November 5, 2024
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Amid Sunil Gavaskar Criticism, Wasim Akram's Striking Verdict On Virat Kohli's Scoring Rate

Amid Sunil Gavaskar Criticism, Wasim Akram’s Striking Verdict On Virat Kohli’s Scoring Rate

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Already selected for India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, Virat Kohli continues to remain a big subject of chatter among fans and pundits over his strike-rate in T20 cricket. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter has been crucial to his team’s victories this campaign on multiple occasions, but analysts have also blamed his poor strike-rate behind certain defeats. Sunil Gavaskar was one of those critics who questioned Kohli’s intent but Pakistan legend Wasim Akram doesn’t feel there’s anything wrong that the RCB star has done. Kohli, a few days ago, himself responded to the critics, hitting them back over the criticism of his strike-rate and struggles against spinners, prompting a fiery rant from Gavaskar on Saturday. Akram, however, isn’t in agreement with Gavaskar. “What criticism is he getting? That his team is losing. If the guy is scoring 100 at 150 strike rate, isn’t it fine? If the team had won, there wouldn’t have been criticism. Kohli was under pressure when he was captain, and he is under pressure even now. He is scoring, but one player cannot win the match. Criticising him unnecessarily… it’s not fair. In the long run, Kohli has a lot of cricket left, RCB will have to think why their performances were so inconsistent even after 16 years. Their batting is still fine, but their bowlers are weak,” Akram told Sportskeeda. “Some people say that the ground is short. But you know that already. Pick players according to that only. It is the same ground where I played a Test in 1987. It’s the same ground now,” he added. Akram also shared his opinion on the role of an ‘anchor’ in T20 cricket, saying going by the way this IPL has gone, that profile seems to be done and dusted. “If you look at this IPL, it feels like it’s over. The way teams are scoring 270s, it looks like it. People are calling an anchor slow even when the strike rate is 150. When you look at the pitches and the performances, it looks like it. You got to hit from the first ball, you can’t stop,” said Akram.

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Faf du Plessis' "Nervous" Remark Despite Dominant Win Over GT Sums Up RCB's Current State

Faf du Plessis’ “Nervous” Remark Despite Dominant Win Over GT Sums Up RCB’s Current State

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Following a four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis said that he was nervous when his team lost six quick wickets. Faf and Virat Kohli delivered an exceptional start with a 92-run stand but lost their next six wickets within 25 runs. However, Swapnil Singh and Dinesh Karthik held nerves to guide the team to a tense win with 38 balls left.  Following the game, Faf said at the post match presentation, “We have been really good in the last few games, with both bat and ball. We’ve been unbelievable in the field as well. The wicket was a bit different, there was a bit more bounce. Wanted to make sure we take that information from the pitch and give it to the bowlers. Yes there was a dropped catch but it is the effort that we look for and that was there throughout.” “The games we’ve played here have all been high-scoring, anything around 180-190 would have been par. Was important we did not look at the scoreboard when we went out to bat and try and play the way we play. Was a bit nervous (during loss of wickets). Probably not the best assessment from us there. Yes we wanted to go out there and get the total quickly to boost the net run rate (NRR) but probably when we were 4 down, we had to calm down a little bit,” he added. Coming to the match, RCB elected to field first after winning the toss. GT was 19/3 at one point. Then, a 61-run partnership between Shahrukh Khan (37 in 24 balls, with five fours and a six) and David Miller (30 in 20 balls, with two fours and two sixes) helped GT make a brief comeback. RCB kept taking regular wickets and once again reduced GT to 87/5. Then, a 44-run partnership between Rahul Tewatia (35 in 21 balls, with five fours and a six) and Rashid Khan (18 in 14 balls, with two fours and a six) took GT beyond the 100-run mark. RCB bundled out GT for 147 runs in 19.3 overs. Yash Dayal (2/21), Vijaykumar Vyshak (2/23) and Mohammed Siraj (2/29) were among the top bowlers for RCB. Cameron Green and Karn Sharma took a wicket each. Coming to the run chase, RCB started off brilliantly with Faf Du Plessis (64 in 23 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes) and Virat Kohli (42 in 27 balls, with two fours and four sixes) putting up a 92 run stand. After that RCB lost its way due to a fantastic spell from Joshua Little (4/45) and Noor Ahmed (2/23). However, Dinesh Karthik (21*) and Swapnil Singh (15*) guided the team to a four wicket win with 38 balls left.

