Cricket

Punjab Kings Triumph Over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati ThrillerIn a captivating encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Punjab Kings (PBKS) emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals (RR) by five wickets, snapping RR's four-match winning streak.RR, batting first, struggled to gain momentum, posting a modest total of 144 for 9. Riyan Parag top-scored with a valiant 48, while Ravichandran Ashwin contributed 28. Sam Curran led the PBKS bowling attack with an impressive 2 for 24, supported by Deepak Chahar and Harshal Patel, who claimed two wickets each.PBKS's chase got off to a shaky start, losing four wickets for just 48 runs in the first eight overs. However, Curran stepped up to the plate, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 63. His knock, laced with six fours and two sixes, guided PBKS to victory with seven balls to spare.Curran's heroics overshadowed Parag's efforts, who had earlier played a crucial role in RR's innings. The local boy from Guwahati struck five fours and two sixes in his 48-run knock, but it proved insufficient to prevent RR's downfall.The victory propelled PBKS to the fifth spot in the IPL standings, while RR slipped to seventh. The result highlights the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where fortunes can change rapidly.

Yuzvendra Chahal's Acrobatic Catch Stuns in Rajasthan Royals' VictoryIn a thrilling encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Rajasthan Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal showcased his exceptional fielding skills with a remarkable catch to dismiss Punjab Kings' Prabhsimran Singh. The incident occurred during the first over of Punjab's chase, as Singh attempted to dispatch Trent Boult's delivery over the on-side. However, the ball took a top edge and soared high into the air towards short third-man.Chahal, positioned inside the circle, initially appeared to misjudge the trajectory of the ball. However, he quickly backpedaled and contorted his body in an acrobatic manner, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the ball. In a tumbling motion, he extended his right hand in a reverse cup and miraculously managed to secure the catch.The catch left Chahal's teammates and Boult in disbelief, as it seemed impossible that he had managed to hold onto the ball. The dismissal proved to be a crucial moment in the match, as it marked Boult's record 28th wicket in the first over across all IPL seasons.Earlier in the match, Punjab Kings had restricted Rajasthan Royals to a modest total of 144 for nine. Riyan Parag emerged as the top scorer for Royals with a gritty 48 off 34 deliveries on a challenging pitch. Punjab's bowlers, led by Sam Curran (2/24), Harshal Patel (2/28), Nathan Ellis (1/24), and Rahul Chahar (2/26), shared the wickets.With this victory, Rajasthan Royals have secured their place in the playoffs, while Punjab Kings have been eliminated from the tournament. Despite their disappointing season, Punjab Kings will be proud of their fighting spirit and the exceptional fielding display by Chahal, which will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the IPL 2023 season.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have emerged as a formidable force in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, securing a top spot in the league phase with an impressive record of nine wins and three losses. As the playoffs approach, opener Phil Salt expresses his optimism for the team's continued success."We've had a great run so far, and we're hoping to keep the momentum going," Salt said on KKR's Knights Dugout Podcast. "It's about taking it day by day and putting our best foot forward."Salt has been a key contributor to KKR's success, forming a potent opening partnership with Sunil Narine. Their aggressive approach has often left opposition bowlers struggling to contain them.Mitchell Starc, KKR's left-arm pacer, shares Salt's enthusiasm for the playoffs. "We're all excited to be here and we're aiming to win the trophy," Starc said. "That's what we're here for."Starc, who is making his return to the IPL after a 10-year absence, is eager to make an impact. "It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm looking forward to it," he said.Salt also reflected on his recent experience with the England squad. "It was an incredible experience," he said. "My phone was blowing up with messages congratulating me."He shared an anecdote about facing Jofra Archer in the nets. "He's the fastest I've faced in the nets," Salt said. "It's good because it helps sharpen the reflexes, but there have been times when he's hit me right before the match day and then all hell has broken loose."KKR will face second-placed Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on May 19 in the concluding match of the league stage. The team is determined to maintain its momentum and secure a berth in the playoffs.

Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Pravin Amre has justified the exclusion of Prithvi Shaw from the team's recent matches, citing the impressive performances of Abishek Porel. Shaw, who played eight games for DC, scored 198 runs at an average of 24.75 and a strike rate of 163.63, including one half-century."He [Shaw] was our retained player, but he was on the bench for the last four of five games," Amre said after DC's 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in their final league game of the season. "If you are not in form, you can't keep your place. The pressure for the team is so much that every game is important and we have to win."Amre praised Porel for grabbing his opportunities with both hands. The left-hander smashed 327 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 159.51, including a blistering 58 off 33 balls against Lucknow Super Giants."What an innings [Porel] played today," Amre said. "We saw Jake [Fraser-McGurk] getting out in the first over and even then we managed to get 73 runs in the powerplay. I think that's what was so critical and the credit goes to Shai Hope and Porel for getting that 92-run partnership today."Porel's impressive performances as an opener have given DC a new dimension. In the three matches he played at the top of the order, he scored 159 runs at a strike rate of 165.62, including two half-centuries."Porel has shown that he can be a valuable asset to the team," Amre said. "He is a very talented player and he has a bright future ahead of him."

Gautam Gambhir Defends Hardik Pandya Amidst Leadership CriticismKolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has come to the defense of Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, who has faced criticism for his leadership skills. The five-time IPL champions have struggled under Pandya's captaincy, leading to criticism from former players like AB de Villiers and Kevin Pietersen.Gambhir dismissed the criticism, arguing that de Villiers and Pietersen have not achieved anything significant as leaders. "It's not important what experts are saying," Gambhir said. "My opinion has always been that you judge someone's captaincy by his team's performance."He emphasized that Pandya needs time to adjust to his new role. "Hardik Pandya has come from some other franchise so it takes time," Gambhir said. "Give him some time. Suddenly, you expect him to deliver at Mumbai, after captaining for two years at Gujarat."Gambhir also criticized de Villiers and Pietersen for their lack of leadership experience. "Those experts who have criticized him, they should see their own performances when they have captained a side," Gambhir said. "Whether it's AB de Villiers or Kevin Pietersen, I don't think in their career there is any performance of leadership, nothing."Despite Pandya's struggles, Gambhir believes he has the potential to be a successful captain. "He could have delivered, I am not saying he couldn't have," Gambhir said. "But if he hasn't, it's fine, give him a bit more time."Pandya has scored 200 runs and taken 11 wickets in 13 matches this season. Mumbai Indians are out of playoff contention with nine defeats in 13 matches. They will play their final game against Lucknow Super Giants on May 17.

Rajasthan Royals Face Punjab Kings in Crucial Clash, Seeking Top-Two FinishGuwahati, India - Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings will lock horns in a pivotal Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Wednesday, with both teams aiming for contrasting goals.Rajasthan Royals, currently sitting on 16 points, are in danger of slipping out of the top two after three consecutive defeats. The absence of Jos Buttler, who has departed for England's T20 World Cup duty, has further complicated their path to the playoffs.To fill the void left by Buttler, the Royals may consider promoting Tom Kohler-Cadmore or Dhruv Jurel up the order. However, Kohler-Cadmore has yet to play a T20 in India, while Jurel has limited experience as an opener in the format.Punjab Kings, on the other hand, are out of playoff contention and will be looking to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table. They will be boosted by the return of Sam Curran and Johnny Bairstow, who are available for this fixture before joining the England squad for the T20 World Cup.Key Players to Watch:* Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals): The young all-rounder has been in impressive form this season, scoring seven consecutive fifties in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He will be eager to make an impact in his third match at the venue in Guwahati.* Jitesh Sharma (Punjab Kings): The India T20 keeper-batter has struggled for form this season, averaging just 13.30 with a strike rate of under 125. He will be looking to end the season on a high note.Stats to Consider:* Arshdeep Singh has a favorable match-up against Yashasvi Jaiswal, having dismissed him twice in 20 balls.* Trent Boult has struggled against Punjab Kings, averaging 43.6 and conceding an economy rate of 9.98.* Yuzvendra Chahal has had a mixed season, with his average and economy rate deteriorating in his last six matches.Pitch and Conditions:This will be the first of two matches in Guwahati in IPL 2024. The pitch is expected to be conducive to batting, with the team batting first having won on both previous occasions at this venue.

