Cricket

T Natarajan to make India comeback? SRH coach makes sizzling prediction after pacer misses out on T20 World Cup squad

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

T Natarajan has been simply sensational in IPL 2024. He is currently Sunrisers Hyderabad’s highest wickettaker this season and is also fourth in the Orange Cap race with 15 dismissals in eight matches. Despite his form, he missed out on a berth in India’s T20 World Cup squad, which surprised plenty of fans. But SRH bowling coach James Franklin feels that the 33-year-old is close to making his India comeback. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s T Natarajan collects a throw.(AFP) Speaking ahead of SRH’s fixture vs MI in Mumbai, Franklin said, “There are just so many quality players in India. He can only control what he can. His great strength is obviously his yorker bowling. That is where he is a huge asset for us as a team.” Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! “If he keeps going the way he is going and can hold his form throughout the rest of this IPL, those sorts of conversations around India, they tend to take care of themselves. If he keeps performing, then getting back in that Indian side won’t be too far away from it,” he added. Natarajan made his India debut during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He last represented India in a home series vs England in March 2021. He has been in good form this year, and has been injury-free. So the decision to snub him was a huge shock for many fans. The BCCI have also been accused by selection bias for not naming Natarajan in the 15-member squad. Earlier, even former India cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath echoed similar sentiments. “Why do some Cricketers from Tamil Nadu have to perform double time more to get into? They are not getting the extra backing. T. Natarajan should definitely be included in the Indian team for the World Cup,” he said on Star Sports. The pacers to assist Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 World Cup are Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj. Meanwhile, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed have been named in the reserves. News / Cricket News / T Natarajan to make India comeback? SRH coach makes sizzling prediction after pacer misses out on T20 World Cup squad

On top of IPL standings: Kolkata Knight Riders credit Gautam Gambhir’s winning formula | Cricket News

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Young pacer Harshit Rana attributed Kolkata Knight Riders’ surge to the top of the IPL points table to the winning blueprint laid down by former captain Gautam Gambhir, now serving as the team’s mentor. Gambhir’s strategic insights, derived from his successful tenure as KKR skipper, have revitalized the franchise’s performance, leading them to reclaim their dominant form in the tournament.Under Gambhir’s leadership, KKR clinched the IPL title twice and secured playoff berths on five occasions between 2011 and 2017.Rana acknowledged Gambhir’s profound understanding of the game, stating, “He has a lot of knowledge on how to turn games in our favor, and it helps us a lot in the middle.”Rana emphasized the team’s adherence to Gambhir’s preferred style of cricket, which focuses on strategic discipline and adaptability. “Not only this match, this entire season we have been focusing a lot on the style of cricket that Gautam Gambhir wants us to play,” Rana remarked during a press conference following KKR’s commanding victory over Lucknow Super Giants.In the latest triumph, KKR showcased their astute reading of the conditions, with Rana playing a pivotal role in restricting the opposition with figures of 3/24. Despite concerns over Mitchell Starc’s economy rate, Rana expressed unwavering faith in the Australian speedster, highlighting his influential presence within the team. Reflecting on his aspirations, Rana expressed his ambition to represent India while maintaining a steadfast focus on delivering consistent performances for his franchise. “My aim is to play for India, but whatever franchise I play for, I try to give my best on the day of the match,” he affirmed.Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants’ Naveen Ul Haq conceded defeat against the brilliance of Sunil Narine‘s explosive innings, which propelled KKR to a daunting total. Naveen acknowledged Narine’s exceptional batting display, lamenting the failure of their bowling plans to contain the West Indian all-rounder.Despite the setback, Naveen remained pragmatic, acknowledging the need to regroup and refocus for their upcoming fixtures. “Every team has a bad day, and we cannot keep focusing on that, we have to move on,” he concluded, echoing the sentiment of resilience required in the demanding landscape of the IPL.(With inputs from PTI)

“There’s Terror Threat To T20 World Cup”: Trinidad And Tobago PM Reveals; ICC Reacts

