Cricket

Kolkata Knight Riders: From Underdogs to Champions with Gautam GambhirTwo-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face off against 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final of IPL 2024 in Chennai on Sunday. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has reflected on the franchise's journey from underdogs to champions, crediting former skipper Gautam Gambhir for their success.In an interview with Star Sports, Khan recalled the early days of KKR, when the team struggled to find its footing in the IPL. "We had the nicest set of team in the world, but we kept on losing only again and again," he said. "I remember some expert talking this. It used to hurt."However, everything changed with the arrival of Gambhir as captain in 2011. Under his leadership, KKR transformed into a formidable force, winning the IPL title in 2012 and 2014. "To come back with GG (Gautam Gambhir) and do this was outstanding," Khan said. "It taught us how to lose but never be losers and never give up hope. Sports teaches you that."Gambhir's impact on KKR went beyond his on-field performances. He instilled a winning mentality in the team, emphasizing the importance of hard work, determination, and never giving up. "He was a leader who led by example," Khan said. "He was a fighter, and he never gave up. He taught us how to win, but more importantly, he taught us how to lose with dignity."KKR's success under Gambhir's leadership is a testament to the power of belief and the importance of having a strong leader. The franchise has since become one of the most successful in the IPL, and their journey from underdogs to champions is an inspiration to all.

West Indies clinched the three-match T20I series against South Africa with a resounding 16-run victory at Sabina Park. Batting first, West Indies posted a competitive 207 for 7, thanks to Roston Chase's maiden T20I half-century (67) and a late cameo from Romario Shepherd (32*).South Africa's chase started promisingly, with Quinton de Kock (41) leading the charge. However, the middle order faltered, and despite a valiant effort from Rassie van der Dussen (30), they fell short of the target. Gudakesh Motie was the star of the West Indies bowling attack, claiming career-best figures of 3 for 22.Chase's innings was a masterclass in adaptability. He paced his innings perfectly, hitting five boundaries behind square and two towering sixes. His partnership with Andre Fletcher (35) and Shepherd propelled West Indies to a strong total.South Africa's bowling was led by debutant Nqabayomzi Peter, who impressed with figures of 2 for 32. However, Anrich Nortje's return from injury was disappointing, as he conceded 47 runs in four wicketless overs.The victory marked West Indies' second consecutive series win against South Africa in T20Is. It also highlighted the team's growing depth and resilience, with several players stepping up in the absence of key regulars.For South Africa, the defeat extended their winless streak in T20I series to five. Their inability to handle spin remains a concern, as Motie's success demonstrated.

The Indian cricket team has embarked on its journey to the United States for the ICC T20 World Cup, which commences on June 1. The first group of players, including captain Rohit Sharma, pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, and top-ranked T20I batsman Suryakumar Yadav, departed from Mumbai airport.Accompanying the players were head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour. Young batting talent Shubman Gill, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, along with pacers Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed, were also part of the contingent.The spin department was represented by Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rinku Singh, and Virat Kohli are yet to join the team.India's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The highly anticipated India versus Pakistan clash will take place on June 9. India will then face tournament co-hosts USA (June 12) and Canada (June 15) to wrap up their Group A matches.India will be aiming to end their ICC trophy drought, having last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, India has reached the 50-over World Cup final in 2023, semifinal in 2015 and 2019, the title clash of the ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and 2023, T20 WC final in 2014, semifinals in 2016 and 2022 but failed to secure a major ICC trophy.India will be aiming to win their first T20 WC title since they won the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2007 in South Africa. In the last edition held in Australia in 2022, India lost to England by 10 wickets in the semifinals.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bowl first in the third and final T20I against USA in Texas, a decision he had also made in the second game, which they lost by six runs. The series was already decided, with USA taking a 2-0 lead after their stunning wins earlier in the week.Bangladesh made two changes to their lineup, resting Jaker Ali and Shoriful Islam and bringing in Litton Das and Hasan Mahmud. USA made four changes, resting captain Monank Patel, Steven Taylor, Harmeet Singh, and Ali Khan. They were replaced by Shayan Jahangir, Nosthush Kenjige, Milind Kumar, and Nisarg Patel.Ali Khan was the hero of the last game, claiming three late wickets as Bangladesh lost their last five wickets for 14 runs in 15 balls. Harmeet Singh had starred in the first game, hitting three sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 33 off 13 balls when US needed 55 runs in the last four overs.The match began with USA winning the toss and electing to bat first. They got off to a solid start, with openers Andries Gous and Aaron Jones putting on a 50-run partnership. However, Bangladesh fought back, with Hasan Mahmud dismissing both openers in quick succession.Nitish Kumar and Corey Anderson then steadied the USA innings, putting on a 40-run partnership. But Bangladesh continued to take wickets at regular intervals, and USA eventually finished their innings on 144/9.Bangladesh's chase got off to a poor start, with Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto both falling cheaply. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy then put on a 50-run partnership, but both fell in quick succession.Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan then took control of the chase, putting on a 60-run partnership. However, Mahmudullah was dismissed for 36, and Shakib followed soon after for 32.With Bangladesh needing 20 runs off the last two overs, Rishad Hossain hit a six and a four to bring the equation down to 10 runs off the last over. However, he was dismissed off the first ball of the over, and Bangladesh eventually fell short by 10 runs.

