Cricket

Dinesh Karthik's Late Heroics Guide RCB to Thrilling Victory Over Punjab KingsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pulled off a remarkable four-wicket victory against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, thanks to a scintillating knock from Dinesh Karthik.Chasing a challenging target of 177, RCB found themselves in a precarious position when Karthik came to the crease. However, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter displayed his trademark power-hitting prowess, smashing an unbeaten 28 off just 10 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.Karthik's blistering innings, coupled with Virat Kohli's solid 77 (49 balls), propelled RCB to victory with four balls to spare. The win was a crucial one for RCB, who had lost their previous two matches.Speaking after the match, Karthik admitted to feeling some rustiness but expressed satisfaction with his performance. He praised the contributions of his teammates, particularly Mahipal Lomror, who played a crucial role in the chase."Little bit (dusting off the rustiness). I wasn't completely in control, but getting there. We needed that (knock from Lomror), Anuj batted well last time, but when Mahipal walked out.. he took the pressure off me," Karthik said.Karthik also lauded the bowling of Harshal Patel, who picked up three wickets for RCB. He acknowledged Patel's skill and the challenges he poses to batsmen."He (Harshal) is a wily customer, he has the dipping slower one and if you missed that you are a goner, I had to wait to play the scoop. I didn't say anything, he (Lomror) was calm and when he hit that six, I just told him to keep a still head. If I start bowling then you can know what the situation would be for RCB," Karthik added.RCB's victory was a testament to their resilience and the impact of their experienced players. Karthik's late heroics and Kohli's consistent performances have been instrumental in RCB's resurgence this season.

Bangladesh's Khaled Ahmed's botched attempt to run out Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis at the non-striker's end has become a viral sensation on social media. The incident occurred on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test between the two teams in Sylhet on Sunday.In the 63rd over of Sri Lanka's innings, Ahmed attempted to catch Mendis off guard by attempting a run out at the non-striker's end. However, his throw missed the stumps by a whisker, leaving Mendis unscathed.The video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with many fans expressing amusement and disbelief at Ahmed's failed attempt.On Day 3, Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva became the third pair in Test history to score a century in both innings, as Sri Lanka set up a daunting 511-run target for Bangladesh.The visitors were all out for 418 in their second innings at Sylhet, with Mendis making 164 runs to go with his 102 in the first innings and De Silva, who also scored 102 runs in the first innings, adding 108.The Chappell brothers, Greg and Ian, of Australia achieved the feat against New Zealand in March 1974, before Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali emulated it against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.The pair, who shared 202 runs in Sri Lanka's first innings total of 280 runs, put on 173 runs together this time -- on their way to becoming the third and fourth Sri Lankans to score centuries in both innings against Bangladesh.Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke their partnership, before finishing with 4-74 for Bangladesh.Resuming on 119-5, the visitors lost nightwatchman Vishwa Fernando (four) early to Khaled Ahmed, before de Silva and Mendis took control.De Silva brought his century into the game with a single off Mehidy, before he gave Bangladesh their first chance as Nahid Rana dropped him off Shoriful Islam on 101.Mehidy ensured the drop did not hurt the team more, soon ending de Silva's innings, with Zakir Hasan taking the catch at short midwicket.Mendis put away a full toss of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to bring his own hundred off 171 balls just before the tea, when Prabath Jayasuriya was batting with him for 13.Mehidy removed Prabath Jayasuriya, who made 25, and Lahiru Kumara off successive deliveries to give Bangladesh some relief.Mehidy could have grabbed his fifth wicket if Liton Das did not drop Mendis on 133.Mendis protected last man Kasun Rajitha to add 52 runs in the final wicket pair, piling misery on Bangladesh.Mendis hit Taijul Islam for three sixes in an over to reach his 150 and help the lead exceed 500 runs. Taijul dismissed Mendis finally to wrap-up Sri Lanka's innings.Sri Lanka have never lost a Test series to Bangladesh.The second and final match of the series will be played in Chittagong from March 30.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), under the stewardship of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has witnessed remarkable growth and success, according to former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. Modi lauded the BCCI's efforts in expanding the league's reach to new cities and markets, effectively opening up the tournament to the entire country."The IPL has become the world's best sports league, with a valuation second to none," Modi said. "The BCCI has done a fantastic job in taking the games to newer cities and markets, bringing the IPL to the entire country."Modi emphasized the importance of innovation, particularly from team owners, in areas such as merchandising and ticketing. He suggested the creation of a centralized IPL store and collective efforts by team owners to enhance the fan experience."For the BCCI, they should consider a secondary league in tier two or tier three cities," Modi added. "This would cater to the growing appetite for cricket in these areas and could potentially promote the winner to the IPL for the next season."Modi attributed the IPL's success to its ability to nurture Indian players and inspire them to achieve their aspirations. He highlighted the performances of Anuj Rawat and Harshit Rana, who made significant contributions to their respective teams despite the presence of international stars."The tournament is no longer reliant on foreign stars," Modi said. "It is the Indian core that drives it. The success of the South African League (SA20) and the Caribbean League (CPL) is also due to the involvement of local stars."Regarding the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies/US and cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Modi expressed skepticism. He believes that the T20 World Cup in New York will be driven by expats and that cricket's inclusion in the Olympics would have been more impactful if it had occurred in countries with a strong cricket culture.

