India's first-ever 'hybrid pitch' unveiled in Dharamsala

India’s first-ever ‘hybrid pitch’ unveiled in Dharamsala

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and former England Cricketer Paul Taylor during a press conference SISGrass Hybrid Pitches at HPCA Ground in Dharamshala on May 06, 2024. | Photo Credit: Moorthy RV India’s first-ever ‘hybrid pitch’ was unveiled at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in a grand ceremony here on May 6. The event was attended by IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and cricket dignitaries including Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS’s international cricket director. “The introduction of hybrid pitches is set to revolutionize cricket in India, following their success in iconic venues like Lord’s and The Oval in England,” said Dhumal, who hails from Himachal Pradesh. The hybrid pitch, which combines natural turf with synthetic fibres, promises enhanced durability and consistent playability, reducing the strain on ground staff and maintaining quality playing conditions. With only 5% synthetic fibres, the pitch ensures that the natural characteristics essential for cricket are preserved. Taylor expressed gratitude towards the HPCA for their collaboration on this pioneering project. “With the ICC’s approval, we’re excited to see the positive impact these pitches will have on the sport, starting with installations in Mumbai and Ahmedabad next,” he said. The ‘Universal Machine’, a critical component in installing the hybrid surface, was developed by SISGrass in 2017 and has been instrumental in the rollout of similar pitches across England’s county cricket grounds. This innovation aligns with the ICC’s recent sanctioning of hybrid pitches for T20 and one-day international matches, with plans to expand their use in four-day county championships starting this year. The integration of technologies like SISAir, a root aeration system, further underscores the commitment to enhancing cricket infrastructure in India. This system improves the pitch’s health and resilience, benefiting players with better and safer playing conditions.

Read More
Has any team reached IPL playoffs on 12 points? Decoding MI and RCB's chances for knockout qualification – India TV

Has any team reached IPL playoffs on 12 points? Decoding MI and RCB’s chances for knockout qualification – India TV

Image Source : BCCI/IPL MI and RCB players. The IPL 2024 league stage is nearing its end. Out of the 70 league matches, teams have played 54 games but there is still no one officially qualified for the playoffs nor anyone has been knocked out in this race. Even Mumbai Indians have a little door ajar and are trying to find some luck to see if they can make it to the knockout stages.  Currently, MI are placed on the 10th spot with six points in 11 matches and if they win all of their remaining three contests, the five-time champions will have 12 points. However unlikely it might sound but looking at the current situation, MI still have a chance to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to win all of their matches and will then hope for some results to go their way. For them to sneak through, MI will need a maximum of three teams to go above 12 points and the other six (excluding MI) to stay on 12 or below. This way they can qualify through Net run rate. Has any team qualified on 12 points in IPL ever? But has any team qualified on 12 points before in the history of the tournament or are these hopes worth nothing?  Yes in the history of IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad are the only team to have reached the knockout stages on 12 points after the league stage. This was in IPL 2019 when an eight-team middle-table muddle was so tight that one of the teams reached the knockout stages on 12 points. While Mumbai Indians topped the group with 18 points, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals were second and third, respectively with 18 points too.  SRH were placed fourth with only six wins, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders with a similar number of wins too. But as the Sunrisers had a better NRR, they pipped KKR to reach the knockouts.  Notably, the IPL 2024 is not an eight-team event but a ten-team one. However, there is still a chance that a team can qualify on 12 points which can make MI fans happy. How can RCB still qualify for playoffs? As far as RCB are concerned, they have four wins in 11 matches and are placed seventh in the points table. They have to face Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings in their next games and if they manage to win all of the three, they will end up on 14 points.  RCB are better placed than MI at the moment as they have two more points in a similar number of matches. If the Bengaluru-based franchise manages to win all of their games, they would still need some other results to go their way. For RCB’s cause, no more than three teams shall go over 14 points with the other six (excluding RCB) finishing on 14 points or lower than that. This is possible and a little more likely than what MI need at the moment. 

