ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU

What Is Hybrid Pitch? The Innovation That Is All Set To Make Its IPL Debut

Danijones11 months ago03 mins

India’s first-ever ‘hybrid pitch’ was unveiled at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in a grand ceremony on Monday. The event was attended by IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and cricket dignitaries including Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS’s international cricket director. “The introduction of hybrid pitches is set to revolutionize cricket in India, following their success in iconic venues like Lord’s and The Oval in England,” said Dhumal, who hails from Himachal Pradesh. The hybrid pitch, which combines natural turf with synthetic fibres, promises enhanced durability and consistent playability, reducing the strain on ground staff and maintaining quality playing conditions. With only 5% synthetic fibres, the pitch ensures that the natural characteristics essential for cricket are preserved. Taylor expressed gratitude towards the HPCA for their collaboration on this pioneering project. “With the ICC’s approval, we’re excited to see the positive impact these pitches will have on the sport, starting with installations in Mumbai and Ahmedabad next,” he said. The ‘Universal Machine’, a critical component in installing the hybrid surface, was developed by SISGrass in 2017 and has been instrumental in the rollout of similar pitches across England’s county cricket grounds. This innovation aligns with the ICC’s recent sanctioning of hybrid pitches for T20 and one-day international matches, with plans to expand their use in four-day county championships starting this year. The integration of technologies like SISAir, a root aeration system, further underscores the commitment to enhancing cricket infrastructure in India. This system improves the pitch’s health and resilience, benefiting players with better and safer playing conditions. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Day After Virat Rant On Kohli’s Comments, Sunil Gavaskar’s Statement On MS Dhoni Resurfaces

Danijones11 months ago03 mins

File photo of Sunil Gavaskar.© X (Twitter) Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar didn’t mince his words while reacting to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli’s rant at ‘pundits’ over criticsim of his strike-rate and struggles against spin. Kohli didn’t hold his emotions back as he took a swipe at critics after the match against Gujarat Titans (GT) last weekend. Reacting to Kohli’s rant, Gavaskar launched a scathing attack on the RCB icon, asking why those who continue to stay away from what’s said and written on social media are reacting to ‘outside noise’. However, Gavaskar didn’t stop there as he also slammed the broadcasters for showing that rant from Kohli ‘a dozen times’ on television. “That particular post-game interview has been shown on this channel earlier as well, right now, on this particular program it has probably been shown half a dozen times. I hope that Star Sports recognises that when that is being shown, asking where are the critics, the critics are the commentators. Your Star Sports commentators are the ones from whom the questions are being asked,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. Amid his meltdown over Kohli’s rant, an old video of Gavaskar praising two-time World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni has resurfaced on social media. In the video, an emotional Gavaskar recalled the moment when he got his shirt signed by Dhoni during IPL 2023. Respect is earned, not given. Meanwhile Gavaskar with MS Dhonipic.twitter.com/dFHUE4HAeZ — (@rahulmsd_91) May 5, 2024 Gavaskar had said: “It was a very emotional moment for me (getting the shirt signed by MS Dhoni). MS Dhoni has done a lot for Indian cricket. If I have 2 minutes to live, I would like to witness Kapil Dev lift the 1983 World Cup trophy and MS Dhoni hit the World Cup winning six and the way he rolled over his bat after hitting the six.” For the unversed, Gavaskar got his shirt signed from Dhoni after CSK’s last home game of the season last year, assuming that the veteran might retire from the IPL after the tournament. Topics mentioned in this article

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

Danijones11 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.

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

Danijones11 months ago9 months ago03 mins

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.

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

Danijones11 months ago9 months ago04 mins

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.

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

Danijones11 months ago9 months ago04 mins

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.

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

Danijones11 months ago07 mins

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

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

Danijones11 months ago03 mins

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.

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

Danijones11 months ago05 mins

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.

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

Danijones11 months ago04 mins

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