News Analysis India

Tag: Hardik Pandya

  • Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans​ set for high-voltage clash

    By PTI

    NAVI MUMBAI: A battle royale is on the cards when Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans take on the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals, two line-ups armed with potent bowling units in a top-of-the-table IPL showdown here on Thursday.

    The Royals put together one of the best if not the best bowling attacks for this season and all their spinners and pacers have been right on the mark.

    The seasoned Trent Boult has continued to reign fire with the new ball and has been equally impressive in the slog overs.

    In the previous game against Lucknow Super Giants, he bowled a fiery opening spell to get rid of skipper KL Rahul and Krishnappa Gowtham in the very first over.

    Prasidh Krishna has given a glimpse of why he is touted to be the next fast-bowling sensation in Indian cricket.

    Alongside Boult, the duo has bowled with pace and aggression.

    Rookie Kuldeep Sen too proved he has the stomach to play with the bigwigs.

    He performed tremendously under pressure on his debut, defending 15 runs off the last over against LSG.

    The spin duties, on the other hand, are being ably carried out by senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and the wily Yuzvendra Chahal.

    The latter is the leading wicket taker in the league at the moment, spinning the opposition batters in to submission.

    The leg spinner has 11 scalps at and economy of 6.50.

    Ashwin though has not had many breakthroughs, the off-spinner has operated at an economy of 6.87 and has managed to choke the opposition for runs.

    It will be a tall task for the Titans’ batters, who are thin on experience, to navigate through the Royals bowling.

    The new-entrants have relied heavily on young opener Shubman Gill, who has been in scintillating form, and Pandya.

    But the skipper, who is known for his pyrotechnics, has been more restrictive in his approach and his looked to take his innings deep.

    Matthew Wade has struggled to get runs while David Miller is also yet to fire, leaving rookies Abhinav Manohar and B Sai Surdharshan with more responsibility.

    However, Rahul Tewatia seems to be loving his role as the finisher tonking sixes at will.

    The Titans boast of formidable bowling unit themselves.

    The pace bowling department includes the likes of Lockie Ferguson, one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, senior India quick Mohammed Shami, and Pandya, all attacking wicket-taking bowlers, who can put the opposition under pressure.

    Rashid Khan, expectedly, is their most economical bowler.

    The opposition batters have preferred to play his four overs out rather than go for the big shots.

    The Titans bowlers, however, lacked sharpness in the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team’s first defeat this season.

    It will be interesting to see how they regroup against the Royals batting line up that includes the likes of the flamboyant Jos Buttler, the big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer and Samons besides the prodigiously talented Devdutt Padikkal.

    Both teams have won three games and lost one with the Royals perched on top of the points table owing to a superior net run rate, while the Titans are placed fourth.

    Teams (from):

    Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain/wicketkeeper), Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Riyan Parag, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Devdutt Padikkal, Navdeep Saini, Karun Nair, Rassie van der Dussen, James Neesham, Anunay Singh, Daryl Mitchell, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Garhwal, Kuldip Yadav, Kuldeep Sen, Obed McCoy, Tejas Baroka, KC Cariappa.

    Gujarat Titans: Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

    Match starts at 7.30 PM.

  • Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans​ set for high-voltage clash

    By PTI

    NAVI MUMBAI: A battle royale is on the cards when Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans take on the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals, two line-ups armed with potent bowling units in a top-of-the-table IPL showdown here on Thursday.

    The Royals put together one of the best if not the best bowling attacks for this season and all their spinners and pacers have been right on the mark.

    The seasoned Trent Boult has continued to reign fire with the new ball and has been equally impressive in the slog overs.

    In the previous game against Lucknow Super Giants, he bowled a fiery opening spell to get rid of skipper KL Rahul and Krishnappa Gowtham in the very first over.

    Prasidh Krishna has given a glimpse of why he is touted to be the next fast-bowling sensation in Indian cricket.

    Alongside Boult, the duo has bowled with pace and aggression.

    Rookie Kuldeep Sen too proved he has the stomach to play with the bigwigs.

    He performed tremendously under pressure on his debut, defending 15 runs off the last over against LSG.

    The spin duties, on the other hand, are being ably carried out by senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and the wily Yuzvendra Chahal.

    The latter is the leading wicket taker in the league at the moment, spinning the opposition batters in to submission.

