December 23, 2024
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Rohit Sharma

'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

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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.

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Do Rohit Sharma's men have enough to end ICC title drought? – India TV

Do Rohit Sharma’s men have enough to end ICC title drought? – India TV

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Image Source : GETTY Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid during the Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo in September 2023 Indian cricket team will once again enter the T20 World Cup 2024 as title favourites despite heartbreaking exits in the recent ICC events. Rohit Sharma is set to lead a strong 15-member squad for the ninth edition of the tournament in the USA and West Indies starting on June 1.  Team India last played a T20I game against Afghanistan in January this year where they needed a super over to defend 212 runs in Bengaluru. But, the Men in Blue rank first in the current ICC T20I team rankings and are tipped to mount a strong title challenge in a 20-team tournament. With the squad finalised and players starting their final preparations with a training camp in New York, let’s analyse Team India’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats ahead of the World Cup 2024. Strengths – Unassailable batting unit The majority of the selected players, especially batters, displayed remarkable form in the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2024 and will be under focus as team India’s biggest strength in the upcoming World Cup. Virat Kohli emerged as the highest run-scorer as he continues to show brilliant form in white-ball cricket. Kohli further changed his approach in the IPL 2024 by maintaining a strike rate over 150 and hitting the second-highest 38 sixes. Kohli’s form has also led many to suggest the batter should open with skipper Rohit at the World Cup. Rohit struggled for consistency in the IPL 2024 despite finishing as the leading run-getter for his Mumbai Indians franchise. Both Rohit and Kolhi will be leading the strong batting lineup which consists of the world’s no.1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav, in-form wicketkeeper batters Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant, and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal. Image Source : BCCI/IPLVirat Kohli during the IPL 2024 Weaknesses – Lack of finishers  Despite strong form in the IPL 2024, none of the selected members made it to the final of the tournament and notably struggled to display consistency after the selection for the World Cup. Shivam Dube displayed remarkable hitting skills in the first half of the season but registered only 46 runs in five innings in May. With fit-again Hardik Pandya returning to T20I setup, Dube’s role as middle-order batter or finisher is not clear at the moment.  Dube’s form and a lack of finishers in the current squad might be an early red flag for the management. All-rounders Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja were not convincing enough with their finishing touches in the recent IPL 2024 and that is likely to get exposed if the top-order fails to impress.  India’s other weakness is the lack of international cricket heading to the World Cup. Having last played T20Is against Afghanistan in January, the team faces Bangladesh in the only warm-up game scheduled on June 1. All participating players were heavily involved in the recent IPL but haven’t played together as a unit for quite some time.  Opportunities – Dube and Samson to step up Indian squad for the World Cup is well-balanced with experience and potential. Yashasvi Jaiswal witnessed a rapid rise in red-ball cricket during the England series and now has the best chance to make a similar impact in white-ball cricket as well.  It will be interesting to see if Rohit and Rahul Dravid go with either Rishabh or Sanju for the wicketkeeping role as both impressed in the recent IPL. Samson was slightly ahead in terms of stats and might get a nod to don the wicketkeeping gloves.  Image Source : BCCI/IPLShivam Dube during the IPL 2024 Samson and Dube are set to feature in their maiden World Cup and have a perfect opportunity to shine and cement their places in the Indian team. Both displayed their versatility in playing positions and skills to adapt to playing conditions accordingly with mature batting in IPL 2024 and will be eager to carry that momentum in the World Cup.  Threats – What if Jasprit Bumrah fails to replicate IPL 2024 form? Speaking about India’s bowling, the management surprisingly picked only three pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh and four strong spin options. Bumrah did what he does best in the IPL 2024 by taking 20 wickets in 13 innings at a notable economy rate of 6.48.  Bumrah’s heroics didn’t save Mumbai Indians from finishing at the bottom but his impact made Indian cricket team fans feel safe going into the ICC tournament. Arshdeep picked 19 wickets but at an economy rate of over 10 and Siraj bagged 15 wickets in 14 innings. India will be in serious trouble if Bumrah fails to carry his red-hot form in the World Cup, as India face very limited bowling options.  So, a well-fortified batting unit to a lack of finishers to over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah sums up the analysis of team India ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

