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Virender Sehwag Unveils Strongest India XI for T20 World Cup 2024

Virender Sehwag Unveils Strongest India XI for T20 World Cup 2024

By April 26, 2024 0

As the May 1 deadline for squad submission for the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, former Indian batter Virender Sehwag has unveiled his strongest XI for the marquee event. Sehwag’s team features a blend of experience and youth, with a focus on current form and versatility.

Sehwag’s XI is led by captain Rohit Sharma, who will open the batting alongside rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal. The middle order boasts the formidable trio of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant, who returns to the team after recovering from injuries.

For the all-rounder role, Sehwag has opted for either Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh, both of whom have impressed in the ongoing IPL season. The spin department is anchored by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, while the pace attack features Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Sandeep Sharma.

Sehwag’s decision to exclude Hardik Pandya from his XI has raised eyebrows, given the all-rounder’s status as a key player for India. However, Sehwag believes that Pandya’s recent poor form warrants his omission from the starting lineup.

“Hardik is a great player, but he’s not in the best of form right now,” Sehwag said. “I think he should be in the 15-man squad, but he may not be in the starting XI.”

Sehwag’s XI reflects his belief in the importance of adaptability and versatility in T20 cricket. The team features several players who can bat and bowl, providing the captain with multiple options to adjust to different match situations.

With the World Cup just months away, Sehwag’s XI serves as a valuable blueprint for the Indian selectors as they finalize their squad. The team’s balance, experience, and current form make it a formidable contender for the coveted trophy.

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Manchester City Close Gap on Arsenal, Sheffield United on Brink of Relegation

Manchester City Close Gap on Arsenal, Sheffield United on Brink of Relegation

By April 26, 2024 0

Manchester City’s relentless pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title continues as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The champions have closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just one point, with a game in hand.

City’s attacking prowess was on full display in their 4-0 demolition of Brighton, with Phil Foden issuing a warning to their rivals. “In the first half, it was frightening the way we attacked,” said Foden. Kevin De Bruyne added, “I trust my team obviously, all respect to Arsenal and Liverpool because they are amazing.”

Arsenal face a stern test of their title credentials in the north London derby against Tottenham. A win for the Gunners would keep City at bay, while a loss could open the door for Guardiola’s men to seize the initiative.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have a golden opportunity to cement their grip on fourth place when they host Chelsea. A win for Unai Emery’s side would take them within touching distance of a first European Cup campaign since 1982-83.

At the other end of the table, Sheffield United are on the brink of relegation. With just three league victories, Chris Wilder’s team is 10 points from safety with four games left. Their crumbling defense has conceded a staggering 92 goals in 34 league games, surpassing Derby’s previous record.

Categories: Football
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Axar Patel's Batting Prowess Sparks Debate over Jadeja's T20 World Cup Inclusion

Axar Patel’s Batting Prowess Sparks Debate over Jadeja’s T20 World Cup Inclusion

By April 26, 2024 0

Axar Patel’s remarkable batting performance for Delhi Capitals against Gujarat Titans has reignited the debate over his inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. Both players are left-arm spinners, exceptional fielders, and capable batsmen. However, Axar’s T20 batting prowess appears to surpass Jadeja’s, as evidenced by his ability to execute powerful shots and adapt to various batting situations.

While Jadeja’s heroics in the IPL final last year, where he secured the title for Chennai Super Kings with a six and a four, cannot be overlooked, Axar’s recent performances suggest he may be a more suitable choice for the T20 World Cup. In this IPL season, both players have comparable statistics. Axar has amassed 123 runs in nine matches with a strike rate of 132.36, while Jadeja has scored 157 runs with a strike rate of 131.93. However, Axar’s superior six-hitting ability, a crucial aspect of T20 cricket, sets him apart. He has struck five maximums compared to Jadeja’s two.

Axar’s taller trajectory and quicker round-arm action may also enhance his effectiveness as a bowler in the West Indies, where wickets tend to offer more grip. While Jadeja excels as a bowler in ODIs and Tests, his T20 bowling can become predictable due to his consistent line and length, making it easier for batters to counter him.

