Cricket

Virat Kohli, the talismanic batter of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has etched his name in the annals of Indian Premier League (IPL) history by becoming the first player to amass an astounding 3000 runs at a single venue. This extraordinary achievement underscores Kohli's unparalleled consistency and dominance in the tournament.Kohli achieved this remarkable feat during the IPL 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. He reached the landmark with a towering six over long leg off the bowling of Tushar Deshpande. The next highest run-scorer at a single venue is former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, who has accumulated 2295 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.Kohli's accomplishment is a testament to his exceptional batting skills, unwavering focus, and ability to perform consistently under pressure. His record at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is a source of pride for the RCB, which has benefited immensely from his prolific run-scoring.It is worth noting that Kohli's long-time teammate and South African legend, AB de Villiers, is third on the list of most runs scored at a single venue in the IPL. De Villiers has scored 1960 runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, further highlighting the formidable partnership that he and Kohli have forged over the years.Kohli's achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the RCB's dominance at their home ground. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has been a fortress for the team, and Kohli's contribution has been instrumental in their success.As Kohli continues to rewrite the record books, his legacy as one of the greatest batters in IPL history is further cemented. His ability to consistently perform at the highest level is a testament to his unwavering dedication and passion for the game.

Virat Kohli, the star batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has expressed his disapproval of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He believes that it disrupts the balance of the game and favors batters over bowlers.Kohli's concerns stem from the expectation that bowlers will concede boundaries on every delivery, forcing batters to score at a high rate from the start. He argues that this undermines the traditional balance between bat and ball, which he believes is essential for an exciting and competitive match."I agree with Rohit [Sharma]; I say it how it is. If you see in this IPL, okay, entertainment is [on] one side, but the bowlers are feeling like what they should do [to restrict the batters]," Kohli said. "I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede a four or a six every ball."Kohli also pointed out that not all teams have exceptional bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah or Rashid Khan, which further exacerbates the imbalance. He believes that the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, gives an unfair advantage to teams with a strong batting lineup."One extra batter is the reason why I am playing with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know there is a batsman coming in at No. 8 as well," Kohli said.Kohli's sentiments have been echoed by other players and coaches, including Rohit Sharma, Ricky Ponting, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar. However, some, like R Ashwin and Ravi Shastri, have supported the rule, arguing that it encourages innovation and forces players to adapt to the changing game.Despite his concerns about the Impact Player rule, Kohli remains excited for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins just five days after the IPL final. He is eager to contribute to India's success and believes that the team has a strong chance of winning the tournament."I can say I am hungry as ever. If I don't have the hunger, you will not see me in the tournament," Kohli said. "If I don't have that mindset, I cannot play... Once the team atmosphere builds up, it's a beautiful journey."

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian batter, recently shared personal anecdotes and provided an update on his newborn son, Akaay, during an interview with Mr. Nags, played by Danish Sait.Kohli revealed that his daughter, Vamika, has developed a keen interest in cricket. "My daughter has picked up the cricket bat and she's enjoying swinging the bat. I'm not sure, their choice is final," he said.When asked about his baby boy, Kohli expressed his joy and gratitude. "Baby is good, healthy. Everything is fine, thank you!" he exclaimed.Kohli is currently playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been instrumental in the team's pursuit of a playoff spot.In the IPL season, Kohli leads the race for the orange cap with 661 runs in 13 innings. His impressive tally includes five fifties and a century.RCB currently stands sixth in the IPL table with 12 points from 13 matches. They face a crucial match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday.To secure a playoff berth, RCB must win and improve their net run rate (NRR) to surpass CSK's NRR.After the IPL, Kohli will represent India in the T20 World Cup, which begins in June in the USA and the West Indies. India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the USA.

RCB vs CSK: Watson Predicts CSK Victory, Kohli's Form a ThreatRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to clash in a high-stakes encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, with the winner securing the fourth and final playoff spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL).After a dismal start to their campaign, RCB have staged a remarkable turnaround, winning five consecutive matches to keep their playoff hopes alive. Virat Kohli has been in scintillating form, leading the team's resurgence with his aggressive batting.CSK, the defending champions, have also shown signs of improvement in recent matches. However, they will be without their talismanic captain MS Dhoni, who has announced his retirement from the IPL.Former CSK opener Shane Watson has predicted a CSK victory in the crucial match. "My heart is saying CSK," Watson said in a video posted on his social media account. "I've just got a feeling that everyone is going to rally around at CSK because it could be MS Dhoni's last game for CSK."Watson believes that CSK's experience and ability to perform under pressure will give them an edge over RCB. However, he acknowledges that Kohli's form poses a significant threat to CSK's chances."Virat Kohli, he's going to have something to say about that," Watson said. "He's been on fire. RCB have won five in a row, so it's going to be an incredible game of cricket."The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair, with both teams desperate to secure a playoff berth. RCB will be looking to continue their winning streak and ride on Kohli's momentum, while CSK will be determined to honor Dhoni's legacy with a victory.

