'A hard goodbye with my only wish...': Matheesha Pathirana's emotional post for CSK and MS Dhoni | Cricket News

‘A hard goodbye with my only wish…’: Matheesha Pathirana’s emotional post for CSK and MS Dhoni | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings’ pacer Matheesha Pathirana‘s involvement in the current IPL season has abruptly ended as he heads back to Sri Lanka to recover from a hamstring injury.The right-arm fast bowler played in six matches this IPL season, taking 13 wickets with an economy rate of 7.68.Pathirana’s last game for CSK was during their 78-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled two overs and dismissed Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen.He missed the match against Punjab Kings in Chennai on May 1, with England pacer Richard Gleeson stepping in as his replacement.Pathirana’s absence is a significant blow to CSK, as their bowling options have sharply decreased in recent days. On Monday, the Sri Lankan speedster shared a series of photos with MS Dhoni and other CSK teammates, accompanied by an emotional caption.“A hard goodbye with my only wish to see the 2024 IPL champion trophy in CSK’s room soon! Grateful to the CSK team for all the blessings and love from Chennai. – #matheeshapathirana,” Pathirana wrote. Pace-bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar is also expected to miss the remainder of the IPL after sustaining a niggle during the match against Punjab at Chepauk.Chahar left the field after bowling just two deliveries, and Shardul Thakur completed the over in his place.CSK will also be without Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana for at least a few more matches, as he is set to return to Sri Lanka to complete his USA visa process ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup in the Americas.Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL tenure also concluded after the last match against PBKS, as he has joined the national team for the home T20I series against Zimbabwe.

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'Upar utha': Riyan Parag carries Prithvi Shaw on his back - WATCH | Cricket News

‘Upar utha’: Riyan Parag carries Prithvi Shaw on his back – WATCH | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals will rely on Rishabh Pant’s competitive edge and Jake Fraser McGurk’s exceptional skills as they aim to stay in the IPL playoff race when they face an in-form Rajasthan Royals in a must-win game on Tuesday.Delhi Capitals have had an inconsistent campaign so far, with five wins and six losses from 11 games. While they must win their remaining three games, doing so would only bring them to 16 points, which may not be enough to secure a spot in the final four.When the two teams last met in Jaipur in March, Delhi Capitals lost control during the latter part of their bowling innings, with Riyan Parag playing a standout role for Rajasthan.For Rajasthan Royals, a victory would propel Sanju Samson’s team to the top of the table.Ahead of the highly anticipated match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, RR’s Riyan Parag and DC’s Prithvi Shaw were seen enjoying a lighthearted practice session together.“Bhaichara on top,” Rajasthan Royals captioned while posting a video.WATCH: Squads:Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Jos Buttler, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shubham Dubey, Navdeep Saini, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Kuldeep Sen, Donovan Ferreira, Abid Mushtaq, Kunal Singh RathoreDelhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Rasikh Dar Salam, Lizaad Williams, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Sumit Kumar, Praveen Dubey, Kumar Kushagra, Ricky Bhui, Ishant Sharma, David Warner, Gulbadin Naib, Jhye Richardson, Anrich Nortje, Lalit Yadav, Yash Dhull, Vicky Ostwal, Swastik Chikara

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'Rohit bhai does not talk to me much about...': Kuldeep Yadav highlights captain's role | Cricket News

