Cricket

IPL 2024, PBKS vs RR: After Shimron Hetmyer show vs PBKS, Keshav Maharaj demands ‘gift’ from Rajasthan star

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Keshav Maharaj demanded a bat as a “gift” from his teammate Shimron Hetmyer after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between PBKS and RR. Both Maharaj and Hetmyer were two of the best performers in Rajasthan’s clash against Punjab, which saw the latter score an unbeaten 27(10) and the former finish with impressive bowling figures of 2/23. The exciting fixture also saw Maharaj bag his first two IPL wickets after removing dangerous PBKS batters – Jonny Bairstow and acting captain Sam Curran. Hetmyer’s winning knock brought RR back on track, after the side’s unbeaten streak in IPL 2024 ended with a last-ball defeat to GT on April 8. His explosive batting performance also saw him bag the Player of the Match award, adding further highlight to his reputation as one of the most dangerous batters in the current setup of IPL. Apart from Hetmyer’s innings, Maharaj’s spell also played a crucial role in RR’s victory, which saw the South African bag some early wickets and help his side restrict PBKS to a mere total of 147. IPL 2024, PBKS vs RR: Match Report In a recent video uploaded by the IPL, both Maharaj and Hetmyer engaged in a fun conversation where the former demanded a bat from his teammate, while praising his prowess as a T20 batter. “You are one of the best in the T20 format and I love feeding off your energy, you’re a positive guy and I hope the friendship continues. Still waiting for my bat though,” Maharaj told Hetmyer. “Yeah yeah you’ll get the bat, no worries. I’ll get the bat for you,” Hetmyer replied. Maharaj went on to reflect on his experience of bagging his first two IPL wickets, and also shared a few insights on how he has planned his approach for RR in IPL 2024. “It has been amazing. I’m very grateful to be here, I’m here to learn. Very fortunate enough to put in a good performance to help the team, restrict the opposition to a low total. It is really good to get into the wickets column but I just try to keep my job simple, hit the area and make it uncomfortable for the batters. Also, some good catching by you (Hetmyer) and Dhruv Jurel on the boundary there. But it has been really nice to take wickets and contribute to the team,“ Maharaj added. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule RR will look to continue further on this winning momentum, specifically in their upcoming clash against an in-form KKR on April 16, which will see both sides race for the top spot in the IPL 2024 table. Published By: Debodinna Chakraborty Published On: Apr 14, 2024

‘CSK aur MI ke baad toh apna hi…’: Sanju Samson’s witty ‘viewership’ remark | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Having won five titles each, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are the two most successful teams in the IPL. Renowned for their stellar lineup including icons like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, they remain the most sought after franchises in the league.In the IPL, close match finishes are a hallmark of the tournament’s thrilling action. With teams evenly matched and top players showcasing their skills, matches often go down to the wire, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the last ball is bowled or the last run is scored.IPL 2024 Orange Cap| IPL 2024 Purple Cap | IPL 204 Points tableThe match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals on Saturday is the latest example of a nail-biting finish that saw RR hunt down a small 148-run target on the penultimate delivery of the match.After the match, players from both teams gathered for a chat and reflected on the intense contest. Sanju Samson joined the group, which included Yuzvendra Chahal, Jitesh Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Sandeep Sharma, and Harpreet Brar, and lightened the mood with a humourous remark. “CSK aur MI ke toh baad apna hi viewership hai,” joked Samson, responding to Chahal’s recollection of the close battles between PBKS and RR.Punjab Kings shared the video of players’ chat on their X handle.Talking about the match, Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 27 runs off 10 balls helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Punjab Kings with a three-wicket win in Mullanpur.Hetmyer’s spell at the crease, laced with three sixes, brought Rajasthan past Punjab’s 147-8 with only one ball to spare, cementing the side’s place at the top of the table with only one loss from the season so far.

Pat Cummins’ cold-blooded ‘World Cup 2023’ throwback provokes Indian fans: ‘We paid him 20 crore in return’ | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Australia skipper Pat Cummins added salt to the Indian cricket fans’ wounds from last year as he revealed his favourite memory in India. Cummins, who is currently leading Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2024, hosted an Ask me a question session on Instagram as one fan asked him about his favourite memory in India. Pat Cummins led Australia to ODI World Cup glory last year.(REUTERS) Cummins posted the photo of the Australian team celebrating the ODI World Cup 2023 triumph over India in the final. Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! The premier pacer led the Aussies to their record-extending sixth World Cup trophy on November 19 with a clinical 6-wicket win over India in front of a jam-packed Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The fans on social media reacted to Cummins’ Instagram story. The Aussie team put up a collective effort and outclassed India, who were enjoying an unbeaten streak before the final, as Cummins also managed to silence the Ahmedabad crowd by dismissing the hosts’ best batter Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, Cummins has also been impressive in his first stint as captain for Sunrisers Hyderabad thus far. He has led the Orange Army to three wins in five matches. SRH edged past Punjab Kings in their last match which was a last-ball thriller. After the win over PBKS, Cummins said it was a great game of cricket and despite PBKS bowling well in the start, SRH did well to reach 182 and defend it. He also pointed out that the ‘Impact Player’ rule deepens the batting. “If you get 150-160, you are going to lose nine out of ten games anyway. We knew the new ball was going to be a key time. We were pretty happy (with our score). We saw what happened with the new ball for them, so thought if me and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) could start off with a wicket of wickets, it would be good. We have plenty of left-armers and right-armers, so just trying to give the bowlers the best chance of success,” Cummins said after the clash in Chandigarh. SRH will next clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Cummins and Co will enter the match as the favourites as RCB have been struggling miserably this season and currently placed at the bottom of the points table.

