Cricket

Kolkata Knight Riders Opt to Field First Against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2024 ClashIn a highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 29.Iyer explained his decision, stating that the team had been preparing well and wanted to carry forward their momentum. He also revealed that Ankul Roy would be the only change in their lineup.RCB captain Faf du Plessis expressed his disappointment at not being able to bat first, but acknowledged the support of the home crowd. He confirmed that their team would remain unchanged.The teams took to the field with the following lineups:Royal Challengers Bangalore:* Faf du Plessis (capt)* Virat Kohli* Rajat Patidar* Glenn Maxwell* Cameron Green* Dinesh Karthik* Anuj Rawat (wk)* Alzarri Joseph* MJ Dagar* Mohammed Siraj* Yash DayalKolkata Knight Riders:* Phil Salt (wk)* Venkatesh Iyer* Shreyas Iyer (capt)* Rinku Singh* Sunil Narine* Andre Russell* Ramandeep Singh* Mitchell Starc* AS Roy* Harshit Rana* CV VarunThe match commenced with RCB openers Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli facing the KKR bowlers. The duo provided a solid start, putting on a 50-run partnership before du Plessis was dismissed by Mitchell Starc.Kohli continued to anchor the innings, scoring a half-century, while Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell made valuable contributions. However, the KKR bowlers managed to restrict RCB to a total of 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, KKR's openers Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer got off to a flying start, putting on a 60-run partnership. However, RCB's bowlers fought back, with Mohammed Siraj and Alzarri Joseph picking up key wickets.Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell attempted to revive the chase, but they were unable to sustain the momentum. KKR eventually fell short of the target, losing by 23 runs.

Chennai Super Kings' Matheesha Pathirana Clarifies Gesture Towards MS DhoniDuring the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT), a video clip emerged on social media suggesting that Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana had touched the feet of former CSK captain MS Dhoni. However, a subsequent video from a different angle has shed light on the actual incident.The side angle footage reveals that Pathirana did not touch Dhoni's feet but instead bent down to pick up the bowling marker, which was placed near Dhoni's feet. The initial video, which had gone viral, had sparked speculation that Pathirana was seeking blessings from Dhoni.Meanwhile, CSK registered a comprehensive 63-run victory over GT at the Chepauk fortress. Deepak Chahar provided a strong start for CSK, dismissing Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill in the powerplay. GT never threatened to chase down the target in the final six overs, as CSK inflicted GT's biggest defeat in terms of runs.Earlier, CSK got off to a flying start with the bat, despite losing Rachin Ravindra's wicket in the final over of the powerplay. Ravindra amassed 46 off just 20 deliveries, while skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad provided support. Shivam Dube and Daryl Mitchell also contributed with valuable knocks, helping CSK post a total of 206/6.

Hardik Pandya's tenure as Mumbai Indians' (MI) captain has started with a string of setbacks, both on and off the field. After two consecutive defeats, Pandya's actions have come under scrutiny, with fans and critics alike expressing concerns.In a recent incident, a video emerged of Pandya allegedly shoving bowling coach Lasith Malinga away after a 31-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The footage shows Malinga attempting to embrace Pandya, who appears to ignore the gesture and walks away. This incident has sparked criticism, with many questioning Pandya's leadership style.Another video from the same match has also raised eyebrows. It shows Malinga vacating his seat for Pandya, who was preparing to bat. Assistant coach Kieron Pollard was initially about to get up, but Malinga intervened and walked away. This has led to speculation about potential tensions within the MI camp.Pandya's struggles have extended beyond the field. In MI's opening match against Gujarat Titans, he was booed by the crowd. The team's poor performance has also put pressure on the new skipper.Ahead of the 2024 IPL season, MI handed the captaincy to Pandya, who was acquired from Gujarat Titans. However, his transition has been far from smooth. The team's losses and Pandya's actions have raised questions about his suitability for the role.As MI prepare to host Rajasthan Royals on April 1, Pandya faces a crucial test. He needs to find a way to turn around the team's fortunes and address the concerns surrounding his leadership.

