Cricket

Justin Langer, the former head coach of the Australian cricket team, has expressed his thoughts on the demanding nature of the India head coach position. Langer, who recently coached the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes that the timing must be right for anyone considering the role.Langer acknowledged the immense pressure and workload associated with being the India head coach. He emphasized that the constant scrutiny and expectations can be overwhelming, especially given the volume of cricket played by the Indian team. Langer also noted that he had only recently stepped down from a similar role with Australia, and that he might not be mentally prepared to commit to the demanding schedule of the India head coach position.Despite his reservations, Langer praised the IPL as the best domestic competition in the world. He likened the pressure of the IPL to that of a World Cup, highlighting the intensity and competitiveness of the tournament. Langer also expressed his admiration for the Indian players, stating that they are constantly evolving and improving their game.Langer defended KL Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, despite criticism over his batting strike rate. He argued that Rahul's approach is different from other players, and that he has been successful in his own way. Langer believes that Rahul will continue to evolve and improve as a player.

MS Dhoni's IPL Farewell: A Disappointing End to a Legendary Career?The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has come to a close, and with it, the curtain may have fallen on the illustrious career of MS Dhoni in the tournament. The former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain's last match in the IPL was a heartbreaking loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator.Dhoni, who has been battling fitness issues throughout the season, was expected to go out with a bang. He had hit a six on the first ball of the final over, but RCB's Yash Dayal struck on the second delivery to dismiss him and seal the victory for his team.However, a video that has emerged on social media has raised questions about Dhoni's conduct after the match. The footage shows Dhoni skipping the handshake line with RCB players and returning to the dressing room.This incident has sparked criticism from some quarters, with former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeting, "Dhoni should learn how to handle loss with grace from Kohli. Handshake is one of the great things about our game."It is unclear if Dhoni later shook hands with RCB's playing XI, but his decision to leave the field without doing so has been met with disappointment by many fans.In another video, Virat Kohli is seen following Dhoni into the dressing room, presumably to shake hands with him. This gesture suggests that there was no animosity between the two players, but it does not excuse Dhoni's behavior.The Qualifier 2 and the final of this year's IPL are scheduled to be held at Chepauk, CSK's home ground. Fans had hoped to see Dhoni and his team lift the trophy in front of their home crowd, but the team's disappointing season has dashed those hopes.Dhoni's legacy in the IPL is undeniable. He led CSK to four titles and is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in the tournament's history. However, his exit from the IPL has been marred by controversy, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of many fans.

