News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Premier League 2022

  • IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals’ match vs Punjab Kings starts after Tim Seifert tests COVID-19 positive

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The cloud over the IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was lifted an hour before the game on Wednesday after the BCCI confirmed that the match will go on despite a sixth COVID positive case being reported in the Delhi camp on game day.

    New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert testing positive on the morning of the game raised serious doubts over the fixture but the rest of the Delhi squad members returning two negative tests put the match back on track.

    “The entire Delhi Capitals contingent underwent 2 rounds of COVID testing today. Match No. 32 involving Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings scheduled today at Brabourne – CCI will go ahead as per the schedule after the second round of COVID tests returned negative today,” said the BCCI in a statement.

    High drama unfolded in the lead up to the game with Seifert becoming the sixth member from Delhi contingent to test positive. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had tested positive on Monday. Punjab had reached the Brabourne Stadium on schedule but Delhi just about about managed to reach in nick of time.

    With Delhi players having to deal with stress and suspense caused by the COVID outbreak, it would be tough for them to just turn up and perform to their potential. “It is tough as we have got very little time to train after the last game,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”. Delhi’s next game on April 22 has also been moved to Mumbai from Pune.

    “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a change of venue for Match No.34 – Delhi Capital versus Rajasthan Royals from MCA Stadium, Pune to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai scheduled on April 22, 2022.

    “The decision on the change of venue was made as a precautionary measure after Delhi Capitals registered the 6th COVID case with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mr Tim Seifert returning positive in today’s RT-PCR testing,” BCCI added.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

  • IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals’ match vs Punjab Kings starts after Tim Seifert tests COVID-19 positive

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The cloud over the IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was lifted an hour before the game on Wednesday after the BCCI confirmed that the match will go on despite a sixth COVID positive case being reported in the Delhi camp on game day.

    New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert testing positive on the morning of the game raised serious doubts over the fixture but the rest of the Delhi squad members returning two negative tests put the match back on track.

    “The entire Delhi Capitals contingent underwent 2 rounds of COVID testing today. Match No. 32 involving Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings scheduled today at Brabourne – CCI will go ahead as per the schedule after the second round of COVID tests returned negative today,” said the BCCI in a statement.

    High drama unfolded in the lead up to the game with Seifert becoming the sixth member from Delhi contingent to test positive. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had tested positive on Monday. Punjab had reached the Brabourne Stadium on schedule but Delhi just about about managed to reach in nick of time.

    With Delhi players having to deal with stress and suspense caused by the COVID outbreak, it would be tough for them to just turn up and perform to their potential. “It is tough as we have got very little time to train after the last game,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”. Delhi’s next game on April 22 has also been moved to Mumbai from Pune.

    “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a change of venue for Match No.34 – Delhi Capital versus Rajasthan Royals from MCA Stadium, Pune to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai scheduled on April 22, 2022.

    “The decision on the change of venue was made as a precautionary measure after Delhi Capitals registered the 6th COVID case with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mr Tim Seifert returning positive in today’s RT-PCR testing,” BCCI added.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

    MUMBAI: The cloud over the IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was lifted an hour before the game on Wednesday after the BCCI confirmed that the match will go on despite a sixth COVID positive case being reported in the Delhi camp on game day.

    New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert testing positive on the morning of the game raised serious doubts over the fixture but the rest of the Delhi squad members returning two negative tests put the match back on track.

    “The entire Delhi Capitals contingent underwent 2 rounds of COVID testing today. Match No. 32 involving Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings scheduled today at Brabourne – CCI will go ahead as per the schedule after the second round of COVID tests returned negative today,” said the BCCI in a statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    High drama unfolded in the lead up to the game with Seifert becoming the sixth member from Delhi contingent to test positive. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had tested positive on Monday. Punjab had reached the Brabourne Stadium on schedule but Delhi just about about managed to reach in nick of time.

    With Delhi players having to deal with stress and suspense caused by the COVID outbreak, it would be tough for them to just turn up and perform to their potential. “It is tough as we have got very little time to train after the last game,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”. Delhi’s next game on April 22 has also been moved to Mumbai from Pune.

    “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a change of venue for Match No.34 – Delhi Capital versus Rajasthan Royals from MCA Stadium, Pune to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai scheduled on April 22, 2022.

