RCB

Virat Kohli in a zone where no bowler can trouble him: Mohammad Kaif | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has heaped praise on Virat Kohli, stating that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener has reached a state of focus where no bowling match-up can disturb him. Kohli has been in exceptional form in IPL 2024, displaying his prowess and determination.RCB are set to face Chennai Super Kings in their final league game in Bengaluru on Saturday.The hosts need to secure a victory with a decent margin to surpass their opponents and clinch the final playoff berth based on net run rate.Speaking on Star Sports, Kaif likened Kohli’s current form and mindset to that of a monk in deep meditation, undisturbed by external distractions.”When a hermit goes to the Himalayas, he is in a different zone when he is meditating. Nothing distracts him. Whether there is a loud noise, someone shouts or cries, it doesn’t make a difference. Virat Kohli has reached that zone,” Kaif said.“He is not seeing the scorecard and is just in his zone and concentrating. He knows the intent with which he needs to play no matter which bowler, whether it’s a fast bowler or a spinner, is in front of him. No matter which bowler comes, he has reached a zone where there is no match-up,” the former India batter added. Kohli is the highest run-getter in IPL 2024, amassing 661 runs at a strike rate of 155.16 in 13 games. Kaif emphasized that Kohli is driven by a desire to lead RCB to victory.“He has come just to dominate. He has come with the passion that he will only be satisfied once he makes his team win, and that has been seen from the second match. In the first match against Chennai, he got out when he pulled a Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) slower bouncer and (Ajinkya) Rahane took the catch,” he observed.“From the second match against Punjab, he came determined. He was jumping down the track and hitting (Kagiso) Rabada and playing slog sweeps against spinners. You talk about the fourth or fifth gear but he has reached the 15th gear. No one will reach that level,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.As RCB prepare for their crucial match against CSK, Kohli’s form and focus will be pivotal in determining the team’s chances of making it to the playoffs.

Mohammed Siraj’s form crucial for RCB: Griffith | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago05 mins

BENGALURU: It wasn’t a typical M Chinnaswamy stadium strip on Saturday night — the wicket was two-paced, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s bowling too wasn’t akin to their display in the Indian Premier League thus far.Their bowling attack, pace in particular, was characterised by discipline, lengths were rarely off the mark and the lines spot on.Most importantly, their lead bowler, Mohammed Siraj, was back in the groove, tormenting the hapless Gujarat Titans batters in the powerplay.Siraj was dropped for the run-fest against Sunrisers Hyderabad last month and the 10-day break seems to have rejuvenated the 30-year-old. The World Cup-bound pacer has found his rhythm and although RCB are seventh on the points table with three games in hand, it isn’t out of place for them to fancy an outside chance of making the playoffs.In the last two wins — both coming against Gujarat — the bowling in powerplay has been the key for Faf du Plessis and his men. Admitting that the team has been able to address the problem area, Adam Griffith, the RCB bowling coach, said, “The start of the tournament wasn’t great for us, especially in the powerplay and that is something we focused a lot on recently to make sure we work really hard to get better starts. It was good to see the hard work pay off.”Siraj, at the start of the day, was a doubtful starter.“I wasn’t feeling well. When I woke up in the morning, I thought I wouldn’t be able to play and should rest. But I manifested what I wanted to do and that’s exactly what happened,” he said after the four-wicket win.The Bengaluru-based franchise headed to Goa for a break after their nine-wicket win over the Titans in Ahmedabad last week and the rest seemed to have worked well for the team.Outlining the shift in the bowling approach, Griffith revealed, “We’ve swung the ball all tournament upfront. What we’ve done in the last couple of games is we’ve bowled a better line. We talked a lot about bowling straighter and attacking the stumps as much as we can to challenge the batters’ defence and make them play aggressive shots. If they want to come hard at us, it’s a challenge for them to do. The boys put it exactly where we wanted them.”While RCB’s spin attack is undercooked and the pacers have been under the pump, Griffith said Siraj’s form was crucial for the team.“He’s the leader of our group. He’s our most experienced bowler and played a lot for India over the last few years and done really well. It’s not just him bowling well but it’s his aggression, it’s his body language and it’s his taking the batters on to try and get wickets. He’s such an important part of what we’re trying to do. So, having him up and going, swinging the ball again, bowling with good pace is important,” pointed out the 46-year-old.

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.