Why MI vs CSK is called ‘El Classico’ of IPL? – India TV

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Image Source : BCCI/IPL Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings – The El Classico of T20 cricket. The fans wait in anticipation for the complete season to watch these two heavyweights in action. And when they meet each other, it is nothing short of a festival and a chance to show their mettle to each other. But why is it called the ‘El Classico’ of IPL? The term ‘El Classico’ comes from the rivalry between two hugely celebrated clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. The football fanatics fail to hold themselves when these two teams meet. The two sides are the most successful teams in the history of La Liga. Every Barcelona vs Real Madrid match is a treat for the fans. The MI vs CSK rivalry gives a similar feeling to the cricket fans. The rivalry is probably the biggest one in T20 cricket. They have some of the most loved cricketers having played for them. Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and there are even more. The two teams are the most successful teams in IPL history with 10 out of the 16 IPL titles won by either of the two. They have five titles each now after CSK’s last year’s triumph over Gujarat Titans. MI and CSK have also met each other in four finals – a jaw-dropping feat in itself as teams generally battle out to meet one of them in the final. CSK have played 10 finals, while MI have been part of six summit clashes. Talking about the head-to-head clashes, MI hold an advantage over their arch-rivals. Out of the 36 meetings between them in IPL, MI lead by a margin of 20-16. But in the last six meetings, CSK have a lead of 4-2. When they meet it is termed as the El Classico. Mumbai and Chennai are now being led by two different captains. Hardik Pandya is the captain of MI, while Ruturaj Gaikwad leads CSK. But the rivalry is intact. The history between them is intact and the two captains will look to add on to the celebrated rivalry.

IPL-17: KKR vs LSG | Kolkata Knight Riders opt to bowl against Lucknow Super Giants

Danijones7 months ago01 mins

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer with his Lucknow Super Giants counterpart K.L. Rahul during the toss of the Indian Premier League 2024, in Kolkata on April 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and opted to bowl against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL match in Kolkata on April 14. Harshit Rana came in for Rinku Singh in KKR’s playing XI, while LSG handed his maiden IPL cap to West Indian pacer Shamar Joseph and brought back Deepak Hooda and Mohsin Khan. Teams: Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Shamar Joseph, Mohsin Khan. Kolkata Knight Riders: Phil Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana.

“India Need Hardik Pandya For T20 World Cup”: England Great Slams Booing Fans

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Hardik Pandya’s debut season as captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) has been nothing less than a soap opera. The all-rounder replaced the long-serving Rohit Sharma as the captain of the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 players auction. However, fans have not been happy over the change in leadership at MI. The crowd has made it presence felt by booing Hardik during matches so far this season. Former England captain Michael Vaughan shared his views on Hardik being booed by fans. Since Hardik played two seasons at Gujarat Titans, Vaughan admitted that he understood the hostility from the Ahmedabad crowd in MI’s first game this season at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, Vaughan expressed his shock at the treatment Hardik received in Hyderabad, as well as the Wankhede “I don’t understand booing. I kind of get it in the first game in Gujarat, because he played for them for two years and did not well as a captain. But then when he went to Hyderabad, I was like, ‘What’s going on.’ Then when he came back to Wankhede, his own home support was booing him. I did not understand that,” Vaughan said on BeerBiceps podcas. Vaughan urged fans to back Hardik as India would need him to be fit and firing for the T20 World Cup. “What Indian cricket fans need to understand is that Mumbai Indians are Indian fans and for India to win the T20 World Cup, they need Hardik Pandya. They need him to play well. So somehow, over the next few weeks, they need him to get that confidence level right upto the top level, because with India having Hardik flying, they got a great chance in lifting that trophy,” he added. Speaking further on the MI captaincy drama, Vaughan suggested that Rohit should have been the captain of the franchise. “I personally would’ve captained Rohit. Hardik coming back to MI is big enough pressure in itself, and Rohit is obviously going to be the Indian T20 captain. The sensible move would’ve been for Rohit to carry as MI captain with Hardik in mind for next year or 2,” Vaughan explained. Topics mentioned in this article

