Cricket

Mitchell Starc's record-breaking price tag in the Indian Premier League (IPL) initially raised eyebrows, but the Australian all-rounder has silenced the critics with a stellar performance that culminated in Kolkata Knight Riders' third IPL title.Starc, the most expensive cricketer in IPL history, was named Player of the Match in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, taking 2-14 and bowling opener Abhishek Sharma with an unplayable delivery that experts hailed as the tournament's best.His performance followed on from his brilliant semi-final, where he claimed three wickets and dismissed Australia teammate Travis Head with the second ball.Starc's stunning return to form in the IPL burnishes his record in big matches and comes just days before the T20 World Cup begins in the United States and the Caribbean. The 34-year-old took three wickets in the final of last year's 50-over World Cup against hosts India and will likely be crucial to Australia's hopes of becoming the first nation to hold cricket's three global trophies in tests, ODIs, and T20s.Kolkata's hefty bid for Starc during the IPL auctions stunned the cricket world late last year, but it now appears to have been a masterstroke. They may have to fork out more to retain his services in 2025.Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins will no doubt be happier playing with Starc for Australia than against him in the IPL. "I thought they bowled fantastically," Cummins said after Hyderabad were skittled for 113. "Unfortunately, my old mate Starcy turned it on again."

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a tournament where the spotlight often shines on the big Indian names and international stars who command hefty salaries. However, the true foundation of a team's success lies in its Indian domestic core. These players, some still finding their footing in the big leagues and others on the fringes of national team selection, can make or break a campaign.Opponents often target these so-called weak links, but many youngsters rise to the challenge and play a crucial role in their teams' progress to the latter stages of the tournament. It is no surprise, then, that the two finalists of the IPL 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), have been blessed with some fine performances from their domestic cricketers.KKR's pacers Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have been revelations, while Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy's heroics with the bat have been instrumental in SRH's success. "It's been huge. Some youngsters have come through and won us games on their own. Nitish and Abhishek are probably the two biggest examples of guys who are kind of away from the Indian setup but have been fantastic," said SRH captain Pat Cummins."I feel like that's been the story of our team. A lot of guys are taking the game on, putting themselves out there, and having breakout seasons," added the Australian.KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer also spoke about how the domestic players have been proactive and have played with freedom. "When these guys come in, the youngsters, especially, are fearless in their approach, and their attitude is headstrong. A lot of them are versatile and enterprising in their approach and proactive," said Shreyas."They want to go out there and perform. So, it's just that when you give them that sort of freedom and back them during tough times, they deliver the best. And when these guys step up at the right time, they see that they win matches for you," he explained.The contributions of these domestic players highlight the importance of investing in grassroots cricket and providing opportunities for young talent to develop. By nurturing their domestic core, teams can build a solid foundation for long-term success in the IPL and beyond.

Dinesh Karthik, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter, has emerged as a pivotal figure in Royal Challengers Bangalore's remarkable resurgence in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After teetering on the brink of elimination, RCB has strung together six consecutive victories, setting the stage for a thrilling Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals on May 22.Karthik, who will turn 39 soon, attributes RCB's newfound momentum to the confidence that comes with winning. "Momentum in this tournament is directly proportional to confidence," he told The Hindu. "When you win a few, the confidence increases, and they keep feeding off each other."The veteran cricketer believes that the current RCB side is unburdened by the weight of past failures. Despite reaching the playoffs thrice between 2020 and 2022, RCB has not reached the summit clash since 2016. "It's been a completely different year, a different set of people and players," explained Karthik. "I don't think that is going to have any sort of bearing leading into the Playoffs. Completely different scenarios."Karthik's fearless approach has been a hallmark of RCB's recent success. He emphasizes that the team will not alter its aggressive style despite the heightened stakes of the playoffs. "It wouldn't change at all," he said. "It will be about recreating what we have done in these six games."The wicketkeeper-batter's contributions have extended beyond his batting prowess. He has also played a crucial role in guiding the team's young bowlers, including the likes of Akash Deep and Harshal Patel. "I try to help them as much as I can," said Karthik. "I try to give them confidence, and I try to make them understand the game better."As RCB prepares for the Eliminator, Karthik remains optimistic about the team's chances. "We have a good team, and we are playing well," he said. "We just need to continue doing what we have been doing, and we will be in a good position to win."