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Rohit Sharma names toughest bowler he's faced: 'Not nightmares, but watched his videos 100 times before going to bat'

Rohit Sharma names toughest bowler he’s faced: ‘Not nightmares, but watched his videos 100 times before going to bat’

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Rohit Sharma is a modern-day great. There are no two ways about it. A fierce batter, a stupendous opener, and one of India’s finest captains, Rohit, despite a slow start to his career, has established himself as an all-time great. The only batter to hit three ODI double centuries, Rohit has never looked back since he was promoted as an opener. However, like every great batter, Rohit has shortcomings, too. For a batter with over 18,000 international runs, one would assume that nothing can trouble him. Right? Rohit Sharma is clean bowled.(AFP) Wrong. Rohit, on being asked if there’s ever been a bowler that has given him nightmares, played down the terms but named South Africa great Dale Steyn as someone he’s had trouble facing. Steyn, one of the world’s most legendary pacers of all time, let alone South Africa, was indeed one of the most fearsome bowlers. Outside of his pace, accuracy and swing, the intimidation factor generated by him is what Steyn one of the most unique fast bowlers of his time. And Rohit, who faced him up front several times, had no shame in admitting it. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! “I have gone and watched his videos like 100 times before I went in to bat. That was Dale Steyn. He is an absolute legend of the game. And what he has achieved in his career is just superb to watch. And I have faced him many times. He is quick. He used to swing the ball at that pace, which is not easy. It is quite tough. And he was a fierce competitor. He just went out there wanting to do everything, to win every game and every session, so it was nice to come up against him. Not that I had much success against him, but I enjoyed my battles,” Rohit said in an interaction with Dubai Eye 103.8. Dale Steyn dismissed Rohit Sharma just once in international cricket However, as strange as it may sound, Steyn dismissed Rohit just once in international cricket – at a Boxing Day Test for a duck – but the Proteas pacer bowled some memorable spells against the India opener. The one that comes to mind is when Rohit and Steyn came up against one another during India’s tour of South Africa in 2013. Steyn, with the new ball, was all over Rohit, beating him six balls in an over on the bouncy pitches of South Africa. The face-offs against Steyn came at a time in Rohit’s career when he was yet to hit his peak. By the time Rohit transformed into a limited-overs beast, Steyn was on the last leg of his career. This isn’t the first time Rohit acknowledged being challenged by Steyn. Last year, during an interview with Indian sports journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit said the same thing. “If a bowler challenged me, and I had fun playing against him, it has to be Dale Steyn. He never deviated from the ideal length. He used to swing [the ball] at a high pace. There are a few bowlers who make the ball swing above 140 [kmph]”. In return, Steyn also had some nice things to say about Rohit, but his statement that he struggled to bowl against him is far from the truth. “I always struggled to bowl against Rohit [Sharma]. He is a phenomenal batter, leading the team from the front,” Steyn had told Star Sports.

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Watch - 'Kya garden mein aya hai kya?': Rohit Sharma's hilarious banter with Tilak Varma

Watch – ‘Kya garden mein aya hai kya?’: Rohit Sharma’s hilarious banter with Tilak Varma

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NEW DELHI: It was not long ago that Rohit Sharma had set the internet in splits with his comment “jo bhi garden mein ghoomega…”. The comment, caught on the stump mic, was made during a Test against England by the Indian captain asking his fielders not to relax in the field.Ahead of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Saturday, Mumbai Indians shared a video on X in which Rohit hilariously asks Tilak Varma, “Aye hero, kya kar raha hai bhai? Chappal mein ghoom raha hai, kya garden mein aya hai kya?”Tilak Varma responds, “Hai na Bhaiya, Eden Gardens!”Rohit stops in his tracks and asks “Kya? Eden Gardens?” and turns away with a smile on his face. For the record, Rohit has a special connection with Eden Gardens. He made his much-awaited Test debut at the iconic venue in 2013 and scored 177.Rohit also notched up his highest ODI score of 264 at the same venue on November 13, 2014 against Sri Lanka.

