News Analysis India

Tag: Punjab Kings

  • Ravi Bishnoi’s commitment and focus is sorted: Punjab Kings coach Anil Kumble

    By IANS
    CHENNAI: Punjab Kings (PK) head coach Anil Kumble was all praise for the team’s 20-year-old spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, who flummoxed the Mumbai Indian (MI) batsmen and took two crucial scalps in the nine-wicket win against the defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions on Friday.

    In a low-scoring match, MI could only put up 131 for six on the board. Punjab Kings finished the match in 17.4 overs with skipper KL Rahul scoring an unbeaten 60.

    Bishnoi sent a short-of-a-length slider across off stump, which MI top-order batsman Ishan Kishan looked to cut but got a thin edge straight into the gloves of wicket-keeper KL Rahul.

    The Punjab Kings spinner then got rid of the well-set Suryakumar Yadav, who tried to reverse-sweep the bowler over backward point but got a top edge to Chris Gayle.

    “Bish (Bishnoi) played all the matches in the last season… when he came here, I thought he was not the same bowler we had seen last year. I worked on his run-up and a few other things because he was drifting down the leg side even in practice games. That’s why he didn’t start the tournament earlier,” said Kumble.

    But, I think, over the last week or so, his commitment, his focus is now sorted; he’s back. It’s wonderful to see him (bowl so well). He’s always a competitor; you can see that. And to pick up a couple of wickets in an important game like this is great,” the coach added.

    Kumble was really pleased with the way every member of the team played his part in the win against the defending champions. “I’m happy with the win, it’s not an easy pitch to play on and to adapt to the conditions. After the SRH (Sunrisers Hyderabad) loss, where we thought we could have put another 15-20 runs on the board which would have sort of helped us cross the line, we are happy we did it today.

    “I thought the team batted really well and bowled exceptionally well. On a surface like this, you need to execute your plan and that’s something we did exceptionally well. Kudos to (KL) Rahul and the way he handled the bowlers (Mohammed) Shami, (Deepak) Hooda, Moises (Henriques) at the start and Bish (Bishnoi). Everyone sort of played their part,” said Kumble.

    The coach felt that the win will give the team a lot of confidence given that it had beaten the defending champions. “Yes, it will give a lot of confidence to all of us; Mayank (Agarwal) and (KL) Rahul putting up that 40-plus partnership and then the Universe Boss (Chris Gayle) and Rahul finishing things off. Overall, really happy that things went well and now we’re looking forward to the next leg in Ahmedabad.”

  • Feeling fit, I am on top of my game: Chris Gayle

    By ANI
    CHENNAI:  Punjab Kings’ batsman Chris Gayle said that he is feeling really fit and that is why he has been able to take quick singles in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    KL Rahul and Chris Gayle played unbeaten knocks of 60 and 43 as Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by nine wickets with 14 balls to spare here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday evening. Mayank Agarwal also chipped in with 25 and was the only wicket which the Mumbai Indians could take, courtesy Rahul Chahar.

    “I am feeling very good, a bit relieved. We wanted this win badly, playing against the defending champions was always going to be tough. They played four games, to actually get this win is fantastic for the team and the Universe Boss as well. I was looking pretty good, running between the wickets, I am feeling fit and good about myself. I am enjoying it, I am looking after my body, getting a lot of massages so I can move freely, humidity here in Chennai also kind of lets the blood flow so I am on top of my game,” Gayle told Arshdeep Singh in a video posted on the official website of IPL.

    “The captain KL Rahul played a fantastic innings, we always say that we need a set batter on this wicket, we did a brilliant job from the batting point of view. Mayank and captain set the platform and made it a bit easier. The wicket was not that easy to bat on,” he added.

    Earlier, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav played knocks of 63 and 33 respectively as Mumbai Indians posted a score of 131/6 in the allotted twenty overs.

    Kieron Pollard remained unbeaten on 16 to take MI’s score past the 130-run mark. For Punjab, Mohammed Shami and Ravi Bishnoi scalped two wickets each.

    “The conditions, it was stopping a bit and it was turning a lot. The plan was simple, we were just trying to hit the areas. I had my best fielder at third man, that is you,” Arshdeep told Gayle.

    Punjab Kings is now at the fifth position in the IPL points table with 4 points from 5 games. The side will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

  • IPL 2021: Mohammed Shami’s lengths affected when he bowls in death overs, says Virender Sehwag

    By IANS
    CHENNAI: Fast bowler Mohammed Shami tends to lose his length while bowling in the death overs in T20s which makes him less effective as compared to Jasprit Bumrah, said former India batsman Virender Sehwag.

    Shami and Bumrah, often seen as spearheads of India’s pace battery, will face each other when their teams Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians face each other in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.

