IPL 2024

IPL-17: PBKS vs CSK | We were 15-20 runs short but did not bowl any loose balls, says Ravindra Jadeja

Danijones6 months ago05 mins

Chennai Super Kings Ravindra Jadeja plays a shot during the Indian Premier League 2024 against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on May 5, 2024. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy Chennai Super Kings’ all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja admitted that they fell short by 15-20 runs but lauded their disciplined bowling show in securing a convincing 28-run over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League in Dharamsala on May 5. Defending 167 for nine, the five-time champions restricted Punjab Kings to 139/9 with Jadeja claiming a match-winning 3/20, while Tushar Deshpande (2/35) and impact sub Simarjeet Singh (2/16) also featured among wickets. Mitchell Santner, who was playing his first match of the season, was also brilliant during his tidy 1/10 from three overs. “We thought we were 15-20 runs short but we did not bowl loose balls in the power play and in the middle overs,” Jadeja said at the post-match presentation. “The fast bowlers bowled well in the power play. Tushar got two important wickets and then Mitch and me did the job in the middle overs.” Jadeja struck a crucial 26-ball 43 and the knock came at a time when PBKS were chipping away with regular wickets. Jadeja said it was tricky batting in the middle overs. “It was a day game, so the wicket was slow. As usual, it was expected because it was so hot. “It (the pitch) always seems flat in the power play. But when the ball gets old, it does not always come on. When playing at a new venue, you don’t know how much it will turn or stop. “My role as a batter is to build partnerships and then play the big shots towards the end. Sometimes, when we lose wickets in the power play, we do not get momentum. In the matches we win, we play all phases well,” said Jadeja. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad made a 21-ball 32, while Daryl Mitchell looked in full flow in a 19-ball 30, taking the team to 60/1 in the power play. Everyone believed that the wicket was slow and the ball was coming off slow. There was low bounce too. With the start we got, we could have pushed to 180-200. We lost wickets in consecutive balls and then felt 160-170 was probably ten odd runs short,” said Gaikwad. It’s not too late for Simarjeet: Gaikwad Simarjeet impressed with his pace after he came in as an Impact Player replacing Ajinkya Rahane. “I don’t know what he is doing but in the pre-season we had, he was bowling at around 150s. “We had Deepak (Chahar), Shardul (Thakur), Tushar (Deshpande) plus (Matheesha) Pathirana and Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman), so he did not get too many chances. Nothing is late, he got a game today. “We were thinking of sending an impact batter but we thought the impact batter would score 10-15 runs but the bowler might get us two-three wickets,” Gaikwad said.

MS Dhoni creates history, becomes first player in IPL to achieve massive record – India TV

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

Image Source : BCCI/IPL MS Dhoni may have gotten out for a duck with the bat against the Punjab Kings but achieved a huge record in the field in the IPL It may not have been the outing with the bat for MS Dhoni, which the fans were hoping for in Dharamsala, however, the former CSK skipper and IPL legend did achieve a huge record in his name against the Punjab Kings on Sunday, May 5, this time in the field. Dhoni, who got out for a golden duck after walking out to bat at No 9 for the first time in his T20 career, became the only player in IPL history to get to 150 catches. Dhoni achieved the feat after Jitesh Sharma hit a rising delivery from Simarjeet Singh straight into the hands of the keeper. Dhoni now has 146 catches as a wicketkeeper in the IPL and four as a fielder. Dinesh Karthik is second on the list with 144 grabs to his name, with 136 of them coming behind the stumps with the gloves. The third on the list is also a keeper-batter in AB de Villiers, who has 118 catches to his name in the tournament with 90 of them being as fielder. Most catches in IPL 150 – MS Dhoni (146 as wk, 4 as fielder; CSK, RPS) 144 – Dinesh Karthik (136 as wk, 8 as fielder; RCB, DD, GL, KXIP, MI, KKR)118 – AB de Villers (90 as fielder, 28 as wk; RCB, DD)113 – Virat Kohli (RCB)109 – Suresh Raina (CSK, GL) It was a solid bowling effort from the Super Kings led by Ravindra Jadeja, with the likes of Tushar Deshpande, Mitchell Santner and Simarjeet Singh also doing their bit as the visitors defended a middling total of 167. It was a Jadeja show all through as he lifted his side’s score with a 26-ball 43 and then took a three-fer with the ball to peg Punjab back, even further.