Faf du Plessis: The Unexpected Leg-Spin WizardAhead of their first home match of the IPL season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players were stumped by a trivia question: who was the first current RCB player to take two consecutive 5-wicket hauls in T20s?To everyone's surprise, the answer was none other than their captain, Faf du Plessis. Back in 2011 and 2012, du Plessis achieved this feat in the South African domestic circuit with his leg-spin skills.His second five-wicket haul was particularly impressive, as it included wickets of Quinton de Kock, Neil McKenzie, Dwaine Pretorius, Chris Morris, and Thami Tsolekile, all of whom represented South Africa.Du Plessis' bowling prowess extends beyond T20s. He has also picked up 2 ODI wickets and has a respectable bowling record across first-class, List A, and T20 cricket. In T20s, he has claimed 50 wickets at an average of 18.34 and an economy rate of 6.96.Despite his bowling abilities, du Plessis has opted to focus on his batting in recent years. However, his teammates were quick to express their surprise and admiration for his leg-spin skills."Who bowls leg-spin? Faf? What!" exclaimed Virat Kohli. "Faf, I never expected you to do that!" added Dinesh Karthik.As RCB prepares to take on Punjab in their first home game of the season, it remains to be seen whether du Plessis will showcase his bowling talents once again.

Holi, the vibrant festival of colors, love, and friendship, painted the Indian Premier League (IPL) in its hues as cricket stars celebrated the occasion amidst their rigorous schedule. Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma, kicked off the festivities before their upcoming match against SunRisers Hyderabad.The festival brought together cricketers from diverse backgrounds, transcending nationalities and communities. Mumbai Indians' players, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Ritika Sajdeh, immersed themselves in the revelry.Delhi Capitals' star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, back on the field after a life-threatening accident, enjoyed the festival with his teammates. Australian opener David Warner and head coach Ricky Ponting also joined in the celebrations.Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Shreyas Iyer found himself drenched in water and color within seconds of meeting his teammates. Mentor Gautam Gambhir and players Suyash Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Chetan Sakariya were among those who participated in the festivities.Rajasthan Royals' spinner Yuzvendra Chahal celebrated with teammates Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Steve Smith and Stuart Broad, former rivals in the Ashes series, shared the joy of Holi as part of the IPL's broadcasting team.The festival of colors not only brought joy to the cricketers but also symbolized the inclusivity and unity that the IPL represents. As the tournament progresses, the spirit of Holi will continue to inspire the players and fans alike, creating a vibrant and unforgettable spectacle.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the remaining schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, with the tournament set to culminate in a grand finale in Chennai on May 26.All 74 matches of the tournament will be played in India, with the crucial stages taking place in Ahmedabad and Chennai. The Lok Sabha elections, scheduled from April 19 to June 1, have influenced the scheduling to avoid any clashes.The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host Qualifier 1 on May 21 and the Eliminator on May 22. The iconic Chepauk in Chennai will then stage Qualifier 2 on May 24 and the much-anticipated final on May 26.The IPL governing council has maintained the tradition of holding the opening game and final at the home venue of the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings. Earlier, the BCCI had announced the schedule for only the first 21 matches of the 17th edition of the IPL, which commenced on March 22.The IPL 2024 promises to be an exciting spectacle, with all the top players from around the world set to participate. The tournament has become a global phenomenon, attracting a massive fan base and generating significant revenue for the BCCI.