In this IPL, Axar has claimed seven wickets in nine matches with an impressive economy rate of 7.06, a remarkable feat considering the flat wickets. He has also bowled 53 dot balls in 186 deliveries, demonstrating his ability to restrict runs. Rishabh Pant has effectively utilized Axar in the powerplay as well.

In contrast, Jadeja has managed only four wickets despite bowling in spin-friendly conditions. His economy rate has also been higher at 7.85, and he has bowled fewer dots (43).

Their T20I records are also comparable. In 52 games, Axar has scored 361 runs with a strike rate of 144.40 and taken 49 wickets with an economy rate of 7.26. Jadeja has played 66 games, scoring 480 runs with a strike rate of 125.32 and taking 53 wickets with an economy rate of 7.10.

However, this IPL has highlighted Jadeja’s inability to accelerate the game’s pace when batting at No. 4. In contrast, Axar Patel has demonstrated his versatility by starting slowly at No. 3 and then accelerating his innings, showcasing his wide range of strokes against Gujarat Titans.

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Mike Trout Reaches 10 Home Runs, Seeks Consistency at Plate

Mike Trout Reaches 10 Home Runs, Seeks Consistency at Plate

By April 26, 2024 0

Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels’ star outfielder, has reached a significant milestone by becoming the first player in the major leagues this season to hit 10 home runs. However, despite this impressive feat, Trout is still seeking consistency at the plate.

Trout’s solo home run in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s loss to Baltimore marked the third time since 2018 that he has been the first to reach double digits in homers. It also extended his streak of hitting multiple home runs in a game to two.

However, Trout’s overall batting average remains a concern. He is currently batting .237, which is on pace to be the lowest average he has recorded in May during his 14-year career. This is a significant departure from his performance in the past three seasons, when he averaged .347 in March and April.

“Some of the at-bats I feel really good and some of the at-bats just trying to figure some stuff out,” Trout said after Wednesday’s game. “I’m just trying to put a full game together.”

Trout’s struggles have coincided with a downturn in the Angels’ fortunes. After a promising 7-6 start, they have lost nine of their last 12 games. Manager Ron Washington has been experimenting with his lineup, including moving Trout up to the leadoff spot.

“Mike is only human, he can have off times just like everyone else,” Washington said. “I thought if I can put him up there and he can give us a swing of the bat like he did Tuesday night, I’m not looking for that every night, but he has the capability to give us a run when swinging the bat.”

Trout remains optimistic despite the team’s recent struggles. He believes that the Angels have the potential to turn things around, especially with a young and talented roster.

“I think the mindset is keep coming and working, things will turn. Guys are battling, it’s just not going our way right now,” Trout said. “We’re going to be in different situations every night and we learn from it. Things will turn.”

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Manchester City Thrash Brighton to Close Gap on Arsenal

Manchester City Thrash Brighton to Close Gap on Arsenal

By April 26, 2024 0

Manchester City’s title hopes received a major boost as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Brighton in the English Premier League. The win puts City within two points of league leaders Arsenal, who have played one game more.

City’s dominance was evident from the outset, but Brighton held firm for the first 17 minutes. However, Kevin De Bruyne broke the deadlock with a stunning header, followed by a controversial free-kick from Phil Foden. Foden added another goal before the break, capitalizing on a Brighton error.

In the second half, City continued to press, and Julian Alvarez scored the fourth goal in the 62nd minute. Brighton had a penalty appeal turned down in the 70th minute, but City held on for a comfortable victory.

The win was a timely reminder of City’s quality and their determination to retain the Premier League title. Arsenal’s lead at the top is now under threat, and Liverpool’s title hopes appear to be fading after their defeat to Everton.

City’s victory was particularly impressive given their recent struggles in the Champions League. They were eliminated in the semi-finals by Real Madrid, and their form in the Premier League had been inconsistent. However, they showed their class against Brighton, and they will be confident of challenging Arsenal for the title.

