Cricket

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has strongly criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its decision to recall players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the T20I series against Pakistan. Vaughan believes that the players would have benefited more from participating in the IPL playoffs than playing in the T20I series.Vaughan's comments come after England players Will Jacks, Phil Salt, and Jos Buttler were ordered to return for international duty, missing out on the IPL playoffs. Vaughan argues that playing in the high-pressure environment of the IPL playoffs would have been better preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup than playing in a T20I against Pakistan."I think England missed a trick by sending all their players home," Vaughan said on the 'Club Prairie Fire' podcast. "I think Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler in particular, playing in the IPL in the eliminations (playoffs), pressure, crowd, expectation, I would argue that playing here is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan."Vaughan emphasized that he is not advocating for club cricket to take precedence over international duty. However, he believes that the pressure and intensity of the IPL playoffs would have been more beneficial for the players' development in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup."I am all for international cricket, but...this tournament (IPL) in particular is so exposed to pressure...players are under a huge amount of pressure from fans, owners, social media; it's massive," Vaughan said. "I just felt Buttler, probably not as much but I still think he could have stayed here, but Will Jacks and Phil Salt, I think they would have been better prepared (for the T20 World Cup) staying here and playing in the IPL than going back to Headingley to play a (T20I) game."Former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist agreed with Vaughan's assessment, stating that the players who were actively involved in the IPL playoffs should have been allowed to stay back. "I am sure there are a number of (England) players who could have fulfilled those obligations (for T20I series against Pakistan) in the international setup there, but the guys that were actively involved in the IPL, in the finals period (should have stayed back). I think that's a missed opportunity, spot on," Gilchrist said.The IPL final will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday in Chennai, while the T20 World Cup will begin on June 2 in the US and West Indies.

Kolkata Knight Riders: From Underdogs to Champions with Gautam GambhirTwo-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face off against 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final of IPL 2024 in Chennai on Sunday. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has reflected on the franchise's journey from underdogs to champions, crediting former skipper Gautam Gambhir for their success.In an interview with Star Sports, Khan recalled the early days of KKR, when the team struggled to find its footing in the IPL. "We had the nicest set of team in the world, but we kept on losing only again and again," he said. "I remember some expert talking this. It used to hurt."However, everything changed with the arrival of Gambhir as captain in 2011. Under his leadership, KKR transformed into a formidable force, winning the IPL title in 2012 and 2014. "To come back with GG (Gautam Gambhir) and do this was outstanding," Khan said. "It taught us how to lose but never be losers and never give up hope. Sports teaches you that."Gambhir's impact on KKR went beyond his on-field performances. He instilled a winning mentality in the team, emphasizing the importance of hard work, determination, and never giving up. "He was a leader who led by example," Khan said. "He was a fighter, and he never gave up. He taught us how to win, but more importantly, he taught us how to lose with dignity."KKR's success under Gambhir's leadership is a testament to the power of belief and the importance of having a strong leader. The franchise has since become one of the most successful in the IPL, and their journey from underdogs to champions is an inspiration to all.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a tournament where the spotlight often shines on the big Indian names and international stars who command hefty salaries. However, the true foundation of a team's success lies in its Indian domestic core. These players, some still finding their footing in the big leagues and others on the fringes of national team selection, can make or break a campaign.Opponents often target these so-called weak links, but many youngsters rise to the challenge and play a crucial role in their teams' progress to the latter stages of the tournament. It is no surprise, then, that the two finalists of the IPL 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), have been blessed with some fine performances from their domestic cricketers.KKR's pacers Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have been revelations, while Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy's heroics with the bat have been instrumental in SRH's success. "It's been huge. Some youngsters have come through and won us games on their own. Nitish and Abhishek are probably the two biggest examples of guys who are kind of away from the Indian setup but have been fantastic," said SRH captain Pat Cummins."I feel like that's been the story of our team. A lot of guys are taking the game on, putting themselves out there, and having breakout seasons," added the Australian.KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer also spoke about how the domestic players have been proactive and have played with freedom. "When these guys come in, the youngsters, especially, are fearless in their approach, and their attitude is headstrong. A lot of them are versatile and enterprising in their approach and proactive," said Shreyas."They want to go out there and perform. So, it's just that when you give them that sort of freedom and back them during tough times, they deliver the best. And when these guys step up at the right time, they see that they win matches for you," he explained.The contributions of these domestic players highlight the importance of investing in grassroots cricket and providing opportunities for young talent to develop. By nurturing their domestic core, teams can build a solid foundation for long-term success in the IPL and beyond.