“What Have They Identified?”: CSK Coach Stephen Fleming’s Blunt T20 World Cup Message To BCCI

Danijones7 months ago06 mins

Former New Zealand captain and five-time IPL-winning coach Stephen Fleming believes that India should decide on their style of play for the upcoming T20 World Cup and pick the in-form players accordingly. India will head into this year’s T20 global showpiece in the Caribbean and the USA to make yet another bid to end their wait for an ICC trophy, which extended further after they lost to Australia in the final of the 50-overs World Cup last year. It has been more than 10 years since India last won a global competition, which has, in a way kept ageing stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the mix despite growing calls for the T20I side to be blooded with young talent. “The thing for me is, what type of game plan do they want to play during the World Cup? What have they identified as the right style of play for India in an away condition?,” Fleming said when asked if CSK’s all-rounder Shivam Dube is primed for India call-up for the World Cup. “Then put players into that rather than just picking players and trying to find a game plan. I would be looking at the style of play that I would want, and then pick the players that are in-form and can perform the role that will best win that design,” Fleming said on the sidelines of CSK’s training session ahead of their IPL match against Mumbai Indians. Fleming said the amount of sheer power which Dube generates is good enough to compel the selectors into looking at him as one of the prospects for the T20 World Cup. “It’s probably one of the hardest jobs in world cricket, isn’t it, being an Indian selector. On one hand, very jealous as a New Zealander looking at the amount of talent that is on show and new players every game sort of pop up,” he said. “I love his power. I’m biased, aren’t I? But I think when you have a bit different power like that; I would have him in the side,” Fleming said. The former Kiwi skipper said Dube is reaping the benefits of the work that he has put in to face different kinds of bowlers, which has complemented CSK in return given the rule changes in the IPL such as the introduction of the impact player. “A lot of work last year to be honest, working him into that role and trying to use the change of rules to our advantage. He did a lot of work mentally last year on what that would look like, and then it was about opportunity. How long an opportunity would take for us to realise his potential,” Fleming said. “Or more importantly, for him to realise how good he could be. Since then, he has gone to another level. He works hard on all aspects. I know there’s a short-ball aspect that has been much publicised. But there’s a lot more to him than that,” he added. Fleming once again mentioned Dube’s power-hitting which has been a standout factor in his batting. “If anything, it deflects away from other areas. He uses that predictability to his advantage now. I haven’t seen a guy hit it harder (and) consistently hit it harder.” “Some of the power he can generate both from spin and from seam bowling is quite unique. When he’s in form like this, he’s a real weapon for us during those middle overs,” the CSK head coach added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Watch: Suryakumar Yadav’s intense practice session ahead of MI-CSK clash | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Suryakumar Yadav will be a key batsman for Mumbai Indians going into their high-octane clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLESuryakumar missed MI’s first three matches because of his recovery from injury. Though he registered a duck in his comeback game against Delhi Capitals, Suryakumar smashed a 17-ball fifty in the next match against RCB.SKY’s return to form is indeed a good news for MI and ahead of their match against CSK, they shared a video on X that the world’s top-ranked batter hitting the ball around the park in a practice session. Suryakumar, known for his aggressive batting style and consistency, has had some memorable performances against CSK in the IPL. Suryakumar has played crucial innings against CSK that have helped his team, MI, secure victories. His ability to accelerate the scoring rate and play under pressure has been evident in these matches.Suryakumar has often scored significant runs against CSK, including half-centuries and impactful cameos. His ability to score quickly and find gaps in the field has troubled CSK’s bowlers on multiple occasions.What makes Suryakumar a threat to CSK is his consistency. He has shown the ability to perform well in different situations, whether chasing a target or setting a competitive total. Suryakumar’s versatility as a batsman allows him to adapt to different match situations. This makes him a valuable asset for MI, especially in matches against strong opponents like CSK.Suryakumar’s matchups against CSK bowlers, including spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and pacers like Deepak Chahar, have often been intriguing and have showcased his skills as a batsman capable of handling various bowling styles.Suryakumar’s performances against CSK highlight his importance as a key player for MI and his ability to deliver when facing one of the strongest teams in the IPL.