    “The decision on the change of venue was made as a precautionary measure after Delhi Capitals registered the 6th COVID case with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mr Tim Seifert returning positive in today’s RT-PCR testing,” BCCI added.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

  • Mike Hesson feels RCB is ticking along nicely as team after victory over LSG

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: After registering an 18-run win over Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson said on Tuesday that the side is ticking along nicely and will continue to strive for improvement.

    Captain Faf Du Plessis regained form to hit a quick-fire 96 off just 64 deliveries and pacer Josh Hazelwood’s spell of 4/25 helped RCB gain an 18-run win against Lucknow Super Giants at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday.

    “We are ticking along pretty nicely as a team. Anuj and Faf have had three fifty-run partnerships that have been important for us. We have also had to bat in challenging conditions at times when we lost the toss and struggled to get underway. Faf came really good today and took the pressure off us when we lost early wickets. We are ticking along nicely but we will continue to try striving for improvement,” said Hesson in a post-match press conference.

    Hesson said that the side was pretty fortunate to get LSG captain’s KL Rahul’s wicket, who got dismissed by Harshal Patel for 30 in the eighth over of the game.

    “I would like to say that it was a pre-planned move, but it was not. We have had difficulties getting rid of KL Rahul. We were very happy to get that dismissal. Before that, we had made enough pressure from the scoring point of view,” he added.

    On Siraj not bowling during the death overs, Hesson said that the side has the flexibility to pick and choose as per the opposition and who is doing at a particular moment in time.

    “It is the beauty of our side that we have three very good death bowlers in Siraj, Hazelwood, and Siraj. Often they cover the final five overs. Today we felt that Siraj was doing a nice job. He got us a wicket, which is important. He was able to bowl nicely to the new batter. Ideally, we do not want two bowlers bowling the final over at the back-end, but today they did it. They did an excellent job,” added the Director of Cricket Operations for RCB.

    Coming to the match, put to bat first by LSG, RCB posted 181/6 in their 20 overs, largely powered by Plessis’s brilliant 96, well supported by brief but impactful innings from Shahbaz Ahmed (26) and Maxwell (23). For LSG, solid knocks from Krunal Pandya (42), KL Rahul (30), and Marcus Stoinis (24) kept the scoreboard ticking and hopes alive amid the consistent falling of wickets, but Hazelwood had the last laugh with his 4/25, who with Harshal Patel (2/47) ensured that the Giants fell 18-runs short of their fifth run in the tournament.

    RCB are at the second spot in the points table with 10 points and will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 23. On the other hand, LSG is at the fourth spot in the table and will take on Mumbai Indians on April 24.

  • Mike Hesson feels RCB is ticking along nicely as team after victory over LSG

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: After registering an 18-run win over Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson said on Tuesday that the side is ticking along nicely and will continue to strive for improvement.

    Captain Faf Du Plessis regained form to hit a quick-fire 96 off just 64 deliveries and pacer Josh Hazelwood’s spell of 4/25 helped RCB gain an 18-run win against Lucknow Super Giants at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday.

    “We are ticking along pretty nicely as a team. Anuj and Faf have had three fifty-run partnerships that have been important for us. We have also had to bat in challenging conditions at times when we lost the toss and struggled to get underway. Faf came really good today and took the pressure off us when we lost early wickets. We are ticking along nicely but we will continue to try striving for improvement,” said Hesson in a post-match press conference.

    Hesson said that the side was pretty fortunate to get LSG captain’s KL Rahul’s wicket, who got dismissed by Harshal Patel for 30 in the eighth over of the game.

    “I would like to say that it was a pre-planned move, but it was not. We have had difficulties getting rid of KL Rahul. We were very happy to get that dismissal. Before that, we had made enough pressure from the scoring point of view,” he added.

    On Siraj not bowling during the death overs, Hesson said that the side has the flexibility to pick and choose as per the opposition and who is doing at a particular moment in time.

    “It is the beauty of our side that we have three very good death bowlers in Siraj, Hazelwood, and Siraj. Often they cover the final five overs. Today we felt that Siraj was doing a nice job. He got us a wicket, which is important. He was able to bowl nicely to the new batter. Ideally, we do not want two bowlers bowling the final over at the back-end, but today they did it. They did an excellent job,” added the Director of Cricket Operations for RCB.

