Cricket

Tim Southee, the New Zealand Test captain and one of the most successful swing bowlers of all time, recently spoke about his experiences and insights on the game.Southee has enjoyed his role as captain, having worked closely with Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson. He believes that the leadership group plays a crucial role in team success.New Zealand is currently ranked third in the ICC World Test Championship table, and Southee is optimistic about their chances of reaching the final. He acknowledges the tough matches ahead, especially in the subcontinent.Southee's long-standing partnership with Trent Boult has been one of the most formidable new-ball alliances in cricket. He attributes their success to their close friendship, mutual understanding of each other's game, and complementary skills.Southee praises Boult's exceptional ability to swing the ball, particularly in the first over of an innings. He also highlights Boult's fitness and injury-free record.India has recently produced several promising pace bowlers, and Southee is not surprised. He believes that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has played a significant role in their development. He is particularly impressed with Mayank Yadav's pace and control.Southee has faced some of the greatest batters in the game, including A.B. de Villiers, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. He considers de Villiers to be the toughest batter he has bowled to across all formats.Among the bowlers he admires, Southee mentions Glenn McGrath, Jacques Kallis, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, and Kagiso Rabada.Southee has mixed feelings about the recent trend of "Bazball" in Test cricket, as exemplified by England. While he acknowledges its success, he believes that England's style may not be sustainable in all conditions. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to different pitches and situations.Southee expresses concerns about the future of Test cricket, given the increasing popularity of T20 cricket. However, he hopes that measures can be taken to preserve the longest format, which he considers the pinnacle of the game.New Zealand will tour India later this year, and Southee is eager to perform well. He recalls his best Test figures of seven for 64, which he achieved in Bengaluru in 2012.Southee is also excited about the emergence of Rachin Ravindra, a young New Zealand cricketer who has shown great promise. He believes that Ravindra has a bright future in the game.

Gloucestershire's bowlers made an impressive start to their Vitality County Championship Second Division clash with Yorkshire at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, reducing the visitors to 90 for five in the first session. However, Yorkshire skipper Shan Masood rescued his team with a magnificent 140, his 26th first-class century, to guide them to a respectable total of 326 all out.Masood's innings was a masterclass in resilience and composure. He weathered the early storm and gradually built his innings, reaching his century off 140 balls with 15 boundaries. His partnership with Jonny Tattersall (56) for the sixth wicket was crucial in Yorkshire's recovery, adding 100 runs to the total.Matt Milnes also contributed a valuable 51, while Zaman Akhter claimed a career-best five for 85 for Gloucestershire. By the close of play, Gloucestershire had slipped to 28 for two in reply, with Chris Dent and Ollie Price dismissed cheaply.Masood's century was a timely reminder of his class and experience. The Pakistan Test captain has been in excellent form for Yorkshire this season, and his innings on the opening day of this match was a testament to his ability to lead from the front.Yorkshire will be hoping that Masood can continue his good form in the second innings and help them to build a substantial lead. Gloucestershire, on the other hand, will need to find a way to dismiss Masood early and put pressure on the Yorkshire batting lineup.

MS Dhoni's enduring popularity among cricket fans was once again evident in the recently concluded IPL 2024, where the former Chennai Super Kings skipper's presence generated the loudest crowd cheers.Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the IPL, introduced a new feature to measure the excitement level of players and match moments by quantifying the decibel level of crowd cheers. Dhoni's arrival for the toss against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk in the season opener topped the chart with a decibel level of 130.Another moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy was when Dhoni smashed a boundary in the 17th over against Delhi Capitals during his unbeaten 16-ball 37 cameo. This marked Dhoni's first innings with the bat since the IPL 2023 final against Gujarat Titans. The decibel level for this moment reached 128.Despite Dhoni's heroics, CSK ultimately lost both matches. However, his performances and the overwhelming crowd support demonstrated his enduring popularity.Ranked third on the list was Dinesh Karthik's pre-planned scoop shot off Arshdeep Khan during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's chase against Punjab Kings.Dhoni's decision to hand over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the season surprised many. However, his presence on the field continues to captivate fans and generate the loudest cheers.