Michael Hussey, the former Australian left-handed opener, has expressed his disinterest in becoming the head coach of the India men's cricket team. Hussey, who recently served as an assistant coach with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024, cited the demanding nature of the role and his desire for a balanced lifestyle as reasons for his decision."They play more cricket than probably anyone in the world really, they're literally going from tour to tour to tour," Hussey said. "So that would be a pretty challenging sort of role where you'd have to be there, boots on the ground. You're probably only getting the IPL off, which is eight to 10 weeks, but then the rest of the year you're going to be pretty much on the go."Hussey also acknowledged the high regard in which Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain and current head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, is held in India. However, he believes that Fleming is unlikely to entertain the idea of coaching India due to his own preference for a balanced lifestyle."It just goes to show how highly regarded he is on the world stage but particularly in India," Hussey said. "But I don't think he'd entertain the idea, he loves the balance as well. He probably finds it a little bit amusing that his name keeps coming up, but pretty honoured that he's in the mix."India has a history of appointing overseas head coaches, including John Wright (New Zealand), Greg Chappell (Australia), Gary Kirsten (South Africa), and Duncan Fletcher (Zimbabwe). However, Chappell believes that the demanding nature of the role may deter many potential candidates."I'm not sure many want to do 10 months on the road, especially if they can do media work," Chappell said. "It's almost a no-win role."Kumar Sangakkara, the director of cricket for the Rajasthan Royals and former Sri Lanka captain, has also ruled himself out of contention for the India head coach job."I have not been approached, and I don't have time to commit full-time to an India coaching job," Sangakkara said. "Happy with my stint with Royals, and let's see how it goes."

Australia's triumph in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in June 2023 was a testament to their resilience and determination. Despite India's formidable batting lineup, led by the legendary Virat Kohli, Australia emerged victorious by 209 runs at The Oval.The road to victory was not without its challenges. India, seeking their first ICC trophy in a decade, had reduced Australia to 164/3 at stumps on Day 4, needing 280 runs with Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease.However, the Australian bowlers, led by Pat Cummins, staged a remarkable comeback on the final day. They dismissed Kohli for 63 and bundled out India for 234, denying them the coveted ICC trophy.Speaking on the third season of 'The Test,' a popular cricket documentary series on Amazon Prime Video, Australian cricketers expressed their admiration for Kohli's batting prowess."If you look at people chasing the total, Virat Kohli is up there with the best, if not the best," said Steve Smith."He's been a killer against Australia," added Justin Langer.Nathan Lyon praised Kohli's competitive spirit, saying, "He is super competitive and doesn't give you an inch. No one comes close to him."Despite the setback in the WTC final, India's batting lineup remains a force to be reckoned with. Travis Head, who won the Player of the Match award in the WTC final, believes that the seeds of Australia's success were sown during their hard-fought Test series in India in 2023."I think a lot of that has come from the Test tour last year, spending time here and working on things," said Head.With the ODI World Cup 2023 title also under their belt, Australia has established themselves as a dominant force in world cricket. Their victory in the WTC final is a testament to their unwavering spirit and the depth of their talent.