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Virat Kohli Gets Massage From Faf Du Plessis, Fan's 'Backbenchers' Reference Breaks Internet. Watch

Virat Kohli Gets Massage From Faf Du Plessis, Fan’s ‘Backbenchers’ Reference Breaks Internet. Watch

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A video of Virat Kohli dancing while entering a room has taken the internet by storm.© X (Twitter) All eyes will be on Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Gujarat Titans (GT) in a do or die match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday. Both teams had also met last weekend with Kohli’s RCB beating Shubman Gill’s GT in a one-sided encounter in Ahmedabad. Kohli, who has been under the scanner for his strike-rate, hit an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls, but it was Will Jacks who stole the show with his unbeaten 100 off just 41 balls. Jacks had scored his first 50 in 31 balls, but took just 10 balls to breach triple figures. Ahead of their return leg against GT, Kohli and some of the RCB players attended an event. However, a video of Kohli dancing while entering the room has taken the internet by storm. In the viral video, Kohli was seen dancing with RCB skipper Faf du Plessis giving him a shoulder massage. When backbenchers are entering in class but teacher is already there pic.twitter.com/gDpM3LGKXe — Ayush Singh (@imabhinashS) May 3, 2024 Kohli has been in red-hot form in the ongoing IPL. He is currently the second highest run-getter in the tournament with 500 runs in 10 matches. He only trails CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad by nine runs in the Orange Cap list. Kohli’s form in remainder of the tournament will not be crucial for RCB, but also Team India as he has been selected in the 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. BCCI chief selectors Ajit Agarkar recently opened up on the debate surrounding Kohli’s strike-rate. “We haven’t been discussing Kohli’s strike-rate. There is a difference between IPL and international cricket. You need experience. We have got enough balance and power in the team. You look and try take positives from what is happening in IPL. Pressure of a World Cup game is different,” Ajit Agarkar played down Virat Kohli strike-rate criticism. There have been a debate whether Kohli should open the batting during the T20 World Cup. Addressing the talks, India captain Rohit neither confirmed or denied the same. “All the options are open. We haven’t decided yet, there is no guarantee and we will go there to the West Indies and depending on the conditions we will decide the playing XI,” Rohit said during a press conference.

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"Had Immense Pain In My Stomach": Mohammed Siraj's Big Revelation After RCB's Win Over GT

“Had Immense Pain In My Stomach”: Mohammed Siraj’s Big Revelation After RCB’s Win Over GT

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Mohammed Siraj revealed that he was suffering from severe stomach ache ahead of his side’s Indian Premier League (IPL) game against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, but still played the game with ICC T20 World Cup tournament in his mind and with the “power of the almighty”. Siraj played a crucial role in RCB’s four-wicket win over GT in Bengaluru on Saturday. His spell of 2/29 played a crucial role in bundling GT out for 148 runs, which was chased down by RCB with 38 balls to spare. Speaking in a video by the IPL featuring teammate Yash Dayal, Siraj said, “I felt I would not be able to play the game today. I had immense pain in my stomach and also loose motions so I thought there was no chance I would be playing. But I thought that since there is a T20 World Cup around (from June 1 onwards in the West Indies and the USA), getting game time will be very important and good for me. I did not have the energy to bowl with this intensity but maybe the almighty gave me the power.” In 10 matches of IPL 2024, Siraj has taken eight wickets at an average of 44.00, with the best bowling figures of 2/26. The pacer also talked about his bond with star batter Virat Kohli and how it helps him with his bowling. He said that good communication with a legend like Virat reduces half the difficulty for the bowlers. “Virat has known me for eight years now and he always gives handy advice on what to do in a particular situation. He also asks me as a bowler what I am thinking can be done and accordingly let us me execute my plans as well. When you have good communication with such a legend of the game then half the difficulty gets reduced straightaway as a bowler,” he said. Siraj lauded Yash for his bowling with the new ball and said that his performance will do his confidence a “world of good”. “Yash was very good for Gujarat as well and he has come here and continued to do well. He bowls well with the new ball and it will do his confidence a world of good. When you perform in tough situations, it gives you more confidence as a bowler,” he said. In 10 matches of IPL 2024, Dayal has taken 10 wickets at an average of 33.80, with the best bowling figures of 2/21. Dayal also said that he carried the confidence he got from domestic cricket. “I was observing while fielding that where they were hitting their shots. So setting a field against that, I just backed myself to execute my plans and they came off well,” he concluded. Coming to the match, RCB elected to field first after winning the toss. GT was 19/3 at one point. Then, a 61-run partnership between Shahrukh Khan (37 in 24 balls, with five fours and a six) and David Miller (30 in 20 balls, with two fours and two sixes) helped GT make a brief comeback. RCB kept taking regular wickets and once again reduced GT to 87/5. Then, a 44-run partnership between Rahul Tewatia (35 in 21 balls, with five fours and a six) and Rashid Khan (18 in 14 balls, with two fours and a six) took GT beyond the 100-run mark. RCB bundled out GT for 147 runs in 19.3 overs. Yash Dayal (2/21), Vijaykumar Vyshak (2/23) and Mohammed Siraj (2/29) were among the top bowlers for RCB. Cameron Green and Karn Sharma took a wicket each. Coming to the run chase, RCB started off brilliantly with Faf Du Plessis (64 in 23 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes) and Virat Kohli (42 in 27 balls, with two fours and four sixes) putting up a 92-run stand. After that RCB lost its way due to a fantastic spell from Joshua Little (4/45) and Noor Ahmed (2/23). However, Dinesh Karthik (21*) and Swapnil Singh (15*) guided the team to a four-wicket win with 38 balls left. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