Categories: Football
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Teenagers Shine at Mutua Madrid Open, Joining Shang in Second Round

Teenagers Shine at Mutua Madrid Open, Joining Shang in Second Round

By April 26, 2024 0

The Mutua Madrid Open witnessed a surge of teenage talent on Thursday, as Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik joined Jerry Shang in the second round.

Fonseca, a 17-year-old wild card, upset fellow teen Alex Michelsen 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. The Portuguese capitalized on his break point opportunities, converting six of 11, and fired 30 winners to advance. He will face No. 29 seed Cameron Norrie in the next round.

Mensik, 18, also impressed with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over Yannick Hanfmann. The Czech, ranked No. 74 in the world, will now take on ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov.

Lorenzo Sonego set up a clash with compatriot Jannik Sinner after defeating Richard Gasquet 6-2, 7-5. Sinner, the top seed, has a perfect 4-0 record against Sonego in 2023, but none of those matches were played on clay.

Roberto Bautista Agut, a lucky loser, battled past Daniel Elahi Galan 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1. The home favorite will face 16th seed Karen Khachanov for a spot in the third round.

Other notable winners on the day included Felix Auger-Aliassime, Matteo Arnaldi, and Tomas Machac. Auger-Aliassime will face Adrian Mannarino, Arnaldi will challenge world No. 4 Daniil Medvedev, and Machac will take on No. 14 seed Ben Shelton.

The Mutua Madrid Open continues to showcase the rising stars of tennis, with several teenagers making their mark in the tournament.

Categories: Tennis
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RCB Ends Losing Streak with 35-Run Victory over SRH

RCB Ends Losing Streak with 35-Run Victory over SRH

By April 26, 2024 0

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Batting Woes Continue in Loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore

Despite their impressive run-scoring record this season, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting lineup faltered against Royal Challengers Bangalore, managing only 171 for eight in 20 overs. The defeat marked SRH’s third loss in eight matches.

Opting to bat first, RCB rode on Rajat Patidar’s explosive half-century (58 off 42) and Virat Kohli’s magnificent knock (54 off 41) to post a challenging total. The SRH bowlers struggled to contain the RCB batsmen, with only Umran Malik (2/28) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/30) managing to pick up multiple wickets.

In response, SRH’s batting lineup failed to fire. Abhishek Sharma (43 off 28) and Rahul Tripathi (37 off 29) provided some resistance, but the rest of the batsmen failed to contribute significantly. RCB’s spinners, led by Wanindu Hasaranga (2/28) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/35), played a crucial role in restricting SRH’s scoring.

After the match, SRH skipper Pat Cummins lamented the loss, admitting that his team was “a few over par with the ball” and “lost a few wickets throughout our innings.” He also acknowledged that RCB’s spinners “bowled really well.”

Despite the defeat, Cummins remained optimistic about his team’s prospects. “The boys have been doing really well,” he said. “It’s T20 cricket, you are not going to win every game.”

SRH will next face Chennai Super Kings on April 28, while RCB will take on Gujarat Titans on April 30.

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RCB Ends Losing Streak with 35-Run Victory over SRH

RCB Ends Losing Streak with 35-Run Victory over SRH

By April 26, 2024 0

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis breathed a sigh of relief after his team snapped a six-match losing streak with a convincing 35-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday.

“The last two games, we’ve shown great signs of fight. The SRH game was 270 plus, we got 260. The KKR game as well – 1 run. We’ve been close for a while, but you need to win matches to get confidence as a group. Will sleep easier tonight,” du Plessis said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The RCB captain emphasized the importance of performances in building confidence within the team. “You can’t speak confidence into the group, can’t fake confidence into the group. Only thing that gives confidence is performances,” he said.

While Virat Kohli has been the leading run-scorer for RCB, du Plessis expressed satisfaction that other batters are also contributing. “The competition is so strong, the teams are so strong that you’ll get hurt if you’re not at 100 percent. More guys are scoring runs now. First half of the tournament only Virat was scoring runs. Greeny scoring runs now will be massive for him,” he said.

