Cricket

Shubman Gill, the prodigious Indian batsman, has etched his name in the annals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by becoming the youngest player to reach the coveted milestone of 3000 runs in the tournament. At the tender age of 24 years and 215 days, Gill achieved this remarkable feat during Gujarat Titans' match against Rajasthan Royals, surpassing the previous record held by Virat Kohli.Gill's journey to 3000 IPL runs has been a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. Since his debut in the tournament, he has consistently showcased his batting prowess, combining classical technique with innovative stroke play. His ability to anchor innings and score runs consistently has established him as a key player for every team he has represented.Beyond his impressive run tally, Gill's achievement is a reflection of his maturity and cricketing acumen beyond his years. At just 24, he has already established himself as one of the brightest talents in Indian cricket. His record-breaking feat sets a high bar for future generations of cricketers, inspiring them to strive for excellence.Gill's accomplishment is not only a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for Indian cricket. It underscores the depth of talent and the bright future that lies ahead for the sport in the country. As he continues to evolve and grow, Gill is poised to become a cornerstone of the Indian cricket team for years to come.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the veteran leg-spinner, reached a significant milestone in his illustrious IPL career as he played his 150th match in the tournament. The match between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans in Jaipur on Wednesday marked this special occasion for Chahal.Chahal, who has been a key player for Rajasthan Royals since joining the team in 2022, received a heartfelt message from his wife, Dhanashree Verma, ahead of his 150th IPL game. Verma expressed her pride in Chahal's achievements and praised his contributions to both his previous team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Rajasthan Royals.In the match, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill opted to field first after winning the toss. Rajasthan Royals, who have been in impressive form this season, are currently at the top of the IPL points table with four wins from four matches. Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, have won two and lost three of their five matches so far.The Royals made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Matthew Wade and Abhinav Manohar in place of Kane Williamson and BR Sharath. Speaking at the toss, Gill explained that they wanted to bowl first due to the possibility of rain and the need to chase down a target in such conditions.Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson also expressed his preference for bowling first. He acknowledged the challenges of leading a team but expressed gratitude for the support he has received from the team management.The match between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Chahal's experience and skill will be crucial for the Royals as they aim to maintain their winning streak.

In a recent Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), fans witnessed an uncharacteristic moment involving the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Despite CSK ultimately securing victory by 7 wickets, the spotlight was on Dhoni for dropping an easy catch of West Indian marauder Andre Russell.The incident occurred in the eighth ball of the 18th over, when Mustafizur Rahman executed a deceptive slower delivery aimed at Russell, managing to elicit an edge from the KKR all-rounder. Despite the skillful execution, Dhoni, positioned behind the stumps, failed to secure the catch, attempting it with just one hand.The incident left the jam-packed crowd at Chepauk in disbelief, with both Mustafizur and CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was fielding near the boundary line, momentarily stunned by the missed opportunity. However, despite the lifeline provided by the dropped catch, Russell couldn't capitalize on the reprieve and was dismissed soon after for just 10 runs.Former England skipper Michael Vaughan and ex-New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull engaged in a discussion about Dhoni's dropped catch on Cricbuzz. "MS Dhoni dropped quite a simple catch with the one hand and the cameras went straight on to most of the CSK team. Because it was MS Dhoni, most of them were like - "That's fine," Vaughan said.Doull added, "Nobody said a word. I would love to see the bowler give a reaction (makes animated gestures)."Vaughan: "You could see that he wanted to. He went for it and then he thought - Oh, it is MS Dhoni."Despite the initial setback, CSK's disciplined bowling effort restricted KKR to a total of 137/9 in their allotted 20 overs. While the missed catch generated a wave of surprise and anticipation among fans, it ultimately did not significantly alter the outcome of the match, as CSK emerged victorious in the end.Chennai chased down the target quite comfortably in 17.4 over riding on a fine half-century from skipper Gaikwad. Following the high-profile clash, CSK's stronghold at their home ground continued to be evident as they comfortably secured victory without facing significant challenges, effectively ending KKR's unbeaten streak in this season of the IPL.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abdul Samad has lauded Nitish Kumar Reddy's remarkable transformation in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Reddy's batting has evolved significantly, showcasing a more aggressive and unconventional approach compared to last year.In Sunrisers' two-run victory over Punjab Kings, Reddy played a pivotal role with a maiden IPL fifty (64 off 37 balls), featuring four boundaries and five sixes. Samad attributed Reddy's success to his improved practice performances and the team's confidence in his abilities."Last year, Nitish was not batting like this. He used to play conventional shots. This time, he has become completely different," Samad said at the post-match press conference. "I think he has practiced very well. And he had a very good impact in our practice matches as well. So, everyone was very impressed with him. That's why we are backing him."Samad also highlighted the importance of Reddy's promotion to the No. 4 batting position, which allowed him to carry the momentum from his previous match against Chennai Super Kings."I think he has been promoted (from No. 6 to No. 4) today (on Tuesday) to carry the confidence of the last game (vs. Chennai Super Kings). And everyone had confidence in him that he will deliver today."Despite the close finish, Samad believes that Sunrisers could have won more comfortably had they held onto two crucial catches in the final over."We thought the match was a bit close because we missed two catches. Otherwise, we would have won the match by 15 runs or so."Samad also acknowledged the contributions of openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who have consistently provided Sunrisers with solid starts."When you get a start of 70-80 runs in the PowerPlay, then it becomes easy for you. So, that is helping us a lot in winning the match."

Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, has returned from a break with a vengeance, surpassing Chris Gayle to become the player with the most sixes for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli's remarkable achievement is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering loyalty to his franchise.Kohli's tally of 241 sixes for RCB is a testament to his dominance in the shortest format of the game. He has been a cornerstone of the RCB batting lineup since the inception of the IPL in 2008, and his ability to clear the boundary with ease has been a key factor in the team's success.The Indian star's six-hitting prowess is not limited to the IPL. He also holds the record for the most sixes in international cricket, with 113 to his name. His ability to hit the ball with power and precision makes him one of the most feared batsmen in the world.Kohli's recent form has been particularly impressive. In his first match back from a break, he smashed an unbeaten 83 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, including four sixes. This performance propelled him to the top of the Orange Cap standings, with 181 runs in the tournament.Kohli's resurgence is a welcome sight for RCB fans, who have been eagerly awaiting his return to form. With his experience, leadership, and ability to score runs at a rapid pace, Kohli is a vital cog in the RCB machine.As the IPL progresses, Kohli will be looking to continue his impressive run and help RCB challenge for the title. His six-hitting prowess will undoubtedly be a key factor in the team's success.

Steven Smith, who faced relentless heckling after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, has advised Hardik Pandya to "block out" the boos and abuse he has received from fans during the ongoing IPL. Smith believes that Hardik needs support from his Mumbai Indians teammates, especially Rohit Sharma, who he replaced as captain.Smith, who was banned for a year after admitting to "leadership failure" in the Newlands Test, said he treated the heckling he experienced as "white noise." He suggested that Hardik might be surprised by the reception because it is not often that India's top players are booed by fans.However, Smith acknowledged that the abuse from fans, coupled with criticism of his captaincy, could impact Hardik adversely. He pointed out that Hardik has not experienced such a reception before, especially as a star Indian player.Smith also expressed concern about Hardik's tactical decisions in Mumbai Indians' back-to-back losses. He believes Hardik erred by batting himself too low in the first game and by not bowling Jasprit Bumrah enough in the second game.Smith suggested that Rohit Sharma could play a role in supporting Hardik, similar to how Virat Kohli defended Smith during the 2019 World Cup. He said that Rohit could stand up and ask fans to support Hardik, which could help him overcome the current challenges.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their second Indian Premier League (IPL) match on March 30 in Lucknow. LSG, led by KL Rahul, will aim to improve their all-round performance after losing their opening game against Rajasthan Royals by 20 runs.LSG's bowling unit struggled in their first match, with all bowlers except Krunal Pandya leaking runs. The absence of Mark Wood and David Willey has left LSG's pace attack thin, with Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Yash Thakur expected to carry the load. Ravi Bishnoi, who is vying for a place in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad, also had an ordinary outing in the team's tournament opener.Skipper Rahul, who has decided to play as a wicketkeeper-batter with the T20 World Cup in mind, scored 58 in his comeback game and will be looking to build on that. He will hope that his opening partner Quinton de Kock returns to his belligerent best against Punjab after missing out against Royals. The team will also rely on the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, and Krunal to deliver down the order.LSG's success will also depend on the form of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who was the leading run-getter for the team last year with 408 runs.PBKS, on the other hand, have a 50-50 record so far, winning one and losing one. The Shikhar Dhawan-led side needs more fluency in the powerplay, which will come if Jonny Bairstow gets going after failing in the first two games. Dhawan, who only plays IPL to IPL, needs to up his strike rate going forward. He himself admitted to batting a bit "slowly" against RCB.Prabhsimran Singh, who came of age last season, has not been able to capitalize on his starts yet. While all-rounder Sam Curran has shown his prowess with the bat in the two matches, the left-arm seamer has been wayward with the ball. Vice-captain Jitesh Sharma, who is in the running for a World Cup berth, needs to have a stellar season to convince the national selectors.In the pace bowling department, Kagiso Rabada will look for more support from Curran, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel. Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar has been impressive, while leg-spinner Rahul Chahar needs to up his game.

