Cricket

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been heavily reliant on Virat Kohli's batting prowess this IPL season, but former India pacer Varun Aaron believes it's time for the team's domestic players to step up and lessen the burden on their star batsman.Kohli has been in scintillating form, leading the batting charts with 361 runs in 7 innings and donning the Orange Cap. However, Aaron feels that RCB's domestic players need to contribute more to the team's success."It's just that RCB are not finding the rhythm, the domestic players are just not stepping up," Aaron said on Star Sports. "If you have to be anywhere at the top of the table or the middle of the table at this point, you have to have domestic players who are firing and you cannot always rely on Virat Kohli."Aaron, who played for RCB in the past, emphasized the importance of having domestic players perform well to balance the team's performance. "The other guys have to step up and also all their money is sitting in the dug-out. You can't spend that much cash on players and not have them play," he said.Former Australia captain Aaron Finch echoed Aaron's sentiments, suggesting that RCB needs a dynamic middle-order batsman to support Kohli effectively. "He's (Kohli) scored a lot of runs everywhere. He's a modern-day great. And I think the fact that he's getting runs and RCB are still not making it is a positive sign in one degree," Finch said. "It's that when Virat is playing well, that genuinely carries the rest of the players with him."Finch believes that RCB needs to find a consistent partnership with Kohli and an explosive middle-order player who can provide support. "They just need to find a partnership with him, they need to find an explosive middle-order player who is in form," he said.RCB will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, and Finch believes that the match has the potential to be an epic encounter. "It (KKR vs RCB) has got all the makings of an epic game," he said.

Mumbai Indians' disappointing IPL 2024 campaign has drawn criticism from former Australian skipper Aaron Finch. The five-time champions have struggled to find consistency, losing three of their first five matches.Finch believes that captain Hardik Pandya needs to improve his form with both bat and ball. "First and foremost, I think the captain needs to find some form and consistency with bat and ball," Finch said. "We've seen him bowl in some games and not in others, so ideally, some form with both bat and ball. I think that will go a long way."Finch also pointed out the lack of depth in Mumbai's bowling attack outside of Jasprit Bumrah. "Their bowling outside of Jasprit Bumrah has lacked depth of quality and consistency," Finch said.Despite their struggles, Mumbai Indians managed to secure a narrow nine-run victory over Punjab Kings in their most recent match. Suryakumar Yadav's brilliant knock of 68 runs off 36 balls set the platform for the win, while Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee took three wickets each.After the match, Pandya acknowledged the team's character and resilience. "Very good game of cricket. Everyone's nerve got tested," Pandya said. "We did speak about before the game that the character will be checked in this game. Naturally you think you're ahead in the game. But we knew IPL has a tendency to produce these games."Despite the win, Mumbai Indians remain in a precarious position in the IPL standings. They will need to find a way to improve their consistency and depth if they want to challenge for a playoff spot.

Melbourne Renegades have bolstered their batting lineup with the acquisition of Josh Brown, a BBL-winning batter from Brisbane Heat. The 30-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Renegades, replacing the retired Aaron Finch.Brown emerged as a late bloomer in the BBL, dominating Brisbane grade cricket before making his mark in the professional league. In his first 23 matches, he has amassed 624 runs at an average of 27.13 and a strike rate of 149.64.His breakout performance came in last season's BBL finals, where he smashed a record-breaking 140 runs off 71 balls against Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger. He followed that up with a match-winning 53 in the final against Sydney Sixers, helping Heat secure the title.Brown's impressive form attracted attention from overseas T20 franchises, and he played in the Bangladesh Premier League with Chattogram Challengers. He also made his List A debut for Queensland upon his return from Bangladesh.Renegades general manager James Rosengarten expressed excitement about Brown's addition to the squad. "We've identified a clear role for Josh in our batting order which will have a new look this year," Rosengarten said. "Josh possesses a good balance of aggression and composure, which we all witnessed in the recent BBL finals series."Brown is expected to form a formidable opening partnership with Jake Fraser-McGurk. He expressed gratitude to Heat for giving him the opportunity to play in the BBL but is eager for a new challenge with the Renegades."I've enjoyed my time with the Heat, they gave me my opportunity, for which I'll always be grateful and have cherished memories including winning a BBL Championship last season," Brown said. "But I am extremely excited for a new challenge and hopefully achieve the same success with the Renegades."