Pakistan and England faced off in a highly anticipated T20I match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bowl first. The match marked the return of Jofra Archer to the England team after a lengthy absence due to an elbow injury.Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, welcomed the return of Shadab Khan to the lineup after he was rested for the final two T20Is against Ireland. Haris Rauf also made his comeback after recovering from a shoulder dislocation.England, on the other hand, opted to leave out Sam Curran, the player of the tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup, in favor of Chris Jordan and Liam Livingstone.The match began with England's openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, putting on a solid partnership. However, Pakistan's bowlers struck back with regular wickets, including the dismissal of Buttler for 31.Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook steadied the innings for England, but they were unable to accelerate the scoring rate. Pakistan's bowlers maintained a tight line and length, restricting England to 161/8 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, Pakistan's openers, Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, got off to a cautious start. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman provided the impetus with aggressive batting.Rizwan scored a quickfire 37, while Zaman played a crucial knock of 56. Shadab Khan also contributed with a valuable 34, guiding Pakistan to a comfortable victory with 10 balls to spare.

England vs Pakistan 2nd T20I: A Crucial Rehearsal for the T20 World CupEngland and Pakistan will lock horns in the second T20I of their four-match series on Saturday in Birmingham. This highly anticipated encounter holds immense significance as it serves as a crucial rehearsal for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.The first T20I between these two cricketing giants was unfortunately washed out due to persistent rain, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the second match. England and Pakistan have been in contrasting form in recent times. Pakistan has emerged victorious in three of their last five T20Is, while England has managed to secure two wins and suffered three defeats.England will be keen to bounce back from their disappointing performance in the first T20I. They will be led by their experienced captain, Jos Buttler, who will be looking to set the tone for the series. The English batting lineup boasts a wealth of talent, including the likes of Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Stokes.Pakistan, on the other hand, will be aiming to continue their winning momentum. They will be led by the enigmatic Babar Azam, who is currently ranked as the world's number one T20I batsman. The Pakistani batting lineup also features the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Asif Ali.The bowling departments of both teams will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the match. England will rely on the experience of Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid, while Pakistan will look to their pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.This second T20I promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Both England and Pakistan will be eager to secure a victory to gain an early advantage in the series and boost their confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Multiple Grammy-winning rapper Drake has made a significant bet on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to emerge victorious in the IPL 2024 final against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Canadian musician, known for his frequent bets on sporting events, shared a picture of the receipt on Instagram, revealing a massive wager of USD 250,000 (approximately Rs 2.07 Crore). This marks Drake's first bet on a cricket match.Drake's betting history has been a mixed bag. He has lost substantial sums, including a USD 2 million bet on the UFC fight between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in 2022. However, he accurately predicted the outcome of Super Bowl 2024, with the Kansas City Chiefs triumphing over the San Francisco 49ers.KKR topped the league stages with 19 points and secured a spot in the final after defeating SRH in Qualifier 1. SRH, on the other hand, finished third in the points table but fought their way to the final through the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.After the match, KKR captain Pat Cummins expressed his delight at the team's performance. "The boys have been fantastic all season," he said. "We knew our strength was our batting and we wouldn't underestimate the experience we have in this squad."SRH captain Kane Williamson acknowledged the challenge of facing KKR in the final. "170 was a tough chase and had we got a couple of wickets we knew we had a chance," he said. "It is for the whole franchise, probably 60 or 70 of them who put their heart and soul into this and hopefully one more left."Drake's bet has garnered significant attention on social media, with users commenting on his betting record and the potential impact of his wager on the match. The outcome of the IPL 2024 final remains uncertain, but Drake's bet has undoubtedly added an extra layer of excitement to the highly anticipated clash.