    Coming to the match, put to bat first by LSG, RCB posted 181/6 in their 20 overs, largely powered by Plessis’s brilliant 96, well supported by brief but impactful innings from Shahbaz Ahmed (26) and Maxwell (23). For LSG, solid knocks from Krunal Pandya (42), KL Rahul (30), and Marcus Stoinis (24) kept the scoreboard ticking and hopes alive amid the consistent falling of wickets, but Hazelwood had the last laugh with his 4/25, who with Harshal Patel (2/47) ensured that the Giants fell 18-runs short of their fifth run in the tournament.

    RCB are at the second spot in the points table with 10 points and will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 23. On the other hand, LSG is at the fourth spot in the table and will take on Mumbai Indians on April 24.

    MUMBAI: After registering an 18-run win over Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson said on Tuesday that the side is ticking along nicely and will continue to strive for improvement.

    Captain Faf Du Plessis regained form to hit a quick-fire 96 off just 64 deliveries and pacer Josh Hazelwood’s spell of 4/25 helped RCB gain an 18-run win against Lucknow Super Giants at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday.

    “We are ticking along pretty nicely as a team. Anuj and Faf have had three fifty-run partnerships that have been important for us. We have also had to bat in challenging conditions at times when we lost the toss and struggled to get underway. Faf came really good today and took the pressure off us when we lost early wickets. We are ticking along nicely but we will continue to try striving for improvement,” said Hesson in a post-match press conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Hesson said that the side was pretty fortunate to get LSG captain’s KL Rahul’s wicket, who got dismissed by Harshal Patel for 30 in the eighth over of the game.

    “I would like to say that it was a pre-planned move, but it was not. We have had difficulties getting rid of KL Rahul. We were very happy to get that dismissal. Before that, we had made enough pressure from the scoring point of view,” he added.

    On Siraj not bowling during the death overs, Hesson said that the side has the flexibility to pick and choose as per the opposition and who is doing at a particular moment in time.

    “It is the beauty of our side that we have three very good death bowlers in Siraj, Hazelwood, and Siraj. Often they cover the final five overs. Today we felt that Siraj was doing a nice job. He got us a wicket, which is important. He was able to bowl nicely to the new batter. Ideally, we do not want two bowlers bowling the final over at the back-end, but today they did it. They did an excellent job,” added the Director of Cricket Operations for RCB.

    Coming to the match, put to bat first by LSG, RCB posted 181/6 in their 20 overs, largely powered by Plessis’s brilliant 96, well supported by brief but impactful innings from Shahbaz Ahmed (26) and Maxwell (23). For LSG, solid knocks from Krunal Pandya (42), KL Rahul (30), and Marcus Stoinis (24) kept the scoreboard ticking and hopes alive amid the consistent falling of wickets, but Hazelwood had the last laugh with his 4/25, who with Harshal Patel (2/47) ensured that the Giants fell 18-runs short of their fifth run in the tournament.

    RCB are at the second spot in the points table with 10 points and will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 23. On the other hand, LSG is at the fourth spot in the table and will take on Mumbai Indians on April 24.

  • We are late already, this will happen a lot going forward: Ashwin on retiring himself out

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: R Ashwin feels the IPL is already late in using “retired out” as a tactical move and after becoming the first one to do so, the India spinner expects to see a lot more of it in the near future.

    Ashwin batted at No.6 for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday but left the field after two balls in the 19th over to make way for Riyan Parag.

    He had scored 28 off 23 before retiring himself out.

    “T20, as a sport, is heading towards where football has reached. Just like how they’re using substitutions, I did something similar (retiring out). Already we’re late, but I believe this will happen a lot in the coming days.

    “I don’t think it will be a stigma like running someone out at the non-striker’s end,” said Ashwin on his Youtube channel. However, he thinks the move might not work always.

    “It might work sometimes and it might not work sometimes. These things happen constantly in football, and we haven’t cracked T20 cricket fully yet. This is a millennial sport. This is the next generation’s sport.

    “In fact, if you see in football, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score goals frequently. But their team’s goalkeeper should also save goals and their defenders should defend well. Only then, a Messi or Ronaldo will be in the limelight.” 