‘Rohit bhai does not talk to me much about…’: Kuldeep Yadav highlights captain’s role | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Kuldeep Yadav, the Indian spinner, credited Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for his improvement in batting skills during the intense five-match Test series against England earlier this year.Speaking at a press event in Delhi ahead of his IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals’ game against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Kuldeep shed light on the invaluable guidance he received from Rohit.In India’s commanding 4-1 victory over England at home, Kuldeep played a crucial role not just with the ball but surprisingly with the bat as well. Amassing 19 wickets in four games, including a memorable five-wicket haul, Kuldeep’s contributions extended to his batting performances. He accumulated 97 runs in six innings at an average of 19.40, with a notable highest score of 30.Kuldeep’s batting resilience was particularly evident in pressure situations where his solid defence and composed approach steadied the ship for India. His ability to support his teammates in pursuit of match-saving or match-winning totals added significant value to the team’s efforts.Furthermore, during a recent IPL game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, Kuldeep showcased his batting prowess by scoring a crucial unbeaten 35 runs off 26 balls, comprising five fours and a six.Despite Delhi Capitals facing defeat in the match, Kuldeep’s commendable batting performance earned him recognition as the top-scorer for his team, further enhancing his reputation as a reliable batsman.Kuldeep’s multifaceted contributions with both bat and ball underscore his growing stature as a versatile cricketer, capable of making impactful contributions across all facets of the game.Speaking at the event, Kuldeep said Rohit does not talk much to him regarding his bowling because he is delivering at his role. However, Rohit was concerned about his batting and helped him get better at it by speaking about the nuances of the discipline during nets.“Rohit bhai does not talk to me much about bowling because I am doing what he wants from me with the ball,” Kuldeep said. “He was concerned about my batting. He told me to improve my batting. I worked on it during the Test series against England [at home earlier this year] and he was impressed by my hard work. He used to be with me in the nets and speak to me about the nuances of batting. This helped me a lot and now I am enjoying my batting as much as my bowling,” said Kuldeep.(With ANI inputs)

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Matthew Hayden's daughter Grace chants 'Mumbaicha Raja Rohit Sharma', Australian style. Watch | Cricket News

Matthew Hayden’s daughter Grace chants ‘Mumbaicha Raja Rohit Sharma’, Australian style. Watch | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Australian great Matthew Hayden‘s daughter Grace on Monday experienced the craze and love of the Mumbai Indians fans for the franchise in the run-up to the side’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede.Grace was in a never-seen-before cricketing atmosphere and was seen enjoying every moment of it as Wankhede immersed itself in blue.From trying out local food to learning desi MI chants, Grace had a blast and was seen dancing and enjoying to the fullest alongside other fans. Grace’s father Matthew Hayden, now retired, represented Chennai Super Kings between 2008-10.For quite a few years now, Hayden has been associated with IPL as a commentator, giving his expert opinion and analysis.With mere three wins in 11 games under new skipper Hardik Pandya, MI currently sit at the bottom of the IPL table this season.

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Owning a house in India? David Warner opens up on his special love for the country, cricket-crazy fans | Cricket News

Owning a house in India? David Warner opens up on his special love for the country, cricket-crazy fans | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Renowned Australian opener David Warner has always had a special place in his heart for India.An IPL title winner with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, Warner, over the years, has been showered with immense love from the fans across the country.The 37-year-old too has been kind in sharing his love and appreciation for the fans over social media and meet-ups with fans.And it won’t be exaggerating to say that the Australian, to an extent, is more popular in the country than some of the local stars.Warner, recently opened up on the love he has received in the country and said that it has been overwhelming. Amid such popularity, there have also been jokes around Warner owning a place here.Putting all the speculations to a rest, Warner in an interview to Ashwin said, he indeed looked for a place some time back and would like to spend more time in the country.“I don’t (have a house in India). I did look at some stages. I get a lot of people asking me if I want a house here. One day, maybe when I finish my cricket, I would like to come here and spend some time. Lifestyle is good. I am a people’s person. I go to the malls with my girls and I embrace everything,” Warner said in the latest episode of R Ashwin’s YouTube show.“People say I am mad for going out without security and all that. But, at the end of the day, people have a lot of respect. I think people come and ask for photos, yes. But when you are out without your kids and embracing the culture, I think people understand and keep their distance. Sometimes though, in some smaller villages, it can get a little difficult. We do take security with us. But it’s great, I love it. You walk down the street in India and there’s always a game of cricket on,” he added.Warner’s feud-filled exit from Sunrisers, despite winning a title for them, was also a major talking point in his IPL career.From his exit to him being blocked by the franchise, Warner also spilled the beans on his relationship with the franchise.“It did (hurt) because it was a sense of hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have. With the engagement with the fans that I had, with the team I had was very good,” Warner said.“Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they keep coming back. That’s what is most important. But from the blocking point of view, I don’t know. I have been sitting on it for about 5 years. It was bizarre. At the end of the day, I still got fans who come onto my page and talk to everyone. So it’s great,” he added.