Michael Hussey, the former Australian left-handed opener, has expressed his disinterest in becoming the head coach of the India men's cricket team. Hussey, who recently served as an assistant coach with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024, cited the demanding nature of the role and his desire for a balanced lifestyle as reasons for his decision."They play more cricket than probably anyone in the world really, they're literally going from tour to tour to tour," Hussey said. "So that would be a pretty challenging sort of role where you'd have to be there, boots on the ground. You're probably only getting the IPL off, which is eight to 10 weeks, but then the rest of the year you're going to be pretty much on the go."Hussey also acknowledged the high regard in which Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain and current head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, is held in India. However, he believes that Fleming is unlikely to entertain the idea of coaching India due to his own preference for a balanced lifestyle."It just goes to show how highly regarded he is on the world stage but particularly in India," Hussey said. "But I don't think he'd entertain the idea, he loves the balance as well. He probably finds it a little bit amusing that his name keeps coming up, but pretty honoured that he's in the mix."India has a history of appointing overseas head coaches, including John Wright (New Zealand), Greg Chappell (Australia), Gary Kirsten (South Africa), and Duncan Fletcher (Zimbabwe). However, Chappell believes that the demanding nature of the role may deter many potential candidates."I'm not sure many want to do 10 months on the road, especially if they can do media work," Chappell said. "It's almost a no-win role."Kumar Sangakkara, the director of cricket for the Rajasthan Royals and former Sri Lanka captain, has also ruled himself out of contention for the India head coach job."I have not been approached, and I don't have time to commit full-time to an India coaching job," Sangakkara said. "Happy with my stint with Royals, and let's see how it goes."

India's star batter Shreyas Iyer has revealed that he had raised concerns about persistent back issues after the 2023 ODI World Cup, but his concerns were initially dismissed."I was definitely struggling after the World Cup in the longer format," said Iyer, who captains the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). "When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it."Despite his concerns, Iyer remained determined to perform at his best in the IPL. "When the IPL was approaching, all I wanted to see was that I've put my best foot forward," he said. "We [KKR] had done a lot of planning and strategizing, and if we could execute it to the best of our abilities, we would have been in a great spot."Iyer's back injury had previously sidelined him from the Asia Cup in 2023 and the first two England Tests in early 2024. He was cleared for selection after the second England Test but missed subsequent Ranji Trophy games for Mumbai, citing back spasms.Despite being cleared by the BCCI medical staff, Iyer's absence from the Ranji Trophy raised questions about his priorities. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had warned players against prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, and Iyer lost his central BCCI contract despite meeting the minimum criteria for matches played.During the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, Iyer was absent from the field for two consecutive days due to back issues.Iyer acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket. "It's kind of difficult as a batsman and also as a bowler," he said. "But once you get used to it, I think you pick up the pace and march on with the other players."

