April 3, 2025
Headlines

IPL 2024

'Fair character', 'has the fire', 'can infuse winning culture': Gautam Gambhir can be the kind of coach India need | Cricket News

‘Fair character’, ‘has the fire’, ‘can infuse winning culture’: Gautam Gambhir can be the kind of coach India need | Cricket News

Danijones06 mins

While it has been widely reported that former India opener Gautam Gambhir as the new India coach is a ‘done deal’, an official announcement on the team’s new boss replacing Rahul Dravid might take a few more days to come. But experts have no doubt left that Gambhir is the kind of character who has the fire inside him to take the Indian team to new heights.Among his most recent successes, Gambhir took over the role of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) mentor just before IPL 2024 and turned out to be the chief architect of KKR’s third triumph in the T20 league. It only added to his credentials as a mentor, after he had taken Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in two successive editions, before making a move to join KKR in a similar role. “What a record he has had as a coach!” said the former wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who announced his retirment after IPL 2024, on Cricbuzz. “Being a mentor for LSG, two years on the bounce qualifying (for playoffs), comes to KKR and they say, ‘Please, you got to do something special for us’. Ends up winning the trophy.” It was effectively Gambhir’s third IPL title in KKR colours. When the team won its two titles in 2012 and 2014, Gambhir was the KKR captain. “He has been at the helm, taken all the decisions (for KKR), be it sending (Sunil) Narine opening or getting Mitchell Starc in the auction — in all of those big recruits and getting the right team, the right balance, and then taking all the shots,” Karthik, who has previously played for KKR in the IPL, said.“I am seeing in the news that he could be part of the Indian team (chief coach) as well, and I really wish he does. He has that fire in him,” Gambhir added. Gambhir’s track record as a player and coach/mentor reflects that he knows what it takes to win big tournaments. Besides three IPL titles with KKR, Gambhir was part of the team under MS Dhoni when India won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.Karthik believes that Gambhir has put things in such proper order at KKR that even if he has to leave the job and take up the role of India’s chief coach, KKR remain well placed to excel in the next IPL season as well. “I think he has really built a good (KKR) team, one that will have a lot of players retained and he has left them in a very, very good place. And if he gets the opporunity (India coach), I really wish he takes it. Being part of the national team and the patriotism that he has, I think he will definitely be tempted to take it and I really wish he comes in because he will infuse that winning culture he has infused here (at KKR),” reckoned Gambhir. “India would do very well under him because I feel he has that fire that is required.“When it comes to KKR, whenever he is back (after stint as India coach), they will take him back with open arms. But I do believe he has left Shreyas Iyer and the team in a much better place than it was when he took it (mentorship role).” Former New Zealand pace Simon Doul was also part of the discussion on Cricbuzz, and fully agreed with Karthik’s opinion.“Those (Gambhir) are the kind of people you want at the helm — highly respected, tough. He is a tough character, but I think he is very fair character and I think he’ll do a great job if he were to take over, if he were to accept the role,” said Doull.The tenure of current India coach, Rahul Dravid, will end after the T20 World Cup in June.

Read More
England Vs Pakistan: After Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain hails IPL's role in preparing England for T20 World Cup 2024 after Pakistan win | Cricket News

England Vs Pakistan: After Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain hails IPL’s role in preparing England for T20 World Cup 2024 after Pakistan win | Cricket News

Danijones03 mins

NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain has provided his analysis on the preparedness of the Jos Buttler-led England team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. According to Hussain, the defending champions are in a favourable position heading into the tournament.England have been placed in Group B alongside rivals Australia, Scotland, Namibia, and Oman.Their campaign will commence against Scotland on June 4. SEE ALSO: T20 World Cup Schedule Hussain believes that the Three Lions are in better form compared to their performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, where they struggled initially.Hussain emphasized the importance of having a contingency plan, or “Plan B,” in case England encounters a slow start or faces challenges against stronger opponents.“They’ve just got to be better than they were at that 50-over World Cup. They went into that with a lot of hope and it didn’t start well and they didn’t react well. So they need to have a Plan B. If we don’t start well, if things don’t go well, how do we react? How do we react to slower pitches? How do we react when better sides come up against us? But under Buttler and what they’ve got in this side they’re in a real good place. They just got to go and do it,” Hussain stated. Hussain also commended the Indian Premier League (IPL) for its role in preparing England players for high-pressure situations and big matches.“They’re a very balanced side, they’ve played in a lot of big games. We don’t talk enough about the IPL and how that obviously sets you up as a cricketer but also sets you up in big games. And under pressure and big crowds and that’s what you need going into a World Cup. So they’ve done all that they could do,” the former England international added.(Inputs from ANI)

