pat cummins

IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad seek return to swashbuckling ways against Rajasthan Royals | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

HYDERABAD: Stung by back-to-back losses, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be keen to get back to winning ways against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday.The 2016 champions went down to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 35 runs and suffered an embarrassing 78-run loss to Chennai Super Kings- chasing down 206 and 213, respectively.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLEAs the race for the playoffs intensifies, the Pat Cummins-led side, who are now fifth in points table with 10 points, need to bring their ‘A’ game against the Royals.While setting up totals has been their strong suit, Sunrisers seem to come unstuck batting second. Cummins wants his team to polish their skills in that aspect. Opener Travis Head has not fired in the last two games and a big score from the Australian opener, who tops the batting charts for his side with 338 runs, will help SRH. Abhishek Sharma also needs to be consistency as a lot depends on the start these two provide. The fragile middle-order consisting of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abdul Samad stood exposed in the last two games. The dip in Klaasen’s form (20, 7, 15 in last three outings) compounded their woes.T Natarajan (13 wickets) has been the pick of the bowlers but the rest have all gone over nine runs per over.In contrast, the Royals have been on a roll. With 16 points in their kitty, they are almost assured of a playoff spot. Captain Sanju Samson (385) has led from the front while Riyan Parag (332), Jos Buttler (319) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (249) have all struck form. Jaiswal, who struggled initially, slammed a century against Mumbai Indians, adding more firepower to the batting unit. Yuzvendra Chahal has been impressive with 13 scalps while Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma have produced good results with the new ball.Royals are coming into this match with a seven-wicket win over LSG and a nine-wicket thrashing of MI and would like to extend their purple patch.

Pat Cummins’ favourite memory of Virat Kohli won’t make Indian fans happy | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins will face off once again in IPL 2024 on Thursday when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, and while the camaraderie between two champion cricketers was evident during a joint training session, Cummins didn’t miss a chance to be a little cheeky when he was asked about his favourite memory of Kohli. IPL 2024: Results | Points Table In the ‘Captains Speak’ segment of a Star Sports show, Cummins, who also led Australia to the 2023 ODI World Cup triumph, was asked a few questions about Kohli as the two gear up for another match-up. “Someone who has played so much cricket, I admire him for how much he gets up for every game and gets into the contest, whether he is batting or in the field. He plays 100 days a year and he’s up for every single of those games,” Cummins said. Interestingly, Kohli was bowled by Cummins for 54 in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which proved to be one of the game-changing moments of the title clash that Australia went on to win by six wickets. It was Australia’s record-extending sixth ODI World Cup triumph. WATCH VIDEO Possibly with that dismissal at the back of his mind, Cummins chose to be cheeky in his reply to another question.“My favourite memory of Virat? Can I say when I get him out?,” he said, and followed it up with a smile.ALSO READ: How to watch IPL in Canada In RCB’s earlier match against the Sunrisers in this IPL season, Kohli scored 42. The game saw SRH scoring IPL’s highest ever total as they put up a gigantic 287 for 3 on the board. RCB made a match of it in run-chase but ended up short (262 for 7) and lost by 25 runs. Kohli currently leads the Orange Cap standings with his tally of 379 runs in 8 matches, including one hundred and two fifties. He averages 63.16 and has scored his runs at a strike rate of 150.39. Cummins added that while both he and Kohli are competitive on the field, they are fairly relaxed off it.“We are both super competitive. I think off the field Virat is pretty relaxed and I am (also) pretty relaxed off the field,” said the SRH skipper.

