'Hope Virat Kohli Joins Me...': Gavaskar's Big Demand From India Icon

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has always been transparent in his criticism for batting maestro Virat Kohli. During the recently concluded season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kohli had come under the scanner for his strike-rate and batting approach against the spinners. Gavaskar, however, had blasted Kohli for his meltdown on live television, with the RCB icon slamming those questioning his strike-rate. Kohli, however, silenced everyone as he ended the season at the highest run-getter, while also maintaining a healthy strike-rate.

The 35-year-old averaged 61.75. and achieved a strike rate of 154.69 in the IPL 2024. With the IPL 2024 coming to a conclusion last week, Gavaskar has now laid a frest set of objectives for Kohli, who is set to take part in the T20 World Cup.

With India set to tour Australia later this year for a five-match Test series, Gavaskar urged Kohli to join him and former England captain Alastair Cook in an elite club.

"On an individual level, [my wish] maybe for Virat Kohli is that he becomes the third overseas player who's scored a Test century in all the Australian venues. I think he doesn't have one at the Gabba, so if he gets a century at The Gabba, that means he joins me and Alastair Cook," Gavaskar said at an event, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Kohli has scored six Test centuries in Australia, which the joint highest by an Indian, alongside Sachin Tendulkar, and joint-third by an overseas batter.

However, he has never scored a century at the Gabba in Brisbane. He did not play at the venue last time when India defeated Australia to become the first away team to win at the stadium since Novemeber 1988.

In fact, Kohli had played one just one game of the series which India lost. He had flown back to India for the birth of his daughter.

After Kohli's departure, Ajinkya Rahane led India to a 2-1 series, their second successive Test series triumph in Australia.

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England Star Banned From Cricket For Three Months Over Betting Offences

England paceman Brydon Carse has been banned from all cricket for three months for betting violations, it was announced Friday. The 28-year-old, who was called into England's 50-over World Cup squad six months ago, was given a 16-month sanction -- 13 months of which have been suspended -- following an anti-corruption investigation by the English game's Cricket Regulator. Carse, who signed an England central contract in October, accepted the charges of placing 303 bets on various cricket matches between 2017 and 2019, though not on games in which he was playing.

As a result, the Durham quick still contravened integrity rules meaning no "professional participant" (player, coach or other support staff) is permitted to bet on any cricket anywhere in the world.

South Africa-born Carse, a veteran of 17 white-ball internationals for England, will now be suspended immediately from playing in any cricket until August 28.

But provided he does not commit any further anti-corruption offences over the next two years, Carse will not face any further sanctions.

"Whilst these bets were several years ago, that is no excuse and I take full responsibility for my actions," Carse said in a statement on Durham's website.

"I would like to thank the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), Durham Cricket and the PCA (England's Professional Cricketers' Association) for their support during this difficult time for me.

"I will be working hard in the next 12 weeks to ensure that I repay that support on the field when I am able to return to playing."

An ECB spokesperson said: "We take these matters extremely seriously and do not condone any form of anti-corruption breach in cricket.

"We support the Cricket Regulator's decision and their consideration of the mitigating factors in Brydon's case.

"He has co-operated and shown remorse for his actions. We are satisfied that Brydon has shown growth in the five years since this breach and has demonstrated a greater understanding of his responsibilities.

"We are hopeful that his case can serve as an educational example for other cricketers."

Carse's most recent appearance for England came during a one-day international against the West Indies in Antigua in December last year.

His ban effectively rules him out of a Test debut this season, with the last of England's six matches in the format in their home summer, against Sri Lanka at The Oval starting on September 6, commencing just over a week after Carson's suspension ends.

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"India Have Taken A Risk": AUS Great's 'T20 WC' Warning To Rohit And Co

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels India have taken a huge risk heading into the T20 World Cup, saying that their heavy reliance on spinners might backfire. India have selected four spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are all-rounders while Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are the two wrist spinners. Clarke said while India post a big threat to Australia's chances of winning the T20 World Cup, he pointed that India have made a big gamble by selecting four spinners.

"I think India have taken a risk with the squad they have picked - heavily reliant on spin, very different from Australia. But in the conditions that I have played in the Caribbean I think how you play spin is going to be a huge part of whether you succeed or not. India are the biggest threat for me with regards to who is going to win the World Cup," Clarke told ESPN.

Clarke, however, re-iterated that  India are the favourites based on the amount of cricket all the players have managed to get under their belts, hinting at the recently-concluded IPL.

"If you look at the favourites for the World Cup it's got to be India just because of the amount of cricket they have played, their preparation has been outstanding. Conditions are different to India but there are a lot of similarities so the players would be used to that," he added.

India play Bangladesh in their only warm-up game on June 1 before opening their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5.

After two months of intense competitive cricket under night lights, the Indian cricket team, sans Virat Kohli, began its preparations for the T20 World Cup with a morning training session earlier this week, keeping in mind the 10.30am starts for all its preliminary games. Kohli took a break for personal work after RCB's IPL ouster and in all likelihood, he will join the squad by Friday. But it is not clear if he would be able to take part in the only warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday after a long flight.

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Ex-Pakistan Star's Big Remark, Claims ICC's 'Scheme' For IND-PAK At T20 WC

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series of any sorts in over a decade. Since the two teams only meet each other at ICC and ACC events, the India-Pakistan matches are undeniably the most anticipated clashes in world cricket. India and Pakistan will face off next month in a group match at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on June 9. Ahead of much anticipated game, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has made a big claim that that ICC wants India and Pakistan to face off twice in the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit said that the ICC has planned the schedule in such a way that India and Pakistan can meet once again in the semi-final or final, in addition to their match in New York on June 9.

"The ICC wants India and Pakistan to have two matches in the World Cup. They have made the schedule so the two teams can meet again either in the semi-final or final. The venue we will get to know in due course. Now, it all depends on performance. Pakistan is a bit low on their form, while India, on the other hand, has played IPL and looks in good shape. For Pakistan to perform well, Babar must open," Basit said in a video on his YouTube channel.

India and Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Canada and T20 World Cup co-hosts the USA.

India will kick off their campaign on June 5 against Ireland, while Pakistan will play their first game a day later against the USA.

India ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. 

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan

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Dhoni Said He Will Take Care Of My Surgery: IPL Pitch Invader's Big Claim

A fan found himself in the limelight after he invaded the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the IPL 2024 match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans to meet his idol MS Dhoni. He evaded the security at the stadium and bowed down to Dhoni who was seen having a conversation with the fan before he was apprehended. In a video going viral on social media, the fan revealed the conversation he had with Dhoni.

He revealed that Dhoni hugged him and even asked him to not worry as he will take care of him and make sure that the security will behave properly.

Conversation between @msdhoni and fan

Fan told him he has some breathing issues and there is surgery of it. He wanted to meet him before surgery. Mahi replied "Teri surgery ka mai dekh lunga. Tujhe kuch nahi hoga, tu ghabara mat. Mai tujhe kuch nahi hone dunga" pic.twitter.com/wKz9aZOVGQ

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) May 29, 2024

The fan further claimed that Dhoni asked him why his breath was uneven after running and upon knowing about his nose condition, the ex-India cricketer said that he will take care of the fan's surgery.

"When I saw him, I tried to surrender. I raised my hand in delight and chased him. Mahi bhai said 'I am trying to have fun here'," the fan claimed during his interaction with Focused Indian.

