Cricket

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have defied all odds to qualify for the Playoffs of IPL 2024, securing a thrilling 27-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their final league stage match.After a dismal start to the season, losing seven out of their first eight games, RCB staged a remarkable turnaround in the second half, winning six consecutive matches to seal a Playoffs berth. In their must-win clash against CSK, RCB posted a formidable 218/5, thanks to a blistering 73 from Virat Kohli and a crucial 52 from Dinesh Karthik.In response, CSK needed to restrict RCB to 201 or less to qualify for the Playoffs. However, RCB's bowlers held their nerve, led by Harshal Patel's 3/35 and Josh Hazlewood's 2/39. Despite a valiant effort from Ambati Rayudu (79), CSK fell short by 27 runs, finishing on 191/7.The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among the RCB players and fans, who took a lap around their home ground, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In a heartwarming moment, Kohli was seen urging the crowd to cheer for Karthik, who was dancing with pacer Mohammed Siraj.RCB skipper Faf du Plessis hailed the team's resilience and praised the performance of young pacer Yash Dayal, who bowled the final over and conceded only 10 runs. "Unbelievable and such a great atmosphere," said du Plessis. "I dedicate this Man of the Match to Yash Dayal. The way he bowled was unbelievable."With this victory, RCB have secured the fourth spot in the points table and will face the fifth-placed team in the Eliminator match on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Virat Kohli's batting has been under scrutiny despite his impressive run-scoring form in IPL 2024. However, the RCB batter silenced critics with a blistering 47 off 29 balls against Chennai Super Kings, propelling his team to the playoffs.Kohli's innings was a masterclass in pacing and execution. He started cautiously, building a solid foundation for RCB's chase. As the innings progressed, he accelerated his scoring rate, hitting boundaries at will. His strike rate of 162.07 was a testament to his aggressive intent.Legendary Indian batter Virender Sehwag lauded Kohli's performance, stating that it was a joy to witness him perform at his best. "He gave an amazing start to RCB," Sehwag said. "He has batted amazingly. Virat Kohli has done what he is known for. Today he has shown that he is a big player in big matches."Kohli's innings was not the only highlight for RCB. Young pacer Yash Dayal emerged as a key performer, dismissing MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession to seal the victory. RCB captain Faf Du Plessis awarded Dayal the Man of the Match award, praising his exceptional bowling."The way he bowled was unbelievable," Du Plessis said. "For a man who's fairly new, he deserves it. [on what he told Dayal before the last over] Pace off is the best option on this pitch and trust your skills and enjoy, this is what you trained for."RCB's victory was a testament to their collective effort. Kohli's batting brilliance, Dayal's bowling prowess, and Du Plessis's astute captaincy combined to secure a crucial win and a berth in the playoffs.

Punjab Kings Coach Bangar Addresses Challenges Amidst England Players' DeparturePunjab Kings coach Sanjay Bangar has expressed his disappointment over the unexpected departure of key England players for international duty during the crucial phase of IPL 2024. In a press conference after their final league match, Bangar revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had initially assured the availability of their players for the entire IPL season, but changes in the tournament's schedule disrupted these plans."The ECB had made it clear that all the players will be available. It is just that it so happens that the tournament got slightly extended, I would say, because of multiple reasons. Everybody was in a similar position but we lost those English players," Bangar stated after Sunday's game.The departure of England players, including Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Sam Curran, has significantly impacted several teams as these players left for the T20I series against Pakistan starting on May 22. For Punjab Kings, this meant losing their captain, Sam Curran, among others, just before crucial matches.With Curran's departure, Jitesh Sharma stepped up as captain for the first time on Sunday. Despite posting a strong total of 214 after electing to bat first, Punjab Kings were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad, marking a disappointing end to their campaign.Bangar highlighted that the absence of key international players was a significant setback but not the sole reason for their underwhelming season. "For us, even losing Livingstone with a niggle around his knee, the ECB pulling him out. Even KG (Kagiso Rabada) had an infection and he had to go back (to South Africa). Those things coupled together meant that when we came to the last two matches, we were short of players of international pedigree and experience. That hurt us but that is not the sole reason why our season was below par," he explained.The departure of these international stars has left a noticeable gap in several teams, impacting their performance at the crucial juncture of the tournament. Punjab Kings, like many others, have had to navigate these challenges while striving to maintain competitive form.

