Cricket

In the series-deciding third ODI between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first, continuing the trend of the series. Both teams made minor adjustments to their lineups, with India introducing Renuka Singh in place of Arundhati Reddy and New Zealand replacing Jess Kerr with Hannah Rowe.The pitch in Ahmedabad appeared dry and hard under sunny skies, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius. The series is currently tied 1-1, with India winning the first match and New Zealand leveling the series in the second. Notably, the team batting first has emerged victorious in both ODIs thus far.In the first ODI, India was dismissed for 227 in 44.3 overs, but their bowlers rallied to restrict New Zealand to 168 in 40.4 overs. In the second ODI, Devine excelled with both bat and ball, leading New Zealand to a 76-run victory.India's batting lineup for this match consists of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh, Saima Thakor, and Priya Mishra.New Zealand's batting order includes Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Lauren Down, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, and Fran Jonas.After this series, India will embark on a three-match ODI tour of Australia beginning on December 5th. New Zealand, on the other hand, will host Australia for a three-game ODI series starting on December 19th.

The highly anticipated Qualifier 1 clash of the IPL 2024 between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday is set to be a thrilling encounter. However, the weather forecast has cast a shadow over the match, with concerns of rain looming.Historically, KKR has a psychological edge over SRH, having won the IPL title in 2012 and 2014 when they finished in the top two. This season, KKR has been in impressive form, securing the top spot with 20 points from 14 matches.According to AccuWeather, there is no forecasted rain for Tuesday's match, but dew is expected to impact the second innings due to high humidity. The temperature is anticipated to range between 31 and 37 degrees Celsius, suggesting conditions may favor a high-scoring game.However, with three of the last eight IPL matches being abandoned due to rain, both teams will be wary of a washout. If the match is rained out, KKR will automatically advance to the final due to their higher points tally in the league stage, as per IPL rules.As per IPL Rule 13.7.3, an extra 120 minutes is allowed to complete a match if delayed or interrupted, which is double the usual allowance. If the weather doesn't permit play to resume within this extended time frame, the higher-ranked team, in this case, KKR, will progress directly to the final.KKR has not played a match in the last 10 days due to back-to-back washouts, including their last league game against Rajasthan Royals. Despite this, they remain confident, buoyed by the return of mentor Gautam Gambhir and the consistent performance of their bowlers.Former Pakistan captain and ex-KKR coach Wasim Akram has lauded KKR's bowling unit, highlighting the collective effort that has seen Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Mitchell Starc perform consistently.SRH, led by Pat Cummins, enter the contest with winning momentum after a decisive victory over Punjab Kings in their last home game. However, they face a big challenge in the form of table-toppers KKR.KKR, despite the absence of key player Phil Salt, who has returned for national duties, remain a formidable opponent. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to step in as Salt's replacement.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the remaining schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, with the tournament set to culminate in a grand finale in Chennai on May 26.All 74 matches of the tournament will be played in India, with the crucial stages taking place in Ahmedabad and Chennai. The Lok Sabha elections, scheduled from April 19 to June 1, have influenced the scheduling to avoid any clashes.The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host Qualifier 1 on May 21 and the Eliminator on May 22. The iconic Chepauk in Chennai will then stage Qualifier 2 on May 24 and the much-anticipated final on May 26.The IPL governing council has maintained the tradition of holding the opening game and final at the home venue of the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings. Earlier, the BCCI had announced the schedule for only the first 21 matches of the 17th edition of the IPL, which commenced on March 22.The IPL 2024 promises to be an exciting spectacle, with all the top players from around the world set to participate. The tournament has become a global phenomenon, attracting a massive fan base and generating significant revenue for the BCCI.