Cricket

Former Indian batsman Pravin Amre is set to part ways with the Delhi Capitals (DC) after a nine-year stint as assistant coach. The franchise has recently revamped its coaching staff, appointing Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as director of cricket.Amre's departure is said to be mutual, with the franchise owners appreciating his contributions to the team's development. His four-year contract has come to an end, and while GMR, the company running the team for the next two years, may offer him a new role, it is unlikely to be directly with the Delhi Capitals.Amre joined DC in 2015 as an assistant coach and domestic talent scout. He played a key role in identifying and nurturing several Indian players, including Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Khaleel Ahmed, and Prithvi Shaw. He served as a bridge between domestic players and former head coach Ricky Ponting, helping them adapt to the IPL environment.Since July 2023, Amre has been the head coach of the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket in the USA. He has also coached Mumbai to three Ranji Trophy titles, served as India A coach, and was the chief selector for India Under-19s.Amre's departure marks the end of an era for the Delhi Capitals. His contributions to the team's success and the development of young Indian players will be remembered.

MS Dhoni's potential involvement in the T10 format has sparked speculation, with T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman Shaji Ul Mulk expressing optimism about the possibility. Dhoni's future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains uncertain, raising questions about his retirement plans.Despite his age and recent knee injury, Dhoni's participation in the T10 format could be a viable option. The format has attracted top former and current stars, including David Warner. Several retired Indian players, such as Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, and Irfan Pathan, have also participated in T10 leagues."We can expect MS Dhoni to be playing T10 when he makes up his mind," said Shaji. "Almost all the big names of India have come to play T10."The Abu Dhabi T10, scheduled for 2024, has already secured 179 international megastars from 11 different nations. The tournament's global appeal is evident in the participation of players from the West Indies, UAE, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matthew Boucher believes the T10 format has the potential to take off globally. "It seems like T10 is having a fantastic couple of years," he said. "It is something that is taking to take off on a global perspective."Dhoni's decision to participate in the T10 format will depend on his physical condition and retirement plans. However, the prospect of seeing the Indian icon in the fast-paced and exciting T10 format remains a tantalizing possibility for fans.

Shreyas Iyer's 2024 has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with both setbacks and triumphs. After being dropped from the Test side and losing his BCCI central contract, Iyer bounced back to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title and win the Ranji Trophy with Mumbai.Iyer's biggest challenge this season was to overcome back issues and regain his fitness. He embarked on a rigorous training regimen, focusing on long-distance running and pushing his body to its limits. The results were evident in his performances, as he scored four half-centuries and a century in his last 11 innings.His century against Maharashtra was particularly significant, as it was his first in first-class cricket in nearly three years. Iyer expressed his delight at the achievement, saying, "Coming back after a very long time, obviously I was feeling a bit down with my injuries, but now getting a century after a very long time, it's a great feeling."Iyer is now eager to make a Test comeback, but he acknowledges that his fitness will be a key factor. He said, "I am absolutely keen for a [Test] comeback but yeah, as we say, control the controllables and my job is to keep performing and keep participating as much as possible and also see with that my body is in best shape."Iyer revealed that he had doubts about his back injury recurring after his surgery last year. However, he has since overcome those fears through intensive training. He said, "There was this phase where I was feeling that it might occur again. But yeah, I trained a lot to see to it that I have optimum fitness and obviously it comes here and there, but now my capacity has improved a lot."Iyer's fitness issues have led to some inaccurate perceptions about his ability to play Test cricket. He said, "See, I had addressed my feeling during the longer format and things didn't go my way. But I've also addressed it in the previous interviews I've given and I'm in a good space right now."Iyer has also had to adjust his approach to the red-ball format, given the defensive fields teams now employ. He said, "Nowadays when the teams come up, they straightaway put a defensive field right from ball one. So I was just trying to take some time, in between trying to play more balls than scoring shots, so that was my plan."Despite the challenges, Iyer remains optimistic about his future. He said, "You win three championships in a year, and what else can you ask for? All I see is the positive things over here and that is winning the trophy and that's what I want."