"I went mad. I touched his feet. He is a legend, I had tears in my eyes. He asked me why I was breathing heavily. I had jumped the fence, ran onto the pitch and I was breathing heavily. I told him about a problem with my nose. He said: 'I will take care of your surgery. Don't worry. I will not let anything happen to you'," he added when asked about the incident.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad's Honest Revelation On Captaining Dhoni, Jadeja In IPL

It could become difficult for a young player to lead a team that has veterans like MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ajinkya Rahane. Yet Ruturaj Gaikad impressed many with his leadership qualities as he led the Chennai Super Kings squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. It was right before the start of the tournament that CSK announced a captaincy change, with Dhoni passing on the baton to Gaikwad. When the CSK skipper was asked about the difficulty in leading such players, he gave an honest response.

"I felt good right from the start (of the tournament). I am very approachable for all teammates whenever needed and they always support the team in whatever way the team requires," Gaikwad said of the captaincy challenge, to Times of India.

"I wouldn't say it's difficult as all of them are very understanding. All the senior players that are a part of the team are great to be with. Their experience always helps with match situations," he added.

Gaikwad also displayed a similar calm and composure on the field that people have seen from MS Dhoni for years. The CSK captain revealed that 'being neutral' is something he learned from Dhoni, and now he doesn't get too excited about wins, or too low about losses.

"Being neutral is something that I have learnt from Mahi bhai. Not getting too excited about anything or being down by anything is the right approach that I have picked up," Ruturaj said. "While batting irrespective of being captain or not, my approach is always the same. Doesn't really change a lot. You cannot plan to become leaders so being good team players and putting the team first will always stand a good chance to be one," the CSK skipper explained.

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'I Will Not Lie...': Kohli Recalls Feelings Before World Cup Debut In 2011

Virat Kohli is the global face of Indian cricket and will be ready to take on the new challenge that the 2024 T20 World Cup will bring with it. As part of the build up to the upcoming competition, Kohli talked about how he felt before making his World Cup debut against Bangladesh in the 2011 World Cup. The star Indian batter certainly made his debut in style as he stitched on a 203-run partnership with Virender Sehwag on his way to becoming the first and only Indian to score a century on his World Cup debut. He scored an unbeaten 100 in 83 deliveries and took Team India's score to 370 which ultimately led to a 87 run victory.

“It was against Bangladesh in Dhaka, my first game and I was nervous. Yes, I will not lie. There is a different sense of excitement in the air when you come for a World Cup and I could obviously sense that. I was the youngest member of that team and I was getting to play with all these greats of Indian cricket in a World Cup game.

"For me it was definitely a moment where I was a bit nervous heading into the game and definitely the night before I was quite nervous but that is a good sign as well because your body is preparing you to enter a situation where you're alert, you're not taking things for granted. I think that nervousness helped me to be aware, be alert and be absolutely precise in the execution of my plans,” said Kohli on Star Sports.

The former Indian skipper has been one of the best batsmen in all formats but his T20 World Cup exploits are second to none. He is the leading run scorer in the history of the tournament having scored 1141 runs in 25 innings taking his average to be an unbelievable 81.50.

India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up game on June 1 as a part of their preparation in the T20 World Cup set to be held in the USA and West Indies.

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Watch: SRK's Speech After KKR Title Victory Has A Wish For IPL Auction

Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan delivered an emotional dressing room speech following his side's victory in the IPL 2024 final. KKR produced a sensational performance in the final to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad and clinch their third IPL trophy. SRK was hospitalised recently after suffering a heat stroke but he was back in the ground to attend the summit clash and cheer for his side alongside his family. In a video posted by KKR on their social media handle, SRK was seen talking to the KKR players and staff as he thanked them and expressed a special wish for the IPL auction.

#KnightsTV | A night full of awards

CEO Venky Mysore celebrates our champion performers from the #TATAIPL2024Finalpic.twitter.com/uCXCz9jKUZ

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 27, 2024

"I just have one request, which is my special thanks to Gautam Gambhir. I have not thanked him specially. Two things we had discussed when we started that maybe we can make him dance. Sunil (Narine) has already crossed that boundary. I saw him dance. So we have to make GG [Gautam Gambhir] dance tonight," Shah Rukh Khan said in the viral video.

"Thank you, everybody. You guys are lovely. God bless you. Just stay healthy. And, wherever we go ahead from here onwards, I wish you the best. And, I know, I speak on behalf of Jay, Juhi, Jahnavi, Suhana, Pooja, all of us, who love you very much that you make us very emotional. And, we wish we had this team for the rest of our lives. And you kept on listening to my speeches and playing like this." 

Coming to the match, SRH batters failed to perform as they were bundled out for just 113. Andre Russell took three wickets while Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana took two wickets each. In reply, Venkatesh Iyer and Rahmanullah Gurbaz guided the team to an easy win.

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"Could Not Get Selected Due To...": Rinku Breaks Silence On T20 WC Snub

The decision taken by Indian cricket team selectors to exclude Rinku Singh from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad led to a lot of criticism from both fans and experts. The BCCI decided to go with Shivam Dube and Axar Patel as all-rounder options but it led to Rinku getting a place in the reserves. It was a bad IPL campaign for Rinku as he did not get many chances to bat and ended up scoring just 168 runs. However, KKR went on to win the competition and Rinku has now broken his silence over the T20 World Cup snub. In a recent interview, Rinku said that the decision to not include him the squad was due to the team composition and even revealed the conversation he had with skipper Rohit Sharma about the decision.

"Yes, anyone feels a little bad if he is not selected despite good performance. However, this time I could not get selected due to the team combination. It is okay, one should not think too much about things that are not in one's hands. Yes, I was a little upset in the beginning. Whatever happened is fine. Whatever happens happens for good. Rohit Bhaiya did not say anything special. He only said that just keep working hard. There is a World Cup again after two years. There is no need to worry too much. This is what he said to me," Rinku said in an interview with Dainik Jagran.

Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad comfortably in the IPL 2024 final by eight wickets to clinch the title. It was the third IPL trophy for the franchise.

"Outstanding feeling right now. Dream has come true - I have been here for 7 years and we are so happy. Credit to GG sir. I will finally lift the IPL trophy. It was God's plan," Rinku said after the victory.

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Aryan Suggests SRK A Prank: Bump Into Harbhajan, Gavaskar. This Happens

It was a night when Kolkata Knight Riders were on top of the world. After a decade-long wait, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned IPL franchise won their third IPL title defeating SunRisers Hyderabad in Chennai in the title clash of the 2024 edition. Since the time, Gautam Gambhir took over as the mentor of the KKR side, the team has looked different. In the final, KKR just stamped their authority on SRH by first restricting the latter to 113 and then reaching the target in less than 11 overs. 

The win, naturally, sparked some pompous celebration from Shah Rukh Khan and his family, who were present at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. In fact, Aryan, son of Shah Rukh, suggested a prank to his father when they were taking a lap of honour. It involved going and bumping into Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Gavaskar. The prank was suggested after, in an earlier match, Shah Rukh inadvertently bumped into a TV show of the official broadcasters. 

It was Aryan Khan's plan to prank an intentional bump into the commentary team, just like SRK accidentally did during the last victory lap and SRK's game on! #ShahRukhKhan #AryanKhan #KKRvsSRH #AmiKKRpic.twitter.com/1CYTNSKCW7

— Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) May 27, 2024

After the game, the entire KKR management and team found no bounds to their joy and they celebrated the victory with utmost happiness.

