Cricket

Rajasthan Royals' bowlers, led by Avesh Khan and Keshav Maharaj, exploited a challenging pitch at Mullanpur to restrict Punjab Kings to a modest 147 for eight in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on April 13.Avesh (2/34) and Maharaj (2/23) stifled the Kings' batters, preventing them from gaining momentum on a surface that favored spin and slow bowling. Ashutosh Sharma (31, 16b), Jitesh Sharma (29, 24b), and Liam Livingstone (21, 14b) attempted to accelerate the innings, but their efforts proved insufficient.Punjab began their innings with a brisk start, scoring 26 runs in the first three overs. However, Atharva Taide's dismissal by Avesh Khan halted their progress. The Kings struggled to build partnerships as the Rajasthan spinners and Trent Boult's economical bowling kept them in check.The last three power play overs yielded only 10 runs for Punjab, leaving them with a meager 38 for one. The next five overs saw them manage just one boundary, as they labored to 53 for four in 10 overs. Jonny Bairstow, stand-in skipper Sam Curran, and Prabhsimran Singh all fell victim to the combination of a slow deck and accurate spinners.Curran's dismissal exemplified the Kings' struggles. The left-hander failed to generate power or timing on his pull shot off Maharaj, as the ball slowed down significantly after pitching. Dhruv Jurel took a tumbling catch while running in from deep mid-wicket.Shahshank Singh, Punjab's in-form batter, was expected to provide some impetus, but his feeble pull shot off Sen was caught by Jurel at mid-wicket. With the top order back in the pavilion, the Kings relied on Livingstone and Jitesh to salvage a competitive total.Sharma showed some intent, clobbering Chahal for a six over extra cover and later sending Sen for a six to the straight fence before getting out to Avesh. Livingstone, who creamed Sen for a six and four off successive balls through mid-wicket, and Ashutosh, who smoked Avesh for two sixes in the 19th over, helped PBKS add 61 runs in the last five overs, but their effort came too late.

Virat Kohli, the fiery Indian cricket star, is renowned for his unwavering intensity on the field. Whether representing his national team or his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli's competitive spirit shines through.In the ongoing IPL 2024, Kohli has emerged as one of the top scorers, amassing 316 runs in five matches at an impressive average of 105.33 and a strike rate of 146.30. However, despite his individual brilliance, RCB has struggled, losing four out of five matches.During RCB's recent encounter with Rajasthan Royals, Kohli's gesture after hitting a boundary off Avesh Khan has gone viral. Kohli appeared to mock Khan's aggressive celebration from an IPL 2023 match between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants, where Khan threw his helmet on the ground after completing a successful run-chase.Kohli's gesture has sparked speculation that he was seeking revenge for Khan's previous actions. The incident highlights Kohli's sharp memory and his determination to stand up for his team.Meanwhile, Indian men's team chief selector Ajit Agarkar has praised Kohli for setting a benchmark in fitness. Agarkar believes that Kohli's strict diet and fitness regimes have inspired a new generation of players."Virat is one of those guys who set the benchmark," said Agarkar. "10-15 years into his career, he has only got fitter, you can see the results. If someone like him sets an example, it gradually progresses across the ecosystem."With the T20 World Cup approaching, Kohli's performance in the IPL is crucial. His ability to balance aggressive hitting with anchoring skills remains a model for batters in the modern era.

Avesh Khan's incisive bowling spearheaded Madhya Pradesh's dominance on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha in Nagpur. The pacer's four-wicket haul, complemented by Kulwant Khejroliya and Venkatesh Iyer's two wickets each, restricted Vidarbha to a paltry 170.The VCA Stadium pitch offered ample carry, allowing the MP bowlers to exploit the conditions. Avesh struck early, dismissing opener Dhruv Shorey, and continued to trouble the Vidarbha batsmen throughout the innings. Khejroliya and Iyer provided valuable support, keeping the pressure on the opposition.Vidarbha's only resistance came from Karun Nair, who top-scored with a gritty 63. However, he lacked support from his teammates, as wickets fell at regular intervals. Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade shared a 36-run partnership, but it proved insufficient to build a substantial total.MP's fielding was equally impressive, with Yash Dubey taking a stunning catch to dismiss Akshay Wadkar. The visitors' bowlers maintained their accuracy throughout the day, preventing Vidarbha from gaining any momentum.In response, MP reached 47 for one at close, trailing by 123 runs. The lone wicket to fall was that of Dubey, who edged Umesh Yadav to Wadkar.Avesh Khan's performance has put MP in a commanding position in the semifinal. The pacer's ability to extract bounce and movement from the pitch has made him a key threat to Vidarbha's hopes of a comeback.