Read More
Watch: After delivering just six balls in IPL 2024, Shivam Dube the bowler gets guidance from Rohit Sharma for T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Watch: After delivering just six balls in IPL 2024, Shivam Dube the bowler gets guidance from Rohit Sharma for T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones03 mins

He may have bowled just six deliveries for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the just-concluded season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but India captain Rohit Sharma is probably looking to utilize all-rounder Shivam Dube‘s seam-up skills more often in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Team India had its first training session in the US on Thursday, ahead of their only warm-up fixture against Bangladesh on June 1 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, followed by the campaign-opener agaist Ireland on June 5 at the same venue. ALSO SEE: T20 World Cup Schedule An interesting note from India’s practice was the sight of Dube getting guidance from Rohit on the lengths to bowl, while the right-arm medium-pacer bowled to his skipper in the nets.Interestingly, Dube was asked to bowl just a solitary over by CSK in the 14 matches he played during IPL 2024, which concluded on May 26. Dube took wicket in the over while conceding 14 runs.WATCH VIDEO OF INDIA’S TRAINING SESSION CSK’s strategy for utilizing Dube revolved exclusively around his batting skills, asking the tall man, who bats left-handed, to go after spinners in the middle overs, which Dube did successfully. On the expectedly slow, spinning tracks in the West Indies, India may also be inclined to follow that. Dube scored 396 runs in 14 innings during IPL 2024 with a highest of 66 not out and strike rate of 162.30. He hit three half-centuries. However, Rohit may not be looking to use Dube as a batsman alone as India eye ending an 11-year wait for another ICC trophy.

Read More
Indo-Pak fans spar online over video showing Pakistan players walking past IPL final playing on TV | Cricket News

Indo-Pak fans spar online over video showing Pakistan players walking past IPL final playing on TV | Cricket News

Danijones02 mins

The Pakistan team is currently in England, involved in a four-match T20I series; and when a video emerging from the tour showed the players walking past a TV playing the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, fans from India and Pakistan got involved in a war of words online — for and against the IPL.Strained relations between the two countires has kept Pakistan players out of the cash-rich league over the past several editions, which has often led to resentment across the border. In the video circulating on social media, Pakistan players could be seen walking through what appears to be a lounge as the television in the background could be seen airing the IPL final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.Soon after the video went viral, response from Pakistan fans started saying their players “ignored IPL final”, leading to a war of words between fans from the two neighbouring countries that are traditional rivals in cricket. WATCH VIDEO Some members of the Pakistan media also got involved in poking fun at the league that has gone on to become the best and the most fiercely-contested T20 league in the world ever since its inception in 2007.Pakistan rivaled it by establishing their T20 franchise tournament, the Pakistan Super League. However, the IPL’s popularity remains unmatched across the world. Here are some of the response to the video on microblogging platform ‘X’:

Read More
'Can I bring my girlfriend?': Gautam Gambhir reveals first conversation with 'KKR's MVP and brother' Sunil Narine | Cricket News

‘Can I bring my girlfriend?’: Gautam Gambhir reveals first conversation with ‘KKR’s MVP and brother’ Sunil Narine | Cricket News

Danijones04 mins

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has heaped praise on star all-rounder Sunil Narine, who played a pivotal role in KKR’s third Indian Premier League title this year. Narine was named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of IPL 2024. Narine regained his magical touch this season, scoring 488 runs and taking 17 wickets throughout the tournament.In a recent interaction with Sportskeeda, Gambhir spoke about his camaraderie with Narine and reminisced about the latter’s early days in the KKR camp.Gambhir, who captained KKR to their IPL victories in 2012 and 2014, highlighted Narine’s crucial role in those triumphs.”Me and Narine are similar characters, and so are our emotions. I still remember that when Narine first came into the IPL in 2012, it was in Jaipur, and we were going for practice, and I told him to come join for lunch. He was so shy that he did not say a single word during lunch, and the first question that he eventually asked was, ‘Can I bring my girlfriend to the IPL?’,” Gambhir recalled.Gambhir suggested that he and Narine share a special bond, describing the all-rounder as a brother. “He was so quiet that first season, but now, we can talk about anything. He is like a brother to me. I don’t see him as a friend, I don’t see him as a teammate, I see him as a brother. If I need him or he needs me, I think we are just one call away, that is the sort of relationship that we have built. We do not get excited much, we do not show too many emotions, we are not flamboyant, we just do the job and come back,” he added.Gambhir also emphasized Narine’s consistent value to KKR, asserting that he has always been the team’s ‘MVP’. “What can I say about him? Even if he didn’t win the ‘most valuable player award’ he would have still been the MVP. You are looking at his stats but he was KKR’s MVP even before the season got underway. The world has seen his talent as an all-rounder and I’m sure that Narine still has plenty to give to KKR and world cricket,” Gambhir explained.