Amid that moment too, Shah Rukh didn't forget to make the Chennai crowd happy and he did so by chanting "CSK, CSK" with them. It is worth noting that the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where the final of IPL 2024 took place, is the home stadium for five-time champions Chennai Super Kings. The side failed to made it to the playoffs this season after ending at the fifth spot in points table but SRK made sure its fans had a good time there even during KKR's victory.

KKR first bagged the title in 2012 before winning it again in 2014. Then a long trophy drought followed which was put to an end this season.

"It (wait) was so long, longer than the match. We played like invincibles throughout the season. There's so much to cherish right now. It is pleasing, the performance has been flawless throughout. I am running out of words right now. We have been tremendous from game one, we stepped up today," said KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer.

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Rayudu Slammed As 'Joker' By England Great After IPL Final. Reason Is...

Kevin Pietersen labelled Ambati Rayudu a "joker" in a hilarious interaction on Star Sports' post-IPL 2024 Final show on Sunday night. The light-hearted remark from the former English cricketer came after Rayudu switched his outfit from orange to blue during the 2024 IPL Final between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rayudu, who has represented Hyderabad in domestic cricket, donned orange before the match had begun. But as SRH crumbled to 113 all out after a superb KKR bowling performance, Rayudu dumped his orange outfit, prompting Pietersen's remark.

"You're a joker!" said Pietersen to Rayudu on air, hinting at the latter's change of sides after the Sunrisers' defeat. 

"I, at least, held firm," said Pietersen, who was himself dressed in purple, the colour of the Kolkata Knight Riders.

You are a Joker Kevin Pietersen to Ambati Rayudupic.twitter.com/GotTPdtY4o

— Cheeks (@chikuone8) May 27, 2024

On the big night, the mighty SRH batting lineup was tamed by Mitchell Starc and co., as the men in orange posted the lowest-ever IPL Final run total. KKR romped to their third IPL title, achieving victory in merely 10.3 overs.

The interaction brought about laughter from Matthew Hayden and Mayanti Langer, who were present alongside Pietersen and Rayudu. It is perhaps no surprise that Rayudu wore orange ahead of the IPL Final, as he had made his domestic debut for Hyderabad, way back in 2001.

The sudden outfit switch was not the only time Rayudu created a spark on social media on Sunday night. Earlier in the day, the former MI and CSK batsman had said that an IPL-winning team requires contributions from the whole team, and not just one star, referring to Virat Kohli and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

"It's not the Orange Cap that wins you the IPL but it is the contributions like 300 runs each (of many players)," Rayudu had said during the pre-match show on Star Sports.

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Viral: Shah Rukh Kisses Gauri As KKR Make History In IPL 2024 Final

Kolkata Knight Riders are three times IPL champions now. Barring Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, no other IPL team has been as successful as KKR. The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise, having previously won the title in 2012 and 2014, won their third after a gap of 10 years in some style. They absolutely dominated the proceeding against SunRisers Hyderabad and clinched the title clash by eight wickets. 

Shah Rukh Khan, who suffered a heat stroke after KKR's Qualifier 1 win over SRH in Ahmedabad last week, was a happy man. Accompanying was his wife Gauri Khan. They shared a special moment as KKR chased down the 114-run target in 10.3 overs. 

Mitchell Starc was magical. Andre Russell was mesmerising. Gautam Gambhir remained stoic. Shah Rukh Khan hid his emotions behind a mask. Those contrasting pictures vividly conveyed Kolkata Knight Riders' annihilation of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a lopsided final to bag their third Indian Premier League title here on Sunday.

The winning hug by the King of Indian Cinema - Shah Rukh Khan pic.twitter.com/Vc5V7Vni8F

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 26, 2024

pic.twitter.com/btUuCbIhLK

— (@aasmasun01) May 26, 2024

The moment has my whole heart, This actually stole the whole show.

King Khan hugged his Queen Gauri Khan after KKR won the IPL 2024. #ShahRukhKhan #GauriKhan #KKRvSRH #KKRvsSRH #IPL2024 #TATAIPL2024 #IPLFinal #IPLFinale #TATAIPLFinal pic.twitter.com/wmZVF9gwJc

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) May 26, 2024

In a season dominated from start to finish, KKR's bowling unit was inch-perfect leaving Sunrisers in a shambles while bowling them out for a paltry 113 in 18.3 overs.

It was the tournament's lowest-ever summit clash score.

Venkatesh Iyer (52 not out, 26b, 4x4, 3x6), a forgotten India all-rounder, then helped KKR complete the formalities in just 10.3 overs.

He also ensured that fellow Iyer -- skipper Shreyas -- had a 'Knight' to remember after enduring a harrowing last four months where Indian cricket establishment robbed him of some dignity.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) was useful with the bat after being effective behind the stumps with three catches.

It was a perfect night for him too as he had to leave in the middle of the tournament to attend his ailing mother who is admitted in a Kabul hospital.

The match was one-sided, the victory was clinical and it smelt of one thing -- Team Spirit.

With PTI inputs

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Watch: Kavya Maran Can't Hold Back Tears After SRH's Heavy IPL Final Loss

Kolkata Knight Riders finished their impressive IPL 2024 campaign on the perfect note as the Shreyas Iyer-led side comfortably defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final to clinch the title. It was the third IPL title for Kolkata Knight Riders after 2012 and 2014. Andre Russell took three wickets while Vaibhav Arora and Mitchell Starc took two each as KKR bundled out SRH for just 113. In response, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer looked in tremendous form to guide their side to a convincing eight-wicket victory. Following the match, SRH owner Kavya Maran could not control her tears as she waved towards the crowd and the video of her reaction after the match has gone viral on social media.

Kavya Maran was hiding her tears.

- She still appreciated KKR. pic.twitter.com/KJ88qHmIg6

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 26, 2024

On the other hand, celebrations erupted in the KKR camp as they clinched a well-deserved victory.

"Really happy, credit goes to Abhishek Nayar, all the credit in the world, the way he's worked for the franchise. Some contributions go unnoticed, I want to make sure they don't. He was the one who built this Indian core. We waited for 10 years, credit to the management and the coaching staff," Venkatesh Iyer said after the match.

This was KKR's first IPL title in a decade and it came under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir. Incidentally, they won their last two titles with Gambhir serving as their captain.

"When GG bhai was appointed as the mentor I had messaged him and said I am very happy he's coming back to KKR, but he said that he would be happy if we are on that podium lifting the trophy. Today is that day and I will never forget that message," Nitish Rana said when asked about Gambhir's impact.

Rinku Singh also echoed similar sentiments as the KKR players celebrated the victory.

"Outstanding feeling right now. Dream has come true - I have been here for 7 years and we are so happy. Credit to GG sir. I will finally lift the IPL trophy. It was God's plan," he said.

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"No One Was Agreeing...": Shreyas Iyer Takes Aim At BCCI Over Back Injury

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer said that he was struggling with his back after the Cricket World Cup 2023 but "no one was agreeing to it". Shreyas was picked for the Test series against England after the World Cup but the batter was left out of the squad for the last three matches after he complained of back spasms. While not on national duty, Shreyas did not play domestic cricket for Mumbai despite being cleared to play by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). It resulted in BCCI not offering him a central contract as secretary Jay Shah warned players against prioritising IPL.