Harbhajan Singh Raises Concerns over Mohammed Siraj's Performance, Calls for RestFormer Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed concerns regarding the performance of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's fast-bowler, Mohammed Siraj, in the ongoing IPL 2024. Harbhajan believes that Siraj may benefit from both mental and physical rest following a string of disappointing performances, particularly highlighted by a difficult outing against the Mumbai Indians.Siraj has managed to secure only four wickets in six matches this season, significantly below his previous standards. His average and economy rate have also suffered, standing at 57.25 and 10.40 respectively. This is a stark contrast to his impressive showing in the IPL 2023, where he secured 10 wickets with an economy rate of 5.9 in the Powerplay overs.Harbhajan believes that Siraj's recent struggles may be due to a combination of mental and physical fatigue. He has played a significant number of matches in recent months, including four Tests against England and various other series for Team India."He should be given rest for a couple of reasons," said Harbhajan. "He should think about what has been happening in the team. He is the same Siraj that we have seen taking wickets with the new ball whether it's in Test cricket, one-day cricket or even this format in T20.""He has been a champion bowler for Team India, and even for RCB, he has done well. But I feel he's not doing what he is required to do, he requires rest, not only mentally but physically as well because he has been playing a lot of cricket."Harbhajan's comments come after RCB's disappointing performance against the Mumbai Indians, where they conceded 72 runs without taking any wickets during the Power-play overs. All RCB bowlers struggled to contain the opposition, with each of them returning with an economy rate above 10.Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Brian Lara has also weighed in on RCB's performance, suggesting that their batters need to step up and make 20-30% more runs than usual."They've got to understand that with the bowling attack that they've got, they have to try and hit 20 or 30% more runs because it's just not enough," said Lara. "So they need to break their innings together and say we need to get so much in the Power-play, middle overs and the death, but nobody is getting into batting form, nobody is getting into bowling form as well, and it's a team that is just not in the top 6 or 7 in this tournament."RCB will need to address these concerns if they want to improve their performance in the remaining matches of the IPL 2024.

Ed Sheeran Serenades Rohit Sharma's Daughter, Discusses Retirement PlansRenowned singer Ed Sheeran recently graced the popular Indian show 'Breakfast with Champions' alongside Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and host Gaurav Kapoor. The trio engaged in a lively conversation that covered everything from cricket banter to insights into the music industry.One of the highlights of the episode came when Sheeran sang his hit song 'Bad Habits' for Rohit and his wife Ritika's daughter, Samaira. Rohit couldn't help but smile and applaud happily after the performance. Sheeran then turned to Samaira and asked if she enjoyed the song, to which she bashfully responded.Beyond the musical interlude, Sheeran also broached the topic of Rohit's future plans. He inquired about the Indian captain's thoughts on retirement and the possibility of owning a team to foster talent.Rohit admitted that he hadn't given much thought to retirement but shared his timeline for continuing his cricket career competitively. "I am still playing well at this point in time, so I am thinking I am going to continue for a few more years. And then, I don't know," Rohit said.The conversation also touched upon Rohit's passion for music. The Indian captain revealed that he enjoys listening to a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, and classical. He also expressed his admiration for Sheeran's songwriting abilities.Sheeran, in turn, praised Rohit's achievements on the cricket field. He acknowledged the Indian captain's leadership skills and his ability to inspire his team.The episode concluded with Sheeran and Rohit exchanging gifts. Sheeran presented Rohit with a signed guitar, while Rohit gifted Sheeran a personalized Indian cricket jersey.

Cricketer Siblings' Stepbrother Arrested for Alleged Rs 4 Crore FraudMumbai police have arrested Vaibhav Pandya, the stepbrother of Indian cricketers Hardik and Krunal Pandya, for allegedly cheating them of Rs 4 crore in a business venture. Vaibhav was arrested on Monday by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on charges of criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and other relevant sections.According to the police, Vaibhav, Hardik, and Krunal established a polymer business in partnership in Mumbai in 2021. Hardik and Krunal invested 40% of the capital each, while Vaibhav invested 20%. The profit-loss ratio was fixed at 2:2:1.However, police allege that Vaibhav violated the partnership agreement by setting up another firm involved in the same business without informing his stepbrothers. This resulted in a decline in the profits of the original firm, causing a loss of Rs 3 crore to Hardik and Krunal. Vaibhav's own profits, on the other hand, increased by 20-33%.The accused is also alleged to have diverted around Rs 1 crore from the firm to his own account, resulting in a total loss of Rs 4 crore to the cricketer siblings.During his remand hearing on Friday, Vaibhav's lawyer claimed that the matter was a family dispute and a misunderstanding. He added that efforts were underway to resolve the issue. The police, however, sought further remand for seven days, arguing that the investigation was incomplete and material information had not been recovered from the accused.The magistrate granted the police's request, noting that the probe agency had shown progress in the investigation and needed more time to interrogate the accused regarding the financial aspects of the case.

