December 24, 2024
Headlines

IPL 2024

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

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

Danijones04 mins

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

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

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

Danijones04 mins

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

Read More
Mohammed Siraj's form crucial for RCB: Griffith | Cricket News

Mohammed Siraj’s form crucial for RCB: Griffith | Cricket News

Danijones05 mins

BENGALURU: It wasn’t a typical M Chinnaswamy stadium strip on Saturday night — the wicket was two-paced, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s bowling too wasn’t akin to their display in the Indian Premier League thus far.Their bowling attack, pace in particular, was characterised by discipline, lengths were rarely off the mark and the lines spot on.Most importantly, their lead bowler, Mohammed Siraj, was back in the groove, tormenting the hapless Gujarat Titans batters in the powerplay.Siraj was dropped for the run-fest against Sunrisers Hyderabad last month and the 10-day break seems to have rejuvenated the 30-year-old. The World Cup-bound pacer has found his rhythm and although RCB are seventh on the points table with three games in hand, it isn’t out of place for them to fancy an outside chance of making the playoffs.In the last two wins — both coming against Gujarat — the bowling in powerplay has been the key for Faf du Plessis and his men. Admitting that the team has been able to address the problem area, Adam Griffith, the RCB bowling coach, said, “The start of the tournament wasn’t great for us, especially in the powerplay and that is something we focused a lot on recently to make sure we work really hard to get better starts. It was good to see the hard work pay off.”Siraj, at the start of the day, was a doubtful starter.“I wasn’t feeling well. When I woke up in the morning, I thought I wouldn’t be able to play and should rest. But I manifested what I wanted to do and that’s exactly what happened,” he said after the four-wicket win.The Bengaluru-based franchise headed to Goa for a break after their nine-wicket win over the Titans in Ahmedabad last week and the rest seemed to have worked well for the team.Outlining the shift in the bowling approach, Griffith revealed, “We’ve swung the ball all tournament upfront. What we’ve done in the last couple of games is we’ve bowled a better line. We talked a lot about bowling straighter and attacking the stumps as much as we can to challenge the batters’ defence and make them play aggressive shots. If they want to come hard at us, it’s a challenge for them to do. The boys put it exactly where we wanted them.”While RCB’s spin attack is undercooked and the pacers have been under the pump, Griffith said Siraj’s form was crucial for the team.“He’s the leader of our group. He’s our most experienced bowler and played a lot for India over the last few years and done really well. It’s not just him bowling well but it’s his aggression, it’s his body language and it’s his taking the batters on to try and get wickets. He’s such an important part of what we’re trying to do. So, having him up and going, swinging the ball again, bowling with good pace is important,” pointed out the 46-year-old.

Read More
IPL: Rohit Sharma's form a concern for India and Mumbai Indians ahead of Sunrisers Hyderabad clash | Cricket News

IPL: Rohit Sharma’s form a concern for India and Mumbai Indians ahead of Sunrisers Hyderabad clash | Cricket News

Danijones05 mins

MUMBAI: In an IPL where arguments and counterarguments about Virat Kohli’s strike rate have hogged the limelight, the patchy form of Team India captain Rohit Sharma has flown under the radar.Going into the T20 World Cup next month, Rohit is aware that he could do with some runs and time in the middle under his belt, starting with Monday night’s tie for the Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium.When he was removed from MI captaincy before this season, head coach Mark Boucher had hoped that the decision would allow Rohit, who was in fine touch going into IPL, to “play more freely and take his team to the playoffs.”However, things haven’t exactly panned out the same way for the man who led MI to five IPL titles, but whose IPL form has been a concern for a few years now owing to his tendency to be over-aggressive from ball one. Since he slammed a century (105 not out off 63 balls) — his first in the IPL in more than a decade — against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 14 in a 20-run defeat — Rohit’s scores have been 36, 6, 8, 4 and 11. Before that, his sequence of scores in the tournament read 43, 26, 0, 49 & 38. Overall, the 37-year-old has managed 326 runs in 11 [email protected] so far in IPL-2024.In his last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rohit didn’t even field due to a mild back issue and only came to bat as an ‘Impact Player.’There is a fair chance that given that the T20 World Cup is around the corner, the veteran opener would again turn out for MI as an ‘Impact Player’- ironic since he himself has been critical of the rule!At the selection presser, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar had made it clear that his committee pitched in for “experience” while picking the World Cup-bound squad, but Rohit’s poor IPL form does present a concern. If Rohit finds his form, it will help MI, down and knocked out of the competition, salvage some of their battered pride. Although they lost their first eight matches on the trot in 2022, this somehow feels the worst season for MI in their history. Having suffered as many as eight defeats — four on the trot going into this game — in 11 matches, they languish at the last spot in the 10-team tournament.While rumours and talk of their dressing room not being a happy place refuse to die, their big guns, barring pace ace Jasprit Bumrah (17 wickets in 11 [email protected]) have failed to fire right through.Placed far better at No 4 with 12 points in 10 matches (six wins and four defeats), the Sunrisers will eye another win which strengthens their playoff hopes.For perhaps the first time since they reached the final in 2018, SRH, the 2016 IPL winners, are looking impressive.Led astutely by Pat Cummins, they possess the tournament’s most dangerous batting line-up in openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, followed by Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy (smashed 76 not out off just 42 balls in the last match). Head’s contest with Bumrah has the potential to light up this game. Between them, Klaasen (31) and Abhishek (28) have smashed as many as 59 sixes in IPL-2024 so far-the maximum by anyone in the competition so far.

