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Category: Cricket

T20 Cricket Vital for Game's Future, Says Sourav Ganguly

T20 Cricket Vital for Game’s Future, Says Sourav Ganguly

By May 4, 2024 0

T20 Cricket: A Vital Force in the Evolution of the Game, Says Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has emphasized the significance of T20 cricket in the modern era, stating that it has the potential to drive the game forward. Ganguly believes that the shortened format will continue to play a crucial role in the sport’s development.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Bengal Pro T20 League trophy in Kolkata, Ganguly acknowledged the transformative impact of T20 cricket. “It is a great introduction to the game,” he said. “Change is inevitable in everything. Many of us who started playing 2-day cricket and 4-day cricket will have to accept that T20 cricket is here to stay and it is something that will take the game forward.”

Ganguly highlighted the accessibility and excitement of T20 cricket, making it an ideal format for attracting new fans and showcasing the sport’s dynamism. He also emphasized the importance of T20 leagues in providing opportunities for young players to showcase their talent and gain valuable experience.

“It’s (T20 Leagues) happening in every state,” Ganguly said. “We are probably 5-6 years late on this. Any way of playing the sport will always be very helpful. T20 is an important part of cricket these days and this will be a huge opportunity for everyone to perform.”

The inaugural edition of the Bengal Pro T20 League is scheduled to commence on June 11, 2024, in Kolkata. Eight teams will compete for the coveted trophy, providing a platform for aspiring cricketers to showcase their skills and contribute to the growth of the sport.

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PCB's Late Coaching Appointments Raise Concerns Ahead of T20 World Cup

PCB’s Late Coaching Appointments Raise Concerns Ahead of T20 World Cup

By May 4, 2024 0

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent appointment of Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie as head coaches for the white-ball and red-ball teams, respectively, has sparked debate within the cricket fraternity. The timing of the appointments, just days before the ICC T20 World Cup, has raised concerns among experts.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif expressed his apprehension over the late appointments. He highlighted the importance of stability and continuity in the lead-up to major tournaments. Latif emphasized that the timing of the appointments could put undue pressure on both Kirsten and Pakistan captain Babar Azam.

Despite his concerns, Latif acknowledged the experience and impressive records of both Kirsten and Gillespie. However, he stressed the need for earlier appointments to allow the coaches and players to build a strong working relationship.

The PCB’s announcement of an 18-player squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England also drew attention. The squad will be reduced to 15 players for the World Cup after the first T20I at Leeds on May 22.

The selection committee recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf and all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha to the squad. Wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan were dropped from the original 17-player squad that faced New Zealand.

The Pakistan team is scheduled to depart for Dublin on May 7 for a three-day training camp before the start of the T20I series. The team will be looking to build momentum and finalize their preparations for the World Cup.

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MS Dhoni's Mentorship Transforms Sri Lankan Pacer Matheesha Pathirana into IPL Star

MS Dhoni’s Mentorship Transforms Sri Lankan Pacer Matheesha Pathirana into IPL Star

By May 4, 2024 0

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer and former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, has a reputation for nurturing young talent and transforming them into exceptional performers. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is the latest beneficiary of Dhoni’s mentorship, experiencing a meteoric rise in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Pathirana, known for his slingy action reminiscent of Sri Lankan fast-bowling legend Lasith Malinga, has emerged as one of the most potent bowlers in the IPL. With 13 wickets in just six matches, he currently ranks fifth among the tournament’s top wicket-takers. His impressive performance in the 2023 season, where he finished among the top 10 bowlers, further underscores his talent.

Pathirana attributes his success to the unwavering confidence Dhoni has placed in him. Despite handing over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, Dhoni continues to play a pivotal role in Pathirana’s development.

“After my father, in my cricket life, mostly he (Dhoni) is playing my father’s role because he is always taking care of me, giving me advice, what I have to do, similar to my father when I am at home,” Pathirana said in a recent episode of ‘Lions Upclose’.

Dhoni’s guidance extends beyond technical aspects of bowling. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying the game and maintaining physical fitness. “He’s not telling a lot of things when I am on the field and off the field. He tells just small things, but it makes a lot of difference. So those little things, I take a lot of confidence (from),” Pathirana explained.