Read More
Mohammad Amir's Ireland visa not issued yet due to his jail term post spot fixing case in 2010 – India TV

Mohammad Amir’s Ireland visa not issued yet due to his jail term post spot fixing case in 2010 – India TV

Image Source : GETTY Mohammad Amir Pakistan are set to depart for Ireland today for the three-match T20I series starting from May 10. The series is crucial in terms of preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup starting from June 1 in West Indies and the USA. But the visitors will have to fly out without one of their premier bowlers – Mohammad Amir as his visa is yet to be issued for the travel and is still being processed. According to PCB source, Amir’s jail term and subsequent ban post the spot-fixing case in 2010 has come back to haunt him. For the same reason, the visa has not been issued to him yet but the board is confident that the issue will be solved soon. The source further stated that Amir might be able to join the Pakistan team in Ireland in the next couple of days. Notably, Amir had faced a similar issue back in 2018 as well when the team was embarking on the tour of Ireland and England but was later issued visa. “Because of the spot-fixing case of 2010 and his subsequent jail term and ban his visa is still being processed. We are hopeful he will get his visa in a day or two and he can join them later,” the source said according to PTI. This is a crucial tour for some of the players in Pakistan squad as the board is yet to officially announce the team for the T20 World Cup. Pakistan are also scheduled to play four T20I matches against England away from home which will also be their last assignment before the mega event. The deadline to announce the final squad for the World Cup is May 25. Pakistan tour of Ireland schedule May 10 – 1st T20I May 12 – 2nd T20I May 14 – 3rd T20I Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (C), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan, Agha Salman, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi

Read More
Babar Azam expresses confidence in Gary Kirsten's appointment, assures team unity ahead of T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Babar Azam expresses confidence in Gary Kirsten’s appointment, assures team unity ahead of T20 World Cup | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Pakistan‘s limited overs captain, Babar Azam, shared his positive outlook on the recent appointment of Gary Kirsten as the head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball side, expressing optimism about the potential impact on the team’s performance.“Gary Kirsten is a very experienced coach, and his presence should be beneficial for us all. He is already taking a lot of interest in the planning for the World Cup and discussing strategy with the team management,” Babar stated during a media conference in Lahore.Babar emphasized Kirsten’s active involvement in strategizing for the upcoming World Cup, highlighting his regular communication with the team management and indicating a collaborative approach towards planning and preparation.”Babar assured that Kirsten’s arrival would enhance the team’s coordination and planning, with a clear focus on optimizing the squad’s performance in the global tournament. He dismissed concerns over selection issues, affirming that decisions would prioritize the team’s interests and cohesion,” the captain added.Addressing the integration of young players into the squad, Babar stressed the importance of providing them with ample opportunities to settle into international cricket, reaffirming the team management’s commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging talents ahead of the World Cup.“I think there is little time for rotation now because the World Cup is around the corner, and in the remaining matches. We will try to give the team we want to play with in the World Cup a proper opportunity,” Babar commented.Looking ahead to potential matchups, Babar acknowledged the challenge posed by India’s Virat Kohli but affirmed the team’s comprehensive planning against all opposing players, emphasizing the team’s collective strategy and preparation to counter the strengths of each opponent.“The thing is, we plan against all eleven players of a team, and we don’t know much about how the conditions will be in New York. But yes, he [Kohli] is one of the best players, and we will plan against him as well,” Babar said.Babar also dispelled any rumors of internal rifts within the team, emphasizing unity and mutual support among players. Expressing his excitement for his second stint as Pakistan captain, Babar credited the team’s success to collective effort and emphasized the backing received from the cricket board.(With inputs from PTI)

Read More
Rohit Sharma gets eye-catching mention from Preity Zinta days after quashing fake news about wanting him as PBKS captain

Rohit Sharma gets eye-catching mention from Preity Zinta days after quashing fake news about wanting him as PBKS captain

