Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has expressed concerns over the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, suggesting that the Mumbai Indians (MI) may struggle to qualify for the playoffs if Pandya's approach continues.Tiwary criticized Pandya's decision-making during MI's recent defeat to the Rajasthan Royals. He questioned Pandya's choice to open the bowling himself instead of entrusting the new ball to Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as one of the best pacers in the world."If you have Jasprit Bumrah in the line-up, why will you not bowl him in the first over?" Tiwary said. "Buttler came off a hundred, Jaiswal was not in the best form, you need to give your best bowler the best chance of picking a wicket."Tiwary believes that Pandya's decision to bowl himself allowed the Rajasthan Royals batsmen to settle in and take advantage of the new ball. He also pointed out that MI's current position in the league table is concerning, as they have played more matches than teams above them."I don't see MI progressing in the points table because these silly mistakes are being made," Tiwary added.Tiwary concluded by suggesting that MI players may not have fully embraced Pandya as their captain. He believes that the team's performance under Rohit Sharma was more consistent and that Pandya may need to adjust his leadership style to achieve similar success."If this kind of captaincy continues, MI are not making the playoffs," Tiwary said. "Previously, players were with Rohit Sharma. Now it feels like that MI players have not bought into Hardik Pandya as the captain of the side."

Chennai Super Kings Seek Redemption Against Lucknow Super Giants in Home StretchThe defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), are eager to avenge their recent defeat when they host the unpredictable Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their reverse IPL fixture in Chennai. Both teams are desperate to break out of the mid-table logjam and secure a playoff berth.In their previous encounter in Lucknow, LSG's opening duo of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock put up a record-breaking partnership, leading their team to victory. CSK's bowling unit struggled to contain the rampaging duo, and the onus will be on pacers Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, and Mustafizur Rahman to deliver a better performance in the rematch. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja also had a disappointing outing and will need to step up on his home turf.CSK's top-order has been inconsistent, with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube doing the bulk of the scoring. The failure of opener Rachin Ravindra is a concern, and the team has experimented with promoting Ajinkya Rahane as an opener, pushing Gaikwad down to number three. Gaikwad will have to decide whether to stick with this shuffle or return to his preferred opening position.Despite the top-order struggles, Jadeja's composed fifty in the previous match allowed Moeen Ali and MS Dhoni to produce late fireworks and give CSK a fighting total. However, the team will hope for a more consistent performance from their top-order in the upcoming fixture.CSK has been a formidable force at home, and they will look to set the record straight after their away loss. With three consecutive home ties coming up, the Super Kings have an opportunity to march towards the playoffs. Revenge will be on their minds as they seek to avenge their defeat against LSG and secure a crucial victory.

Chennai Super Kings Gear Up for Crucial Clash with Lucknow Super GiantsAhead of their highly anticipated encounter with the Lucknow Super Giants, the Chennai Super Kings have unveiled a glimpse of their preparations on social media. A video posted on the official CSK handle showcases the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sameer Rizvi showcasing their formidable hitting abilities in the nets.Dhoni, known for his legendary six-hitting prowess, was seen unleashing powerful strokes, reminiscent of his trademark style. The video serves as a reminder of the Thala's ability to turn the game around single-handedly.In their previous encounter, despite Dhoni's heroics with the bat, LSG emerged victorious over CSK. Dhoni's innings of 28 off just nine balls showcased his ability to inspire his team. CSK will look to use that inspiration as an impetus to secure a positive result in this crucial match.With both sides tied at eight points in the league standings, a win in this encounter becomes imperative for their playoff aspirations. CSK, known for their formidable record at home, will be eager to redeem themselves after their recent loss to LSG.The last match witnessed stellar performances from LSG's KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, whose record-breaking opening partnership led their team to victory against the five-time IPL winners. CSK will need to find a way to counter their formidable batting lineup.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. CSK will look to rely on their experience and home advantage, while LSG will aim to continue their impressive form. The outcome of this match could have a significant impact on the playoff race.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue to await a significant impact from their star signing, Mitchell Starc, halfway through the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite being acquired for a hefty Rs 24.74 crore at the auction, the Australian pacer has struggled to contain opposition batters.KKR team mentor Gautam Gambhir initially expressed confidence in Starc's abilities, stating that he would soon make an impact. However, three games later, Starc's performance has raised concerns about his suitability as a death-over bowler, a role KKR had envisioned for him.In the recent match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Starc conceded 55 runs in three overs, including 21 in the final over. While he managed to defend the target thanks to a reflex catch, his economy rate of over 18 has fallen short of expectations.KKR's former skipper, Nitish Rana, had emphasized the team's need for a death-over specialist, which prompted them to pursue Starc. However, after seven matches, the team may be reconsidering their decision.Fellow KKR pacer Harshit Rana suggested that Starc's struggles may stem from his inability to adjust to the flat Indian wickets, where slower deliveries are more effective. Starc's lack of variation in pace has made him vulnerable to batsmen.KKR CEO Venky Mysore remains optimistic about Starc's potential, stating that his presence adds value to the team. However, the pacer's confidence could be affected by his recent performances, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching.Starc's struggles have raised questions about his decision to participate in the IPL, given his absence from the tournament since 2015. Some speculate that his aim was to prepare for the World Cup, but his current form may hinder his chances of making a significant impact.With several games remaining in the IPL, Starc still has an opportunity to prove his worth. However, he will need to adapt his bowling style and regain his confidence to justify KKR's hefty investment.