    The leg spinner has 11 scalps at and economy of 6.50.

    Ashwin though has not had many breakthroughs, the off-spinner has operated at an economy of 6.87 and has managed to choke the opposition for runs.

    It will be a tall task for the Titans’ batters, who are thin on experience, to navigate through the Royals bowling.

    The new-entrants have relied heavily on young opener Shubman Gill, who has been in scintillating form, and Pandya.

    But the skipper, who is known for his pyrotechnics, has been more restrictive in his approach and his looked to take his innings deep.

    Matthew Wade has struggled to get runs while David Miller is also yet to fire, leaving rookies Abhinav Manohar and B Sai Surdharshan with more responsibility.

    However, Rahul Tewatia seems to be loving his role as the finisher tonking sixes at will.

    The Titans boast of formidable bowling unit themselves.

    The pace bowling department includes the likes of Lockie Ferguson, one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, senior India quick Mohammed Shami, and Pandya, all attacking wicket-taking bowlers, who can put the opposition under pressure.

    Rashid Khan, expectedly, is their most economical bowler.

    The opposition batters have preferred to play his four overs out rather than go for the big shots.

    The Titans bowlers, however, lacked sharpness in the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team’s first defeat this season.

    It will be interesting to see how they regroup against the Royals batting line up that includes the likes of the flamboyant Jos Buttler, the big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer and Samons besides the prodigiously talented Devdutt Padikkal.

    Both teams have won three games and lost one with the Royals perched on top of the points table owing to a superior net run rate, while the Titans are placed fourth.

    Teams (from):

    Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain/wicketkeeper), Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Riyan Parag, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Devdutt Padikkal, Navdeep Saini, Karun Nair, Rassie van der Dussen, James Neesham, Anunay Singh, Daryl Mitchell, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Garhwal, Kuldip Yadav, Kuldeep Sen, Obed McCoy, Tejas Baroka, KC Cariappa.

    Gujarat Titans: Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

    Match starts at 7.30 PM.

    NAVI MUMBAI: A battle royale is on the cards when Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans take on the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals, two line-ups armed with potent bowling units in a top-of-the-table IPL showdown here on Thursday.

    The Royals put together one of the best if not the best bowling attacks for this season and all their spinners and pacers have been right on the mark.

    The seasoned Trent Boult has continued to reign fire with the new ball and has been equally impressive in the slog overs.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    In the previous game against Lucknow Super Giants, he bowled a fiery opening spell to get rid of skipper KL Rahul and Krishnappa Gowtham in the very first over.

    Prasidh Krishna has given a glimpse of why he is touted to be the next fast-bowling sensation in Indian cricket.

    Alongside Boult, the duo has bowled with pace and aggression.

    Rookie Kuldeep Sen too proved he has the stomach to play with the bigwigs.

    He performed tremendously under pressure on his debut, defending 15 runs off the last over against LSG.

    The spin duties, on the other hand, are being ably carried out by senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and the wily Yuzvendra Chahal.

    The latter is the leading wicket taker in the league at the moment, spinning the opposition batters in to submission.

    The leg spinner has 11 scalps at and economy of 6.50.

    Ashwin though has not had many breakthroughs, the off-spinner has operated at an economy of 6.87 and has managed to choke the opposition for runs.

    It will be a tall task for the Titans’ batters, who are thin on experience, to navigate through the Royals bowling.

    The new-entrants have relied heavily on young opener Shubman Gill, who has been in scintillating form, and Pandya.

    But the skipper, who is known for his pyrotechnics, has been more restrictive in his approach and his looked to take his innings deep.

    Matthew Wade has struggled to get runs while David Miller is also yet to fire, leaving rookies Abhinav Manohar and B Sai Surdharshan with more responsibility.

    However, Rahul Tewatia seems to be loving his role as the finisher tonking sixes at will.

    The Titans boast of formidable bowling unit themselves.

    The pace bowling department includes the likes of Lockie Ferguson, one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, senior India quick Mohammed Shami, and Pandya, all attacking wicket-taking bowlers, who can put the opposition under pressure.

    Rashid Khan, expectedly, is their most economical bowler.

    The opposition batters have preferred to play his four overs out rather than go for the big shots.

    The Titans bowlers, however, lacked sharpness in the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team’s first defeat this season.

