News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Premier League 2022

  • LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir catches up with ‘skipper’ MS Dhoni after win over CSK

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir caught up with his old teammate and former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni after LSG’s maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 victory in Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday.

    The photos and videos of Gambhir interacting with Dhoni went viral on social media. The CSK superstar could be seen with a smile on his face during his conversation with Gambhir, bringing joy to the fans, given the reports of seemingly strained relations between them.

    Gambhir also posted a heartwarming picture with Dhoni after the game that went viral. “It was nice catching up skipper!” Gambhir posted on Instagram.

    On several occasions earlier, Gambhir had openly criticized the wicket-keeper batter on various issues.

    Gambhir played a key role in India’s 2011 World Cup win, which came under Dhoni’s captaincy. In the most iconic partnerships of Indian cricket, Dhoni and Gambhir joined hands to chase down a 275-run target against Sri Lanka.

    Earlier on Thursday, MS Dhoni smashed a six off the very first delivery he faced. He hit 16 runs from just 6 deliveries, pushing CSK’s score past 200.

    A 61-run knock from LSG’s wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock and an unbeaten 55 from Evin Lewis helped Lucknow Super Giants chase down the huge target of 211 to register a six-wicket win over four-times IPL champions Chennai Super Kings.

    Merely two days before the start of IPL 2022, Dhoni had stepped down as the captain of CSK. (ANI)

  • Winning close games is always good for team morale, believes LSG batter Quinton de Kock

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: After defeating Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 clash on Thursday, Lucknow Super Giants wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock said that winning such close games is always good for team morale.

    It was a complete team effort as Lucknow Super Giants chased down a big target of 211 in 19.3 overs against Chennai Super Kings to register a six-wicket win here at Brabourne Stadium.

    “It was unbelievable. Winning these types of close games is always good for team morale. Great win, boys batted really well. We came out fighting and to come out on top is always special. We thought we can chase down 210. We understood after the first two or three overs that it was a really good wicket. I’d say it was a par score on this wicket actually. It was nice to get out there and just bat, I wasn’t in too much rush. I had to get out there and spend some time, I knew it was a good enough wicket. It was just a matter of doing that and it’s also nice for a couple of the other boys to get out there and bat a bit,” said de Kock in a post-match presentation.

    “Evin played a hell of a knock tonight which was unbelievable and so did the youngster. It was great for everyone. It was nervy, chasing 210 is always going to be a close game but the boys were quite calm. It was mixed emotions among everyone. I was pretty calm myself, we knew what was going on out there. But still to get it done actually is still a hell of a job done,” he added.

    Chennai Super Kings batters Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube batted well and took Lucknow bowlers to the cleaners but there was one bowler on the Lucknow side who bagged two wickets and conceded only 24 runs in four overs.

    Ayush Badoni has been a real find for Lucknow as the youngster clicked in the first match of the season scoring a half-century and in the successful chase against CSK, the youngster scored an unbeaten 19 from 9-balls to guide his team to a six-wicket win.

    After registering their maiden win in the IPL, Lucknow Super Giants will now take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next encounter on April 4 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

  • CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja feels team needs to practice with wet ball

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings skipper Ravindra Jadeja expressed disappointment after his side got defeated by Lucknow Super Giants in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 clash on Thursday.

    It was a complete team effort as Lucknow Super Giants chased down a big target of 211 in 19.3 overs against Chennai Super Kings to register a six-wicket win here at Brabourne Stadium.

    “We had a very good start, Robbie and Shivam Dube were playing brilliantly. We had a good start, but in the fielding, we have to take catches then you’ll win matches. We should have taken those chances. There was a lot of dew, the ball wasn’t sticking to the hand,” said Jadeja in a post-match presentation.

    “Next time, we have to practise with the wet ball. We batted brilliantly in the top-six and in the middle-overs. The wicket was very good to bat on. As a bowling unit, we need to execute our plans,” he added.

    Chennai Super Kings batters Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube batted well and took Lucknow bowlers to the cleaners but there was one bowler on the Lucknow side who bagged two wickets and conceded only 24 runs in four overs.

    Ayush Badoni has been a real find for Lucknow as the youngster clicked in the first match of the season scoring a half-century and in the successful chase against CSK, the youngster scored an unbeaten 19 from 9-balls to guide his team to a six-wicket win.