Shreyas did play in the Ranji Trophy semi-final and final for Mumbai but it was too late as he lost the central contract and even during the final, he was not on the field for two days due to back issues.

Ahead of the IPL 2024 final between KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shreyas spoke about the injury once again.

“I was definitely struggling after the World Cup in the longer format. When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it. But, at the same time, the competition was with myself,” Shreyas said.

“When IPL was approaching, all I wanted was to put my best foot forward. Whatever planning and strategizing we did before it and executing it to the best of our abilities, and that's where we are right now,” he added.

Shreyas also spoke about his feelings regarding his selection for the Indian cricket team after he was not included in the central contracts list.

“All I did was stay in the present and not think about what was going to happen to me or was worried about the selection process."

“I just wanted to come and participate and play to the best of my abilities,” he stated. 

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2nd T20I: Buttler Helps England Take 1-0 Lead With Easy Win Over Pakistan

England captain Jos Buttler smashed 84 off 51 balls as the hosts beat Pakistan by 23 runs to win the second T20I of a four-match series at Edgbaston on Saturday. Jofra Archer took two wickets on his long-awaited return to the international scene as England took a 1-0 lead in the series after Wednesday's opening match was washed out.

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Watch: First Batch Of Indian Players Depart For US Ahead Of T20 World Cup

The first batch of Indian cricketers, including skipper Rohit Sharma, on Saturday departed for United States ahead of the T20 World Cup beginning on June 2. Apart from Rohit, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, top-ranked T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour and few other players left from Mumbai airport. Other players in the travelling contingent include Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel among others.

VIDEO | Visuals of Indian cricket team leaving for USA from Mumbai for the upcoming T20I World Cup.

The T20I World Cup 2024 will be jointly hosted by the USA and the West Indies from June 2 to June 29. The Indian cricket team will begin its campaign against Ireland from June 5.... pic.twitter.com/h6vhK6OhS0

- Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 25, 2024

Few players, including star batter Virat Kohli, who are part of the IPL teams which reached the playoffs, are yet to leave for the T20 showpiece.

The wait is over.

We are back!

Let's show your support for #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/yc69JiclP8

- BCCI (@BCCI) May 25, 2024

While Rajasthan Royals had beaten Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator on Wednesday, they suffered a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 on Friday night.

SRH will face Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.

Thus, players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal have not joined the team yet.

The T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the USA and the West Indies from June 2 to June 29.

The Indian cricket team will begin its campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

India will face Pakistan on June 9, followed by matches against co-hosts USA (June 12) and Canada (June 15) in their Group A matches.

India had won the inaugural edition way back in 2007 in South Africa.

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"Up To Jay Shah": Report Claims Factor To Convince India Great For Coaching

VVS Laxman's reluctance to become the Indian team's head coach is an open secret but with the former batting stalwart's stint as NCA's 'Head of Cricket' ending in September this year, it remains to be seen how BCCI manages to retain him in the set-up. While Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir is believed to be the favourite among available options for the BCCI, it is still not clear whether secretary Jay Shah has spoken to the national team's senior stars about Gambhir's unanimous acceptability.

Shah, in a statement on Friday to deny reaching out to any Australian candidates, also dropped hints that the Board is looking for an Indian coach, who has come through the ranks and knows the cricketing ecosystem inside out.

Laxman seems to be the most obvious successor given that the stylish former from Hyderabad has been an interim India coach during his nearly three-year stint at NCA (National Cricket Academy).

But he hasn't applied for the post which will be both physically and mentally a taxing for next three and half years. The last date to submit applications is May 27.

Should he choose to apply, Laxman would be on strong footing owing to the goodwill he enjoys at the BCCI's High Performance Centre as the structural head of country's pathways cricket system (India A, Emerging, U-19, and junior women's cricket).

The BCCI would also want to hold on to the 49-year-old and perhaps also convince him to agree for the top job.

"It will be completely up to Jay but he has to convince VVS to be a part of the Indian set-up, at least when they play red ball series," a former BCCI office-bearer told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"If he is not willing to work full-time, he can always be the consultant when India play marquee red-ball series in Australia this year and England next year."

It is understood that it won't be very difficult for Laxman to go back to the IPL fold after his NCA stint ends as he has a standing offer from at least one franchise. He is also an established commentator-cum-analyst.

"Unlike Rahul (Dravid), who was based out of Bengaluru, Laxman had to shift base from Hyderabad. Not to forget his magnanimity when he agreed to work for a lesser pay package compared to what he was making as mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad and as an expert with one of the broadcasters.

"So there will be factors but Laxman's services should be utilised properly," the former office-bearer said.

Recently, during a media interaction in Mumbai, Shah made it clear that there will be only one head coach for the national team. But there is a school of thought that Laxman's expertise in red-ball cricket could be put to use purely for the format.

By next year, the NCA will be headquartered at its own facility in the outskirts of Bengaluru with multiple full-sized cricket grounds, state of the art gymnasium, swimming pool and also a residential complex.

Once Laxman bids adieu to NCA, BCCI would need a solid candidate for the post of Head of Cricket. One man, who could land the job is current national team batting coach Vikram Rathour.

Rathour has been in NCA as batting coach, and was also a national selector for four years. For the last five years, he has been with the national team and his tenure too comes to end with the T20 World Cup next month.

His technical knowledge is well-respected and many feel that he is the right man to replace Laxman when the time comes.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Start Salivating": Gavaskar Blasts Indian Pace Hype, Backs Ignored Star

When the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 started, Lucknow Super Giants' Mayank Yadav was being hailed as the breakaway star of this edition. His speed generated awe as he regularly clocked over 150kmph. His case was almost same as Umran Malik, a couple of seasons back, who broke fast bowling record in the IPL. Umran Malik has been in the shadows in the IPL 2024. Mayank also did not look the same after an injury cut kept him out for considerable time. 

In the midst of such youngsters, one bowler who made a brilliant comeback was Rajasthan Royals' Sandeep Sharma. He went unsold in the auction and was inducted in the team as a replacement for injured Prasidh Krishna. But he did not let that deter him. He took a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians and has so far taken 13 wickets. His economy is 8.18. 

Against SunRisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 2 on Friday, Sharma returned with figures of 2/25 in four overs. He took the wickets of SRH top-scorer Heinrich Klaasen and opener Travis Head.  
 
Sunil Gavaskar was effusive in his praise of Sandeep and also blasted those who get impressed by express-pace in Indian cricket.

"In India, we start salivating whenever anyone bowls over 145. We say he's the next big thing. But bowlers need cleverness which Sandeep Sharma has. No one talks about it from the India aspect. He has been delivering consistently," Sunil Gavaskar said on air.

Though Sandeep has consistently performed in the IPL for various franchises, he has never been given a consistent run in the national team.

On him being called under-rates, Sharma recently told Indian Express: "I don't know. I have never thought about it. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai mujhe mera due nahi mila jo milna chahiaye tha (Sometimes I feel like I never got the credit I deserved). But it's fine. I am not 23-24 anymore. By the end of this tournament, I will turn 31. Few things are just not in your hands."

