Cricket

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face off against Delhi Capitals (DC) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Friday, with LSG holding a significant advantage.LSG, currently third in the points table, boasts a formidable bowling attack. Despite the potential absence of Mayank Yadav due to an abdominal niggle, they have a strong lineup including Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, and Ravi Bishnoi. Their opening pair of Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul has been consistent, while Nicholas Pooran has been in exceptional form. However, Devdutt Padikkal remains a concern, having yet to reach double digits.DC, on the other hand, has struggled to find a Plan B, as evidenced by their recent losses to Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians. Their Indian pace attack lacks firepower, with Khaleel Ahmed and Ishant Sharma failing to deliver consistently. Mukesh Kumar is expected to return from injury, but his performance has been underwhelming. Medium pacers Sumit Kumar and Rasikh Dar could face challenges against LSG's strong batting lineup.Pace spearhead Anrich Nortje has also been inconsistent, leaking runs at a high economy rate. DC's batting has been heavily reliant on skipper Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs, with a lack of depth in Indian talent on the bench. Prithvi Shaw has shown some improvement, but uncapped Indian players have failed to make a significant impact.

Delhi Capitals' bowling coach James Hopes has expressed confidence in the team's pace spearhead Anrich Nortje, despite his recent struggles in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Nortje, who made his comeback to competitive cricket after six months, was taken to the cleaners by Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag at the death, conceding 48 runs in his four overs.Hopes acknowledged the challenges Nortje faced, having been out of action since September and playing only three domestic T20 games before the IPL. However, he emphasized Nortje's status as one of the premier death bowlers in the game and expressed trust in his ability to improve."It's the first time that Nortje has been at this level in a while. He had a fair time out of the game, but if you look at all the numbers, he is one of the premier death bowlers in the game. We trust that he is going to keep getting better," Hopes said.Hopes also identified areas for improvement in the team's batting, which fell apart in the back-10 after a positive start. He highlighted the need to tidy up the middle-over batting, with the return of Rishabh Pant expected to provide a significant boost."We need to tidy up our middle over batting too. We tend to get stuck a little bit in phases there. We know the fix for that is Rishabh Pant," Hopes said. "He has played two games after a long lay-off and I think you're going to see some pretty special things from him in the next few weeks."Delhi Capitals will face Chennai Super Kings in their next game on Sunday, hoping to address the issues identified by Hopes and secure their first win of the IPL season.

Delhi Capitals Skipper Rishabh Pant Fumes After Second Consecutive IPL LossDelhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant's frustration was palpable after his team's second consecutive loss in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. The Capitals fell short by 12 runs against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a thrilling last-over finish on Thursday, further dampening Pant's return to competitive cricket since his horrific car accident in December 2022.Chasing a challenging 186 to win, Pant struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 28 runs off 26 balls. The pressure mounted on the DC skipper, who attempted to break the shackles with a cut shot against leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. However, the ball edged into the gloves of wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, giving RR a crucial breakthrough.Pant's dismissal handed RR control of the proceedings, and the DC skipper's frustration boiled over. As he made his way to the dressing room, Pant smashed his bat in anger, reflecting his disappointment with the team's performance.The loss against RR was particularly disappointing for DC, as it came on the heels of their defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in their season opener. The Capitals' batting has been a major concern, with Pant and his teammates failing to fire consistently.DC will now host defending champions Chennai Super Kings on March 31, hoping to turn their fortunes around. However, they will need to address their batting woes and find a way to support Pant, who is still regaining his form after his injury.

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has expressed his bewilderment over the exclusion of Prithvi Shaw from the Delhi Capitals' (DC) playing XI in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Moody believes that Shaw's international experience and talent warrant his inclusion in the team, despite his recent struggles in the IPL."It doesn't make sense to have an Indian international player like Prithvi Shaw sitting in the dugout," Moody told ESPNcricinfo. "Yes, he hasn't performed in the IPL as we had hoped, but you can't score runs from the dugout."Shaw, who has represented India in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, has been overlooked for DC's first two matches in IPL 2024. Ricky Bhui has been given the nod instead, but has failed to impress with scores of 3 and 0 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), respectively.Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer also questioned Shaw's continued omission from the playing XI. "Now that they have held onto him and not let him go into the auction, I'm surprised they're not playing him," Jaffer said. "He's played for Mumbai for most of the season, so you'd imagine that he's fit. I'm surprised. Punishing him and then losing the games is not the way to go forward."Shaw's exclusion has raised concerns about the gap between domestic cricket and the intensity of international cricket and the IPL. Moody highlighted this disparity after Ricky Bhui's dismissal for a duck against RR. "That's exactly what you'd like to see a genuine quick bowler do," Moody said. "And to do it to a top-order player is even more alarming. What it does also is highlight the jump between Ranji Trophy runs to international cricket and IPL."The Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals will be eager to secure their first win in IPL 2024 when they face reigning champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday. Shaw's inclusion in the playing XI could provide the team with the spark they need to turn their fortunes around.