Chasing 207, SRH’s aggressive approach with the bat backfired as they found themselves at 69-5 in the 8th over. They were unable to recover from that early setback and eventually fell short of the target.

RCB’s victory was a much-needed boost for the team, which had been struggling for form in recent matches. The win will give them confidence as they look to climb up the IPL standings.

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Punjab Kings Skipper Shikhar Dhawan Ruled Out of KKR Clash, Hopes for CSK Return

Punjab Kings Skipper Shikhar Dhawan Ruled Out of KKR Clash, Hopes for CSK Return

By April 26, 2024 0

Punjab Kings’ skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, will miss the team’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday. The team hopes to have him back for their next game against Chennai Super Kings on May 1.

Dhawan last played against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 9 and has missed three matches since then. Sam Curran has stepped in as captain in his absence.

PBKS spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi said Dhawan is recovering and could return for the team’s next game in Chennai.

“He was in form and we really missed his batting services. We saw him batting yesterday, going through the nets and everything,” Joshi said on the eve of their match against KKR.

“He is on the road to recovery. Hopefully, he should be fit for the next game (against CSK),” he said.

PBKS have struggled as a batting unit and are ninth on the table with four points from eight matches.

Jitesh Sharma’s Struggles

Wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma has been a disappointment for PBKS in the ongoing IPL. Once considered a contender for India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, Sharma has scored just 128 runs from eight innings at an average of 16.00 and a strike rate of 125.49.

Joshi attributed Sharma’s struggles to the pressure of meeting expectations.

“Jitesh is a quality batter and we all know that the time has come for him to fire tomorrow. And yes, of course, there are multiple players in the whole IPL,” Joshi said.

“They are all eager to be in the T20 World Cup squad. But at times, most of the players are in that phase that (the thought of) making it to the Indian team will always keep haunting. So, it’s about focusing on basic, right things.”

Joshi said Sharma needs to focus on performing one ball at a time and not worry about the Indian team selection.

Pressure on KKR

Joshi believes the pressure will be on KKR to perform and win at home.

“We’ve come out of home. The pressure should be on the home team now so we can play freely and get runs,” he said.

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Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Faces Setback in India Due to Lack of Support

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Faces Setback in India Due to Lack of Support

By April 26, 2024 0

German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner’s plans to host the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in India have been put on hold due to a lack of local support. Buettner, who co-founded the tour with world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, had intended to visit India last week to secure sponsors and finalize a venue for the November event. However, he was met with limited interest from potential investors.

“The only ones interested (in India) were those who wanted me to invest a couple of hundred thousand into their hotel,” Buettner told HT. “It’s good as part of the plan. But if it’s only that, then I’d rather host the next event again, in my resort (Weisenhaus, Germany).”

Buettner emphasized that he is only willing to host events outside of Germany if there is significant financial support from local investors. “I’m not going to go to another country and spend millions of dollars just to do an on-site event there,” he said. “I have invested $2 million into this already, and I’m willing to keep investing but only if it makes sense.”

The inaugural edition of the Freestyle Chess GOAT challenge, held in Weisenhaus in February, was a success, with Carlsen emerging victorious. The tournament featured a unique format known as chess960 (Fischer Random), where the starting position of the pieces is randomized. Carlsen has expressed a strong preference for this format and skipped the Tata Steel event in Wijk Aan Zee to participate in Weisenhaus.

Buettner is now exploring alternative locations for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, including New York and Cape Town. He is also in discussions with Netflix for a series on freestyle chess. “We are having lots of talks with people in America and Africa,” he said. “If we get funding we’ll go ahead with an event this year. Maybe it will take a bit more time to have it in India. It might be good for next year.”

Buettner stressed that the success of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour depends on securing investors who are willing to share the financial burden. “I started this together with Magnus and we said we’d do this one event and see how it goes,” he said. “Wesisenhaus went extremely well and then we got all excited and said we’ll do it again and it seemed like there was a lot of interest from other countries. But I kind of misunderstood it perhaps. The interest was from other parties for me spending my money over there. That’s not my interest.”

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