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'It's for MS Dhoni...': Preity Zinta speechless as Punjab Kings home venue turns yellow for CSK legend | Cricket News

‘It’s for MS Dhoni…’: Preity Zinta speechless as Punjab Kings home venue turns yellow for CSK legend | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: There was a sea of yellow at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala as fans wore yellow jerseys to cheer for the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the Punjab Kings’ home game on Sunday.And when Shardul Thakur was cleaned up by Harshal Patel, the picturesque Dharamsala stadium seen buzzing with the chants of Dhoni, Dhoni as the talisman made his way to the middle. The crowd hoped for a thrilling display and powerful hits from the legendary cricketer, but their excitement was soon dashed when Dhoni was dismissed for a golden duck as Harshal’s slower yorker deceived Dhoni and knocked over his stumps.This marked the first time in IPL 2024 that Dhoni left the field without scoring.Chennai Super Kings secured a 28-run victory in the match. Following the game, Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta held a question-and-answer session on social media that had an indifferent query from a fan. A fan asked: “Your franchise should conduct some activities to lure home fans more to the stadium because yesterday at Dharmasala is full of ?? yellow. #advice #pzchat”.To this, Preity replied: “It’s for Dhoni and what can I say … everyone loves him.” Chennai Super Kings are third in the points tally with 6 wins in 11 matches. They will next face Gujarat Titans on May 10.

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'100-200 zyada lelo par next IPL...': Fan's special request for CSK legend MS Dhoni | Cricket News

‘100-200 zyada lelo par next IPL…’: Fan’s special request for CSK legend MS Dhoni | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: In what is rumoured to be his last Indian Premier League season, the MS Dhoni mania continues to grow along the length and breadth of the country.Whereever Dhoni has gone to play for Chennai Super Kings this season, his fans and supporters have gathered in huge numbers across stadiums to catch a glimpse of their cricketing idol. And to go with that, there have also been requests from fans, asking the 42-year-old to continue playing for another season.The requests have even spread to non-CSK matches, where Dhoni fans have showered love for him in different ways, using placards and slogans. One such unique request came from a fan during the Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders game. Playing their last game of the season, a LSG fan requested skipper KL Rahul to ask Dhoni to play another season. “Rahul bhai, Dhoni sir se kahdo, 100-200 zyada lelo par next IPL season khel lo,” the fan’s placard read. In the 11 matches played in the season thus far, Dhoni has delighted fans with quite a few incredible cameos at the death having hit the ball at a strike rate of over 224. Dhoni has only been dismissed a couple of times this IPL season. With 6 wins and 5 losses in 11 matches, the defending champions currently sit at the 3rd spot on the points table.

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'The one who completes me': Jasprit Bumrah's heartfelt birthday note to wife Sanjana Ganesan | Cricket News