Off the field, Dhoni remains a trusted confidant for Pathirana. “If I have to ask something from him, definitely I would go to him and ask. Every time he is telling me ‘enjoy your game and take care of your body’,” Pathirana said.

The Sri Lankan pacer, who hails from Trinity College in Kandy, expressed his heartfelt desire to see Dhoni continue playing for CSK. “Mahi bhai, if you can play one more season, please play with us. If I’m here (laughs),” Pathirana said.

Pathirana’s rapid ascent under Dhoni’s mentorship is a testament to the former Indian captain’s ability to identify and nurture young talent. As CSK continues its quest for a fifth IPL title, Pathirana is poised to play a pivotal role, inspired by the unwavering support and guidance of his cricketing mentor.

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Hardik Pandya Embraces Fatherhood, Finds Calmness and Perspective

Hardik Pandya Embraces Fatherhood, Finds Calmness and Perspective

By May 4, 2024 0

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has opened up about the profound impact fatherhood has had on his life and perspective. Since becoming a father, Pandya has experienced a shift in his priorities and a newfound sense of calmness.

“My cricket didn’t change much, but as a person, it changed my point of view towards life,” Pandya said. “Perspective and priorities have changed, and it brought a lot of calmness inside me.”

Pandya’s transformation as a father has been evident in his approach to the game. Despite facing criticism for his form and fitness, he has remained focused and determined. His inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad is a testament to his resilience and the belief that selectors have in his abilities.

India captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have expressed confidence in Pandya’s ability to regain his form and play a crucial role in the upcoming World Cup. Agarkar noted that Pandya’s fitness and versatility give the team balance and options.

Pandya’s journey as a father began in 2020 when he welcomed his son, Agastya, with actress Natasa Stankovic. The experience has brought him immense joy and fulfillment.

“Getting married, becoming a father, it’s been very special,” Pandya said. “At the end of the day, you know that when you go back to your family and loved ones, they are always there for you.”

Pandya’s transformation as a father is a reminder of the power of family and the importance of finding balance in life. His story serves as an inspiration to others who are navigating the challenges and rewards of parenthood.

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Irfan Pathan Exposes Hardik Pandya's Captaincy Woes in Mumbai Indians' Loss

Irfan Pathan Exposes Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy Woes in Mumbai Indians’ Loss

By May 4, 2024 0

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) dismal performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has raised concerns about the team’s leadership under captain Hardik Pandya. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has been vocal in his criticism of Pandya’s tactics, suggesting a lack of respect for the captain in the dressing room.

After MI’s loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Pathan questioned Pandya’s decision to give the ball to Naman Dhir when KKR were struggling at 57/5. He argued that this allowed KKR to rebuild their innings through Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey, who was playing his first game of the season.

“Mumbai Indians’ story ends here,” Pathan said in a viral video. “This team was so good on paper, but it wasn’t managed. The questions that were raised on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy were absolutely right.”

Pathan further suggested that the MI players do not respect Pandya as captain, which has contributed to the team’s struggles. “Captaincy has a big impact in the game,” he said. “Mumbai Indians don’t look like a united team, and management needs to consider this. Players need to respect and accept the captain, and we didn’t see that on-field.”

KKR’s win helped them retain their second position in the table, while MI remained at the 9th spot. However, MI still has a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs if they win their remaining three matches and other results go their way.

Pathan’s criticism of Pandya’s captaincy has sparked a debate about the team’s leadership and the reasons behind their poor performance. MI’s management will need to address these concerns and find a way to improve the team’s fortunes in the remaining matches of the season.

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Kohli's Strike Rate Debate: Former Cricketers Slam Double Standards

Kohli’s Strike Rate Debate: Former Cricketers Slam Double Standards

By May 4, 2024 0

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli has been a consistent run-scorer in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, despite facing criticism over his strike rate. Kohli currently sits second in the scoring charts with 500 runs in 10 matches, just nine runs behind Orange Cap holder Ruturaj Gaikwad. However, his innings have often been overshadowed by his debatable strike rate.

