Cricket

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has found a new batting hero in Rajat Patidar, who has transformed the team's fortunes in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. After a dismal start, RCB has won five consecutive matches, largely due to Patidar's explosive batting at No. 4.Patidar's rise has been a revelation for RCB, which has long struggled with a weak middle order. In the past, the team relied heavily on its star-studded top order of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and A.B. de Villiers. However, with these players no longer in the lineup, RCB needed a new source of runs.Patidar has stepped up to the plate in spectacular fashion. In his five half-centuries this season, he has displayed a combination of power and elegance. He has also shown a remarkable ability to handle spin bowling, which has been a major weakness for RCB in the past.In Sunday's win over Delhi Capitals, Patidar scored 52 runs from 32 balls, including three sixes against India's frontline spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. His innings was a testament to his ability to read spinners off the hand and pick the length early.Patidar's success has been a result of hard work and determination. After missing the entire 2023 IPL season due to injury, he returned this year with a renewed sense of purpose. He has also benefited from the guidance of RCB's coaching staff, which has helped him develop his game.Patidar's resurgence has been a major boost for RCB, which is now in contention for a playoff spot. His ability to score runs consistently at a high strike rate has given the team a much-needed boost in confidence.

With the T20 World Cup 2024 fast approaching, England players have begun withdrawing from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to fulfill international commitments. However, Indian players face a unique challenge as the IPL final coincides with the tournament's start date, leaving them with limited time for collective preparation.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed concern over the lack of preparation time for Team India. He believes the IPL scheduling has hindered the team's ability to play warm-up matches and acclimatize to the conditions in the United States, where the World Cup will be held."With this IPL scheduling, it is difficult to have everyone together to play a few matches," Singh said. "We have two games in America before the tournament starts, but that's not enough."Singh emphasized the importance of having 4-5 warm-up games before the tournament to build team cohesion and adjust to the conditions. He also suggested a 10-15 day gap between the IPL and major ICC events like the World Test Championship or World Cups to allow for adequate preparation."When you are playing a tournament like the World Cup or WTC, the team should play together for 10-15 days," Singh said. "It will be better for the team's performance."The IPL's scheduling has been a topic of debate in recent years, with some arguing that it conflicts with international commitments and hinders the preparation of national teams. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has defended the IPL's timing, citing its popularity and financial benefits.However, with the T20 World Cup being one of the most prestigious events in cricket, the issue of preparation time for the host nation is likely to remain a topic of discussion.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi Capitals (DC) in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match in New Delhi on May 14. The match was a must-win for both teams, as they were fighting for a playoff spot.DC skipper Rishabh Pant returned to the side after serving a one-match suspension, while Gulbadin Naib also made a comeback. However, David Warner and Prithvi Shaw missed out due to injuries. LSG, on the other hand, brought in Arshad Khan and Yudhvir Singh Charak.LSG's decision to bowl first proved to be a good one, as they restricted DC to a modest total of 149/7 in their 20 overs. Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers for LSG, taking 3/30, while Mohsin Khan and Ravi Bishnoi chipped in with two wickets each.In reply, LSG got off to a solid start, with openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock putting on 50 runs for the first wicket. However, DC fought back with regular wickets, and LSG found themselves in trouble at 103/5 in the 15th over.Marcus Stoinis and Deepak Hooda then came to the rescue for LSG, stitching together a crucial 46-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Stoinis played a blistering knock of 38 off 25 balls, while Hooda contributed with a steady 24 off 29 balls.With 10 runs needed off the final over, LSG's hopes rested on Krunal Pandya. The all-rounder held his nerve and hit a six off the first ball to seal a thrilling victory for his team.The win was a huge boost for LSG's playoff hopes, as they moved up to fourth place in the standings. DC, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their quest for a top-four finish.