    Since he was not able to get the desired boundaries in the slog overs, Ashwin thought it was best to make way for Parag.

    “It was just a tactical move. In fact, Riyan Parag has been batting very well and when the (K) Gowtham over (16th over) ended, I gave myself some time – five to six balls – to see whether I can hit a six or two fours.

    “There were a few balls in the slot, I tried to hit, and mistimed a bit. I threw the kitchen sink at everything, but I couldn’t get the timing going. Someone like Riyan Parag was in the shed and there were only ten balls remaining. If he comes and hits even two sixes, we could get a good score. It was a tactical decision.”

    Ashwin was also the first in the IPL to effect a run out of a non-striker backing up when he controversially dislodged the bails to dismiss Jos Buttler in 2019.

    In a recent update, the custodians of laws of cricket, MCC, moved the run out dismissal while backing up to Law 38 (run out) from Law 41 (unfair play).

    “The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground,” Fraser Stewart, MCC Laws Manager, told the Times after the rules were reframed.

    “It is legitimate, it is a run-out and therefore it should live in the run-out section of the laws,” he had said.

  • We are late already, this will happen a lot going forward: Ashwin on retiring himself out

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: R Ashwin feels the IPL is already late in using “retired out” as a tactical move and after becoming the first one to do so, the India spinner expects to see a lot more of it in the near future.

    Ashwin batted at No.6 for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday but left the field after two balls in the 19th over to make way for Riyan Parag.

    He had scored 28 off 23 before retiring himself out.

    “T20, as a sport, is heading towards where football has reached. Just like how they’re using substitutions, I did something similar (retiring out). Already we’re late, but I believe this will happen a lot in the coming days.

    “I don’t think it will be a stigma like running someone out at the non-striker’s end,” said Ashwin on his Youtube channel. However, he thinks the move might not work always.

    “It might work sometimes and it might not work sometimes. These things happen constantly in football, and we haven’t cracked T20 cricket fully yet. This is a millennial sport. This is the next generation’s sport.

    “In fact, if you see in football, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score goals frequently. But their team’s goalkeeper should also save goals and their defenders should defend well. Only then, a Messi or Ronaldo will be in the limelight.” 

    Since he was not able to get the desired boundaries in the slog overs, Ashwin thought it was best to make way for Parag.

    “It was just a tactical move. In fact, Riyan Parag has been batting very well and when the (K) Gowtham over (16th over) ended, I gave myself some time – five to six balls – to see whether I can hit a six or two fours.

    “There were a few balls in the slot, I tried to hit, and mistimed a bit. I threw the kitchen sink at everything, but I couldn’t get the timing going. Someone like Riyan Parag was in the shed and there were only ten balls remaining. If he comes and hits even two sixes, we could get a good score. It was a tactical decision.”

    Ashwin was also the first in the IPL to effect a run out of a non-striker backing up when he controversially dislodged the bails to dismiss Jos Buttler in 2019.

    In a recent update, the custodians of laws of cricket, MCC, moved the run out dismissal while backing up to Law 38 (run out) from Law 41 (unfair play).

    “The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground,” Fraser Stewart, MCC Laws Manager, told the Times after the rules were reframed.

    “It is legitimate, it is a run-out and therefore it should live in the run-out section of the laws,” he had said.

    NEW DELHI: R Ashwin feels the IPL is already late in using “retired out” as a tactical move and after becoming the first one to do so, the India spinner expects to see a lot more of it in the near future.

    Ashwin batted at No.6 for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday but left the field after two balls in the 19th over to make way for Riyan Parag.

    He had scored 28 off 23 before retiring himself out.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “T20, as a sport, is heading towards where football has reached. Just like how they’re using substitutions, I did something similar (retiring out). Already we’re late, but I believe this will happen a lot in the coming days.

    “I don’t think it will be a stigma like running someone out at the non-striker’s end,” said Ashwin on his Youtube channel. However, he thinks the move might not work always.

    “It might work sometimes and it might not work sometimes. These things happen constantly in football, and we haven’t cracked T20 cricket fully yet. This is a millennial sport. This is the next generation’s sport.

    “In fact, if you see in football, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score goals frequently. But their team’s goalkeeper should also save goals and their defenders should defend well. Only then, a Messi or Ronaldo will be in the limelight.” 