Rohit Sharma's IPL Future Sparks Fan Frenzy at India-New Zealand TestDuring the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, India captain Rohit Sharma found himself at the center of a light-hearted moment that has captured the attention of cricket fans on social media. As Rohit walked off the field, a fan shouted out a question that has sparked speculation about his future in the Indian Premier League (IPL)."Bhai, IPL mein kaun sa team?" (Brother, which IPL team?), the fan asked, eager to know Rohit's preferred destination for the upcoming season. Rohit responded with a playful question of his own: "Where do you want?"Without hesitation, the fan replied, "Bhai, RCB mein ajao yaar (Come to RCB, brother)." Rohit, however, did not respond to the plea and continued walking towards the pavilion, leaving the fan's request unanswered.Rohit's current IPL team, Mumbai Indians (MI), has been his home for the past 13 seasons, during which he has led them to five championship titles. However, the fan's plea from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp highlights the intense rivalries and transfer hopes that run deep within the IPL.In the match itself, Rohit bounced back from a disappointing first innings with a solid 52 in India's second innings, providing a strong foundation alongside opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (32). The hosts have staged a remarkable recovery by erasing New Zealand's mammoth 356-run lead, bringing the team back into contention for a victory.Rohit's future with MI remains uncertain, and the fan's plea for him to join RCB has sparked speculation about a potential transfer. While Rohit has been a key figure for MI, the team's recent struggles and the emergence of young talent could lead to a change in strategy.The IPL is known for its unpredictable nature and game-changing transfers, and Rohit's future destination will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. Whether he remains with MI or makes a move to another franchise, his presence is sure to have a significant impact on the upcoming season.

Delhi Capitals have undergone a significant overhaul, with Sourav Ganguly stepping down as Director of Cricket and Venugopal Rao taking his place. This move comes amidst speculation about Rishabh Pant's future as captain.Ganguly, a former India captain and BCCI President, will now focus on the Women's Premier League team and the Pretoria Capitals in SA20. He had reportedly expressed interest in doubling up as the men's team head coach and Director of Cricket, but this did not materialize.The Capitals have also finalized their three retentions in Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. They are expected to use the Right-to-Match (RTM) card to buy back other players. Abhishek Porel, who showed promise last season, is a potential uncapped retention.Ahead of the mega auction, the Capitals will hold trials next week to identify potential targets. They have already identified three venues and will finalize them based on availability.The ongoing Ranji Trophy could hamper their plans, as most players are busy with their respective states. However, the franchise is short on time and will need to reach out to their targets before the auction, likely in the last week of November.The Capitals' captaincy picture remains unclear, with Pant's future in the role uncertain. The franchise is expected to make a decision in the coming days.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in the last week of November, with November 30 emerging as the likely date. The venue is yet to be finalized, but Dubai is a potential option.The ten franchises are actively preparing for the auction, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) leading the way in identifying their priorities. Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma are their top targets, while Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also under consideration.Delhi Capitals have retained Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav as their top picks, but the captaincy is still undecided. They have made significant changes to their support staff, appointing Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as Director of Cricket, replacing Sourav Ganguly. Munaf Patel has been roped in as the bowling coach.Mumbai Indians, the most successful IPL franchise, have retained Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Pandya will continue as captain, and the team will aim to regain their winning ways under coach Mahela Jayawardene.The upcoming mega auction promises to be highly competitive, with new rules designed to keep the franchises on their toes. The modified Right To Match (RTM) card will allow the highest bidder to raise their bid before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right. This is expected to lead to intense bidding wars.The IPL mega auction is a crucial event in the Indian cricket calendar, as it shapes the teams for the upcoming season. With a host of talented players available, the auction is likely to attract significant attention from fans and experts alike.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction dynamics have taken a new turn, with reports suggesting that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to retain South African wicket-keeper batter Heinrich Klaasen for a whopping Rs 23 crore. This move highlights a crucial aspect of the IPL retention rules: franchises have the flexibility to distribute the retention fee among players as they deem fit, as long as the total amount remains within the designated Rs 75 crore retained purse.According to ESPN Cricinfo and Cricbuzz, the IPL rules stipulate that the first retention should be Rs 18 crore, the second Rs 14 crore, the third Rs 11 crore, the fourth Rs 18 crore, the fifth Rs 14 crore, and the uncapped Rs 4 crore. However, franchises are not bound to adhere strictly to these slabs. They can allocate the money among players in any way they choose, provided the total budget does not exceed the designated amount.This flexibility gives franchises significant leverage in negotiating retention fees with players. For instance, a franchise could opt to pay more than Rs 18 crore to their first retention and less than Rs 11 crore to their third retention, as long as the total budget adds up to Rs 43 crore (18 + 14 + 11), the designated amount for three retentions.Even if a franchise retains fewer than five players for an amount less than the designated Rs 75 crore, the designated amount will still be deducted from their overall purse. As per the retention rule quoted by Cricbuzz, "Retention deduction of overall amount instead of fee per player, in this case of 75 Crs irrespective of what amount is paid to 5 players. If the total amount exceeds 75 Crs then actual amount to be deducted. In case the amount is less than 75 Crs then 75 Crs to be deducted."This flexibility in distributing the retention fee provides franchises with greater flexibility in managing their budgets and retaining the players they value most. It also allows them to negotiate higher or lower fees for players they are keen on retaining, without disrupting the overall designated amount.