Riyan Parag's heroics propelled Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling 12-run victory over Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Despite battling illness for the past three days, Parag's remarkable innings of 84 not out off 45 balls spearheaded Rajasthan Royals to a formidable total of 185 for 5.The 22-year-old from Assam showcased maturity beyond his years, anchoring the Rajasthan Royals innings after they found themselves at 36 for 3 in the eighth over. Parag's exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match award, marking a significant breakthrough in his cricketing journey.Reflecting on his journey and the support of his family, Parag expressed gratitude, stating, "(Emotions) They are settled, mom is here, she has seen the struggle, the last 3-4 years."Despite facing scrutiny in previous seasons, Parag's perseverance and dedication finally paid off, with his elevated role at No. 4 proving instrumental in Rajasthan Royals' success. His stellar domestic form preceding the IPL season further bolstered his confidence and performance on the field.Rajasthan Royals' captain, Sanju Samson, commended Parag's talent, remarking, "Riyan Parag has been a big name in the last few years. Wherever I go, people ask me about him. There is something very special he can give to Indian cricket."The match witnessed a remarkable turnaround for Rajasthan Royals, who found themselves at 36 for 3 in the eighth over. However, Parag's composed innings and strategic partnerships propelled the team to a competitive total.Also Read: How to watch IPL 2024 live in USA, Canada and MENA regionFurthermore, RR's decision to include Nandre Burger as an impact player proved astute, with the South African pacer making crucial breakthroughs. Samson highlighted the importance of utilizing all 15 players effectively in the evolving dynamics of the IPL.In the final over, Avesh Khan's impeccable execution under pressure sealed the victory for Rajasthan Royals. Reflecting on his strategy, Avesh emphasized the importance of clear planning and execution, saying, "I try to improve myself everytime. In T20s I try to reinvent myself. I never think about selection and only practice what I want to bowl."(Inputs from PTI)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) witnessed a controversial interruption due to a misunderstanding regarding the tournament's rules on foreign player substitutions.The incident occurred when RR decided to field Rovman Powell as a substitute fielder after starting the match with three overseas players: Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Trent Boult. They had earlier brought in Nandre Burger as their impact player in place of Hetmyer.However, the DC camp raised concerns, pointing out that RR would be fielding five overseas players if Powell entered the field. This prompted a discussion between DC head coach Ricky Ponting, director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, and the fourth umpire.According to IPL rules, a team cannot have more than four overseas players on the field at any time. If a team fields four overseas players in its starting XI, an overseas player can only substitute another overseas player. If a team fields less than four overseas players in its starting XI, overseas players can enter the field as substitutes only if the total number of overseas players on the field does not exceed four.In this case, RR had already fielded three overseas players in their starting XI. By bringing in Powell as a substitute fielder, they would have exceeded the permissible limit of four overseas players on the field.The confusion stemmed from the fact that RR had initially named only three overseas players in their starting XI. However, they later decided to bring in Burger as an impact player, which effectively increased the number of overseas players in their starting XI to four.The issue was eventually resolved, and RR was allowed to field Powell as a substitute fielder. However, the incident highlighted the importance of clear understanding and adherence to tournament rules.Despite the controversy, RR went on to defeat DC by 12 runs. Riyan Parag smashed an unbeaten 84 off 45 balls, while Nandre Burger and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets each.