The Delhi Capitals' playoff hopes suffered a major setback as they succumbed to a 47-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore in a crucial encounter. The match was marred by the absence of regular skipper Rishabh Pant, who was suspended for one match due to a slow over-rate offense.In Pant's absence, Axar Patel took over the captaincy reins, but the team struggled to find its rhythm. RCB posted a competitive total of 189/5, thanks to a blistering 66 from Rajat Patidar and a crucial 58 from Glenn Maxwell.DC's chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost four wickets in the powerplay. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs were both run out in unfortunate circumstances, further compounding the team's woes.Despite a valiant effort from Mitchell Marsh (55), DC never truly recovered from their early setbacks. They were eventually bowled out for 142, handing RCB a comfortable victory.The defeat leaves DC's playoff hopes hanging by a thread. They are currently fifth in the standings with 12 points, but their net run rate of -0.482 is significantly lower than RCB's 0.387.Axar Patel, who stood in as captain for the match, expressed his disappointment with the team's performance. "Dropped catches hurt us. We could have restricted them to 150. Also when you lose four wickets in powerplay, you are always chasing the game," he said.Pant, who has been a key figure for DC this season, did not directly address his suspension but shared a cryptic post on Instagram. "The only thing we have power over in the universe is our own thoughts. Can't say much," he wrote.With just one match remaining in the league stage, DC's chances of reaching the playoffs appear slim. However, they will be hoping for a miracle and will need to win their final game against Mumbai Indians while also relying on other results going their way.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Rinku Singh has endured a challenging season in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring only 168 runs in 12 matches compared to his impressive 474-run tally last year. Despite being touted as a potential candidate for India's T20 World Cup squad, Rinku was only selected as one of four traveling reserves.Reflecting on his form, Rinku acknowledged, "I haven't had enough opportunities to bat, and even when I did, I couldn't perform as well as I wanted for the team. I've been experiencing some ups and downs, but I'm trying to stay mentally strong and calm. I keep believing in myself and hope to improve in the next match. I don't dwell on the past and focus on the present."In KKR's recent match against Mumbai Indians (MI), Rinku played a brief but impactful innings of 20 runs off 12 balls, contributing to his team's 18-run victory in a rain-affected encounter. After rain delayed the toss and start of play, the game was reduced to 16 overs per side. KKR posted 157-7, with Venkatesh Iyer top-scoring with 42 off 21 balls.In response, MI finished on 139-8, with Tilak Varma scoring a quickfire 32 off 17 balls before falling to fast bowler Harshit Rana, who took two wickets in the final over. Varun Chakravarthy and Andre Russell also claimed two wickets each, securing KKR's playoff berth.KKR captain Shreyas Iyer praised his team's performance, saying, "We were playing fantastic cricket, and the boys have taken responsibility. There have been many game-changers. The boys have shown great attitude, and it was on display today. We have a mindset to win from any situation."With their victory, KKR secured a top-two finish, giving them two chances to qualify for the playoffs.

Piyush Chawla, the veteran Mumbai Indians (MI) spinner, has expressed his desire to continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after his impressive performances in the ongoing edition. Despite going unsold in the IPL 2022 auction, Chawla was picked up by MI ahead of IPL 2023 and has made a significant impact.With 10 wickets in as many games this season, Chawla has been one of the few bright spots for MI, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs race. However, it is unlikely that the franchise will retain him for the IPL 2025 mega auction.When asked about his future in the IPL, Chawla responded with a cheeky remark, leaving journalists in splits. "You tell me, if I should be playing with the way I'm bowling? If you have given your permission, of course I will see you somewhere next time," he said during the post-match press conference.Chawla has played 191 IPL matches for four different franchises, including Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and MI. The 35-year-old surpassed Dwayne Bravo earlier this season to become the second all-time leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 189 wickets. He was part of the KKR team that won the IPL in 2014.In MI's recent match against KKR at the Eden Gardens, Chawla picked up two wickets, but the team ultimately lost in a rain-hit game. Reflecting on the defeat, Chawla acknowledged that MI failed to gain momentum and praised KKR spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine for turning the tide."T20 is about momentum, and we didn't get that momentum right from the beginning. Some days we bowled well, but our batting didn't click, and sometimes our batters did well, but the bowlers ended up leaking runs," he said."As a unit, we have failed in a few games, and we have to accept that as a team. We have a brilliant lineup, but things didn't fall into place. Today also, we started off brilliantly, but that spell of (Sunil) Narine and Varun (Chakravarthy) actually made the difference. You have to give credit to their bowlers," Chawla added.Despite MI's disappointing season, Chawla's performances have been a positive sign for the veteran spinner. He remains hopeful of extending his IPL career and will be looking to make a strong impact in the remaining matches of the season.