Dale Steyn Departs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Citing Personal ReasonsFormer South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has announced his departure from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the upcoming season. Steyn, who served as the team's bowling coach since 2022, has cited personal reasons for his decision.Steyn's exit comes after he had previously made himself unavailable for IPL 2024. In a social media post, he expressed his gratitude to the Sunrisers franchise while confirming his continued involvement with the South African T20 franchise Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20.During his playing career, Steyn represented several IPL teams, including Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers, and Gujarat Lions. He last played for RCB in 2020 before transitioning to a coaching role with Sunrisers two years later.As Sunrisers' bowling coach, Steyn played a pivotal role in mentoring young Indian pacers, notably Umran Malik. Following Steyn's unavailability for IPL 2024, the franchise appointed New Zealander James Franklin as their new bowling coach.Sunrisers reached the final of the previous IPL season, where they narrowly lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. Steyn's departure marks a significant change in the team's coaching staff as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian spinner, has sparked a debate by suggesting a bold retention strategy for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Ashwin believes that CSK should retain MS Dhoni as a capped player rather than an uncapped player, as allowed by the IPL Governing Council's recent rule change.Ashwin's proposal stems from his belief that CSK should prioritize retaining a strong Indian core. He suggests retaining Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and Dhoni as the five primary retentions. This would leave CSK with the option of retaining Sameer Rizvi as an uncapped player, a move that Ashwin supports despite Rizvi's underwhelming performance in IPL 2024.Ashwin argues that Rizvi has shown promise in the UP T20 League and could be a valuable asset for CSK. He also points out that Rizvi's price would not be significantly higher than other similar players in the market. However, former South Africa performance analyst Prasanna Raman disagrees with Ashwin's assessment of Rizvi's value.The IPL Governing Council's decision to allow Indian players who have not played internationally for five or more years to be retained as uncapped players has given CSK a route to retain Dhoni for just Rs 4 crore. However, Ashwin believes that retaining Dhoni as a capped player would allow CSK to retain a stronger Indian core.Ashwin's perspective could have significant implications for CSK's retention strategy. By retaining Dhoni as a capped player, CSK would have more flexibility in retaining other Indian players. This could help them build a more balanced and competitive team for the upcoming IPL seasons.