    “I think that Bumrah will be the one to watch out for. He’s an experienced bowler and yorkers are generally harder for batsmen to hit and he bowls them often,” said Sehwag on Flipkart’s Power Play with Champions.

    “I think whenever Mohammed Shami bowls in the later overs of a match, it affects his yorkers and the lengths of his deliveries. Hence I feel that Bumrah will concede lesser runs in today’s game,” he further said.

    Shami has gone wicketless in his last two matches for Punjab Kings against SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals respectively. He was hit to all corners of the park by Shikhar Dhawan in the match against DC and ended his spell with an economy of 13.25, having conceded a whopping 53 runs in four overs.

  • Khaleel Ahmed, Jonny Bairstow shine as Sunrisers Hyderabad outclass Punjab Kings by nine wickets

    By PTI
    CHENNAI: Fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed led an impressive bowling effort before Jonny Bairstow smashed an unbeaten fifty as Sunrisers Hyderabad snapped their three-match losing streak with a convincing nine-wicket win over Punjab Kings in an IPL game here on Wednesday.

    Asked to bowl first, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pace-spin duo of Khaleel (3/21) and Abhishek Sharma (2/24) did bulk of the damage to bundle out Punjab Kings for a below-par 120 in 19.4 overs.

    Senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/16), star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan (1/17) and Siddarth Kaul (1/27) also picked up a wicket each as Punjab never gained momentum.

    Chasing the total, SRH openers Jonny Bairstow (63) and David Warner (37) pummelled Punjab into submission, adding 73 runs off 60 balls to set the foundation.

    Bairstow and Kane Williamson (16) then knocked off the remaining runs as SRH romped home with 8 balls to spare.

    Bairstow and Warner smashed five boundaries and two sixes during their 50-run stand in the powerplay, while Punjab had managed nine fours and two maximums in their entire innings.

    Warner picked up the first boundary when he sent Mohammed Shami across point in the third ball of the innings.

    Bairstow then welcomed Fabian Allen with a four and a six in the next over.

    A low full toss by Shami was then sent across the mid-wicket by Bairstow before Warner hit the Indian through backward point.

    Bairstow also pulled Moises Henriques over long leg, while Warner swatted Arshdeep Singh over the backward square leg.

    Warner sent Deepak Hooda sailing over extra cover for a six but in the next over he holed out to Mayank off Allen, who bowled a wicket maiden, as SRH were 73 for 1.

    Bairstow found an able ally in Williamson, who was playing his first match of the season, as they added an unbeaten 48 runs to help SRH log their first win of the season.

    Earlier, Shahrukh Khan (22) and Mayank Agarawal (22) were the top scorers for Punjab Kings, who came into the match after two losses.

    In an innings when clearing the boundary seemed to be a tall task, Khan managed two sixes, while Agarwal, who was dropped on 0 in the very first over by Rashid, hit two fours.

    Opting to bat in their first game at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Punjab lost their in-form skipper KL Rahul (4) early on.

    Agarwal and Chris Galye (15) stitched 24-run partnership.

    However, at the end of the seventh over, Khaleel got rid of the Indian with Rashid making no mistakes this time at midwicket.

    West Indian Nicholas Pooran (0) was out for a diamond duck as Sunrisers skipper David Warner effected his run out in the eighth over.

    Gayle followed his compatriot in the next over as he was adjudged leg before.

    Punjab was reeling at 53 for 4 at the halfway mark as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

    Deepak Hooda (13) and Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques (14) got starts but were unable to capitalised on them.

    Spin all-rounder Fabian Allen (6) also struggled on his debut.

    Local star Khan tried to inject some hope into the Punjab camp but a slower ball by Khaleel ended his cameo.

    Murugan Ashwin (9) hit a boundary but Kaul accounted for the spinner in the last over which was followed by the dismissal of Shami (3), who was run out.

    Brief Scores:

    Punjab Kings: 120 all out in 19.4 overs (Shahrukh Khan 22; Khaleel Ahmed 3/21).

    Sunrisers Hyderabad: 121 for one in 18.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 63; Fabian Allen 1/22).

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad bowl out Punjab Kings for 120

    By PTI
    CHENNAI: Opting to bat, Punjab Kings were bundled out for a below-par 120 by Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL game here on Wednesday.

    Khaleel Ahmed (3/21) and Abhishek Sharma (2/24) shone with the ball as the Sunrisers dished out a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Punjab, who never got the momentum during their innings.

    Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/16), Rashid Khan (1/17) and Siddarth Kaul (1/27) were the other wicket-takers for Sunrisers, who are desperate for a win following three successive losses.

    Mayank Agarwal (22 off 25) and Shahrukh Khan (22 off 17) were the top run getters for Punjab, who have won just one out of their last three matches.

