News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Premier League 2021

  • MS Dhoni was not the only batter who struggled, difficult wicket for strokeplay: CSK coach Stephen Fleming

    By ANI

    DUBAI: After suffering a three-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming came in defence of skipper MS Dhoni, saying he was not the only batter to struggle on the Dubai wicket.

    Shimron Hetmyer played an unbeaten knock of 28 runs off just 18 balls to help Delhi Capitals defeat CSK by three wickets with two balls to spare. With this win, Rishabh Pant-led outfit moved to the top of the points table with 20 points from 13 games.

    “Dhoni was not the only one, it was a difficult day for strokeplay. 137 was almost enough, it was a tough wicket to score big on in terms of big shots, both teams struggled with it towards the end of the innings. Sometimes, you set your sights too high, probably we were just 10-15 runs short of having a match-winning score,” said Fleming during a virtual post-match press conference.

    “That is the difficulty at the moment, trying to assess what the conditions are at three different grounds, there was no lack of intent. We had to stabilise after a couple of mistakes. Delhi bowled well in the last five overs, they were really smart,” he added.

    Earlier, Ambati Rayudu played an unbeaten knock of 55 runs off 43 balls as CSK posted a total of 136/5 in the allotted twenty overs. For Delhi Capitals, Axar Patel returned with figures of 2-18.

    “Yeah, I rather have two defeats now than have two semi-finals, if I have a wish list. There were a lot of mistakes from both sides. Sometimes, when you have qualified, things do change. We are trying to maintain the intensity, there were clumsy mistakes from us which was the most disappointing aspect. But in terms of the competition, one of the most important things is rebounding. We need to just to get our intensity back as before,” said Fleming.

    “The pitch if you watched it, it was very difficult. There was inconsistency, Bravo is not someone who bangs the ball in, his changes in pace and yorkers are his key weapons. I thought tactics were sport on. We did it really well,” he added.

    CSK will next lock horns against Punjab Kings on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium.

  • Play smart, enjoy your game and give 100 per cent: Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Rahul Tewatia

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals are currently placed at the sixth position in the IPL 2021 points tally and they will have to win both their matches to enter the playoffs.

    Their confidence would be rocket high following their thumping win over mighty Chennai Super Kings but their next encounters are also not easy at all, as the Sanju Samson-led side will face Mumbai Indians on October 5 and Kolkata Knight Riders on October 7.

    However, despite the crunch situation, the Royals look a little relaxed. Day ahead of their crucial tie, all-rounder Rahul Tewatia said that the team is not discussing anything related to the net-run rate or playoff fight.

    “All matches are important for us. We are not thinking anything like we win both the matches and enter the playoffs. We are just taking one match at a time. We want to give our hundred per cent and enjoy the game, like we did in our last match. This is what Kumar Sangakkara (team director) also suggested,” Tewatia said on Monday. “Nothing such as net run rate or where we are standing at the moment (points tally) have been discussed in the team meeting so far.”

    Further talking about their Tuesday’s match against Mumbai, the 28-year-old said the Rohit Sharma-led side is a dangerous team on their given day. “Their middle order is really good, so is their top order. But we will try to play a smart game and win it,” he said.

    The all-rounder further admitted that his performance has not been up to the mark in the season and said he will look to produce a better show to help his team.

    “Yeah, our middle order is struggling and I take responsibility for that. I know my performances weren’t up to the mark with regards to the high expectations. However, I will put in the effort to improve the output in the next matches.”

  • Emergence of young domestic bowlers a big positive for Punjab Kings: KL Rahul

    Punjab Kings suffered another defeat on Sunday, losing to RCB by six runs, which leaves them dependent on other results to make it to the playoffs.

  • KL Rahul adjusts to everything, never get the feeling he’s a leader: Ajay Jadeja

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul lacks leadership quality, feels former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja following PBKS continuous struggle in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Punjab has managed to win just 14 of the 25 games played under Rahul’s leadership so far. The team has finished sixth in the league stages in the last two IPL editions. Also, this season they are almost out of the playoff fight. They are currently placed fifth in the tally with 10 points.

    “If you look at KL Rahul, he’s been the captain of this team for the past two years, I never get the feeling that he’s a ‘leader’. Whenever this team has gone through a good phase or a bad phase, we never look at him. The team (PBKS playing XI) that’s playing today, the changes that have been made, do you think KL Rahul would have made that?

    “Someone becomes an Indian captain based on his philosophy because he should be a leader. I have not seen that in KL Rahul so far because he’s very soft-spoken and adjusts to everything. If he becomes the captain one day, then it’s a certainty he’ll last the longest because a guy ready to adjust can stay longer in that position,” Jadeja was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

    “But there are leadership qualities where whether I agree with his philosophy, the Indian captain should at least have one philosophy. Because there’s a huge difference between the captaincy of an IPL team and the Indian team,” the former India batsman added.