A little over two weeks after Preity Zinta dismissed reports of wanting Rohit Sharma as captain of the Punjab Kings, the PBKS owner took to social media platform X to describe the former Mumbai Indians skipper. Taking questions from her fans, Zinta called Rohit ‘a powerhouse of talent’, indicating that if she ever were to seek him as leader of PBKS, it wouldn’t be a bad call after all. Preity Zinta had nothing but praise for Rohit Sharma (Agencies) Rohit, captain of the Indian team, is a bonafide legend of Indian cricket. The only batter in history to score three ODI double-centuries and a winner of six Indian Premier League titles, Rohit has taken Indian cricket to great heights and then some since taking over as captain. In the IPL, despite being tied with MS Dhoni for the most trophies – five – Rohit is the most successful captain for winning them in a span of 10 years. A proven behemoth of modern-day cricket, one can’t help but wonder if there can even be a more perfect term to sum up Rohit than how Zinta described him. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Speculations are rife about Rohit’s future at MI. In December, the franchise removed him as captain and replaced him with the returning Hardik Pandya. And as it turned out, the move has backfired immensely. MI are languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2024 points table and on the verge of being the first team officially get eliminated from the race to the Playoffs. Rohit’s own form has been a bit of a letdown as well. With 326 runs from 11 matches, including a century, Rohit has an average of 32.6 and a strike rate of 154.5. While he may be set to better his previous season, Rohit is still not on par with the standard he has set for himself and cricket fans all over the world. When asked if she would entertain having MS Dhoni aboard Punjab Kings, Zinta also spoke about her love and admiration towards the CSK captain. Reflecting on Sunday’s game, the actor revealed she underwent a bittersweet emotion as PBKS emerged second best in the return match-up. “Everyone wants him, and everyone is his fan, including me. Yesterday was bittersweet. I wanted us to win and him to hit some big sixes, but we lost, and he got out. The only bright spot was that our bowlers did so well in restricting them, but eventually, it was not enough,” she added. Zinta’s PBKS is one of the original eight franchises to have never won an IPL title – Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru being the other two. In 16 years, PBKS have qualified for the Playoffs just twice, with their best show coming in 2015, where they finished runner-up to Kolkata Knight Riders. The wait to land an elusive IPL title can be painstakingly long, but Zinta manages to keep her spirits high. “Trust me, no one wants to know that more than I do, but I believe we will win it one day… Hopefully sooner than later,” she wrote.

Read More
Babar Azam backs Gary Kirsten to lead a positive change in Pakistan cricket

Babar Azam backs Gary Kirsten to lead a positive change in Pakistan cricket

Pakistan’s cricket team skipper Babar Azam addresses a press conference ahead of the T20 series against Ireland, England and the T20 World Cup, in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 6, 2024. | Photo Credit: AP Pakistan limited overs skipper Babar Azam is optimistic that Gary Kirsten’s appointment as head coach of Pakistan’s white ball side will certainly improve its performance. The South African was roped in as the team’s limited overs head coach last month on a two-year contract, and this would be his third outing as an international coach, having guided India (2008-11) and South Africa (2011-13). “He (Kirsten) is a very experienced coach, and his presence should be beneficial for us all. He is already taking a lot of interest in the planning for the World Cup and discussing strategy with the team management,” Babar told a media conference in Lahore on Monday. Babar said Kirsten was in touch with the side daily, receiving reports about what they were doing and how they were planning things. “He (Kirsten) shares his plans with us, discussions are happening with coaches about our planning, and we update him on net practice plans, like how the bowling practice went today,” he said. Babar said there was already steady line of communication between him and Kirsten and he is looking forward to his arrival. The Pakistan skipper also dismissed concerns over some selections as the squad leaves for Ireland. Pakistani selectors will finalise the final 15-member squad for the global tournament from the same 18 players based on the form and fitness of players in Ireland and England. Kirsten is expected to join the team in England. “There is no issue about the top order as to who will open from amongst me, Rizwan, Saim or Fakhar. All decisions will be based on keeping in mind the team’s interests. There is no confusion there,” Babar said. He clarified that young and new players like Ayub, Azam, Irfan Khan and Usman Khan would require time to settle down in international cricket, and the management would back them completely in the lead-up to the World Cup. “I think there is little time for rotation now because the World Cup is around the corner, and in the remaining matches. We will try to give the team we want to play with in the World Cup a proper opportunity,” Babar continued. “We will sort out whatever our bowling and batting combination is, and we have almost done that. We will play with our best possible XI in the remaining matches.” Will plan against Kohli Asked if Pakistan was specifically strategizing to stop India’s in-form batter Virat Kohli from scoring against them, Babar said that as a team, one always looked at the best players in an opposing team as the aim was to win against eleven players. “The thing is, we plan against all eleven players of a team, and we don’t know much about how the conditions will be in New York. But yes, he [Kohli] is one of the best players, and we will plan against him as well,” Babar said. No rifts in team Babar also made it clear there were no internal rifts in the team over the captaincy issue, and he was also excited about his second stint as Pakistan captain. “Whatever success I achieved previously as captain was because of the players who supported me, and the same is true now. Important is the board is backing us completely to do well,” he concluded.

