December 23, 2024
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Rohit Sharma

Watch: As Mumbai Indians lose again under Hardik Pandya's captaincy, 'Rohit, Rohit' chants echo in Wankhede | Cricket News

Watch: As Mumbai Indians lose again under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, ‘Rohit, Rohit’ chants echo in Wankhede | Cricket News

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Hardik Pandya‘s captaincy was once again questioned after Mumbai Indians (MI) succumbed to their eighth defeat of IPL 2024, as the five-time champions failed to chase a below-par target of 170 on their home ground, Wankhede Stadium, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday.IPL 2024: Results | Points Table Frustratingly enduring one of their worst seasons, the MI fans at the Wankhede broke into loud chants of ‘Rohit, Rohit’ during the match, a video of which has gone viral on social media. KKR put up 169 on the board, thanks to a half-century by Venkatesh Iyer (70 off 52 balls) and an equally crucial 31-ball 42 by Manish Pandey, despite MI having the visitors on the ropes at 57/5 in just the seventh over.WATCH VIDEO Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in IPL history, finally did justice to his price tag with match-winning figures of 4/33 as Mumbai folded up for 145 in 18.5 overs despite Suryakumar Yadav’s 35-ball 56. Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell took two wickets each.Former India pacer Irfan Pathan came down heavily on Hardik’s decisions as captain, especially when KKR had lost half their side inside the seventh over.“When you had KKR’s five wickets for just 57 runs, there was no need to give Naman Dhir three overs in a row. You should have got your main bowlers on, but you had your sixth bowler deliver three overs. That allowed Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey to put a partnership together….Where you could have bowled KKR out for 150, they went on to make 170, and that turned out to be the difference,” said Irfan. “In cricket, captaincy has a huge effect and it’s very important to manage, which did not happen. Mumbai Indians isn’t looking like a team that is playing as a unit, and this aspect needs to be looked at going forward for Mumbai Indians. Players need to respect the captain and also accept him appreciably, this is very important. That, I think, could not be seen on the field,” he added.

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'Sunil Narine caught...': Suryakumar Yadav pulls off unthinkable against star KKR spinner - WATCH | Cricket News

‘Sunil Narine caught…’: Suryakumar Yadav pulls off unthinkable against star KKR spinner – WATCH | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Whether celebrating a wicket, acknowledging the crowd after a half-century or century, star Kolkata Knight Riders player Sunil Narine usually maintains a serious demeanor. However, ace Mumbai Indians batsman Suryakumar Yadav found a way to make Narine smile.In a video shared by the Mumbai Indians’ social media, Suryakumar is shown imitating Narine’s celebration after scoring a century.As Narine watched Surya’s mimicry, he burst into laughter.WATCH: KKR will take on a struggling Mumbai Indians team at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.With six wins from nine games, KKR have 12 points and currently hold second place in the IPL standings.The path to the IPL playoffs appears out of reach for Mumbai Indians, even with five games remaining. If they win all of them, they can only reach 16 points, leaving them in the middle of the standings and not necessarily in contention with the consistently strong teams.

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Rohit Sharma laughs, Agarkar comes up with 'experience' retort on Virat Kohli's strike rate question

Rohit Sharma laughs, Agarkar comes up with ‘experience’ retort on Virat Kohli’s strike rate question