Aaron Finch, the former Australian captain, has vehemently defended Virat Kohli's place in India's T20I setup, dismissing criticism of the star batter as "the biggest rubbish I have ever heard."As the ICC T20 World Cup approaches, debates have intensified over Kohli's suitability for modern T20 cricket. Some have questioned his conservative approach, arguing that it does not align with the aggressive style prevalent in the format.However, Finch believes that Kohli's experience and proven track record make him an indispensable asset to the Indian team. "He is the greatest white ball player I have ever seen," Finch declared. "It does not matter if he strikes at 140 and other guys strike at 160. When you pick up a team, you pick up a guy who gets the job done day in and day out for his team during big games."Kohli's recent performances have silenced his critics. In his previous IPL game against Punjab Kings, he smashed a majestic 77 off 49 balls, striking at over 157. He also took on bowlers aggressively during the middle overs, showcasing his adaptability to different situations.Kohli's impressive T20I resume further supports Finch's argument. He is the highest run-getter in the format, with 4,037 runs in 117 matches at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 138. He is also the leading run-scorer in IPL history, with 7,361 runs in 239 matches.In the ICC T20 World Cup, Kohli is the most decorated batter and its leading run-scorer. He has scored 1,141 runs in 27 matches at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30. He was the 'Player of the Tournament' in 2014 and 2016, when India finished as runners-up and semifinalists, respectively.Kohli's ability to perform under pressure and his consistent contributions to the team make him a valuable asset for India. As Finch rightly pointed out, his experience and proven track record should outweigh any concerns about his strike rate.

Neil Wagner, the veteran New Zealand fast bowler, has announced his retirement from international cricket, a decision that has raised questions about whether it was forced upon him. Wagner's former teammate, Ross Taylor, believes that the decision was not entirely voluntary.Wagner's retirement came after he was informed that he would not be part of the ongoing Test series against Australia. This news sparked speculation that Wagner's retirement was a result of a forced decision by the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) selectors.Taylor, speaking on ESPN's Around The Wicket podcast, expressed his belief that Wagner's retirement was "forced." He pointed to Wagner's press conference, where he stated that he was retiring after the Test match against Australia, indicating that he had made himself available for selection.However, Wagner was released from the squad after the first Test in Wellington. An injury to William O'Rourke led to talk of a potential recall for Wagner for the second Test in Christchurch. However, NZC opted to select the uncapped fast bowler Ben Sears instead.Taylor questioned this decision, stating that Wagner would have been a valuable asset in the must-win Test against Australia. He believes that Wagner's experience and intimidation factor would have prevented Australia from posting such a large total in their first innings.Aaron Finch, the former Australian captain, also expressed his surprise at Wagner's omission from the XI. He believes that Wagner's success against Australia, particularly against Steven Smith, would have made a significant difference in the match.Finch pointed to the record 116-run partnership between Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green, which laid the foundation for Australia's victory. He believes that Wagner's presence would have disrupted this partnership and prevented Australia from reaching such a high total.Taylor echoed Finch's sentiments, emphasizing Wagner's experience and ability to intimidate opposition batters. He believes that Wagner's absence allowed Hazlewood and Green to play with more freedom and contribute to Australia's victory.Wagner's retirement marks the end of an era for New Zealand cricket. He was a key member of the team for over a decade, known for his aggressive bowling style and ability to extract reverse swing. His departure will leave a significant void in the New Zealand bowling attack.