Danijones12 months ago05 mins

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it is working closely with Men’s T20 World Cup host countries – the West Indies and the USA – to ensure appropriate plans are in place amidst a terror threat to the showpiece event. The men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA from June 1-29. Reports emerged from various sections in the Caribbean media that the World Cup hosting islands in the region received terror threats from an organisation in North Pakistan. “ICC is working closely with the host countries to ensure appropriate plans are in place. We immediately spoke to the authorities as the reports emerged, and the Cricket West Indies has assured everyone that a comprehensive security plan is in place to address any risk,” an ICC official told IANS when asked about the terror threat to the Men’s T20 World Cup. Dr Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, said to Daily Express that the security agencies are working to combat terror threats to the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. “Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century. It is against this backdrop that all nations, like our region, when hosting large or vulnerable gatherings, make an extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness to take seriously, all threats, expressed or implied. “Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities. However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament,” said Rowley. In the Caribbean, Kensington Oval in Barbados, Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, Providence Stadium in Guyana, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia and Arnos Vale Stadium, St Vincent will be the hosts for matches of T20 World Cup. In the USA, Eisenhower Park in New York; Broward County in Lauderhill, Florida and Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, will be the venues. 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five each for the first round. Top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super eight stage. In Super Eight, teams will be split into two groups of four each. Teams seeded first and second in their groups in the first round will retain that seeding in the Super Eight, provided they qualify. A1, B2, C1 and D2 finishers will be in one group, while A2, B1, C2 and D1 will be slotted in the other group. Top two sides from two groups of the Super eight will advance for the semi-finals. The semi-finals will be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on June 26 and 27 respectively. The final will be held in Barbados on June 29. Reserve days are in place for both semi-finals and the final. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

IPL 2024 Playoffs: Exact Results Mumbai Indians Need For Top 4 Finish

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

Hardik Pandya’s MI have 3 wins in 11 matches to their name© BCCI/Sportzpics The Mumbai Indians stare at an early elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, with a solitary defeat keeping them from becoming the first team to exit the playoffs race this campaign. Under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, the Mumbai Indians have barely clicked as a unit, with below-par performances from established stars, as well as poor leadership costing the team crucial moments in the season so far. With just three more games to go in the league stage of the campaign for MI, all hope is not entirely lost. Mumbai Indians are still within the shout to qualify for the playoffs, though the chances of them finishing as one of the top 4 teams are minuscule. How Can Mumbai Indians Qualify For IPL 2024 Playoffs? Condition 1:First and foremost, the Hardik Pandy-led side has to win all of its remaining three matches in the IPL 2024 league campaign. MI are scheduled to take on the mighty Sunrisers Hyderabad next, with matches against Kolkata Knight Rider and Lucknow Super Giants to follow. All eyes on @KKRiders and the Points Table At the end of Match of #TATAIPL 2024, this is how all teams stand! Predict the final standings after matches of your team pic.twitter.com/LfIvptd6u3 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2024 Condition 2: Hope that no other team crosses the 12-point mark in IPL 2024 standings. At present, SRH, LSG and CSK already have 12 points to their name. Hence, at least two of these franchises would need to lose their remaining matches in the league campaign. With KKR and RR already sitting at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots with 16 points each, it is impossible for Mumbai to topple them. In fact, big wins against other teams for KKR and RR would only benefit MI. Condition 3: Mumbai Indians have a Net Run Rate of -0.356 at present. Even if MI win all of their remaining matches, they would need to do that by big margins in order to get into a positive NRR. But, that might not be enough if the NRR of other teams at 12 points is better than MI. Though you never say never in a sport like cricket, it’s fair to assert that Mumbai Indians’ chances of IPL 2024 playoffs qualification don’t instill much hope in the hearts of their fans. Topics mentioned in this article

Virat Kohli: ‘Strike rate is trending in the right direction’: Matthew Hayden on Virat Kohli’s role for T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden has reignited the debate over Virat Kohli‘s batting position, particularly in the context of the upcoming T20 World Cup.Hayden’s comments came in the wake of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar‘s criticism of Kohli’s explosive response to critics questioning his scoring rate in IPL 2024.Kohli played a scintillating performance against Gujarat Titans, where he scored an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls, including a blistering display against spinners.Kohli’s response to criticism regarding his scoring intent in the middle overs has sparked intense debate within the cricketing fraternity.In evaluating Kohli’s potential role as an opener for India in the T20 World Cup, Hayden emphasized the significant improvement in Kohli’s strike rate over the past four IPL seasons. “That strike rate is trending in the right direction, it’s trending up,” Hayden commented on Star Sports. “So 150 for me is kind of that sweet spot that starts in and everyone having conversation well where you bat? Is it three, is it open? You know those first six overs, it doesn’t matter if Kohli is in those first six overs. You know that there’s going to be fireworks.” Hayden highlighted Kohli’s adaptability and aggressive approach regardless of his batting position, particularly in the context of the explosive nature of the first six overs in T20 cricket. He expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to deliver fireworks irrespective of where he bats in the lineup.Reflecting on the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies, Hayden emphasized the favorable batting conditions and Kohli’s proficiency in capitalizing on such surfaces. He cited Kohli’s outstanding record as an opener in T20Is, including his sensational century in the Asia Cup last year, as evidence of his capability to excel in the role.However, Hayden also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the conditions in New York, one of the venues for the T20 World Cup, while expressing confidence in Kohli’s adaptability and the firepower of India’s batting lineup.“They’re not so sure about those conditions in New York. I’ve seen that overlaid venue and it looks magnificent. But certainly through the West Indies, they’re going to be benign conditions and Kohli is going to come in and look to strike away knowing that he has a superb batting side that also has a great strike rate,” Hayden added.

