News Analysis India

Tag: IPL

  • Performance in first match will set tone for Delhi Capitals this IPL: Mohammad Kaif

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Assistant coach Mohammad Kaif reckons the first match in the second half of the Indian Premier League will set the tone for the rest of the tournament for table toppers Delhi Capitals.

    The second leg of the T20 league, which was suspended in May due to the increasing COVID-19 cases in India and multiple infections in the IPL bio-bubble, is scheduled to resume in the UAE from September 19.

    The Capitals are currently perched on top of the points table with 12 points from eight matches.

    “There has been a big break after the first half of the IPL, but we are fortunate that most of the players have been playing international cricket regularly,” Kaif was quoted as saying in a media release.

    “We have a well-balanced side as there are players with international cricket experience and domestic players, who have been putting in good performances. The first match is going to be crucial for us.

    “Our performance in the first match will set the momentum for us,” he said.

    Kaif added that the roles of some of the players in the team may change because of the change in venue from India to UAE.

    “We played well in India and now we have to carry forward our performance here in the UAE. The roles for some of the players compared to the first half of the IPL may change because the conditions are different here.

    “We have to start afresh in the second half of the tournament. We are looking to get used to the conditions here in the next few days and also play a couple of practice matches,” said the 40-year-old.

    Star batsman Shreyas Iyer, who missed out on the first half of the season due to a shoulder injury, his returned to the side for the second leg.

    “There are not many changes to the squad as compared to the first half of the tournament, however the biggest plus for us is that Shreyas Iyer is back in the squad.

    “He is a fantastic player and he’s been playing well for us in the last couple of seasons. We are looking forward to seeing him play this season,” Kaif said.

    The Capitals are set to take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 22.

  • IPL: An old man like me needs to stay fresh, says RCB’s  AB de Villiers

    By PTI

    DUBAI: South African batting great AB de Villiers has called himself an “old man” who needs to stay fresh as much as he can to meet the demands of playing competitive cricket.

    The 37-year-old former South Africa skipper is in the UAE to represent his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in the remainder of the 14th edition of the lucrative league.

    In a video posted by RCB on Twitter, De Villiers was seen trying to hit the ball all over the park.

    “It was very good. The wicket was a bit sticky so it was quite tough actually. Bowlers bowled very well and it’s humid here, we are gonna sweat a lot which is good for losing a bit of weight but for an old man like me, I need to stay fresh as much as I can,” said De Villiers.

    The league, which was suspended in May owing to a COVID-19 outbreak in its bubble, resumes on Sunday.

    “It was a great session and was nice to see everyone out there. All the guys are looking very eager to get going. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s warm-up game,” added De Villiers.

    The Protea said he felt nice about reuniting with his RCB teammates after the first half of IPL, which was held in India.

    “Absolutely, I have missed the guys. I have caught up with a couple of individuals and I will get to meet up with the older guys over the next few days. I have covered a couple of guys tonight and it’s nice to hear all the stories and what they got up to in the last couple of months. There’s some interesting stuff that has happened and, it’s great to be together as a team again.” 

  • Hopefully we can maintain strong, bio-secure environment: RCB skipper Virat Kohli 

    By PTI

    DUBAI: India captain Virat Kohli said it is unfortunate to “end up here early” for the IPL after a COVID-19 outbreak led to the cancellation of the fifth Test against England and hoped for a “secure” bio-bubble in the league to tackle the “uncertain” times.

    Kohli, who will again lead Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament, along with other Indian players refused to take the field in the fifth Test against England at Old Trafford, after junior physio Yogesh Parmar became the fourth close-contact support staff to test positive for COVID-19.

    “Unfortunate that we had to end up here early, but with COVID in place, things are very uncertain,” Kohli told the RCB’s digital media platforms.

    “Anything can happen at any time. Hopefully, we’re able to maintain a good, strong, and secure environment, and have a quality IPL.

    “It’s going to be an exciting phase and a very important one for us at RCB and then for the Indian team at the T20 World Cup,” the Indian captain said.

    The IPL begins on Sunday and RCB will play their first match on Monday.