As the highly anticipated match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) drew near, the demand for tickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru skyrocketed. However, fans were met with exorbitant prices, with tickets being sold in black at inflated rates.According to an RCB fan, a ticket priced at ₹4,800 was being sold for ₹15,000, while a ₹2,990 ticket was offered for ₹13,000. The prices escalated further on May 18, the day of the match. In the afternoon, tickets priced around ₹4,000 were allegedly being offered for ₹20,000 in black.The tickets were reportedly being sold on Cubbon Road, Queens Road, Tonic Signal, near Cubbon Park metro station, and other locations. On Queens Road, complimentary tickets given to members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association were being offered for ₹14,000.Tickets were also allegedly sold over the phone. Sellers, who had procured the tickets in bulk through middlemen, were offering them at prices ranging from ₹11,000 to ₹16,000. Buyers were instructed to make payment before a man would hand over the ticket in person.Cyber criminals also took advantage of the surge in demand. After showing physical tickets, they allegedly asked fans to make a payment using a QR code. Some fans claimed that while some asked for an OTP, in many cases, suspected cyber criminals sent fake messages claiming that money was not transferred. As a result, buyers ended up making multiple transactions only to realize they had been victims of a scam.The authorities have urged fans to be cautious and purchase tickets only from authorized sources. They have also warned against falling prey to cyber scams and have advised fans to report any suspicious activity.

India's skipper Rohit Sharma has acknowledged his subpar batting performance in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite his struggles, Sharma emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and working on his flaws.During the second half of the season, Sharma endured a dismal run, failing to cross the 20-run mark in six consecutive matches for Mumbai Indians. However, he regained some form in their final match against Lucknow Super Giants, scoring a 38-ball 68. Despite his late resurgence, Mumbai finished the season at the bottom of the table."As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard," Sharma admitted. "But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well."Sharma's focus has been on maintaining a positive mindset and continuing to practice. "All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing," he said.Despite Mumbai's disappointing season, Sharma believes the team made too many mistakes and lost games they should have won. "Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them."Looking ahead to the upcoming T20 World Cup, Sharma revealed that the Indian team had a clear idea of their squad composition and the roles of each player. "We thought a lot about the team we ultimately selected for the World Cup. The spinners, seamers, batters, and keepers, we knew before the IPL who we would take to the World Cup."Sharma emphasized the importance of providing clarity to players regarding their roles and responsibilities. "Everyone going into the IPL needed clarity of whether they would participate in the team and what their role would be so they could practice and play accordingly. All of these indicators we had shared with 70% of the team before the IPL."India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5.

The Indian cricket team, along with its extensive support staff, will embark on their journey to the Twenty20 World Cup in New York on May 25. The remaining players will depart after the May 26 IPL final.Initially, players from teams eliminated from the IPL playoffs were scheduled to leave for New York on May 21, two days after the final league game on May 19. However, plans have been revised, and the first batch will now depart on May 25."Players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel, along with support staff, are expected to leave on May 25," a BCCI source revealed on condition of anonymity."The departure date for the first batch was originally May 21, but since India is only playing one warm-up game (against Bangladesh on June 1), the players will have extra time at home," the source added.Only players participating in the IPL final will remain and depart for New York on May 27. This will provide the squad with ample time to adjust to the time difference and have several quality net sessions before the Bangladesh warm-up match.India will begin their World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9.

IPL Live Score: CSK and RCB Battle for Playoff Spot in Rain-Threatened ClashThe Indian Premier League (IPL) reaches its climax as defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) face off in a do-or-die clash to determine the fourth and final team for the playoffs.CSK, with 13 points and a superior net run-rate of 0.528, hold a slight advantage over RCB, who have 12 points and a net run-rate of 0.387. However, the match has taken on an added layer of intrigue due to the threat of rain.A washout would automatically send CSK through to the playoffs, while RCB would need to win by at least 18 runs or chase the target with approximately 11 balls to spare.CSK has a strong record at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, having lost only once in eight matches against RCB. The team boasts a formidable batting lineup led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, and MS Dhoni.RCB, on the other hand, has been in resurgent form this season, led by the brilliance of captain Faf du Plessis and the explosive batting of Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. CSK will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a playoff berth, while RCB will be desperate to overcome the odds and keep their title hopes alive.The weather forecast remains a major factor, with rain expected to play a role in the outcome of the match. If the rain does intervene, it could have a significant impact on the playoff race.

The introduction of the 'Impact Player' rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has sparked debate, with some arguing that it benefits all-rounders while others believe it has created a nightmare for bowlers. Sunrisers Hyderabad's left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed falls into the latter camp, expressing concerns that the rule has given batters an unfair advantage.Ahmed, who has played 12 games this season, has scored 186 runs at a strike rate of 138. However, his bowling has been less impressive, with only three wickets to his name at an economy rate of 10.60. He attributes this to the 'Impact Player' rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match."Now every team has nine batters, an all-rounder, and eight batters," Ahmed explained. "Teams are looking for players who can strike big from ball one and carry on the momentum. The 'Impact Player' rule has affected bowlers more than all-rounders because it gives batters the cushion to play freely."Ahmed believes that teams have become more adept at using the 'Impact Player' as the season has progressed. This has led to a decline in the role of all-rounders, who are now getting fewer opportunities to bowl."The teams didn't know much about how to use it (Impact Player) last season," Ahmed said. "The all-rounders have a reduced role, which means they are getting lesser chances to bowl unlike earlier times when they used to bowl four overs."Despite the challenges posed by the 'Impact Player' rule, Ahmed has praised the leadership of Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins. He credits Cummins with creating a stress-free environment in the dressing room, which has contributed to the team's success."If I talk about myself, whenever Pat throws the ball to me, he always backs me," Ahmed said. "This sort of helps me to soak in pressure well and even if the ball goes to the boundary, he doesn't say anything and keeps motivating all bowlers."Ahmed also revealed that legendary cricketer Virat Kohli gifts him a bat every season. "Virat's bat is by far the best in terms of quality," Ahmed said. "His bat has the right balance and the ping is fabulous. In every IPL season, he has gifted me a willow. His bat really holds high value for me."