Cricket

Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Pravin Amre has provided an update on the fitness of David Warner and Ishant Sharma, stating that both players will require another week to regain full fitness. Warner sustained a finger injury while attempting a lap shot against Lucknow Super Giants on April 12, while Ishant is recovering from back spasms.Warner missed DC's subsequent matches against Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and has since sat out two more games, including the recent victory over Mumbai Indians. Ishant, on the other hand, has been sidelined for the past two games due to back spasms.Amre expressed optimism that both players will be ready for selection when DC returns to Delhi after their upcoming match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 29. "I think Warner will take one more week [to be fully fit] and so will Ishant," Amre said. "They will be ready for selection when we return to Delhi."In the absence of Warner and Ishant, DC has relied on the contributions of other players, including Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has impressed with his recent performances. Fraser-McGurk, who was drafted into the squad as a replacement for Lungi Ngidi, has scored 247 runs in five innings, including three half-centuries.Amre praised Fraser-McGurk's abilities, highlighting his "X-factor" and his ability to open up the game with his aggressive batting. "He played just three innings [in the ILT20] before leaving to play for Australia but even in that, he played a couple of match-winning innings," Amre said. "Those knocks were something special. Given he is a young, exciting cricketer, we decided to back him."DC's next match is against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on April 29, before they return home to play against Rajasthan Royals on May 7. The team will be hoping to maintain their winning momentum and continue their push for a playoff spot.

Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: A Tactical Battle in AhmedabadGujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore will clash in a crucial IPL encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Both teams have had contrasting fortunes in the tournament so far, with GT seeking consistency and RCB aiming to build on their recent victory.Gujarat Titans: Tactical Adjustments and Home AdvantageGT's recent performance against Delhi Capitals raised questions about their tactics. However, they will be eager to rectify those mistakes and utilize their home advantage. In their previous afternoon game at the venue, they effectively employed spinners Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, and Mohit Sharma to restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad.Royal Challengers Bangalore: Spin Challenge and Powerplay DominanceRCB, with only one left-handed batter in their top seven, will face a spin challenge from GT. Rashid, Noor, and Sai Kishore pose a significant threat, especially to Virat Kohli, who has struggled against spinners this season. However, RCB's Rajat Patidar has been in excellent form and has a high strike rate against spinners.Powerplay Struggles and Form GuideGT has struggled in the powerplay, with a run-rate of just 8.1, the second-lowest in the IPL. The slow starts from Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudharsan have put pressure on the middle order. RCB, on the other hand, has been dominant in the powerplay, scoring over 60 runs in six of their nine games.Team News and Impact Player StrategyGT may swap Sai Sudharsan for Sandeep Warrier as the Impact Player if they bat first. Azmatullah Omarzai's lack of impact could lead to Kane Williamson's return at No. 4. RCB is unlikely to make any changes to their lineup unless there are injury concerns.Players in the SpotlightShubman Gill, despite his recent struggles, has a remarkable record at the Narendra Modi Stadium, averaging over 64. Virat Kohli, after a slow start against SRH, will be keen to regain his form and exploit GT's spin attack.Pitch and ConditionsPlayers will face a hot afternoon with temperatures reaching 40 degrees. The pitch is expected to be similar to the previous afternoon game, where GT restricted SRH to 162 for 8.Stats that Matter* Rashid Khan has a strong record against Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Dinesh Karthik in T20s.* RCB has conceded over 60 runs in the powerplay in six of their nine games.* Shubman Gill has a high strike rate against Mohammed Siraj.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) emerged victorious in their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, securing a 35-run victory. Rajat Patidar, who scored a crucial half-century, was named Player of the Match, while Cameron Green showcased his all-around prowess with an unbeaten 37 and two wickets.RCB, after winning the toss, opted to bat first. Skipper Faf Du Plessis and Virat Kohli provided a solid start, but it was Patidar who accelerated the innings with a 50-run knock. Despite Kohli's dismissal for 51, Green's unbeaten 37 and Swapnil Singh's 12* propelled RCB to a competitive total of 206/7.SRH's chase was hampered by regular wicket losses. Abhishek Sharma's 31 was the only notable contribution from the top order. Skipper Pat Cummins and Shahbaz Ahmed offered some resistance, but RCB's bowlers maintained control. Green and Karn Sharma claimed two wickets each, while Swapnil Singh, Will Jacks, and Yash Dayal also chipped in.Green, speaking after the match, praised RCB's captain and coach for their success. He also acknowledged SRH's strong batting performance. "We always have to celebrate little wins and we feel pretty good now. Credit goes to captain and coach, SRH have been batting well - that was the main reason," Green said.RCB's victory lifts them to the bottom of the points table with two wins and seven losses. SRH remains in third place with five wins and three losses.