Twenty20 World Cup | I want to be at my best through IPL experience, says Travis Head

Danijones7 months ago09 mins

Travis Head raised his career graph a few notches up in 2023 but the Australian batter understands that staying at that level is a challenging task, and the first stop for him in that journey is the upcoming T20 World Cup. Head’s hundreds in two of the biggest cricketing occasions last year – the WTC final and the 50-over World Cup summit clash – were Australia’s guiding force against India. But the 30-year-old now wants to be at his best-prepared self for the World Cup through the Indian Premier League experience. “I’ve come a long way as a player. I guess owning a little bit of the style I want to play and the way I have played overseas too, I’ve been able to tick a few boxes. Now, the pressure is to continue to play the way I am playing,” Head told PTI in an interview. “I think in all formats, I need to make sure that I go back to what simplifies everything, which is my technique and my blueprint,” he added. Head showed his adaptive skills while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL. Coming in as an opener, Head made 133 runs from five matches while striking at 177, giving SRH early momentum and also underscoring his readiness for a hectic T20 role for his country. “With the World Cup coming around the corner and, hopefully, being involved in that squad and batting at the top of the order…it gives me good preparation here in the IPL to try and get some runs and have a little bit of form going into the World Cup,” noted Head. But playing a full season of IPL could lead to burnout ahead of the ICC marquee event in June. Head was aware of it. “I think it is important for me to make sure that I’m mentally fresh throughout the IPL and continuing to work on my game, and making sure that I am ready for the World Cup when that time comes. But I am feeling like I am prepared and ready at the moment,” he added. The confidence level inside Head was evident when he smashed a 24-ball 62 in his first IPL match in seven years. The South Australian said his increased game awareness helped him make an instant impact. “It was nice to get some runs in the first game, and honestly, I didn’t really have too many expectations. It’s been a long time between IPLs for me, seven years, but I’ve learned a lot over that time and am a lot more mature now. “I feel like I understand my game a lot more. So, a lot of different feelings coming back and not trying to be too nervous or worried about results. I am just making sure that the things that I’ve done over the last few years are going to work and I best prepare myself to play well for the franchise,” he said. However, Head admitted that the presence of Pat Cummins (captain) and Daniel Vettori (head coach) in the SRH dressing room eased him into the new environment. “Definitely having Pat and Dan, who I’ve worked closely with for Australia in the last few years, has helped me. It’s a very relaxed environment. “Soon as I got my contract, I knew that I had the backing from those guys and they’ve confidence in my game,” he said. A chat with Head will not be completed with his exploits against India last year with him terming the World Cup final at Ahmedabad the biggest moment in his career. The left-hander made buccaneering 120-ball 137, propelling the Aussies to a six-wicket victory and their sixth ODI World title. “I think the World Cup final was probably the biggest match of my career, regardless of whether I got runs or not. It was a huge moment. Obviously, I have not played in a World Cup before. “So, to have all the stuff that happened, making it to a final and then being able to contribute in the final makes it all so much better,” he explained. Head said the foundation for his overwhelming success against India was built during the 2023 Test tour, where he made a couple of 40s at New Delhi and Indore, besides a 90 at Ahmedabad. “The two finals come to mind. But a big Test series (2023) and some T20 games in between…I feel I drew a lot of my blueprint and confidence from that Test tour in India, which then flowed into the World Test Championship and then especially to the World Cup final. “I was able to draw back on some of the things that worked well on those wickets and it’s nice that it has come together in big games for me,” Head offered. Head felt that his confident approach found perfect resonance in the Hyderabad dressing room in the ongoing IPL. “We want to be aggressive and I think we’ve shown that in the first five games. It suited me as well. I feel, at the moment, we’re being really aggressive in the right way and the right moments. “Obviously, Power Play is very important for us and hopefully Abhi (Abhishek Sharma) and I can continue to do what we’ve been doing in the Power Play,” he signed off.

IPL-17: RCB vs SRH | Headaches a plenty for Royal Challengers as it hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrate a wicket during an IPL match. Their bowlers will be under as the team faces Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on April 15. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis has nowhere to turn. His bowlers concede runs aplenty, and his batters have failed to get going. When RCB takes on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 15, only an exceptional individual performance can save the home team from a fifth straight loss. RCB’s primary concern is the bowling unit, which in the opinion of du Plessis, lacks potent weapons. It is down to the batters to get a massive total and keep the side in the hunt, du Plessis said after a crushing loss against Mumbai Indians. If only it was that simple. The RCB batters share as much blame as the bowlers, as Virat Kohli & Co. have failed to get the team to the 200-run mark so far this season. Kohli has been scoring runs by the heap, but this has not helped the team cause. Dinesh Karthik has provided some cheer with his late hits, and RCB may be tempted to promote the 38-year-old up the order. RCB will find it hard to contain the explosive SRH batters. South African Heinrich Klaasen and opener Abhishek Sharma, second and third respectively on the list of players with the most number of sixes for the tournament, illustrate SRH’s aggressive intent. SRH will be encouraged by the confidence shown by uncapped Nitish Kumar Reddy, who smashed a 37-ball 64 against Punjab Kings to give the unit a second straight win. Teams (from): Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Sanvir Singh, Heinrich Klaasen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Upendra Singh Yadav, Umran Malik, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Travis Head, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, Jhathavedh Subramanyan. Match starts at 7.30 PM.