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) management has expressed unwavering support for their star acquisition, Mitchell Starc, despite his underwhelming performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. KKR's managing director and CEO, Venky Mysore, emphasized that the team does not view Starc as an "investment" but rather as a valuable asset.Starc, who was purchased for a record-breaking Rs 24.75 crore, has struggled to make an impact in the shortest format. However, Mysore believes that Starc's presence alone adds a different dynamic to the team. He highlighted the specific skills that the support staff sought in Starc, which they believe he possesses.Despite conceding 100 runs without taking a wicket in his first two matches, Starc managed to salvage some pride by taking a crucial catch to seal a dramatic one-run victory for KKR. Mysore acknowledged that every player experiences ups and downs, and he remains confident in Starc's abilities.KKR's resurgence this season has been attributed to the return of former captain Gautam Gambhir as a mentor. Mysore praised Gambhir's intensity and experience, which have added significant weight to the team. He also commended the winning attitude of Gambhir and head coach Chandrakant Pandit, along with the support staff's contributions.With five wins from seven matches, KKR is currently placed second in the IPL standings. Mysore expressed satisfaction with the team's consistency and balance, while acknowledging that several factors have contributed to their success.

Phil Salt, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicketkeeper-batter, believes that Virat Kohli's dismissal off a high full toss was a fortunate call for his team, contributing to their narrow one-run victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a high-scoring Indian Premier League (IPL) match.The use of the new Hawk-Eye technology to determine the height of the delivery played a crucial role, with TV umpire Michael Gough ruling that Harshit Rana's waist-high ball was fair. Kohli, who was batting aggressively, managed to score 18 runs off just seven balls before being dismissed by Rana, who took a return catch. This dismissal proved to be a turning point in RCB's chase of a challenging target of 223 runs at Eden Gardens, ultimately leading to their narrow defeat."It's a split opinion, we know that. From our point of view, we feel like we may have got away with one there. It's the rub of the greens, one of those calls," said Salt, who is ranked No. 2 in the ICC T20I batting rankings, at the Knight Golf event in Kolkata.The Englishman also suggested that utilizing technology in this way is ultimately advantageous for the game, hinting at the potential for a future review to evaluate the effectiveness of such technological advancements."They brought that data in, the no-ball data, for exactly that purpose. I feel like in 12 months' time maybe there'll be some sort of review. Is it working? Is it not working? Is it a new thing to the game?""But personally, from a player's point of view, any time you're using data and technology to be more precise and get the right decisions, that's a good thing for the game," Salt added.Salt and Sunil Narine, the opening pair for KKR, have been instrumental in scoring the majority of runs for the team, accumulating a total of 535 runs from seven innings. Their strong performances have contributed significantly to KKR's success, as the team has won five out of their seven matches, placing them at the forefront of contention for a playoff spot."It's great batting with Sunil, he is a very, very low-key chill guy. He's got a very different sort of skill set when he's opening the batting, as opposed to, up and down the order," Salt said."I suppose one of the good things for me is he takes the pressure off, and I don't have to strike at a rate of 200 in my first 10 balls. Some games I might, but I don't have to.""Normally, one of us gets going, and the other one feeds the strike. So, if we get a good start, we get a couple of boundaries away. You know, we can produce really big power plays, which is something that we've done."They have gone about their ways with a meticulous approach, picking the right bowler to attack and relied on match-ups, Salt said."Our conversations are mainly, who's going to take what ball, you know, who likes to match up, left arm spin, right arm pace, all that sort of thing.""Normally one of us wants to put their hand up and take that arm. We keep it very, very simple."Narine has been a revelation with the bat at the top of the order as the KKR spinner who was known as a pinch-hitter, has batted this time with poise and patience. Narine struck his maiden T20 century, scoring 109 against Rajasthan Royals the other day.