"Worst Kind Of Bowling": Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Hardik Pandya After MS Dhoni's Fiery Knock

“Worst Kind Of Bowling”: Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Hardik Pandya After MS Dhoni’s Fiery Knock

Hardik Pandya (L) and MS Dhoni© AFP Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sunil Gavaskar was furious with Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya after he was hit for three consecutive sixes by MS Dhoni during the IPL 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Hardik was the pick of the MI bowlers with two wickets but he was slammed for 20 runs by Dhoni in the final four balls of the CSK innings. Gavaskar slammed Hardik for his ‘ordinary bowling and ordinary captaincy’ and criticised the kind of deliveries that he produced. “Probably the worst kind of bowling that I’ve seen for a long, long time. It almost looks like I’ve had this embrace with my hero. I’ve got a bowling kind of deliveries that he’s gonna hit for sixes. One 6 is fine. The next one again a length ball when you know that this batter is looking for a length ball to hit. The third ball again, a full toss on the leg side and he’s looking for it and hits it for a 6. Absolutely ordinary bowling, ordinary captaincy,” Gavaskar said during his analysis in the mid-innings break. Gavaskar also referred to the interaction that Hardik and Dhoni had just ahead of the match. Hardik ran to Dhoni and hugged the former India skipper in a moment that has gone viral on social media. Coming to the match, Rohit Sharma’s century went in vain as Mumbai Indians lost to Chennai Super Kings by 20 runs. Rohit played a brilliant knock but the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and an impressive four-wicket haul from Matheesha Pathirana ensured the victory for CSK. Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube slammed half-centuries while Dhoni provided a late flourish against Hardik’s bowling to take CSK’s total to 206. Thanks to the victory, CSK remain in the third position while Mumbai Indians are eighth in the competition with just four points from six matches. 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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Watch - MI vs CSK: Rivals on the field, friends off it | Cricket News

Watch – MI vs CSK: Rivals on the field, friends off it | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: There’s no bigger clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) than the one between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. It’s a classic rivalry to say the least.Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are powerhouse teams, each having won the trophy five times. Whenever they clash, it’s not just a cricket match, but a showdown of talent, strategy, and nerves. Their matches are always highly anticipated and fiercely contested, with fans from both sides eagerly watching every ball.The MI vs CSK rivalry is characterized by competitiveness, high-quality cricket, and memorable moments, making it one of the most captivating matchups in the IPL.But regardless of the rivalry, the players of both the teams are friends and have mutual admiration for each other.On the eve of the clash between the two teams at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, the official X handle of CSK shared a video of players both the teams meeting and greeting each other.Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur who are from Mumbai play for CSK.In the video, Rohit Sharma was seen talking to Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja interacting with Tilak Verma. And the friends from the Caribbean, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were seen talking to CSK head coach Stephen Fleming.Bravo and Pollard have had numerous and memorable on-field clashes but their friendship has only grown stronger over the years.Shardul Thakur was also seen talking to Ishan Kishan, whose idol is the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni.The MI-CSK rivalry began in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. Since then, MI and CSK have faced each other numerous times in the league stage, playoffs, and finals, adding to the intensity of their rivalry.Both teams have had their moments of dominance. However, CSK has historically had a slight edge in head-to-head matches, particularly in the earlier seasons of the IPL. In recent years, MI have balanced the scales, making the rivalry even more compelling. MI and CSK have often met in crucial playoff matches and finals, elevating the stakes of their encounters. These matches have produced some thrilling moments and have been highly anticipated by fans of both teams.The rivalry is also fueled by the presence of star players in both teams. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah (MI) and MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) have played key roles in shaping the outcomes of matches between these teams over the years.MI and CSK have large and passionate fan bases, adding to the atmosphere and excitement whenever they face each other on the field. The support from fans further intensifies the rivalry.