KKR CEO Dismisses Rohit Sharma's Exit Rumors, Calls Conversation with Nayar 'Mischief'Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore has downplayed the significance of a conversation between Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar that sparked speculation about the former Mumbai Indians captain's potential departure from the franchise.In a podcast with RevSportz, Mysore clarified that the conversation was taken out of context and was an attempt to create mischief. "I didn't even know about it, I think it's just a storm in a teacup," he said. "They have been good friends since god knows how long and someone has done something there just to create some mischief."KKR initially posted the video of the conversation on their social media channels but later removed it, further fueling speculation among fans. However, Mysore confirmed that both Rohit and Nayar were discussing something else and that the video was taken down due to the noise in the background."Some people just have too much time on their hands," Mysore added.The conversation between Rohit and Nayar, which took place during MI's match against KKR on May 9, was not clearly audible due to the crowd noise. However, Rohit can be heard saying, "Ek ek cheez change ho raha hai...Woh unke upar hai...Jo bhi hai woh mera ghar hai bhai, woh temple jo hai na maine banwaya hai." The last audible line in the chat is "Bhai mera kya mera to ye last hai".Fans quickly reacted to the video, speculating that Rohit was talking about the MI captaincy and his potential departure from the franchise. However, Mysore's clarification has put those rumors to rest.Rohit and Nayar have a long-standing friendship dating back to their Mumbai domestic cricket days. Nayar is also credited with playing a significant role in Rohit's comeback into the Indian team after the 2011 ODI World Cup snub.

Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Delhi Capitals and former Australian captain, believes that high-scoring games will remain a norm in the Indian Premier League (IPL) even if the controversial 'Impact Player' rule is discontinued. The rule allows teams to replace one of the original XI announced at the toss at any point during the match.Ponting's comments come amidst a debate about the rule, with some like India captain Rohit Sharma criticizing it for limiting the opportunities for all-rounders. However, others like Sourav Ganguly have praised it as an innovative addition."There is a talk if the impact player remains in the IPL, if it doesn't, will the scores come down again? I am interested to see that. I am not sure they will," Ponting said.He explained that the rule provides a cushion for top-order batters, but they are already accustomed to playing aggressively. "The guys at the top are so used to going out and playing a certain way," he said.This season, the 200-run mark has been breached 36 times in the IPL, compared to 37 in the previous edition. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has indicated that the rule could be reconsidered based on feedback from stakeholders.Ponting also highlighted the challenges of coaching a franchise team, which he believes is more difficult than coaching a national team. He cited the diverse nationalities involved and the limited time available to build team culture."It's really hard to do that, it is also hard to make big skill changes in such a short period of time," he said.Ponting also discussed the evolution of the game in recent years, noting that the space for batters with "classical technique" is shrinking. He pointed to England's aggressive approach and the rise of players who have grown up playing limited-overs cricket."There still is room for purist batsmen in Test match cricket, but that's going to be less and less," he said.Ponting identified Virat Kohli and Joe Root as among the few top batters with a classical technique. "In the last 10 years there is not a lot of classical technique in the modern day batters," he said.

Riyan Parag, the rising star of Indian cricket, is poised to receive a thunderous welcome from his home crowd when Rajasthan Royals face Punjab Kings in their penultimate league game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on May 15, 2024.Placed second in the 10-team standings with 16 points, the Royals need just one win in their remaining two "home" games in Guwahati to secure a berth in the playoffs. This strategic move by the franchise, which has invested heavily in Parag's development over the past six years, has paid dividends.Despite not being an opener, Parag has amassed an impressive 483 runs at a strike rate of 153 this season. His consistency and adaptability have made him a contender for India's next T20 series, where he is expected to make his international debut.Parag's emergence as a cricketing icon from the northeast region adds significance to this match and the Royals' subsequent clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. The support for the 22-year-old will be overwhelming, bolstering Sanju Samson and his men against Punjab Kings.Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have struggled to find their footing this season, despite unearthing two T20 gems in Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan's absence due to injury has exacerbated their woes, with his stand-in Sam Curran failing to impress.In contrast, Samson has grown as a leader, leading the Royals' charge with 486 runs, the highest in the team. The dynamic opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal (344 runs) and Jos Buttler (359 runs) have had an average season by their standards, but Parag and Samson have ensured that the batting remains solid.The Royals' strength lies in their bowling unit, which has been consistently effective throughout the tournament. Sandeep Sharma (Economy Rate 8.07) and Trent Boult (ER 8.38) have executed their plans with precision, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal have provided the necessary spin and wicket-taking ability.

Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has hinted at a potential role in the Indian Premier League (IPL). During his tenure from 2017 to 2021, Shastri led the Indian team to significant achievements, including consecutive Test series victories against Australia.One of the most memorable moments under Shastri's guidance was India's historic win at The Gabba in 2021, which inspired the famous phrase "Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand." Fans have always been eager to see Shastri take on a head coach position in the IPL.When asked about the possibility of coaching in the IPL during an appearance on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, Shastri responded, "Not really. Not after doing India for 7 years. You never know what can come up in the future and how involved you might want to get."Following his stint with the Indian team, Shastri returned to broadcasting and is currently part of the commentary panel for the ongoing IPL 2024 season. His dynamic voice and unique style of introducing teams during the toss have left a lasting impression on viewers."You know, there is no doubting the experience you have and what you can bring to the table, but after 7 years with the Indian team, especially those times when you were there, the toughest time that game has seen since the World War II, during Covid, quarantine and the bubbles, you just wanted ta break from the dugout, the dressing room and everything. The broadcasting and the mic gave me the freedom to express myself again. And have some fun," Shastri added.While not completely ruling out a return to a managerial role (perhaps for an IPL team this time), Shastri emphasized his desire to contribute to the sport by identifying and nurturing young talent."If I ever go there, it will be precisely for that reason. Not to see the superstars carrying on the way they are, but to cultivate, identify and groom talent, and take them through the roof. I will enjoy it because the spread is so much these days, they have complexes, they have language barriers and challenges culturally. And then get them together to play fearless cricket and ruthless cricket is my cup of tea. So never discount that, it would always be the case when you are handling youngsters," he added.

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has lauded Virat Kohli's resilience in the face of criticism over his strike rate in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite leading the run-scoring charts, Kohli has faced scrutiny for his batting approach, particularly against spinners. However, the RCB icon has silenced his critics in recent matches by taking on the spinners and maintaining a healthy strike rate.Hayden believes that the criticism has motivated Kohli to improve his game. "He's a very conventional cricketer, which makes him great across all three formats," Hayden said. "But one of the big concerns that we've all had is through the middle. And so, like all great champions, if there is something out there in the media or there's something where you can feel yourself to improve, then you get about making your business to do so."Hayden pointed out that Kohli's strike rate against spin has improved significantly in the middle overs. "That's critical for India because international sides they'll line up with spin. Every side will have two, sometimes three spinners as their resource, and they'll use it to slow down a Kohli who, inside that powerplay has got such a huge energy and momentum and creates great pressure on opposition."Hayden also noted that top players often respond positively to criticism. "A dangerous athlete is one that's been wounded," he said. "Steve Waugh never used to have a word to him. Kevin Pietersen, he used to love the pressure. Brian Lara, Don't talk to him. Why would you do that? He'll just smash you. So, guys that are of that kind of quality, if you try and needle them, all they do is get better."Kohli's recent performances have vindicated Hayden's assessment. The RCB skipper has scored 634 runs in 12 matches, including three centuries, and is currently the Orange Cap holder. His improved strike rate against spin has been a key factor in RCB's success this season.

The Impact Player rule, introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023, has sparked mixed reactions among players and coaches. While some, like India captain Rohit Sharma, believe it hinders the development of all-rounders, others, including former India coach Ravi Shastri, see its benefits.Shastri believes the rule has contributed to thrilling finishes in the IPL. "It's got tighter finishes. You have to evolve with the times and I think it's a good rule," he said. He cited the example of Dhruv Jurel, who made his Test debut for India after starting his IPL career as an Impact Player.BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the rule is not permanent and will be reviewed after the 2024 T20 World Cup. "We will consult with the players, franchises, broadcasters [and take a call]. This is not permanent [but] I am not saying that it will go," he said.Rohit Sharma was the first high-profile Indian player to criticize the rule, which allows teams to bring in a 12th player at any point in a match to replace a player from the original XI. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar of Delhi Capitals (DC) also expressed their disapproval.DC head coach Ricky Ponting, however, acknowledged the rule's potential to enhance the tournament's spectacle. "But from my perspective as a coach, he admitted he wasn't too keen on the rule, calling it a "nightmare," he said.Despite the differing opinions, the Impact Player rule has undoubtedly added a new dimension to the IPL. It remains to be seen whether it will become a permanent fixture in the tournament or be phased out after further evaluation.