Cricket

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, renowned for his mastery of the pull shot, recently shared his expertise with uncapped Indian batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The encounter occurred after the IPL 2024 match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.Ponting, now the head coach of DC, took time out to guide Raghuvanshi on the intricacies of playing the pull shot. The video of their interaction, shared by the IPL on social media, has garnered widespread attention."Making the most out of the opportunities. Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi receives some valuable post-match lessons from the @DelhiCapitals Head Coach @RickyPonting," the IPL captioned the video.Raghuvanshi has made a significant impact in this year's IPL, earning a place in the playing XI after an injury to Nitish Rana. In five innings, he has played crucial knocks of 54, 24, and 30.On Monday, he did not get the chance to bat as an impact substitute, as KKR secured an easy victory.After DC opted to bat, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy led KKR's disciplined bowling attack, restricting the hosts to 153-9. In reply, Phil Salt led the chase with an opening stand of 79 with Sunil Narine, guiding the two-time champions to victory with 3.3 overs to spare.Ponting's guidance to Raghuvanshi highlights the importance of mentorship and knowledge sharing in sports. The former Australian captain's insights can help the young Indian batter refine his technique and improve his performance.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been slapped with a hefty fine of Rs 24 lakh for his team's second slow over-rate offense in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The incident occurred during their match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday, April 30.According to the IPL's Code of Conduct, Pandya was fined INR 24 Lac as it was his team's second offense of the season. The rest of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 6 Lac or 25 per cent of their respective match fees, whichever was lesser.The match itself saw Mumbai Indians struggle to post a competitive total, managing only 144 for seven. Nehal Wadhera (46), Ishan Kishan (32), and Tim David (35 not out) were the only notable contributors.In reply, Lucknow Super Giants chased down the target with four balls to spare, thanks to a 45-ball 62 from Marcus Stoinis. The Australian all-rounder hit seven fours and two sixes in his innings.With this victory, Lucknow Super Giants climbed to the third spot in the IPL standings with six wins in 10 games. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, slumped to their seventh loss in 10 games, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the table.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has witnessed an unprecedented batting onslaught, leaving bowlers struggling to contain the run flow. The combination of flat pitches and shortened boundaries has created a nightmare scenario for bowlers, with scores in excess of 250 runs becoming commonplace.Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Mohammed Siraj has acknowledged the challenges faced by bowlers this season. "The level of cricket has gone extremely high," he said. "Every second game, you see scores of 250-260 in the IPL. But, this was not the case in the past. Very rarely have we seen scores of 250 or more in the previous seasons."The lack of swing and movement on the flat wickets has further compounded the bowlers' woes. "Bowlers have no help," Siraj lamented. "The boundaries are small. On top of that, these are flat wickets. In the past, there was swing with the new ball. That too is not happening now. It has changed a lot. For bowlers, the mantra is 'keep playing, keep getting hit'."Despite the adversity, Siraj remains optimistic and urges bowlers to maintain their belief. "We (Bowlers) have to believe," he said. "For me especially, I have seen a lot of ups and downs in life. I believe that if I get hit in a match, I can bounce back in the next. I always look to bounce back and never give up."Siraj also emphasized the need for bowlers to adapt to the changing conditions. "The game has gone to a level such that if I get hit even after bowling a good delivery, I don't have a problem," he said. "I haven't bowled badly in the tournament. (A bowler conceding) 40 runs has become normal. In the past, it was like 'Oh no, he has given 40 runs in 4 overs'. But, 40 runs have become normal."As the IPL 2024 season progresses, it remains to be seen how bowlers will respond to the batting onslaught. The flat pitches and shortened boundaries are likely to continue to favor batsmen, but bowlers will need to find ways to adapt and contain the run flow if they want to succeed in this high-scoring environment.

Virat Kohli's recent performance in the IPL 2024 has sparked discussions about his strike rate. However, renowned commentator and former national team coach Ravi Shastri has come out in support of Kohli, emphasizing the importance of performance within the broader team context.Shastri highlighted that Kohli's strike rate may drop when wickets fall around him, as was the case in his match-winning knock against Gujarat Titans. Kohli's gritty 70 off 44 balls, coupled with a stellar century from Will Jacks, steered RCB to a commanding nine-wicket triumph.Shastri also acknowledged RCB's mixed fortunes, noting that there are only 1 or 2 consistent performers. Despite this, Kohli's statistical prowess in IPL 2024 further accentuates his cricketing legacy. With over 7,700 runs, Kohli stands tall as the all-time leading run-getter in IPL history. His ability to consistently deliver, evident in achieving the 500-run milestone for the seventh time, places him in elite company alongside David Warner.Kohli's unwavering focus amidst criticism and Shastri's astute observations underscore the nuanced interplay between individual performance and team dynamics in cricket. Kohli's ability to adapt to different situations and contribute to team success, even when his strike rate may not be as high as some would like, highlights his value as a player.

Mumbai Indians' playoff hopes suffered a major setback after their four-wicket loss to Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024. Marcus Stoinis' gritty half-century and a solid bowling performance from LSG propelled them to victory. This result pushed LSG to third place in the standings, while MI remained ninth with just six points from 10 matches.MI's situation is dire, as they must win all their remaining four matches and rely on favorable results from other teams. Even if they win every game, they will only reach 14 points.Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals remain the dominant force in IPL 2024, having won eight of their nine matches. Kolkata Knight Riders, with six wins and a remarkable net run rate of 1.096, are also well-positioned for a playoff berth.Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings, and SunRisers Hyderabad are all in contention for the remaining playoff spots. CSK and SRH have 10 points each, while LSG has 12.Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru face an uphill battle to qualify. DC has won five of 11 matches, while GT has four wins from 10. PBKS and RCB have only three wins each from nine and 10 matches, respectively.

