Cricket

Royal Challengers Bangalore's star batter Virat Kohli expressed immense pride and satisfaction after securing the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite RCB's elimination in the playoffs, Kohli's exceptional performance in the latter half of the tournament played a crucial role in their qualification for the playoffs.Kohli amassed an impressive 741 runs in 15 matches, averaging 61.75 with a century and five half-centuries. His highest score of 113* and a strike rate of 154.69 marked his best performance in a single IPL season."I'm extremely honored to win the Orange Cap this season," Kohli said after the match. "It was a rollercoaster of a ride, but I'm really pleased with the way I performed for the team, especially in the latter half, where we needed to win every game to qualify."Kohli's teammate and Punjab Kings pacer Harshal Patel also made history by winning his second Purple Cap for the most wickets in the tournament. Patel finished with 24 wickets in 14 matches, becoming only the third pacer after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dwayne Bravo to achieve this feat."Deeply honored to be presented with the Purple Cap," Patel said. "It's been a rewarding journey. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and my family. I look forward to the 2025 season."Kolkata Knight Riders' mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy had the opportunity to surpass Patel in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he could only manage one wicket. The Riders ultimately emerged victorious, claiming their third IPL title.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) talismanic batter Virat Kohli has expressed his pride in securing the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. Despite RCB's elimination in the Eliminator, Kohli's exceptional performance in the latter half of the tournament has earned him the prestigious award.RCB faced an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs, needing to win all their remaining six group-stage matches and rely on favorable results from other teams. Led by Kohli's batting brilliance, the Challengers achieved this remarkable feat, eliminating Chennai Super Kings from title contention and securing their place in the playoffs.Kohli's outstanding performance earned him the Orange Cap, having amassed 741 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 61.75. His tally included a century and five half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 113. Kohli also maintained a strike rate of 154.69, the highest in his IPL career."Extremely honored to win the orange cap this season. It was a rollercoaster of a ride. I was really pleased with the way I performed for the team, especially in the latter half, where we needed to win every game to qualify. Thank you everyone for your support," Kohli remarked during the post-match presentation.While Kohli claimed the Orange Cap, his former teammate and Punjab Kings pacer Harshal Patel secured his second Purple Cap for the highest wicket-taker. Patel finished the tournament with 24 wickets in 14 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 9.73 and an average of 19.87.This achievement marked Patel's second Purple Cap, following his impressive 32-wicket haul in the 2021 season while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore. Patel became only the third pacer, alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dwayne Bravo, to win the Purple Cap twice in IPL history."Deeply honored to be presented with the purple cap. It's been a rewarding journey. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and my family. I look forward to the 2025 season," Patel stated.In the final match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, Kolkata Knight Riders' mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy had the chance to overtake Patel in the leading wicket-takers list, requiring a five-wicket haul. However, he managed to dismiss only Shahbaz Ahmed as the Riders went on to clinch their third IPL title.