Chennai Super Kings' bowling consultant, Eric Simons, has heaped praise on the team's legendary captain, MS Dhoni, following their exit from the IPL 2023 playoffs. Despite CSK's title defense ending with a 27-run loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore, Simons highlighted Dhoni's enduring qualities and the impact he continues to have on the team.Having worked closely with Dhoni during his tenure as India's bowling consultant in 2010, Simons emphasized the simplicity and clarity with which Dhoni approaches the game. He believes that this is a trait that all cricketers should strive to emulate. Simons also lauded Dhoni's ability to instill self-belief in his teammates and his knack for guiding the team out of challenging situations."There are countless memories of MS Dhoni, the innings he plays that get you out of trouble," Simons said. "I was in the dugout and said it was incredible that we were in a situation with our backs against the wall and he was at the wicket. You just don't stop believing he can win for you. So I think that's one of the things he brings to the group: incredible self-belief."Regarding the speculation surrounding Dhoni's future, Simons believes it is premature and unnecessary. He emphasized that Dhoni is the only one who knows what his plans are and that he is still playing at a high level."I think anybody who wants to speculate about his future is crazy," Simons said. "MS knows what he's going to do. I know that this year I've seen him hit the ball from the pre-tournament camp. So he's playing extremely well and he'll make the decision. But he's a fantastic guy to be around."Simons also praised Dhoni's understanding of the game and his ability to convey it to his teammates in a simple and effective manner. He believes that this is one of Dhoni's greatest strengths as a leader."He has been fantastic to witness from the days I was with India and now with CSK," Simons said. "He's an incredible cricketer and an incredible individual in terms of his understanding of cricket and life. I think in many ways that what he passes on to guys is the incredible self-belief, never say die, and a simple understanding of the game of cricket. He can put it in simple words, and I think that's one of the best things about him."As for the upcoming Eliminator clash, RCB's opponent will be determined by the results of the matches between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, has been synonymous with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. However, a recent revelation by former India opener Virender Sehwag has shed light on an intriguing fact: Dhoni was not the initial choice to lead CSK.According to Sehwag, VB Chandrashekhar, who was responsible for assembling the CSK squad ahead of the inaugural IPL season, had approached him to join the franchise. Sehwag was offered the role of captain, but he ultimately decided to accept an offer from the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) to become their icon player."VB Chandrashekhar was selecting the players for CSK. He called me and said, 'We want you to play for CSK. Delhi Daredevils want you to be their icon. Don't accept the offer.' I was like, fine, we will see," Sehwag recalled."Finally, I received the offer from Delhi Daredevils to be their icon player and I accepted it. I didn't go into the auction. If I were a part of the auction, CSK would've bought me and made me the captain of the side. But then, they bought MS Dhoni and made him the captain," Sehwag added.Had Sehwag joined CSK, it is likely that he would have been the team's captain, given his stature and experience at the time. However, fate had other plans, and Dhoni went on to become one of the most successful captains in IPL history, leading CSK to five titles.Sehwag's revelation highlights the unpredictable nature of sports and the often-surprising decisions that shape the course of events. It also serves as a reminder of the immense respect and admiration that Dhoni has earned throughout his illustrious career.

The highly anticipated "El Clasico" of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is set to unfold on Saturday, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash in a winner-takes-all battle for the final playoff spot.With both teams tied on 14 points from 13 matches, the equation is simple: RCB must defeat CSK by 18 runs to surpass their higher run-rate. For CSK, even a loss will suffice if the margin is less than 18 runs. A win, however narrow, will secure their place in the playoffs.The match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where RCB have won their last five matches. However, the threat of rain looms large, and a washout would eliminate RCB and send CSK through.CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to field first, bringing in Mitchell Santner to replace Moeen Ali in the playing eleven. RCB captain Faf du Plessis said he would have bowled first as well, and his team remains unchanged.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the most successful teams in IPL history. RCB, led by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, have been in excellent form, winning their last five matches. CSK, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency but have shown signs of improvement in recent games.The key players to watch will be Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Dinesh Karthik for RCB, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni for CSK.With the stakes so high, both teams will be desperate to emerge victorious and secure their place in the playoffs. The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair, with the winner likely to be decided by the smallest of margins.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack by signing Sri Lankan quick Vishwa Fernando for the next three County Championship matches. The left-arm seamer, who has 64 Test wickets at an average of 33.09 in 23 caps, will be available for fixtures against Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, and Derbyshire.Fernando's acquisition comes at a crucial time for Yorkshire, who have struggled for wins in the early stages of the season. The club has gone five matches without a victory, including a defeat against Middlesex, and currently sits sixth out of eight in Division Two.The 32-year-old Fernando is expected to make his debut for Yorkshire next week against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. He will be the club's second overseas player in the Championship, alongside skipper Shan Masood. South African Donovan Ferreira has already been confirmed as Yorkshire's overseas player for the Vitality Blast.Fernando's signing is a significant boost for Yorkshire's bowling resources, which have been depleted by injuries to Matthew Fisher, Mickey Edwards, and Matt Milnes. The Sri Lankan seamer has a proven track record at international level, having played a key role in his country's recent 2-0 Test series win in Bangladesh.In the Bangladesh series, Fernando finished second in the wicket-taking charts with 10 dismissals at an average of 16.10. He is also expected to be in contention for Sri Lanka's tour of England later this summer, which begins on August 21 at Emirates Old Trafford.Yorkshire will be hoping that Fernando can help them kickstart their promotion push. The club has a strong squad on paper, but injuries and a lack of form have hindered their progress so far this season.Fernando's arrival will provide Yorkshire with an experienced and proven performer who can help them turn their fortunes around. The Sri Lankan seamer is a skilled bowler who can swing the ball both ways and generate good pace. He will be a valuable addition to Yorkshire's attack and could play a key role in their promotion hopes.

