Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has reached a thrilling stage, with the mid-table battle intensifying after Gujarat Titans' victory over Chennai Super Kings. With only one team, Kolkata Knight Riders, securing a playoff berth, the remaining nine teams are vying for the remaining three spots.Gujarat Titans' morale-boosting win has opened up the tournament, with Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gujarat Titans still in contention for the top four. Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are currently tied on 12 points, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have kept their hopes alive with four consecutive wins.Chennai Super Kings:Defending champions Chennai Super Kings are in a comfortable position, sitting fourth on the points table with a superior net run rate (+0.491). They face Rajasthan Royals at home on Sunday and play their final league game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 18.If CSK wins both their remaining games, they will likely qualify for the playoffs due to their superior NRR. However, if they win only one, they will need the winner of the Delhi Capitals vs. Lucknow Super Giants game to lose their other fixture. If CSK loses both games, they will be eliminated from the tournament.Delhi Capitals:Delhi Capitals are currently fifth on the standings with 12 points and a NRR of (-0.316). They face Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants in their remaining two games.To qualify directly, DC must win both their games and hope that CSK loses at least one of their remaining games. If they tie with CSK at 16 points, NRR will come into play, which currently favors CSK. If Delhi wins one game and gets stuck at 14 points, they will hope CSK loses both their matches and LSG loses at least one to squeeze into the playoffs.Royal Challengers Bengaluru:Royal Challengers Bengaluru have an outside shot at a playoff berth. They can reach a maximum of 14 points if they win their remaining two games. However, they need other results to go their way to finish in the top four.If RCB wins their last two matches and reaches 14 points, they would need CSK to lose against RR, DC to go down against LSG, LSG to suffer defeat against MI, and GT to lose at least one of their remaining games. With this, RCB and LSG would be tied at 14 points, and the team with the superior NRR will go through.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has expressed confidence in Axar Patel's ability to lead the team in the absence of suspended captain Rishabh Pant. Pant was banned for one match after an altercation with Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav during their previous encounter.Ponting praised Patel's experience and understanding of the game, saying, "He has been vice-captain for the last couple of seasons and he is very sensible and understands the game really well."The coach also acknowledged the challenge of replacing Pant, who has been Delhi's best batter this season. However, he believes the team has the depth to overcome his absence."Rishabh has been one of the best players this IPL and not having him is a loss. But it is also a great opportunity for others," Ponting said.David Warner, who has missed the last four matches due to injury, is expected to be available for selection. Ponting expressed optimism about his return, saying, "David Warner has trained really strongly. We hope he is available for selection."The Delhi Capitals will face the Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 11 in Bengaluru. The match will be a crucial test for Patel's leadership and the team's ability to adapt without Pant.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on Abishek Porel, the left-handed batter who has impressed in multiple roles during IPL 2024. Ponting has indicated that Porel will don the keeping gloves against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday in the absence of the suspended Rishabh Pant.Porel, signed by Capitals in 2023 as a replacement for Pant, has scored 267 runs in 10 innings this season at a strike rate of 157.98. He began the campaign batting at No. 9 against Punjab Kings, coming in as an Impact Player and smacking an unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls. Since then, he has been promoted to a top-four role, and in DC's last game against Rajasthan Royals, he opened the batting and put on 60 in just 4.2 overs with Jake Fraser-McGurk. Porel went on to score 65 off 36, his first IPL half-century, studded with seven fours and three sixes."I've seen extreme growth in Abishek Porel in this IPL," Ponting said in Bengaluru ahead of the match against RCB. "He's a very special talent. He's starting to work out what IPL cricket is all about. He's had a couple of different roles as well. He's made [31] off 10 balls as a No. 9 batsman, and now we see him opening the batting and he's got better and better every game.""I've got huge raps on him. I think he's a very, very good young player, obviously we'll probably get to see him with the keeping gloves on tomorrow as well, with Rishabh not being there. And then we'll work out, when we finalise our team, with the batting order and stuff, but I'll be surprised if he's not at the top of the order again, because he has played really well, and he's someone that I think has got a really bright future."Ponting also hailed Jake Fraser-McGurk, the swashbuckling 22-year-old batter who has taken this IPL by storm. Fraser-McGurk, picked by DC as a replacement player after Lungi Ngidi was ruled out, has reset the T20 batting template in the powerplay, just like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have while batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. Fraser-McGurk has scored his 309 runs while striking at 235.87 and averaging 44.14, with the help of four half-centuries."Some of the things he's done - I think he's made three 20-ball fifties in this tournament, so he along with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been the stand-out powerplay batsmen in this entire tournament," Ponting said. "He's focused now, like all of us, he's making sure that we're ready to go tomorrow. For us, it's not about what happened yesterday, it's about what we can do today to get better, and then make sure that we're ready to play our best game of cricket tomorrow."