Amidst the criticism, Kohli has found support from former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Mohammad Kaif. They have slammed his critics for double standards, citing the example of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter Travis Head.

Head has been in impressive form in the IPL, scoring 396 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of over 194. However, during SRH’s match against Rajasthan Royals (RR), Head struggled to time the ball, scoring 58 off 44 balls with a strike rate of 131.8.

Irfan and Kaif argued that if Kohli had played a similar knock, his strike rate would have been heavily criticized. “According to his ability, you have never seen him play like this. No matter what you say that there was good bowling and everything, but every cricketer should be treated equally,” said Irfan.

Kaif echoed his sentiments, adding, “If this was Virat Kohli, I can guarantee that people would have said only 58 runs in 44 balls? What is this? They would say it is low and there would have debates about his strike rate. But I believe that this was a good innings by Head.”

Irfan further highlighted Kohli’s importance to RCB, especially considering the team’s struggles in the tournament. “But if there was Virat Kohli instead, people would have stuck to the strike rate but here we are talking about taking responsibility for team’s victory, so please treat everyone equally,” he added.

Kohli himself has addressed the debate surrounding his strike rate, taking a swipe at his critics after the match against Gujarat Titans. “All the people who talk about [my] strike rate and me not playing spin well are the ones who love to talk about these things. But for me, it is just about winning the game. There’s a reason why you do it for 15 years. Because you do this day in and day out and won games for your team,” said Kohli.

Kohli will have the opportunity to reclaim the Orange Cap when RCB face Gujarat Titans on Saturday.

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Mumbai Indians' IPL Woes Continue with Eighth Loss to Kolkata Knight Riders

Mumbai Indians’ IPL Woes Continue with Eighth Loss to Kolkata Knight Riders

By May 4, 2024 0

Mumbai Indians’ dismal IPL 2024 campaign continued on Friday as they suffered an eighth defeat, this time at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 170, Mumbai’s batting lineup crumbled, with the team eventually bowled out for 145 in 18.5 overs. The loss marked KKR’s first victory at MI’s home ground in 12 years.

After the match, Mumbai spinner Piyush Chawla provided an update on former captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness. Sharma, who was not included in the playing XI, came out to bat during the chase. Chawla revealed that Sharma had experienced some back stiffness, prompting the team to rest him during the fielding.

“Rohit Sharma just had a mild back-stiffness so it was a just precautionary thing,” Chawla said in the post-match press conference.

Reflecting on the defeat, Chawla acknowledged that it was an off day for the team. “If you talk about the wicket, it was good, but sticky at the start and credit goes to KKR bowlers, they bowled really well. Sometimes it happens that things are not going your way and the other team comes and bowls in really good areas. It was just one off day,” he added.

Chawla emphasized that Mumbai will continue to play with pride and reputation in the remaining matches of the tournament. “We are going to play for our pride and reputation because sometimes you enter the field you never know whether you are going to qualify or not. You have to play for your name and that’s what we are playing for,” he asserted.

Chawla attributed Mumbai’s struggles to a lack of momentum. “As a unit, I don’t say it is just about batting or bowling, it’s just the complete unit. You must have heard that T20 cricket is about momentum and just that we didn’t get going into this season. It can happen to any team, it’s not that happening to us,” he stated.

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KKR Triumph Over MI with Iyer's Half-Century and Spin Twins' Brilliance

KKR Triumph Over MI with Iyer’s Half-Century and Spin Twins’ Brilliance

By May 4, 2024 0

Venkatesh Iyer’s valiant half-century and a brilliant bowling performance from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy propelled Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a morale-boosting victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.

Despite losing early wickets, Iyer played a controlled knock, scoring 70 off 52 balls and forming an 83-run partnership with Manish Pandey (42). However, a mix-up with Andre Russell led to Iyer’s run-out, sparking a debate online about whether he should have sacrificed his wicket.

