Cricket

Pakistan cricket legend Shahid Afridi's much-anticipated appearance in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) match against India at Edgbaston was met with a thunderous reception from the 22,000 spectators. However, his performance on the field failed to live up to expectations, as he was dismissed for a golden duck.After Pakistan champions were put into bat by India champions, openers Sharjeel Khan and Kamran Akmal laid the foundation for a match-winning total with a 145-run partnership. Sharjeel (72) and Akmal (77) set the stage for Sohaib Maqsood to add a quickfire 50 to the team's tally.With the departure of the trio, it was Afridi's turn to entertain the crowd. The former Pakistan captain was greeted with deafening chants of "Afridi, Afridi" at the famous venue. However, his explosive batting style failed to materialize, as he was dismissed by Dhawal Kulkarni in the 18th over.Afridi's golden duck sparked a social media meltdown, with fans expressing their disappointment and amusement. The incident became a trending topic on Twitter, with users sharing memes and jokes about the former batter's unfortunate dismissal.Despite Afridi's disappointing performance, the match between India and Pakistan was a highly anticipated event. All 23,000 seats at Edgbaston were sold out, and members of both teams expressed their excitement and determination to give their all.The World Championship of Legends, which got underway at Edgbaston on July 3, will run through July 18. The tournament, approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), features some of the greatest cricketers of all time.

Virat Kohli, India's premier batter, has endured a dismal T20 World Cup campaign, extending his poor form with a golden duck against the United States on Wednesday. The veteran opener has struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just 1 against Ireland and 4 against Pakistan in India's previous matches.Kohli's golden duck against the USA marked his first in an ICC tournament, highlighting the extent of his struggles. His teammate, Shivam Dube, expressed confidence in Kohli's ability to bounce back, stating, "He got out cheaply a couple of times, but he will come back scoring hundreds in the next three matches."Dube also acknowledged the challenges posed by the two-paced tracks in New York, which he likened to playing in a Ranji Trophy game. Despite his initial struggles, Dube regained some form with a 35-ball 31 against the USA, helping India secure a seven-wicket victory and advance to the Super Eight stage."I was struggling with my form and focusing on my process," Dube said. "But here, there was no pressure. All the support staff and coaches backed me and told me, 'It's difficult, but you have the ability to hit sixes, so apply it.'"Dube emphasized the need to adapt to the different conditions in the T20 World Cup, noting that his approach at the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League was not suitable for the pitches in New York.Kohli's poor form has raised concerns among Indian fans, but his teammates remain confident in his ability to regain his touch. With three Super Eight matches remaining, Kohli has ample opportunity to prove his worth and help India secure a berth in the semifinals.

Virat Kohli's struggles in the ongoing T20 World Cup continued on Wednesday as he fell for a golden duck against USA in New York. This marked his second consecutive duck in the tournament, following his dismissal for 1 against Ireland and 4 against Pakistan. Kohli's poor form has raised concerns about his place in the Indian team, especially considering his recent struggles in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Kohli's golden duck against USA was his second-ever in T20Is and his first in a T20 World Cup. It was also the sixth time he has been dismissed for a duck in the shortest format of the game. The Indian batting maestro has not managed to reach double figures in his last four T20I innings, a worrying sign for a player of his caliber.Despite Kohli's struggles, India managed to restrict USA to a modest total of 110/8 in their Group A match. Arshdeep Singh was the star performer for India, claiming impressive figures of 4-9. Hardik Pandya also chipped in with two wickets, while Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah picked up one wicket each.In response, India chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Sharma scored 41 off 34 balls, while Rahul contributed 30 off 29 deliveries. Suryakumar Yadav provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 26 off 18 balls, guiding India to a comfortable victory.Kohli's poor form remains a concern for India, but the team will be hoping that he can rediscover his touch in the upcoming matches. With the knockout stages approaching, India will need their star batsman to fire if they are to lift the T20 World Cup trophy.

In a stunning upset at the T20 World Cup, India-born USA pacer Saurabh Netravalkar dismissed star batter Virat Kohli for a golden duck, leaving India in early trouble in their chase of 111.Netravalkar, a 32-year-old techie at Oracle, produced a beautiful full-length delivery that angled across Kohli, who chased it away from his body and edged it straight to wicket-keeper Andries Gous. The dismissal marked Kohli's first-ever golden duck in T20 World Cups and his only second ever in the shortest format.Kohli's poor form continued in the tournament, with scores of 1, 4, and 0 in three outings. After dismissing Kohli, Netravalkar went on to dismiss India skipper Rohit Sharma in his second over, leaving India in a precarious position.Netravalkar, who played for India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup, has been juggling academics and cricket with aplomb. An alumnus of Cornell University, he has shared the dressing room with the likes of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, and even played the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai.Earlier, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh claimed a career-best 4-9, including two wickets in the first over, as India restricted the USA to 110 for 8. A victory in this match would guarantee a place in the second round Super Eights for both teams.Netravalkar's dismissal of Kohli was a major moment in the match, and it highlighted the growing strength of associate nations in cricket. The USA's stunning win over former champions Pakistan last week was another example of this trend, and it shows that the gap between the top teams and the rest is narrowing.