    It will be interesting to see how they regroup against the Royals batting line up that includes the likes of the flamboyant Jos Buttler, the big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer and Samons besides the prodigiously talented Devdutt Padikkal.

    Both teams have won three games and lost one with the Royals perched on top of the points table owing to a superior net run rate, while the Titans are placed fourth.

    Teams (from):

    Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain/wicketkeeper), Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Riyan Parag, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Devdutt Padikkal, Navdeep Saini, Karun Nair, Rassie van der Dussen, James Neesham, Anunay Singh, Daryl Mitchell, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Garhwal, Kuldip Yadav, Kuldeep Sen, Obed McCoy, Tejas Baroka, KC Cariappa.

    Gujarat Titans: Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.

    Match starts at 7.30 PM.

  • Hardik Pandya roasted on social media for screaming at senior pro Mohammed Shami

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya’s outburst at team-mate and senior India bowler Mohammed Shami, after the latter did not go all out to take a catch in Monday night’s game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), has not gone down well with the all-rounder’s fans.

    At the DY Patil stadium on Monday, a measured half-century from captain Kane Williamson, after their bowlers had applied the brakes in the last five overs, sealed SRH’s eight-wicket win over Gujarat Titans.

    Dear Hardik, you are a terrible captain. Stop taking it out on your teammates, particularly someone as senior as Shami. #IPL #IPL2022 #GTvsSRH pic.twitter.com/9yoLpslco7
    — Bodhisattva #DalitLivesMatter (@insenroy) April 11, 2022
    After the bowlers had conceded 44 runs and taken three wickets in the last five overs to restrict Gujarat to 162/7, Williamson led the chase with patience and precision while making 57 off 46 balls, laced with two fours and four sixes. He found support from Abhishek Sharma (42) and Nicholas Pooran doing the finishing job with an unbeaten 34.

    It was in the 13th over being bowled by Pandya that the Titans skipper shouted at Shami after the latter apparently did not go all out to take a catch offered by Rahul Tripathi. Before that, SRH skipper Kane Williamson had hit Pandya for back-to-back maximums off the second and third ball of the over.

    The Titans had an opportunity to dismiss the New Zealander’s partner Tripathi off the last ball of the over when the 31-year-old batter’s upper cut went horribly wrong and flew towards deep third man.

    @hardikpandya7 shouting at the #mohammedshami is disgraceful what Shami has done for #Indianteam is commendable and #Hardik has not even done half of it. #shameful #HardikPandya
    — Wolf (@Wolf_Vickbaghel) April 11, 2022

    Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve to be the Captain of any team one who doesn’t know how to speak to the team members and that too a senior player shouldn’t be the Captain you do not win all games Cricket is a gentleman game pls note @hardikpandya7
    — Idris Ahmad (@IdrisAhmad_47) April 11, 2022

    Just watch the Kane Williamson reaction when Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi & Markram dropped catches & compare it with Hardik Pandey reaction to dropped catch by Shami, Pandya was screaming at his senior partner Shami, that’s the difference between a Leader & a Captain #SRHvGT
    — Ykush_Tyagiᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@Ykush_Tyagi) April 11, 2022
    Shami, posted in the deep, could have latched on to the catch had he moved forward. Instead, the veteran India pacer moved back a couple of steps and collected the ball on first bounce. Already clobbered for two sixes by Williamson in the over, Pandya vent his anger at Shami.

    A fan called Pandya a terrible skipper, tweeting, “Dear Hardik, you are a terrible captain. Stop taking it out on your teammates, particularly someone as senior as Shami,” while another fan wrote “@hardikpandya7 shouting at the #mohammedshami is disgraceful what Shami has done for #Indianteam is commendable and #Hardik has not even done half of it. #shameful #HardikPandya.”

    Another fan wrote, “Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve to be the Captain of any team one who doesn’t know how to speak to the team members and that too a senior player shouldn’t be the Captain you do not win all games Cricket is a gentleman game pls note @hardikpandya7.”

    MUMBAI: Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya’s outburst at team-mate and senior India bowler Mohammed Shami, after the latter did not go all out to take a catch in Monday night’s game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), has not gone down well with the all-rounder’s fans.

    At the DY Patil stadium on Monday, a measured half-century from captain Kane Williamson, after their bowlers had applied the brakes in the last five overs, sealed SRH’s eight-wicket win over Gujarat Titans.