MS Dhoni becomes first player to achieve this massive record in IPL | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: In a historic feat, Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni on Sunday etched his name in IPL annals as the first player to take 150 catches in the history of the tournament.Dhoni, who had 149 wickets to his name before this match, accomplished the feat during the IPL match against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.Known for his lightning reflexes and astute wicketkeeping, Dhoni’s achievement underscores his exceptional skill and longevity in the cricketing world.Dhoni’s milestone as a CSK franchise stalwart exemplifies his enduring impact on the game, inspiring generations of cricketers. Dinesh Karthik of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who has taken 144 catches, is second on the list, followed by former RCB stalwart AB de Villiers, renowned for his versatile fielding and athleticism, who took an impressive 118 catches during his career, while his teammate Virat Kohli, who has 113 catches to his name, occupies the fourth spot, and former CSK player Suresh Raina, known for his sharp fielding, rounds off the top-5 list with 109 catches.Most catches by a player in IPL MS Dhoni – CSK – 150 Dinesh Karthik – RCB – 144 AB de Villiers – RCB – 118* Virat Kohli – RCB – 113 Suresh Raina – CSK – 109* (* Players who are no longer playing in IPL)These players have shown exceptional fielding skills throughout their IPL careers, contributing significantly to their teams’ defences. These statistics not only highlight the individual talents of these cricketers, but they also emphasize the importance of fielding in the shorter format of the game.As a high-octane tournament, the IPL frequently sees matches decided by the narrowest of margins, where every catch has the potential to turn the game. These players’ contributions in the field have been as crucial as their performances with the bat or ball, making them integral to their respective teams in the IPL.

‘Pehle tu jaa’: MS Dhoni’s arrival at No.9 for the first time sparks meme fest on the internet | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: Unprecedented scenes surprised spectators at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala and fans on the internet alike as MS Dhoni walked out to bat at the No.9 spot for Chennai Super Kings in their match against Punjab Kings on Sunday.Expecting a Dhoni mania to come early as CSK lost regular wickets against Punjab, Dhoni and the CSK think-tank teased the fans, delaying the legend’s arrival to the middle.And when Dhoni finally came out to bat at the No.9 slot, he just faced a solitary ball and fell for a golden duck with Harshal Patel knocking him over with a lovely in-dipping slower yorker.While Dhoni’s stay in the middle didn’t last long, it was the first time ever, the legend batted at No.9 or lower in his T20 career.Eagerly awaiting for the legend, the late Dhoni’s arrival sparked a meme fest on the internet. It was the first time, Dhoni was dismissed for a duck in IPL 2024 as Harshal dismissed Dhoni for the third time in the tournament.After scoring a par 167 for 9, CSK went on to defend the total, beating Punjab by 28 runs for their sixth win of the season.The victory pushed up CSK to the third spot on the points table. With their seventh defeat in 8 matches, Punjab are at the 8th spot on the points table.

IPL 2024: Mohammed Siraj rekindles love with the new ball

Danijones6 months ago07 mins

Mohammed Siraj loves the new ball. You could see that from the twinkle in his eyes when he was choosing the ball from a pack of kookaburras held by the fourth umpire before the IPL match against Gujarat Titans on Saturday. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates a wicket during the match against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2024 (ANI ) It’s difficult to say why. For the new ball hardly swings in a T20. It’s more understandable in ODIs where some of Siraj’s best spells have come with the new ball. His 6/21 in the 2023 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka stands out. Siraj bowled with the new ball all through last year’s ODI World Cup, except the final. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Some bowlers simply like the feel of a shiny ball more. Hear Siraj talk and he never hides his preference. Making the most of a M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch which had bounce, he made the new ball talk. For the fourth time in seven face-offs, he got Wriddhiman Saha out. He had visualised he would get the right-hander to nick to the wicketkeeper with an away swinger, said Siraj. “That is exactly the way it panned out. I should have visualised something even better…5 wickets,” he said at the presentation after the four-wicket win. In his two-over new-ball burst, he got one to leave Shubman Gill and ended his stay by catching his top-edge. He cut big-hitter Shahrukh Khan in half with one which tailed in sharply, without luck. But Siraj was back. His rhythm was back. In the first seven matches he bowled for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Siraj’s figures were 5/269 at an Economy Rate of 10.34. In the last three matches, his returns have been 3/83 at an ER of 6.91. “All the practice time I had been putting in with the new ball, I found success now. I hadn’t been bowling as (well) with the new ball. That’s been my strength. Last year, I had been picking a lot of wickets with the new ball. It brought back memories of last year,” said Siraj. In the last IPL, Siraj had picked up 10 powerplay wickets at an ER of 5.93 and a strike rate of 18. With a lack of bite in his bowling, Siraj was even dropped from a match. It was the game where Sunrisers Hyderabad amassed a record 287, and hence Siraj wouldn’t have complained. The missing rhythm Siraj attributed to coming off a long spell of red-ball bowling. He made a telling point on why the switch to T20 cricket isn’t as easy. “You have to give 110 percent to every ball,” he said, suggesting how every delivery counts even if the workload may be less. “In Test matches, you can sometimes release (intensity).” Siraj has bowled more productive spells before. But he will remember his 4-0-29-4 against GT fondly in being able to deliver despite a stomach bug. “Aaj nahi ho payega, Siraj,” was the first thought that came to his mind. Then he revealed how he convinced himself to play, not waste an opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup. Even when he’s off-colour, his spirit to run in hard, to search for wickets, is unwavering. It’s one of the reasons captains don’t give up on him easily. It’s also why the Indian selectors had locked in his name for next month’s world event in the West Indies and USA, even when he was far from his best. In an inexperienced RCB bowling attack, Siraj is a vital cog. “He’s the leader of our group…the most experienced bowler. It’s not just him bowling well, his aggression, his body language (all matter). Him taking the batters on and trying to take wickets is such an important part of what we do,” said RCB bowling coach Adam Griffith. In Test cricket, Siraj’s the first one to put his hand up to bowl long spells. In white-ball cricket, he just wants the new ball. With his undying spirit, why would you not fulfil his wish. “Agar aap main, bowler ho, to ek taang pe khelna bhi zaroori hai (if there is a bowler in you, it is important to play even on one leg),” he said in his typical Hyderabadi style.

