Mumbai Indians

Cheteshwar Pujara Joining CSK For IPL 2024? Cryptic Post Sends Internet Into Meltdown

File photo of Cheteshwar Pujara© X (formerly Twitter) Veteran Indian cricket team batter Cheteshwar Pujara sent social media into frenzy after a cryptic post hinted towards a possible move to Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024. “#SupperKings looking forward to join you guys this season!” Pujara posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The social media post caught fans by surprise ahead of CSK’s much-anticipated IPL 2024 encounter against Mumbai Indians on Sunday and the users were quick to give their opinions on the possible move. Pujara had previously played for the franchise back in 2021 but he did not play a single game for them. The social media was split over Pujara’s potential arrival in CSK as some praised it as a good decision by the franchise to bolster their ranks while some thought he will not provide value in T20 cricket. #SupperKings looking forward to join you guys this season! — Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) April 14, 2024 Chennai Super Kings have enjoyed a mixed run of form in the competition till now with three wins and two losses. However, they will have a tough challenge ahead of them when they face a Mumbai Indians side which has rediscovered its form after losing three matches on the trot in IPL 2024. @ChennaiIPL he is coming — Vijay_GreZz_ReturnzZ (@thalapathy96196) April 14, 2024 When it comes to head-to-head in the IPL, MI have a 21-17 advantage over CSK with a 7-4 win-loss advantage in matches which were played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. CSK have actually lost two out of their last three match that they have played at the venue. Don’t tell me It’s what am thinkingpic.twitter.com/cZ6BVc4A40 — Hustler (@HustlerCSK) April 14, 2024 Things can also get better for MI skipper Hardik Pandya who was previously booed by the crowd in the franchise’s home ground. However, during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli urged the crowd to support Hardik and the reaction was vastly different from that point. Chants of “Hardik Hardik” was heard during the match against CSK may find themselves in a match where MI will enjoy a huge support from their home crowd. Topics mentioned in this article

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

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

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

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"What Have They Identified?": CSK Coach Stephen Fleming's Blunt T20 World Cup Message To BCCI

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

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

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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

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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Riyan Parag For "T20 World Cup"? Ex-India Star Says He 'Won't Be Surprised'

Riyan Parag For “T20 World Cup”? Ex-India Star Says He ‘Won’t Be Surprised’

Wasim Jaffer feels Riyan Parag might be considered for a place in the T20 World Cup.© BCCI Former India batter Wasim Jaffer suggested that he won’t be surprised if Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag is considered for a place in the 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA. For years, the young right-handed batter faced trolls and criticism for his poor performances for RR. However, Parag has looked like a completely different player this season, and he is second in the list of highest run-scorers with 261 runs to his name in five matches. Read here: IPL 2024 Points Table Jaffer believes Parag might be on the list of names being considered for India’s T20 World Cup squad. “Looking at his form, I won’t be surprised if selectors are considering him for the T20 World Cup. The way he has played shows consistency, and I won’t be surprised if we see him there,” the former PBKS batting coach said on ESPNcricinfo. Jaffer also explained the reason behind Parag’s redemption arc and how the players has manage to shine this season, unlike the previous editions. “Riyan Parag is emerging to be a sensational player in this IPL. It’s pretty refreshing to see a young player performing like this. He has performed in the domestic cricket for Assam, and he’s carrying that form. The no.4 suits him better, as he gets some time to settle.” “The hard work is showing. He is fitter, and he looks composed. His shot selection is good; he has faced significant trolling over the past few years; he also played the difficult role of a finisher, but the Royals kept their faith in him. It feels like he has the right number now, and he is in the right frame of mind, too. He looks dedicated to proving everyone wrong,” he added. Only Virat Kohli (319) has scored more runs than Parag (261) in the ongoing IPL season. However, he will have a chance to overtake him when RR take on Punjab Kings on Saturday. Topics mentioned in this article

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Farewell MS Dhoni? What Mumbai Indians vs CSK Clash Could Mean For 'Thala'

Farewell MS Dhoni? What Mumbai Indians vs CSK Clash Could Mean For ‘Thala’

The legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be in the spotlight in what could be his final game at the iconic Wankhede Stadium when defending champions Chennai Super Kings take on Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday. Dhoni returns to the hallowed turf of Wankhede for the first time ever as a non-captain of the CSK, potentially in his last IPL season. It will also be his first appearance as just a player for any team since November 2005. (IPL 2024 Points Table) Even at 42, Dhoni’s glove-work remains impeccable and so does his assessment of the game like always. But CSK will hope that his tactical acumen also helps them improve a dismal away record this season, having suffered two defeats on the road. CSK would also hope their recent record against MI — four wins in last five matches including their seven-wicket win here last season — holds them in good stead. Two of IPL’s most successful teams with five titles each, both sides are witnessing a tectonic shift of leadership change with Hardik Pandya taking over the mantle from Rohit Sharma at MI and Ruturaj Gaikwad succeeding Dhoni at CSK, but there is nothing that suggests their intense rivalry would expect any such shift. If anything, CSK’s bowlers could be put to sword by the rampaging MI batters who have gone hammer and tongs at the flat pitches here, scoring in excess of 230 against Delhi Capitals and chasing down nearly 200 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with more than four overs to spare. Pandya’s MI have found their footing after a jittery start. Their batters have done well in the last two outings and Suryakumar Yadav’s 17-ball fifty against RCB provides an ominous sign to CSK bowlers, who have shown mastery on slow, turning pitches at the Chepauk but remain untested on flat, batting-friendly surfaces. Ishan Kishan (161 runs) and Rohit’s opening stand would thus be crucial in the scheme of things but CSK would also have a lot of assurance with their own batting. Skipper Gaikwad may not be a marauder with the bat but he can be the silent enforcer in the CSK line-up, which has the exuberance of Rachin Ravindra at the top, sturdiness of Daryl Mitchell in the middle and explosiveness of Shivam Dube (176 runs), Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni in the death overs. CSK would also be aware that seeing off the dexterous Jasprit Bumrah (10 wickets) and going after the rest of the MI bowling would be the key, since the others have given away runs at alarming rate while struggling with their line and lengths on placid surfaces. Despite Bumrah’s five-wicket haul, MI leaked runs at a high rate to allow RCB get closer to the 200-run mark here a few nights ago. A lot will be riding on Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande for CSK, who both return to their home ground, but Mustafizur Rahman (9 wickets) and the wily Jadeja would be the ones to watch out for given their recent exploits. On their part, teams say “we want to get as many runs as possible” but by the look of it, scores around 220-230 while batting first could be the best way possible to ensure an upperhand at this venue. Teams (from): Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Varma, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood. Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (wk), Aravelly Avanish (wk), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, RS Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Sameer Rizvi. Match starts 7:30PM IST. (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

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Is 'Vice-Captain' Pandya Really A Certainty For T20 World Cup 2024?

Is ‘Vice-Captain’ Pandya Really A Certainty For T20 World Cup 2024?