    The RCB will have some exciting new additions to their squad including leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and Singapore batter Tim David. The skipper is looking forward to meet the new recruits.

    “I’ve been in touch with everyone. We’ve had discussions over the last month or so, a little longer than that with the replacements, who’s coming and who’s not. Eventually, we ended up replacing our key players with some top-quality cricketers,” the RCB skipper said.

    He believes that replacement players will fit into the system perfectly.

    “Our key players will be missed, and they are a part of the family, but the people coming in as well have great skill sets, especially for these conditions.

    “So, I’m very excited to see them, with the whole group at practice and certainly very excited to resume a very good season that started last time around,” he said.

  • Mumbai Indians will have an advantage in UAE, feels former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Defending champions Mumbai Indians will have an advantage playing in the UAE when the second phase of the IPL 2021 begins from September 19, said former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir.

    He believes that the conditions in the UAE will suit Mumbai Indians’ pacers. “They’ve played in conditions that are completely different to where they normally play in. When you see the conditions in Chepauk or Delhi, they are completely different from what you get at Wankhede. And, as I mentioned, they are going into conditions that are suited to their fast bowling — people like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult,” Gambhir said on Star Sports’ show Game Plan.

    “There will be swing upfront, so they will be very dangerous. Plus, Mumbai wants balls to swing and you’ve got quality fast bowlers and it’s going to be an advantage for them. Plus their batters, want the balls to come on to the bat as well, people like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, all those guys struggled at Chepauk, because it was gripping and turning.

    “They are not going to struggle, once they start playing in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. So, that’s the reason why I would feel Mumbai Indians will have an advantage; they can’t afford slow starter anymore, because they have seven games to go and they might have to win 5 matches to qualify, so they can’t afford to be in that situation, where they have to win five out of five,” he added.

    Mumbai Indians will kick start IPL 2021 with three-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Dubai International Stadium on September 19.

  • Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi​ have joined team and are undergoing quarantine: SRH official

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: SunRisers Hyderabad star spinner Rashid Khan and all-rounder Mohammad Nabi have joined the franchise in UAE and are currently undergoing quarantine. The team management is confident that they will be kept in the best frame of mind as they ply their trade in the second half of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League

    Speaking to ANI, sources in the team management confirmed the two Afghanistan players have joined the team and are currently completing their quarantine period.

    “They are very much in UAE and undergoing quarantine. They are not just professionals, they are family and the team will take complete care of them not just during the tournament but at all times. The management will ensure they are in the best frame of mind and perform to the best of their ability,” the source said.

    Rashid on Thursday decided to step down from the captaincy of the national team after the spinner claimed that his “consent” was not obtained before announcing the squad for ICC men’s T20 World Cup slated to be played in UAE and Oman. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday announced the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Minutes after the announcement, Rashid said the selection committee and ACB didn’t obtain his consent for the team.

    Nabi was named Afghanistan captain after skipper Rashid Khan stepped down from the role on Thursday. All-rounder Nabi on Friday welcomed the decision of the ACB to appoint him as the captain of the side for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Nabi said he along with the Afghanistan cricket team will present a great picture of the nation in the showpiece event.

    Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League players coming in from the Caribbean Premier League and the South Africa-Sri Lanka series will undergo two-day isolation before they join their respective team bubbles. The bubble to bubble transfer means they will not need to quarantine for six days with an eye on COVID-19.

    Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments confirmed that the players will undergo isolation and get their COVID-19 test done before they join teammates in the bubble.

    “The players coming in from the bubbles in CPL and from the SA-SL series will undergo two days of isolation. They will come in and go into their rooms on the first day, they will then get tested the next day and once the results come in, they will join the squad members in the bubble,” the source said.

    The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Mumbai Indians.

    The action will then shift to Abu Dhabi where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sharjah will host its first game on September 24 when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Chennai Super Kings. In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

  • Replacement players have great skillsets, excited to see them with whole group: RCB skipper Virat Kohli

    By ANI

    DUBAI: India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli feels the upcoming months are going to be important for the IPL side and Team India considering the T20 World Cup.

    Kohli and pacer Mohammed Siraj arrived in Dubai on Sunday after the Manchester Test against England was cancelled.