    Since he was not able to get the desired boundaries in the slog overs, Ashwin thought it was best to make way for Parag.

    “It was just a tactical move. In fact, Riyan Parag has been batting very well and when the (K) Gowtham over (16th over) ended, I gave myself some time – five to six balls – to see whether I can hit a six or two fours.

    “There were a few balls in the slot, I tried to hit, and mistimed a bit. I threw the kitchen sink at everything, but I couldn’t get the timing going. Someone like Riyan Parag was in the shed and there were only ten balls remaining. If he comes and hits even two sixes, we could get a good score. It was a tactical decision.”

    Ashwin was also the first in the IPL to effect a run out of a non-striker backing up when he controversially dislodged the bails to dismiss Jos Buttler in 2019.

    In a recent update, the custodians of laws of cricket, MCC, moved the run out dismissal while backing up to Law 38 (run out) from Law 41 (unfair play).

    “The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground,” Fraser Stewart, MCC Laws Manager, told the Times after the rules were reframed.

    “It is legitimate, it is a run-out and therefore it should live in the run-out section of the laws,” he had said.

  • Will Dinesh Karthik’s RCB showing revive his India T20 World Cup dreams?

    By IANS

    NAVI MUMBAI: Dinesh Karthik’s role as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could pitchfork the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter into India reckoning as the team under Rohit Sharma looks to rebuild for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

    Former England captain Nick Knight said as much when he commented that he sees in Karthik a cricketer who can perform the job of a finisher in this year’s T20 World Cup if he continues to finish matches for his Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2022.

    In IPL 2022, Karthik has been a critical finisher for RCB, making 131 runs and averaging the same number with a strike-rate of 218.33, especially in matches against Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

    Though Bangalore fell short of the chase by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, they were still in reckoning to hunt down 217 despite losing eight wickets, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s quick-fire 34 off 14 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 242.86.

    But his dismissal in the 18th over off Dwayne Bravo effectively sealed the fate of the match for Chennai. Karthik, who has made many comebacks to the Indian side since his debut in 2004, last played international cricket during the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup and has been out of the set-up post India’s exit from the semifinals of the mega event.

    “DK is a fantastic fella. He did work with us during the English summer (India’s Tour of England in 2021). As someone who knows him, I’m really feasting and enjoying on what he is doing. The one thing we came across when he met him was how much he loves the game. I think he is 36 and he’s not thinking about retirement. He is absolutely loving every minute. If he can keep finishing games like this, there might be a role for him at the World T20,” Knight was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

    Knight feels if CSK had got a low score, many wouldn’t have talked about the bowling performance of Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Picked by Rs 70 lakh in the IPL Mega Auction in February this year, Theekshana finally got his moment to shine in IPL 2022 by picking 4/33 in his four overs.

    Theekshana proved to be a vital factor in derailing Bangalore’s chase of 217 by taking out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat in power-play. He then came back in the later stages to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai to keep Chennai on course for a 23-run win.

    “It was a fantastic night for him. If CSK were blown away for 130, 140 or may be 150, we won’t be talking about Theekshana. Nothing to take away from the spinners, but the dismissals mystery spinners get is when the batsmen are coming at you, under pressure.”

    “Last game he bowled four overs with no wickets and he didn’t bowl any good or any worse today. When you don’t have runs on the board, it’s not so straight forward for these guys. It’s the same with Jadeja. It’s the game situation that brings spinners in a bit more,” observed Knight, a former left-handed batter.

    Theekshana’s early strikes along with left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and captain Ravindra Jadeja taking out Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell respectively meant Bangalore never had the strong foundation to chase 217 successfully, something which Knight firmly believed in.

    “On a surface like today (Tuesday), I thought the conditions were even. The powerplay was crucial and one of your top four has to set that up (chasing 200 plus) and guys in the middle can pick that up. That was the problem for RCB.”

  • Will Dinesh Karthik’s RCB showing revive his India T20 World Cup dreams?

    By IANS

    NAVI MUMBAI: Dinesh Karthik’s role as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could pitchfork the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter into India reckoning as the team under Rohit Sharma looks to rebuild for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

    Former England captain Nick Knight said as much when he commented that he sees in Karthik a cricketer who can perform the job of a finisher in this year’s T20 World Cup if he continues to finish matches for his Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2022.