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Rahul's '1000 Times More Politics' Remark Sees Langer Opt Out Of Coach Race

Former Australian cricket team batter Justin Langer was one of the names that were being considered to be frontrunners in the race to become India's next head coach. The BCCI were reportedly looking at several options to replace Rahul Dravid as his contract will end after the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, Langer has opted out of the race as he said that these kinds of jobs can be 'exhausting' and he also mentioned a conversation with KL Rahul during their time with Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2024. Langer revealed that Rahul told him that the 'politics and pressure' faced by the Indian cricket team head coach is almost 'a thousand times' that of any IPL coach.

"I know that it's an all-encompassing role and having done it for four years with the Australian team, it's exhausting," Langer said during his interaction on BBC Stumped.

"I was talking to KL Rahul and he said, 'You know, if you think there's pressure and politics in an IPL team, multiply that by a thousand, [that's] coaching India. That was a good bit of advice, I guess."

Earlier, Langer's former teammate Ricky Ponting also somewhat distanced himself from the job.

"I've seen a lot of reports about it," Ponting told the ICC Review. "Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it."

"I'd love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can't be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well."

"Also, a national head coach is a ten- or 11-month-of-the-year job, and as much as I'd like to do it, it just doesn't fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing," he added.

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Ex-England Spinner Backs India's Decision To Pick 4 Spinners For T20 WC

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has backed India's decision to take four spinners for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. India took a lot of people by surprise by picking four spinners during their announcement for the 15-player squad of the upcoming marquee event, kicking off on June 1. During the press conference earlier this month, India skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that he wanted four spinners in the squad for the highly-anticipated tournament. Some sections of fans and former cricketers have questioned India's decision to take four spinners for the tournament. But Swann believes that India made the right call of picking four spinners in their 15-player squad. "I think taking four spinners is absolutely the way to go in the Caribbean, and I think you should never question that," Swann told ANI.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh had questioned India's decision as he feels that four spinners are a "bit too much".

"I think selecting four spinners is a bit too much. Three would have been enough. I do not think we will ever play four spinners in a game. Ravindra Jadeja will play. Maybe Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will play with him. Maybe we will field three spinners in a game. We will get to know the combo on seeing the conditions," Harbhajan told ANI earlier this week.

India named four spinners in the squad, consisting of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Rohit has played his cards close to the chest and didn't reveal the reason behind the decision.

"I definitely wanted four spinners we have played a lot of cricket there, there is a technical aspect involved in it. There is a reason for four spinners which I am not going to say now but I wanted four spinners for sure and three seamers and Hardik being fourth," Rohit said in a press conference earlier this month.

Notably, despite having four spinners in the squad, India still doesn't possess an off-spinner in their talented pool of players.

Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin were the two available options to pick from the off-spin department. But India decided to go against the option due to both players lacking game time.

The Men in Blue will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on June 09 at the same venue. India will then play against the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (Wk), Sanju Samson (Wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.

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Watch: Kohli's Brilliant Gesture As Retiring Karthik Gets Guard Of Honour

Royal Challengers Benglauru's star finisher Dinesh Karthik might well have had his last dance on a cricket field in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After flying high with six consecutive wins, the RCB, in chasing the sun, came away with their wings charred and melted. Their hopes of a fairytale season turned into despair after the Bengaluru franchise crashed out of the tournament in the second eliminator on Wednesday.

In what was billed as a clash of 'Royals', Rajasthan prevailed, inflicting a four-wicket defeat on Bengaluru in the Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

With the chants of "ee sala cup namde" falling silent and failing to go all the way to Chennai, which is set to play host to the title clash, emotions were in free flow amid the cricketing action at the world's biggest stadium.

Karthik took off his gloves and acknowledged the fans who were on their feet to applaud the veteran for his contributions throughout the season.

Dinesh Karthik getting guard of honour from RCB and the crowd chanting 'DK, DK.
- The most emotional video.#Karma #chokli #Kohli #Pune_Porsche_crash

pic.twitter.com/yFReKvlNGe

— Kartikey Tripathi (@callmekartikey) May 22, 2024

Soon a moment to savour for the RCB fans unfolded, as the franchise's marquee star and modern-day cricketing icon Virat Kohli embraced Karthik as he struggled to fight back his emotions.

The way Virat Kohli asking Chinnaswamy crowds to chanting for Dinesh Karthik was priceless. And DK dancing and smiling.

- King Kohli is gem of a person, He is always there for his teammates. pic.twitter.com/ii0c0fJf8Z

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) May 19, 2024

Virat Kohli hugging & consoling Dinesh Karthik.

- Heartbreaking to see! pic.twitter.com/1NalAaU2Fl

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) May 22, 2024

While Karthik hasn't yet officially announced his retirement from the IPL, he did drop broad hints throughout the tournament that the ongoing season would be his last for his franchise.

As he walked back towards the dressing room, Karthik received a guard of honour from the RCB players.

He was a crucial figure for RCB, especially in the death overs in a turbulent season. His influential cameos at the end played a role in inspiring the team to an unprecedented spot in the playoffs.

If this season ends up as the last one for Karthik, he will finish his IPL career with 4,842 runs in 257 matches, studded with a whopping 22 fifties.

In his illustrious IPL career that spanned over 17 years, Karthik featured for six franchises in the cash-rich league.

He made his debut in the inaugural season in 2008 with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He made a switch to Punjab in 2011 and, thereafter, went on to play for the Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders and the RCB.

He ended the ongoing season with 326 runs in 15 matches at an average of 36.22 and a mouth-watering strike rate of 187.36.

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1st Time In 17 Years: Virat Kohli Scripts IPL History With Massive Record

India's batting maestro Virat Kohli on Wednesday scripted history as he became the first player to score 8000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli achieved the special milestone during an IPL 2024 Eliminator clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Kohli made history in the wealthiest T20 competition globally by topping the batting charts in the IPL 2024 and becoming the first player to reach 8,000 runs. The accomplishment is another evidence of his reliability as a batter over the years.

EIGHT THOUSAND runs in the IPL.

We are out of adjectives, really! #PlayBold #RCB #IPL2024 #RRvRCB #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/PxkuCF0GK9

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 22, 2024

To surpass the 8000-run mark, Kohli needed just 29 runs, and he achieved it with his trademark grace and accuracy. Yuzvendra Chahal removed Kohli after he had scored 33 runs off 24 balls, including three boundaries and a six. His nearest rival, Shikhar Dhawan, trails at 6,769 runs.

So far in the tournament, Kohli has amassed 741 runs in 15 games for RCB. With an average of 64 and a strike rate of 155 this season, he scored one century and five half-centuries.

Talking about the Eliminator clash, Rajasthan Royals ended their four-match winless run in the Indian Premier League and bounced back just at the right moment to seal their place in the Qualifier 2 following a 4-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Eliminator on Wednesday.

The Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed a topsy-turvy game, with momentum swinging like a pendulum, keeping the fans at the edge of their seats.

For a moment it felt like, the chants of ee sala cup namde would continue to roar in Chennai. But Powell's calmness made RCB nurse their wounds once again, as their quest for maiden IPL title ended on the wrong note.

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RR End RCB's Dream Run In IPL 2024 With Four-Wicket Win

Rajasthan Royals ended Royal Challengers Bengaluru's roller coaster run in the Indian Premier League with a scratchy four-wicket win in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. After their bowlers had done their part well to keep RCB to 172/8, RR batters stuttered in the middle overs to allow RCB back into the contest which remained hung in balance for the majority of the second half, but the 2008 winners eventually got home with an over to spare. Chasing 173, Rajasthan ended with 174/6 as Rovman Powell (16 not out) provided the finishing touches in a tense finish.