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Image Source : PTI/AP Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar, the Indian captain and chairman of selectors addressed the press conference regarding the T20 World Cup squad Indian captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were pretty straightforward with their responses in the press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, May 2 with respect to the T20 World Cup announced a couple of days ago. The duo was asked pretty much everything from the omissions of Rinku Singh, and Shubman Gill to the presence of four spinners and form of certain players. One of the questions was regarding Virat Kohli’s strike rate and the first reaction from skipper Rohit suggested that they were expecting that. Rohit laughed instantly. It was a rather sheepish smile. Before he gestured towards Agarkar to respond to the question and the former India pacer mentioned that Kohli has been in terrific form in the season so far and came up with the experience retort while shedding light on the gap between IPL and international cricket. “I don’t think we have been discussing it. So, no look he’s been in great form fortunately in the IPL. So no concerns there at all. With regards to how it is going in the IPL, you are still going to a World Cup, it is still international, there’s still that gap there. So, you’ve got to prepare knowing that there is that gap. That’s where experience does matter a lot. If the tournament turned out to be where IPL is where 220 plays 220, I think we’ve still got enough in the team, the balance or the power that you can match that.  “There’s no point in overthinking. You look and take positives that are happening in the IPL, form of some of the guys, some of the newer guys coming through. At the end of the day, when you turn up for a World Cup game, the pressures are a little different,” Agarkar added. Watch the video here (1:27:27 – 1:28:51): Kohli has had a couple of knocks where his strike rate came under the scanner, however, he has been in outstanding touch with the bat playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Kohli has amassed 500 runs at an average of 71.4 and a strike rate of 147.49. India have option of playing Kohli at the top or at No 3 give the rest of the combination they want to go with.  

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'I expect him to play like a...': Former India cricketer's advice for Hardik Pandya | Cricket News

‘I expect him to play like a…’: Former India cricketer’s advice for Hardik Pandya | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has urged Hardik Pandya to embrace the role of a “true leader” and rise to the occasion. Despite facing criticism, Hardik was appointed as the vice-captain of India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup.Ojha expressed confidence in Hardik’s leadership capabilities and his prowess as an all-rounder. He stressed the significance of mental preparedness, highlighting the need for Hardik to be ready to take charge when circumstances dictate.Ojha’s endorsement underscores the belief in Hardik’s potential to excel not just as a player but also as a leader on the cricketing stage.“I expect him to play like a leader because he is next in command. If something happens to Rohit, we don’t want that, if anything happens, he (Hardik) will be leading the side, so he has to be prepared, he has to take that responsibility when he is batting,” Ojha said on Jio Cinema.Hardik’s journey since the October 2023 ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. After recovering from an ankle ailment, he assumed the captaincy of Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma. However, this decision sparked significant social media criticism, which evidently impacted the all-rounder’s confidence.Despite the adversity, Hardik has showcased glimpses of his batting prowess in the 2024 IPL season, scoring 197 runs at an impressive average of 150.38 in 10 games. However, his bowling performance has been less stellar, with only six wickets claimed at an economy rate of 11.0.Navigating through the highs and lows, Pandya’s resilience will be key as he seeks to regain his form and silence the critics, both on and off the field.Ojha, acknowledging Hardik’s significance in the Indian setup, lauded his ability to provide balance to the team. Despite the IPL ordeal, Hardik’s place in the T20 World Cup squad was never in doubt. His versatility as an all-rounder offered India the flexibility they needed, a fact not lost on selectors or fans.“For me, he is someone who will create that balance for the side. Every time we talk about Indian team selection, Hardik’s name always comes in. He creates that balance, he will give you that cushion. That you can have an extra batter or a bowler, wherever he is needed. That’s what we want him to do, to be mentally ready for the World Cup and just forget what is happening in the IPL and focus on the World Cup, that is more important,” Ojha added.(With IANS inputs)

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‘Leaving Rinku Singh out of T20 World Cup team toughest thing': Apologetic Ajit Agarkar finds no fault in KKR batter | Crickit

‘Leaving Rinku Singh out of T20 World Cup team toughest thing’: Apologetic Ajit Agarkar finds no fault in KKR batter | Crickit