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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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"Last Captain Was Cool But This Guy...": CSK Coach Compares MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad

“Last Captain Was Cool But This Guy…”: CSK Coach Compares MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is cut from the same cloth as MS Dhoni and it is unfair to term the former “slow” while batting, said head coach Stephen Fleming here on Saturday. Gaikwad, who replaced Dhoni as the CSK captain at the beginning of this IPL, has had a mixed start to his leadership stint losing two away games and winning three at home. But at the same time, the 27-year-old Gaikwad has been criticised for “slow” batting. Read here: IPL 2024 points table The right-handed opening batter has so far garnered 155 runs in five matches with a strike rate of 117.42. “There’s no difference. He’s as cool as it gets. I know the last captain was pretty cool. But this guy is cut from the same cloth, so that’s rubbed through,” Fleming said when asked if he had any discussion with Gaikwad in terms of differentiating between his leadership and his batting. “He is such an impressive young man around his game and what he needs to do. He’s been, I think, unfairly put into a bracket where he’s been called slow. But you have to have context to some of these stats,” Fleming told the media during CSK’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium. “We know that it’s a bit of a Bollywood movie, sometimes getting these things up onto the screen. But he’s fine. He’s playing conditions well. The last game (CSK vs KKR) was a great example of how a leader plays, and there’s class as well. I have absolutely no doubt about Ruturaj,” Fleming added. Fleming clarified that appointing Ruturaj as skipper is a long-term call and not a makeshift decision by the five-time winners. “I hope so. That’s the plan, and so far it’s worked well. The transition has been really smooth. He’s judged by wins but we judge it differently. His leadership around the team is top-class. I would imagine it would be hopefully for many years like the last captain,” Fleming added. The former New Zealand captain said CSK are the benefactors of the love Dhoni has got from fans which, at times, has been overwhelming. “It’s magnificent, to be honest. It is truly astounding, the love that… Let’s be honest, the love that India has for MS Dhoni, and we are benefactors of that,” Fleming said. “The team, without (a) doubt, feels pride when they walk out to an away game and there’s a large amount of yellow. If not all yellow, it’s in some cases, overwhelming.” “But we are under no illusions that what has created it and who has created it. We’re very proud of him and his involvement with the side. We look at it as a real honour that people will come out and support him, and if it’s secondary, then the team. We’re both very closely linked,” Fleming added. Fleming said a two-month dose of IPL every year has become contagious but the league must keep finding ways to evolve. “In terms of fan following, naturally it has grown. The skills of the players is evolving. Batting in particular has evolved at a huge rate, in particular the last five years,” he said. “The challenge of the IPL, from a skill point of view, is how the bowlers can even the game up a little bit. The two bouncers (per over rule) is one. Maybe we need to keep looking at other ways to do that.” “The fact that it becomes intoxicating two months of cricket and fandom and support, it’s a wonderful injection for cricket. So how can you not love it? How can it not be contagious?,” he added. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians’ Mohammad Nabi said getting the team combination right was one of the key factors for the five-time winners to get back to winning ways. “The plans from the bowling and batting groups are going really well which is why we won the last two games. The team combination was good for the last two matches,” he said. Nabi said the nature of the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium makes an off-spinner’s job tougher. “The conditions at Wankhede as a spinner are really tough to bowl as an off-spinner. Leg-spinners have a lot of varieties but as an off-spinner is tougher to bowl here,” he said. Topics mentioned in this article

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India

“Picture Of The Year”: MS Dhoni Re-United With World Cup At The Venue Of 2011 Triumph. Internet On Overdrive