Punjab Kings' Harshal Patel has etched his name in the franchise's history books by equaling Andrew Tye's record for the most wickets in a single Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Patel achieved this milestone in the team's final league stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.In the game, Patel took 2/49 in four overs, dismissing Rahul Tripathi and Nitish Kumar Reddy. With this performance, he has now taken 24 wickets in the ongoing season, surpassing his previous best of 21 wickets in 2021. Patel's impressive bowling has been a key factor in Punjab's improved performance this season, as they finished with five wins and nine losses.Patel's achievement is even more remarkable considering that he has bowled with an economy rate of just 9.73, the lowest among all bowlers with 20 or more wickets this season. His best bowling figures of 3/15 came against Chennai Super Kings in Match 13.Patel's success has not gone unnoticed, as he is currently the leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2023 season. However, he will not have the opportunity to add to his tally as Punjab failed to qualify for the playoffs.Andrew Tye (24 wickets in 2018), Kagiso Rabada (23 wickets in 2022), and Mohammed Shami (20 wickets in 2020) are the other bowlers who have taken the most wickets in a single IPL season for Punjab.In the match against SRH, Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bat first. A blistering half-century from Prabhsimran Singh (71 off 45 balls) and contributions from Rilee Rossouw (49 off 24 balls) and Atharva Taide (46 off 27 balls) propelled them to a formidable total of 214/5.In response, SRH chased down the target with five balls to spare, thanks to a quickfire fifty from Abhishek Sharma (66 off 28 balls) and valuable contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy (37 off 25 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (42 off 26 balls).Abhishek Sharma was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. SRH finished the league stage in second place with eight wins and five losses, while Punjab Kings finished ninth with five wins and nine losses.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings Clash in Crucial IPL MatchSunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face off in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Sunday, May 15, at 10:00 AM GMT in Hyderabad.SRH's Fate UncertainSRH's fate in the playoffs is uncertain after their last match against Gujarat Titans was washed out. Even if they defeat PBKS, they need Rajasthan Royals to lose against Kolkata Knight Riders later in the day to secure a top-two finish. SRH's last outing before the GT game was a dominant chase against Lucknow Super Giants on May 8, raising questions about whether they will be rusty or rejuvenated after a ten-day break.PBKS Out of Playoff RacePBKS were eliminated from the playoffs long ago, and several of their overseas players have returned home. With nothing to lose, this match presents an opportunity for domestic players to showcase their skills.Form GuideSRH: WLWLL (last five completed matches)PBKS: WLLWWPrevious MeetingIn their previous encounter, SRH posted 182/9 thanks to Nitish Kumar Reddy's 64 off 37 balls. PBKS fell short by two runs despite a valiant effort from Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.Team News and Impact Player StrategySRH:* May consider bringing back Aiden Markram for Sri Lankan legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.* Abhishek Sharma or T Natarajan could be their Impact Players.PBKS:* Rishi Dhawan and Atharva Taide may get a chance in the absence of Curran and Bairstow.* Prabhsimran Singh and Arshdeep Singh are likely Impact Player options.In the Spotlight: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal PatelBhuvneshwar Kumar has been in impressive form lately, taking seven wickets in his last four matches. Harshal Patel, the leading wicket-taker of the season, will have extra responsibility with Rabada and Curran unavailable.Stats that Matter* Bhuvneshwar has dismissed Prabhsimran three times in 11 balls.* Rossouw has struggled against Bhuvneshwar and Pat Cummins.* Abhishek has a strong record against Arshdeep.* Harshal has dismissed Klaasen three times.* Reddy has enjoyed batting against Harpreet Brar.Pitch and ConditionsHyderabad has been a high-scoring venue this IPL, but there is a 30% chance of rain.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious over Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 28 runs in a thrilling encounter. CSK posted a competitive total of 167 for 9, thanks to a crucial 43 from Ravindra Jadeja. PBKS, despite a promising start, collapsed from 62 for 2 to 78 for 7, handing CSK the advantage.CSK's innings got off to a shaky start with the loss of Ajinkya Rahane in the powerplay. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube provided some stability before falling in quick succession. Jadeja's timely intervention at No. 6 ensured CSK reached a respectable total.PBKS's chase began brightly, with Prabhsimran Singh hitting a brisk 30. However, Rahul Chahar's mastery of the googly and Harshal Patel's return to form proved too much for the Punjab side. Chahar claimed three wickets, while Patel picked up two, including the prized scalp of MS Dhoni.The pitch played a significant role in the match. Despite its initial appearance as a batting paradise, it offered reverse swing and extra bounce, making shot-making difficult. Spinners also found assistance, with Chahar and Jadeja producing double-wicket overs.CSK's victory was a testament to their resilience and the brilliance of Jadeja, Chahar, and Patel. PBKS, on the other hand, will need to address their inconsistency and find a way to sustain their early momentum.

Yuzvendra Chahal's 'Trademark' Pose Mimicked by Harshal Patel in IPL MatchDuring the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chepauk, a light-hearted moment occurred when Harshal Patel mimicked Rajasthan Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal's signature pose after taking a crucial catch.In the 16th over of CSK's innings, Harshal Patel dismissed Sameer Rizvi off Kagiso Rabada's delivery with a spectacular catch. In celebration, Patel replicated Chahal's signature pose, which immediately caught the attention of the latter.Taking to social media, Chahal humorously addressed Patel and cheekily suggested seeking copyright protection for his unique pose. He wrote, "Dear @elonmusk paaji, Harsal bhai pe copyright lagana hai."Patel's lighthearted imitation adds a touch of camaraderie and fun amidst the intense competition of the IPL. Currently, Patel stands as one of the joint-leading wicket-takers in IPL 2024, having claimed 14 wickets in 10 games, showcasing his pivotal role in PBKS' campaign.Meanwhile, Chahal has been enjoying a successful season with the Rajasthan Royals, demonstrating his bowling prowess with 13 wickets in nine games. His impressive performances have earned him a comeback to the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, signifying his enduring impact on the cricketing stage.The playful gesture between Chahal and Patel highlights the camaraderie and sportsmanship that exists within the IPL, even amidst the fierce competition. It also showcases the growing popularity of Chahal's signature pose, which has become synonymous with his bowling prowess.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has endured a dismal IPL 2024 campaign, suffering a narrow one-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. This defeat marked their seventh loss in eight matches, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the points table.Despite boasting a loyal fanbase and a roster of star players, RCB has consistently failed to lift the IPL trophy. Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa believes the franchise needs to rectify its strategy by bringing back some of the match-winners they have let go over the years.Uthappa's primary recommendation is to re-acquire star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who is currently the most successful bowler in IPL history. RCB released Chahal after the 2021 season, and he has since joined Rajasthan Royals."I would do anything to bring Yuzi back from RR," Uthappa said. "I would even bring Harshal Patel back and prepare wickets that are conducive for bowlers to succeed."Uthappa also highlighted the need for RCB to retain their big players, citing the departures of Shivam Dube and Devdutt Padikkal as examples of players who have flourished with other franchises."RCB has let go of so many talented domestic players," Uthappa said. "They need to invest more in bowling and the middle order, and they need to sustain their faith in their players."Uthappa pointed out that RCB has used a staggering 25 players in this IPL season alone, indicating a lack of stability in the team."RCB needs to make it harder for opponents to score runs," Uthappa said. "They need to exercise more faith in their players and create a more consistent team."