Rachin Ravindra, the New Zealand cricketer of Indian descent, made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the recently concluded season. Sharing the dressing room with legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra had a memorable experience despite CSK's failure to reach the playoffs.In his maiden IPL season, Ravindra showcased his batting prowess, scoring 222 runs in 10 matches with a highest score of 61 and a strike rate of 160.87. The 22-year-old expressed his admiration for Dhoni, stating, "To be able to share a field with him and benefit from his wisdom off it is extremely valuable."Ravindra's Indian heritage stems from his parents, who migrated to New Zealand from Bangalore in the 1990s. His unique name, Rachin, is a tribute to Indian cricket icons Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.Despite his Indian roots, Ravindra identifies himself as a Kiwi, having been born and raised in New Zealand. However, he cherishes his connection to India, saying, "I always loved coming to India. The people, food, and everything is amazing."Ravindra's next major assignment will be the T20 World Cup in Australia next month, where he will represent New Zealand. The young cricketer is eager to make a mark on the global stage and continue his journey in the world of cricket.

India's skipper Rohit Sharma has acknowledged his subpar batting performance in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite his struggles, Sharma emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and working on his flaws.During the second half of the season, Sharma endured a dismal run, failing to cross the 20-run mark in six consecutive matches for Mumbai Indians. However, he regained some form in their final match against Lucknow Super Giants, scoring a 38-ball 68. Despite his late resurgence, Mumbai finished the season at the bottom of the table."As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard," Sharma admitted. "But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well."Sharma's focus has been on maintaining a positive mindset and continuing to practice. "All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing," he said.Despite Mumbai's disappointing season, Sharma believes the team made too many mistakes and lost games they should have won. "Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them."Looking ahead to the upcoming T20 World Cup, Sharma revealed that the Indian team had a clear idea of their squad composition and the roles of each player. "We thought a lot about the team we ultimately selected for the World Cup. The spinners, seamers, batters, and keepers, we knew before the IPL who we would take to the World Cup."Sharma emphasized the importance of providing clarity to players regarding their roles and responsibilities. "Everyone going into the IPL needed clarity of whether they would participate in the team and what their role would be so they could practice and play accordingly. All of these indicators we had shared with 70% of the team before the IPL."India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5.

Riyan Parag, the rising star of Indian cricket, is poised to receive a thunderous welcome from his home crowd when Rajasthan Royals face Punjab Kings in their penultimate league game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on May 15, 2024.Placed second in the 10-team standings with 16 points, the Royals need just one win in their remaining two "home" games in Guwahati to secure a berth in the playoffs. This strategic move by the franchise, which has invested heavily in Parag's development over the past six years, has paid dividends.Despite not being an opener, Parag has amassed an impressive 483 runs at a strike rate of 153 this season. His consistency and adaptability have made him a contender for India's next T20 series, where he is expected to make his international debut.Parag's emergence as a cricketing icon from the northeast region adds significance to this match and the Royals' subsequent clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. The support for the 22-year-old will be overwhelming, bolstering Sanju Samson and his men against Punjab Kings.Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have struggled to find their footing this season, despite unearthing two T20 gems in Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan's absence due to injury has exacerbated their woes, with his stand-in Sam Curran failing to impress.In contrast, Samson has grown as a leader, leading the Royals' charge with 486 runs, the highest in the team. The dynamic opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal (344 runs) and Jos Buttler (359 runs) have had an average season by their standards, but Parag and Samson have ensured that the batting remains solid.The Royals' strength lies in their bowling unit, which has been consistently effective throughout the tournament. Sandeep Sharma (Economy Rate 8.07) and Trent Boult (ER 8.38) have executed their plans with precision, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal have provided the necessary spin and wicket-taking ability.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face off in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) clash on Thursday in Dharamsala. Both teams are fighting for survival in the tournament, with RCB sitting in seventh place with eight points from 11 games and PBKS in eighth place with the same number of points.RCB has shown signs of resurgence in recent games, winning their last three matches comprehensively. Virat Kohli has been consistent at the top of the order, while skipper Faf du Plessis has found his form with a belligerent knock in the last game. Will Jacks has also impressed with a match-winning century against Gujarat Titans, and Cameron Green has showcased his all-round skills with crucial contributions in runs and wickets.PBKS, on the other hand, has been inconsistent throughout the season. They have showcased their potential with away wins over Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings but have struggled at home. They have won just one out of five games in Mullanpur, their main home ground.The match will be a battle of contrasting styles. RCB has a strong batting lineup but a relatively weaker bowling attack, while PBKS has a more balanced team with a solid bowling unit led by Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh.The outcome of the match could have a significant impact on the playoff race. RCB can still make the playoffs if they win all their remaining three fixtures, while PBKS needs to win at least two of their remaining three games to have a chance of qualifying.

Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch has hailed Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as a "class player" due to his exceptional versatility that brings balance to any team he represents. Jadeja's recent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have further solidified his reputation as a top-class cricketer.In Chennai Super Kings' victory over Punjab Kings on May 5, Jadeja showcased his all-around abilities. He scored a valuable 40 runs and claimed three wickets, playing a pivotal role in his team's triumph. Finch, who has witnessed Jadeja's brilliance firsthand, was impressed by his performance."Ravindra Jadeja is such a versatile player, which makes him so effective. With the ball, he would have loved more wickets," Finch said. "He's been economical, going at under eight per over throughout the tournament. Leading with three wickets today (Sunday), he showed he is an absolute class player."Finch was particularly impressed by Jadeja's ability to return with figures of 3/20 in his full quota of four overs while defending a modest total of 169. "Three wickets for just 20 runs when the Punjab Kings were chasing a total of 170 odd runs is just superb. It just shows why he's one of the best players in the world," the Australian said.Finch also praised Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine, another versatile player who has been in exceptional form this season. The 2021 World T20-winning Australian skipper believes that it is extremely difficult to contain Narine for a long period of time."It's truly remarkable, isn't it? I mean, seeing Sunil Narine stride out to open the batting. Before this season, you're thinking, if we can just keep him quiet for a couple of balls, he'll try and do something and play a big shot. But this season, he's not only getting off to explosive starts but also batting smartly and seizing control of the innings," Finch said.The 35-year-old Narine smashed 81 off just 39 balls to power KKR to a comfortable 98-run win over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday night. In the process, Narine also became the fourth player to score more than 450 runs and take 10 plus wickets in a single IPL edition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has set his sights on guiding the team to victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking to The Hindu, Cummins expressed his determination to finish the IPL campaign on a high note, praising the team's impressive performances."Our opener Abhishek Sharma is the most impressive I have seen. A real talent," Cummins said. He acknowledged that while early dismissals of openers Travis Head and Sharma in the PowerPlay can put pressure on the team, he emphasized the strength of the batting lineup to cover for any setbacks.Cummins, who led Australia to victory in the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup, said there was little difference in his captaincy style between leading his country and SRH in the IPL. "The hardest thing is to know the players, motivate each one of them. Luckily, it didn't take very long and they have been pretty welcoming," he said.Reflecting on the Impact Player Rule, Cummins expressed mixed feelings. While he acknowledged its potential to add excitement, he also noted the challenges it posed for bowlers. "It is a huge challenge to be a bowler, especially in a T20 format. You have to have plans as batters come hard at you," he said.Cummins attributed Australia's success in World Cups to the confidence of the players, their brand of cricket, and their experience. "They know what it means to win big matches," he said.