Loud cheers as Virat Kohli makes lively gesture towards Anushka Sharma. Watch | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: No matter wherever he is positioned, Virat Kohli‘s each and every act on the field gets captured on camera. And Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Gujarat Titans was no different as the former RCB captain was caught making animated gestures towards his wife Anushka Sharma in the stands at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.Virat’s actions, such as pretending to carry an aarti ki thali upon his arrival, were greeted with enthusiasm and appreciation from the audience.They cherished the couple’s deep connection and Virat’s lighthearted demeanor. The endearing interaction between Virat and Anushka rapidly spread across social media platforms. The event marked Anushka’s first public appearance following the birth of their son, Akaay. Prior to this, she was seen during her birthday festivities, where she celebrated with Virat and his RCB colleagues in a private gathering.RCB stay alive in IPLRoyal Challengers Bengaluru kept alive their slim playoff hopes in the Indian Premier League with a four-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in a low-scoring thriller on Saturday.Bengaluru pacers came to the party as Gujarat was put into bat and bowled out for 147 runs in 19.3 overs.Bengaluru skipper Faf du Plessis then led the way with 64 off 23 balls, as the hosts finished with 152-6 in only 13.4 overs. Kohli scored 42 runs in 27 balls and shared an opening partnership of 92 with du Plessis in 5.5 overs.

IPL 2024: Mohammed Siraj’s good show for RCB a shot in the arm for Team India | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago07 mins

NEW DELHI: Mohammed Siraj‘s turn-around has been instrumental in Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s late-inning comeback in this IPL, and the pacer’s impressive form may have also helped calm Indian nerves ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLEIn the most recent manifestation of his transformation, Siraj destroyed the Gujarat Titans with a two-wicket burst in the Power Play, taking the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill.Siraj took an incredible 2-0-9-2 at that point, and as he is expected to share the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah in the ICC final, it is also a huge boost for the national side.After working with Siraj for the past five years, assistant coach Adam Griffith of the RCB attributed that change to him “swinging the ball again.”“He’s the leader of our group. He’s played a lot for India in the last few years and has done really well. It’s not just him bowling well. It’s his aggression, his body language, him taking the batters on to try and get wickets is such an important part of what we’re trying to do.“Having him up and going, swinging the ball again, bowling with good pace, and being aggressive is so important to us,” said Griffith in the post-match press meet in Bengaluru on Saturday after RCB defeated GT by four wickets. The bowling performance of the Royal Challengers, with a combined economy rate of 10.28 and 45 wickets, was the lowest in the IPL season.As the leader, it was Siraj’s job to sort of galvanize the others, and he raised his hand.Maybe the nine days off he received between April 12 and April 20 helped him refocus and become more alert.The Sunrisers Hyderabad game in Bengaluru, where they amassed an IPL record 287 for three, was the one he missed in the meantime.Griffith outlined the reasoning behind allowing Siraj some free time.“He’s like any other player when they are fatigued. It’s very important to give them that break. That’s just as important as the training component, sometimes even more important.“He is a rhythm bowler – his run-up is so important to what he does. So, we want him fresh and running in hard,” he said. Siraj participated in four games against the Kolkata Knight Riders, SRH, and two against GT after his comeback from the break. In a high-scoring game against the Knight Riders, RCB lost by one run, but they won the other three.In those three matches, Siraj had figures of 4-0-20-0, 4-0-34-1 and 4-0-29-2.Griffith said Siraj has found a good balance between off-time and preparation.“He knows his body really well. He knows what he needs to do to prepare and every now and then we might need to give him a little bit of a push in that direction.“I’ve been with him now for five or so years, so I can tell when he’s going well and when he needs a rest,” he added.This version of Siraj was a throwback to IPL 2023 when he picked up 19 wickets and 10 of them were in the Power Play.The energy of Siraj seemed to have percolated to other bowlers too as the young Yash Dayal dished out a frugal and productive spell upfront – 4-0-21-2.It meant that the Titans were restricted to the lowest Power Play score of this IPL season – 23/3.Griffith said the RCB bowlers have collectively managed to hit a better line as they notched up three wins on the bounce.“We’ve swung the ball all tournament upfront. We talked about bowling a lot straighter and attacking the stumps as much as we can to challenge the batters’ defence and make them play aggressive shots if they want to come at us.“That’s the challenge for them to do and the boys put them exactly where we wanted them (against GT),” he explained.(With PTI inputs)

Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli take RCB to win over Titans after bowlers fire