Hardik Pandya’s possible inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad has sparked debate among cricket experts and fans of late. The 30-year-old has been a major talking point during the first three weeks of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Ever since Pandya was announced as Mumbai Indians’ new captain in place of India’s all-format skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of IPL 2024, the controversial decision has received widespread disappointment from fans. MI’s newly-appointed captain has been booed heavily at various stadiums, including at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad as well at Mumbai’s home ground – the Wankhede Stadium. Furthermore, MI started their IPL 2024 campaign with three consecutive losses under Hardik’s leadership although the five-time IPL winners have bounced back with back-to-back wins in their next two games. Fitness and finishing ability concerns Apart from Hardik’s captaincy, his all-round form and finishing ability have been under scanner in the ongoing IPL. Indian cricket team’s limited-overs vice-captain, Hardik has scored 129 runs in five matches for MI this season. The hard-hitting batter showed glimpses of regaining form after he slammed an unbeaten 21 runs off just six balls against Royals Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to help MI chase down 197 in just 15.3 overs at the Wankhede on Thursday. Additionally, there have been questions about Hardik’s fitness for ICC’s marquee T20 tournament. The Indian all-rounder has endured his fair share of fitness concerns over the years and has cut down on his workload with the ball to get the best out of him from an all-round perspective. The Gujarat-born cricketer has bowled just eight overs in five matches in IPL 2024, picking just a solitary wicket at an economy of 11.13. Hardik recently made a comeback in IPL 2024 after he was ruled out of ICC ODI World Cup 2023 having sustained an ankle injury against Bangladesh in October. The Rohit Sharma-led India, of course, will need a fully-fit Hardik at the T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the West Indies and the United States. In-form Shivam Dube could pip Hardik Pandya While Hardik’s all-round capabilities provide Team India great balance in the T20 format, if he’s not fully fit then the likes of Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh could be better picks as finishers in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has voiced support for Shivam Dube’s inclusion in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad. “Shivam Dube for his striking ability against spinners, Surya for being the best T20 international batter and Rinku Singh for his exceptional finishing ability. It will be great if India finds a way to have these 3 in the 11 in the T20 WC. With Virat and Rohit, this will leave a spot for just a keeper batsman. Interesting to see how it pans out,” Prasad posted on X (formerly Twitter). Chennai Super Kings’ Shivam Dube has been in impressive form in IPL 2024. Batting in the middle-order, Dube has amassed 176 runs in five matches at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 160. He has hit 10 fours and 13 sixes so far. Apart from Prasad, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has stated that Dube must be included in India’s T20 World Cup squad. “Good to watch@IamShivamDube clearing the field with ease!! I feel he has to be in the World Cup squad. Has got the skill to be the #gamechanger,” Yuvraj wrote on X. Earlier, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin urged India to pick Dube in the T20 World Cup squad after his brilliant performances against Afghanistan in a three-match series in January. “Hardik Pandya is an indispensable member of the Indian team. However, with Shivam Dube’s emergence, especially in conditions similar to CSK in the West Indies, he becomes a spin-hitting monster,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “I can proudly call him a ‘Yuvraj Singh lite’ package. There are so many facets of Yuvraj Singh that I see in his game – the downswing, the height, and the reach. I’m not saying he’s exactly like Yuvraj Singh, but he reminds me a lot of him. The beauty here is that he hits spin straight down the ground,” Ashwin added. With Hardik facing strong competition from Shivam Dube, he will need to prove his fitness as well as impress the selectors with his all-round game in the remaining games for MI before the squad is finalised. The Indian cricket team’s 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup is likely to be announced in the last week of April and vice-captain Hardik’s spot still remains uncertain as of now. While a return to form and maintaining his fitness will most likely see Hardik make the cut for the T20 World Cup, judging by the all-rounder’s recent form when batting in death overs as well as his fitness issues, it’s safe to say that the 30-year-old’s inclusion in the squad is certainly not a given. Topics mentioned in this article

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"CSK Will Be Responsible If Dube Is Not Selected For T20 WC": Ex-India Star's Brutal Warning

“CSK Will Be Responsible If Dube Is Not Selected For T20 WC”: Ex-India Star’s Brutal Warning

Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has backed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Shivam Dube for a place in the T20 World Cup squad, ahead of Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya. Tiwary questioned Hardik’s role as a bowler so far this season in IPL, with the MI captain bowling only one over in the last three matches. The former Bengal captain feels if Hardik wants to seal his place in the squad for the T20 World Cup, then he’ll have to prove his bowling credentials. Read here: IPL 2024 Points Table Tiwary also highlighted that Hardik has been a tad bit expensive for MI with the bowl, conceding over 11 runs per over. “If he wants to play in the Indian T20 World Cup team as an all-rounder, he has to bowl. Look at his economy rate. It’s almost 11. He is not performing this season,” Tiwary said during a discussion on Cricbuzz. Tiwary also asserted that if Dube fails to make the T20 World Cup squad, his IPL franchise will be responsible for his exclusion as CSK have been using him as an impact sub so far this season. “With this form, Hardik won’t be picked in the T20 World Cup. See, Agarkar is a strong character and hence can take those bold decisions. And if Dube is not picked in the T20 World Cup, CSK will be responsible for it, because they are not allowing him to bowl. I have been saying this for a long time, if you want a replacement for Hardik, get Dube ready,” he added. Tiwary labelled Dube as a “clever” bowler, pointing out his exploits in the T20I series against Afghanistan earlier this year. “At one time we also had Venkatesh Iyer. Suddenly, both of them stopped bowling. We should be looking at the bigger goal. We are talking about the World Cup here and India haven’t been able to lift that trophy for a long time. So we have to plan for that ahead of time. Now Hardik is not in form and if you pick Dube in the squad, how much he can perform as a bowler is not known. But as far as I know, Dube is a clever bowler. Remember that T20I series at home against Afghanistan,” he further explained. Topics mentioned in this article

