Cricket

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has consistently defied conventions in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They were among the first teams to prioritize boundary-hitting, relying on mystery spinners like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. They even experimented with Narine's batting as an opener, trusted wrist spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, unearthed gems like Suyash Sharma, and revitalized careers like Rahul Tripathi's.KKR is also renowned for its unwavering support of talent. Narine and Andre Russell have been with the franchise for over a decade, and Rinku Singh since 2018. Kuldeep stayed for five years, even when he was far from fully developed.KKR's IPL-17 campaign, which culminated in a resounding eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad and a third title, was a perfect embodiment of these qualities. The team lost only three matches, playing with a free-spirited approach, trusting its experienced stars, and reaping the rewards of integrating young players.KKR scored 200 or more six times this IPL, with Phil Salt's 435 runs at a strike rate of 182.01 playing a crucial role. Narine claimed 17 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.69 and scored 488 runs at a strike rate of 180.74.Russell, who had appeared to be a spent force last year, contributed with 19 wickets, while speedsters Harshit Rana (19 wickets) and Vaibhav Arora (11) had breakout seasons. Even 18-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi had his moments in the spotlight.Another strength of KKR was its solid Indian core. Along with Harshit and Arora, Venkatesh Iyer played a stellar role, highlighted by two match-winning half-centuries in Qualifier 1 and the final. Varun, with 21 wickets, was second only to Harshal Patel (24) in the top wicket-takers' list.The tournament also showcased Shreyas Iyer's astute leadership and his own redemption arc. His captaincy skills were never in doubt, having led Delhi Capitals to the final in 2020. However, Shreyas was not in the T20 scheme of things for India and even lost out on a central contract amidst injury setbacks and signs of mistrust between him and the cricketing establishment."He is pretty level-headed," said Mitchell Starc, the Player-of-the-Match in both Qualifier 1 and the final, about Shreyas. "Pretty calm in most situations, more so when things haven't gone our way. To be part of the group with him leading... there have been moments through the year where he has seen the game a certain way and gone with his instinct and that has paid off. He thoroughly deserves his success."It is unfortunate that such a dominant group, meticulously mentored and coached by Gautam Gambhir and Chandrakant Pandit, will likely be dismantled before the mega auction ahead of IPL-18. However, KKR's T20 blueprint is sure to stand the test of time and shape many a future outfit.

Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR), has revolutionized his T20 approach by embracing an aggressive mindset from the outset. He believes that every batsman must adopt this mentality for their team to thrive in the fast-paced format.Samson's transformation has earned him a recall to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. In IPL 2024, he has amassed 385 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 159.09, propelling RR to second place in the points table with 8 wins."It's a 20-over game," Samson emphasized. "Each over is crucial. You can't afford to wait to settle down or target specific bowlers. You have to go for boundaries from the start."Samson's philosophy aligns with the modern T20 game, where teams prioritize boundary-hitting and aggressive intent. He believes that every player must contribute to the team's dominance, eliminating the concept of individual scoring patterns."There's only one way to succeed in T20s," Samson asserted. "You have to dominate. If you don't, you're setting yourself up for failure. Everyone needs to contribute to the team's success."Samson's journey to international recognition has been a testament to his perseverance and adaptability. Despite making his T20I debut in 2015, he only earned his first ODI cap in 2021. However, his recent resurgence has solidified his position as a valuable asset to the Indian team.With the T20 World Cup approaching, Samson is eager to cement his place in the national side. His aggressive approach and proven ability to score runs at a rapid pace make him a formidable force in the shortest format of the game.

In a breathtaking display of boundary-hitting, Delhi Capitals' Tristan Stubbs unleashed a barrage of shots against Mumbai Indians' Luke Wood in their IPL clash on Saturday. The Arun Jaitley Stadium witnessed a boundary-fest as Stubbs plundered 26 runs off Wood's 18th over, smashing five fours and a six.Stubbs' onslaught began with a scoop over wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan on the leg side, followed by another scoop to fine-leg. He then targeted the other side of the ground, hitting two reverse-scoops over the short-third fielder off yorker-length deliveries. The first reverse-scoop sailed over the fence for a six, while the second was a low full-toss that Stubbs connected with another perfect reverse-scoop for a four.With 18 runs already conceded off the first four balls, Wood attempted a slower bouncer on the penultimate delivery. However, Stubbs read it early and belted it to the deep mid-wicket fence. The final ball of the over was another slower off-cutter, which Stubbs dispatched to the same region.Stubbs' unbeaten 25-ball 48 powered DC to their highest IPL score ever of 257 for 4. Earlier, Jake Fraser-McGurk had set the tone for DC's batting onslaught with a blistering 27-ball 84. The 22-year-old opener equalled his own record for the fastest fifty this season, reaching the milestone off just 15 balls.

Jake Fraser-McGurk, the young Australian batter, has emerged as a formidable force in the ongoing IPL 2024. His exceptional power-hitting abilities have captivated fans and made him a key player for the Delhi Capitals.Fraser-McGurk's prowess was on full display in the recent match against Mumbai Indians, where he smashed an astonishing 84 runs off just 27 balls. His innings was a masterclass in boundary hitting, with 11 fours and 6 sixes accounting for over 95% of his runs. This remarkable feat is a testament to his ability to find gaps in the field and clear the boundary with ease.Earlier in the season, Fraser-McGurk had a similar performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring over 95% of his runs in boundaries. His consistency in boundary hitting is a testament to his solid technique and impeccable timing.Fraser-McGurk's boundary-hitting prowess is evident in his overall IPL statistics. Out of his 247 runs, a staggering 220 have come from fours and sixes. He has smashed 22 fours and 22 sixes in just 5 innings, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 237.50.The right-handed batsman's ability to hit boundaries at will suggests that he possesses a solid technique and seems to have the gift of timing the ball perfectly. He has equaled his previous fastest T20 fifty, which also came off 15 balls earlier this season against SRH. It is Fraser-McGurk's third half-century in his debut IPL edition.Fraser-McGurk's exceptional performances have not gone unnoticed. He is now the third batsman to have scored a half-century in 15 or fewer balls twice in T20 cricket. Kolkata Knight Riders' players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are the other two.The next best in terms of fastest IPL fifty for Delhi Capitals are Chris Morris (17 balls), Rishabh Pant (18 balls), and Prithvi Shaw (18 balls). Fraser-McGurk's ability to clear the boundary with ease and his consistency in boundary hitting make him a valuable asset to the Delhi Capitals and a rising star in the IPL.