    In IPL 2022, Karthik has been a critical finisher for RCB, making 131 runs and averaging the same number with a strike-rate of 218.33, especially in matches against Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

    Though Bangalore fell short of the chase by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, they were still in reckoning to hunt down 217 despite losing eight wickets, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s quick-fire 34 off 14 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 242.86.

    But his dismissal in the 18th over off Dwayne Bravo effectively sealed the fate of the match for Chennai. Karthik, who has made many comebacks to the Indian side since his debut in 2004, last played international cricket during the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup and has been out of the set-up post India’s exit from the semifinals of the mega event.

    “DK is a fantastic fella. He did work with us during the English summer (India’s Tour of England in 2021). As someone who knows him, I’m really feasting and enjoying on what he is doing. The one thing we came across when he met him was how much he loves the game. I think he is 36 and he’s not thinking about retirement. He is absolutely loving every minute. If he can keep finishing games like this, there might be a role for him at the World T20,” Knight was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

    Knight feels if CSK had got a low score, many wouldn’t have talked about the bowling performance of Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Picked by Rs 70 lakh in the IPL Mega Auction in February this year, Theekshana finally got his moment to shine in IPL 2022 by picking 4/33 in his four overs.

    Theekshana proved to be a vital factor in derailing Bangalore’s chase of 217 by taking out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat in power-play. He then came back in the later stages to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai to keep Chennai on course for a 23-run win.

    “It was a fantastic night for him. If CSK were blown away for 130, 140 or may be 150, we won’t be talking about Theekshana. Nothing to take away from the spinners, but the dismissals mystery spinners get is when the batsmen are coming at you, under pressure.”

    “Last game he bowled four overs with no wickets and he didn’t bowl any good or any worse today. When you don’t have runs on the board, it’s not so straight forward for these guys. It’s the same with Jadeja. It’s the game situation that brings spinners in a bit more,” observed Knight, a former left-handed batter.

    Theekshana’s early strikes along with left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and captain Ravindra Jadeja taking out Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell respectively meant Bangalore never had the strong foundation to chase 217 successfully, something which Knight firmly believed in.

    “On a surface like today (Tuesday), I thought the conditions were even. The powerplay was crucial and one of your top four has to set that up (chasing 200 plus) and guys in the middle can pick that up. That was the problem for RCB.”

    NAVI MUMBAI: Dinesh Karthik’s role as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could pitchfork the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter into India reckoning as the team under Rohit Sharma looks to rebuild for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

    Former England captain Nick Knight said as much when he commented that he sees in Karthik a cricketer who can perform the job of a finisher in this year’s T20 World Cup if he continues to finish matches for his Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2022.

    In IPL 2022, Karthik has been a critical finisher for RCB, making 131 runs and averaging the same number with a strike-rate of 218.33, especially in matches against Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Though Bangalore fell short of the chase by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, they were still in reckoning to hunt down 217 despite losing eight wickets, thanks to Dinesh Karthik’s quick-fire 34 off 14 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 242.86.

    But his dismissal in the 18th over off Dwayne Bravo effectively sealed the fate of the match for Chennai. Karthik, who has made many comebacks to the Indian side since his debut in 2004, last played international cricket during the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup and has been out of the set-up post India’s exit from the semifinals of the mega event.

    “DK is a fantastic fella. He did work with us during the English summer (India’s Tour of England in 2021). As someone who knows him, I’m really feasting and enjoying on what he is doing. The one thing we came across when he met him was how much he loves the game. I think he is 36 and he’s not thinking about retirement. He is absolutely loving every minute. If he can keep finishing games like this, there might be a role for him at the World T20,” Knight was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

    Knight feels if CSK had got a low score, many wouldn’t have talked about the bowling performance of Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Picked by Rs 70 lakh in the IPL Mega Auction in February this year, Theekshana finally got his moment to shine in IPL 2022 by picking 4/33 in his four overs.

    Theekshana proved to be a vital factor in derailing Bangalore’s chase of 217 by taking out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat in power-play. He then came back in the later stages to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Suyash Prabhudessai to keep Chennai on course for a 23-run win.

    “It was a fantastic night for him. If CSK were blown away for 130, 140 or may be 150, we won’t be talking about Theekshana. Nothing to take away from the spinners, but the dismissals mystery spinners get is when the batsmen are coming at you, under pressure.”