As he has done several times before this season, Riyan Parag (36 off 26) showcased deep resolve in an adverse situation to help Rajasthan stay alive in the tournament. It was Royals' first win after four losses and an abandoned game.

2008 winners Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Friday for a place in the IPL final.

The returning Shimron Hetmyer also played his part to perfection, scoring a crucial 26 off 14 balls.

In a contest wherein fortunes swung from one side to another, RR remained ahead with impactful performances throughout even though Mohammed Siraj (2/33) raised late hopes for RCB with wickets of Parag and Hetmyer in the 18th over, With 13 needed off last two overs, Powell found two fours off Lockie Ferguson to seal the deal in favour of his side.

Earlier, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal (45 off 30) who gave them the impetus at the top.

Off to an unconvincing start with his initial runs coming off the outside edge, Jaiswal grew in confidence when Yash Dayal fed him a few deliveries to capitalise on and the RR opener cracked four fours in the third over to break the shackles.

At the other end, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20) also hit a couple of fours against Siraj and while getting a lifeline from Glenn Maxwell, who spilled a sitter at deep square leg off Dayal.

With RR's acceleration rapidly shaving runs off the target, RCB needed a breakthrough and Lockie Ferguson provided the first success when he foxed Kohler-Cadmore with a slow yorker which crashed into the stumps.

The gradual progression of Jaiswal's innings saw the batter finding his rhythm, but the extreme heat sapped him out completely having faced a mere 29 balls.

In between the ninth and the 10th over, Jaiswal received on-field treatment and got back up only to play a loose shot - an attempted ramp off Cameron Green but only gloved it to the 'keeper.

Soon after, Karn Sharma dealt a body blow by having Sanju Samson (17) stumped.

With their tails up, RCB continued making inroads with Dhruv Jurel (8) being run out after a brilliant effort from Virat Kohli and Cameron Green. Kohli fired a sharp throw from deep midwicket to the non-striker's end, where Jurel was found short of his crease.

RR were firmly under pressure heading into the 15th over when they chose to go after Green, who had been all over them with three tidy overs and a wicket up until then.

Hetmyer smacked the Australian for a six and Parag followed his partner in hitting another, while also finding a four to collect 17 runs.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals put forth a sharp bowling effort.

Led by Trent Boult (4-0-16-1), who produced an opening spell of 3-0-6-1, RR bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial stages to control the game.

The venerable Ravichandran Ashwin (4-0-19-2), having previously gone wicketless for a significant stretch, left an indelible mark with wickets Cameron Green (27) and Glenn Maxwell (0) on consecutive deliveries while Avesh Khan (3/44) also chipped in.

Rajasthan's bowling was adequately backed up by their fielders, particularly Rovman Powell, who took two stunning catches that clipped RCB's progress.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Viral: SRK Instantly Regrets Mistake During Lap Of Honour After KKR Win

The Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders had a great day in office as it crashed SunRisers Hyderabad to enter the IPl 2024 final. the team chased down a 160-run target in less than 14 overs to stamp their authority. Mitchell Starc-powered Kolkata Knight Riders' juggernaut rolled into the IPL final as the two-time champions produced a ruthless performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad for an eight-wicket win in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. Starc produced a stunning opening burst of three wickets in the powerplay to break the back of SRH's dangerous batting.

They were eventually shot out for a mere 159 in 19.3 overs with Rahul Tripathi scoring a vital 55 while Heinrich Klaasen (32) and Pat Cummins (30) also fought hard.

On a benign wicket in steaming hot conditions, SRH's fight petered out as KKR knocked off the innocuous 160-run target in a mere 13.4 overs with skipper Shreyas Iyer (58 not out off 24) and Venkatesh Iyer (51 not out off 28) taking them over the line.

 After the win, Shah Rukh took a lap of honour at the Narendra Modi Stadium. But mistakenly he walked in front of a talk show of the broadcasters and interrupted the chat. He instantly regretted the decision and apologised to Aakash Chopra, Suresh Raina and Parthiv Patel.  

Shah Rukh Khan warmly greeted Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel and Aakash Chopra and said sorry because he couldn't see them earlier. How can you not love him #ShahRukhKhan #SureshRaina #ParthivPatel #AakashChopra #KKRvsSRH #Kolkota #KKR pic.twitter.com/ByYsn9WiZ5

— Rajesh Kumar Reddy E V (@rajeshreddyega) May 21, 2024

Shah Rukh Khan Suresh Raina Aakash Chopra parthiv Patel having chat after match at Ahmedabad stadium

THE KING KHAN

A beautiful pictures #KKRvsSRH #SRHvsKKR pic.twitter.com/BidlBs99Ne

— Cricketman (@Manojy9812) May 21, 2024

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins urged his team to forget the heavy defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders and concentrate on the second IPL Qualifier, saying there are days in T20 cricket when things just don't work out. SRH were handed an eight-wicket hammering by KKR in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.

The Cummins-led side will get another crack at making the final. SRH will take the winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Chennai on Friday.

"We will try to put this day behind quickly, good thing we will have a crack at it (qualifier 2).

"You have these days in T20 cricket, when it doesn't work out. We had few starts but didn't go on with bat. Not good with the ball. We weren't where we wanted with the bat and obviously couldn't do much with the ball." "We all have played enough cricket, and going to a new venue (Chennai) helps us as well, so we got to keep this behind and move on." Pacer Mitchel Starc was adjudged player of the match for his sensational bowling up front when he claimed the scalps of Travis Head, Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in the powerplay.

"We know how important the powerplay is. These were the two sides who have dominated in the powerplay with the bat. We needed to pick early wickets and get into their middle-order.

"The way Head and Abhishek have been playing thoughout the tournament, they like width and free their arms. We just tried to swing the ball and not provide them width. Bowl stump to stump and tried the hard length. The spinners were effective and the whole bowling department was great.

On Head's scalp, he said: "Got lucky I guess, was nice to see his back early, not always the case." Winning skipper Shreyas Iyer was elated by the result and said the unplanned 10-day break the team got due to two washed-out matches helped the players rejuvenate.

"The rejuvenation was important for us. When you travel so much. It's important to stay in the present. Today was the day we had to maximise, we did it and that's what we thrive on.

"The way every bowler stood up to this occasion, the way they came in and took wickets, that was imperative. The attitude and approach of all bowlers was to take wickets and they did."

With PTI inputs

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"Gets Aggressive At Times": Akram On Gambhir As India Head Coach Candidate

The hunt for the next Indian cricket team head coach is underway with Rahul Dravid reportedly confirming that he will not be reapplying for the position. A lot of names have been making the rounds like Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming, former India cricketer VVS Laxman and even ex-Australia batter Justin Langer. One such name is that of former India cricketer and current Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir - a personality who is well known for his cricket acumen but has already courted controversy for his straightforward statements. Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram backed Gambhir as the 'best candidate' and said that he will bring a brand of 'aggression' in the team if he is appointed.

"Yeah, he is the best candidate. It depends on whether Gautam accepts it. He has also left politics because it took too much time. It is a time-consuming job. He is a very intelligent person, so he realised it's not easy. He has two lovely daughters," Akram said during an interaction on Sportskeeda.