KKR’s spin twins, Narine and Chakravarthy, then took control of the match, claiming identical hauls of 4-22 in their four overs each. They reduced MI to 61/4, and despite a valiant rescue attempt by Suryakumar Yadav and Tim David, Russell and Mitchell Starc shared five wickets to end MI’s fightback.

Starc claimed three wickets in the 19th over, including two off successive deliveries, finishing with 4-33. MI were bowled out for 145, giving KKR a much-needed victory against a team that had won 23 out of 32 matches before this encounter.

Iyer’s innings was crucial for KKR, as he provided stability to the batting order after the early wickets. His partnership with Pandey gave KKR a platform to build a competitive total. However, his run-out raised questions about his decision-making, with some arguing that he should have sacrificed his wicket to allow Russell to continue batting.

The bowling performance of Narine and Chakravarthy was equally impressive. They exploited the Wankhede pitch conditions to perfection, bamboozling the MI batters with their variations. Russell and Starc then provided the finishing touches, ensuring that KKR secured a comfortable victory.

This victory is a significant boost for KKR, who have struggled for consistency in recent seasons. It will give them confidence as they look to make a strong push for the playoffs. For MI, it is a setback, but they will be determined to bounce back in their upcoming matches.

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Virat Kohli Teases Shubman Gill Ahead of RCB-GT IPL Clash

Virat Kohli Teases Shubman Gill Ahead of RCB-GT IPL Clash

By May 4, 2024 0

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) are set to face off in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Ahead of the highly anticipated encounter, GT skipper Shubman Gill paid a surprise visit to the RCB dressing room, where he was greeted by former RCB captain Virat Kohli.

In a lighthearted moment captured on video, Kohli playfully teased Gill, saying, “Badi jaldi aaya practice pe (you came very soon for practice).” The duo exchanged a few more words before Gill departed.

Both GT and RCB have endured disappointing seasons thus far. RCB languishes at the bottom of the 10-team table with just three wins in 10 matches, while Gujarat has fared slightly better at No. 8 with four wins in 10 matches.

Gujarat, who won the IPL title in their debut season in 2022 and finished runners-up in 2023 under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, have struggled to replicate their success this season. RCB, on the other hand, has never won the IPL despite boasting a star-studded lineup.

Kohli, who stepped down as RCB captain after the 2021 season, has been in impressive form this season. He is currently No. 2 in the list of run-getters with 500 runs in 10 matches, behind Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has scored 509 runs in 10 matches.

The match between RCB and GT promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams desperate for a victory to revive their playoff hopes. Kohli’s form and Gill’s leadership will be key factors to watch in this crucial encounter.

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Kaneria Questions BCCI Selectors Over Rinku Singh's T20 World Cup Exclusion

Kaneria Questions BCCI Selectors Over Rinku Singh’s T20 World Cup Exclusion

By May 4, 2024 0

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has raised concerns over the exclusion of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Rinku Singh from India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Kaneria believes that Rinku should have been included in the main squad, while Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Hardik Pandya should have been omitted due to his poor form in the ongoing IPL.

Kaneria praised India’s recent production of talented cricketers, citing Yashasvi Jaiswal, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Mayank Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma as examples. He emphasized that Rinku’s performances in the IPL warranted his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.

“I feel that Rinku should have been a part of India’s T20 WC squad. If I take the ongoing IPL’s performances into consideration, then Hardik Pandya should have been the one to miss out. He hasn’t shown consistency at all,” Kaneria said in an interview with Sports Now.

Kaneria suggested that Shivam Dube, who has been in good form for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), would have been a better choice than Pandya. He believes that a combination of Dube and Rinku would have strengthened India’s lower order.

Meanwhile, Rinku had a disappointing outing in his first game since the T20 World Cup omission. In the match between KKR and MI, he scored only nine runs off eight balls before being dismissed by Piyush Chawla. Despite Rinku’s poor performance, KKR defeated MI by 24 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.

KKR’s victory was their first at the Wankhede ground in 12 years and their seventh from 10 games this season. MI, on the other hand, slumped to ninth position in the 10-team competition after their eighth loss in 11 games. KKR is currently placed second and is well-positioned to make it to the play-offs.

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