IPL 2023: Sourav Ganguly Raises Concerns Over Batting Dominance, Calls for BalanceFormer India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed concerns over the imbalance between bat and ball in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Ganguly highlighted the challenges faced by bowlers on flat pitches and the impact of additional batting firepower through Impact Players."Not easy for the bowlers. They are being carted all over and that's one area that needs to be looked at in the future, the balance between bat and ball," Ganguly said ahead of the Delhi Capitals match against Mumbai Indians.The pitches in this edition of the IPL have predominantly favored batsmen, with teams consistently surpassing the 200-run mark due to the presence of prolific power-hitters in every lineup. Ganguly's remarks underscore the need to restore equilibrium in the competition.The IPL governing body has implemented a rule allowing bowlers to deliver a maximum of two bouncers per over, aiming to restore balance between batting and bowling in the tournament. However, some have flagged the 'Impact Substitute' rule as one of the reasons behind the high-scoring matches imbalance. Teams are now essentially playing with an extra batter, which gives them the freedom to go hard at the bowlers, leading to scores of 230 reaching 260-270.The Delhi Capitals have scored over 400 runs in the two games they have played at their home venue. Last week at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, SRH amassed 125 runs during the powerplay. Opener Travis Head scored a blistering 16-ball fifty on his way to a sensational 89 off just 32 deliveries."Our batting is also strong, we have given away 400 runs but scored them too. The wicket here is too good, batting friendly wicket," Ganguly added.The former BCCI chief is not the only one who has expressed concern for the bowlers. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar had earlier called for bigger boundaries.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have replaced Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc with Sri Lankan seamer Dushmantha Chameera for their match against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens on Friday. KKR captain Shreyas Iyer revealed at the toss that Starc had sustained a finger injury during their previous encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).Starc's IPL campaign with KKR has been underwhelming so far. Despite being acquired for a record sum of INR 24.75 crore (USD 2.98 million approx.) at the auction, he has managed only six wickets while conceding runs at an alarming rate of 11.48 per over.In the match against RCB, Starc was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the final over, tasked with defending 21 runs. However, he was ruthlessly targeted by No. 9 batsman Karn Sharma, who smashed three sixes off his bowling. Starc eventually managed to take a return catch to seal the victory, but his figures of 1 for 55 from three overs were far from impressive.This was the third time this season that Starc has conceded 50 or more runs in a game, including the second consecutive match. His best performance came against Lucknow Super Giants in a day game at Eden Gardens, where he claimed three wickets and conceded only 28 runs.Starc is making his return to the IPL after an eight-year hiatus. His last appearance in the tournament was in 2015 for RCB, where he took 20 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76.In an interview ahead of the match against Kings, Starc did not mention his finger injury. Instead, he spoke about his return to the IPL and the lessons he has learned from the experience."Coming back, obviously a different team to where I was last in the IPL, so getting to meet a lot of the guys I have played against a little bit... Some younger guys in the KKR squad, getting to know a few of the younger bowlers," he said. "There's a lot of talent around with bat and ball.""I'm getting to know how these guys go about it and learn from them as well, and try and answer any questions they've got. I've come back an older player than when I was last in the IPL, but it's a lot of fun."For Chameera, this will be his first appearance of the season. It is his second stint in the IPL, having played for RCB in 2022.