    The duo is undergoing six-day mandatory quarantine and then they both will join the team bubble in Dubai ahead of the resumption of the IPL 202.

    “Unfortunate how we ended up being here early but with COVID in place, things are very uncertain, so anything can happen at any time,” said Kohli in a video posted on RCB Twitter.

    “Hopefully, we are able to maintain a good strong, secure environment here and have a quality IPL and onto the World Cup. So now, heading into the T20 phase, I think it is going to be an exciting phase and a very important one for us at RCB and for the Indian team at the World Cup as well,” he added.

    RCB brought in Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga as a replacement for Australia’s Adam Zampa. Other replacements for RCB are Dushmantha Chameera for Daniel Sams, left-arm quick George Garton for Kane Richardson, and Tim David for New Zealand’s Finn Allen.

    Further speaking about the new addition in the squad, Kohli said, “The replacement players have great skillsets, especially in these conditions. Excited to see them with the whole group and to resume a very good season that we started last time around.”

    On the other hand, Siraj said, “I’m joining RCB family after so many days, really excited for the IPL. We are in a good position on the points table so it will be a lot of fun.”

    The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Mumbai Indians.

    The action will then shift to Abu Dhabi where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sharjah will host its first game on September 24 when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Chennai Super Kings. In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

    The board has come up with a 46-page health advisory that lays down all the pointers that everyone associated with the IPL needs to follow in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the league.

  • Delhi Capitals rope in Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis as replacement for Chris Woakes

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals on Monday informed that the side has signed Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis as Chris Woakes’ replacement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

    Delhi Capitals confirmed that English all-rounder Woakes has pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons.

    “JSW-GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals today announced that English all-rounder Chris Woakes, who picked up 5 wickets in 3 matches in the first half of the VIVO IPL 2021, has pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons,” Delhi Capitals said in a statement.

    “The Delhi Capitals have announced Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis as Woakes’ replacement for the remainder of the IPL 2021 season,” it added.

    Dwarshuis has scalped 100 wickets in 82 T20 matches at an average of 23.73. The 27-year-old, who plays for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, is the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the history of the tournament with 85 wickets in 69 matches.

    The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Mumbai Indians.

    The action will then shift to Abu Dhabi where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sharjah will host its first game on September 24 when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Chennai Super Kings.

    In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

    The board has come up with a 46-page health advisory that lays down all the pointers that everyone associated with the IPL needs to follow in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the league.

  • We haven’t seen the best of KL Rahul yet: Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former India opener Gautam Gambhir expects KL Rahul to have a stupendous IPL campaign when the league resumes later this week as he believes that the big-hitter’s best has not yet been seen despite an average of over 50 in the last three seasons.

    Punjab Kings captain Rahul is averaging 66 after seven matches this year with a strike rate of 136.

    The IPL was suspended in May due to COVID-19 cases in its bubble and will resume on Sunday in the UAE.

    “We haven’t seen the best of KL Rahul. Yes, he has got runs, but we still haven’t seen, what he can achieve in his batting,” Gambhir told Star Sports show Game Plan.

    “You could have a season like Virat Kohli had once. He’s that kind of a player in white-ball cricket, where he can get 2-3 hundreds in a season and at a very good strike rate as well,” he said.

    The 29-year-old Rahul has already amassed 331 runs from seven games this year, including four half centuries.

    He is second on the list of 2021 IPL’s top-scorers.

    Speaking of other teams, Gambhir said the conditions in the UAE will favour defending champions Mumbai Indians.

    Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings will clash in the first match of the resumed season on Sunday.

    “When you see the conditions in Chepauk or Delhi, they are completely different from what you get at Wankhede. And, as I mentioned, they are going into conditions that are suited to their fast bowling – people like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult,” Gambhir said.

    “There will be swing upfront, so they will be very dangerous. Plus, Mumbai wants balls to swing and you’ve got quality fast bowlers and it’s going to be an advantage for them.

    “Plus their batters, want the balls to come on to the bat as well, people like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, all those guys struggled at Chepauk, because it was gripping and turning.”