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'A pat on the back': Hardik Pandya's stellar performance earns praise from Rohit Sharma | Cricket News

‘A pat on the back’: Hardik Pandya’s stellar performance earns praise from Rohit Sharma | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians showcased their dominance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL encounter on Monday, with captain Hardik Pandya emerging as a standout performer with the ball. Pandya’s stellar performance drew praise from former captain Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians secured a crucial victory at the Wankhede Stadium.The special moment came in the 16th over of the SRH innings when Hardik Pandya delivered a crucial breakthrough for the hosts by dismissing Sunrisers’ all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed. Hardik Pandya celebrates a wicket with Rohit Sharma. (Video grab) In an attempt to accelerate the scoring, Shahbaz attempted to dispatch the delivery towards the long-on region but failed to connect cleanly. The ball spiraled up in the air, only to be safely pouched by Suryakumar Yadav, who executed a commendable catch running in from the deep.Rohit Sharma, quick to acknowledge the significance of Pandya’s contribution, approached the bowler with a congratulatory pat on the back, commending his crucial breakthrough at a crucial juncture of the game. Throughout the middle overs, Hardik Pandya led the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack with aplomb, ultimately finishing with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 31 runs in his allotted four overs. Supported ably by veteran spinner Piyush Chawla, who also claimed three wickets, Mumbai Indians succeeded in restricting Sunrisers Hyderabad to a total of 173 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.With a target of 174 runs set before them, Mumbai Indians approached the chase with confidence, largely propelled by a scintillating unbeaten innings of 102 off 51 balls from Suryakumar Yadav. Displaying remarkable batting prowess, Yadav’s innings guided Mumbai Indians to a comfortable victory, as they chased down the target with 16 balls to spare, ultimately securing a convincing 7-wicket win.

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Rinku Singh: T20 World Cup: Why India needed a Rinku-first policy | Cricket News

Rinku Singh: T20 World Cup: Why India needed a Rinku-first policy | Cricket News

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In a press conference explaining Team India‘s selection for the World Cup, BCCI‘s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Rinku Singh was “the toughest thing to discuss…it was all about the combination we wanted.” The chief selector meant that the committee did its best but it couldn’t find Rinku a place considering the big picture. It also came to light that captain Rohit Sharma wanted four spinners for the squad which had reduced the options for the selectors.A day later, former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly shared a similar view.What’s clear from these statements is that the 26-year-old batter from Aligarh wasn’t thought of as an automatic selection. Rather, he was at best considered as the last possible player for the 15-member squad, and later consigned to the reserves. Here’s why such a thought process is erroneous. India won the T20 World Cup for the first and last time in 2007, the year before IPL arrived. In the seven editions, thereafter, it has entered the final only once (2014) and semifinal twice (2016 & 2022). England, West Indies, even Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy better records than India. A key reason behind these failures is the team’s inability to produce its best cricket in high pressure knock-out games in the World Cup. Most players considered essential by the selectors are the same blokes who have been unable to perform time and again in these matches. That’s why India needed a Rinku-first policy. Here was a journeyman who emerged from the shadows to capture national spotlight delivering wins from near-impossible situations in IPL 2023 and, of late, in T20Is to become India’s elusive 911 man. On recent international performance and making a comparative assessment of his temperament in tough situations with other so-called ‘undroppables’, his selection should have been the easiest, not the “toughest” decision to make. How many proven – not on paper — finishers in T20Is, especially in tough situations, does this team’s lower batting order have?Let’s walk the talk with hard statistics. Rinku has played 15 T20Is, batted in 11 innings, remained unbeaten in 7. Barring a couple of games, he made invaluable contributions improving the team’s situation in each of them. His strike rate is 176; average 89. No surprise former internationals such as Kris Srikkanth, Irfan Pathan and Ambati Rayudu have also spoken up over his non-inclusion. His freewheeling undefeated 37 off 14 balls gave India the edge in a crucial Asian Games tie against Nepal. Nepal scored 179/9 in the game; India won by just 23 runs, and in retrospect, Rinku’s input was critical.Against Australia in Thiruvananthapuram last November, Rinku blitzkrieged an unbeaten 31 off 9 deliveries. The innings underlined that he could move into fifth gear at a moment’s notice. In the same series, he smashed 46 off 29 balls, the highest score in the team with the second highest run rate. India won that game too. Then again, last December against South Africa in faraway Gqeberha, his unconquered 68 off 39 balls was the side’s highest score with the highest strike rate.In Bengaluru this January, in his last international game against Afghanistan, Rinku was outstanding in a tough situation. Coming in to bat with India 22/4, he produced in tandem with Rohit Sharma an unbeaten game-changing partnership of 190. It is surprising that Rohit, who scored an unbeaten 121 (off 69) in that nerve-jangling game, couldn’t place him among 15.In all these knocks as well as in IPL 2023, Rinku’s batting displayed calm, power and situational awareness. He found a way to outwit bowlers, mould his shotmaking to the situation.If Rinku’s recent IPL form was a reason for his omission, what about several other selected players whose form seems to be getting worse with every passing game? That aside, there’s a lack of consistency in selection logic. If Dube, who averages nearly 40 and has a strike rate of 145 in T20Is, was rewarded for his superlative IPL show, why isn’t medium pacer T Natarajan even in the reserves. His current IPL stats — wickets, economy rate, strike rate – as well as ball control and ability to bowl at the death is superior to the chosen ones.Team India may or may not perform well at the forthcoming World Cup beginning in June. But irrespective of the result, the omission of Rinku Singh will remain a case of grave injustice.