Read More
'It's all good, these things happen': Shahid Afridi clears the air with Suresh Raina over social media banter | Cricket News

‘It’s all good, these things happen’: Shahid Afridi clears the air with Suresh Raina over social media banter | Cricket News

Danijones03 mins

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has clarified his recent interaction with former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina over a social media post, which led to Raina deleting his comment.The incident began when Afridi was announced as an ambassador for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. In response to this announcement, an X user taunted Raina by saying, “ICC has named Shahid Afridi as ambassador for ICC T20 World Cup 2024.Hello Suresh Raina.”Raina quickly responded with a post that read, “I’m not an ICC ambassador, but I have the 2011 World Cup at my house. Remember the game at Mohali? Hope it brings back some unforgettable memories for you.”Afridi addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, revealing that he had a conversation with Raina about the post. “Suresh Raina and I have shared many cricketing moments, and he’s a good person,” Afridi said. “Sometimes, lighthearted banter happens. After seeing his post on social media, I spoke with him, and he understood the situation like a younger brother. He agreed to delete the tweet. It’s all good; these things happen. Great individuals acknowledge and rectify their mistakes.” This isn’t the first time Raina has taken a playful jab at Afridi. During the IPL 2024, while answering a question from Aakash Chopra on commentary about reversing his retirement decision, Raina quipped, “I am Suresh Raina, not Shahid Afridi.” Afridi has recently joined an illustrious group of T20 World Cup ambassadors, including Yuvraj Singh, the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle, and the fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt.

Read More
'Thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai': When Hardik Pandya sledged Dinesh Karthik | Cricket News

‘Thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai’: When Hardik Pandya sledged Dinesh Karthik | Cricket News

Danijones03 mins

Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement after Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s (RCB) exit from IPL 2024, following their loss to Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator; and while looking back at his playing days, the former wicketkeeper-batsman shared some interesting moments from on-field banter with his India teammates during his IPL career. “Every time I played against RCB and Virat Kohli caught my catch, ‘Ben Stokes’ came out of his mouth for sure,” said Karthik on a lighter note in an interview with Cricbuzz.”But that was a send-off.”Besides RCB, where he joined Virat, the 38-year-old veteran previously played for Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and erstwhile Gujarat Lions.He then went on to share the words Hardik Pandya, who is now Mumbai Indians’ skipper, once shot at him while he was batting. “Hardik Pandya sledged me saying ‘abhi legspinner aaya, iska thank you hi hai’ (a legspinner will come and it is Thank You time]. Then I had to play a couple of shots and then he was like ‘theek hai, thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai’ (okay, looks like he has improved a little]. That was good. He’s a good friend. He was also like ‘Commentator banke bhi thoda kaam kar raha hai’ (Even after becoming a commentator he’s working on his game) That was fun,” Karthik said. Karthik, who played 257 IPL matches and 60 T20Is, also mentioned he moment when former Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma teased him with “isko World Cup khelna hai” comment on the field in the just-concluded season. “Rohit this year taunting me… unnecessarily giving me hopes,” said Karthik.Besides playing 60 T20Is, Karthik, who also does commentary, featured in 26 Tests and 94 ODIs for India.

Read More
‘Still two trophies behind MI and CSK’: Gautam Gambhir aims higher after IPL 2024 win

‘Still two trophies behind MI and CSK’: Gautam Gambhir aims higher after IPL 2024 win