Delhi Capitals Aim to Maintain Momentum Against Royal Challengers BengaluruWith the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs looming, Delhi Capitals will face a crucial test against the in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their penultimate league stage match on Sunday. The Capitals, who secured a vital victory in their previous outing, will be determined to keep their momentum going and secure a top-four finish.However, Delhi will be without their skipper Rishabh Pant, who has been suspended for slow over rate. In Pant's absence, Axar Patel will lead the team, bringing his experience and leadership qualities to the fore.Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting expressed confidence in Patel's ability to lead the team. "He's been Vice-Captain at this franchise for the last couple of seasons. He's a very experienced IPL player, an experienced international player, a sensible guy, understands the game really well," Ponting said.Ponting acknowledged the challenge posed by RCB, who have won their last four matches. However, he emphasized the Capitals' impressive form in recent games. "We've won five of our last seven, and we've made some huge scores along the way. There are no excuses from us tomorrow, regardless of Pant not being in the lineup," he said.Regarding team selection, Ponting provided an update on David Warner's fitness. "David Warner missed the last game, he got that nasty knock on his hand about a month ago now and hasn't played a game since. He trained really strongly yesterday, he'll be out hitting balls in the middle now, so he'll be doing some more batting today. Hopefully, he's available for selection for tomorrow," Ponting said.The Delhi Capitals will be eager to put in a strong performance against RCB and secure a crucial victory that could boost their chances of reaching the playoffs. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams.

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant has been suspended for one match and fined Rs 30 lakh for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The incident occurred during Match 56 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Rajasthan Royals, where Delhi Capitals maintained a slow over-rate.This is the third offense of the season for Delhi Capitals under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offenses. As a result, Pant has been suspended for one match and fined a hefty sum. The rest of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 12 Lac or 50 per cent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser.Earlier in the season, Pant was fined Rs 24 lakh for a second over-rate offense in Match 16 against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Before that, Delhi Capitals maintained a slow over rate in a match against Chennai Super Kings, resulting in a Rs 12 lakh fine for Pant.The Delhi Capitals filed an appeal challenging the ruling of the Match Referee, but the appeal was referred to the BCCI Ombudsman for review. The Ombudsman conducted a virtual hearing and affirmed that the decision of the Match Referee remains final and binding.Pant's suspension is a significant blow to Delhi Capitals, who are currently fifth in the IPL table with 12 points from as many games. They will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next match on Sunday without their captain.

Prithvi Shaw, once hailed as a rising star in Indian cricket, has found himself under fire for his inconsistent performances in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Despite high expectations, the young opener has failed to deliver consistently for the Delhi Capitals, raising concerns about his form and focus.In eight matches so far, Shaw has managed only 198 runs at a strike rate of 163.63. His scores have fluctuated wildly, with a few cameos interspersed with low scores. This inconsistency has led to criticism from fans and experts alike.Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has weighed in on Shaw's struggles, advising the Indian youngster to return to basics and play first-class cricket. "He has to go back to basics, play first-class cricket and score big," Akram said. "Focus on cricket, not parties."Akram emphasized the importance of Shaw playing regularly and taking care of himself off the field. "He has to play regularly, and look at himself off the field," he said. "Do as many parties as you want after you retire, who cares. But now, focus on cricket."Shaw's last appearance for Team India was in 2021 during the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. His inconsistent performances in the IPL have raised questions about his future with the national team.If Shaw is to regain his place in the Indian team, he will need to rediscover his form and prove that he can be a consistent performer at the highest level. This will require him to work hard on his game and make some sacrifices off the field.

