the pitch for the first over, the dual southpaw duo opened the floodgates from the get-go, going aggressively against the Bengaluru bowlers. Travis Head was the real aggressor as he timed the ball to perfection. It seemed like the ball was just effortlessly springing off his bat into the stands. Hyderabad boosted to 100 for no loss in just 7.1 overs. Abhishek Sharma too, didn’t stay quiet for long and joined the party before getting dismissed on a well-supported 34. The Aussie southpaw however looked in no mood to calm down and went on to notch up a sensational 102 before getting out. But, the damage continued as Heinrich Klaasen joined the party and smashed a 23-ball half-century and kept inflating the scoring rate with glorious strokes. After his departure, Abdul Samad further compounded the damage as he struck a quickfire 37 off a 10-ball cameo. Aiden Markram too didn’t sit back and further helped his team to surpass the 277 mark, a record that they set just a few games ago. Records shattered left, right, and center, bowlers left reeling with absolute helplessness, and once again, it’s the team clad in orange and black that has showcased unrelenting ruthlessness with the bat. Indeed, Hyderabad has developed a habit of toppling records remarkably. Picture this – 22 monstrous sixes along with 19 boundaries. It is the second-highest team total in the history of all T20s and the highest total in the history of the Indian T20 League. It tells you a story, the kind of nightmare the Hyderabad batters have wreaked on this already struggling Bengaluru bowling attack. Published By: Saurabh Kumar…

MS Dhoni’s retirement talks intensified by Wasim Jaffer after CSK beat MI at IPL 2024: ‘Everyone expecting him to…’ | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago7 months ago04 mins

Completing a fairytale return to the iconic Wankhede Stadium, legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished things off in style for Chennai Super Kings by taking Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya to the cleaners in the recently concluded encounter of the Indian Premier League season 2024. Giving CSK a late flourish in the final overs on Sunday, Dhoni smoked three sixes off Pandya to make sure the Yellow Brigade posted a match-winning total in the first El Clasico of the cash-rich league. Rohit Sharma , right, greets MS Dhoni at the end the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in Mumbai(AP) After Dhoni finished off CSK’s innings in style by hitting three sixes off his first three balls at the Wankhede, former India opener Wasim Jaffer issued a cryptic post about the former CSK skipper. The former India skipper is in speculation about finishing his T20 career at the IPL 2024. Dhoni stepped down as CSK’s captain in the build-up to the new season. “MS has always done things that no one expected, especially when it comes to retiring from formats. Now everyone is expecting him to retire after this IPL..Baki aap khud samajhdar hai #MIvCSK #IPL2024,” Jaffer said in his post. Dhoni cameo proved to be the difference in Clasico Dhoni remained unbeaten on 20 off just 4 balls against Hardik’s Mumbai Indians in match No.29 of the IPL 2024. The 42-year-old batted at a strike rate of 500 as the former CSK skipper propelled the defending champions to 206-4 in 20 overs. Dhoni’s successor, Ruturaj Gaikwad, played a stroke-filled knock of 69 off 40 balls while power-hitter Shivam Dube remained unbeaten with Dhoni on 66 off 38 deliveries. Dhoni’s IPL legacy According to a report filed by news agency PTI, Dhoni can bid farewell to IPL cricket after the 2024 season. Dhoni picked Indian opener Gaikwad as his successor at CSK. Dhoni informed the CSK CEO about his decision to step down as captain just before the IPL 2024 skippers’ meet. “There is speculation that Dhoni will retire at the end of the season and therefore the franchise felt the need for a smooth transition in the stalwart’s presence as a player,” the news agency mentioned in one of its reports. Dhoni has won the joint-most IPL trophies as captain. Chennai icon Dhoni has guided CSK to five IPL title triumphs. The former CSK skipper has scored the most runs as a wicketkeeper-batter in the elite T20 tournament. The most-capped player in IPL’s history has played a record 11 finals in his iconic career.

Heinrich Klaasen enjoys battle against two Indian spinners who challenge him the most