Delhi Capitals Skipper Rishabh Pant Fumes After Second Consecutive IPL LossDelhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant's frustration was palpable after his team's second consecutive loss in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. The Capitals fell short by 12 runs against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a thrilling last-over finish on Thursday, further dampening Pant's return to competitive cricket since his horrific car accident in December 2022.Chasing a challenging 186 to win, Pant struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 28 runs off 26 balls. The pressure mounted on the DC skipper, who attempted to break the shackles with a cut shot against leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. However, the ball edged into the gloves of wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, giving RR a crucial breakthrough.Pant's dismissal handed RR control of the proceedings, and the DC skipper's frustration boiled over. As he made his way to the dressing room, Pant smashed his bat in anger, reflecting his disappointment with the team's performance.The loss against RR was particularly disappointing for DC, as it came on the heels of their defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in their season opener. The Capitals' batting has been a major concern, with Pant and his teammates failing to fire consistently.DC will now host defending champions Chennai Super Kings on March 31, hoping to turn their fortunes around. However, they will need to address their batting woes and find a way to support Pant, who is still regaining his form after his injury.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is set to witness a potential clash of titans as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday. The match will be played at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, where the last encounter between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli resulted in an intense on-field battle.Former KKR and RCB star Varun Aaron anticipates that Gambhir's presence in the Knight Riders dugout will ignite Kohli's competitive spirit. "I'm eagerly looking forward to the match-up outside the boundary line," Aaron said. "Gautam Gambhir is going to be right beside the Bengaluru dug-out, and I don't know what's going to happen there. We know Virat likes to have fire in his belly, and if he just looks at the Kolkata dug-out, he's going to get fired up."The rivalry between Gambhir and Kohli reached a boiling point during an RCB vs Lucknow Super Giants match in IPL 2023. Kohli initially clashed with LSG's Naveen-ul-Haq, prompting Gambhir to intervene and engage in a verbal altercation with the former.Gambhir later defended his actions, stating, "It is not about Naveen-ul-Haq. I would have defended any player, that is my job, that is how I am. Why should I not defend my players just because someone has a broadcaster working for him, left right and centre, someone who has more social media presence doesn't have any right to walk over someone."While Kohli and Naveen have since reconciled, the equation between Gambhir and the RCB star remains uncertain. The Friday night match will provide an opportunity to gauge the current dynamics between the two players.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc: A T20 Duel for the AgesWhen Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday night, the spotlight will inevitably fall on the tantalizing prospect of Virat Kohli facing off against Mitchell Starc. This highly anticipated encounter marks the first time these two cricketing giants will cross paths in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Starc, who is making his IPL return after a seven-year hiatus, was once a teammate of Kohli at RCB in 2015. Despite their shared history, they have never faced each other in the tournament. However, experts believe that Starc's left-arm swing bowling could pose a significant threat to Kohli's formidable batting prowess."I quite like [Starc's] match-up to Virat, the ability to swing the ball back down the line as a lefty," said Steven Smith, a former Australian captain and current ESPNcricinfo expert. "We have seen him [Kohli] get out on a few occasions to Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult, Mohammad Amir."Smith believes that Starc will likely attempt to exploit Kohli's tendency to drive away from his body, similar to the strategy employed by Sam Curran in RCB's opening match against Punjab Kings. "Starcy's going to swing the ball back down the line early on, I'd imagine, and then use the wobble seam to go across him [Kohli], and potentially try and nick him off," Smith explained.Despite Starc's reputation as a world-class bowler, Kohli has a solid record against left-arm pace in T20 cricket. In 28 deliveries faced against Starc, Kohli has scored 47 runs without being dismissed. However, Smith believes that Kohli has likely studied Starc's bowling patterns and will be prepared for the challenge."You obviously learn as you go along, and you understand what players are trying to do to try and get you out," Smith said of Kohli. "I'm sure he would have seen that [data], and tried to improve on that throughout. So it's going to be a nice match-up."The Kohli-Starc duel is just one of the many intriguing storylines that will unfold in this highly anticipated IPL encounter. With both teams boasting a wealth of talent, the stage is set for a thrilling spectacle that will keep cricket fans on the edge of their seats.