Pat Cummins, the Australian fast bowler and captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has etched his name in the record books of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by equaling Anil Kumble's feat of taking the second-highest number of wickets in a single season by a captain.Cummins achieved this milestone in the Qualifier 2 match of IPL 2024 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Chennai on Friday. He dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore to reach 17 wickets in the tournament, matching Kumble's tally from the 2010 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).The Australian skipper now has the opportunity to surpass Kumble's record and even challenge Shane Warne's all-time record of 19 wickets in an IPL season for a captain. Warne achieved this feat with Rajasthan Royals in 2008.Cummins' impressive performance in IPL 2024 is a testament to his exceptional bowling skills and leadership abilities. He has been a key figure in SRH's success this season, guiding them to the final where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday.The 29-year-old all-rounder has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, consistently delivering match-winning performances with both bat and ball. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the IPL.Cummins' success in the IPL is a continuation of his remarkable achievements in international cricket. He led Australia to victory in both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year, cementing his status as one of the best all-rounders in the world.With his team on the cusp of IPL glory, Cummins will be eager to add another chapter to his illustrious career by breaking Warne's record and guiding SRH to their second IPL title.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a global cricketing extravaganza that attracts the world's top players and coaches. Among them is Justin Langer, former coach of the Lucknow Super Giants. Langer's experience in India has left him awestruck by the unparalleled hero worship surrounding MS Dhoni."It's extraordinary," Langer exclaimed on BBC Sport's cricket podcast. "I've heard about it, but when you witness it firsthand, it's unbelievable. In Lucknow, our stadium was packed with 50,000 fans, and 48,000 of them were wearing Dhoni's number seven jersey."Langer's observations extend beyond Dhoni's popularity. He notes that the hero worship in India is a double-edged sword. "I saw the flip side with Rohit Sharma," he said. "He's a huge hero, but when he stepped down as Mumbai Indians captain, he was booed every game. It's sad to see, but it's a reflection of the intense passion and expectations of Indian cricket fans."Despite the occasional negativity, Langer remains impressed by Dhoni's humility and leadership style. "When he walks onto the ground, he's so calm and composed," Langer said. "It's a quality that's becoming more prevalent in captains around the world."Langer's insights offer a glimpse into the unique cricketing culture of India. The hero worship of players like Dhoni is a testament to the sport's deep-rooted significance in the country. However, it also highlights the challenges that come with such intense scrutiny and the need for players to maintain their composure amidst the whirlwind of adulation and criticism.

Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner, is set to join India's T20 World Cup squad in the US, buoyed by a successful Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite Delhi Capitals' failure to reach the playoffs, Yadav's personal performance has given him the rhythm and confidence to excel in the upcoming ICC event.In a recent interview with Robin Uthappa, Yadav revealed a technical change he has implemented in his bowling to regain his peak form. "I have changed my rhythm," he explained. "Now that I have an aggressive rhythm, my ball is not dropping in a loop. It will go when I want it to; when I try to deliver like that, it will go, otherwise not."This adjustment has allowed Yadav to reduce the height of his deliveries while maintaining their effectiveness. "The rhythm that I have now, if I can turn that much in this rhythm, then I don't need to flight it that much," he said. "You can do that at times to trap the batsman, but can't deliver that way consistently."Yadav's 16 wickets in 11 innings for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, with an economy rate of 8.65 and strike rate of 16.12, demonstrate his improved form. He will join fellow wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup, where the pitches are expected to favor slow bowlers.India's campaign begins against Ireland on June 5, followed by the highly anticipated clash with Pakistan on June 9. USA and Canada are the other teams in India's group. Yadav's aggressive rhythm and newfound control will be crucial for India's success in the tournament.

MS Dhoni's Enduring Legacy: A Force to Reckon With in the IPLDespite relinquishing the captaincy of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), MS Dhoni remains an indomitable force in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His presence on the field continues to inspire awe and admiration, both from opponents and fans alike.Dhoni's influence is palpable in the unwavering support he commands from CSK fans. Playing against CSK in Chennai has become a daunting task for opponents, with the crowd overwhelmingly clad in Dhoni jerseys. Even during away games, CSK fans turn out in droves, proudly displaying their allegiance to the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman.Justin Langer, coach of the Lucknow Super Giants, has witnessed firsthand the extraordinary fandom surrounding Dhoni. He compares Dhoni's following to that of cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. "It's unbelievable. The hero worship in India is unbelievable," Langer remarked.Langer notes that Dhoni's popularity can overshadow other players, as evidenced by the challenges faced by Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma. However, he emphasizes the importance of embracing the hero worship rather than being disheartened by it.Dhoni's enduring legacy in the IPL is a testament to his exceptional leadership, strategic brilliance, and unwavering determination. His presence on the field continues to captivate fans and inspire his teammates. As the IPL progresses, Dhoni's influence will undoubtedly remain a significant factor in the fortunes of the Chennai Super Kings.