Confusion over T20I Status at Africa GamesThe recent Africa Games witnessed a mix-up in communication, resulting in some matches being granted T20I status while others were not. The International Cricket Council (ICC) clarified that fixtures involving South Africa's men's and women's teams, as well as Zimbabwe's men's team, were not considered T20Is. However, games between the other six men's teams and seven women's teams were recognized as T20Is.The confusion arose after Cricket South Africa (CSA) inquired about the official status of the matches. According to the ICC's "Classification of Official Cricket" document, all T20 matches played under ICC regulations are considered internationals, except for those involving A teams or age-group sides.South Africa sent an emerging women's team and a university men's team to the Africa Games due to player commitments elsewhere. Zimbabwe selected an under-25 men's side but fielded a first-choice women's squad. The other participating countries, all Associate nations, sent their strongest available sides and believed they were playing internationals.The miscommunication raised concerns for South Africa and Zimbabwe, who are Full Members of the ICC. They questioned whether the results would affect their T20I rankings. CSA also expressed concerns about the impact on 16-year-old wicketkeeper Karabo Meso, who played at the Africa Games and was subsequently named in the senior squad to face Sri Lanka.Additionally, there were concerns about the infrastructure in Accra, particularly the suitability of the cricket venues. CSA intervened, and a ground consultant from Zimbabwe assisted in preparing the pitch and outfield.The Africa Games organizers were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of writing.

Chennai, the home of the defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings, is set to host its first IPL final in 12 years. The iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as the Chepauk, will be the venue for the title match on May 26, 2024.The Chepauk has previously hosted two IPL finals, in 2011 and 2012. Chennai will also host the second qualifier on May 24, while the first qualifier on May 21 and the eliminator on May 22 will be played in Ahmedabad.The IPL playoffs will follow the usual format of evening games. The league phase of the tournament will begin on March 22 and conclude on May 19. The second part of the schedule, comprising 52 matches including the playoffs, will commence on April 8.The ten IPL teams have been divided into two groups of five each. Each team will play the other four teams in their group twice and four teams in the other group once. The remaining team from the other group will be picked via a draw and played twice.Chennai Super Kings are grouped with Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings. The second group includes Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants.The 2024 IPL league phase will feature 11 double-header days, including two on the opening weekend. Apart from the main home grounds of the ten teams, the tournament will also visit Visakhapatnam, Dharamsala, and Guwahati, which will host two games each as the respective second home grounds of Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season is underway, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face off against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a highly anticipated match. Both teams are coming off contrasting results in their opening matches, with RCB suffering a defeat to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and PBKS securing a thrilling victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC).RCB, led by Dinesh Karthik, will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing start. Despite a challenging start, RCB's middle-order batsmen, Anuj Rawat and Karthik, rescued the team from a precarious position of 78 for 5 to 173 for 6. However, their bowling fell short as they struggled with length, allowing the CSK batters to capitalize and secure a 6-wicket victory.On the other hand, PBKS, led by Mayank Agarwal, began their IPL 2024 campaign with a resounding 4-wicket victory against DC. Arshdeep Singh and Harpreet Brar impressed with the ball, restricting DC to a total of 174 runs. With the bat, Sam Curran's remarkable innings of 63 runs off 47 balls, supported by Liam Livingstone, guided PBKS to victory.Looking at the head-to-head record, PBKS have faced off against RCB in 31 matches, securing victory in 17 of them. However, RCB emerged victorious in their last encounter in 2023. PBKS will be confident in their ability to reverse the outcome this year and come out on top.The match between RCB and PBKS promises to be an exciting contest. RCB will be looking to return to winning ways, while PBKS will aim to maintain their winning streak. Both teams have a wealth of talent and experience, and the outcome of the match could have a significant impact on their respective campaigns in IPL 2024.