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis expressed his admiration for his team's fighting spirit but acknowledged the need for clarity and confidence in crucial moments, which he believes RCB lacked in their narrow one-run defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).Chasing a challenging 223, RCB appeared well-positioned at 137 for 2 after 11 overs, thanks to a 102-run partnership between Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Andre Russell dismissed both set batters in the same over. Cameron Green and Mahipal Lomror followed suit in the next over, falling prey to Sunil Narine's spin.Du Plessis attributed the loss to a lack of clarity in decision-making, particularly in the batters' tendency to go for big shots early on. "When you haven't won games in a while, there's a bit of a lack of clarity," he said. "We got close, but the over from Narine was the turning point."The RCB captain also highlighted the changing nature of the game, where batters feel pressured to score boundaries from the outset. "The game doesn't allow you to get yourself in anymore," he said. "You have the extra batter with the Impact Player rule, but the guys who come in want to take six or seven balls to get themselves in and get six of six. When you're chasing 230, 240, 250, it just feels like the game doesn't allow you to do that anymore."Despite the defeat, du Plessis praised his team's effort in the field, despite conceding 222. "I'm really proud of the boys, the way that we fought in the field," he said. "We kept them to a total that we felt was defendable."

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Sunday. RCB made three changes to their lineup, bringing in pacer Mohammed Siraj, all-rounder Cameron Green, and leg-spinner Karn Sharma. KKR, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged team from their previous match.RCB's decision to bowl first proved to be a wise one as they restricted KKR to a modest total of 128/10 in 20 overs. Siraj was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, claiming 3/25 in his four overs. He was ably supported by Green (2/23) and Sharma (2/20).In reply, RCB chased down the target with ease, reaching 132/4 in just 18.5 overs. Virat Kohli top-scored for RCB with an unbeaten 41 off 49 balls, while Rajat Patidar contributed 26 off 28 balls.The victory was RCB's second in three matches, while KKR suffered their first defeat of the season.

Delhi Capitals' skipper Rishabh Pant admitted that his team was playing catch-up after Sunrisers Hyderabad's record-breaking powerplay performance in their 67-run defeat at home. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma's blistering opening partnership of 131 runs in just 6 overs set the tone for SRH's massive total of 266/7, the fourth time they have crossed 250 this season.Despite a valiant effort with the bat, DC could only manage 199 all out, falling short of the target. Pant acknowledged the powerplay as the turning point, saying, "We were just catching up throughout the match. That was the massive difference."Legendary commentator Sunil Gavaskar offered words of encouragement to Pant after the loss, urging him to keep his head up. Pant responded, "I will try my best, sir."Head and Sharma's record-breaking partnership erased the previous IPL record of 105/0 set by KKR against RCB in 2017. Pant admitted that he may have misjudged the dew factor and erred in choosing to bowl first.SRH bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, despite taking only one wicket, played a crucial role with his economical spell of 33 runs in 4 overs. He praised his fellow pacer T Natarajan's exceptional bowling, who twice came close to a hat-trick and finished with figures of 4/19 in four overs.Bhuvneshwar expressed satisfaction with SRH's batting performance, saying, "For so many years, this is the first time our batting is clicking so much." He also highlighted the importance of bowlers, saying, "Bowling is something... somebody says batting wins your sponsorship, but bowling wins you championship."