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BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said leaving Rinku Singh out of India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup was one of the toughest decisions. India announced their squad on Tuesday (April 30) for the world event slated to take place in the USA and West Indies in June this year. The squad has a good mix of youth experience, but the non-selection of Rinku, one of India’s top performers in T20Is in the lead-up to the IPL, became one of the biggest talking points. India’s Rinku Singh plays a shot(BCCI Twitter) The 26-year-old Aligarh left-hander, who captured the cricketing world’s imagination with five sixes in an over during the previous IPL, made way for Shivam Dube in the main national squad while his name ended up being among the reserves. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Two days after naming the squad, Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma answered queries from reporters in a press conference held in Mumbai. Agarkar said Rinku didn’t do anything wrong. The selectors couldn’t pick the dynamic left-hander in the final 15 as they wanted more bowling options. “(Not picking Rinku Singh) the toughest thing that we have to discuss. Rinku hasn’t done anything wrong, nor has Shubman Gill. It’s about the combinations. We are not quite sure about the conditions. So we wanted to have enough (bowling) options. We have picked a couple of wrist spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, to give Rohit more options. There’s Axar (Patel), a bowling all-rounder. It’s just unfortunate,” Agarkar said on Thursday. ‘Not Riku Singh’s fault that he has missed out’: Agarkar News agency PTI quoted a BCCI source privy to the developments in the selection meeting to claim that Rinku may have paid the price of the Impact Player rule in the IPL, which prevented him from having many opportunities with the bat in this IPL for his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. The Impact Player rule has allowed every IPL franchise to field an extra batter when they are batting and replace him with a bowler later. As a result, Rinku, who has made a name for himself as a finisher, has played only 82 balls in 9 matches in IPL 2024, scoring 123 runs at a strike rate of 150. KKR have not needed his finishing skills in most of the matches this year as their openers, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, have been doing the bulk of the scoring. Agarkar, however, said the decision to leave out Rinku had nothing to do with him. It was because of the combination the team management wanted to find the right balance in the USA and West Indies. “I don’t think it has anything to do with him. It’s not Rinku Singh’s fault that he has missed out. With two keepers who are both terrific batters, there’s already an extra batter sitting. So we thought of having an extra bowling option. Rinku is a travelling reserve; that’s how close he was, it’s a little tough on him but at the end of the day, you can only pick 15,” Agarkar said. India start their campaign in the T20 World Cup against Ireland on June 5.

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'Nothing new to me, it's...': Rohit Sharma on his return to T20 captaincy | Cricket News

‘Nothing new to me, it’s…’: Rohit Sharma on his return to T20 captaincy | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Seasoned Rohit Sharma exuded confidence while embracing the familiar mantle of T20 captaincy, stating that it’s nothing new to him and it’s a part of his life during the media interaction post India’s T20 World Cup selection in Mumbai on Thursday.His words resonate with the calm assurance of someone well-versed in leadership’s ebbs and flows.Undeterred by the weight of responsibility, Rohit’s demeanour suggests a seasoned player ready to navigate the challenges ahead.“I was captain. Not being captain and then again captain. It’s part of life. Not everything will go your way. It’s been a great experience. Before in my life, I was also not captain and played under different captains. It’s nothing to me. I have always tried to do what’s required as a player and I have tried to do that in the last 1 month,” Rohit told reporters on his return to T20 captaincy.Rohit stressed upon the fact that the team management particularly looked at middle-order hitting since our top-order has been good.“Don’t know how the pitch will be in the USA. We are playing in the West Indies but at different venues. You have to look at the opposition combinations as well. One thing that we looked at was middle-order hitting. Our top-order hitting has been alright, not that bad.We wanted someone to play that role in the middle overs freely, without worrying about who is bowling. Shivam Dube was the guy who showed this in IPL. Again, no guarantee what our playing XI will be like. Will decide based on practice and the combination of our opposition,” Rohit added.With a past adorned by numerous captaincy stints, he steps back into the role with an air of nonchalance, as if slipping into a comfortable pair of shoes. Rohit’s return is not just a reinstatement; it’s a reaffirmation of his capability to steer the team through the choppy waters of T20 cricket with aplomb.