‘MS Dhoni still leading the side, not Ruturaj Gaikwad’: Navjot Singh Sidhu makes a big statement on CSK captaincy | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu firmly expressed his opinion regarding the leadership dynamics within the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team, stating that despite Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s presence as the official captain, it is still the legendary MS Dhoni who is effectively leading the team.Sidhu’s observation emphasises the enduring influence and leadership prowess of Dhoni, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket.Sidhu, known for his outright comments, shared his viewpoint when asked who has impressed him the most, as per strategic point of view, among the current crop of young and new captains in the IPL so far.“If you talk about Ruturaj, he is still under the shadow of Dhoni. You can say as many times that Dhoni is not captaining, but ultimately he is leading the side. ‘Bargad ke neeche kya uga hai, uga kar dikhao. When Dhoni leaves, there might be no shadow of him,” said Sidhu, who is doing commentary in the ongoing IPL, on the #AskStar show on Star Sports. Sidhu also stated that one can only evaluate a captain after he has guided the team through nearly 50 matches.Sidhu praised Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson for his maturity and skillful resource management. And when it comes to the best leadership, the cricketer-turned commentator named Australian skipper Pat Cummins, currently leading Sunrisers Hyderabad, as the best captain.Dhoni’s tenure as captain of CSK has been marked by remarkable achievements, including five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles, which have solidified his reputation as a shrewd tactician and an astute leader. Despite stepping down from the captaincy role before the start of IPL 2024, Dhoni continues to exert a significant influence on the team’s strategy and decision-making, both on and off the field.Ruturaj, while assuming the formal captaincy position, may still be in the process of growing into his leadership role within the team. Dhoni’s experience, tactical acumen, and ability to mentor younger players likely play a crucial role in guiding Gaikwad and the rest of the team during matches and training sessions.Sidhu’s remarks highlight the intricate dynamics of leadership within cricket teams, where the presence of a seasoned veteran like Dhoni can continue to shape the team’s performance and direction, even as newer leaders emerge. Dhoni’s leadership legacy at CSK remains a cornerstone of the team’s identity, with his influence extending far beyond his official title.

Pat Cummins’ cold-blooded ‘World Cup 2023’ throwback provokes Indian fans: ‘We paid him 20 crore in return’ | Cricket

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

Australia skipper Pat Cummins added salt to the Indian cricket fans’ wounds from last year as he revealed his favourite memory in India. Cummins, who is currently leading Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2024, hosted an Ask me a question session on Instagram as one fan asked him about his favourite memory in India. Pat Cummins led Australia to ODI World Cup glory last year.(REUTERS) Cummins posted the photo of the Australian team celebrating the ODI World Cup 2023 triumph over India in the final. Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! The premier pacer led the Aussies to their record-extending sixth World Cup trophy on November 19 with a clinical 6-wicket win over India in front of a jam-packed Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The fans on social media reacted to Cummins’ Instagram story. The Aussie team put up a collective effort and outclassed India, who were enjoying an unbeaten streak before the final, as Cummins also managed to silence the Ahmedabad crowd by dismissing the hosts’ best batter Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, Cummins has also been impressive in his first stint as captain for Sunrisers Hyderabad thus far. He has led the Orange Army to three wins in five matches. SRH edged past Punjab Kings in their last match which was a last-ball thriller. After the win over PBKS, Cummins said it was a great game of cricket and despite PBKS bowling well in the start, SRH did well to reach 182 and defend it. He also pointed out that the ‘Impact Player’ rule deepens the batting. “If you get 150-160, you are going to lose nine out of ten games anyway. We knew the new ball was going to be a key time. We were pretty happy (with our score). We saw what happened with the new ball for them, so thought if me and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) could start off with a wicket of wickets, it would be good. We have plenty of left-armers and right-armers, so just trying to give the bowlers the best chance of success,” Cummins said after the clash in Chandigarh. SRH will next clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Cummins and Co will enter the match as the favourites as RCB have been struggling miserably this season and currently placed at the bottom of the points table.

IPL-17: RCB vs SRH | Headaches a plenty for Royal Challengers as it hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrate a wicket during an IPL match. Their bowlers will be under as the team faces Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on April 15. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis has nowhere to turn. His bowlers concede runs aplenty, and his batters have failed to get going. When RCB takes on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 15, only an exceptional individual performance can save the home team from a fifth straight loss. RCB’s primary concern is the bowling unit, which in the opinion of du Plessis, lacks potent weapons. It is down to the batters to get a massive total and keep the side in the hunt, du Plessis said after a crushing loss against Mumbai Indians. If only it was that simple. The RCB batters share as much blame as the bowlers, as Virat Kohli & Co. have failed to get the team to the 200-run mark so far this season. Kohli has been scoring runs by the heap, but this has not helped the team cause. Dinesh Karthik has provided some cheer with his late hits, and RCB may be tempted to promote the 38-year-old up the order. RCB will find it hard to contain the explosive SRH batters. South African Heinrich Klaasen and opener Abhishek Sharma, second and third respectively on the list of players with the most number of sixes for the tournament, illustrate SRH’s aggressive intent. SRH will be encouraged by the confidence shown by uncapped Nitish Kumar Reddy, who smashed a 37-ball 64 against Punjab Kings to give the unit a second straight win. Teams (from): Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Sanvir Singh, Heinrich Klaasen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Upendra Singh Yadav, Umran Malik, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Travis Head, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, Jhathavedh Subramanyan. Match starts at 7.30 PM.