Terror threat to T20 World Cup from Pakistan, hosts West Indies assure safety

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

The West Indies, co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, have reportedly received a terror threat from North Pakistan. However, West Indies (CWI), informed the public that all safety precautions have been taken. According to a reliable source familiar with the situation, the Caribbean islands have been alerted to potential terror risks originating from North Pakistan. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the US from June 1 to 29. The West Indies will host World Cup matches in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. There are also matches in the US cities of Florida, New York, and Texas, although there is no sign of a threat to the games in the United States. The two semifinals will take place in Trinidad and Guyana, with the final scheduled for Barbados. “We are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining close communication with relevant authorities,” stated the source. “Continuous evaluation of security measures is underway to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any identified risks.” The threat has been attributed to IS Khorasan, adding to the gravity of the situation. The ‘Daily Express’ quoted Trinidad Prime Minister Keith Rowley as saying that security services had procedures in place to deal with any threats to matches. According to the article, “the Barbados regional security officials are monitoring potential threats to the ICC event” as well as that “intelligence of a potential threat to the World Cup has been received through Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) through the media group ‘Nashir Pakistan’.” INDIA’s CT2025 PARTICIPATION? A pivotal question looms over India’s potential involvement in the forthcoming Champions Trophy, set to take place in Pakistan in 2025. Given the heightened security concerns stemming from the northern regions of Pakistan, there arises uncertainty regarding India’s willingness to travel to the host nation. Reports indicate that the threat extends even to the T20 World Cup. In response, the ICC is slated to convene for its Annual General Meeting in July, hosted in Sri Lanka this year. Among the agenda items, deliberations will center on the feasibility of holding the Champions Trophy in Pakistan or relocating it to a neutral venue, with paramount consideration for the safety and security of players. Recently, PCB officials convened with ICC’s General Manager, Wasim Khan, to deliberate on the scheduling nuances of the Champions Trophy, particularly concerning India’s fixtures. As per the proposed itinerary drafted by PCB, all of India’s matches are slated to unfold in Lahore. The rationale behind this concentrated venue allocation is to streamline security measures and logistical arrangements, thereby mitigating potential challenges. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 6, 2024

Team India’s ‘leaked’ T20 World Cup jersey sparks massive social media furore

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

With the T20 World Cup scheduled for next month, and fans will be gearing up for a proper cricket extravaganza. The tournament is being co-hosted by the West Indies and US. The BCCI have already announced Team India’s 15-member squad, and there were some surprises. The Team India jersey has been leaked allegedly. Meanwhile, cricket fans are also waiting for the unveiling of India’s official T20 World Cup jersey. Adidas is BCCI’s official kit sponsor, and they have been making different kits for ODIs and T20Is. The ODI jersey is collared, and shows the tiger’s stripes. Meanwhile, the T20I jersey symbolises the Ashoka Chakra, which is in the Indian flat. Both jerseys have stripes on the shoulder. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Recently, a photo went viral on social media, which allegedly showed India’s jersey for the upcoming ICC showpiece event. The alleged leak shows the jersey with tri-colour stripes on a v-shaped neck, and the traditional Adidas stripes on saffron sleeves. Here is the alleged leaked jersey photo: If this is actually the jersey, this will be then considered a huge mishap on BCCI and Adidas’ side, as jersey unveilings are usually filled with suspense. It left social media in a state of meltdown. Reacting to the photo, one fan said, “Not goodd.” Meanwhile, another fan calle it a ‘training kit’. Another fan called it “worst”. Rohit Sharma will be leading the Indian squad in the ICC tournament, and we will also see Rishabh Pant make his international return. The DC skipper has been included in the 15-member squad, having missed more than a year of cricket due to a freak car accident. Sanju Samson is the other wicketkeeper-batter in the squad, with KL Rhaul getting snubbed. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube’s IPL form has made it impossible to ignore him and he is expected to play a key role. The spin department consists of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who will be assisted by the pace battery consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya. Also, the reserves list consists of Shubman Gill, Rinky Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan. The Indian batting line-up is also well-equipped, consisting of the likes of Rohit, Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav.