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Preview, streaming details and predicted XIs – India TV

Preview, streaming details and predicted XIs – India TV

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Image Source : BCCI/IPL Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya during the MI vs CSK IPL 2024 game in Mumbai on April 14, 2024 MI vs KKR Preview: Mumbai Indians target two survival points when they host impressive Kolkata Knight Riders in the 51st match of the Indian Premier League on Friday. Hardik Pandya’s side needs to produce their best performance as they face early elimination from the playoff race going into the upcoming fixture at Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai suffered their seventh defeat of the season when they failed to defend 144 against Lucknow Super Giants in their last game. The five-time champions have struggled for consistency under Hardik’s leadership and currently find themselves in the ninth position in the points table. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders registered an impressive win against Delhi Capitals in their last game to further cement their standings in the points table. Kolkata have recorded six wins in nine matches this season but hold a concerning head-to-head record against Mumbai Indians. Match Details: Match: IPL 2024, 51st T20 match Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Date & Time: Friday, May 3 at 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM) Broadcast and Live Streaming: Star Sports, JioCinema Website and App MI vs KKR Head-to-Head Record: Mumbai Indians dominate a head-to-head record against Kolkata Knight Riders with notably 23 wins in 32 matches so far. Mumbai managed to beat Kolkata when both teams last played against each other.   Kolkata have won three of their last five games against Mumbai but have registered just two wins in their 11 encounters at Wankhede Stadium.  Matches MI Won KKR Won No Result 32 23 9 0 At Wankhede Stadium MI Won KKR Won No Result 11 9 2 0 MI vs KKR Predicted Playing XIs: Geral Coetzee replaced Luke Wood in the playing XI for Mumbai Indians in the last game and is expected to keep his place in the upcoming game. Kolkata pacer Harshit Rana is suspended for the upcoming game and is expected to be replaced by spinner Suyansh Sharma in the starting eleven. Mumbai Indians predicted playing XI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah. Kolkata Knight Riders predicted playing XI: Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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India Today News Desk

India’s T20 World Cup Squad Press Conference LIVE: Rohit, Agarkar to address media over team selection

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Team India officially announced its 15-member World Cup squad, with Rohit Sharma named captain. Hardik Pandya will be the vice-captain while Rishabh Pant has also made a return to the squad after performing in the IPL 2024.  Here’s the full squad and reserves list: Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.

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Rishabh Pant: EXCLUSIVE - 'If India wants to win...': Former World Cup winner reveals the X-factor of Rohit Sharma-led team at T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Rishabh Pant: EXCLUSIVE – ‘If India wants to win…’: Former World Cup winner reveals the X-factor of Rohit Sharma-led team at T20 World Cup | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: After BCCI unveiled the 15-member Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup on Tuesday, former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has named the potential game-changer in Rohit Sharma‘s side. India could dominate in the World Cup, set to be hosted in West Indies and USA between June 2 and June 29, if they can perform well in the initial overs upfront.In an exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com, the 1983 World Cup winner hailed Rishabh Pant, dubbing him as the team’s X-factor. Lal stated, “In a word, it (Pant’s comeback) is superb. If India wants to win (the T20 World Cup), he needs to perform well. It is as simple as that. He is a class act. At the moment, he is one of the top batsmen in the world. It depends on him, what position the team gives him, and how they use him.” Having seen Shivam Dube flourish in the Indian Premier League this season, Lal has supported the selection of the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder over Rinku Singh, who has failed to make the headlines, somewhat due to limited opportunities, at Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024.Thus, Lal stated, “I think Shivam Dube has done quite well recently. And thus, the selection is ideal for me. He is the best hitter of the ball (at the moment). And that’s why I think they have picked Dube ahead of Rinku Singh.” Despite questioning KL Rahul’s complete exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad, Lal has expressed his satisfaction with Sanju Samson‘s selection as he told TimesofIndia.com, “I am happy with Sanju Samson’s selection because he has worked quite hard. He has been very consistent. The only thing that has gone against him is that he has not had enough chances at the international level. Otherwise, look at his batting, he is quite strong. KL is also very talented, and there is no doubt about that. It (not selecting Rahul) is another mysterious case.”“The game is won on the front when the top batsmen and bowlers play well. For the bowlers, if you don’t get wickets early on and then allow opponents to score runs against you, then that haunts you all the game. The same goes with the batsmen. The first six and last three-four are very important overs. That is the position where you would have to cash in. If you are not good during that phase, you may pay the price,” opined the former all-rounder.India’s schedule for the T20 World Cup 2024 includes matches against Ireland (June 5), Pakistan (June 9), the USA (June 12), and Canada (15), all to be played in New York and Florida.