Travis Head eyes good preparation in IPL for T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago09 mins

NEW DELHI: Travis Head‘s career graph saw a slight uptick in 2023, but the Australian batter is aware that maintaining that level will be difficult, and the forthcoming T20 World Cup will be his first stop on that trip.Head’s hundreds in two of the biggest cricketing occasions last year – the WTC final and the 50-over World Cup summit clash – were Australia’s guiding force against India.However, the 30-year-old now hopes that his time in the Indian Premier League would help him be at his best for the World Cup.“I’ve come a long way as a player. I guess owning a little bit of the style I want to play and the way I have played overseas too, I’ve been able to tick a few boxes. Now, the pressure is to continue to play the way I am playing,” Head told PTI in Bengaluru.“I think in all formats, I need to make sure that I go back to what simplifies everything, which is my technique and my blueprint,” he added.In the current IPL, Head demonstrated his ability to adjust while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.As an opener, Head made 133 runs from five matches while striking at 177, giving SRH early momentum and also underscoring his readiness for a hectic T20 role for his country.“With the World Cup coming around the corner and, hopefully, being involved in that squad and batting at the top of the order…it gives me good preparation here in the IPL to try and get some runs and have a little bit of form going into the World Cup,” noted Head.But playing a full season of IPL could lead to burnout ahead of the ICC marquee event in June.Head was aware of it. “I think it is important for me to make sure that I’m mentally fresh throughout the IPL and continuing to work on my game, and making sure that I am ready for the World Cup when that time comes. But I am feeling like I am prepared and ready at the moment,” he added.The confidence level inside Head was evident when he smashed a 24-ball 62 in his first IPL match in seven years.The South Australian said his increased game awareness helped him make an instant impact.“It was nice to get some runs in the first game, and honestly, I didn’t really have too many expectations.It’s been a long time between IPLs for me, seven years, but I’ve learned a lot over that time and am a lot more mature now.“I feel like I understand my game a lot more. So, a lot of different feelings coming back and not trying to be too nervous or worried about results. I am just making sure that the things that I’ve done over the last few years are going to work and I best prepare myself to play well for the franchise,” he said.However, Head admitted that the presence of Pat Cummins (captain) and Daniel Vettori (head coach) in the SRH dressing room eased him into the new environment.“Definitely having Pat and Dan, who I’ve worked closely with for Australia in the last few years, has helped me. It’s a very relaxed environment.“Soon as I got my contract, I knew that I had the backing from those guys and they’ve confidence in my game,” he said.Head describes the World Cup final in Ahmedabad as the greatest highlight of his career. With a brilliant century of 120 balls, the left-hander led Australia to win by six wickets and their sixth ODI World Cup.“I think the World Cup final was probably the biggest match of my career, regardless of whether I got runs or not. It was a huge moment. Obviously, I have not played in a World Cup before.“So, to have all the stuff that happened, making it to a final and then being able to contribute in the final makes it all so much better,” he explained.In addition to scoring a 90 at Ahmedabad and a few 40s at New Delhi and Indore during the 2023 Test series, Head said that this performance laid the groundwork for his resounding victory over India.“The two finals come to mind. But a big Test series (2023) and some T20 games in between…I feel I drew a lot of my blueprint and confidence from that Test tour in India, which then flowed into the World Test Championship and then especially to the World Cup final.“I was able to draw back on some of the things that worked well on those wickets and it’s nice that it has come together in big games for me,” Head offered.Head thought that his assured demeanor resonated perfectly in the Hyderabad team’s changing room during the current IPL.“We want to be aggressive and I think we’ve shown that in the first five games. It suited me as well. I feel, at the moment, we’re being really aggressive in the right way and the right moments.“Obviously, Power Play is very important for us and hopefully Abhi (Abhishek Sharma) and I can continue to do what we’ve been doing in the Power Play,” he signed off. (With PTI inputs)