    Jadeja further said that Rahul has the calmness like MS Dhoni but hasn’t taken much responsibility on his shoulders during his stint as the Punjab captain.

  • Seeds of Arshdeep Singh’s stellar IPL run were sown in Sri Lanka

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The seeds of Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh’s stellar IPL season were sown in Sri Lanka where he straightened his run up to improve his inswinger under the guidance of India A and NCA coach Paras Mhambrey.

    The 22-year-old left-arm pacer had travelled to Sri Lanka as a net bowler with the India squad in June-July and was close to making his international debut after a COVID outbreak in the team.

    Arshdeep, who is into his third season, made instant impact on IPL resumption by taking a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals.

    He has taken 16 in the season so far at an average of 19.18.

    Over the past two seasons, he had already made a reputation as an effective death bowler but now he is also making the new ball talk.

    Courtesy a straighter run-up, he is able to bring ball back into the right-hander and the best example of that was the late inswinger to Shubman Gill in the game against KKR.

    Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the UAE leg, Arshdeep recalled the time spent with the Indian team and how it made him a better bowler.

    Rahul Dravid was head coach on that tour.

    “It was a great experience. You learn a lot when you travel with the team even if you are not playing. The environment under Rahul sir was good. The first zoom call we had after landing there, he said ‘It is not a squad of 20, it is a squad of 25 (including net bowlers) and everyone will get the same treatment’.

    “That makes you feel part of the group. Also there was no senior or junior, you could learn from anyone, from captain to fellow net bowlers to the support staff,” he said.

    Talking about work done on his run up with former India pacer Mhambrey, Arshdeep said: “I did some fine tuning work with Paras sir. He worked on my run up, straightened it a bit which allowed me to move the ball back in, the angle was little too much.

    “We also worked to how better my finish on the follow through. I was there for a month, it was very good experience training wise.”

    Arshdeep, who was born in Madhya Pradesh but hails from Kharar in Punjab, is aware that left-arm pacers are a sought after lot but meditation has taught him to not lose sleep over selection matters — be it for his IPL franchise or the Indian team.

    “Paaji, I believe in expecting nothing and be ready for everything at the same time and also learning never stops. Our mental health expert (with Punjab Kings) told us to medidate regularly and with that I have learnt is that don’t expect much.

    “They even say in a love story also one should not expect as it always hurts,” said the lanky pacer on a lighter note.

    Arshdeep also gives personal coach Jaswant Rai a lot of credit in his rapid rise.

    Having started his IPL career with Punjab Kings, the “homely” atmosphere of the team has also helped him perform.

    “It is like family here. Even when there was change in support staff, it always felt like home.”

    He may not be part of India’s T20 World Cup squad but it is evident that he is on selectors’ radar and the performance in the ongoing IPL has only helped his case.

    Arshdeep signed off after remembering a conversation with Dravid during the Sri Lanka tour.

    “Rahul sir said ‘you are doing well,you are getting results and you are on the radar and just keep performing game after game’. That has stayed with me.”

  • Has been wonderful to watch Ruturaj Gaikwad bat: Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad for showing remarkable consistency in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Delhi Capitals and CSK will be locking horns on Monday in the top of the table clash at the Dubai International Stadium.

    “Look, I think CSK have got a couple of batters who look at like golden form. I do not know what to say. The way Ruturaj Gaikwad has been batting, has been absolutely wonderful to watch. It is going to be a challenge,” Ashwin said in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of DC.

    “CSK bat deep, bat aggressively. They batted aggressively against us at the Wankhede as well. It will be at the Dubai stadium, the pitch has been good there, I am looking at the batting dish out game,” he added.

    Gaikwad had scored his maiden IPL ton against Rajasthan Royals and he remained unbeaten in the last game. Delhi Capitals had won its last game against Mumbai Indians while CSK suffered a loss against Rajasthan Royals.

    CSK and Delhi Capitals are currently at the top two spots in the IPL points table.

  • Virat Kohli told me to bowl dot balls rather than look for wickets in middle overs: RCB spinner Yuzvendra Chahal

    By ANI

    SHARJAH: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed that skipper Virat Kohli told him to bowl dot balls rather than look for wickets in the middle overs phase in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against the Punjab Kings.

    Glenn Maxwell’s knock of 57 runs off just 33 balls helped RCB defeat Punjab Kings by 6 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With this win, Kohli’s side sealed its qualification for the playoffs.

    “I backed myself and bowled according to my strength, just that I varied my length. On this wicket 160 was a good score. Virat Kohli told me not to go for wickets in the middle overs, he told me to bowl dot balls. Agarwal is a great batsman, I love to bowl against him, it’s challenging,” Chahal told host broadcaster Star Sports after the game ended.