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has expressed his bewilderment over the exclusion of Prithvi Shaw from the Delhi Capitals' (DC) playing XI in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Moody believes that Shaw's international experience and talent warrant his inclusion in the team, despite his recent struggles in the IPL."It doesn't make sense to have an Indian international player like Prithvi Shaw sitting in the dugout," Moody told ESPNcricinfo. "Yes, he hasn't performed in the IPL as we had hoped, but you can't score runs from the dugout."Shaw, who has represented India in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, has been overlooked for DC's first two matches in IPL 2024. Ricky Bhui has been given the nod instead, but has failed to impress with scores of 3 and 0 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), respectively.Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer also questioned Shaw's continued omission from the playing XI. "Now that they have held onto him and not let him go into the auction, I'm surprised they're not playing him," Jaffer said. "He's played for Mumbai for most of the season, so you'd imagine that he's fit. I'm surprised. Punishing him and then losing the games is not the way to go forward."Shaw's exclusion has raised concerns about the gap between domestic cricket and the intensity of international cricket and the IPL. Moody highlighted this disparity after Ricky Bhui's dismissal for a duck against RR. "That's exactly what you'd like to see a genuine quick bowler do," Moody said. "And to do it to a top-order player is even more alarming. What it does also is highlight the jump between Ranji Trophy runs to international cricket and IPL."The Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals will be eager to secure their first win in IPL 2024 when they face reigning champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday. Shaw's inclusion in the playing XI could provide the team with the spark they need to turn their fortunes around.

Mumbai Indians' IPL 2024 campaign has started with two consecutive defeats, raising concerns among fans and experts alike. The franchise's decision to trade Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans and appoint him as captain has come under scrutiny after the team's poor start.In their opening match, Mumbai narrowly lost to Gujarat Titans, but their second match against Sunrisers Hyderabad was a heavy defeat, with Hyderabad scoring a mammoth 277 runs in 20 overs. Pandya has faced criticism for his leadership and performance, while his wife, Natasa Stankovic, has been targeted by trolls on social media.Despite the setbacks, Pandya remains optimistic and has urged his team to stay united. "Toughest soldiers get the toughest test; we are the toughest team in the competition," he said in a video posted on Mumbai Indians' social media handle. "Let's make sure we will help each other; worst or good, we will be together."Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who is a mentor for Mumbai Indians, believes the team has the potential to turn things around. "The game was very much open. The target was very much achievable," he said. "Let's stick together, tighter. There are going to be tougher moments, we will stick together as a group and pull it through."Mumbai Indians will be looking to bounce back in their next match against Chennai Super Kings on April 15. The team will need to find a way to improve their bowling and fielding, while also finding consistency with their batting.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) witnessed a controversial interruption due to a misunderstanding regarding the tournament's rules on foreign player substitutions.The incident occurred when RR decided to field Rovman Powell as a substitute fielder after starting the match with three overseas players: Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Trent Boult. They had earlier brought in Nandre Burger as their impact player in place of Hetmyer.However, the DC camp raised concerns, pointing out that RR would be fielding five overseas players if Powell entered the field. This prompted a discussion between DC head coach Ricky Ponting, director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, and the fourth umpire.According to IPL rules, a team cannot have more than four overseas players on the field at any time. If a team fields four overseas players in its starting XI, an overseas player can only substitute another overseas player. If a team fields less than four overseas players in its starting XI, overseas players can enter the field as substitutes only if the total number of overseas players on the field does not exceed four.In this case, RR had already fielded three overseas players in their starting XI. By bringing in Powell as a substitute fielder, they would have exceeded the permissible limit of four overseas players on the field.The confusion stemmed from the fact that RR had initially named only three overseas players in their starting XI. However, they later decided to bring in Burger as an impact player, which effectively increased the number of overseas players in their starting XI to four.The issue was eventually resolved, and RR was allowed to field Powell as a substitute fielder. However, the incident highlighted the importance of clear understanding and adherence to tournament rules.Despite the controversy, RR went on to defeat DC by 12 runs. Riyan Parag smashed an unbeaten 84 off 45 balls, while Nandre Burger and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets each.