  • Mumbai Indians are slow starters, but it’s still early days: Zaheer Khan

    By PTI

    NAVI MUMBAI: Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket Zaheer Khan on Friday admitted that the five-time champions are slow starters but said it is important to keep the mood of the side upbeat in a long tournament like the IPL.

    As has been the case in the past, MI had a disappointing start to the season, losing by four wickets to Delhi Capitals in their opener on March 27.

    “There have been a lot of constructive chats around the options which we can take. You know the first game is always a tricky one and you know traditionally how we have been faring in the first game of the tournament. So, usually we have been slow starters,” Zaheer said ahead of their game against Rajasthan Royals at the DY Patil stadium here on Saturday.

    “It is a long tournament, so you have to keep the mood upbeat. Still early days, very early days I would say, so that is how the whole camp is looking at it. The intensity, the preparation, the way everyone is doing their business is fantastic. We are looking for that first win.”

    Zaheer also confirmed that their ace batsman Suryakumar Yadav will be available for selection against RR following his recovery from a finger injury.

    “…like I said earlier he has been practicing, so that is something which we are all eagerly waiting for and in terms of his availability for the next game, yes he is (available),” he said.

    Yadav had suffered a hairline fracture while fielding in the third and final T20I against the West Indies in Kolkata in February and was recuperating at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

    He missed MI’s opening game against DC.

    There was another injury scare for MI in their first game when Ishan Kishan was hit on the toe by a Shardul Thakur yorker and Aryan Juyal kept wickets in his place.

    But Zaheer said Kishan is fit for the game against RR.

    “He (Kishan) is absolutely fine. We have taken necessary actions. He has been practicing regularly and we had a gap in between so that also helped him.”

    MI failed to defend 177 against DC, but the former India pacer is not too bothered about the team’s bowling performance.

    “I am happy with the way the plans are working, the way everyone is looking at approaching this year. You will definitely see the change in the coming games.

    “It was good learning for us. You have seen the CCI wicket is not an easy wicket for bowlers. You have seen in yesterday’s game also, 200 runs were chased. So, it was not an easy day for the bowlers, but in terms of planning and preparation they are right on the money,” added Zaheer.

  • Bowlers availability a big confidence booster for Rajasthan Royals: Kumar Sangakkara

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals’ director of cricket and head coach Kumar Sangakkara said on Friday that the availability of a full-strength bowling lineup is a real confidence booster for the team at a time when many sides are struggling with their overseas recruits.

    Boasting one of the best attacks of IPL-15 in Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, the Royals began their campaign in style, crushing Sunrisers Hyderabad by 61 runs.

    “It’s always nice to have such high quality in your attack. To have them available throughout is another great plus,” the Sri Lankan great said in a virtual media interaction on the eve of their match against Mumbai Indians.

    While many teams are struggling with the unavailability of overseas players, Royals have scored full marks in ensuring that bowlers such as Jimmy Neesham, Obed McCoy and Navdeep Saini are available for the full season.

    “The bowling and batting equally make a huge impact in T20 cricket especially on flat wickets. So, it’s really a confidence booster to have that bowling strength always present.”

    One of IPL’s leading wicket-takers (170 scalps from 122 matches), Lasith Malinga has also joined the Royals as the fast bowling coach after his retirement last year.

    The prospect of Malinga working alongside the likes of upcoming Indian pacers Krishna and Saini excites Sangakkara.

    “It’s really exciting to have him. It’s really huge. The bowlers really enjoy talking to him, while he’s there at the top of their marks. Discussing and debating fields and deliveries. He’s been exceptional,” Sangakkara said.

    On Malinga’s role, he said: “He’s just directing the players to keep things simple, what the strengths are and how they are going to approach the situations and the batters.”

    They also have another former Mumbai player in Nathan Coulter-Nile.

    “Everyone brings knowledge and experience into the mix. Players change around in terms of auctions at various times. It’s good to have their experience in the side,” Sangakkara said.

    The middle-order batting has always been a concern for the Jaipur franchise, but Sangakkara said the players’ are aware of their roles so that they can support each other well.

    “There are always times when anyone can struggle in a long season. At various times, the key is to have the ability around to support that and to have players understand that.

    “It’s the natural way of cricket. Unfortunately we can’t have good day everyday…we try and very hard. Good days and bad days are part and parcel of the game,” he concluded.