Mumbai Indians (MI) find themselves in a precarious position in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, languishing in eighth place with only three wins from eight matches. The team's struggles have been attributed to their inability to halt the momentum of opposing teams once it starts building.Tim David, MI's explosive batter, acknowledged the team's shortcomings in this area. "Someone like Booms (Jasprit Bumrah) has been winning games for us, but we haven't been effective enough in shutting teams down when they get going," David said.The Australian all-rounder emphasized the importance of setting the tone and maintaining it throughout the match. "It was pretty obvious against RR (Rajasthan Royals) that wasn't the standard that we set ourselves to. That is the challenge for the playing group, we set the tone," David added.MI's slow start to the season has put them in a critical position, where they cannot afford to lose any more games if they want to qualify for the playoffs. "Obviously, we had a slow start to the season, then we played some better cricket. If we had won our last game, it would have been our fourth win in five matches so far," David said.The upcoming matches against Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad are crucial for MI's playoff aspirations. These teams are currently in the top four, making the challenge even more daunting."If we want to win the competition, we need to beat the best in the competition. We haven't played all those sides, but if we beat them, we are in the playoffs where all the teams considered the best will be," David said.Despite the team's struggles, David expressed his admiration for Jasprit Bumrah, who has been a shining light for MI. "He is incredibly consistent, he believes in his own skillset and has a history of good performance. He has a unique action that makes him difficult to pick up, he bowls fast, nails yorkers, and also has hard-to-pick slower balls," David said.

KKR vs PBKS Live Score: Punjab Kings Face Pressure, Starc Under SpotlightKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Punjab Kings have struggled for consistency this season, despite promising performances from Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. Their playoff hopes are fading, while KKR aims to improve their bowling unit's efficiency.Mitchell Starc, KKR's star bowler, will be under pressure to justify his hefty price tag of USD 3 million. The Australian pacer has been inconsistent so far, and KKR will rely on him to lead their bowling attack against a formidable Punjab Kings batting lineup.Punjab Kings, on the other hand, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around. They have a talented squad, including Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Kagiso Rabada. However, they have failed to perform as a unit, often losing crucial matches at key moments.The match promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with contrasting fortunes. KKR will be looking to consolidate their position in the top four, while Punjab Kings will be fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Mumbai Indians' Batting Practice Causes Rs 40,000 DamageMumbai Indians' batters have been hitting the ball with such force during their net practice sessions that they have caused significant damage to pitch-side cameras, resulting in a hefty Rs 40,000 repair bill for the franchise.In a video shared on Mumbai Indians' social media platform, the franchise revealed the extent of the damage, with big hitters like Tim David and Suryakumar Yadav sending balls crashing into the cameras. The caption of the video, "this reel cost us 40k to make," humorously highlights the unintended consequences of their powerful batting.The incident underscores the challenges faced by Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite securing three victories in their last four games, the team has struggled with inconsistency and currently languishes in eighth place on the points table.While the batting has shown occasional promise, the bowling remains a significant concern. Jasprit Bumrah has been the standout performer, leading the attack with 13 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.37. However, new recruit Gerald Coetzee has been inconsistent in his debut IPL season, taking 12 wickets in eight matches but with an economy rate of 10.10.As Mumbai Indians prepare to face Delhi Capitals on Saturday, they will need to address their bowling woes and find a way to contain the opposition's dangerous batting lineup. The match will be a crucial test for the team's hopes of making a late surge into the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians' pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has taken it upon himself to address his team's batting woes. With MI struggling to make the IPL playoffs due to inconsistent batting performances, Bumrah has been practicing his batting skills in the nets.In a video shared by MI's official social media handle, Bumrah is seen hitting some big shots during a net practice session ahead of their clash with Delhi Capitals on Saturday. The video highlights Bumrah's determination to contribute to the team's performance beyond his role as a bowler.Bumrah's batting practice comes as MI faces a crucial match against DC, who are currently sixth in the points table with eight points. MI, on the other hand, is eighth with six points. In their previous match, MI suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals.Despite MI's batting struggles, Bumrah has been in impressive form with the ball this season. He has claimed 13 wickets at an average of 15.69 and an economy rate of 6.37. His best bowling figures stand at 5/21, and he currently holds the 'Purple Cap' for being the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.Bumrah's batting practice is a testament to his commitment to the team and his willingness to go the extra mile to help MI succeed. It remains to be seen whether Bumrah's batting skills will translate into runs on the field, but his efforts have certainly boosted the team's morale.