Cricket

Chennai Super Kings' Ambati Rayudu Mocks Royal Challengers Bangalore After IPL EliminationFormer Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu has taken a dig at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) following their elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Rayudu's Instagram post, captioned "Just a kind reminder from the 5 time champions," featured CSK players gesturing the number 5, symbolizing their five IPL titles.Rayudu's post comes after RCB eliminated CSK from the tournament earlier in the season. However, the former India batter appeared to relish Bengaluru's exit from the competition.In a previous statement, Rayudu had criticized RCB's approach, saying, "If you talk about RCB, it shows that only passion and celebration don't win you trophies. You don't get the IPL trophy just by reaching the playoffs. Don't think you will win the trophy just by beating CSK."RCB skipper Faf du Plessis expressed pride in his team's effort despite their playoff exit. "With the dew coming, we felt we were short with the bat. Did think we were 20 runs shy of what was a good score. Credit to the boys - they fought really well. That's all you can ask for," du Plessis said."Also with the dew coming in. Extremely proud. Lot of teams - their wheels would've fallen off after 1 from 9. To come back like that, six games in a row, takes a lot of heart and character. We weren't special tonight in terms of pushing that extra 20 runs with the bat," he added.Rayudu's post has sparked a social media battle between fans of the two franchises. While some CSK supporters have praised Rayudu's humor, others have criticized him for being disrespectful.

Rinku Singh's omission from India's T20 World Cup squad has raised eyebrows, given his impressive T20I record. In 15 matches, he has amassed 356 runs at an astonishing average of 89 and a strike rate of 176.24. However, his recent form in the IPL 2024 has been a cause for concern.In 13 games, Singh has managed only 168 runs at an average of 18.67 and a strike rate of 148.67. This dip in form has led to questions about his ability to perform at the highest level.Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that Singh has not made the most of his opportunities in the IPL. "He's had opportunities and he came quite early on some occasions, but couldn't maximize that chance," Vaughan said.Vaughan, however, remains optimistic about Singh's long-term prospects. "He's a terrific player who can strike the ball. His level is so high now, because we expect. In T20s, you got to take so many risks, that every now and then, you have a run of games where it doesn't quite go your way.""You are talking about trying to hit it out of the ground on a regular basis, and every now and then you can get caught. As long as his mindset is purely to be aggressive - he's a better player that way - he will be absolutely fine."Vaughan believes that Singh's lean phase is temporary. "I have seen him in the last few years, where he will just explode. He averages 80 for India because he stays not out at the end, he's a quality player. He's not a flash in the pan, I don't think in two years, we are gonna be like 'Where's Rinku Singh gone! He's disappeared. He's not the player we thought he was'," Vaughan said."He just having one of those periods. The top order works, whereas in the previous year, it wasn't working and he was getting to bat earlier on a regular basis. He could knock around for a while and then explode. He's had some opportunities but primarily came further down at the backend. In t20 cricket, you may get out while trying to be aggressive."Despite his recent struggles, Singh remains a highly talented batsman with the potential to be a match-winner for India. His omission from the T20 World Cup squad is a setback, but it should not be seen as a reflection of his overall ability.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) IPL 2024 campaign ended in heartbreak as they succumbed to a four-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator. Despite Virat Kohli's consistent performances, RCB's elusive quest for an IPL title remains unfulfilled.Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen believes it may be time for Kohli to consider a move to another franchise to fulfill his dream of winning an IPL trophy. Pietersen cited examples of great athletes in other sports who have changed teams to achieve their goals."Virat Kohli deserves a trophy. He deserves to play in a team that could help him to get that trophy," Pietersen said.Pietersen suggested that Kohli should consider joining Delhi Capitals, his hometown team. He drew parallels with sports icons like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Harry Kane, who switched teams to achieve greater success."Delhi is the place where Virat needs to go. He can go away and stay at home most of the time. He has a young family. He can spend more time there. He is a Delhi boy. Why can't he go back?" Pietersen added.With this victory, Rajasthan Royals advance to Qualifier 2, where they will face Sunrisers Hyderabad for a spot in the IPL 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, RCB and Kohli are left to reflect on yet another season that ended in disappointment, despite flashes of brilliance from their star player.