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MS Dhoni becomes first player to achieve this massive record in IPL | Cricket News

MS Dhoni becomes first player to achieve this massive record in IPL | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: In a historic feat, Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni on Sunday etched his name in IPL annals as the first player to take 150 catches in the history of the tournament.Dhoni, who had 149 wickets to his name before this match, accomplished the feat during the IPL match against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.Known for his lightning reflexes and astute wicketkeeping, Dhoni’s achievement underscores his exceptional skill and longevity in the cricketing world.Dhoni’s milestone as a CSK franchise stalwart exemplifies his enduring impact on the game, inspiring generations of cricketers. Dinesh Karthik of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who has taken 144 catches, is second on the list, followed by former RCB stalwart AB de Villiers, renowned for his versatile fielding and athleticism, who took an impressive 118 catches during his career, while his teammate Virat Kohli, who has 113 catches to his name, occupies the fourth spot, and former CSK player Suresh Raina, known for his sharp fielding, rounds off the top-5 list with 109 catches.Most catches by a player in IPL MS Dhoni – CSK – 150 Dinesh Karthik – RCB – 144 AB de Villiers – RCB – 118* Virat Kohli – RCB – 113 Suresh Raina – CSK – 109* (* Players who are no longer playing in IPL)These players have shown exceptional fielding skills throughout their IPL careers, contributing significantly to their teams’ defences. These statistics not only highlight the individual talents of these cricketers, but they also emphasize the importance of fielding in the shorter format of the game.As a high-octane tournament, the IPL frequently sees matches decided by the narrowest of margins, where every catch has the potential to turn the game. These players’ contributions in the field have been as crucial as their performances with the bat or ball, making them integral to their respective teams in the IPL.

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'Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly were never dropped because...': Virender Sehwag's stern message for under-fire Shubman Gill | Cricket News

