November 8, 2024
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Watch: Suryakumar Yadav's intense practice session ahead of MI-CSK clash | Cricket News

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

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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.

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

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

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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. β€œI’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. β€œI 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. β€œWith 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. β€œI 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. β€œIt 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. β€œI 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. β€œDefinitely 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. β€œSoon 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. β€œI 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. β€œThe 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. β€œI 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. β€œWe 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. β€œObviously, 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.

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

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

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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.

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Jasprit Bumrah

IPL 2024 | ‘Lethal’ Jasprit Bumrah’s poor MI vs CSK record will have no bearing: Brian Lara

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Brian Lara has claimed that Jasprit Bumrah’s poor record in the MI vs CSK clash will have no bearing on the clash on April 14 as he feels the Indian pacer is in red-hot form at the moment. Bumrah has played a vital role in MI’s big win over RCB and has been a contender for the Purple Cap with 10 wickets so far from 5 matches. However, the Indian pacer hasn’t had the best time while facing CSK. In 14 matches against the 5-time champions, Bumrah has taken only 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.73. The Indian pacer’s bowling average of 34.58 is his second worst against an IPL team after Lucknow (55). His strike-rate of 26.83 against CSK is also underwhelming as compared to his efforts against the other sides in the IPL. However, Lara doesn’t feel that this would matter during the match at the Wankhede stadium. Speaking to Star Sports, the West Indies legend said that he doesn’t pay heed to such stats as Bumrah is in unbelievable form. MI vs CSK: Preview Bumrah will be lethal against CSK: Lara Lara also said he had talk with MI’s Romario Shepherd and the all-rounder said he stays away from the pacer during the nets session as he bowls seriously at that time. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule Lara concluded by saying that Bumrah would be lethal against the current CSK batting order. “Well, I would pay no attention to that because the form that he’s in now is just unbelievable. He’s bowling well. I spoke to Shepherd and he says, You know, I try to stay away from Bumrah in the nets because he bowls seriously in the nets. His ability to pick up wickets also stifle the batters, put them under a lot of pressure. I think it’s just unbelievable. He is a big asset to Mumbai Indians, the battle or the fact that he’s not done well against CSK. I mean, I’ve not seen those stats, has no bearing on this match because I think he’s in top form five wickets in the last match. He is going to be lethal against that CSK batting lineup,” said Lara. Published On: Apr 14, 2024

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'Reroute to avoid the missiles': Kevin Pietersen reveals scary story ahead of MI vs CSK clash | Cricket News

‘Reroute to avoid the missiles’: Kevin Pietersen reveals scary story ahead of MI vs CSK clash | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Kevin Pietersen found himself in the middle of a tense situation on Saturday as his flight encountered a detour due to Iran’s missile launch towards Israel. Pietersen, en route to Mumbai for an IPL match, recounted the unnerving experience on social media. His post revealed the anxiety-inducing nature of the situation. Sharing his experience on X, the former England cricket captain wrote, “Well that’s a first. Our plane last night had to go back and add another big load of fuel cos we had to reroute to avoid the missiles from Iran. MADNESS!!!! Anyway, in Mumbai and at Wankhede later. One of my favourite cricket grounds!” In response to the escalating situation, the Indian embassy in Israel issued advisories to Indian citizens, urging them to remain calm and follow safety protocols issued by local authorities. The embassy assured that they were closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of Indian nationals. Despite the geopolitical tensions, the IPL continued with its scheduled matches. In the upcoming encounter, arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are set to face off in what promises to be an electrifying clash. ALSO SEE: IPL 2024 POINTS TABLEWith Mumbai Indians holding a slight advantage in their head-to-head record against Chennai Super Kings, the stage is set for an intense battle between the most successful sides in the tournament’s history.

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"It's good news for Punjab as well as India": Aakash Chopra on Arsdeep Singh's performance | Cricket

USA boost preparations for T20 World Cup with comprehensive 4-0 series win over Canada | Cricket

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Texas [US], : USA bolstered their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 as they sealed a 4-0 T20I series win over neighbours Canada following their 4-wicket triumph in the fifth match at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Houston. HT Image On Saturday night, the USA rode high on their scintillating performances in the series and ended the series on a dominant note. Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! After Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar won the toss and opted to bat, the visitors managed to put up a competitive total of 168/5 on the board. A collective batting performance from Aaron Johnson , Harsh Thaker and Dilpreet Singh propelled Canada to set a target of 169. For the USA, Sauarbh Netravalkar , Shadley van Schalkwyk and Nisarg Patel featured among the wicket-takers. In reply, Canada managed to rattle the USA early as Rishiv Joshi and Saad picked up early wickets to reduce the hosts to 9/3. Nitish Kumar took the onus and spearheaded USA’s attack with the bat with his fiery knock of 64. His game-changing knock was laced with four boundaries and four maximums. After his departure, Harmeet Singh and Nisarg Patel ensured that the USA crossed the finishing line and ended the game with a four-wicket win. Nitish was adjudged as the Player of the Match, for his splendid performance. With a win in the fourth T20I, USA had already sealed the series before they stepped on the pitch to play the fifth T20I. In the first game, the USA clinched a six-wicket wn after they chased down Canada’s target of 132 in 17.3 overs. In the second game, USA posted their highest-ever total in T20I cricket – 230/3. Canada showed a fight with their valiant effort but eventually fell short by 31 runs. The third T20I game was abandoned due to rain and in the fourth T20I USA stood victorious with a 14-run victory. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Today Match Prediction & Live Odds - IPL 2024