The resurgence of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable. After a dismal start with seven defeats in eight matches, the Faf du Plessis-led side displayed unwavering determination and staged a stunning comeback, winning six consecutive games. This remarkable turnaround propelled RCB into the Playoffs, knocking out five-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the process.The RCB faithful are now eagerly anticipating their team's progress into the final, a stage they last graced in 2016. That heartbreaking loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad by a mere eight runs still lingers in the minds of many fans. Recently, former all-rounder Shane Watson, who was part of the 2016 RCB squad, expressed his remorse for his poor performance in the final.At a university event, Watson was greeted with chants of "RCB, RCB, RCB" from the crowd. His reaction was priceless, a testament to the extraordinary passion of the RCB fandom."To all the RCB fans here tonight, I need to profusely apologize," Watson told the students. "The reason is the 2016 IPL final at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.""I was as prepared as I could be, hoping to perform my very best, but I had one of the worst performances from a bowling perspective in the final. And I most probably cost RCB the IPL title," he added.Watson's expensive spell of 61 runs in just four overs proved costly for RCB, allowing SRH to post a formidable total of 208/7. Despite a blistering start from openers Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, who stitched together a 114-run partnership, RCB's chase fell short as SRH bowlers restricted them to 200/7.Watson's disappointing performance extended to his batting as well, scoring only 11 runs off 9 balls.Looking ahead to IPL 2024, RCB will face Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator match on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The team will be hoping to continue their resurgence and secure a berth in the final.

Rajasthan Royals Skipper Sanju Samson Emphasizes Resilience and Character in Dramatic IPL Eliminator VictoryIn a thrilling IPL 2024 Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson led his team to a dramatic four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Reflecting on the win, Samson highlighted the importance of resilience and character in overcoming adversity."Cricket and life have taught us that we will have good and bad phases," Samson said. "But we need to have the character to bounce back."The Royals' victory was a testament to their collective effort, with strong performances in fielding, batting, and bowling. Samson praised his team's ability to adapt to the opposition's tactics."Credit to the bowlers; they are always thinking about what the opposition batters might do and how to set the fields accordingly," he remarked.Samson also singled out young talents Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal for their crucial contributions. Despite their limited experience, both players displayed remarkable skill and composure under pressure."They are 22 each, as is Jurel," Samson noted. "With very little experience, the way they are performing at this level is amazing."Samson acknowledged that he is not at full health due to a bug circulating in the dressing room. However, he expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome these challenges."Rovman finished that off well," Samson said, referring to Rovman Powell's match-winning knock. "I think we have a travel day and rest now, looking forward to the next game."The victory keeps Rajasthan Royals' hopes alive in the IPL 2024 playoffs. Samson's leadership and the team's collective effort have been instrumental in their success thus far.

Glenn Maxwell's Golden Duck Disappoints Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL EliminatorRoyal Challengers Bengaluru's hopes of advancing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 were dashed after a disappointing performance by star player Glenn Maxwell in their Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals. Maxwell, known for his explosive batting, was dismissed for a golden duck, matching Dinesh Karthik's dubious record of 18 ducks in the IPL.The critical moment came in the 11th over, when veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed Maxwell with a deceptive delivery. After dismissing Cameron Green for 27 off 21 balls, Ashwin outsmarted Maxwell, leaving RCB reeling.Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan and ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen were critical of Maxwell's shot selection. Pathan questioned Maxwell's decision-making, while Pietersen remarked that Maxwell's performance was "not good enough" in such a crucial game.Maxwell's failure was particularly disappointing given his reputation as a match-winner. His dismissal left RCB vulnerable, and they were unable to recover, eventually losing the match and their chance to advance in the tournament.With this dismissal, Maxwell joined Dinesh Karthik at the top of the unwanted leaderboard for the most ducks in IPL history, each having 18 to their name. They are followed by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma with 17 ducks, and Piyush Chawla, Mandeep Singh, and Sunil Narine, each with 15 ducks.Maxwell's golden duck will be remembered as a turning point in RCB's season. His failure to deliver when it mattered most contributed to their elimination from the tournament.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian off-spinner, has revealed that he battled an abdominal injury during the first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, which hindered his bowling performance.In his initial nine matches, Ashwin managed only two wickets at an economy rate of 9.00. However, in the subsequent four games, he has claimed seven wickets at a much-improved economy of 6.81. This includes his impressive 2 for 17 in four overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator, which helped Rajasthan Royals (RR) secure a thrilling victory."To be honest, in the first half of the season, my body wasn't moving at all," Ashwin admitted after being named Player of the Match. "I felt like I couldn't complete my action properly on many occasions. I had a bit of an abdominal injury as well, so I couldn't really get through it."Despite the injury, Ashwin remained committed to his team and pushed through the pain. "I put my body on the line in many of the games," he said. "For me, it was more about finding the rhythm and hitting the right lengths. Coming from Test-match mode, your body needs to adjust... I mean, I'm aging, so it's not that easy anymore."As the tournament progressed, Ashwin gradually found his rhythm through consistent practice. "The amount of repetitions I need for the T20 game is a lot," he explained. "I actually bowl a lot off the game time as well. I needed that amount of bowling time to get into the groove."RR's victory over RCB ended their five-match winless streak. After a strong start with eight wins in nine games, the team's form dipped, coinciding with injuries to Shimron Hetmyer and the departure of Jos Buttler for national duty."We haven't done incredibly well over the last few games," Ashwin acknowledged. "Our batting has struggled to put up par-plus scores. We lost Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer was injured - some crucial blows at the top of the order and in the middle. It's not easy for any team to come out of that. I thought we were a bit rusty chasing 173, but that confidence will come right back into the dressing room now."RR will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in Chennai. Ashwin expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back. "The greatest strength of our team is the exuberance of youth and the balance of the senior players," he said. "Now that Hettie is back and Rovman [Powell] also got a few boundaries away, which is very critical for us, we would be going confident into that game. We've got a decent spin attack, we've got Keshav [Maharaj] sitting outside. If you can get off to a good start against SRH, you never really know."RR captain Sanju Samson, who is not in the best of health, praised his team's character for overcoming adversity. "We will have some great phases and we'll have some really bad phases," he said. "But we need to have the character to think that we can bounce back at the crucial moment. Looking at the last four-five games, we have not had any momentum. We had been completely losing all the games and coming here at the knockouts, we were definitely asking ourselves some questions, but the character the team showed, the way we fielded, the way we batted, the way we bowled, I am really happy."