Glenn Maxwell's Golden Duck Disappoints Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL EliminatorRoyal Challengers Bengaluru's hopes of advancing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 were dashed after a disappointing performance by star player Glenn Maxwell in their Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals. Maxwell, known for his explosive batting, was dismissed for a golden duck, matching Dinesh Karthik's dubious record of 18 ducks in the IPL.The critical moment came in the 11th over, when veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed Maxwell with a deceptive delivery. After dismissing Cameron Green for 27 off 21 balls, Ashwin outsmarted Maxwell, leaving RCB reeling.Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan and ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen were critical of Maxwell's shot selection. Pathan questioned Maxwell's decision-making, while Pietersen remarked that Maxwell's performance was "not good enough" in such a crucial game.Maxwell's failure was particularly disappointing given his reputation as a match-winner. His dismissal left RCB vulnerable, and they were unable to recover, eventually losing the match and their chance to advance in the tournament.With this dismissal, Maxwell joined Dinesh Karthik at the top of the unwanted leaderboard for the most ducks in IPL history, each having 18 to their name. They are followed by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma with 17 ducks, and Piyush Chawla, Mandeep Singh, and Sunil Narine, each with 15 ducks.Maxwell's golden duck will be remembered as a turning point in RCB's season. His failure to deliver when it mattered most contributed to their elimination from the tournament.

MS Dhoni's Rare Golden Duck: A Tactical Masterstroke by Punjab KingsIn a surprising turn of events, legendary cricketer MS Dhoni fell for a golden duck in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Punjab Kings on Sunday. The dismissal, which came at the hands of Harshal Patel, left fans stunned and marked the second time in two matches that Dhoni had been dismissed without scoring in IPL 2024.Prior to this, Dhoni had remained unbeaten for seven consecutive matches, showcasing his exceptional finishing abilities. However, his struggles against spin in the previous match against Punjab Kings caught the attention of former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu.Sidhu observed that Dhoni's practice routine primarily focused on smashing long hits against fast bowlers, leaving him unprepared for spin bowling. In the 19th over of that match, Rahul Chahar's introduction proved to be a tactical masterstroke, as Dhoni managed to score only two runs."They got done in by something unexpected. They used Dhoni's own medicine against him to fool him," Sidhu said. "Punjab's captain [Sam Curran] played a master stroke. He employed a spinner."On Sunday, Harshal Patel employed a similar strategy, bowling a slower delivery that Dhoni failed to pick up. The wicket left Patel with mixed emotions."I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out," Patel said. "One of the advantages of playing a day game is that the square is quite rough. So the ball starts reversing. It's all about the feel of that delivery (slower one)."Dhoni's dismissal highlighted the importance of tactical adjustments in cricket. By exploiting Dhoni's weakness against spin, Punjab Kings managed to gain an advantage and ultimately secure the victory.

MS Dhoni's golden duck in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala left the crowd in disbelief. The legendary cricketer, known for his explosive batting, was dismissed for a golden duck by Harshal Patel's slower yorker.Dhoni's dismissal came at a crucial juncture in the match, with CSK struggling at 167/8. The crowd had erupted in anticipation of Dhoni's arrival at the crease, expecting him to guide the team to a competitive total. However, Patel's delivery caught Dhoni off guard, uprooting the stumps.This was the first time Dhoni had been dismissed for a golden duck in IPL 2024. In his previous match against PBKS at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, he was run out on the final ball of the innings.Despite his recent struggles, Dhoni remains a respected figure in the IPL. He has guided CSK to five IPL titles and is considered one of the greatest finishers in the history of the game.After the match, Patel expressed his respect for Dhoni, saying, "I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out." He also explained the strategy behind his slower yorker, saying, "It's all about the feel of that delivery. More you bowl the better you get. Most batters don't pick it."Dhoni's dismissal was a major setback for CSK, who eventually lost the match by 11 runs. The team will be hoping for a better performance in their next match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 29.