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Kolkata Knight Riders

KL Rahul Manages To Stump Rishabh Pant Despite Getting Hit By DC Skipper’s Bat. Watch

Friday turned out to be a memorable day for Delhi Capitals as Rishabh Pant and Co. defeated Lucknow Super Giants and registered their second win of IPL 2024. Opting to bat first, LSG posted 167/7 in 20 overs with Ayush Badoni playing an unbeaten knock of 55 runs. Later, DC chased down the target in 18.1 overs with six wickets in hand. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his figures of 3/20 in four overs. Apart from Kuldeep Yadav, the strong partnership between skipper Pant (41) and debutant Jake Frazer-McGurk (55) also turned out to be really fruitful for DC. However, the bizarre dismissal of Pant caught everyone’s attention. The incident took place in the third delivery of the 16th over, which was bowled by spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Pant tried to play a big hit and in the process, he stepped out of the crease. The ball missed the bat and went straight to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. pic.twitter.com/y5edZyXvIq — Cricket Videos (@cricketvid123) April 12, 2024 As Pant missed the shot, the bat also slipped off his hands and hit Rahul behind the stumps. However, the LSG skipper did not lose his focus and timely stumped Pant. Despite the losing the wicket of Pant, DC comfortably chased down the target as the duo of Tristan Stubbs (15*) and Shai Hope (11*) took DC across the line. “Little relief, we wanted a win badly. I was talking to the boys saying we need to think like champions, we need to keep fighting hard. (On bowling) We have phases where we are not up to the mark, some individuals have to take responsibility for that. However, we stick together as a group. Some things you can control, some things we can’t,” said Pant after the victory. “I think we are getting closer to the right XI, but we’ve had so many injuries in this group. However, you can’t keep complaining about that. (On Fraser-McGurk) Hopefully, we’ve found our new number 3, haven’t thought too much about it. Hope he can continue,” he added. DC will now be squaring off against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 17. On the other hand, LSG will be taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Sunday. Topics mentioned in this article

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Kolkata Knight Riders

Mumbai Fans Super Excited For MS Dhoni’s Wankhede Stadium Re-Entry. Watch

Glimpse of the video© X (Twitter) Mumbai Indians stunned everyone with their big seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their previous IPL 2024 match. Beginning their new era under captaincy of Hardik Pandya, the five-time champions had a shaky start to their IPL 2024 campaign as they lost three consecutive matches. However, they got back on track with two back-to-back wins against Delhi Capitals and RCB. MI will now be squaring off against their old rivals Chennai Super Kings in their next match on Sunday in Mumbai. Ahead of the mouth-watering clash, a heartfelt moment was witnessed outside the Wankhede stadium. Hundreds of fans gathered and surrounded CSK’s team bus, in hope of getting a glimpse of the star players, who were entering the stadium for their practice session. The WankheDEN Vibes! Overwhelmed!#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/lPmkFl8vn3 — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 12, 2024 The fans were seen running and excitedly jumping while welcoming the visitors to their ground. This brilliant gesture by the Mumbai crowd totally showed the crazy fandom of MS Dhoni and CSK, even in an away match. Talking about MI’s match against RCB, Suryakumar Yadav (52) and Ishan Kishan (69) provided the fireworks with the bat after Jasprit Bumrah’s magical five-wicket haul as Mumbai Indians pummelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets. “I have never seen someone dominating like the way Suryakumar does. Unbelievable. Where do you bowl to him? I am so glad I am not playing cricket now. At this age, where do you bowl to this guy? “He has got an answer for every ball you bowl to him, whether it’s wide yorker, bouncer. He can play sweep, pull, upper cut and I don’t what else he can play. He is a different kind of a player,” Former India spinner Harbhajan said on Star Sports. On the other hand, CSK also defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match by seven wickets. Topics mentioned in this article

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