Mumbai Indians' dismal performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 continued on Tuesday as they suffered their seventh defeat, their third consecutive loss, against KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants. The five-time champions' hopes of reaching the top four have been severely dented, as they now languish in ninth place with just 6 points.The loss has drawn criticism from former India cricketer Irfan Pathan, who has pointed the finger at captain Hardik Pandya. Pathan took to social media to express his frustration, stating that Pandya's "too many mistakes" have cost the team dearly."The team Mumbai Indians that qualified last year didn’t had Jasprit Bumrah but this season they had his services. Still they are in this situation. Purely because the team wasn’t managed well on the ground. Too many mistakes by their captain Hardik Pandya. It’s the truth," Pathan posted.Pandya, who took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma this season, has faced intense scrutiny due to Mumbai Indians' troubled campaign. He has been met with boos at several IPL 2024 venues, including Wankhede Stadium, the Mumbai Indians' home ground.His performance with both bat and ball has been underwhelming this season. On Tuesday against LSG, Pandya was dismissed for a golden duck. In 10 matches, he has managed to score just 197 runs at an average of 21.88 and has taken only 6 wickets.Pandya's struggles have been compounded by the team's overall poor performance. Mumbai Indians have been plagued by injuries and inconsistent form, and they have failed to find a winning combination.The loss to Lucknow Super Giants has left Mumbai Indians with an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to win their remaining matches and hope that other results go their way. However, with their current form, it seems unlikely that they will be able to turn their season around.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) emerged victorious over Mumbai Indians (MI) in a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter, securing a four-wicket triumph. Despite losing more wickets than hitting boundaries in the powerplay, LSG's bowlers, led by Mohsin Khan's impressive pace, restricted MI to a modest total of 144 for 7.Mohsin's fiery deliveries proved too much for MI's batters, claiming the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Nehal Wadhera with a deceptive yorker. Marcus Stoinis, known for his versatility, played a crucial role for LSG, contributing with both bat and ball. His 62 runs at the top of the order and two wickets, including the dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav, proved invaluable.MI's batting woes continued as they lost key wickets in quick succession, including Rohit, Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya. Ravi Bishnoi's economical spell of 4-0-28-1 further stifled MI's progress. Wadhera's valiant effort of 46 off 41 was not enough to salvage the innings.In the chase, LSG's innings got off to a slow start, with KL Rahul anchoring the innings. However, Stoinis' aggressive approach, including back-to-back boundaries off Gerald Coetzee, shifted the momentum in LSG's favor. Stoinis' ability to handle spin effectively, scoring 29 runs off Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Nabi, proved crucial.Despite losing Stoinis' wicket, LSG remained composed, with Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni guiding the team to victory with four wickets to spare. The win propelled LSG to third place in the points table, while MI's struggles continued.

Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) promising fast bowler Mayank Yadav has once again raised injury concerns after leaving the field during their IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians. The incident occurred while Yadav was bowling his fourth over, having already conceded 31 runs in 3.1 overs.Yadav's departure from the field was sudden, as he had not displayed any visible discomfort prior to bowling the first ball of his fourth over. The ball crashed into the stumps, dismissing Mohammad Nabi, but Yadav immediately walked off the field. Naveen-ul-Haq completed the over in his absence.This injury scare is particularly concerning for LSG, as Yadav had only recently returned to action after missing five games due to abdominal soreness. In his first two IPL matches this season, against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Yadav had impressed with his pace and accuracy, earning Player-of-the-Match awards in both games.Despite his limited experience in domestic cricket, Yadav has made a significant impact in the IPL. He has consistently bowled at speeds exceeding 150kmh, surprising opponents with his raw pace. In his first over against Mumbai Indians, Yadav's first delivery clocked in at 144.1kmh and struck Nehal Wadhera in the helmet.LSG will be hoping that Yadav's injury is not serious and that he can return to action soon. His pace and wicket-taking ability have been crucial to the team's success this season, and his absence would be a significant blow.

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) young pacer Harshit Rana has emerged as a breakout star in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The 22-year-old has impressed with his exceptional bowling performances, claiming 11 wickets in the tournament so far. His stellar show has caught the attention of experts and veteran cricketers, earning him a potential spot in the T20 World Cup squad.However, Rana's performances have been overshadowed by a few controversial incidents. Earlier in the season, he was criticized for giving a flying-kiss send-off to Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Mayank Agarwal. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) docked 60% of his match fees for the gesture, which was widely condemned by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.On Monday, Rana was involved in another incident that could have landed him in hot water. After dismissing Delhi Capitals' Abishek Porel in the seventh over, Rana gestured towards the batter, indicating the way to the dugout. However, he quickly realized the potential consequences and refrained from crossing the line.Despite these controversies, Rana's bowling has been a major factor in KKR's success this season. In the match against Delhi Capitals, he played a crucial role in restricting the opposition to a modest total of 153/9.In the run-chase, Phil Salt's blistering knock of 68 runs off 33 balls propelled KKR to a comfortable seven-wicket victory. Skipper Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer also made significant contributions, ensuring that KKR sealed the win with 21 balls to spare.Rana's performances have not only earned him praise but also raised questions about his temperament. While his talent is undeniable, he needs to learn to control his emotions and avoid unnecessary controversies. If he can do that, he has the potential to become a top-class bowler for both KKR and the Indian national team.