MS Dhoni is one iconic cricket captain. Recently, a video of Gautam Gambhir went viral where he said that Dhoni would remain the most successful Indian cricket team captain. The former star had every reason to say so. No other captain has won the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and also taken the team to No. 1 ranking in Tests. From 2007, MS Dhoni’s charisma on the field meant that Indian cricket team was an indomitable force. Read here: IPL 2024 points table While MS Dhoni won many accolades, the one ever-lasting image that the great produced was in the final of the 2011 ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai when he hit Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara for a six to win the marquee event for India. He stayed unbeaten on 91 as India clinched their second-ever ODI World Cup title. That was the last time India won the ODI World Cup. MS DHoni is back at the Wankhede Stadium. This time he will be playing for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in an IPL 2024 match. Ahead of the match, MS Dhoni came fact to face with the 2011 World Cup trophy on Saturday and the image has gone viral. Some are referring to it as the ‘picture of the year.’ Dream of many captains MS Dhoni with iconic 2011 World Cup Trophy – Picture of the year. pic.twitter.com/cszhlEjy4j — (@AloneSoul_ABU) April 13, 2024 91K likes needed for this picture. MS Dhoni pic.twitter.com/uhurOHjOuH — Sexy Cricket Shots (IPL’24) (@sexycricketshot) April 13, 2024 MS Dhoni World Cup Trophy Made for each other#MSDhoni #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/snvG6Ok9gM — Jetharam Godara (@Jethara39738387) April 13, 2024 The IPL 2024 season started with Dhoni stepping down from CSK captaincy just ahead of the tournament and Ruturaj Gaikwad assuming the role. Ravindra Jadeja had earlier tried and failed to replace Dhoni as the CSK captain in 2022 but the support from fans and team management made one thing very clear – Gaikwad is the choice for the future and the entire ‘Yellow Army’ was behind him this time. However, what did not stop was the chatter on how much influence Dhoni will have on the pitch. Hailed as one of the master tacticians of the game, Dhoni had proven in the past that he is capable of changing any game just by his acumen. As a result, the conversations never stopped and it even led to some experts wondering out loud about how much Gaikwad will be able to exercise his control over the team. Topics mentioned in this article

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"MS Dhoni Blames IPL Parties For T20 World Cup Exit": RCB's Old Post Resurfaces, Internet Puzzled

“MS Dhoni Blames IPL Parties For T20 World Cup Exit”: RCB’s Old Post Resurfaces, Internet Puzzled

File photo of MS Dhoni© BCCI/IPL The internet can be a funny place. Often it throws up posts and comments which surprises all. Old posts which was long lost from public memory, suddenly resurfaces without any context. One such post again came light on Saturday. The post was made on May 12, 2010 from the official handle of IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “Dhoni blames IPL parties for T20 World Cup exit… What do you think??? Via Allen,” the post read. The post again came to light as a X handle ‘TukTuk Academy’ reposted it along with the scorecard of a match where Irfan Pathan scored 26 off 30 balls while other Indian batters failed. It is not known which match’s scorecard the handle shared. But 13-year-old post is a genuine one done from RCB’s official handle. While India won the 2007 T20 World Cup under the leadership of Dhoni, it was knocked out of the Super Eight Stage in the 2010 edition. “Most of the players were fit and fresh. Players also need to be smart, not only about cricket but about other things going around in the IPL. We have to respect your body and give some time for it to recover because there is more to it than playing matches. Attending parties and travelling takes a toll,” Dhoni had said in 2010 on India’s T20 World Cup exit. Dhoni blames IPL parties for T20 World Cup exit… What do you think??? Via Allen — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 12, 2010 MS Dhoni’s fan following has got no bounds. The former India captain called time on his international cricket career in 2020 and since that he has been available only for the Indian Premier League, playing for Chennai Super Kings. It means that the Dhoni fans have to wait for around ten months to see their favourite player in action. Despite the lack of appearance among fans in the past three-four years, Dhoni’s craze has only increased with the passage of time. The study of the official TV broadcaster for IPL 2024 too backs this opinion with some unique data. Shame on Irfan Pathan for scoring 26 runs in 30 balls pic.twitter.com/oU6kUUOliS — TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) April 13, 2024 Star Sports has come up with the technology of calculating the crowd’s noise levels at different junctures during the course of the tournament and Dhoni holds the top two spots. As per the data, the top noise from the crowd is 130 Decibel which was attainted during Dhoni’s entry into the MA Chidambaram Stadium before the toss for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings match, which happened to be the opening game of the ongoing tournament. At the joint-second spot in the list is the moment when Dhoni smashed a four against Delhi Capitals in the 17th over. The crowd’s noise peaked in the game at that moment with a record of 128 Decibel. Coming in at the 8th position in the match, this was the first time Dhoni batted in IPL 2024.

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