Cricket

Shah Rukh Khan's Humility and Inspiration Inspire Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL FinalKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have secured their spot in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1. The team's success has been attributed not only to their on-field performances but also to the unwavering support and inspiration provided by their co-owner, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.After the match, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer expressed their admiration for Khan's humility and guidance. Iyer praised Khan's ability to connect with the players on a personal level, saying, "His presence itself gets that zest in the team environment and the attitude and approach automatically changes."Venkatesh Iyer highlighted Khan's role in motivating the team, particularly those dealing with injuries. "His pep talk had not just lifted me but the likes of Nitish Rana who was dealing with injuries," he said. "To come back from injury and to perform is a really big task."Khan's influence extends beyond the field. He is known for his active involvement in the team's decision-making and his unwavering belief in the players' abilities. This support has created a positive and encouraging atmosphere within the KKR camp.The team's success in Qualifier 1 is a testament to the impact of Khan's leadership and inspiration. Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer's unbeaten 97-run partnership for the third wicket propelled KKR to victory with more than six overs to spare.Since 2018, the team that has won Qualifier 1 has gone on to win the IPL trophy. KKR will now look to continue this trend and secure their fourth IPL title in their fourth final appearance.

Shah Rukh Khan's Heartwarming Gesture After Unintentional Interruption of CommentatorsDuring the post-match celebrations of Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) emphatic victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024, co-owner Shah Rukh Khan inadvertently interrupted commentators Suresh Raina, Akaash Chopra, and Parthiv Patel during their on-field broadcast.As KKR secured a resounding eight-wicket triumph, a jubilant Shah Rukh embarked on a lap of honor to acknowledge the cheering fans. However, in his excitement, he unknowingly crossed paths with the commentators, who were providing their analysis of the game.The momentary interruption was met with a heartwarming gesture from Shah Rukh. Realizing his mistake, he immediately apologized and embraced Chopra, acknowledging the inconvenience he had caused.Shah Rukh's genuine remorse and subsequent apology were a testament to his humility and respect for the commentators. The incident highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect that exists within the IPL community.Meanwhile, KKR's victory was a testament to their dominance throughout the tournament. Pacer Mitchell Starc's devastating spell in the powerplay, claiming three wickets, set the tone for their bowling performance. Sunrisers Hyderabad's batting lineup struggled to cope with the pressure, with only Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen offering significant resistance.In response, KKR's openers, Venkatesh Iyer and skipper Shreyas Iyer, put on an unbeaten partnership to guide their team to victory in just 13.4 overs. Iyer's 58 not out and Iyer's 51 not out showcased their exceptional batting skills and composure under pressure.With this win, KKR secured their place in the IPL 2024 final, marking their fourth appearance in the championship match. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, will have one more opportunity to reach the final when they face the winner of the Eliminator in Chennai on Friday.

Mitchell Starc, the experienced Australian pacer, played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2024. Starc's three-wicket haul in the powerplay set the tone for KKR's triumph, restricting SRH to a modest total of 159.Starc's first victim was his Australia teammate Travis Head, who was castled by a sharp inswinger. He then dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in consecutive deliveries, leaving SRH reeling at 3/25. Starc's performance was particularly impressive considering his inconsistent form throughout the tournament."I have played a fair bit of cricket and have been fortunate enough to play in some big games and big occasions," Starc said after the match. "It was nice to get the team off to a good start that we needed today."Starc's wickets were crucial as they removed SRH's dangerous openers and disrupted their momentum. The pacer's ability to swing the ball and generate seam movement proved too much for the SRH batters."The way Sunrisers take on the powerplay, they've sort of matched us throughout the season in terms of getting off to good starts," Starc said. "It was great to get powerplay wickets and I think our bowling group was fantastic throughout."Starc's performance was praised by KKR coach Tom Moody, who said, "Class from Starc. We know that he has had a difficult three-quarters of the tournament, but that's why you pay big money to big-game players."Despite the dew factor, which made the wicket skiddier, Starc remained confident that the surface would improve for batting in the second innings. "The wicket is going to get a little bit better just with the dew and the bit of skid but in turn, it is also going to swing a little bit," he said.