‘Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly were never dropped because…’: Virender Sehwag’s stern message for under-fire Shubman Gill | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Star Indian batter Shubman Gill, the captain of Gujarat Titans, has experienced a fluctuating performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Despite a promising beginning, the star opener has struggled to maintain his form in recent matches, with his last significant score of 50+ runs occurring on April 10 against Rajasthan Royals. Since then, Gill has been dismissed for single-digit scores on three occasions.The young opener was also overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad, although he was included in the four-man reserves list alongside Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed.In Gujarat Titans’ recent encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday, Gill’s struggles continued as he managed only 2 runs off seven deliveries.However, former India opener Virender Sehwag expressed his support for Gill, believing that the young talent will bounce back stronger. Sehwag also offered guidance to Gill during this challenging phase, drawing from his own experiences and referencing legendary batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman while discussing Gill’s lack of run-scoring in detail.“I think he’s lucky that his name is in the T20 World Cup reserves. KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad are not even in that. That’s a good point and he should be motivated by that. Next time, he should not let his place go once he gets a chance. He should focus on scoring runs at a good strike-rate so he doesn’t get replaced,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.“In my days, we had Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman. It doesn’t matter how many runs the other guys scored, these guys didn’t go out because they never stopped scoring runs. How will you drop them if they keep scoring runs? They never gave a reason to get dropped. This is what Shubman Gill has to learn. Once he returns to the Indian team and plays regularly post the World Cup, he shouldn’t let such an opportunity arise again. Improve your skills and score big, because big scores will eventually save you,” Sehwag further said.The Titans’ recent loss to RCB further compounds their struggles in IPL 2024, as they now find themselves languishing at the ninth spot in the table. With just four wins from 11 games, the team led by Gill faces an uphill battle to turn their fortunes around and mount a comeback in the season.Under Gill’s leadership, the Titans, who were champions in 2022 and runners-up last year under Hardik Pandya, have failed to replicate their past successes. Their current position offers little hope of securing a playoff berth unless they manage to pull off a remarkable turnaround in their remaining matches.One of the glaring weaknesses for the Titans has been their performance during the Powerplay, particularly with the bat. Scoring only 23 runs in the Powerplay against RCB, they posted the lowest Powerplay total of any team this season.Further analysis reveals that the Titans’ Powerplay run-rate of 7.54 and strike-rate of 118.43 are the lowest among all teams in IPL 2024. Additionally, they have scored the fewest runs in the first six overs throughout the season, tallying just 469 runs.Addressing their underwhelming performance in the Powerplay will be crucial for the Titans if they are to salvage their season and make a late push for a playoff spot in IPL 2024.

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Caught On Stump Mic, Virat Kohli's Epic Reply To Wriddhiman Saha's "Runs Roko, Match Kheecho" Plea

Caught On Stump Mic, Virat Kohli’s Epic Reply To Wriddhiman Saha’s “Runs Roko, Match Kheecho” Plea

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Every single time a conversation between a wicket-keeper and a player on the field takes place, its glimpses get caught on the stump mic. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) took on the Gujarat Titans (GT) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match on Saturday, an epic chat between Virat Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha was caught on the stump mic. With not a big total to defend on the board, Saha urged his teammates to do their best in stopping the flow of runs. But, Kohli had an epic response up his sleeves. The chat took place when RCB were 2 down for 100, and their flow of runs had come down due to quick dismissals in the middle. Hoping to get the momentum shifted in his team’s favour, Saha said: “Runs roko, match kheecho (stop the runs, extend the match)”. Hearing this, Virat said: “Aise kaise kheech loge [(I’ll see) how you will stretch the match]”. Though the Titans made a brave comeback in the match, picking up a total of 6 wickets to all but derail the Royal Challengers’ chase. But, Dinesh Karthik ensured that his team got over the line despite the hiccup. As for the game, Mohammed Siraj turned into a match-winner for RCB with his 2 early wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill. After the game, Siraj also earned the praise of Royal Challengers Bengaluru assistant coach Adam Griffith for his exemplary show. “The start of the tournament was not that great, especially in the powerplay. That is something we really focused on. Recently we made sure that we really worked hard to get better starts for the group. Tonight, it was one of the better ones and it was good to see the hard work come off,” Griffith said in the post-match press conference. The 46-year-old further lauded Siraj, calling him the leader of the group. “Siraj is the leader of our group. He is our most experienced bowler especially among the Indian quicks and with our international guys as well. Having him up and running and bowling well, but not only that, it’s his body language, his aggression, him trying to get wickets, he is such an important part of what he do,” RCB assistant coach asserted. Topics mentioned in this article

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Virat Kohli's Epic Gesture For Dinesh Karthik On Being Awarded Orange Cap Is Viral. Watch

Virat Kohli’s Epic Gesture For Dinesh Karthik On Being Awarded Orange Cap Is Viral. Watch