    Dear Hardik, you are a terrible captain. Stop taking it out on your teammates, particularly someone as senior as Shami. #IPL #IPL2022 #GTvsSRH pic.twitter.com/9yoLpslco7googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — Bodhisattva #DalitLivesMatter (@insenroy) April 11, 2022
    After the bowlers had conceded 44 runs and taken three wickets in the last five overs to restrict Gujarat to 162/7, Williamson led the chase with patience and precision while making 57 off 46 balls, laced with two fours and four sixes. He found support from Abhishek Sharma (42) and Nicholas Pooran doing the finishing job with an unbeaten 34.

    It was in the 13th over being bowled by Pandya that the Titans skipper shouted at Shami after the latter apparently did not go all out to take a catch offered by Rahul Tripathi. Before that, SRH skipper Kane Williamson had hit Pandya for back-to-back maximums off the second and third ball of the over.

    The Titans had an opportunity to dismiss the New Zealander’s partner Tripathi off the last ball of the over when the 31-year-old batter’s upper cut went horribly wrong and flew towards deep third man.

    @hardikpandya7 shouting at the #mohammedshami is disgraceful what Shami has done for #Indianteam is commendable and #Hardik has not even done half of it. #shameful #HardikPandya
    — Wolf (@Wolf_Vickbaghel) April 11, 2022

    Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve to be the Captain of any team one who doesn’t know how to speak to the team members and that too a senior player shouldn’t be the Captain you do not win all games Cricket is a gentleman game pls note @hardikpandya7
    — Idris Ahmad (@IdrisAhmad_47) April 11, 2022

    Just watch the Kane Williamson reaction when Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi & Markram dropped catches & compare it with Hardik Pandey reaction to dropped catch by Shami, Pandya was screaming at his senior partner Shami, that’s the difference between a Leader & a Captain #SRHvGT
    — Ykush_Tyagiᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@Ykush_Tyagi) April 11, 2022
    Shami, posted in the deep, could have latched on to the catch had he moved forward. Instead, the veteran India pacer moved back a couple of steps and collected the ball on first bounce. Already clobbered for two sixes by Williamson in the over, Pandya vent his anger at Shami.

    A fan called Pandya a terrible skipper, tweeting, “Dear Hardik, you are a terrible captain. Stop taking it out on your teammates, particularly someone as senior as Shami,” while another fan wrote “@hardikpandya7 shouting at the #mohammedshami is disgraceful what Shami has done for #Indianteam is commendable and #Hardik has not even done half of it. #shameful #HardikPandya.”

    Another fan wrote, “Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve to be the Captain of any team one who doesn’t know how to speak to the team members and that too a senior player shouldn’t be the Captain you do not win all games Cricket is a gentleman game pls note @hardikpandya7.”

  • Hardik Pandya roasted on social media for screaming at senior pro Mohammed Shami

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya’s outburst at team-mate and senior India bowler Mohammed Shami, after the latter did not go all out to take a catch in Monday night’s game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), has not gone down well with the all-rounder’s fans.

    At the DY Patil stadium on Monday, a measured half-century from captain Kane Williamson, after their bowlers had applied the brakes in the last five overs, sealed SRH’s eight-wicket win over Gujarat Titans.

    Dear Hardik, you are a terrible captain. Stop taking it out on your teammates, particularly someone as senior as Shami. #IPL #IPL2022 #GTvsSRH pic.twitter.com/9yoLpslco7
    — Bodhisattva #DalitLivesMatter (@insenroy) April 11, 2022
    After the bowlers had conceded 44 runs and taken three wickets in the last five overs to restrict Gujarat to 162/7, Williamson led the chase with patience and precision while making 57 off 46 balls, laced with two fours and four sixes. He found support from Abhishek Sharma (42) and Nicholas Pooran doing the finishing job with an unbeaten 34.

    It was in the 13th over being bowled by Pandya that the Titans skipper shouted at Shami after the latter apparently did not go all out to take a catch offered by Rahul Tripathi. Before that, SRH skipper Kane Williamson had hit Pandya for back-to-back maximums off the second and third ball of the over.

    The Titans had an opportunity to dismiss the New Zealander’s partner Tripathi off the last ball of the over when the 31-year-old batter’s upper cut went horribly wrong and flew towards deep third man.

