Cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating the retention of two significant playing conditions from the previous domestic and Indian Premier League (IPL) season: the two-bouncer clause and the Impact Player rule.Two-Bouncer Clause:Introduced last season in domestic cricket and the IPL, the two-bouncer rule allows bowlers to deliver a second bouncer in an over. While initially welcomed by the cricketing community, the BCCI is now reviewing its implementation. The rule's impact on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), the men's Twenty20 inter-state competition, is being considered.Impact Player Rule:The Impact Player rule, which permits teams to substitute a player during an innings, remains a contentious topic. While former cricketer Zaheer Khan supports the rule, many players and coaches have expressed reservations. The BCCI is yet to make a decision on its inclusion in the SMAT.BCCI's Delay in Sharing Playing Conditions:Despite assurances, the BCCI has delayed sharing the playing conditions for the SMAT. State associations are still awaiting confirmation on the two rules, which could impact their continuation in the IPL.Key Points:* The BCCI is reviewing the two-bouncer clause and Impact Player rule.* The decision on these rules for the SMAT will influence their inclusion in the IPL.* The BCCI has not yet released the playing conditions for the SMAT.* Zaheer Khan supports the Impact Player rule, while others have expressed concerns.

Zaheer Khan Backs Impact Player Rule, Citing Benefits for Indian CricketFormer Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan, now the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants, has voiced his support for the continuation of the impact player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Khan believes that the rule has contributed to the overall improvement of Indian cricket by providing opportunities to young talents.The impact player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, allows teams to substitute a player during the match. This rule has sparked debate among players and stakeholders, with some expressing concerns about its impact on the game's balance. However, Khan believes that the rule has had a positive effect on Indian cricket."I'm going on record to say that I'm all for it," Khan said. "It has definitely given opportunities to a lot of uncapped Indian talents. It is something you will see this in the mega auction when teams will be looking at them."Khan emphasized that the rule has provided valuable match time for young players, which is crucial for their development. "That opportunity goes a long way with improving Indian cricket on the whole," he said. "The time spent in match time, it's something you cannot beat. That's the biggest plus."Khan also addressed concerns about the impact of the rule on all-rounders. He believes that genuine all-rounders will still be valued, as they can provide both batting and bowling abilities. "If you are a genuine all-rounder, (then) no one can stop you," he said. "There is always going to be a value addition with the ability with bat and ball."The impact player rule has been a topic of discussion among IPL team owners and BCCI officials. While some teams support its continuation, others have expressed reservations. However, Khan's endorsement of the rule adds weight to the argument for its retention.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer and former captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), is adopting a cautious approach regarding his future in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With the IPL governing council currently formulating plans for the 2025 season, including auction and retention strategies, Dhoni is keen to observe the rule changes, particularly those related to player retention, before making a decision on his participation."There is ample time for that," said Dhoni, who recently turned 43, at an event in Hyderabad. "We need to ascertain the decisions they make on player retention and other matters. Currently, the decision-making authority lies with them.""Once the rules and regulations are finalized, I will make a decision that aligns with the best interests of the team," he added.The IPL governing council recently convened a meeting with franchise owners and officials in Mumbai to discuss various rule changes. Among the topics on the agenda were the Impact Player rule, the number of players to be retained, and the frequency of the mega auction.Questions about Dhoni's IPL future have been raised consistently over the past few years. Earlier this year, he addressed one aspect of these concerns by handing over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad before the start of the season.Under Gaikwad's leadership, CSK narrowly missed out on a playoff berth, finishing fifth on the table with 14 points, equal to RCB but behind on net run rate.During the previous season, Dhoni assumed the role of a six-hitting specialist in the death overs. He typically entered the crease in the final stages of the CSK innings and amassed 13 sixes and 14 fours in the 73 balls he faced, resulting in a boundary every three balls. His impressive strike rate of 220.54 marked the first season where he surpassed 200, and he remained unbeaten in eight of his 11 innings.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is facing a major dilemma ahead of the upcoming season: whether to hold a mega auction. The issue was the central topic of a recent meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the 10 IPL franchises.The meeting, held at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, ended inconclusively, with no consensus reached on the mega auction. According to Cricbuzz, several franchise owners, including Kolkata Knight Riders' Shah Rukh Khan, are opposed to holding an auction. This was confirmed by Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal, who also noted that the teams are divided on the Impact Player rule.The mega auction, if held, would determine the number of player retentions allowed for each franchise. If the BCCI decides against an auction, retentions may not be necessary.Another point of contention was the number of retentions. The franchise owners could not agree on a specific number. Reportedly, Shah Rukh Khan and Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia engaged in a heated argument over the issue, with Khan advocating for major retentions and Wadia opposing them.Regarding the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during a match, Jindal expressed his disapproval. He believes it hinders the development of genuine all-rounders in Indian cricket.Other IPL owners present at the meeting included Kiran Kumar Grandhi (Delhi Capitals), Sanjiv Goenka (Lucknow Super Giants), Rupa Gurunath (Chennai Super Kings), Kavya Maran (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Manoj Badale (Rajasthan Royals), Amit Soni (Gujarat Titans), and Prathmesh Mishra (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). The Ambani family of Mumbai Indians attended via video conferencing.The BCCI is expected to make a decision on the mega auction and other issues in the coming weeks. The outcome will have a significant impact on the IPL's upcoming season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council is set to meet with franchise owners in Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss potential changes to the team purse and retention policies. The meeting will focus on five key points:1. Team Purse:The current team purse of Rs 100 crore is expected to be increased by 20-25%, bringing it to a maximum of Rs 120-125 crore. This increase is seen as necessary to accommodate the rising player salaries and the expansion of the league to 10 teams.2. Player Retention:The number of player retentions is likely to be increased from four to five or six, including the use of 'Right To Match' (RTM) options. This will allow teams to retain their core players and maintain continuity. However, there is some disagreement among teams on the ideal number of retentions, with some advocating for as many as eight.3. Impact Player Rule:The 'Impact Player' rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during a match, has drawn mixed reactions. While some teams support the concept, others, including India captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli, have expressed concerns about its impact on the development of all-round cricketers.4. IPL Gaming Rights:The meeting will also discuss the issue of IPL gaming rights. The BCCI is considering selling the rights to a single operator, which could generate significant revenue for the league.5. Revenue Sharing:The distribution of revenue from the IPL's Central Merchandising pool will be another topic of discussion. Teams are seeking a more equitable share of the revenue, which is currently dominated by the larger franchises.The outcome of the meeting will have a significant impact on the upcoming IPL auction, which is scheduled for the end of the year. The decisions made will shape the composition of teams and the overall dynamics of the league.