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Dinesh Karthik and Swapnil Singh came to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s rescue in their IPL 2024 clash against Gujarat Titans on Saturday. Chasing a below-par 148 after GT were bowled out for 147, RCB were cruising at 92/0 in 5.5 overs with Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli putting on a show in the Powerplay. However, RCB suffered a mid-innings slump, losing six wickets in the space of 25 runs with Joshua Little and Noor Ahmad sharing five between them. While the seemed to be slipping away from RCB grip, unbeaten cameos from Karthik (21) and Swapnil (15) the side off to its third straight win of the season, and two on the bounce against GT after last weekend’s success in Ahmedabad. There was a party atmosphere in Bengaluru after the match as star batter and former RCB captain Kohli recalimed the Orange Cap from CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Kohli, who hit a quickfire 42 on Saturday, now has 542 runs in 11 matches, with Gaikwad (509) in action for CSK against Punjab Kings on Sunday. Karthik presented the Orange Cap back to Kohli after the match, and the latter showed a respectful gesture to the former, bowing down to the former before both shared a hug. A video of the same has now gone viral on social media. Consistency is King, and King Kohli proves it once again whether its in health, fitness, or performance on the field! The King is back to being the Orange Cap Holder.#ViratKohli #RCBvGT #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/ACY9uhsXVA — Duroflex (@Duroflex_world) May 4, 2024 Coming back to the match, Du Plessis’ (64) departure triggered a collapse as Gujarat hit back with wickets from Joshua Little and Noor Ahmad to have the opposition in trouble at 117-6 when Kohli was dismissed. Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell and  Cameron Green all perished for cheap before Karthik and Swapnil made sure there was no more drama as they steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 35. Earlier put into bat, Gujarat went three down for 19 inside six over before big-hitter Shahrukh Khan, who top-scored with 37, stood strong in a 61-run stand with David Miller, who hit 30 off 20 balls. The win allowed allowed RCB to climb out of the bottom of the table. They are currently seventh in the points table with three games to go. Left-handed Rahul Tewatia hit a 21-ball 35 and put on another key stand with Rashid Khan to add respect to the total. (With AFP Inputs) Topics mentioned in this article

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IPL-17 | Self-belief and never-say-die attitude are Mohammed Siraj’s real strengths, says Sunil Gavaskar

IPL-17 | Self-belief and never-say-die attitude are Mohammed Siraj’s real strengths, says Sunil Gavaskar

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru Mohammed Siraj. File | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Mohammed Siraj’s self-belief and never-say-die attitude are his real strengths, said batting legend Sunil Gavaskar after the pacer set up Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in Bengaluru. Siraj’s two-wicket burst in the powerplay to remove Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha played a crucial role as GT could manage just 147 all-out in 19.3 overs on May 4. “Every time you see Mohammed Siraj, you know that he’s going to give his heart out. Remember the time when his father passed away when he was in Australia. He carried on,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports Cricket Live. “A lot of people would want to go back because your parents are so dear to you. But I think he realised that playing for India was important. Also, he was not established at that stage. An established player would 100 per cent have gone back. “And remember how spectacularly he bowled in that Gabba Test match. Getting somebody like Steve Smith out when he was on 55… so this is the real strength of Mohammed Siraj, the self-belief and the never-say-die attitude on the field.” Chasing a modest 148, Faf du Plessis (64) and Virat Kohli (42) put on 92 runs inside the powerplay to give RCB a blistering start. RCB, however, slipped from 92/0 to 117/6 before romping home in 13.4 overs. “Extraordinary stuff during the power play when RCB was batting. It was just game on, and then all of a sudden things changed. Were they trying to counter the net run rate solution? And if that is the case, then well played to them because they needed to go hard,” former Australian batter Matthew Hayden said. “So they lost those three wickets to Joshua Little straight away in that middle stage of the match. And then they were able to consolidate because, simply as you heard Faf at the presentation say, anything short of 180, even 190 on this high-scoring venue, was never going to be enough runs.” Former England cricketer and coach Paul Collingwood also lauded the “aggressive approach” of the RCB batters. “The intensity displayed by RCB with the ball was commendable. Even while chasing a modest total, seeing Virat Kohli stepping out of his crease and effortlessly flicking a delivery for six on just the second ball indicated their aggressive intent. This signals danger for their opponents. “Despite their position near the bottom of the table, RCB didn’t hold back. They showed clarity, bravery, and aggression, particularly in the middle order. Although they lost wickets, I commend their aggressive approach,” he said.

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

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

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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)

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