Australia's Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, the two most expensive players in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will face off on Tuesday in a high-stakes playoff match. The winner will advance to the final, while the loser will have a second chance in the Eliminator.Cummins, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Starc, a key bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders, have both had impressive seasons. Cummins has led Hyderabad to eight wins in 14 matches, while Starc has taken 12 wickets in 12 games.However, it is Cummins's captaincy that has been particularly impressive. He has strategically rotated his bowlers, contributing to Hyderabad's success. Cummins has also been a valuable lower-order batsman, with a highest score of 35 not out.Starc, on the other hand, has been finding his form just in time for the World Cup. He took 3 for 38 against the Lucknow Super Giants and 4 for 33 against the Mumbai Indians in recent matches.The IPL final will be followed just six days later by the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. Cummins led Australia to victory in the 50-over World Cup last year, and he will be hoping to lead Hyderabad to their second IPL title.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) remarkable success in IPL 2024 can be largely attributed to the exceptional performance of their opening pair, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek, in particular, has emerged as a formidable force, impressing legendary Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh with his aggressive batting style.In SRH's final league-stage match against Punjab Kings, Abhishek smashed his third half-century of the season, scoring a blistering 66 off 28 balls. His innings included five fours and six sixes, providing SRH with the quick start they needed after Head's early dismissal.Abhishek's consistent performances throughout the season have earned him high praise from Harbhajan, who believes he is on the verge of breaking into the Indian team. "He is not just knocking at the Indian team's door but almost breaking it open," said Harbhajan.Abhishek's impressive batting average of 467 runs in 13 innings, with a strike rate of 209.41, is a testament to his dominance. He has also hit a season-high 41 sixes, showcasing his power-hitting abilities."The kind of batting he has done in this entire season, I don't think any other youngster has played this well," added Harbhajan. "He has dominated with the bat. He hasn't bowled yet, which he is quite good at as well. He is a good allrounder."Abhishek's journey began with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2018, when he was just 17 years old. He also represented India's Under-19 team that won the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand the same year. In 2019, he joined the Sunrisers.One of Abhishek's most memorable performances this season was his 16-ball fifty against Mumbai Indians, the fastest ever by an SRH batsman. This innings played a crucial role in SRH's record-breaking 277-run total, the highest in IPL history."He was unhappy today because he had a hundred there on a platter. He missed it," said Harbhajan. "But the knocks he has played (so far this season), those have been impactful. He was a youngster when he made his Ranji debut for Punjab under me. I am so happy to see his progress, the way he has enhanced his performance. He is around that door to the Indian team now, one day he will enter it."