Read More
IPL 2024 match today, MI vs SRH: Check likely XIs, head-to-head record, pitch report, and fantasy XI

IPL 2024 match today, MI vs SRH: Check likely XIs, head-to-head record, pitch report, and fantasy XI

Danijones07 mins

It has been contrasting returns in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians and the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The two teams came into the season with opposing moods around them. While SRH fans were feeling good about their side going all out to get World Cup-winning Australian captain Pat Cummins and then making him skipper, MI fans were dumbfounded by five-time title-winner Rohit Sharma being suddenly replaced by the returning Hardik Pandya in the position The way MI handled the situation with regards to stopping certain questions from being asked angered fans even more and this led to boos ringing out around the stadium almost every time the focus fell on Pandya. Hardik Pandya cut a rather beleaguered and frustrated figure at the end of MI’s loss to KKR in their previous match. (AFP) A number of key players, including Pandya himself, have been woefully out of form for MI. In fact, it could be argued that only pace maestro Jasprit Bumrah has delivered for the five-time champions consistently in every match. And yet, MI seem determined to give Bumrah just one over in the first 10 overs, thus often allowing opposition teams to recover from any damage that he did in the middle overs and often running away with the game. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! ALSO READ: KL Rahul laments LSG’s ‘poor performance overall’ after Lucknow Super Giants script embarrassing record vs KKR in IPL Pandya cut a rather beleaguered and frustrated figure at the end of MI’s stunning defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their last game. It marked the first time since 2012, and just the second time in the history of the IPL, that MI had lost to KKR at the Wankhede Stadium. KKR have been one of the teams to beat this season and now, MI face yet another well-oiled machine in the form of SRH. The Sunrisers come into this match on the back of a thrilling one-run win over the Rajasthan Royals, thus condemning the latter to just their second loss of the season. LSG’s loss to KKR on Sunday meant that SRH have climbed up to fourth on the league table going into this match. Meanwhile, MI are languishing at the bottom of the table. MI likely XI (if batting first) Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah MI likely XI (if bowling first) Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara Impact players: Nehal Wadhera, Nuwan Thushara SRH likely XI (if batting first) Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Marco Jansen, Pat Cummins (capt), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan SRH Likely XI (if bowling first) Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Marco Jansen, Pat Cummins (capt), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, T Natarajan Impact Players: Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Anmolpreet Singh Head-to-head There is very little to separate the two sides with MI leading the head-to-head 12-10. MI also hold a 5-2 edge at the Wankhede Stadium. All of it may not matter though considering how this season has gone for both sides. Pitch Report The Wankhede Stadium is famous for high-scoring matches in limited-overs cricket. However, we saw a different side to it in the last match that happened here, with both MI and KKR’s spinners coming to the fore. Piyush Chawla picked up 1 for 15 in three overs, while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy returned identical figures of 2/22 in four overs for KKR. Fantasy XI Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Gerald Coetzee, Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah.

Read More
'I think you have to pick your...': Sunil Narine on his blistering knock | Cricket News

‘I think you have to pick your…’: Sunil Narine on his blistering knock | Cricket News

Danijones03 mins

NEW DELHI: In a scintillating display, Sunil Narine‘s explosive knock of 81 runs off just 39 balls powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 98 runs, catapulting them to the top of the IPL table on Sunday.Narine’s blistering innings, adorned with six fours and seven sixes, steered Kolkata to a formidable total of 235-6 after they were put in to bat first in Lucknow’s final home game of the season.The Kolkata bowlers then rose to the occasion, skittling out Lucknow for just 137 runs in 16.1 overs, securing their eighth win in 11 matches and all but sealing a playoff berth. With second-placed Rajasthan Royals having played one match fewer, Kolkata’s victory firmly establishes their position at the summit of the IPL standings.Narine, who has impressed after being promoted to open by Kolkata this season, led their batting charge in a 61-run first-wicket stand with Phil Salt.“The most important thing is starting well and it’s good to have the backing of the support staff. I think you have to pick your strengths and pick your spots, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t,” Narine, who was named Player of the match, said at the post-match presentation.Narine also showered praise on spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for taking wickets and making his job easier.“It’s going very well, Varun is picking up wickets, it’s making my job easier to keep things tight. He is a hard worker and it’s good to see him do well. The boys are anxious and eager to play, so no matter what the situation is, they are up for the challenge and they are contributing for us,” Narine added.