    @hardikpandya7 shouting at the #mohammedshami is disgraceful what Shami has done for #Indianteam is commendable and #Hardik has not even done half of it. #shameful #HardikPandya
    — Wolf (@Wolf_Vickbaghel) April 11, 2022

    Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve to be the Captain of any team one who doesn’t know how to speak to the team members and that too a senior player shouldn’t be the Captain you do not win all games Cricket is a gentleman game pls note @hardikpandya7
    — Idris Ahmad (@IdrisAhmad_47) April 11, 2022

    Just watch the Kane Williamson reaction when Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi & Markram dropped catches & compare it with Hardik Pandey reaction to dropped catch by Shami, Pandya was screaming at his senior partner Shami, that’s the difference between a Leader & a Captain #SRHvGT
    — Ykush_Tyagiᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@Ykush_Tyagi) April 11, 2022
    Shami, posted in the deep, could have latched on to the catch had he moved forward. Instead, the veteran India pacer moved back a couple of steps and collected the ball on first bounce. Already clobbered for two sixes by Williamson in the over, Pandya vent his anger at Shami.

    A fan called Pandya a terrible skipper, tweeting, “Dear Hardik, you are a terrible captain. Stop taking it out on your teammates, particularly someone as senior as Shami,” while another fan wrote “@hardikpandya7 shouting at the #mohammedshami is disgraceful what Shami has done for #Indianteam is commendable and #Hardik has not even done half of it. #shameful #HardikPandya.”

    Another fan wrote, “Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve to be the Captain of any team one who doesn’t know how to speak to the team members and that too a senior player shouldn’t be the Captain you do not win all games Cricket is a gentleman game pls note @hardikpandya7.”

  • Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya becomes fastest Indian to smash 100 sixes in IPL

    By ANI

    NAVI MUMBAI: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya became the fastest Indian to smash 100 sixes in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Hardik achieved this feat during the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad here at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

    The all-rounder has reached the milestone in a total of 1046 balls. He also became the third-fastest player in the world to smash 100 sixes, after West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.

    Coming to the match, top knocks by Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma helped SunRisers Hyderabad in defeating Gujarat Titans by 8 wickets.

    Skipper Williamson smashed 57 while other SRH opener Abhishek Sharma played a quick knock of 42 to chase the target of 163 with five balls left in the match.

    After winning their first three matches of the Indian Premier League, this is Gujarat’s first loss in the tournament.

    NAVI MUMBAI: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya became the fastest Indian to smash 100 sixes in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Hardik achieved this feat during the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad here at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

    The all-rounder has reached the milestone in a total of 1046 balls. He also became the third-fastest player in the world to smash 100 sixes, after West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Coming to the match, top knocks by Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma helped SunRisers Hyderabad in defeating Gujarat Titans by 8 wickets.

    Skipper Williamson smashed 57 while other SRH opener Abhishek Sharma played a quick knock of 42 to chase the target of 163 with five balls left in the match.

    After winning their first three matches of the Indian Premier League, this is Gujarat’s first loss in the tournament.

  • Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya becomes fastest Indian to smash 100 sixes in IPL

    By ANI

    NAVI MUMBAI: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya became the fastest Indian to smash 100 sixes in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Hardik achieved this feat during the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad here at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

    The all-rounder has reached the milestone in a total of 1046 balls. He also became the third-fastest player in the world to smash 100 sixes, after West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.

    Coming to the match, top knocks by Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma helped SunRisers Hyderabad in defeating Gujarat Titans by 8 wickets.

    Skipper Williamson smashed 57 while other SRH opener Abhishek Sharma played a quick knock of 42 to chase the target of 163 with five balls left in the match.

    After winning their first three matches of the Indian Premier League, this is Gujarat’s first loss in the tournament.

  • Responsibility of leading Gujarat Titans will make Hardik Pandya better cricketer and person: Harbhajan Singh

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that the responsibility of captaincy will only make Gujarat Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya a better cricketer and person.

    In IPL 2022, Pandya has been impressive in captaining Gujarat to be the only unbeaten team in the tournament while making 91 runs with the bat and picking two wickets with his pace bowling. The side will be hoping to extend their clean slate when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday.