Danijones6 months ago07 mins

For the first six overs of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) reply, the ball was travelling to all parts of the stadium. The home team were running away with the match on 92/1 after the powerplay, chasing 148. So dominant were they, and GT bowlers so listless, that RCB got greedy. They decided to push for an early win in a bid to boost their net run rate. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli during the match against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2024.(ANI ) Perhaps late, but Titans woke up to the possibility of using the short ball, which was their undoing while batting. Irish left-arm seamer Josh Little, playing the season’s first match, was the only serious bowling option GT had to execute the short-ball ploy. Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell in the 8th over, Cameron Green in the 10th, all holed out trying to attack Little’s short ball. His 4-0-45-4 almost forced RCB off their perch. When Noor Ahmed’s wrong ’un got the set Virat Kohli 42 (27b), RCB were 117/6 and there was panic in the dugout. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! But Dinesh Karthik’s calm 21* (12b) and Swapnil Singh 15* (9b) saved the day as RCB kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a four-wicket win achieved in the 14th over on Saturday. SIRAJ FINDS RHYTHM World Cup-bound Mohammed Siraj rediscovered his lengths (4-0-29-2) on a M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch that had some life in the first half, for a change. Whether it was the effect of the pitch having been under covers due to rain, the grass on the pitch wasn’t just cosmetic. RCB bowlers made the most of the two-paced pitch, using short deliveries to peg back the visitors in the powerplay. Not for the first time, GT endured another poor powerplay with fewest runs – 23/3. Against Delhi Capitals at home, they had only managed 30/4. Even for a bowling-heavy side, GT’s middling performances with the bat have been piling on their agony. Wriddhiman Saha has been Siraj’s bunny and it took no time for the India pacer to catch Saha’s (1) outside edge. Soon, Shubman Gill cut a desolate figure after another failure, his waft on two against Siraj ending up in the hands of point. For a batter who plundered runs at will, 890 last edition, Gill’s indifferent season as captain will add to his misery. After the Hardik Pandya transfer, GT has been without a middle-overs insurance cover and more reliant on Gill than before. But he has been hesitant on which approach to take, leading to his undoing on quite a few occasions. Then Sai Sudharsan (6) fell to Cameron Green’s extra bounce and Shahrukh Khan (37) was run out by Kohli. GT could never truly recover. Rahul Tewatia did try and push the scoring rate, going particularly hard against leg-spinner Karn Sharma. With a 4-4-6-4, he took 19 runs off the 16th over. But the finishing kick never came as GT folded up for 147 in 19.3 overs. EXPENSIVE MOHIT There’s a fine line between trusting an old warhorse and being obsessive with that. For GT it was the experienced medium-pacer Mohit Sharma, who had gone for 19-runs-per-over in the last six overs he has bowled in the past two matches. Gill handed him the first over. Kohli and Faf du Plessis though were far too experienced and transferred the heat on Mohit. Kohli took the lead hitting two sixes, over long-off and mid-wicket. In Mohit’s next over, du Plessis plundered him around the park for four boundaries. Mohit had again gone for 16-an-over. Powered by du Plessis’ brisk 64 (23b), RCB batters stepped on the gas. Their decision to go into overdrive in the middle-overs almost cost them the match though. The day began with Sunil Gavaskar raising the heat, taking on Virat Kohli’s criticism of those who spoke ‘from the box’ questioning his strike-rate against spin. “If you have a strike of 118 and then you get out in the 14th or the 15th with a strike-rate of 118, I mean, if you want applause for that, that’s a little bit different,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “We don’t have agendas.” Kohli again showed good intent against GT’s spinners, although he couldn’t stay unbeaten. We may not have heard the last of Kohli and his batting strike rate.

angry sunil gavaskar launches never seen attack on virat kohli, says ‘why are you replying to any outside noise’ | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.Read More

Faf Du Plessis breaks Chris Gayle’s ‘triple’ record | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: Faf Du Plessis delivered a masterful performance against the Gujarat Titans. After the Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowlers dismissed the Gujarat Titans for 147, the hard-hitting Du Plessis took on the Gujarat Titans bowlers, blasting a 23-ball 64 to give his team an explosive start.Du Plessis, who reached his half-century in just 18 balls, scored all 64 runs during the Powerplay.In doing so, he surpassed former RCB star Chris Gayle‘s record for most runs scored by an RCB batter in the Powerplay. Gayle had achieved this milestone three times while playing for RCB.Most runs by a RCB batter within powerplay64 – Faf du plessis vs GT, 2024*50 – Chris Gayle vs PWI, 201250 – Chris Gayle vs PWI, 201350 – Chris Gayle vs PBKS, 2015Du Plessis, who scored 64 off 23 balls before Joshua Little ended his stay, stitched 92 runs for the opening wicket with Virat Kohli (42 off 27) against Gujarat Titans. RCB won the match by 4 wickets and jumped to 7th position in the points table.