    “Last game he bowled four overs with no wickets and he didn’t bowl any good or any worse today. When you don’t have runs on the board, it’s not so straight forward for these guys. It’s the same with Jadeja. It’s the game situation that brings spinners in a bit more,” observed Knight, a former left-handed batter.

    Theekshana’s early strikes along with left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and captain Ravindra Jadeja taking out Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell respectively meant Bangalore never had the strong foundation to chase 217 successfully, something which Knight firmly believed in.

    “On a surface like today (Tuesday), I thought the conditions were even. The powerplay was crucial and one of your top four has to set that up (chasing 200 plus) and guys in the middle can pick that up. That was the problem for RCB.”

  • WATCH | CSK star Ambati Rayudu’s one-handed catch to dismiss Akash Deep sets social media on fire

    By IANS

    NAVI MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions in IPL 2022, finally managed to snap their four-match losing streak with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium.

    In Tuesday’s match, everyone was left floored on seeing the carnage from the bats of Shivam Dube (95 not out off 46 balls) and Robin Uthappa (88 off 50 balls). But their attention was taken away by Ambati Rayudu, whose services weren’t needed with the bat, producing a moment of brilliance on the field, leaving social media in awe.

    On the fourth ball of the 16th over when Bangalore, under scoreboard pressure, were struggling to chase a mammoth total of 216, Rayudu increased their troubles when he plucked a sensational one-handed stunning catch of Akash Deep off captain Ravindra Jadeja.

    Jadeja bowled a short-of-length ball which stopped on Deep, who tried to drive on the up.

    Rayudu, who was fielding at short cover, sensationally dived to his right and threw himself in the air to take the catch with his right hand. He did not let the ball go off his hand even after falling on the ground.

    Rayudu’s athleticism on the field drew a lot of attention and awe from the cricketing world on social media.

    Ambati Rayudu – Catch of the Season What’s Your Thoughts @RayuduAmbati #CSKvsRCB #CSKvRCB #CSK #RCB #AmbatiRayudu #DUBE #MIvPBKS #MIvsPBKS #ShivamDube #MSDhoni #ViratKohli #IPL2022 #elclassico #CSKvsMI #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/J8ReG6iTyl
    — (@DevGarewal21) April 13, 2022
    “Ambiti Rayudu just took the catch of the season!!!” tweeted former West Indies cricketer and commentator Ian Bishop.

    “Is it a Bird or is it a Plane? Nah !. It’s Namma @RayuduAmbati,” commented CSK’s official fan club account.

    “How old is Ambati Rayudu? He’s literally flying! #WhistlePodu #CSK,” wrote a CSK supporter on Twitter.

    “Ambati Rayudu Just took the catch of the season,” typed in another cricket fan.

    Earlier, pushed in to bat first, Dube and Uthappa bailed Chennai out of trouble at 36/2 in 6.4 overs with a mammoth 165-run partnership off just 74 balls, helping the reigning champions post a gigantic 216/4 in their 20 overs.

    In reply, Shabhaz Ahmed, Suyash Prabhudessai and Dinesh Karthik produced critical knocks but Bangalore could manage to make 193/9 in their 20 overs, giving Chennai their first win of the tournament.

    After pocketing a win against their name, Chennai will face Gujarat Titans at Pune on Sunday while Bangalore will be up against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

  • WATCH | CSK star Ambati Rayudu’s one-handed catch to dismiss Akash Deep sets social media on fire

    By IANS

    NAVI MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions in IPL 2022, finally managed to snap their four-match losing streak with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium.

    In Tuesday’s match, everyone was left floored on seeing the carnage from the bats of Shivam Dube (95 not out off 46 balls) and Robin Uthappa (88 off 50 balls). But their attention was taken away by Ambati Rayudu, whose services weren’t needed with the bat, producing a moment of brilliance on the field, leaving social media in awe.

    On the fourth ball of the 16th over when Bangalore, under scoreboard pressure, were struggling to chase a mammoth total of 216, Rayudu increased their troubles when he plucked a sensational one-handed stunning catch of Akash Deep off captain Ravindra Jadeja.

    Jadeja bowled a short-of-length ball which stopped on Deep, who tried to drive on the up.