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'Will park few balls out of Long Island...': Rohit, Kohli ignored as Shastri picks 2 players key to India’s T20WC hopes

‘Will park few balls out of Long Island…’: Rohit, Kohli ignored as Shastri picks 2 players key to India’s T20WC hopes

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With less than a month’s time left before India kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign in New York against Ireland on June 5, former India head coach Ravi Shastri picked two players who will play a key role in the side’s title hopes. And it’s neither Virat Kohli nor captain Rohit Sharma who will likely play their final T20I appearance at the tournament. Shastri instead picked two left-handed batters who are all set to make a debut in a multi-nation ICC tournament for India – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube. Ravi Shastri picks 2 players key to India’s T20 World Cup hopes Jaiswal has stated success recently after smashing a record tally of runs in the Test series against England at home earlier this year, which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series. However, he has been a force to reckon with in the shortest format as well, where he amassed 502 runs in just 16 innings for India since his debut in mid-2023, which comprises a century and four fifties. “The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup,” Shastri told ICC. “One is [Yashasvi] Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless and he’ll play shots.” ‘Watch out for Shivam Dube’: Ravi Shastri The other player that Shastri picked is Chennai Super Kings star Dube, who cracked 26 sixes in just 11 matches in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. The left-hander earned his spot in the Indian T20 World Cup squad on the back of a stellar show in the T20 league in 2023 and 2024, along with his two back-to-back fifties for India in the home T20I contest against Afghanistan earlier in January. “But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for [him], because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner. He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you,” Shastri said. “He’ll park a few balls out of Long Island into the small island, he’s that kind of a player. He hits it big, he hits it long, and like I said, against spin, he could kill you. “Even against the fast bowlers, he’s worked out his game, he’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that number five, number six position because if you’re on the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to.” Shastri was effusive in his praise for the tall all-rounder saying that he could be the key to unlocking big totals for India in the T20 World Cup. Dube has struck at a rate of 170.73 in this ongoing IPL season, while scoring a boundary in almost four deliveries. “His strike rate, which will be close to 200 most of the time, will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions, especially like the [T20] World Cup. So enjoy it, watch out for this left-hander — he’s big, he’s strapping, and he hits a long ball.”