In a thrilling Qualifier 1 encounter of IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Eden Gardens.KKR captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit the mixed-soil pitch. Mitchell Starc, the Australian pacer, delivered a fiery opening over, dismissing Travis Head for a duck with a full-length delivery that crashed into the stumps.Rahul Tripathi and Abhishek Sharma steadied the SRH innings, but Vaibhav Arora struck in the second over, trapping Sharma in front for 15. Tripathi, however, kept the scoreboard ticking, hitting a boundary off Starc in the third over.Nitish Kumar Reddy joined Tripathi at the crease and played a cautious innings, while Tripathi continued to find the boundaries. However, Starc's relentless pace and accuracy proved too much for Tripathi, who was caught by Andre Russell for 24.Reddy and Abdul Samad added 35 runs for the fourth wicket before Samad was dismissed by Harshit Rana for 18. Shahbaz Ahmed and Heinrich Klaasen then chipped in with valuable contributions, but KKR's bowlers kept the pressure on, restricting SRH to 158/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, KKR openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine got off to a solid start, putting on 30 runs for the first wicket. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke the partnership, dismissing Gurbaz for 16.Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer then steadied the innings, adding 45 runs for the second wicket. Iyer fell to Vijayakanth Viyaskanth for 25, but Rinku Singh and Andre Russell ensured KKR reached their target with ease.Russell, in particular, played a blistering knock of 42 off just 20 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. He remained unbeaten alongside Rinku Singh (22*) as KKR chased down the target with 10 balls to spare.With this victory, KKR advanced to the Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the Eliminator between Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals. SRH's campaign ended with this defeat, but they can take solace in their impressive performance throughout the season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the high-stakes Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. Former India cricketer and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has identified Abhishek Sharma as a key positive in SRH's batting lineup.SRH, led by Pat Cummins, finished the league phase second with 17 points from 14 games, narrowly edging out Rajasthan Royals on net run rate. Chopra praised Sharma's consistent performances and predicted a bright future for the young batter."Abhishek Sharma is the shining star. He comes and plays in a fearless and carefree manner. Sharma ji's son will be playing for India within 45 days," Chopra elaborated.Chopra emphasized Sharma's importance in the upcoming match, noting his ability to handle spin. "I feel Abhishek Sharma will open for India on the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tours. He plays extremely well and will have to play even better in this match because you will get Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy in the opposition," Chopra reasoned.Sharma has been a standout performer for SRH this season, amassing 467 runs at a striking rate of 209.41 in 13 innings. He is the second-highest run-scorer for the team behind Travis Head, who has scored 533 runs.Chopra also highlighted the contributions of other key batters in the SRH lineup. "Travis Head likes this pitch. He scored runs here in the World Cup final and defeated us very badly. Nitish Reddy is in very good form. Rahul Tripathi played well in the last match," he said.As SRH prepares to face KKR, the performance of their top order, particularly Abhishek Sharma, will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.

The highly anticipated Qualifier 1 clash of the IPL 2024 between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday is set to be a thrilling encounter. However, the weather forecast has cast a shadow over the match, with concerns of rain looming.Historically, KKR has a psychological edge over SRH, having won the IPL title in 2012 and 2014 when they finished in the top two. This season, KKR has been in impressive form, securing the top spot with 20 points from 14 matches.According to AccuWeather, there is no forecasted rain for Tuesday's match, but dew is expected to impact the second innings due to high humidity. The temperature is anticipated to range between 31 and 37 degrees Celsius, suggesting conditions may favor a high-scoring game.However, with three of the last eight IPL matches being abandoned due to rain, both teams will be wary of a washout. If the match is rained out, KKR will automatically advance to the final due to their higher points tally in the league stage, as per IPL rules.As per IPL Rule 13.7.3, an extra 120 minutes is allowed to complete a match if delayed or interrupted, which is double the usual allowance. If the weather doesn't permit play to resume within this extended time frame, the higher-ranked team, in this case, KKR, will progress directly to the final.KKR has not played a match in the last 10 days due to back-to-back washouts, including their last league game against Rajasthan Royals. Despite this, they remain confident, buoyed by the return of mentor Gautam Gambhir and the consistent performance of their bowlers.Former Pakistan captain and ex-KKR coach Wasim Akram has lauded KKR's bowling unit, highlighting the collective effort that has seen Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Mitchell Starc perform consistently.SRH, led by Pat Cummins, enter the contest with winning momentum after a decisive victory over Punjab Kings in their last home game. However, they face a big challenge in the form of table-toppers KKR.KKR, despite the absence of key player Phil Salt, who has returned for national duties, remain a formidable opponent. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to step in as Salt's replacement.

Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious in their final league match of IPL 2024, defeating Punjab Kings by 4 wickets in Hyderabad on Sunday. The match witnessed a heartwarming moment between Punjab Kings' bowler Arshdeep Singh and Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma.Abhishek Sharma, the Man of the Match, played a pivotal role in the victory, smashing a blistering 28-ball 66, including 6 sixes and 5 fours. His heroics helped Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down Punjab Kings' total of 215 with 5 balls to spare.After the match, a video shared by Abhishek Sharma's sister went viral, capturing a touching moment between Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek's mother. Arshdeep, who hails from the same region as Abhishek, approached the stands and sought blessings from Abhishek's mother."Give me the blessings which you give to Abhishek, I want the same," Arshdeep said in Punjabi.Abhishek Sharma has been in exceptional form for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 467 runs from 13 matches at an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 209.42. He has hit the most number of sixes in this edition of the IPL (41) and will be looking to add to his tally when SRH takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, has been a key performer for Punjab Kings, taking 19 wickets from 14 matches. He is currently third in the most wicket-takers list in this edition of the IPL and will be hoping to make a significant contribution with the ball in India's T20 World Cup campaign next month.The victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad sets up an exciting Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, while Punjab Kings will be hoping to bounce back in the Eliminator.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs are set to commence, with Kolkata Knight Riders, SunRisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru vying for the coveted trophy. However, the minds of many IPL enthusiasts are preoccupied with a pressing question: Is this the end of the road for MS Dhoni?The Chennai Super Kings legend witnessed his team's heartbreaking defeat against RCB on Saturday, which eliminated them from the tournament. Dhoni was visibly devastated by the loss.After leading CSK to victory in IPL 2023, Dhoni had hinted at retirement. However, he expressed his desire to continue playing for at least one more season due to the immense love and support he received from fans. That "one season" concluded on Saturday, but Dhoni has yet to make an official announcement regarding his IPL future.According to a report in the Times of India, Dhoni will take a few months to make a decision. "Dhoni has not informed anyone in CSK that he is quitting. He has told the management that he will wait for a couple of months before making a final call," a source close to the developments revealed.The report also stated that Dhoni was "devastated" after the loss and was among the first to leave the CSK camp for his hometown Ranchi on Sunday morning. He was later spotted riding his bike in Ranchi.In the RCB vs CSK match, Faf du Plessis's RCB needed a victory to secure a top-four finish. The excitement was palpable at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as RCB emerged victorious by 27 runs. However, the celebrations from the players drew criticism after Dhoni left the pitch without shaking hands.Videos on social media showed Dhoni waiting for the RCB players, who continued celebrating, before making his way to the dressing room without shaking hands. Virat Kohli later followed him inside to speak with the veteran star.During a discussion on Cricbuzz, former England cricket team skipper Michael Vaughan criticized RCB players for not taking the time to shake hands with Dhoni. "I can see that with the RCB team. They enjoy a lot of support but they also wind out the people. We saw a lot of that tonight. I get that that they have never been in a position where they have won the IPL and they desperately made it to the eliminations. But you don't wanna be one of those teams that everyone wants to lose," Vaughan said.

Wasim Akram Warns Sunrisers Hyderabad of Kolkata Knight Riders' Formidable Bowling AttackLegendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has issued a stern warning to Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of their highly anticipated IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. Akram, who has previously coached KKR, highlighted the team's exceptional bowling attack as a major threat to SRH's title aspirations.KKR finished the league stage at the summit of the standings with an impressive net run rate of 1.428, showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling. In their league encounter this season, KKR emerged victorious over SRH with a tense 4-run win at Eden Gardens.Akram praised KKR's bowling attack for its collective effort throughout the season, emphasizing their ability to consistently take wickets. "This [bowling] is one of the main factors [behind KKR finishing on top of the points table]. There are wicket-taking bowlers. The teams that will take wickets will win the matches," Akram told Sportskeeda.He highlighted the contributions of Varun Chakaravarthy (18 wickets), Harshit Rana (16 wickets), and all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine (15 wickets each), along with Mitchell Starc, who has 12 wickets. "Starc single-handedly won them a game as well. They are going in the final as a calm, confident, and very dangerous side for sure," Akram added.Akram also noted the team's controlled aggression as a key factor. "Almost everyone performed; they played Manish Pandey in one game and he also delivered. So, that shows that everybody is happy and confident. They have aggression, but they have controlled aggression. They are not cocky or overconfident," he added.However, Akram did highlight a potential challenge for KKR with the absence of Phil Salt, who has returned home for national team commitments. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to replace him in the playoffs. "No doubt, Phil Salt's absence will affect them," Akram remarked.