Read More
Fixing-Tainted Pakistan Pacer Faces Visa Issues For Travelling To This Country

Fixing-Tainted Pakistan Pacer Faces Visa Issues For Travelling To This Country

Pakistan’s first T20 international against Ireland is on May 10.© AFP Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir may not be able to leave with the national squad on Tuesday morning for the three-match T20 series in Ireland due to visa issues. A reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that while the rest of the squad had got their visas for Ireland, there was a delay in Amir’s case due to the jail term he served for the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. “Because of the spot-fixing case of 2010 and his subsequent jail term and ban his visa is still being processed,” the source said. He said a similar problem was faced by the PCB in 2018 as well when Pakistan went to Ireland and England but Amir was later issued a visa. “We are hopeful he will get his visa in a day or two and he can join them later,” he said. Pakistan’s first T20 international against Ireland is on May 10. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
Day After Virat Rant On Kohli's Comments, Sunil Gavaskar's Statement On MS Dhoni Resurfaces

Day After Virat Rant On Kohli’s Comments, Sunil Gavaskar’s Statement On MS Dhoni Resurfaces

File photo of Sunil Gavaskar.© X (Twitter) Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar didn’t mince his words while reacting to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli’s rant at ‘pundits’ over criticsim of his strike-rate and struggles against spin. Kohli didn’t hold his emotions back as he took a swipe at critics after the match against Gujarat Titans (GT) last weekend. Reacting to Kohli’s rant, Gavaskar launched a scathing attack on the RCB icon, asking why those who continue to stay away from what’s said and written on social media are reacting to ‘outside noise’. However, Gavaskar didn’t stop there as he also slammed the broadcasters for showing that rant from Kohli ‘a dozen times’ on television. “That particular post-game interview has been shown on this channel earlier as well, right now, on this particular program it has probably been shown half a dozen times. I hope that Star Sports recognises that when that is being shown, asking where are the critics, the critics are the commentators. Your Star Sports commentators are the ones from whom the questions are being asked,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. Amid his meltdown over Kohli’s rant, an old video of Gavaskar praising two-time World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni has resurfaced on social media. In the video, an emotional Gavaskar recalled the moment when he got his shirt signed by Dhoni during IPL 2023. Respect is earned, not given. Meanwhile Gavaskar with MS Dhonipic.twitter.com/dFHUE4HAeZ — (@rahulmsd_91) May 5, 2024 Gavaskar had said: “It was a very emotional moment for me (getting the shirt signed by MS Dhoni). MS Dhoni has done a lot for Indian cricket. If I have 2 minutes to live, I would like to witness Kapil Dev lift the 1983 World Cup trophy and MS Dhoni hit the World Cup winning six and the way he rolled over his bat after hitting the six.” For the unversed, Gavaskar got his shirt signed from Dhoni after CSK’s last home game of the season last year, assuming that the veteran might retire from the IPL after the tournament. Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
Mumbai Indians vs SunRisers Hyderabad, IPL 2024: Match Preview, Fantasy Picks, Pitch And Weather Reports

Mumbai Indians vs SunRisers Hyderabad, IPL 2024: Match Preview, Fantasy Picks, Pitch And Weather Reports