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MI vs SRH, IPL 2024 Highlights: Ton-up Suryakumar Yadav powers Mumbai Indians to seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad | Cricket News

MI vs SRH, IPL 2024 Highlights: Ton-up Suryakumar Yadav powers Mumbai Indians to seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Suryakumar Yadav‘s exceptional century, combined with disciplined bowling, propelled Mumbai Indians to a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL on Monday.Suryakumar’s explosive innings of 102 not out from 51 balls marked his second IPL century, helping his team secure an emphatic win in just 17.2 overs. SRH had earlier recovered to post 173 for eight.The win moved Mumbai Indians up from the bottom of the points table to ninth place, while SRH, despite the loss, stayed in fourth place with 12 points from 11 games. Joining forces inside the powerplay with MI left reeling at 31 for three, the pair of Suryakumar and Tilak Varma (37 not out off 32) did a superb recovery job with 143-run unbeaten stand to script a comprehensive victory. Suryakumar’s sensational knock included 12 fours and half a dozen sixes.For that matter, MI could have been reduced to 31/4 had a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery in the fifth over not pitched outside the leg stump with the veteran seamer pinning Varma in front of the wickets.Ishan Kishan (9) perished early once again while Naman Dhir (0) endured a nine-ball duck. With their backs against the wall, Suryakumar picked Marco Jansen to attack as he collected 22 runs off the seventh over with two sixes and two fours to begin his job. But shortly after he completed his fifty off 30 balls, Suryakumar was seen stretching and wincing in pain while looking to manage a strain, presumably to his groin — one of the reasons why he missed cricket for nearly four months from late last year.However, to his credit, the world No 1 T20 batter hung around till the end to take MI over the line as he finished the game with a flurry of boundaries — two sixes and as many fours off his last four balls. Apart from Suryakumar’s struggles while batting, the decline in Rohit Sharma‘s form also came to the fore with the India captain mistiming one to be dismissed for a mere four — his fourth score in single digits this IPL in last five outings.Earlier in the first half, Pandya struck form before the T20 World Cup while veteran Chawla also bagged three wickets as Mumbai Indians restricted Sunrisers Hyderabad for a below-par total.Pandya found rhythm and momentum to return 4-0-31-3 while Chawla (4-0-33-3) produced an impactful performance to trouble the SRH batters. However, to his credit, SRH skipper Pat Cummins chipped in with a 17-ball 35 (2x4s, 2x6s) late in the innings to take them past the 150-run mark.In complete contrast to last time these teams met earlier in this IPL when SRH hammered 277/3, their usually free-flowing batters struggled for momentum and lack of initiative meant they could never really trouble the Mumbai bowlers.Travis Head top scored with 48 while skipper Pat Cummins made a quick 17-ball 35 not out.(With inputs from PTI)

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'Rohit Sharma needs to call Agarkar and hand his resignation': MI star blasted after another flop show in IPL 2024

‘Rohit Sharma needs to call Agarkar and hand his resignation’: MI star blasted after another flop show in IPL 2024

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Rohit Sharma once again failed to put up a big score as his rough patch continues with another flop show against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League match on Monday. Rohit started the tournament on a high, but in the last six matches, it just went downhill for him with every passing game. The swashbuckling opener hasn’t been able to get going. As a result, he scored just 33 runs in the last five innings. Rohit Sharma registered another single digit score with flop show against SRH.(X) Rohit was dismissed by Pat Cummins for just 4 in the much-win clash against SRH on Monday. Chasing the 174-run target, Rohit opened his account with a boundary on the first ball he faced, but Cummins got the better of him. He tried to flick it but only managed to get an edge on it as Heinrich Klassen grabbed an easy catch behind the stumps. It was the fourth time when Cummins got the better of Rohit in T20Is as the Indian skipper’s struggles against him continued. Rohit Sharma vs Pat Cummins in T20s Innings: 9 Runs: 57 Balls; 41 Dismissals: 4 Avg: 14.25 The former Mumbai Indians captain faced the wrath of cricket fans on social media after his sluggish form continued in the cash-rich. Rohit’s recent form is not a good sign for the Indian team as he will lead the Men in Blue in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. Earlier, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to field against SRH at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Mumbai started the match at the bottom of the points table with 3 wins out of 11 matches. Skipper Pandya struck form before the T20 World Cup, while veteran Piyush Chawla also bagged three wickets as the five-time champions restricted SRH to a below-par 173/8. Pandya hit the right chord with the ball and returned with the figures of 4-0-31-3 while Chawla (4-0-33-3) produced an impactful performance to trouble the SRH batters. Meanwhile, SRH skipper Cummins chipped in with a 17-ball 35 (2x4s, 2x6s) late in the innings to take them past the 150-run mark.

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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

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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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