Read More
IPL: Kolkata Knight Riders tie with Mumbai Indians to register stunning batting record | Cricket News

IPL: Kolkata Knight Riders tie with Mumbai Indians to register stunning batting record | Cricket News

Danijones02 mins

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continued their stellar batting display in the IPL, matching Mumbai Indians (MI) by notching up a total of six scores of 200 or more runs in a single season, a remarkable achievement in the history of the tournament.KKR achieved this milestone during their clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.In the match, KKR put up a formidable total of 235/6 in their allotted 20 overs, fueled by impactful contributions from Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Ramandeep Singh.Prior to this match, KKR had amassed 200-plus run totals against various opponents throughout the season, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings.This accomplishment puts KKR on par with Mumbai Indians, who achieved a similar feat during the 2023 season.Notably, KKR’s total of 235/6 against LSG is the highest score ever recorded against the franchise and at the Ekana Stadium, their home ground. This surpasses the previous record set by Gujarat Titans last season.KKR’s exceptional batting performance not only sets a new benchmark against LSG but also establishes them as a force to be reckoned with in the IPL, showcasing their prowess with the bat in hand.(With ANI inputs)

Read More
'We are losing tosses, but...': Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer | Cricket News

‘We are losing tosses, but…’: Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer | Cricket News

Danijones04 mins

NEW DELHI: Despite losing the toss in the majority of their IPL matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have continued to excel when it matters most, stated skipper Shreyas Iyer after their victory on Sunday propelled them to the top of the points table.In the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Iyer lost his eighth toss in 11 games, yet this did not deter KKR’s performance. After being put into bat by LSG, KKR posted an imposing total of 235 for six.Their batting prowess was complemented by a strong bowling display, as they restricted the hosts to a mere 137 runs, securing another crucial win on their journey towards the playoffs.“The last 6 matches in the dressing room there has been havoc, teammates are coming in and asking skip what’s happening, we are losing tosses, but we are winning games that’s what matters,” said Iyer at the post-match presentation in Lucknow.“We had a great start in the powerplay. A lefty-righty combination makes things difficult for the opposition. It’s all about the freedom, to go out and express themselves.“We want to go out and be positive whatever the situation is, sometimes it doesn’t work out but sometimes it does.”Opener Sunil Narine smashed an unbeaten 81 off 39 balls before the bowlers did their job to script a big win.LSG need to win their remaining three games to push for a play-off spot and the do or die situation will help his team, insisted skipper KL Rahul.“We’ve made a couple of mistakes when we’ve come up against batters like Sunil and anyone that’s powerful. That type of intimidation puts pressure on our bowlers. That’ll be the chat once we get back to the dressing room – move on from this game, see where we went wrong and try and get better.“This is our last home game for us, so we are on the road for the next three games. It’s pretty clear for us, if you want to get to the top four, you got to win all the games. That will give us a little bit of freedom to go out there and be a little bit more fearless, little bit brave to take on the game,” said Rahul.(With PTI inputs)

Read More
IPL 2024, KKR vs LSG: Shreyas Iyer reveals funny ‘dressing room havoc’ after Kolkata crush Lucknow

IPL 2024, KKR vs LSG: Shreyas Iyer reveals funny ‘dressing room havoc’ after Kolkata crush Lucknow

Danijones04 mins

Luck hasn’t been favouring Shreyas Iyer as he has lost 6 tosses in a row in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. However, Shreyas would not be complaining as KKR have moved to the top of the table after beating KL Rahul’s LSG by 98 runs on Sunday, May 5 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. With 16 points and a net run rate of +1.453, the Knights already have a foot in the door as far as qualifying for the playoffs is concerned. After the match, Shreyas made a funny revelation around the dressing room regarding him losing tosses. LSG vs KKR, IPL 2024 Highlights “The last 6 matches in the dressing room there has been havoc, teammates are coming in and asking skip what’s happening, we are losing tosses, but we are winning games that’s what matters,” Shreyas said in the post-match presentation ceremony. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule ‘It’s all about the freedom’ Shreyas also had words of praise for the opening duo of Sunil Narine and Phil Salt. The pair put on a handy partnership of 61 off 4.2 overs against LSG. While Salt scored 32 off 14, the left-handed Narine went on to smash 81 runs off 39 balls with 6 fours and 7 sixes. On the back of their knocks, KKR put up a huge score of 235 for 6. Shreyas said that the Knights have given Salt and Narine freedom to play their shots with freedom. “We had a great start in the powerplay. A lefty-righty combination makes thing difficult for the opposition. It’s all about the freedom, to go out and express themselves. We want to go out and be positive whatever the situation is, sometimes it doesn’t work out but sometimes it does,” Shreyas said. “They have been splendid for us, the way they are playing their shots is pure bliss. They are setting us up and giving is momentum and no matter what the situation is, we are playing with a positive mindset,” Shreyas added. KKR will next be up against Rohit Sharma’s MI on Saturday, May 11 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Published By: sabyasachi chowdhury Published On: May 6, 2024 Tune In

Read More