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and current director of cricket for the Delhi Capitals, has expressed his support for retaining the impact-player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he believes that teams should make their decisions regarding the impact player before the toss.The impact-player rule allows teams to substitute a player from their bench into the playing XI during the match. This rule has been a topic of discussion after the recent IPL season, which saw a significant increase in high-scoring matches. Ganguly believes that the rule adds an element of strategy and skill to the game."I like the impact player rule. My only thing with IPL is that I just want the grounds to be a bit bigger. The fences should go a little behind," Ganguly said. "It is a great tournament. The only thing you can do with the impact player is decide before the toss, so it's a bit of skill there."Ganguly also commented on the performance of Prithvi Shaw, who had a disappointing IPL season. He emphasized that Shaw is still a young player and needs time to adjust to the demands of T20 cricket."He (Prithvi Shaw) is a young kid. He is just 23. He is still learning how to play T20 cricket. He is a very fine talent and he will get better. Sometimes, we expect too much too early from everyone and I am sure Prithvi, with the skills he has, he will do well," he added.Ganguly praised Rishabh Pant for his return to form after his car accident in 2022. He believes that Pant has worked hard to regain his fitness and skills."He was superb for us (DC) in the IPL. I was so happy to see the way he came back, because I have always said that he is a special player," Ganguly said. "Even earlier, I have said that he is exceptional. You don't want such talent to be lost for such disastrous reasons (accident). He has really worked hard to get back to where he is and he is the Rishabh Pant of old."Ganguly also expressed his hope that Wriddhiman Saha, the wicketkeeper-batter, will be selected by the Bengal selectors. Saha has expressed his desire to return to Bengal after playing for Tripura for two years."He wants to play for Bengal and rightfully so. He is a Bengal boy," Ganguly said. "He went away to Tripura for two years because he was playing there as a professional. He has finished that and he wants to be in Bengal. I am sure the selectors will pick him for Bengal."