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Today Match Prediction & Live Odds – IPL 2024

Vann Hiso06 mins

Get to Know Who will win Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2024 Match and toss Prediction with Head to Head stats, Playing 11, CBTFJSK Tips, Live score Win Probability & winning percentage. πŒπ€π“π‚π‡ : Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : Apr 15, 2024π“πˆπŒπ„Β : 19:30 IST / 14:00 GMT𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium – Dehradun, IndiaΒ π“πŽπ”π‘ππ€πŒπ„ππ“Β : IPL 2024 Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Betting Tips Virat Kohli has been the lone warrior for RCB. He is the leading run scorer of the tournament, with 319 runs, including a hundred. Back him as RCB top batter. RCB bowling has been a concern and every bowler has been taken apart. Against SRH, the bowlers are likely to toil hard again. Siraj has not been at his best thus his economy rate can be over 8.5 against SRH.Abhishek Sharma has been brilliant for SRH at the top and will enjoy batting on the small Chinnaswamy Stadium. He has scored 177 runs at a strike rate of over 200. Back him as SRH top batter. The surface will suit the bowling of T Natarajan thus he is our preferred choice for SRH top bowler.The Chinnaswamy Stadium sees a lot of sixes and SRH are leading the charts when it comes to hitting sixes. Back total sixes by SRH to be over 12.5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad T20 Match Prediction & Betting Tips, IPL 2024 RCB will take on SRH in the 30th match of the IPL 2024. The match will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru and will start at 7:30 PM IST on April 15. RCB find themselves in a desperate situation. The team is languishing at the bottom of the table with one win and five defeats. It will be false if RCB’s poor show was not expected as the team looked completely off balance.  The bowling was a concern heading into the tournament and the team’s worst nightmare came true as none of the bowlers made any impact. In the batting as well, Virat Kohli did exceptionally well but he got absolutely no support from the other end. SRH, on the other hand, look a real force. They have won two games and lost three matches. The team is laced with match winners from top to bottom. SRH have been bowled out for low scores in a couple of games but they have also posted some of the biggest totals in the tournament, including 277 vs MI.  The batting unit comprising Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen have started in fourth gear thus either they bat the opposition out of the contest or collapse. On a small Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB will be under massive pressure against SRH. RCB vs SRH Match Toss PredictionThe match will be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and it is no secret that the captain winning the toss will bowl first as defending is not easy here. RCB vs SRH Pitch ReportThe pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will be flat and there won’t be much help on offer. The spinners get odd balls to grip and turn but it’s a very small ground and even mishits go over the ropes thus there is very little bowlers can do here. Bengaluru Weather ReportBangalore is going through a dry spell thus rain is not a concern. The temperature will range between 35 and 21 degrees and the humidity will be around 30 per cent. Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Indian Premier League 2024

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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, streaming, Scorecard, Playing XI – India TV

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, streaming, Scorecard, Playing XI – India TV

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Image Source : INDIA TV KKR vs LSG IPL 2024 match. KKR vs LSG IPL 2024 Live Score: Kolkata Knight Riders host Lucknow Super Giants at home KKR vs LSG IPL 2024 Live Score: Kolkata Knight Riders host Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens as they look to return to winning ways after suffering a defeat in the previous game against Chennai Super Kings. KKR were one of the two unbeaten teams along with Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing season but lost their fourth game to CSK. They now look to bounce back from that setback. Meanwhile, the Super Giants won three out of three after losing their opener but lost their fifth game to Delhi Capitals recently. LSG are placed in the top four and are looking to stay there bag two crucial points at KKR’s home, which can be termed as their home too. Follow for all the latest updates. Match Scorecard Β 

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Travis Head eyes good preparation in IPL for T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Travis Head eyes good preparation in IPL for T20 World Cup | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Travis Head‘s career graph saw a slight uptick in 2023, but the Australian batter is aware that maintaining that level will be difficult, and the forthcoming T20 World Cup will be his first stop on that trip.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.However, the 30-year-old now hopes that his time in the Indian Premier League would help him be at his best for the World Cup.“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 Bengaluru.“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.In the current IPL, Head demonstrated his ability to adjust while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.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.Head describes the World Cup final in Ahmedabad as the greatest highlight of his career. With a brilliant century of 120 balls, the left-hander led Australia to win by six wickets and their sixth ODI World Cup.“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.In addition to scoring a 90 at Ahmedabad and a few 40s at New Delhi and Indore during the 2023 Test series, Head said that this performance laid the groundwork for his resounding victory over India.“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 thought that his assured demeanor resonated perfectly in the Hyderabad team’s changing room during the current 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. (With PTI inputs)