‘Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly were never dropped because…’: Virender Sehwag’s stern message for under-fire Shubman Gill | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago05 mins

NEW DELHI: Star Indian batter Shubman Gill, the captain of Gujarat Titans, has experienced a fluctuating performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Despite a promising beginning, the star opener has struggled to maintain his form in recent matches, with his last significant score of 50+ runs occurring on April 10 against Rajasthan Royals. Since then, Gill has been dismissed for single-digit scores on three occasions.The young opener was also overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad, although he was included in the four-man reserves list alongside Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed.In Gujarat Titans’ recent encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday, Gill’s struggles continued as he managed only 2 runs off seven deliveries.However, former India opener Virender Sehwag expressed his support for Gill, believing that the young talent will bounce back stronger. Sehwag also offered guidance to Gill during this challenging phase, drawing from his own experiences and referencing legendary batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman while discussing Gill’s lack of run-scoring in detail.“I think he’s lucky that his name is in the T20 World Cup reserves. KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad are not even in that. That’s a good point and he should be motivated by that. Next time, he should not let his place go once he gets a chance. He should focus on scoring runs at a good strike-rate so he doesn’t get replaced,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.“In my days, we had Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman. It doesn’t matter how many runs the other guys scored, these guys didn’t go out because they never stopped scoring runs. How will you drop them if they keep scoring runs? They never gave a reason to get dropped. This is what Shubman Gill has to learn. Once he returns to the Indian team and plays regularly post the World Cup, he shouldn’t let such an opportunity arise again. Improve your skills and score big, because big scores will eventually save you,” Sehwag further said.The Titans’ recent loss to RCB further compounds their struggles in IPL 2024, as they now find themselves languishing at the ninth spot in the table. With just four wins from 11 games, the team led by Gill faces an uphill battle to turn their fortunes around and mount a comeback in the season.Under Gill’s leadership, the Titans, who were champions in 2022 and runners-up last year under Hardik Pandya, have failed to replicate their past successes. Their current position offers little hope of securing a playoff berth unless they manage to pull off a remarkable turnaround in their remaining matches.One of the glaring weaknesses for the Titans has been their performance during the Powerplay, particularly with the bat. Scoring only 23 runs in the Powerplay against RCB, they posted the lowest Powerplay total of any team this season.Further analysis reveals that the Titans’ Powerplay run-rate of 7.54 and strike-rate of 118.43 are the lowest among all teams in IPL 2024. Additionally, they have scored the fewest runs in the first six overs throughout the season, tallying just 469 runs.Addressing their underwhelming performance in the Powerplay will be crucial for the Titans if they are to salvage their season and make a late push for a playoff spot in IPL 2024.

‘Hindi/English’: Ruturaj Gaikwad gets a hilarious toss suggestion from Wasim Jaffer

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

Former India cricketer-turned commentator Wasim Jaffer has jokingly suggested CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to opt for alternative toss methods to improve his record in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024. Notably, the 27-year-old has won just one toss in the ongoing season out of 11 matches during the fifth fixture against KKR. Amid his unlucky run with the toss, Jaffer has suggested Gaikwad use the famous gully cricket method of using a tobacco brand’s packet for the toss and choose between Hindi or English languages printed on either side. Notably, Gaikwad lost fifth consecutive toss of the season during Match 53 against PBKS at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala which prompted a hilarious response from Jaffer. Gaikwad’s toss form may not have been the best this season but his batting form is second to none in the ongoing edition as he’s the second highest run scorer of the season so far. The right-handed batter has 509 runs to his name from ten innings at an average of 63.62 and a strike rate of 146.68 with one hundred and four fifties to his name. The opening batter scored second hundred of his IPL career during Match 39 against LSG scoring a phenomenal 108* (60) with the help of 12 fours and three sixes. He further scored a magnificent 98 (54) against SRH during Match 46 but agonizingly failed to score his second successive hundred. CSK yet to qualify for playoffs On the captaincy front, the Pune-born cricketer started his season well leading the defending champions to back-to-back victories in their first two games. He further led his side to make a comeback after two losses by registering consecutive wins against KKR and MI. However, CSK’s campaign hasn’t been going well after the first six games as they could only win one out of their last four matches. They’re precariously poised on the fifth spot on the points table with five wins from ten matches having ten points to their name. They need to win three out of their last of four matches for smooth qualification to the playoffs. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 5, 2024