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier spinner, believes that the evolution of batters, rather than the impact player rule, is the primary reason for the high scores witnessed in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwin also emphasized the need for bowlers to develop their batting skills to meet the demands of modern cricket.Despite the introduction of the impact player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, Ashwin maintains that the high scores are a result of batters becoming more confident and pitches being standardized across venues. He believes that the game is moving towards a point where all bowlers will need to be capable batters.While some critics, including Indian captain Rohit Sharma, have argued that the impact player rule hinders the development of all-rounders, Ashwin believes that it is a necessary adaptation to the changing landscape of the game. He points out that bowlers need to be able to contribute with the bat, regardless of how well they bowl.Ashwin, who recently recovered from an abdominal injury, has been in impressive form in the latter stages of the IPL. He was adjudged man-of-the-match in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where his miserly 2/19 restricted the opposition to 172/8.Ashwin also praised the maturity of Riyan Parag, who has emerged as a key player for Rajasthan Royals this season. He believes that Parag has come a long way since his debut as an 18-year-old in 2019 and has the potential to achieve great things in the future.

In a crucial do-or-die clash in the IPL 2024, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batters put up a formidable performance against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). With a playoff spot on the line, RCB needed to beat CSK by 18 runs to secure a top-four finish.RCB's opening duo of Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis set the tone with a solid start. Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green all contributed to the team's massive total. Du Plessis led the charge with a half-century, while Kohli narrowly missed out on the milestone by three runs.Kohli's dismissal sparked controversy when he was caught on the boundary ropes by Daryl Mitchell off Mitchell Santner. Mitchell's precarious position near the ropes raised questions about whether he had stepped out of bounds. Kohli's wife, Anushka Sharma, initially believed Mitchell had overstepped but later realized the catch was legitimate.Despite the setback, RCB continued to pile on the runs, posting a daunting target for CSK. The match took an unexpected turn when Kohli expressed his concerns about the Impact Player Rule, which allows teams to introduce a 12th player from a five-player list.Kohli argued that the rule has disrupted the balance of the game, particularly in the powerplays, where he has been able to maintain a high strike rate due to the presence of an extra batter. He also expressed concern that all-rounders like Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar are not getting enough bowling opportunities.Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, echoed Kohli's sentiments, stating that the Impact Player Rule is hindering the development of all-rounders. He believes that the rule takes away from the traditional 11-player format and may not be beneficial for the long-term growth of the sport.

IPL 2024: Kuldeep Yadav Emphasizes Courage and Strength for Bowlers Amidst Big HittingThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has witnessed a surge in high-scoring matches and record team totals, largely attributed to the impact player rule. However, Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm spinner for Delhi Capitals, believes that bowlers must remain courageous and rely on their strengths to counter the relentless batting onslaught."Every team is aiming to attack in the powerplay and accumulate as many runs as possible," Yadav stated. "The middle overs provide some respite due to the open field, but batters are taking more risks in the powerplay. Teams no longer target 45-50 runs in that phase."Yadav emphasizes the importance of bowlers sticking to their strengths rather than attempting to outsmart batters. "Bowlers should understand their capabilities and back them," he said. "Jasprit Bumrah is an excellent example. He dominates batters mentally by bowling to his strengths."Despite the challenges, Yadav has impressed with 12 wickets in eight innings and an economy rate of 8.45. He showcased his resilience in Delhi Capitals' match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, conceding 55 runs but claiming four wickets."Confidence is crucial," Yadav explained. "It allows bowlers to attack even in the powerplay. I'm ready for any challenge and always seek wickets. My self-belief has grown, and I trust my abilities."Yadav has primarily been utilized in the middle phase, where he has been most effective. However, he is also eager to contribute with the bat, having scored an unbeaten 35 against Kolkata Knight Riders."Rohit Sharma has encouraged me to improve my batting," Yadav said. "I worked on it during the Test series against England, and he was impressed. He has guided me in the nets, which has significantly enhanced my batting."With the T20 World Cup approaching, Yadav is expected to play a vital role for India. His ability to bowl economically and contribute with the bat makes him a valuable asset for the team.