    Rayudu, who was fielding at short cover, sensationally dived to his right and threw himself in the air to take the catch with his right hand. He did not let the ball go off his hand even after falling on the ground.

    Rayudu’s athleticism on the field drew a lot of attention and awe from the cricketing world on social media.

    Ambati Rayudu – Catch of the Season What’s Your Thoughts @RayuduAmbati #CSKvsRCB #CSKvRCB #CSK #RCB #AmbatiRayudu #DUBE #MIvPBKS #MIvsPBKS #ShivamDube #MSDhoni #ViratKohli #IPL2022 #elclassico #CSKvsMI #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/J8ReG6iTyl
    — (@DevGarewal21) April 13, 2022
    “Ambiti Rayudu just took the catch of the season!!!” tweeted former West Indies cricketer and commentator Ian Bishop.

    “Is it a Bird or is it a Plane? Nah !. It’s Namma @RayuduAmbati,” commented CSK’s official fan club account.

    “How old is Ambati Rayudu? He’s literally flying! #WhistlePodu #CSK,” wrote a CSK supporter on Twitter.

    “Ambati Rayudu Just took the catch of the season,” typed in another cricket fan.

    Earlier, pushed in to bat first, Dube and Uthappa bailed Chennai out of trouble at 36/2 in 6.4 overs with a mammoth 165-run partnership off just 74 balls, helping the reigning champions post a gigantic 216/4 in their 20 overs.

    In reply, Shabhaz Ahmed, Suyash Prabhudessai and Dinesh Karthik produced critical knocks but Bangalore could manage to make 193/9 in their 20 overs, giving Chennai their first win of the tournament.

    After pocketing a win against their name, Chennai will face Gujarat Titans at Pune on Sunday while Bangalore will be up against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

    NAVI MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions in IPL 2022, finally managed to snap their four-match losing streak with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium.

    In Tuesday’s match, everyone was left floored on seeing the carnage from the bats of Shivam Dube (95 not out off 46 balls) and Robin Uthappa (88 off 50 balls). But their attention was taken away by Ambati Rayudu, whose services weren’t needed with the bat, producing a moment of brilliance on the field, leaving social media in awe.

    On the fourth ball of the 16th over when Bangalore, under scoreboard pressure, were struggling to chase a mammoth total of 216, Rayudu increased their troubles when he plucked a sensational one-handed stunning catch of Akash Deep off captain Ravindra Jadeja.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Jadeja bowled a short-of-length ball which stopped on Deep, who tried to drive on the up.

    Rayudu, who was fielding at short cover, sensationally dived to his right and threw himself in the air to take the catch with his right hand. He did not let the ball go off his hand even after falling on the ground.

    Rayudu’s athleticism on the field drew a lot of attention and awe from the cricketing world on social media.

    Ambati Rayudu – Catch of the Season What’s Your Thoughts @RayuduAmbati #CSKvsRCB #CSKvRCB #CSK #RCB #AmbatiRayudu #DUBE #MIvPBKS #MIvsPBKS #ShivamDube #MSDhoni #ViratKohli #IPL2022 #elclassico #CSKvsMI #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/J8ReG6iTyl
    — (@DevGarewal21) April 13, 2022
    “Ambiti Rayudu just took the catch of the season!!!” tweeted former West Indies cricketer and commentator Ian Bishop.

    “Is it a Bird or is it a Plane? Nah !. It’s Namma @RayuduAmbati,” commented CSK’s official fan club account.

    “How old is Ambati Rayudu? He’s literally flying! #WhistlePodu #CSK,” wrote a CSK supporter on Twitter.

    “Ambati Rayudu Just took the catch of the season,” typed in another cricket fan.

    Earlier, pushed in to bat first, Dube and Uthappa bailed Chennai out of trouble at 36/2 in 6.4 overs with a mammoth 165-run partnership off just 74 balls, helping the reigning champions post a gigantic 216/4 in their 20 overs.

    In reply, Shabhaz Ahmed, Suyash Prabhudessai and Dinesh Karthik produced critical knocks but Bangalore could manage to make 193/9 in their 20 overs, giving Chennai their first win of the tournament.

    After pocketing a win against their name, Chennai will face Gujarat Titans at Pune on Sunday while Bangalore will be up against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.