Cricket

Arshdeep Singh, India's star pacer, is on the cusp of etching his name in the record books as he stands just five wickets away from surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in T20Is during a single calendar year. With 33 wickets in 21 T20Is this year, Arshdeep has an average of 18.12 and best bowling figures of 4/37.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the previous record holder, had taken 37 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 19.56, with best figures of 5/4 in 2022. Arshdeep will have the opportunity to break this record when India faces South Africa in the second T20I of the four-match series at Gqeberha on Sunday.In the first T20I, India emerged victorious by 61 runs, with Arshdeep playing a pivotal role. He bowled a spell of 1/25 in three overs, claiming the wicket of South African skipper Aiden Markram.The highest wickets taken by any bowler in T20Is during a calendar year belongs to Uganda's Alpesh Ramjani, who took 55 wickets in 30 matches at an average of 11.29 and best figures of 4/9 last year.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings Clash in Crucial IPL MatchSunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face off in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Sunday, May 15, at 10:00 AM GMT in Hyderabad.SRH's Fate UncertainSRH's fate in the playoffs is uncertain after their last match against Gujarat Titans was washed out. Even if they defeat PBKS, they need Rajasthan Royals to lose against Kolkata Knight Riders later in the day to secure a top-two finish. SRH's last outing before the GT game was a dominant chase against Lucknow Super Giants on May 8, raising questions about whether they will be rusty or rejuvenated after a ten-day break.PBKS Out of Playoff RacePBKS were eliminated from the playoffs long ago, and several of their overseas players have returned home. With nothing to lose, this match presents an opportunity for domestic players to showcase their skills.Form GuideSRH: WLWLL (last five completed matches)PBKS: WLLWWPrevious MeetingIn their previous encounter, SRH posted 182/9 thanks to Nitish Kumar Reddy's 64 off 37 balls. PBKS fell short by two runs despite a valiant effort from Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.Team News and Impact Player StrategySRH:* May consider bringing back Aiden Markram for Sri Lankan legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.* Abhishek Sharma or T Natarajan could be their Impact Players.PBKS:* Rishi Dhawan and Atharva Taide may get a chance in the absence of Curran and Bairstow.* Prabhsimran Singh and Arshdeep Singh are likely Impact Player options.In the Spotlight: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal PatelBhuvneshwar Kumar has been in impressive form lately, taking seven wickets in his last four matches. Harshal Patel, the leading wicket-taker of the season, will have extra responsibility with Rabada and Curran unavailable.Stats that Matter* Bhuvneshwar has dismissed Prabhsimran three times in 11 balls.* Rossouw has struggled against Bhuvneshwar and Pat Cummins.* Abhishek has a strong record against Arshdeep.* Harshal has dismissed Klaasen three times.* Reddy has enjoyed batting against Harpreet Brar.Pitch and ConditionsHyderabad has been a high-scoring venue this IPL, but there is a 30% chance of rain.

IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad Snatch Last-Ball Victory Over Rajasthan RoyalsIn a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pulled off a remarkable last-ball victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match.The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with the momentum swinging back and forth throughout. RR needed just 2 runs off the final ball to chase down SRH's total of 201, setting the stage for a Super Over.However, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar had other plans. He had already bowled a brilliant opening over, dismissing Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks to leave RR reeling at 1 for 2.With the match on the line, Bhuvneshwar delivered a low full toss on leg stump to Rovman Powell, who had already smashed 10 runs off 4 balls from Kumar. Powell attempted to whip the ball away but was struck on the pads, with replays confirming that the ball was hitting the leg stump.The decision was reviewed, but there was no evidence of an edge on UltraEdge, and Ball Tracking showed three reds. Powell was adjudged leg before wicket, handing SRH a dramatic one-run victory.The win was crucial for SRH, who snapped their two-game losing streak and moved to the fourth spot in the standings with 12 points. RR, despite the loss, remained at the top of the table with 16 points.Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the star of the show for SRH, finishing with figures of 4-0-29-3. He was ably supported by Umran Malik, who took 2-39, and Washington Sundar, who chipped in with 1-32.For RR, Powell was the standout performer with his quickfire 10 off 4 balls. However, the team's top order failed to fire, with Buttler, Samson, and Devdutt Padikkal all dismissed cheaply.The victory keeps SRH's playoff hopes alive, while RR will be looking to bounce back in their next match.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the spearhead of Sunrisers Hyderabad, is on the cusp of a remarkable milestone as he prepares to face Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of IPL 2024. The seasoned fast bowler is just four wickets away from becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 150 wickets for a single franchise in the league. Only two other bowlers, Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) and Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders), have achieved this feat in the IPL's history.Meanwhile, the spotlight will also be on Shreyas Iyer's return from a lengthy injury layoff. The Indian batter, who missed the entire 2023 season due to a back injury, will lead Kolkata Knight Riders, who have made some strategic additions while retaining the core of their team. Iyer recently impressed with a 95 in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy triumph, but his availability for all matches remains uncertain due to fitness concerns.Kolkata Knight Riders have welcomed back their most successful captain, Gautam Gambhir, as a mentor. His partnership with head coach Chandrakant Pandit, a renowned tactician in the domestic circuit, will be crucial to their revival. Team principal owner Shah Rukh Khan has emphasized the importance of ownership and accountability, urging Gambhir to lead the franchise to success.Under Gambhir's captaincy, Kolkata Knight Riders enjoyed a golden era from 2011 to 2017, winning two IPL titles, reaching five playoffs, and finishing as runners-up in the Champions League T20 tournament.The biggest signing of this IPL season is Kolkata Knight Riders' acquisition of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc for a record sum of Rs 24.75 crore. The left-arm quick will face immense pressure to perform, especially in the power-play and death overs. Starc and Andre Russell are the only experienced pacers in Kolkata Knight Riders' ranks, making their workload management a critical factor.