    Brief Scores: Punjab Kings: 120 all out in 19.4 overs (Shahrukh Khan 22; Khaleel Ahmed 3/21)

  • I still have plenty in the tank left in me: Punjab Kings batsman Chris Gayle

    By ANI
    CHENNAI: Chris Gayle might be one of the oldest cricketers featuring in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) but the Punjab Kings batsman still has “plenty in the tank” to cause nightmares to opposition bowlers.

    In Chennai’s grueling conditions, Gayle feels if he can adjust to the environment he’ll be at par with the young guns.

    “Absolutely, I still have plenty in the tank left in me, looking forward to plenty more cricket. It’s a hot day today, you feel you’re still a youngster if you can get on with these conditions,” Gayle told host broadcaster Star Sports.

    Punjab Kings will be facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and spinner Rashid Khan will try to exploit the conditions like Amit Mishra did on Tuesday against Mumbai Indians.

    The Universe Boss feels the game will be tough for both teams and Punjab Kings needs to stay positive in order to get over the line.

    “Rashid is a world-class bowler, the conditions absolutely suit him as well, but you need to be positive against him, you’ll get scoring opportunities. You can’t be on the back-foot when you play against these guys, said Gayle.

    “This is going to be a tough game for both sides, but from our point of view, we still need to play positive cricket, having been here before (and having played three games here), they (SRH) know the conditions better than us. But we’ll have to believe and stick to our plans, try and execute the basics well,” he added.

    Earlier this month, Gayle became the first batsman to smash 350 sixes in the IPL. The West Indies batsman (352) achieved the feat during his 40-run knock against Rajasthan Royals when he whacked a maximum over deep square leg off all-rounder Ben Stokes’ delivery at the Wankhede.

    The Punjab Kings batsman was already leading the charts and his two sixes against Rajasthan Royals only consolidated his position. Former South Africa swashbuckling batsman AB de Villiers is at the second spot having hit 240 sixes in the cash-rich league.

    Meanwhile, Punjab Kings on Wednesday won the toss and opted to bat against SRH here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

  • Punjab Kings win toss, opt to bat against SunRisers Hyderabad

    By ANI
    CHENNAI: KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings on Wednesday won the toss and opted to bat against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

    At the time of the toss, KL Rahul said: “I think it’s pretty obvious, everyone’s batting first. Riley, Jhye, and Jalaj miss out. Fabian, Moises, and M Ashwin are in. We know who our core group is, there will be one or two changes according to conditions. The players have been given their roles. The more games we play, we’ll get better. There are youngsters and we need to give them some time to get used to the pressure of the IPL.”

    On the other hand, SRH skipper Warner said: “It’s not about me keeping the positivity up. Everyone in this franchise is always positive. There are little things — my run out for example. Kane is coming in for Mujeeb. Samad has a hamstring injury and Kedar replaces him. Manish misses out as well.”

    SRH made three changes to their lineup as they brought in Kedar Jadhav, Kane Williamson, and Siddharth Kaul in place of Abdul Samad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Manish Pandey. Punjab Kings also made three changes as they brought in Fabien Allen, Moises Henriques, and Murugan Ashwin in place of Jhye Richardson, Jalaj Saxena, and Riley Meredith.

    SRH has lost all its three games in the ongoing season so far while Punjab Kings has won only one out of three matches that they have played so far.

    Teams:

    SRH: David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Virat Singh, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed

    Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques, Fabien Allen, Shahrukh Khan, M Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

  • Did well to keep Punjab Kings under 200: Delhi Capitals all-rounder Marcus Stoinis

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Delhi Capitals’ all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has said that his side did really well to keep Punjab Kings under the 200-run mark in an Indian Premier League (IPL) game here at the Wankhede Stadium.

    Mayank Agarwal’s masterclass had put Punjab Kings on course to victory but Dhawan’s ferocious knock took the game away from the KL Rahul-led side and Delhi Capitals registered an easy win on Sunday.

    “It’s nice to get into the tournament, pretty important for us to win. It’s only early in the season but every game here feels so important. At the 10-over mark, we were trying to keep them under 250, we did well to keep them under 200. The focus is always to start well and then the simple cliches of cricket – good partnerships and then leave it up to the finishers in the end. Shikhar is brilliant, he has carried on his form last year, he’s really hungry for runs. Two games ago, he started the season so well and he’s backed it up today,” Stoinis told host broadcaster Star Sports after the conclusion of the game.

    “The team is definitely better when he’s doing well. It’s important to get into the tournament early as an individual, it is handy to hit a few off the middle. The start of the tournament is probably the time when you can try a few things. Every game feels like a final, we know that from last year, we think (after) 5-6 games, you need to have your team sorted. Not required to bowl, haven’t been coming out the best, it’s pretty wet out there. It is a work in progress here and we’ll all be required at some stage,” he added.

