Cricket

RCB Urged to Prioritize Indian Players for IPL SuccessFormer Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has advised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to invest heavily in Indian players if they aspire to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. Kaif's comments come after RCB's recent resurgence in the tournament, despite a dismal start that saw them lose six consecutive matches.Kaif praised RCB's comeback but cautioned that their chances of making the playoffs are slim. He emphasized the need for the franchise to learn from their experiences and prioritize investing in Indian talent."This is a lesson for RCB for next year. You have to back Indian players," Kaif said. "KKR have invested in Indian players and they are on top, so are Rajasthan Royals."Kaif urged RCB to shift their focus towards nurturing Indian talent, stating, "RCB should bring in Indian players. Do scouting, bring them in and back them."He cautioned against RCB's reliance on foreign players, stating, "They have an obsession about foreign players...RCB now have learnt how to win without stars like Maxwell. It should serve as a lesson for them."Kaif stressed the need for RCB to adopt a proactive approach in grooming Indian talent, emphasizing, "They should invest in them, they will win them the trophy. KKR did it, RR did it. Take examples of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel. And Sanju Samson - RR invested a lot on him and now they are reaping the rewards. So, RCB should identify Indian players and back them."

The "Impact Player" rule, introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last season, has sparked controversy among experts and players. However, former India coach Ravi Shastri and senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have come out in support of the rule, arguing that it leads to more exciting and close finishes.Shastri believes that the rule encourages players to take risks and make the most of their opportunities. "When any new rule comes in, there will be people who will try to justify why that's not right," he said. "But with time, when you see the scores - 200 and 190 - and then, individuals grabbing that opportunity and making the most of it, people will start re-looking at how they think about it."Ashwin echoed Shastri's sentiments, stating that the rule has made the game more competitive. "I think it's a good rule. You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year's IPL. So, it has made a big difference," he said.The rule allows teams to substitute one player from their starting lineup with a designated "Impact Player" after the 14th over of the first innings or the 10th over of the second innings. This gives teams the flexibility to adjust their strategy based on the match situation.However, some players, including India skipper Rohit Sharma and Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel, have expressed concerns that the rule could hinder the development of all-rounders. Sharma believes that it takes away from the traditional 11-player format of the game.Despite these concerns, the BCCI has indicated that the rule is not permanent and will be reviewed after the World Cup. Secretary Jay Shah said that the rule is intended to give more opportunities to Indian players and make the game more competitive.The "Impact Player" rule has certainly sparked debate and discussion within the cricket community. While some believe it adds excitement and unpredictability to the game, others worry about its potential impact on the development of all-rounders. Only time will tell whether the rule will become a permanent fixture in the IPL or be phased out in the future.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary cricketer, has forged an unbreakable bond with Chennai and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since leading CSK to their inaugural IPL title in 2008, Dhoni has become an icon in the city, guiding the team to a record-equaling five championships.As rumors swirl that IPL 2024 could be Dhoni's final season, fans have flocked to stadiums to witness his every move. The roar of the crowd reaches deafening levels whenever he steps up to bat, a testament to his enduring popularity.Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has hailed Dhoni as the "God of Chennai," predicting that temples will be built in his honor in the future. "He is someone who brought India the joy of two World Cups and has brought Chennai joy with a lot of IPL and Champions League titles," Rayudu said. "He has just been that one guy who shows belief in his players, who has always done it for the team, for the country, and for CSK."Dhoni's leadership and unwavering commitment to CSK have earned him immense respect and admiration. He has fostered a culture of unity and success within the team, inspiring his players to perform at their best.With CSK's playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Dhoni's presence on the field is more crucial than ever. A victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18 would virtually guarantee their spot in the Top 4 of the competition.As the IPL season draws to a close, fans are cherishing every opportunity to witness Dhoni's brilliance. His legacy in Chennai and the IPL will undoubtedly endure long after he retires from the game.