Riyan Parag's scintillating 84 not out off 45 balls propelled Rajasthan Royals to a competitive 185 for 5 against Delhi Capitals in their Indian Premier League encounter on Thursday. Parag, who had impressed with a 43 in the Royals' previous match, unleashed a whirlwind assault on veteran South African pacer Anrich Nortje in the final over, plundering 25 runs with a barrage of boundaries and sixes.The 21-year-old's knock, studded with seven fours and six maximums, was the cornerstone of the Royals' innings after they were invited to bat first. He forged crucial partnerships with Ravichandran Ashwin (29) and Dhruv Jurel (20) to steady the ship after a shaky start.Royals captain Sanju Samson threatened to explode with another destructive innings following his unbeaten 82 against Lucknow Super Giants, but his stay was cut short by Khaleel Ahmed. The wicketkeeper-batter nicked a delivery to Rishabh Pant, leaving RR at 30 for 2.Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav then forced Pant to review a leg before wicket decision, which proved successful, dismissing Jos Buttler. Ashwin came to the crease and provided some impetus with two sixes off Kuldeep, but he was eventually caught by Tristan Stubbs for 29.Parag took center stage, showcasing his power-hitting prowess. He smashed two boundaries and a six off Ahmed to take RR past 100 in the 15th over. The youngster reached his maiden IPL fifty in style with a boundary off Mukesh Kumar in the next over.Parag continued to torment the Delhi bowlers, sending a Kuldeep delivery over the midwicket boundary. After Jurel's dismissal, Parag went on a rampage, entertaining the home crowd with a flurry of boundaries.Nortje, who had been economical until then, was taken for 25 runs in the final over as Parag sealed his highest T20 score. The Royals' total of 185 for 5 proved to be a challenging target for the Delhi Capitals.

Delhi Capitals' Strategic Opening Gambit: Ganguly Explains Warner-Marsh ComboIn a bid to bolster their batting depth, Delhi Capitals (DC) opted for an all-Australian opening combination of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in their IPL 2024 opener against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The move raised questions about the role of Prithvi Shaw, who was retained by the franchise but did not feature in the starting lineup.DC's Director of Cricket, Sourav Ganguly, shed light on the team's decision-making process. He clarified that Shaw remains an opener but the team wanted to explore different combinations to maximize their batting potential."Prithvi Shaw is an opener. We decided to open with Marsh and Warner, and Ricky Bhui is a middle-order batter. So, they bat at different positions. So it's actually not Bhui for sure. It's a different opening combination, they opened for Australia and they have done well together. So, we decided to do that," Ganguly explained.The Warner-Marsh partnership provided a solid start against PBKS, helping DC set a competitive total of 174. However, the team struggled to maintain momentum in the latter stages of the innings.Ganguly also addressed concerns about Shaw's limited involvement in pre-season preparations. He attributed his absence to injury setbacks and prior commitments to Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign. Despite Shaw's delayed participation in training camps, Ganguly emphasized the importance of prioritizing players' fitness and honoring prior commitments."Prithvi Shaw is a young player who has faced some challenges, including injuries and commitments to domestic cricket. But we have faith in his potential and that's why we retained him," Ganguly said.Delhi Capitals will look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming encounter against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday. The team's strategic decisions and the performance of their opening combination will be closely watched as they aim to improve their fortunes in the tournament.

Rishabh Pant, the dynamic skipper of Delhi Capitals, is on the cusp of creating history in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As the Capitals take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday, Pant is poised to become the first cricketer in the world to play 100 IPL matches for a single franchise.Pant, 26, returns to the IPL arena after missing last year's edition due to injuries sustained in a road accident. With 99 appearances under his belt, he stands shoulder to shoulder with Amit Mishra as the most-capped players for Delhi. However, this match will see Pant surpass Mishra's record and complete a century of IPL appearances for the franchise.Since assuming the captaincy in 2021 following Shreyas Iyer's injury, Pant has been a stalwart for Delhi. In 98 innings, he has amassed 2856 runs, emerging as the franchise's leading run-scorer ahead of David Warner. His tally includes one century and 15 fifties, making him a formidable force at the crease.Pant boasts an impressive record of 262 fours and 129 sixes, making him the only player to surpass the century mark in maximums for Delhi. Furthermore, he holds the distinction of the highest individual score in IPL by a Delhi Capitals batter.Beyond his batting prowess, Pant has also taken 62 catches and effected 19 stumpings, proving his worth with the keeping gloves. Despite a setback in their opening fixture against Punjab Kings, where Pant managed 18 runs from 13 balls, his return as captain has injected renewed energy into the Delhi Capitals' camp.Eager to bounce back and secure their first points in IPL 2024, Pant will be eager to deliver a commanding performance against Rajasthan Royals on a historic night for the wicket-keeping batsman.