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis expressed disappointment after his team's elimination from IPL 2024 by Rajasthan Royals (RR). He attributed the loss to a combination of the Impact Player rule and the dew during the chase, which he believes left RCB "20 runs short" of a competitive total.Batting first on a fresh pitch in Ahmedabad, RCB managed to post 172 for 8. However, du Plessis felt that the score was insufficient, especially considering the dew factor that would aid RR's chase. "With the dew coming in the second innings, we thought we were a little bit short with the bat," he said. "We needed a push, a few more runs to make it even more competitive."Du Plessis acknowledged the challenges of batting first on a sticky surface, but emphasized that the Impact Player rule has raised the par scores in T20 cricket. "If you look at naturally assessing the pitch and the conditions, you would say it's a 180 pitch," he explained. "But with the extra batter and the longer batting line-ups, your par scores are really not what they used to be, especially if there's dew."RCB's innings took a significant hit when they lost Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell in quick succession. Maxwell's dismissal, in particular, drew criticism from commentators Varun Aaron and Tom Moody, who labeled it as "reckless" and a "brain fade."Despite the setback, du Plessis praised his team's resilience in reaching the playoffs after a poor start to the season. "A lot of teams would have probably fallen off after one [win] from nine [eight]," he said. "We have got great characters in that dressing room, all of us really put our hands up with a lot of pride and a lot of fight in us to make sure we give our best and give it absolutely everything we have."However, du Plessis lamented the missed opportunity to advance further in the tournament. "It's a sad ending when it goes your way like that, you feel like is it possibly written in the stars that you could do something special here but we weren't special tonight in terms of just pushing that extra 20 runs with the bat."

In the high-stakes Eliminator match of IPL 2024, a controversial dismissal sparked debate among cricket experts and fans alike. After the contentious lbw call against Dinesh Karthik, another incident involving Cameron Green and Dhruv Jurel raised questions about the interpretation of the run-out rule.Green, fielding at deep mid-wicket, collected a throw from Virat Kohli and attempted to run out Jurel. However, replays showed that Green may not have had complete control of the ball when he broke the stumps. The TV umpire, Anil Chaudhary, ruled Jurel out, citing Law 29.2.1.5, which states that a run out occurs if "the ball is held in the hand or hands so used [to break the stumps], or in the hand of the arm so used."The decision divided opinion. Some experts, like Mitchell McClenaghan, argued that Green did not have control of the ball and that Jurel should have been given the benefit of the doubt. Others, like Varun Aaron, believed that Green had sufficient control to justify the dismissal.The law itself states that the ball must be "held" in the hand or arm used to break the stumps. However, the visuals did not conclusively show whether Green had complete possession of the ball. This ambiguity led to the debate over whether the dismissal was justified.Tom Moody, another expert, pointed out that the key word in the law is "held." He argued that Green did not have control of the ball when the stumps were broken and that Jurel should not have been given out.Ultimately, the decision did not affect the outcome of the match. Rajasthan Royals went on to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore with one over to spare, thanks to contributions from Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell. However, the controversy surrounding Green's dismissal highlighted the need for clarity in the interpretation of the run-out rule.