    “He seems to be relishing his role as a captain and leading the team from the front. He’s performing with the bat for Gujarat Titans and has also started bowling well which are good signs for Team India as well. Look, he aims to make his India comeback and if he can start giving those five-six overs with the ball then it will be a big positive for the national side because they’ll need a player of his calibre in the T20 World Cup in Australia.”

    “I believe that the responsibility of leading a team will only make Hardik a better player, a better captain, and a better person. Something similar happened with Rohit Sharma as well,” said Harbhajan on Cricket Live show on Star Sports.

    Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri too felt that Gujarat stand as favourites to win Monday’s match against Hyderabad and signalled leg-spinner Rashid Khan to do well against his former IPL franchise.

    “The favourite will be Gujarat Titans. Because the way they have played is better than Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the last match so they might build momentum from here but the favourite will be Gujarat Titans. Rashid will want to perform well against Hyderabad. Not only that but he’ll want to win against Hyderabad.”

    In further praise of Pandya, Harbhajan applauded his hard work and dedication for fulfilling his father’s dream of playing for India and declared him a role model for several aspiring cricketers.

    “Hardik’s hard work and dedication to fulfil his father’s dream (to play cricket for India) is inspiring. He has shown what one can achieve through perseverance. Hardik is representing every person who wishes to rise from the bottom and make a mark for himself.”

    MUMBAI: Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that the responsibility of captaincy will only make Gujarat Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya a better cricketer and person.

    In IPL 2022, Pandya has been impressive in captaining Gujarat to be the only unbeaten team in the tournament while making 91 runs with the bat and picking two wickets with his pace bowling. The side will be hoping to extend their clean slate when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday.

    “He seems to be relishing his role as a captain and leading the team from the front. He’s performing with the bat for Gujarat Titans and has also started bowling well which are good signs for Team India as well. Look, he aims to make his India comeback and if he can start giving those five-six overs with the ball then it will be a big positive for the national side because they’ll need a player of his calibre in the T20 World Cup in Australia.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “I believe that the responsibility of leading a team will only make Hardik a better player, a better captain, and a better person. Something similar happened with Rohit Sharma as well,” said Harbhajan on Cricket Live show on Star Sports.

    Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri too felt that Gujarat stand as favourites to win Monday’s match against Hyderabad and signalled leg-spinner Rashid Khan to do well against his former IPL franchise.

    “The favourite will be Gujarat Titans. Because the way they have played is better than Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the last match so they might build momentum from here but the favourite will be Gujarat Titans. Rashid will want to perform well against Hyderabad. Not only that but he’ll want to win against Hyderabad.”

    In further praise of Pandya, Harbhajan applauded his hard work and dedication for fulfilling his father’s dream of playing for India and declared him a role model for several aspiring cricketers.

    “Hardik’s hard work and dedication to fulfil his father’s dream (to play cricket for India) is inspiring. He has shown what one can achieve through perseverance. Hardik is representing every person who wishes to rise from the bottom and make a mark for himself.”

  • Responsibility of leading Gujarat Titans will make Hardik Pandya better cricketer and person: Harbhajan Singh

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that the responsibility of captaincy will only make Gujarat Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya a better cricketer and person.

    In IPL 2022, Pandya has been impressive in captaining Gujarat to be the only unbeaten team in the tournament while making 91 runs with the bat and picking two wickets with his pace bowling. The side will be hoping to extend their clean slate when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday.

    “He seems to be relishing his role as a captain and leading the team from the front. He’s performing with the bat for Gujarat Titans and has also started bowling well which are good signs for Team India as well. Look, he aims to make his India comeback and if he can start giving those five-six overs with the ball then it will be a big positive for the national side because they’ll need a player of his calibre in the T20 World Cup in Australia.”

    “I believe that the responsibility of leading a team will only make Hardik a better player, a better captain, and a better person. Something similar happened with Rohit Sharma as well,” said Harbhajan on Cricket Live show on Star Sports.

    Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri too felt that Gujarat stand as favourites to win Monday’s match against Hyderabad and signalled leg-spinner Rashid Khan to do well against his former IPL franchise.

    “The favourite will be Gujarat Titans. Because the way they have played is better than Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the last match so they might build momentum from here but the favourite will be Gujarat Titans. Rashid will want to perform well against Hyderabad. Not only that but he’ll want to win against Hyderabad.”

    In further praise of Pandya, Harbhajan applauded his hard work and dedication for fulfilling his father’s dream of playing for India and declared him a role model for several aspiring cricketers.