Virat Kohli, the star batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has expressed his disapproval of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He believes that it disrupts the balance of the game and favors batters over bowlers.Kohli's concerns stem from the expectation that bowlers will concede boundaries on every delivery, forcing batters to score at a high rate from the start. He argues that this undermines the traditional balance between bat and ball, which he believes is essential for an exciting and competitive match."I agree with Rohit [Sharma]; I say it how it is. If you see in this IPL, okay, entertainment is [on] one side, but the bowlers are feeling like what they should do [to restrict the batters]," Kohli said. "I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede a four or a six every ball."Kohli also pointed out that not all teams have exceptional bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah or Rashid Khan, which further exacerbates the imbalance. He believes that the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, gives an unfair advantage to teams with a strong batting lineup."One extra batter is the reason why I am playing with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know there is a batsman coming in at No. 8 as well," Kohli said.Kohli's sentiments have been echoed by other players and coaches, including Rohit Sharma, Ricky Ponting, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar. However, some, like R Ashwin and Ravi Shastri, have supported the rule, arguing that it encourages innovation and forces players to adapt to the changing game.Despite his concerns about the Impact Player rule, Kohli remains excited for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins just five days after the IPL final. He is eager to contribute to India's success and believes that the team has a strong chance of winning the tournament."I can say I am hungry as ever. If I don't have the hunger, you will not see me in the tournament," Kohli said. "If I don't have that mindset, I cannot play... Once the team atmosphere builds up, it's a beautiful journey."

Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants' disappointing IPL 2024 campaigns culminated on Friday with both teams failing to qualify for the playoffs. For Mumbai Indians, the removal of Rohit Sharma as captain cast a long shadow, while current skipper Hardik Pandya faced criticism from fans. Lucknow Super Giants, despite coming close to the playoffs, were marred by negative publicity surrounding an animated discussion between owner Sanjiv Goenka and skipper KL Rahul.In their final match, Lucknow Super Giants emerged victorious against Mumbai Indians. Post-match, Goenka engaged in a lengthy conversation with Rohit Sharma, sparking speculation about the latter's potential departure from Mumbai Indians.Rohit Sharma's performance in IPL 2024 fell short of expectations, but he remained focused on improving his game. Despite his struggles, he ended the tournament with a brilliant 38-ball 68. Overall, he amassed 417 runs in 14 innings, including a century and a fifty."As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard," Rohit admitted. "But I try to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game."Mumbai Indians endured a dismal season, finishing at the bottom of the points table. "Our season didn't go according to plan," Rohit said. "We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season."Rohit Sharma's next assignment will be to lead India in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match on June 1 before opening their campaign against Ireland on June 5.

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian batter, recently shared personal anecdotes and provided an update on his newborn son, Akaay, during an interview with Mr. Nags, played by Danish Sait.Kohli revealed that his daughter, Vamika, has developed a keen interest in cricket. "My daughter has picked up the cricket bat and she's enjoying swinging the bat. I'm not sure, their choice is final," he said.When asked about his baby boy, Kohli expressed his joy and gratitude. "Baby is good, healthy. Everything is fine, thank you!" he exclaimed.Kohli is currently playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been instrumental in the team's pursuit of a playoff spot.In the IPL season, Kohli leads the race for the orange cap with 661 runs in 13 innings. His impressive tally includes five fifties and a century.RCB currently stands sixth in the IPL table with 12 points from 13 matches. They face a crucial match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday.To secure a playoff berth, RCB must win and improve their net run rate (NRR) to surpass CSK's NRR.After the IPL, Kohli will represent India in the T20 World Cup, which begins in June in the USA and the West Indies. India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the USA.