Sourav Ganguly, the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals, has expressed his confidence in Rishabh Pant's leadership abilities, stating that the young captain will continue to refine his skills with time and experience.Pant, who recently returned to competitive cricket after a severe car accident in December 2022, has resumed his duties as the Delhi Capitals captain. Ganguly believes that Pant's instinctive decision-making and ability to adapt on the field are valuable assets."Pant is a young captain, he'll learn with time," Ganguly said. "The way he returned from injury to play a full season; we had our doubts during the off season."Ganguly also highlighted the importance of Indian players in the TATA IPL, especially with the expansion to 10 teams. He expressed his admiration for Pant's resilience and determination to return to form after his injury."Indian players are crucial, especially since the TATA IPL shifted to 10 teams. I am very happy for him that he returned to play so well over a full season. He has all my well wishes for whatever is next," Ganguly added.While acknowledging that Pant has made some mistakes as a captain, Ganguly believes that he will continue to improve with experience. "With time, he'll become a better captain. Nobody is a great captain from day one, but he is an instinctual captain, he makes decisions on the ground. With more time, he'll get better."Ganguly also praised the performances of young pacers Mukesh Kumar and Rasikh Dar Salam, who have impressed for Delhi Capitals this season."You've seen Rasikh's development over time. The more matches he played, the better he got. It's not easy to bowl on the Delhi wicket. This wicket is great, and the ground isn't that big, so I think for any bowler, it isn't easy to bowl here. Rasikh has improved a lot."Mukesh has been our best bowler this season. He bowls all the difficult overs, whether at the start or at the death. There has been no match this season where we didn't need his bowling in the death," he said."We knew that conceding sixes would lead to more losses, so he has consistently delivered there. Our Indian bowlers have been great this season."

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed an unprecedented surge in ultra-aggressive cricket, particularly during the powerplay. However, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer believes it remains uncertain whether teams can replicate this approach in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas.Despite the high-scoring nature of the IPL, with teams amassing 200 or more runs 37 times this season, LSG has managed to achieve this feat only once. Langer acknowledges that his team has struggled in the powerplay, which has been a key factor in their recent loss to Delhi Capitals (DC)."The Lucknow wicket has been a real contest between bat and ball, whereas a lot in this tournament has been very one-sided towards the bat," Langer said. "So that's certainly, we haven't capitalized in our powerplay like some of the other teams have."Langer praised the ultra-aggressive approach that has transformed the shortest format of the game. "It's been absolutely amazing watching some of these powerplays. It's almost transformed the game. And whether people can continue to do this and whether they can do it during the World Cup, time will tell. But it's certainly been ultra-aggressive cricket."Despite DC's impressive total of 209, LSG's Arshad Khan gave them a scare with an unbeaten 33-ball 58. Langer believes Khan has immense potential and could become a valuable all-rounder.DC's Tristan Stubbs also impressed with a 25-ball 57 and a wicket. Langer acknowledged Stubbs' talent and highlighted the importance of match-ups in modern cricket."There's so much data these days, so when you do your analysis leading into every game, what often happens traditionally is left-handers don't have as much impact on the game against off-spin when the ball's spinning away," Langer said. "You saw Bishy (Ravi Bishnoi) bowled beautifully when they're spinning away, whereas when the ball's spinning back into the left-hander or the off-spin is spinning back into the right-hander, it tends to be more in the arc to be hitting some of these sixes."DC assistant coach Pravin Amre praised the team's Indian bowlers for their contributions. "I think last four or five games, all Indian bowlers are doing a good job," Amre said. "I think that was very important for us, like the way Khaleel bowled, Mukesh bowled, Ishant bowled, I think that was very positive for us as a franchise."

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant believes his one-match suspension for a slow-over rate offense may have cost his team a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs. Pant missed the crucial match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, which DC lost by 47 runs, impacting their net run rate."I wouldn't say we would have definitely won the game if I had played, but we had a better chance of qualifying if I had played in the last game," Pant said after DC's 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants.DC's inconsistent start to the season was compounded by injuries to key players like Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and David Warner. "We started the season with a lot of hope, but there were injuries and ups and downs," Pant said. "But as a franchise, you can't complain all the time; you have to make use of what you have."Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul attributed his team's struggles to losing wickets in the powerplay. "This has been a problem right through the season - we keep losing a lot of wickets in the powerplay, we never get a solid start to get the likes of Stoinis and Pooran in," Rahul said. "That is the big reason why we are in this position."DC's fate now depends on the results of other matches. If they qualify for the playoffs, they will face a tough challenge against the top teams.