Mumbai Indians take on SunRisers Hyderabad in their IPL 2024 clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Mumbai Indians have played 11 matches and are ranked tenth on the points table with six points. SunRisers Hyderabad have played 10 matches and are ranked fourth on the points table with 12 points. In the last match played by Mumbai against Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR beat MI by 24 runs. The top fantasy player for Mumbai Indians was Jasprit Bumrah who scored 106 fantasy points. In their last match in this series against Rajasthan Royals, SunRisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan by one run. The top fantasy player for SRH was Nitish Kumar Reddy who scored 113 fantasy points. MI vs SRH, Pitch Report and Weather Conditions The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, will allow for good stroke play and the batters will find it easy to bat on the surface. It will not allow a lot of assistance to the bowlers and wicket-taking is going to be difficult. The average first-innings score at this venue in the last 20 matches is 169 runs. The team batting first at this venue has won 40% of its matches, so the toss does not make much of a difference here. Pace or Spin? The pacers have been very successful at this venue. They have taken 75% of the total wickets at this venue. We would suggest that you pick as many pace bowlers as possible in your team. Weather Report The temperature is expected to be around 28 degree C and humidity is expected to be around 82%. Winds at a speed of 3.52 m/s are expected. MI vs SRH, Head-to-Head In the 22 matches played between these two teams, the batters of both teams have earned the most fantasy points for their respective teams so far. In their previous encounter in this series, Abhishek Sharma was the Man of the Match. Tilak Varma scored the highest fantasy points for Mumbai Indians with 96 points while Heinrich Klaasen topped the fantasy points leaderboard for SunRisers Hyderabad with 124 points. MI vs SRH, Fantasy XI Top Captain and Vice-Captain Picks Travis Head Travis Head is a good-to-have player for your Fantasy XI Team. He has an average of 63 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 8.9. He is a top-order, left-handed batter. In the recent nine matches, Head has scored 396 runs at an average of 44 per match. Suryakumar Yadav Suryakumar Yadav is a batter with an average of 59 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 9.8 and is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He is a top-order batter, right-handed batter. In the recent eight matches, Suryakumar has scored 232 runs at an average of 29 per match. Abhishek Sharma Abhishek Sharma has an average of 53 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 8.4 and is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. Abhishek is a top-order, left-handed batter. In the recently played 10 matches, he has scored 337 runs at an average of 48.1 per match. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah is a differential player for your Fantasy Team. He has an average of 50 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 9.2. He bowls right-arm fast and in the recently played 11 matches, he has taken 17 wickets at an average of 16.1. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya is an all-rounder with an average of 49 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 7.5 and can be a good safe pick for your Fantasy XI Team. He is a right-handed batter. In the recently played 11 matches, Hardik has scored 198 runs averaging 19.8 per match. He also bowls decently, bowling right-arm medium-fast and in recent matches, he has taken eight wickets at an average of 37.1 per match. Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma is a batter with an average of 44 fantasy points in the last 10 games and has a fantasy rating of 8.7. He is a very inconsistent player in terms of fantasy points and can be a differential pick in your team. Rohit is a top-order, right-handed batter. In the recent 11 matches, he has scored 326 runs at an average of 32.6 per match. Gerald Coetzee Gerald Coetzee has an average of 39 match fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 7.7 and is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. Coetzee is a right-arm fast bowler and in the recent 10 matches, he has taken 13 wickets at an average of 26.2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a bowler with an average of 29 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 8.4 and is a very inconsistent player in terms of fantasy points and can be a punt pick in your team. He bowls right-arm medium and in the recent 10 matches, Bhuvneshwar has taken eight wickets at an average of 47.1. MI vs SRH, Fantasy XI Team Wicket-Keepers: Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen Batters: Tilak Varma, Rohit Sharma, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma All-Rounder: Nitish Kumar Reddy Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, T Natarajan and Pat Cummins Captain: Pat Cummins Vice-Captain: Jasprit Bumrah Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
Hindustan Times News

IPL 2024, MI vs SRH IPL Live Score: Sunrisers set to strengthen playoff bid

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s T Natarajan talks with his captain Pat Cummins (R) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match IPL 2024, MI vs SRH IPL Live Score: Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad -The Indian Premier League 2024 playoff race is heating up as free-scoring Sunrisers Hyderabad are eyeing another dominant show against a misfiring Mumbai Indians side on Monday. Champions in the 2016 edition of the cash-rich league, Pat Cummins and Co. have arrived in Mumbai for their reverse fixture against Hardik Pandya’s men at the famous Wankhede Stadium. Seeking consistency in the league phase of the elite T20 tournament, SRH will treat their meeting against MI as a must-win clash.…Read More SRH smashed the highest-ever total when the Hyderabad giants first met Mumbai in the IPL 2024. SRH are ranked fourth in the IPL standings with 12 points in 10 matches. SRH edged past Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals by one run in the final-over thriller to avoid a hat-trick of defeats in the IPL 2024. Visitors SRH are level on points with Chennai Super Kings, who have played a game more than the Hyderabad giants. Hosts MI have hit rock bottom, and Hardik Pandya’s men are on the brink of being eliminated from the playoff race. With only three wins in 11 matches, the Mumbai Paltan is playing for “pride and name” at the IPL 2024. Despite a forgetful season, MI superstars Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik will focus on their individual form ahead of the T20 World Cup. Skipper Hardik has struggled to deliver the goods as an all-rounder. However, Pandya is roped in as Rohit’s deputy for the T20 World Cup. Former MI skipper Rohit has smashed 326 runs in 11 games. Top-ranked T20I batter Suryakumar has 232 runs in 8 games for Mumbai. Premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will aim to regain the top spot in the Purple Cap standings at Wankhede. Here’s all you need to know about MI vs SRH clash in IPL 2024:   -SRH’s Travis Head needs 8 more runs to reach the 3000-run mark in T20s. -Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is three wickets away from entering the 300-club.   -Jaydev Unadkat is one away from completing 100 wickets in the IPL.  -With 12 wins over SRH (10), hosts MI have the bragging rights in the head-to-head record.   -MI’s playoff challenge is all but over this season. 

Read More