‘Badi jaldi aaya…’: Virat Kohli pulls Shubman Gill’s leg as GT captain visits RCB dressing room before IPL 2024 clash

Danijones6 months ago04 mins

In patchy form currently, Shubman Gill missed out on a spot in the 15-member Team India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Gujarat Titans captain was named in the reserves list, losing his spot in the 15-member squad to Rajasthan Royals’ Yashasvi Jaiswal. Virat Kohli makes fun of Shubman Gill. Gearing up for GT’s upcoming fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gill surprised India teammate Virat Kohli, as he appeared early for practice. In a viral video, shared by GT on X, Gill can be seen greeting Kohli and the RCB star jokes, “Badi jaldi aaya practice mei (You came so early for practice)!’ Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Their camaraderie and friendship was perfectly visible in the video as Kohli donned the senior role and joked with Gill, who is his junior. Here is the video: In IPL 2024, Gill has managed 320 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 140.96. He is 15th in the Orange Cap race and is not expected to retain it this season. Last year, he won the Orange Cap with 890 runs in 17 matches as GT finished as runners-up. It was a season to remember for Gill as he also smacked three tons and four fifties. But this season, he has only registered two half-centuries and was dismissed for 16 off 19 balls in his side’s previous fixture, which was also against RCB. Kohli’s funny approach could also be an indication as to why Gill was ignored by the selectors for the 15-member roster. Since suffering a bout of dengue in the early stages of the ODI World Cup last year, the opener hasn’t been the same and his captaincy with GT also needs maturity. He was handed the role after Hardik Pandya rejoined Mumbai Indians in a shock transfer prior to the auction last year. Pandya was released by MI in 2022 and joined GT, and he was made captain. He led them to the title in their debut season, followed by a runners-up finish. So, pressure was plenty on Gill, when he took up the responsibility. But he will be disappointed with himself, as GT are currently eighth in the IPL 2024 points table with eight points in 10 games. With time running out, they will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and are currently in a two-match losing streak.

“How many IPL hund’How many IPL hundreds you scored’: AB de Villiers slams data-driven pundits for criticising Virat Kohli’s IPL strike ratereds you scored’: AB de Villiers slams data-driven pundits for criticising Virat Kohli’s IPL strike rate | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago06 mins

NEW DELHI: Former South Africa AB de Villiers has strongly criticized cricket analysts who rely heavily on data for their assessment of players. He particularly targeted their criticism of Virat Kohli‘s strike rate outside the powerplay during the ongoing Indian Premier League.Kohli has been in exceptional form this season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, amassing 500 runs at a strike rate of 147 and an impressive average of 77, placing him second on the list of top scorers.Despite Kohli’s stellar performance, he has faced consistent scrutiny for his strike rate against spinners, particularly in the middle overs. However, de Villiers, who previously played alongside Kohli for RCB, disagrees with this assessment.De Villiers hailed Kohli as one of the game’s finest players, emphasizing that it’s unwise for data-driven pundits to critique such a stalwart.“Virat Kohli catching criticism about his strike rate it’s been going on for too long and I am sort of fed up with that now. I am frustrated to say the least. This guy is one of the best players to have ever played the game of cricket. He is incredible in the IPL, he plays a certain role for RCB,” the South African said on his YouTube channel.“I have pretty much enough of data-driven pundits who keep criticising this man (Kohli) when you don’t have the knowledge of the game. How many games you played? How many IPL hundreds you scored?“All the people who talk about strike rates and not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff. For me, it’s about winning the games for the team and there is a reason why you have done it for 15 years, you have done this day in and day out, you have won games for your teams.”De Villiers feel Kohli has nothing to prove to anyone, and should just concentrate on his game.“I am quite sure that if you haven’t been been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game, it’s not quite the same thing. For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out but those who have done day in and day out, they know what’s happening and it’s a kind of muscle memory for me now.“His strike rate, by the way, this season is even better than the record-breaking season he had not so long ago (2016 season). So, I don’t know where the criticism is coming from. He is batting like a dream at the moment,” he said.De Villiers’ support came after Kohli had lashed out at his critics following his 44-ball unbeaten 70 in RCB’s nine-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad in their previous game.The former South African batter, however, feels Kohli is best suited at the No.3 position for RCB.“Virat has successfully batted with a proven formula that has brought victories for the team. The rest of the squad — including the coach and captain — need to strategise around Virat’s successful approach. Personally, I still believe Virat is best suited for number three in the batting order.“Though he loves opening and has an incredible record doing so, batting him at three would optimise this team’s lineup with Will Jacks and Faf (du Plessis) opening. Putting Virat at three would give the openers the best opportunity to get off to a fast start,” he added.(With PTI inputs)