Ex-captain Dean Elgar feels backstabbed by CSA, blames Test coach for cutting his international career short – India TV

Danijones12 months ago04 mins

Image Source : GETTY Former South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar has criticised the cricket board and the red-ball coach after his premature retirement With his contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA) ending, former Test captain Dean Elgar has opened up on the toxicity in the team environment and the politics of it all. Elgar, who was reportedly forced into retirement by red-ball coach Shukri Conrad since the senior opener wasn’t in his future plans for Proteas, in a revelation has spoken about his captaincy stint, the sudden removal and the premature retirement saying that his hard work wasn’t recognised. Elgar in a conversation with Rapport Newspaper mentioned that he wasn’t aware of what he was getting into as cricket took a backseat when he was named the skipper and he became a full-time politician and an administrator. “I became a part-time cricketer and full-time politician, something that I never want to go through again,” Elgar said. “I am a sportsman, not a politician or a cricket administrator, but I was thrown into a cauldron in which I had to be all three. If I had known that before, I would never have accepted the captaincy.” Elgar felt backstabbed by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) after he was sacked from the top job. It was on the horizon after South Africa lost to Australia 3-0, however, under Elgar, South Africa had a more than a decent shot at qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final after beating India, Bangladesh and West Indies. “It felt as though they did not recognise all my hard work over the previous year-and-a-half, that they didn’t realise how much we had improved as a team,” Elgar added. “From being sixth or seventh in the world we became a team with the potential to play in the World Test Championship final.” Elgar mentioned that the new red-ball coach was better aligned with Temba Bavuma as the skipper. Even though there was no bad blood with Bavuma, Elgar didn’t hold himself back on blaming Conrad. “Shukri Conrad is the reason why my Test career was cut short,” said Elgar who admittedly held himself back from criticizing his earswhile employees with the contract still being on till the end of April. Elgar retired from international cricket on a high as a captain after Bavuma was injured for the second Test against India. Even though the Proteas lost the second Test in Cape Town, his 185 in the opener in Centurion was the main reason why the hosts could draw the series 1-1. The 36-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Essex and already has two fifties and a century to his name.

Kylian Mbappe And PSG Aim To Seize Moment In Champions League Semi-Final

Danijones12 months ago07 mins

Paris Saint-Germain are bidding to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and beat Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League semi-final return match on Tuesday, with the aim of bringing the curtain down on the Kylian Mbappe era at the club in the final at Wembley. The only time PSG have previously appeared in the biggest match in club football turned out to be a depressingly flat occasion, with the French side losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich behind closed doors in Lisbon in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Reaching the June 1 showpiece in London, and playing before a crowd of 90,000 against either Real Madrid or Bayern again, would be a different occasion entirely. Getting there would give Mbappe the chance to end his seven-year stay with the Qatar-owned outfit in the best possible way, as they look to win the Champions League for the first time in their history, and just the second time for a French club after Marseille in 1993. Mbappe informed PSG in February of his intention to depart the Parc des Princes when his contract expires at the end of the season, ending a prolific association with his hometown team which began when he signed from Monaco in 2017. Now 25 and the captain of France, Mbappe has become the Parisians’ all-time top scorer with 255 goals in 305 appearances so far, including 43 this season alone. He has 48 in the Champions League — a tally which includes six with Monaco in his breakthrough 2016/17 campaign — and Tuesday’s second leg against Dortmund would be the ideal time for him to bring up the half-century. Luis Enrique’s team did not produce their best performance in losing 1-0 in Germany last week, and the pressure is on them as favourites to turn the tie around at home. However, a repeat of what happened when they hosted Dortmund in the group stage last September will suffice — on that occasion they won 2-0, with Mbappe netting the first goal from the penalty spot. “We are sure we are going to turn it around and qualify for the final,” Mbappe told several media including AFP on Sunday on the sidelines of an event on the French capital’s famed Champs-Elysees. “There is a lot of pressure on us, which is normal because there is a place in the Champions League final at stake. “All the more so when you know about this club’s past in the competition.” Defensive dilemma PSG were not necessarily expected to get as far as the semi-finals this season, with the squad undergoing a major overhaul following the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar at the end of the last campaign. They had gone out in the last 16 in five of the last seven seasons, frequently failing in spectacular fashion in that time. Before this season, and since the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011, PSG had won nine Champions League knockout ties in total. Five of those came behind closed doors in the Covid era, including two ties played as one-off games on neutral turf in Lisbon in 2020. This season’s draw has been as kind as it could be, with Real Sociedad ideal opponents in the last 16 and Dortmund the best they could have wished for in the semi-finals. However, their performance in overturning a first-leg deficit to defeat Barcelona in the last eight is not to be dismissed. While all eyes will, as usual, be on Mbappe, the key to PSG’s chances of recovering from another first-leg loss when they face Dortmund may be in defence. They suffered a huge blow when Lucas Hernandez ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while trying to stop Niclas Fuellkrug’s goal in Dortmund. He is set to be out for many months. In addition, left-back Nuno Mendes, who has himself not long returned from a lengthy spell out, had a torrid time up against Jadon Sancho at the Signal Iduna Park. Mendes will still almost certainly start at the Parc des Princes, while Danilo Pereira looks the most likely option to partner skipper Marquinhos at centre-back. “We know how strong we are at the Parc. Nothing is finished, everything is open,” Marquinhos said after the first leg. One other factor in favour of PSG, who have already wrapped up the French title, might be freshness — their weekend league game at Nice was postponed to help them prepare. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article