MS Dhoni: WATCH: Dharamsala crowd goes on ‘mute mode’ as CSK hero MS Dhoni falls for a golden duck | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: When Shardul Thakur was bowled out by Harshal Patel, the entire crowd at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala erupted in anticipation of the arrival of MS Dhoni at the crease. The crowd expected thrilling performances and powerful sixes from the legendary cricketer, but their excitement was quickly dampened when Dhoni was dismissed for a golden duck. Harshal Patel’s slower yorker caught Dhoni off guard, uprooting the stumps. This was the first time Dhoni left the field without scoring in IPL 2024. WATCH: “Wicket was on drier side. I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out (on Dhoni),” Harshal said after PBKS restricted CSK to 167. “One of the advantages of playing a day game is that the square is quite rough. So the ball starts reversing. In my first over it was reversing. It’s all about the feel of that delivery (slower one). More you bowl the better you get. Most batters don’t pick it. Have been practicing in the nets, and when it comes out it gives you great results,” he said.Dhoni was also run out on the final ball of the innings in CSK’s previous match against Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.In the 11 matches he has played so far, Dhoni has scored 110 runs at an average of 55. Dhoni, who handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL 2024 season, guided CSK to five IPL titles.

IPL 2024: CSK suffer big blow as Matheesha Pathirana returns to Sri Lanka to recover from injury | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings dealt a major blow as their star pacer Matheesha Pathirana, nursing a hamstring injury, will return to Sri Lanka for further recovery. “Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery. Chennai Super Kings wishes Pathirana a quick recovery,” CSK said in a statement on Sunday.Pathirana made his CSK debut in IPL 2022 season, and played a pivotal role in their title-winning run in 2023.Pathirana played six matches for CSK this season, picking up 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68, including a four-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians.He currently sits as CSK’s second-leading wicket-taker in IPL 2024 behind Mustafizur Rahman’s 14 scalps.The Sri Lankan is the second CSK pacer to be dealing with injuries this season after Deepak Chahar pulled his hamstring and went off the field after bowling the first two balls of the Punjab Kings’ chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 1.

IPl 2024: CSK pacer Pathirana returns to Sri Lanka for hamstring injury recovery

Danijones6 months ago04 mins

Chennai Super Kings announced on Sunday, May 5 that their star pacer Matheesha Pathirana would be returning to Sri Lanka to continue his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action in the last week in IPL 2024. It’s a huge blow for the defending champions, who have heavily relied on Pathirana to control the flow of runs in the death overs and pick up crucial wickets under pressure. “Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery. Chennai Super Kings wishes Pathirana a quick recovery,” CSK said in a statement on Sunday. PBKS vs CSK, Updates | Scorecard CSK did not announce whether Matheesha Pathirana would return to action or not in the latter stages of the season. CSK are in the race to reach the playoffs, having won 5 out of their first 10 matches. CSK gave an update about Pathirana minutes after Ruturaj Gaikwad lost another toss, this time against Punjab at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday. As expected, CSK were without Matheesha Pathirana for the big game. Matheesha Pathirana was their second leading wicket-taker in IPL 2024 with 13 wickets in 6 matches – one fewer than Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman who took 14 wickets in 9 matches. Notably, CSK are without both Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman at the business end of the league stage of IPL 2024. While Pathirana’s availability for the remainder of the games is uncertain, Mustafizur will take no further part in their campaign as the Bangladesh fast bowler returned home for national duty ahead of T20 World Cup 2024, starting June 2. Notably, Mustafizur Rahman received a signed jersey from MS Dhoni before he left for Bangladesh last week. CSK are dealing with availability issues in the second half of the tournament. While Mustafizur and Pathirana have returned home, their senior pacer Deepak Chahar picked up a hamstring injury against Punjab in Chennai. Deepak only bowled 3 deliveries before he held his leg and wobbled off the field. There was one good news for CSK on Sunday as Tushar Deshpande, who missed their last game due to illness, returned to action. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: May 5, 2024