Harshit Rana, the 22-year-old fast bowler, has emerged as a standout performer in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite a controversial dismissal of Virat Kohli, Rana has maintained his composure and delivered impressive performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).Rana's journey to the IPL began as a nets bowler for the Gujarat Titans in 2022. His impressive performances caught the attention of KKR, who signed him as a replacement for the injured Rasikh Salam. Rana's debut was a memorable one, as he dismissed Mitchell Marsh with his second ball.Rana's ability to generate pace and adjust his length according to the pitch conditions has made him a valuable asset for KKR. He has consistently bowled at speeds of over 140 kph, while also demonstrating the skill to read the pitch and vary his deliveries.Rana credits the guidance of the KKR management, including Gautam Gambhir and Chandrakant Pandit, for his success. He believes that their faith in his abilities has given him the confidence to perform under pressure.Despite the challenges faced by bowlers in this IPL season, Rana has shown resilience and determination. In a recent match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he bowled a crucial six-run over and took a wicket to make the equation more difficult for RCB.In another match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rana was tasked with bowling the last over with SRH needing 13 runs off six balls. Despite conceding a six off the first ball, Rana remained composed and took two wickets to secure a four-run victory for KKR.Rana's performances have not gone unnoticed, and he has expressed his desire to represent India in the future. However, he remains focused on the present and aims to continue delivering strong performances for KKR.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs race is heating up with only six league matches remaining. Rajasthan Royals have secured their spot in the top four, while five teams remain in contention for the two remaining playoff berths.Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have a 75% chance of finishing as sole toppers and a 25% chance of ending up in second place. A win in their last game will guarantee them the top spot.Rajasthan Royals (RR) can top the table if they win their remaining games. They have a 25% chance of being sole toppers and a 40% chance of finishing second.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are assured of a top-four finish on points but are not guaranteed qualification. They could end up tied for third or fourth with multiple teams.Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are also sure to finish among the top four on points but face similar qualification uncertainties as CSK.Delhi Capitals (DC) have doubled their chances of finishing in the top four to 62.5% after their win over Lucknow Super Giants. However, they are not yet assured of qualification.Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have a 50% chance of making the top four. They must win their last game against CSK, but even that may not be enough.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are not out of contention despite their recent loss. They have a 31% chance of finishing in the top four but face potential ties with multiple teams.Mumbai Indians (MI), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Gujarat Titans (GT) have already been eliminated from playoff contention.The remaining matches will determine the final playoff picture, with several teams facing must-win situations and potential tiebreakers.

Yuzvendra Chahal's Exceptional Spin Bowling Propels Rajasthan Royals to PlayoffsFormer Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has hailed Yuzvendra Chahal's exceptional spin bowling prowess, which has played a pivotal role in Rajasthan Royals' qualification for the Indian Premier League playoffs.Chahal's unique approach sets him apart from his peers, according to Harbhajan. "He's the only bowler who's bowling like a spinner. I should say, a spinner who is bowling like a spinner," Harbhajan remarked.Chahal's ability to impart flight, variation, and tactical acumen is unmatched. "Spinning the ball, he's got that flight, he's got that variation, and he's using it very wisely," Harbhajan noted. "When I look at him bowling and look at other spinners, there's a vast difference."Harbhajan emphasized the importance of a wicket-taking mindset in Chahal's success. "You have to think that I'm going to get you out. That's what Yuzvendra Chahal is doing," he affirmed.While acknowledging the achievements of established spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, Harbhajan drew attention to the contrast with spinners who appear content with containment rather than actively seeking wickets.Chahal's exceptional spin bowling skills have been instrumental in Rajasthan Royals' success this season. The team has already secured its playoff spot and will play its last two league games in Guwahati.