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From Virat Kohli To Hardik Pandya: 5 T20 World Cup Selection Calls That Could Storm The World

From Virat Kohli To Hardik Pandya: 5 T20 World Cup Selection Calls That Could Storm The World

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It’s that time of the year again when India will get an opportunity to end their ICC trophy drought. The T20 World Cup 2024 is just around the verge with its participants gearing up for the marquee event scheduled to be held in the United States and the West Indies in June later this year. Whatever you say about prioritising domestic cricket or not, the ongoing IPL 2024 season will be more important for the T20 World Cup selection than any other domestic tournament. So, the high-profile T20 league will be crucial for contenders to stake claim in India’s 15-member T20 World Cup 2024 squad because there isn’t even a week between the IPL and the upcoming ICC T20 event. (IPL 2024 Points Table) Nearly a third of the IPL is over with a few contenders already making their mark in the league. Let’s first look at a few players that are reasonable certainties. Any such list should always begin with skipper Rohit Sharma, he will open the proceedings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. And once you bring back Rohit, there is no point in leaving Virat Kohli behind, knowing that India’s batting still revolves around him. The only other batter who will certainly fly to the West Indies and the United States is Suryakumar Yadav, considering his 17-ball fifty against RCB on his comeback. In addition to these star batters, Jasprit Bumrah is also a no-brainer for the ICC event. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are most likely to cement their places in the spin department. Meanwhile, the return of Rishabh Pant and the rich form of Yuzvendra Chahal has also perplexed the Indian think tank. Ahead of the squad announcement, the selectors will be keenly looking for a handful of answers from IPL to their questions. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at a few debate-stirring points on T20 WC squad selection. Seam-bowling all-rounder as sixth bowling option If fully fit and in form, Mumbai Indians’ new skipper Hardik Pandya is a definite starter. But the selectors will want to see what kind of role he plays for his IPL team. After five games this season, Hardik has scored 129 runs and has leaked runs at 11.12 in three innings. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube has had a wonderful start to the IPL 2024, with 176 runs in five innings at an impressive strike rate of 160, but he is yet to bowl in this IPL and that is what has thrown challenges to the selectors. However, it will be interesting to see how Shivam Dube will be accommodated in the playing XI. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant ready for T20 World Cup? PBKS batter Jitesh Sharma was the closest contender for the wicketkeeper role at the start of the IPL but the decision-makers would ideally have liked to see him a little more in international outings. However, the return of Rishabh Pant has cleared the doubts concerning his recent form in the IPL. The southpaw smashed 196 runs in six innings at 157.72. Pant has competition from the likes of Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan, who are likely to be vying for the second wicketkeeper slot in the squad. “Yeah look it’s great for Indian cricket, but it’s also great for Rishabh Pant. I think the work that has gone into his rehab to get back to that level of play at any standard is an amazing achievement. “He deserves a lot of credit for his hard work and it’s great to see him on the field, captaining and playing well, batting and keeping,” former Australia captain Michael Clarke was quoted as saying to IPL broadcaster Star Sports. Pant, who had surgery on his knee, has shown that he is ready to bat and keep. Does Virat Kohli deserve a place in the squad? Former India captain Virat Kohli is currently leading the Orange Cap list after amassing 319 runs in six matches at 79.75, including a century. There is no way he is going to be left out, despite some talks to the contrary about his ‘anchoring’ strike rate. Virat has been an absolute match-winner for India since his international debut. In T20 World Cups, he has accumulated 1,141 runs in 25 innings at an impressive average of 81.50 and a strike rate over 130. With an immense experience of 117 T20I matches, Virat’s presence in the middle order as an anchor will only provide balance alongside the swashbuckling and aggressive styles of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube. Pace bowlers apart from Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah is there for sure. He will be leading India’s pace battery in the T20 World Cup. But, India needs two more quicks in the starting XI for the ICC event. With Mohammed Shami out of contention due to injury and Bhuvneshwar Kumar not in India’s T20 schemes since the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, no one is closer to Bumrah in terms of quality and experience. The last squad that played against Afghanistan featured Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar. One of the all-format pacers, Mohammed Siraj has been conceding runs at 10.40 in the ongoing IPL with only four scalps to his name after six matches. Lucknow Super Giants’ pace sensation Mayank Yadav was somewhere in the talks of making the squad but he still needs a handful of international matches to prove his worth. With India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 likely to be announced in the last week of April, these contenders have limited opportunities to impress and partner Bumrah in the fast bowling department. Who are the death-over hitters? Finishers auditioning for the aforementioned role must be able to strike 180 or more in overs 17 to 20. For that role, no one can go beyond Rinku Singh, at least in the T20 format. The southpaw has smashed 356 runs in 11 T20I innings at a whopping strike rate of 176.23. There is no reason to keep him…

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