    “Hardik’s hard work and dedication to fulfil his father’s dream (to play cricket for India) is inspiring. He has shown what one can achieve through perseverance. Hardik is representing every person who wishes to rise from the bottom and make a mark for himself.”

  • IPL 2021: Will bowl soon, efforts are on, says all-rounder Hardik Pandya

    By ANI

    SHARJAH: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya gave a positive update on his return to the bowling crease, saying he would do it soon.

    “Runs are important and especially when your team wins. It was important for my personal confidence but to score for the team was important. We have to assess the wicket and adapt on the given time. The plans have to be simple and win over obstacles ball-by-ball. There’s no option, but one thing is that these situations bring out the best in you. We realise it is a do-or-die game, but we are just focusing on the controllabes,” Hardik told host broadcaster Star Sports before the game against DC.

    Commenting on hitting the bowling crease, he said: “Aayega jaldi. Koshish poori hai (I will bowl soon. Efforts are on).”

    Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday had said Hardik might struggle with the bat if he pushes too hard to bowl in the ongoing IPL.

    Notably, ever since Hardik underwent back surgery, he has not been bowling regularly.

    “Because he hasn’t bowled since Sri Lanka, I think what we are trying to do is what’s best for Hardik going forward. We are talking to Indian management, and make sure sooner he feels comfortable, we get him into his bowling programme and prepare him,” said Jayawardene in a pre-match press conference on Friday. “(If Hardik can bowl in IPL) We have to look on a daily basis and evaluate and see how he progresses.”

    Delhi Capitals had last suffered a loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while Mumbai Indians registered a win over Punjab Kings in their respective previous games. Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals is at the second spot in the points table while Mumbai Indians is in sixth place.

  • Hardik Pandya might struggle if pushed to bowl, says Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday said the team is in no hurry to force Hardik Pandya into bowling in the IPL as the all-rounder might “struggle” if pushed hard, which could jeopardise his outing in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

    After missing the first two games in the second leg of the tournament, Hardik played for MI purely as a batsman.

    This has raised questions over his selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad, with the chairman of selectors saying that Hardik is fully fit to bowl in the marque event, starting October 17 in the UAE and Oman.

    But Jayawardene felt otherwise and said that the Mumbai franchise is in constant touch with the Indian team think tank regarding Hardik.

    “He (Hardik) hasn’t bowled for a long period of time, so we are just trying to do the best for Hardik. We are in constant touch with the Indian team management on Hardik’s case,” he told reporters during a virtual press conference ahead of the title holder’s next game against Delhi Capitals here on Saturday.

    “Whether he will bowl in the IPL or not we will look on a daily basis. I feel at the moment if we push him too hard, he might struggle.”

    Ever since his return from a back surgery that he underwent in 2019, Hardik hasn’t been bowling as much as he used to.

    However, he had bowled regularly during the five-match T20 series against England in March earlier this year before rolling his arm over once in the ensuing three-match ODI series as part of his workload management.

    But he didn’t bowl in the first leg of the IPL in India and continues to be unused in the UAE as well.

    Mumbai are enduring a nightmarish second leg, having won just one out of the four games here.

    The defending champions are currently out of the top four, placed fifth in the standings with 10 points from 11 games.

    The Rohit Sharma-led side would look to stay in the play-offs race after securing their first win in the second phase.

    “Getting the win under out belt was very important. We are as charged up as we were at the start of the tournament. We did a lot of good things in our last game but still a lot of improvements needed.

    “We will have to play our best cricket to make it to the top four,” Jayawardene said. 

    Batting has been a big letdown for the record five-time IPL champions with people like Suryakumar Yadav badly struggling with scores of 0, 8, 5, 3 in the UAE leg.

    “He (Surya) is a very important player for us but many cricketer goes through such phases including me. I understand his focus is good and it’s just about spending time on the middle,” the coach said.

    Jayawardene agreed that the surfaces this season in the UAE are quite different from last year and must have been prepared keeping the T20 World Cup in mind.

    “The surfaces are slightly different from last year. We are seeing extra bit of grass. Probably, it is done to protect the surfaces as the T20 World Cup is just three weeks away.

    “The T20 World Cup is a neutral tournament, an ICC event so they are just trying to get the best possible surfaces,” he said.