Danijones05 mins

KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir is determined to make his team the most successful franchise of the Indian Premier League as he aims to surpass MI and CSK’s tally of most title victories. Notably, Kolkata recently clinched their third IPL title after beating SRH in the final of IPL 2024. Following their win, the Shreyas Iyer-led side became the third most successful team in the competition after MI and CSK who have five titles each to their name. Following their win, Gambhir has set his aim higher to be the most successful side in the history of the tournament. Commenting on his team’s win, the former KKR captain said that the journey has just begun as he wants to add three more trophies to his team’s tally to make them the most successful franchise of the tournament. “You’re saying this because we’ve won it three times but if you ask me we’re still two trophies behind MI and CSK. Yes, I’m happy today but again the hunger inside that we’re still not the most successful franchise of the IPL. To get there, we need to win thrice and for that, we will have to work really hard. So I feel, if we’re able to make KKR the most successful franchise of the tournament then there won’t be anything better than that but for that, the journey has just begun” Gambhir told Sportskeeda. Further speaking ahead, the 42-year-old picked KKR’s first title triumph in 2012 as the most special one as it laid the foundation for their next two victories in 2014 and 2024 respectively. Gambhir picks IPL 2012 as ‘most special’ victory “2012, not just because I was the captain but because we won it for the first time I just told you that when you win it for the first time then you get to know the kind of cricket you need to play to win an IPL final. Until you win, you keep questioning whether you will be able to win it or not. Once you win it you feel that we’ve won it and will win it again. Hence 2012, because we won it first time,” he added. Notably, Gambhir led KKR to their first title triumph in 2012 beating defending champions CSK in the final. He further inspired his team to their second triumph in 2014 beating PBKS in a high-scoring final. It took KKR ten long years to add a third trophy to their cabinet as Gambhir returned to the franchise as a mentor after parting ways ahead of the 2018 season. KKR fans would hope that Gambhir continues his ‘Midas Touch’ for the team and continues to guide them to more IPL victories in the years to come. Published By: Rishabh Beniwal Published On: May 30, 2024

Read More
My relation with Virat Kohli is not to give masala to the public: Gautam Gambhir | Cricket News

My relation with Virat Kohli is not to give masala to the public: Gautam Gambhir | Cricket News

Danijones02 mins

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir shared a warm embrace during the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League. It was one of the heartwarming moments of the just concluded season. The long-standing alleged hostility between the two former teammates seemed to dissolve as they demonstrated mutual respect and camaraderie. Kohli, the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gambhir, mentor the Kolkata Knight Riders, showed that their past differences were behind them. Gambhir’s return to KKR as a mentor proved to be a masterstroke, as he guided Shreyas Iyer‘s team to their third IPL title. KKR dominated the final, thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. This victory ended KKR’s 10-year title drought. Addressing the perceived rift with Kohli, Gambhir told Sportskeeda, “The perception is far away from the reality. My relation with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn’t need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to the public.” Gambhir also praised Kohli’s six-hitting prowess, acknowledging RCB batter’s batting excellence.Kohli had a stellar IPL 2024 season, topping the batting charts with 741 runs in 15 games and winning the prestigious Orange Cap. Earlier, Kohli also reflected on the moment with Gambhir during an event. “People are very disappointed with my behaviour. I hugged Naveen, and then the other day, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) came and hugged me. Your masala is over so you’re booing. We’re not kids anymore,” Kohli remarked.

Read More
'A mixed feeling of relief, emotion...': Dinesh Karthik reveals why he decided to retire from IPL | Cricket News

‘A mixed feeling of relief, emotion…’: Dinesh Karthik reveals why he decided to retire from IPL | Cricket News

Danijones05 mins

NEW DELHI: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has stated that while he is in peak physical condition to continue playing professional cricket for another three years, the mental demands of the game have led him to step away. The 38-year-old, who recently announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), shared his thoughts.Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik, who played his final IPL match against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium this year, emphasized that physical fitness has never been a concern for him. “I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I’ve been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness,” he said.However, Karthik admitted that the mental aspect of the game has been more challenging. “It was all about the mental side of things, whether I’ll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don’t play as many matches, will I be okay with it,” he added.Reflecting on what kept him motivated after a challenging IPL season last year, Karthik revealed his intrinsic drive. “I am internally very, very motivated. Intrinsically, extremely motivated and I’ve lived by the mantra that if you are the best, no one can stop you. I just believed if I get one chance, I should make the most of it. I never cribbed. I was always thinking like I got a chance but I missed it. I got a tournament here, but I probably could have done better in this match. And that kept me going,” he said.Karthik has been a constant presence in the IPL since its inception in 2008, playing 257 matches, making him the joint second-most capped player in IPL history alongside Rohit Sharma, and just behind MS Dhoni (264).As he navigates retirement, Karthik mentioned that family functions have kept him occupied and discussed the emotions he felt leading up to his final match. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. There’s lots happening in the house, there’s a couple of weddings and all so I’ve been pretty busy with that. It’s a tad bit emotional, a tad bit relief. In a way, I was mentally prepared for whenever it had to happen. But I was so much more prepared for 18th May.”“Once that part of the tournament was crossed, I was extremely elated and very, very happy and grateful. The 22nd came around pretty fast, but overall it was a mixed feeling of relief, emotion and the fact that it has all come to an end,” he added.

Read More