Khaleel Ahmed, the Delhi Capitals pacer, has made a triumphant return to the Indian cricket team after a four-and-a-half-year absence. The 26-year-old left-arm pacer has been named as a standby for the upcoming T20 World Cup, a testament to his impressive performances for DC in the ongoing IPL.Ahmed has been in scintillating form this season, claiming 14 wickets in 12 matches. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the DC bowling attack.Speaking on the DC Podcast, Ahmed expressed his delight at being recalled to the national team. "The way the past few months were going and the way the IPL started, I had the intuition that something good would happen," he said. "As the IPL matches progressed, my confidence continued to grow. I realized I was bowling well, and it has always been about moving one step ahead. Finally, when the name came, I was so happy, and it's a step ahead for me."Ahmed's last appearance for India was in a T20 match against Bangladesh in Nagpur in November 2019. Since then, he has endured a challenging period, missing out on selection for the national team."2019 was a long time ago. Every day, at the back of my mind, I missed that feeling of playing for the country," Ahmed said. "Every time I used to watch India play, I used to imagine what I would have done if I was there in the team. So, every day was like a battle and these kinds of conversations were going on inside my head."Despite the setbacks, Ahmed remained determined to regain his place in the Indian team. He took just a week's break after the last IPL and played all the domestic matches."It's tough as a fast bowler, but I made up my mind that irrespective of what happens to me, I'm going to play all the matches. I pushed myself mentally in the past year and have grown with it," he said.Ahmed believes that the current IPL season, which has been a nightmare for bowlers, is the perfect opportunity for fast bowlers to shine."If a bowler performs in tough situations like these, he will be considered a King, and I want to be that King. So, this is what my mentality has been about the current scenario," he said.Ahmed's return to the Indian team is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has overcome adversity to reclaim his place in the national setup and is now poised to make a significant contribution to India's T20 World Cup campaign.

Delhi Capitals' Controversial Win Over Rajasthan Royals: Umpiring Blunder or Justified Decision?In a thrilling IPL 2024 encounter at the Arun Jaitely Stadium, Delhi Capitals emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals by a margin of 20 runs. However, the match was marred by a controversial dismissal that sparked heated debates and raised questions about the accuracy of umpiring decisions.Chasing a formidable target of 222, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson was dismissed in the 16th over after a catch by Shai Hope at long-on. Replays of the incident showed that Hope came perilously close to the boundary line while completing the catch, leading to speculation that he may have touched the rope with the ball in his hand.The third umpire, Michael Gough, ruled in favor of Delhi Capitals, declaring Samson out for 86. This decision ignited a heated argument between Samson and the on-field umpires, with the RR skipper expressing his dissatisfaction.Former England batter Paul Collingwood weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that Gough should have consulted additional camera angles before making his decision. "Maybe he could have given himself another angle, just to double-check. Because it was so, so close," Collingwood said.Collingwood also acknowledged the pressure on umpires to expedite decisions in the IPL, but emphasized the importance of accuracy in such crucial moments. "I think, on this occasion, a couple of more angles, just to clarify could have put everybody at ease. That might have been the best way to go," he added.The incident also resulted in a fine of 30% of his match fee for Samson for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The IPL statement stated that Samson committed a Level 1 offense under Article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct, which he admitted to and accepted the Match Referee's sanction.The controversy surrounding Samson's dismissal has reignited discussions about the role of technology in umpiring decisions and the need for greater accuracy in close calls. As the IPL continues to attract global attention, the pressure on umpires to make split-second decisions will only intensify, making it imperative to find ways to ensure fairness and consistency in the adjudication process.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals witnessed a controversial catch that sparked a heated debate. The incident occurred when Sanju Samson, batting at 86, hit a shot straight down the ground off Mukesh Kumar. Shai Hope, fielding at deep mid-wicket, caught the ball but came dangerously close to the boundary line.The third umpire ruled Samson out, but the batsman refused to leave the field. He engaged in a lengthy discussion with the officials before eventually departing. The decision sparked a fierce debate on social media, with many questioning whether Samson was actually out.A new video released by official broadcasters Star Sports has shed light on the incident. The footage shows that Hope's leg did not touch the boundary cushion, indicating that Samson was indeed out. IPL-winning coach Tom Moody explained that the "boundary cushion" remained stationary during the catch.However, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has expressed a dissenting opinion. In a separate video, Sidhu claimed that Hope had touched the boundary rope. He argued that the side-on angle clearly showed the ball touching the boundary twice.The controversy has highlighted the challenges of using technology in cricket. While the third umpire's decision was based on the available replays, some experts believe that the technology may have made a mistake.The incident has also raised questions about the role of the on-field umpires. Some argue that the umpires should have intervened and overruled the third umpire's decision. Others maintain that the third umpire has the final say and that the on-field umpires should not interfere.The controversy is likely to continue for some time, as fans and experts debate the merits of the decision. It serves as a reminder that even in the age of technology, human error and interpretation can still play a significant role in cricket.