"GG is very simple. Straightforward. Not a difficult person. But he speaks clearly, bluntly and doesn't think twice, a quality that isn't part of Indian cricket culture. In our culture, we say things that don't offend people. But GG is someone who, if he doesn't like something, will say it to your face. That's his quality and that's why everyone likes him. He gets aggressive at times, but that's him as a person. He will bring that same aggression in the team, but it all boils down to whether he agrees to take up the role."

Gambhir has been instrumental in taking KKR to the IPL 2024 playoffs as they were the first team to book their spot in the Top 4. Gambhir earlier led KKR to two IPL titles as captain in 2012 and 2014.

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KKR Enter Fourth IPL Final With Dominant Win Over Sunrisers Hyderabad

Mitchell Starc-powered Kolkata Knight Riders' juggernaut rolled into the IPL final as the two-time champions produced a ruthless performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad for an eight-wicket win in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. Starc produced a stunning opening burst of three wickets in the powerplay to break the back of SRH's dangerous batting. They were eventually shot out for a mere 159 in 19.3 overs with Rahul Tripathi scoring a vital 55 while Heinrich Klaasen (32) and Pat Cummins (30) also fought hard. On a benign wicket in steaming hot conditions, SRH's fight petered out as KKR knocked off the innocuous 160-run target in a mere 13.4 overs with skipper Shreyas Iyer (58 not out off 24) and Venkatesh Iyer (51 not out off 28) taking them over the line.

KKR will play their fourth IPL final in Chennai on Sunday.

SRH, who had pipped Rajasthan Royals on the final day of the league stage to finish second in the points table, will now proceed to Chennai to have another crack at making the summit clash with the Qualifier 2 to be played on May 24.

The Pat Cummins-led side will face the winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru here on Wednesday.

In his first game this season, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (23) played his role to perfection with two crucial grabs behind the wicket and a quickfire 14-ball 23 at the top laced with two sixes and as many fours.

Chasing a below-par target, KKR raised their fifty in no time.

Sunil Narine (21) perished shortly after the powerplay which brought the pair of Shreyas and Venkatesh together. They put on 97 runs for the third wicket to complete a comprehensive victory.

Shreyas also had luck on his side as a paddle sweep off Viyaskanth Vijaykanth ricocheted off SRH keeper Heinrich Klaasen who went for the catch in the 10th over.

But with short midwicket fielder Rahul Tripathi running in hard for it as well, Klaasen could not hold onto the ball despite having it in his grasp while nearly avoiding a collision.

Soon after, the day went from bad to worse for SRH and Head who spilled a regulation catch off T Natarajan in the 11th over which gave the KKR skipper another lifeline.

If Shreyas was content nurdling the ball around while putting the odd ball away for boundaries, Venkatesh outmatched his skipper with a rapid half-century which was completed off 28 balls.

However, Shreyas overtook his younger partner to wrap up the game with a flurry of boundaries. Venkatesh, on his part, remained unbeaten on 51 off 28 balls with four sixes and five fours.

Earlier, the lanky Australian speedster Starc reaped benefits of utilising his core skill of bowling quick and swinging the ball. He rattled the stumps of SRH marauder Head on the second ball of the contest to set the tone in KKR's favour.

IPL's third highest run-getter Head was all over the place when he went for a wild heave against his compatriot, who got the ball nipping slightly away after pitching and knocking down the off and middle stumps to dismiss the batter for his second consecutive duck.

Starc also bounced out Nitish Reddy (9) and had Shahbaz Ahmed (0) chopping one onto his wickets to put KKR in firm control inside the powerplay.

With Head removed from the equation early, SRH pinned their hopes on Abhishek Sharma but the left-hander too was confined to having an unsuccessful outing.

Abhishek, who has immaculately picked gaps and unleashed spectacular shots more often than not this season, played one meekly towards cover where Andre Russell timed his leap to perfection and used both his hands to complete the dismissal, off Vaibhav Arora. 

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Watch: Suhana, AbRam, Gambhir's Wild Celebration As KKR Dismantle SRH

Mitchell Starc's sheer pace and Varun Chakaravarthy's craftsmanship with spin helped Kolkata Knight Riders bundle out Sunrisers Hyderabad on 159 in the Indian Premier League Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Starc made the Sunrisers regret on their decision to bat after winning the toss. SRH are known for their fearless high-scoring approach in the first six overs. But Starc's pace left the Hyderabad batters rattled in the powerplay. KKR chased down the target in 13.4 Overs to enter IPl 2024 finl. 

On the second delivery of the first over, with a bit of late outward movement, Starc castled Travis Head for a two-ball duck and drew the first blood.

In the next over, both openers were sitting back in the dugout. Vaibhav Arora took Abhishek Sharma by surprise as the ball didn't come as quickly as the youngster would have expected.

Abhishek (3) miscued his shot and the ball fell into the safe hands of Andre Russell.

Starc rode high on his sheer pace and trapped Rahul Tripathi in front of the stumps with a searing yorker.

Despite the appeal, the umpire didn't raise his finger. KKR decided to not review the decision and the replay after the incident confirmed that the ball was nipping the stumps.

Even after facing a setback, there was no stopping Starc from picking wickets. In his third over in the powerplay, he struck back-to-back wickets to completely put KKR in the driver's seat.

In the fifth over, Nitish Reddy (9) tried to create room for himself. But he ended up pulling off a thick outside edge which went straight to the keeper behind the stumps.

On the next delivery, Starc dislodged Shahbaz Ahmed's middle stump to leave SRH hanging in the dry.

The fall of wickets was celebrated wildly by Suhana Khan and Abram Khan, children of KKR co-owner Shah Rukh. SRK looked happy but calmer than his children. KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir, meanwhile. also celebrated wildly. 

Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Abram Khan & Pooja Dadlani celebrating after 2 back to back wickets#ShahRukhKhan #KKRvsSRHpic.twitter.com/BVX8JqQ41x

— Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) May 21, 2024

Gambhir represents the mood rn #KKRvsSRH
pic.twitter.com/r5Na7yQU2Q

— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) May 21, 2024

SRH ended the powerplay with a score of 45/4 which marked their third-lowest powerplay score for SRH this season.

From that point, Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen forged a 62-run stand in a mere 37 deliveries to impose control. Tripathi raised his bat for his 12th IPL fifty following a reverse sweep to find the fence for a four.

But Klaasen's Achilles heel came back to sting him. His struggle against spinners was once again on display. Varun Chakaravarthy lured the power hitter to slog but Klaasen didn't find the ideal connection.

He tried to clear the boundary but Rinku Singh made no mistake at deep mid-wicket. Klaasen walked back with a score of 32(21).

Abdul Samad came in, tonked a maximum on his first ball and made his clear intent to the KKR bowlers.

On the first ball after the timeout, Samad cleared the ropes once again off Sunil Narine. On the next ball, well-set Tripathi (55) got run out. Samad chopped the ball and continued to run while Tripathi stood watching the ball.

By the time he realised the situation, Russell had dispatched the ball to Gurbaz who comfortably dislodged the bails off the stumps.

In a moment of desperation, SRH brought in Sanvir Singh as the impact substitute. Narine spoiled SRH's plans as Sanvir tried to deflect away the turning ball. The ball deflected off his pads and crashed into the stumps. SRH's impact sub walked back for a golden duck.