‘The one who completes me’: Jasprit Bumrah’s heartfelt birthday note to wife Sanjana Ganesan | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took a break from the rigors of the IPL to celebrate a special occasion, penning a heartfelt note for his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, on her birthday.In a touching gesture shared on social media, Bumrah expressed his love and appreciation for his wife, emphasizing her role in completing him and making the world a wonderful place. “Happy Birthday to my person, the one who completes me and with her by my side the world is a wonderful place. Angad and I wish you have the best birthday, with lots of love and cuddles from us,” Bumrah wrote, accompanied by a beautiful photo. Amidst Bumrah’s personal celebration, the Mumbai Indians find themselves in a precarious position in the ongoing IPL 2024, battling to salvage their pride after a disappointing season. With eight defeats in eleven matches, including four consecutive losses, Mumbai Indians languish at the bottom of the tournament table, struggling to replicate their past successes.Despite the team’s struggles, Bumrah has been a standout performer, leading the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack with distinction, claiming 17 wickets in 11 matches at an impressive average of 16.11. However, Mumbai Indians’ reliance on Bumrah underscores the collective underperformance of their star players, contributing to their dismal season.In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad, currently positioned at No. 4 with 12 points in 10 matches, are poised for a playoff berth, rejuvenating their campaign with promising performances. As they face off against Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad aim to further solidify their playoff aspirations, presenting a formidable challenge to their opponents.

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'Maaro bhai, dono maarenge...': Rishabh Pant recalls special IPL moment with Sanju Samson | Cricket News

‘Maaro bhai, dono maarenge…’: Rishabh Pant recalls special IPL moment with Sanju Samson | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant recalled an IPL 2017 moment with his former teammate Sanju Samson, who now leads the Rajasthan Royals. During an interaction on Jio Cinema, Pant shared a light-hearted moment from the past where Samson inquired about their game strategy while playing for the Delhi franchise together, against the Gujarat Lions, led by Suresh Raina at the time. Pant revealed their on-field chemistry by quoting what he told Samson, “We had a great chemistry together. Sanju came asked what would be the gameplan. I said, ‘Maaro bhai, dono maarenge (Let’s hit, brother; we’ll both strike).’” The two cricketers, Pant and Samson, have been in the limelight for their consistent performances in the ongoing IPL and have been selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup. There is a possibility of seeing them bat together for the national team, which would be an exciting prospect for cricket fans.ALSO SEE: IPL 2024 SCHEDULELooking ahead, the Delhi Capitals, under Pant’s leadership, are set to clash with Samson’s Rajasthan Royals in the 54th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 season in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. This encounter is crucial for both teams as they aim to secure their positions in the league standings. As of now, Rajasthan Royals have slipped to the second spot on the points table after a recent victory by Kolkata Knight Riders over Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals are placed sixth, having accumulated 10 points from 11 matches. Both teams are eager to improve their standings, and the upcoming match is expected to be a high-stakes battle.

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MS Dhoni: 'Come on mate, bat for four overs': Irfan Pathan questions MS Dhoni's batting position in IPL 2024 | Cricket News

MS Dhoni: ‘Come on mate, bat for four overs’: Irfan Pathan questions MS Dhoni’s batting position in IPL 2024 | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed bewilderment at Chennai Super Kings’ decision to persistently utilize veteran batter MS Dhoni in a lower batting order position, despite his solid form and the team’s fluctuating match situations.During CSK’s encounter against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, Pathan observed Dhoni entering the fray as low as No. 9, with just eight balls remaining in their innings, a move that left him perplexed.“I know that he is 42, but he is in solid form. He should be taking the responsibility of batting up the order. He should bat for at least four to five overs,” Pathan remarked on Star Sports.Pathan emphasized the need for Dhoni to assume a more prominent batting role, particularly earlier in the innings, rather than being confined to a brief cameo in the final overs. “He is batting for the last over or last 2 overs and that doesn’t serve the purpose for CSK for a long term,” Pathan added.Dhoni’s dismissal for a golden duck further underscored the questionable decision-making regarding his batting position. Pathan highlighted the significance of Dhoni’s contributions, especially in critical match scenarios, urging CSK to reassess their strategy and optimize Dhoni’s batting potential.Acknowledging Dhoni’s impact in previous matches, Pathan stressed the necessity for a proactive approach in utilizing his expertise, especially considering CSK’s playoff aspirations. “When the team needed him, you can’t send Shardul Thakur ahead of yourself. They need to work out something; someone has to tell Dhoni, ‘Come on mate, bat for four overs’,” Pathan added.

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