    Mayank’s (69) sensational knock and a final over cameo by Shahrukh Khan (15) had propelled Punjab Kings to put an impressive 195 for four. In response, Dhawan’s (92) innings and Marcus Stoinis’ (27) onslaught helped Delhi Capitals get over the line with six wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare.

    Earlier, Mayank and Rahul played knocks of 69 and 61 respectively as Punjab Kings posted a total of 195/4 in the allotted twenty overs. For Punjab Kings, Deepak Hooda and Shahrukh Khan remained unbeaten on 22 and 15. For Delhi Capitals, Chris Woakes, Lukman Meriwala, Kagiso Rabada, and Avesh Khan took one wicket each.

    Delhi Capitals will next take on Mumbai Indians on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

  • IPL 2021: Batting second at Wankhede easier because of dew, says Shikhar Dhawan

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: After playing a match-winning knock of 92 runs against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Delhi Capitals’ opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan said that batting second at the Wankhede Stadium becomes easier because of the dew.

    Mayank Agarwal’s masterclass had put Punjab Kings on course to victory but Dhawan’s ferocious knock took the game away from the KL Rahul-led side and Delhi Capitals registered an easy win at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

    Mayank’s (69) sensational knock and a final over cameo by Shahrukh Khan (15) had propelled Punjab Kings to put an impressive 195 for four. In response, Dhawan’s (92) innings and Marcus Stoinis’ (27) onslaught helped Delhi Capitals get over the line with six wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare.

    “The bounce is true at the Wankhede surface and the ball comes onto the bat. Especially in the second innings, it becomes a lot easier to bat here because of the dew. For my batting style, I enjoy using pace on the ball and against spinners, it is not turning so I can hit my shots,” Dhawan told spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on a video posted on the official website of the IPL.

    When asked about sweeping the pacers, Dhawan said: “Once I know that the opposition bowlers are bowling yorkers or wide yorkers, they have set up the field where it is hard to find a boundary on the offside, I try to use the pace and I enjoy doing that. I enjoy playing that cheeky shots, be it sweeps and I practice that in the nets as well.”

    Earlier, Mayank and Rahul played knocks of 69 and 61 respectively as Punjab Kings posted a total of 195/4 in the allotted twenty overs. For Punjab Kings, Deepak Hooda and Shahrukh Khan remained unbeaten on 22 and 15. For Delhi Capitals, Chris Woakes, Lukman Meriwala, Kagiso Rabada, and Avesh Khan took one wicket each.

    Delhi Capitals will next take on Mumbai Indians on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

    Talking about the Chennai wicket, Dhawan said: “It is a nice challenge, what I am seeing on TV is that it is turning a bit in Chennai, I am already preparing for it.” 

  • IPL 2021: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul propel Punjab Kings to 195/4 against Delhi Capitals

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Mayank Agarwal and captain KL Rahul stitched a century-run opening stand to guide Punjab Kings to a challenging 195 for four against Delhi Capitals in the IPL here on Sunday. Agarwal made 69 off 36 balls, while Rahul scored 61 off 51 deliveries as Punjab made a flying start to their innings.

    Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant’s decision to bowl after winning the toss backfired as the opening duo of Agarwal and Rahul took the attack to the opposition bowlers from the onset, hitting boundaries and sixes at will.

    While Agarwal was the aggressor of the two initially, Rahul upped the ante after a relatively sedate start. Agarwal and Rahul adopted an aggressive approach against debutant Lukeman Meriwala and Kagiso Rabada, taking their team to 94 for no loss in 10 overs.

    Agarwal was looking dangerous during his 36-ball knock and ended up hitting seven boundaries and four hits over the fence. But DC dismissed both the batsmen in quick succession to make a comeback into the match.

    While Agarwal was the first to depart, slicing a Meriwala delivery straight to Shikhar Dhawan at sweeper cover in the 13th over, Rahul handed a simple catch to Marcus Stonis at midwicket off Rabada. Rahul’s knock was laced with seven boundaries and two sixes.

    Big-hitting Chris Gayle (11) failed to make a mark, perishing soon in search of a maximum. Nicholas Pooran (9) failed yet again but Deepak Hooda (22 not out off 13) and Shahrukh Khan (15 not out off five) provided the much needed big hits towards the end.

    For Delhi Capitals, Ravichandran Ashwin (0/28) was economical, while Avesh Khan (1/33), Meriwala (1/32), Chris Woakes (1/42) and Rabada (1/43) picked up a wicket each.

    Teams:

    Delhi Capitals: Prithivi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Steve Smith, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Marcus Stoinis, Lalit Yadav, Chris Woakes, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Lukeman Meriwala

    Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (c & wk), Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Jalaj Saxena, Mohammed Shami, Riley Meredith, Arshdeep Singh