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Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli given 'last chance' to win World Cup: 'Just 2-3 years more. Don't know where they'll be in...' | Crickit

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli given ‘last chance’ to win World Cup: ‘Just 2-3 years more. Don’t know where they’ll be in…’ | Crickit

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At 37 and 35 years old, the T20 World Cup 2024 may be the last chance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to lay their hands on an ICC trophy. The two stalwarts of Indian cricket have been World Cup winners before – Rohit winning the 2007 T20WC and Kohli lifting the ODI World Cup 2011, but the two are yet to win a World Cup together. Since the 2013 Champions Trophy, Kohli and Rohit have played seven World Cups – three 50-overs and four T20s- but have been unable to win the big one. The closest they came to doing so was seven months ago, at the ODI World Cup in India, where despite putting up the performance of a lifetime, Team India lost to Australia in the final. Is this the last time we are seeing Rohit Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli playing a World Cup for India? (Getty) With the wounds of November 19 still afresh, Kohli, Rohit and their legion of fans want the Indian team to go the distance and break the 11-year-lond hoodoo. Having said that, it could well be the last World Cup Kohli and Rohit play – together or individually. The next World Cup after this is in 2026 – another T20 World Cup, followed by an ODI World Cup the following year – and while there is the Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship final in between next year, this is possibly the last throw of the World Cup dice for Rohit and Kohli to finish their careers with a World Cup. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! This is why former India batter Mohammad Kaif reckons Kohli and Rohit will be fiercely motivated to right the wrongs of the past. “Rohit Sharma knows he isn’t going to play for too long now. Just 2-3 years more. Same with Virat Kohli. So this is the last chance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli [to win a World Cup]. They lost the World Cup final in Ahmedabad. They played as if they had the cup snatched away from them. Hearts were broken, and fans were devastated. They won 10 matches before losing the one that mattered the most. And it’s going to be similar here as well. India hardly have competition in the group stage. There are only 2 main matches – the semifinal and the final. It’s not the IPL that you’ll get 14 opportunities. Are you ready for those 2 days? That’s the biggest test for Rohit Sharma,” Kaif said on Star Sports. The suspense surrounding India’s team combination was put to rest on Tuesday when the BCCI announced the squad of 15 that will play the T20 World Cup. While Rohit’s place was nowhere in question, given that BCCI secretary Shah confirmed him as captain during a public event, there were speculations about Kohli’s future. But once he began scoring runs in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which has now swelled to 500 runs, it was only a matter of time before Kohli’s berth was guaranteed. Rohit, on the other hand, may not have enjoyed a blistering season like Kohli, but the former Mumbai Indians captain has scored a century to show for his form in an otherwise forgettable campaign by the five-time champions. With Kohli showing marauding form and Rohit expected to replicate his touch during the World Cup back home, neither batter would want to leave any room for error. “He is taking all the experience with him. Look at Rohit’s own form. He is playing well, giving starts in the Powerplay. I feel that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be extra motivated. By 2026, we don’t know where they will be. But this is a chance when players are heading right after the World Cup, have been playing regularly, and are in flow and rhythm. They would want to rectify the mistake against Australia,” pointed out Kaif.

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