Andre Russell: Rediscovering His Mojo with a Leaner, Fitter ApproachAs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare for their upcoming matches, all eyes are on Andre Russell, the towering Jamaican who has been in scintillating form. In their season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Russell smashed a blistering 25-ball 64, showcasing his devastating power-hitting abilities.Russell's performance at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru holds special significance. In 2019, he played a pivotal role in KKR's victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring an unbeaten 13-ball 48 to guide his team to a five-wicket win.After a challenging period last year, Russell has returned to the IPL with renewed vigor and determination. He has shed weight, improved his fitness, and sharpened his batting skills."I think it's all about the mindset," Russell said. "I watched videos of my past performances and realized that I was clear in my thoughts towards every delivery. I allowed myself to be under pressure because I've been thinking too much."Russell has also been working diligently on his fitness. "I'm feeling good," he said. "I have four packs so I'm working on the next two. I'm working on being leaner and lighter, and it's working for my body and shows in my performance as well."In addition to his physical improvements, Russell has also made technical adjustments to his batting. "I was at the nets in Abu Dhabi and Sunil Narine mentioned something," he revealed. "Having a short stride is working for me. When I look at most big-hitters, they don't have a big stride. Now I have a bit more time to play the ball."With the T20 World Cup approaching, Russell is eager to continue his impressive form. His rediscovered mojo and unwavering determination make him a formidable force in the IPL and a key player for the West Indies.

Mumbai Indians' perplexing tactics in their record-breaking IPL loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad have drawn criticism from former Australia captain Steve Smith. Smith expressed bewilderment over the decision to limit premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah to just six deliveries up until the 13th over of the match.Sunrisers Hyderabad posted the highest ever IPL total of 277/3, powered by a stunning display of power-hitting. Despite an equally aggressive response from Mumbai Indians, they fell short by 31 runs.Smith questioned the timing of Bumrah's introduction into the attack, stating that he should have been brought back earlier to stem the flow of runs. "I was perplexed with some of their bowling changes in the first innings for Mumbai. Bumrah bowled in the fourth over, he went for 5 and then we didn't see him again till the 13th over when they were on 173," Smith said.He emphasized that Bumrah's late reintroduction rendered him ineffective. "All the damage had been done, you needed your best bowler to be coming back and take some wickets in that period and I think they missed a trick there bringing him back only in the 13th over."Smith believes that Bumrah's absence from the attack allowed Hyderabad to accumulate a massive total. "I think he got a few things wrong, and that was the main one for me. I mean you can't have one of the best bowlers in the world bowling one over."He suggested that Bumrah should have been utilized more aggressively, even if it meant taking risks. "When the ball is going around like that, you've just got to bring your best bowler back earlier than you would have liked. It's just about adapting on the go and I'd have almost bowled Bumrah out by the 15th, 16th over, try to get some wickets, if he gets wickets, you slow the rate down anyway."Smith acknowledged the extraordinary power-hitting contest that unfolded, with a total of 38 sixes hit. "It was an incredible game."Another former cricketer, Brian Lara, praised Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma for his blistering 23-ball 63. "Abhishek Sharma is one of my favorite young batters...He can hit it, he's not a big muscular guy, but when he hits the ball it stays hit. I think his was a special knock today," Lara said.