Uncapped Indian pacer Yash Dayal has emerged as a hero for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after his stellar performance in the team's victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), securing their spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs. Dayal's exceptional bowling in the final over earned him the Player of the Match award, which was dedicated to him by RCB skipper Faf du Plessis.Dayal's journey with RCB has not been without its challenges. After being acquired by the franchise in last year's auction, he faced criticism and skepticism about his place in the team. However, Dayal remained determined to prove his worth, stating, "I didn't want to prove people wrong, I just had to prove myself."RCB's unwavering support has been instrumental in Dayal's success. "RCB told me from day 1 that I'm an important player for them," he said. "They've backed me to the core, and the results you're seeing now are due to their backing and trusting on me."In the match against CSK, Dayal was initially not scheduled to bowl the 20th over. However, a strategic decision by du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik led to a change of plan. Dayal admitted to feeling nervous, especially after conceding five sixes to Rinku Singh in a previous match."After what happened to me last time, there was nervousness," Dayal said. "But I have done well in the past, I have done well after that, so all that was running through my mind was to deliver a good ball. I didn't want to look at the scoreboard or the result. I just wanted to bowl well. I was confident with my execution."Dayal's resilience and determination have paid off, and he has become a valuable asset for RCB. His performance in the playoffs will be crucial as the team aims to secure the IPL title.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have secured a berth in the IPL 2024 playoffs after a thrilling victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday. However, the match was marred by unsavory incidents both on and off the field.RCB's win sparked wild celebrations inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but the players were criticized for not shaking hands with MS Dhoni, who may have played his last game for CSK. Dhoni, 42, had led CSK to a record-equalling fifth IPL title last year but had hinted at retirement after the season.Outside the stadium, RCB supporters were accused of heckling CSK fans during their victory celebrations. In one viral video, a CSK fan was manhandled by RCB supporters.Despite the post-match controversies, RCB's performance on the field cannot be denied. After losing seven of their first eight matches, they have won six consecutive games to secure a playoff spot.CSK, on the other hand, failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Dhoni, who handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad before the season, played a crucial role in CSK's campaign, adding 61 runs for the seventh wicket with Ravindra Jadeja. However, his dismissal by Yash Dayal swung the game in RCB's favor.The Qualifier 2 and the final of this year's IPL are scheduled to be held at Chepauk, CSK's home ground. Fans had hoped to see Dhoni and his team lift the trophy in front of their home crowd, but that dream was dashed by their failure to reach the playoffs.

Virat Kohli Congratulates Chris Gayle on Record-Breaking Sixes in IPL 2024Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle, known for his monstrous sixes during his playing days, received a warm welcome from his former teammate Virat Kohli after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs.Upon Gayle's arrival in the RCB dressing room, Kohli immediately informed him that he had become the player with the most sixes in the ongoing IPL season. "Maximum sixes this season, yeah!," Kohli exclaimed in a video shared by RCB on social media.Gayle, who played for RCB from 2011 to 2017, was visibly surprised and asked, "How much?" Kohli proudly replied, "37!"Kohli's four sixes in his 29-ball 47 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took his tally of sixes in the season to 37. He now has 708 runs to his credit in 14 innings and holds the Orange Cap as the edition's top run-getter.RCB's victory over CSK in a do-or-die match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru secured their place in the IPL playoffs. They will now face third-placed Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator.Kohli's playful banter with Gayle continued as he teased him about becoming RCB's 'Impact Player' in the next IPL season. "Kaka, come back next year. Impact Player rule is on now. You don't have to field anymore. It's designed for you," Kohli joked, referring to Gayle's reluctance to run on the field during his playing career.Kohli autographed his RCB jersey and gifted it to Gayle with the message: "To Chris (kaka). With love and best wishes."

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured a thrilling 27-run victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday, securing their spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. The victory marked RCB's sixth consecutive win of the season, igniting jubilant celebrations both inside and outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium.At the heart of the celebrations was Virat Kohli, the marquee batter who led the team's charge to the playoffs. Kohli's emotions were evident as tears welled up in his eyes, capturing the significance of the moment for the team and its fans.Kohli's reaction was captured by a fan sitting near the boundary rope, providing a glimpse into the raw emotions of the victory. The video shows Kohli jubilantly celebrating, his aggression and passion on full display.The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and determination. Kohli and Faf du Plessis started the innings on the offensive, hitting a couple of sixes before rain halted their charge. After the resumption, Kohli and du Plessis faced a spin challenge from Maheesh Theekshana and Mitchell Santner.Despite the spin threat, Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green steadied the ship, forming a crucial partnership of 71 off 28 balls. Bengaluru's bowlers then took control, with Glenn Maxwell striking on the first ball to dismiss Gaikwad for a duck. Yash Dayal and du Plessis also played key roles in restricting CSK's chase.In the end, it was Dayal who kept his calm in the final over, dismissing Dhoni and giving away just one run to secure the victory. The win was a collective effort, with each player contributing to the team's success.