    “My focus was not to bowl any loose balls. We had good momentum in the first half. The way we have bounced back after first couple of games in the UAE, it is all because of unity in our team,” he added.

    Maxwell’s firing fifty was followed by a spirited bowling performance by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS).

    For RCB, Yuzvendra Chahal scalped two wickets while Shahbaz Ahmed and George Garton returned with one piece. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul scored innings of 57 and 39 respectively for Punjab.

    RCB will next square off against SunRisers Hyderabad at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

  • Dubai wicket wasn’t easiest to hit spinners: KKR batsman Shubman Gill

    By ANI

    DUBAI: After playing a knock of 57 runs against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opening batter Shubman Gill revealed that the pitch was not the easiest to hit spinners for constant boundaries.

    “It was important to keep the wickets in hand, and when the balls and runs were closer then just take it easy. It was important to assess the wicket. It wasn’t easy to hit the spinners on this wicket. I was targeting the shorter side, and the leg-side was shorter than the off-side at one end. When I didn’t have much runs under the belt, you don’t want the opposition to gain the upper hand,” Gill told host broadcaster Star Sports after KKR’s six-wicket win over SRH.

    “When you play on slower wickets, it’s more important to play with the wrists and that comes naturally to me. I took on the extra pace (of Umran) today and it came off in this game, but in another game it might not,” he added.

    Gill played a knock of 57 runs as KKR defeated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets with two balls to spare here at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. With this win, KKR consolidated its position at the fourth spot and the side now has 12 points from 13 games.

    Earlier, a spirited bowling performance helped KKR restrict SRH to 115/8 in the allotted twenty overs. For Eoin Morgan-led side, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi, and Varun Chakravarthy returned with two wickets each while for SRH, Kane Williamson top-scored with a knock of 26 runs.

    KKR will next square off against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore want me to do same role I have for Australia: Glenn Maxwell

    By ANI

    SHARJAH: Australia batter Glenn Maxwell has revealed that Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) always wanted him to do the same role he has for his country while batting.

    Maxwell’s knock of 57 runs off just 33 balls helped RCB defeat Punjab Kings by 6 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With this win, Kohli’s side sealed its qualification for the playoffs.

    “Not much has been different, came at a nice time out to bat, took a bit of time to assess the conditions, got away with the first couple of risks that I took and then started off. A bit of clarity, I think I have been clear in my mind over the last couple of seasons in the IPL as well as professional cricket. I have found a nice bit of rhythm. Batting at 4, sometimes it’s not the easiest position to bat – but the openers gave us an ideal set-up, took a bit of time to understand the wicket,” Maxwell told host broadcaster Star Sports at the post-match presentation.

    “This is something I have had with Australia for a long period of time (a clarity in the role), this is perhaps why I have had success over there. Coming into RCB, they wanted me to do the same type of role. Really enjoyable to come into the dressing room and not make too many changes. This Sharjah wicket is the toughest to adjust, the ball skidded through, unlike at the other venues where the ball held up and gave you some time to go onto the back-foot. Once you get used to it, the more time you spend, the easier it gets,” he added.

    Maxwell’s firing fifty was followed by a spirited bowling performance by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS).

    For RCB, Yuzvendra Chahal scalped two wickets while Shahbaz Ahmed and George Garton returned with one piece. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul scored innings of 57 and 39 respectively for Punjab.

    RCB will next square off against SunRisers Hyderabad at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

  • SRH pacer Umran Malik clocks 151 kmph against KKR, impresses one and all

    By ANI

    DUBAI: SunRisers Hyderabad might have lost the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but pacer Umran Malik impressed one and all with his quick pace to rattle the opposition batters.

    Malik, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir clocked two deliveries over 150 kmph on the speed gun and his fastest ball was 151.03.

    As a result, he is now the only Indian in the top ten for this season to deliver the fastest balls. The 21-year-old Malik clocked a delivery at 146 kmph speed in his very first over, and he then entered 150s twice on the speed gun.

    He ended up conceding just 27 runs in his four overs. Shubman Gill played a knock of 57 runs as KKR defeated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets with two balls to spare here at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. With this win, KKR consolidated its position at the fourth spot and the side now has 12 points from 13 games.

    Earlier, a spirited bowling performance helped KKR restrict SRH to 115/8 in the allotted twenty overs. For Eoin Morgan-led side, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi, and Varun Chakravarthy returned with two wickets each while for SRH, Kane Williamson top-scored with a knock of 26 runs.

    Sunrisers Hyderabad had brought in medium-pacer Umran Malik as a short-term COVID-19 replacement for T Natarajan for their ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign in the UAE.

    Natarajan had tested positive for COVID-19 before the team’s fixture against Delhi Capitals on September 22. Before playing against KKR, Malik had played one T20 and List A match for Jammu Kashmir and he picked a total of four wickets.