With five overs left, the responsibility fell on Abdul Samad's shoulders to take SRH to a competitive total.

However, Harshit Rana's slower delivery caught Samad off-guard and ended his stay on the crease for a score of 16(12).

Chakaravarthy went on to remove Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a four-ball duck with a sharp spinning delivery.

Skipper Pat Cummins took the fight back to KKR with his knock of 30(24). But he fell to Russell in the final over as SRH bundled out on 159.

Brief score: Sunrisers Hyderabad 159 (Rahul Tripathi 55, Heinrich Klaasen 32; Mitchell Starc 3-34) vs Kolkata Knight Riders.

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'Didn't Touch Selector's Feet, So Got Rejected': Gambhir's Mega Reveal

Gautam Gambhir is having a good time in the IPL 2024. Under his mentorship, Kolkata Knight Riders finished on top of the standing in the league stage. During his playing days, Gambhir led KKR to its first IPL title. Not only in the IPL, Gambhir has an illustrious record in the Indian cricket team. He had a major role to play in India winning the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. However, Gautam Gambhir has now revealed how he had to struggle in age-group tournaments. 

In a chat show with Ravichandran Ashwin, Gambhir delved in details on how his growing up years in cricket was like. 

"When I was growing up, maybe when I was 12 or 13 years old, I didn't get selected when I tried out for my first under-14 tournament because I didn't touch the selector's feet. From then I promised myself that I will never ever touch anyone's feet and I do not let anyone touch my feet," Gambhir told Ashwin on a YouTube show.

Gambhir said that his affluent family background was also mentioned whenever he encountered failure. 

"I remember, coming through my career every time I failed whether it be in the under-16, under-19, Ranji Trophy or even initially in my international career, people would say that you come from a (well-off) family, you don't need to play cricket. You've got so many (options), you can join your dad's business," he said.

"So that was the biggest perception that was hanging on my head. People did not realise that I wanted it more than them. I wanted to beat that perception. So when I was able to do that, no other perception ever bothers me. The toughest perception for me to beat in my life was that I didn't want it that hard. I wanted it harder than any of them."

In the same show, Gambhir also opened up on his relationship with KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

"It is the trust of the owner as well I have said it many times in the past I think SRK is the best owner I have ever worked with. The reason is not because now I am back with the KKR. The reason is that in the seven years of me captaining, we had not spoken 70 seconds about cricket. He had never asked me a single question on cricket in those seven years. Can you imagine?" Gambhir said on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel.

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Did Dhoni's 110m Six End Up Costing CSK A Spot In IPL Playoffs - Explained

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) scripted one of the finest comeback stories ever in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday, beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a must-win game to qualify for the playoffs. The Faf du Plessis-led side were destined to finish at the bottom of the points table after losing seven of their first eight matches of the group phase. However, a run of six wins on the bounce sees them steal a playoffs spot from defending champions CSK.

RCB had problems a plenty in the first half of the campaign but after six wins on trot, they head into the playoffs as the team to beat. On Saturday, Yash Dayal was the star of the show as he successfully defended 17 runs in the last over.

Despite conceding a six off the very first ball, Dayal dismissed CSK icon MS Dhoni on the very next ball to switch the momentum back in RCB's favour. He then conceded just one run off the next five balls, sparking massive celebrations inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

RCB star Dinesh Karthik did admit that his side got a bit lucky after Dhoni hit Dayal for a six. For the unversed, Dhoni launched the ball outside the stadium and since it wasn't retrieveable, the umpires had to get a replacement ball, which was much dryer and easier to grip.

"The best thing to happened today was Dhoni hitting the six outside the ground. We got a new ball which was much better to bowl with," Karthik during his dressing room speech.

With their win over CSK, RCB joined Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the playoffs.

While it was ecstasy for RCB, the legion of fans of Dhoni sank into despair as it could potentially be the last time they witnessed their 'Thala' perform on a cricket field.

RCB head into the playoffs as the most in-form team with five wins on the bounce. No other team has managed to stitch as many wins on the bounce this season.

They will either face RR or SRH in the Eliminator on Wednesday.

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IPL 2024: Harshal Patel Equals Andrew Tye's Huge Bowling Record For PBKS

Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Harshal Patel levelled with Australian pacer Andrew Tye to become the player with the highest number of wickets for the franchise in a single Indian Premier League (IPL) edition on Sunday. Harshal accomplished this feat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their final league stage game. In the game, Harshal took 2/49 in four overs, at an economy rate of over 12. He took wickets of Rahul Tripathi and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

In the ongoing season, Harshal has taken 24 wickets at an average of 19.87 and an economy rate of 9.73, with the best bowling figures of 3/15. He is the leading wicket-taker this season, but he would not have any more opportunity to add to his tally since his team is not in the playoffs.

Andrew Tye (24 wickets in the 2018 edition), Kagiso Rabada (23 in the 2022 edition) and Shami (20 in the 2020 edition) have taken the joint-highest, second-highest and third-highest number of wickets in a single IPL for Punjab, respectively.

Coming to the match, PBKS won the toss and elected to bat first. A hard-hitting half-century from Prabhsimran Singh (71 in 45 balls, with seven fours and four sixes) and knocks from Rilee Rossouw (49 in 24 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and Atharva Taide (46 in 27 balls, with five fours and two sixes) set the tone for a big total, taking PBKS to 214/5 in their 20 overs.

T Natarajan (2/33) was the pick of the bowlers for SRH.

In the run-chase, after losing Travis Head for a duck, Abhishek Sharma (66 in 28 balls, with five fours and six sixes), Nitish Kumar Reddy (37 in 25 balls, with a four and three sixes) and Heinrich Klaasen (42 in 26 balls, with three fours and two sixes) played fiery knocks to propel SRH to 215/6 in 19.1 overs, winning the game with five balls left.

Arshdeep Singh (2/37) was the pick of the bowlers for PBKS.

Abhishek Sharma was the Player of the Match for his quickfire fifty.

SRH is at number two in the points table, with eight wins, five losses and a no result, with 17 points. PBKS is at the ninth spot with five wins, nine losses and 10 points.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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RR Finish Third After Rain Plays Spoilsport In Their IPL 2024 Game vs KKR

Rajasthan Royals paid the price for their shoddy show during the business end as a washout of their final IPL league game against table toppers Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday pushed them to third place behind Sunrisers Hyderabad. While KKR finished the league engagements on 20 points with nine wins and two more solitary points courtesy wash-outs, SRH (17 points) pipped RR (17 points) by virtue of better Net Run Rate (NRR). SRH finished with NRR of 0.414 compared to RR's 0.273.

KKR will play Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first Qualifier in Ahmedabad on Tuesday followed by the 'Eliminator' between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the same venue.

Rajasthan Royals would blame themselves for getting into a nice little rut after an incredible run during the first half of the tournament when they had won eight out of their nine games.

But their campaign lost a bit of steam towards the back end as they lost four games on trot and with no Jos Buttler for crunch games, facing a marauding RCB in a winner-takes-all match could be a very tough proposition.

On the other hand, SRH, a team that redefined power-hitting with optimum use of 'Impact Sub', had one of their best chases on Sunday, albeit on a track that once again resembled a highway in terms of its placid quotient. The chase of 215 against a depleted Punjab Kings with five balls to spare also bolstered their NRR just when it was needed.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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