Virat Kohli's Sportsmanship: A Lesson in Grace and SupportIn a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli stepped in to support Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, who faced a backlash from fans during a recent match. As Pandya walked out to bat amidst boos from the crowd, Kohli encouraged fans to cheer for him instead.This gesture was lauded by cricket legends Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh, who praised Kohli's true sportsmanship and leadership qualities. "The way Virat Kohli supported Hardik Pandya and told the crowd not to boo Hardik & cheer for him, it is a sign of a great player & a very very good sportsman," said Harbhajan.Sehwag echoed this sentiment, stating, "Virat Kohli's gesture was very nice for Hardik Pandya. He asked the Wankhede crowd to cheer for Hardik and not to boo him. That was a wonderful gesture from Virat."Pandya has faced criticism from fans in the past, but his teammates, opponents, and commentators have consistently defended him, urging the crowd to show him respect. During the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a section of the crowd began chanting 'Hardik... Hardik' as he walked out to bat, with Kohli promptly encouraging fans to support the Indian all-rounder.Kohli's gesture not only showed his support for Pandya but also highlighted the importance of sportsmanship in the game of cricket. It reminded fans that even in the heat of competition, respect and camaraderie should prevail.

LSG vs DC: Lucknow Super Giants Aim to Extend Dominance Against Delhi CapitalsThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) promises to be an intriguing encounter, with LSG holding a significant advantage heading into the match.LSG, currently third in the points table, boasts a well-rounded squad that has performed consistently throughout the tournament. Despite the potential absence of rookie pacer Mayank Yadav due to an abdominal niggle, the team has ample depth in its bowling department.In Yadav's stead, Yash Thakur, who impressed with a five-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans, is expected to lead the attack alongside Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, and Ravi Bishnoi.DC, on the other hand, will need to rely on their bowling unit to contain LSG's formidable batting lineup. The Capitals' bowlers have struggled for consistency this season, but they will be eager to prove their worth against a top-quality opposition.LSG's batting has been a major strength, with KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Deepak Hooda forming a formidable top order. The middle order, featuring Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni, has also contributed significantly.DC's batting has been more inconsistent, but they possess match-winners in David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, and Rishabh Pant. However, the team's middle order has been a concern, and they will need their lower-order batsmen to step up.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. LSG will be the favorites, but DC will be determined to upset the odds and secure a crucial victory.

A disappointing Rajasthan Royals will face a highly inconsistent yet capable Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match on April 13. The Royals had an excellent chance to register their fifth win on the trot and consolidate their totem pole position, but Rashid Khan's daring assault helped Gujarat Titans snatch a last-ball victory on Wednesday.The Royals lost to the Titans because of the below-par effort from Kuldip Sen (19th over) and Avesh Khan (20th over) at a vital passage, when they conceded 35 runs across 12 balls. Here, the Royals made a slight tactical error by not letting Trent Boult complete his quota in that match as the veteran left-arm pacer ended the match at 2-0-8-0.The Shikhar Dhawan-captained Punjab side has blown hot and cold so far in the tournament, winning two and losing three out of five matches. The primary reason for their middling run this year is the patchy form of their fancied batsmen as Punjab relied on cameos by uncapped Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma to boost their batting.Opener Jonny Bairstow (5 matches, 81 runs) and middle-order batter Jitesh Sharma (5 matches, 77 runs) are the most underwhelming of the lot, and it has robbed them of momentum upfront and in the business end of their innings. Sam Curran has been above average with the ball, taking six wickets from five matches but the England all-rounder's needle has fallen behind from the halfway mark with the bat, despite scoring a 63.The absence of injured Liam Livingstone from the middle-order too has reduced their firepower, and Kings will hope to have the Englishman back in their ranks at the earliest. On the contrary, the Punjab bowlers have done marginally better, but their propensity to concede big runs while bowling first will be a concern. A group consisting of bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh has given away 199, 199 and 182 runs in their last three matches and they will have to break the pattern against the Royals.It's easier said than done as the Royals' batting unit has been in good shape as 185 is the lowest total it posted while batting first. Outside the match calculations, the Royals will have another bigger worry to nullify. Over the last few editions of the IPL, the Royals had begun strongly, just as they did this year, before tapering off after the mid-season. As a result, they have managed to qualify for the play-offs only twice across the last six seasons. Royals would dearly hope that the defeat against GT was not the beginning of another meltdown.