Danijones7 months ago7 months ago04 mins

Heinrich Klaasen has transformed his batting superbly according to the modern day requirements. He is now a six-hitting machine possessing the ability to turn the game on its head from any position. The man is currently playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has already scored 186 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 193.75 with 17 sixes to his name. On the contrary, the wicketkeeper-batter has only hit seven fours. Klaasen is one of the toughest batters to bowl at these days. However, he finds it challenging to face two Indian spinners – Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja. Talking about Chahal who is playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL, Klaasen recalls getting out to him on a couple of occasions but also rejoices smashing him for sixes. At the same time, the Proteas batter has also lauded Chahal for coming up with variations and also sticking to his game plan. As for Jadeja, his accuracy is what finds Klaasen challenging and is looking forward to facing him later in the season again. “I like facing [Yuzvendra] Chahal. It’s always been a good battle. He’s got me out a couple of times and I’ve been scoring off him, so that ratio is nice, I feel. I know he’s an excellent bowler, he’s one of my good friends as well so that will always be a nice challenge. He’s one of the bowlers that is always sticking to his gameplan. Even if you hit him for a couple of good shots, he still follows his process. Obviously he’s one of my mates so you want to take him down. He’s been good. “And Jadeja has been good on his type of wickets. So that’s always a nice challenge. So those two spinners in particular, it’s been good. I haven’t faced a lot of Jadeja so I am looking forward to more of that,” Klaasen said while speaking to Cricbuzz. Klaasen also picked SuperSport Park in Centurion as his favourite venue to bat while also clarifying that he also loves playing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad which is also the home ground of SRH. “Super Sport Park – I don’t think there’s any better place in the world to play cricket at, especially on a Friday night. And Boland Park (Paarl) has always been my favourite. The mountains in the backdrop and the sun set looks just unbelievable. In the IPL, I obviously enjoy Hyderabad. The wicket has been fantastic there. But probably one of the loudest places I’ve been to is Mumbai. It’s a nice wicket too, as well and a great atmosphere,” Klaasen added.

“Lack Of Faith, Lack Of Skill”: Irfan Pathan Tears Into Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy

Danijones7 months ago7 months ago07 mins

Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya was put to sword by fans and former cricketers after yet another underwhelming show in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Hardik faced brutal criticism from prominent former players lost the high-profile encounter against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Hardik, who bowled the last over the innings, was ripped apart by the 42-year-old MS Dhoni, conceding 20 runs in the final 4 balls. His decision to bowl at the absolute end has been questioned by many, including former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. (IPL 2024 Points Table) Booed and heckled by fans ever since he took over MI’s captaincy, Pandya found himself in the line of fire. Hardik was openly criticised by Irfan who put big question marks on the decision-making that the former Gujarat Titans skipper brings to the ground. It was the 26 runs that Pandya conceded in the final over with Mahendra Singh Dhoni going hammer and tongs, which proved to be decisive as Chennai Super Kings notched up a 20-run win over MI. Irfan feels the decision to bowl himself over Akash Madhwal shows lack of faith on the latter. Hardik Pandya bowling the last over showed the lack of faith on Akash madhwal’s bowling and his own lack of skill as a death over bowler. — Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 14, 2024 The likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen also questioned Hardik’s captaincy in the match. “Oh, absolutely ordinary bowling, ordinary captaincy. They should have been restricted despite the fact that Ruturaj Gaikwad had batted so well along with Shivam Dube. I do believe that they should have been restricted to 185-190,” Gavaskar said. “Probably the worst kind of bowling that I’ve seen for a long, long time,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports during the innings break after CSK posted 206 for 4. “It almost looks like I’ve had this embrace with my hero. I’ve got the kind of deliveries that he’s gonna hit for sixes. One six is fine. The next one is a length ball when you know this batter is hunting for a length ball that he wants to hit. “Third ball is again a full toss on the legs when you know he (Dhoni) is looking for a six.” Pandya finished with figures of 2 for 43 from his four overs and also had a tough time with the bat, managing a mere two runs off six balls at a crucial juncture of the game as MI ended at 186 for six despite a fine 63-ball 105 by former skipper Rohit Sharma. Pandya has faced fans’ ire right from the first match and even at the Wankhede Stadium, boos have followed him, forcing Rohit (against Rajasthan Royals) and Virat Kohli (in MI’s game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru) to ask the crowd to calm down a bit. Pietersen feels the outside noise is taking a toll on the flamboyant all-rounder. “I actually think, with Hardik Pandya, everything away from the game is affecting him so much. He’s smiling too much when he does the toss. He’s trying to act like he is so happy. He is not happy. I have been there. I have been in the firing line. And I can tell you now, it affects you. “The boos we have been hearing just now and I know they are happy to see former CSK captain (Dhoni), the lion, smacking him (Hardik) all over the park, it hurts you. Because he has emotions. And he is an Indian player and he doesn’t want to be treated like this. So when this is happening, it’s affecting him, it’s affecting his cricket and something needs to happen.” The 43-year-old former batter also wondered why Pandya didn’t use his spinners when the pacers were being targeted by CSK batters. “What I saw this evening wasn’t good enough. I saw a captain that had plan A from a team meeting that was five hours ago and a captain that didn’t want to go to plan B when he should have gone to plan B. “Like how on this Earth have you not bowled a spinner when your seamers are going for 20. Brian Lara said can we please bowl a spinner? Somebody needs to bowl here. You need to change the pace of the game.” MI will next take on Punjab Kings on April 18 in Chandigarh.