    Gambhir also felt that Mumbai Indians can’t afford a slow start since they might need to win five of their remaining seven matches to qualify for the Play-offs.

    Talking about India skipper Virat Kohli and his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers, Gambhir said they will come into the tournament with different challenges.

    “There’s going to be a challenge for Virat and there’s going to be a huge challenge for AB de Villiers as well because he will be coming into the tournament without playing any cricket at all.

    “Virat Kohli will have to adjust really quickly because there’ll be hardly any time for him to get used to it.

    “From the five-Test-match series to the T20 format, and AB as well, because these guys need to get runs if they have to have a chance to first qualify for the playoffs and then probably go on to win the title.”

  • Bubble watch: IPL franchises not letting their guard down  

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: The English summer has come to an abrupt end, but the temperatures are soaring in the UAE. With just six days to go for the 2021 edition of the IPL to restart after a four-month gap, preparations are in full swing and with most players — except those who are featuring in the Caribbean Premier League and the bilateral series between South Africa and Sri Lanka — having checked in. Ever since the franchises landed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi towards the second half of August, the mood has been quite upbeat, with each one insisting on the safety of the environment.

    It is in complete contrast to what was in India — rather specifically in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad — in the months of April and May. With the tournament commencing in the middle of a strong Covid-19 second wave in India under a bio-secure environment, there was a bit of anxiety and fear with many of the franchise officials keeping their fingers crossed to deliver a full tournament. In the end, the move to hold the tournament at home proved costly as coronavirus breached the bio-bubble, bringing the event to a halt at the halfway stage.

    With the league all set to resume and so much riding on it, the recent developments in Manchester mean franchises and the BCCI are not letting their guard down. Although it has been a while since all the teams landed in the gulf and they are feeling more at home, they are aware it can lead to complacency, and the arrival of India and England players straight from Manchester means they are extra vigilant.

    “There is so much at stake, which is why the six-day quarantine has been made mandatory. Although all are vaccinated and have tested negative in the RT-PCR tests, it is always better to be well prepared and cover the bases. Whether you fly in by a commercial flight or charter flight, the moment you use the airport, there is always an element of risk. So this quarantine is absolutely necessary because it avoids any jitters,” a franchise official told this newspaper.

    For the record, those players who are undergoing quarantine will take three RT-PCR tests in six days and will join the bubble only if they test negative in all.

    Incidentally, when the BCCI decided to host the event in India in six cities, the air travel was seen as the biggest cause of concern. In the UAE, there is no need to worry about it as all three venues will be accessed via bus travel. And moreover, franchises have also put to use the experience of their lessons from 2020, when the entire tournament was held in UAE. Unlike in India where some franchises couldn’t control the public from taking the lifts that the players used, it won’t be the case in UAE.

    With Dubai Expo beginning in October, the prices of hotel rooms have gone up when compared to the 2020 edition which was held just after lockdown. However, with crowd movement expected in the hotel, franchises have even gone to the extent of renting the entire hotel for themselves this time around. “Last time, the world hadn’t opened up to this extent. This time it is totally different and with locals vaccinated and foreigners expected to turn up, it is business as usual here. So to be on the safer side, franchises have booked entire hotels to themselves,” said an IPL official overseeing the preparations.

  • Mumbai Indians mentor Sachin Tendulkar arrives in UAE

    By ANI

    ABU DHABI: Mumbai Indians mentor Sachin Tendulkar arrived in the UAE on Sunday for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

    Mumbai Indians shared a picture of Sachin as the side welcomed their mentor ahead of IPL.

    “The ICON. The LEGEND. The ___ Aala Re! #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPL2021 @sachin_rt,” Mumbai Indians tweeted.

    MI skipper Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav along with their families arrived in UAE on Saturday. They are currently undergoing six days of quarantine and then will link up with the Mumbai Indians squad.

    Rohit, Surya and Bumrah tested negative for COVID-19 before departure from Manchester and after arrival in Abu Dhabi. Mumbai Indians shared a picture of Rohit with his wife Ritika as the side welcomed their skipper ahead of IPL.

    Earlier in February, Sachin’s son Arjun Tendulkar was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 20 lakhs in the mini-auction of IPL.