Cricket

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) continued their impressive start to IPL 2024 with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Lucknow on Friday.CSK, batting first, posted a competitive 176/6 in 20 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 57 from Ravindra Jadeja and a quickfire 28* off just 9 balls from MS Dhoni. However, LSG's openers, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, put on a dominant display to chase down the target with ease.Rahul, who has faced criticism for his slow strike rate in recent times, silenced his detractors with a brilliant 82 off 53 balls, including nine boundaries and three sixes. De Kock also played a crucial role, scoring 54 runs to provide LSG with a solid foundation.The LSG skipper's performance was particularly impressive given that he is vying for a spot in India's squad for the upcoming World Cup. Former India star Robin Uthappa believes that Rahul's chances of making the team are "50-50," but praised his recent form."The last 3-4 games, the way he has batted, was phenomenal to watch," Uthappa said. "When he is on song, when he is playing on the merit of the ball, he's class. He makes batting look so good."Rahul acknowledged the importance of de Kock's contribution to LSG's victory. "Quinton batted well as well. Made life easy for both," he said. "Different ball game playing in Chennai. Was playing in front of mini Chennai crowd. We are a young team and happy to play in front of such a crowd."With this win, LSG moved up to fourth place in the IPL 2024 standings, while CSK remained in eighth place.

Ravindra Jadeja's Miraculous Catch Stuns Lucknow Super Giants Skipper KL RahulIn a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter in Lucknow, Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja showcased his exceptional fielding prowess with a breathtaking one-handed stunner that sent Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul packing for 82.Jadeja's brilliance unfolded on the first ball of the 18th over, as Matheesha Pathirana delivered a back-of-length delivery wide outside off. Rahul, sensing an opportunity, swung his bat with full force, sending the ball soaring towards backward-point.As the ball hurtled towards him at lightning speed, Jadeja displayed remarkable hand-eye coordination. He leaped to his left, extending his hand, and miraculously plucked the ball out of thin air. The crowd erupted in a collective gasp, while CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad could only marvel at the superhuman effort."Ohh! What a catch. Is that the catch of the IPL? Wow! That (ball) was flying like a tracer bullet and he has just plucked it out of thin air as if its nothing," exclaimed an ecstatic Ravi Shastri on-air.Despite Jadeja's blinder, Rahul's 53-ball 82 proved to be the cornerstone of Lucknow's eight-wicket victory over CSK. Chasing a challenging target of 177, Rahul and Quinton de Kock (54) forged a formidable partnership, guiding LSG to victory with six balls to spare.Jadeja's sensational catch not only showcased his exceptional fielding skills but also highlighted the importance of fielding in modern-day cricket. His ability to pull off such extraordinary catches under pressure is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the game.

Ahead of their crucial match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul was spotted engaging in a heartwarming conversation with his wife, Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty, at the Ekana Stadium. The couple, who tied the knot last year, shared a tender moment on the eve of the game.In a viral video, Rahul, clad in his training gear, and Athiya, sporting an LSG matchday jersey, were seen chatting animatedly. The video captured the love and support they share, adding a touch of warmth to the intense atmosphere of the IPL.Rahul's 32nd birthday was celebrated with Athiya and the LSG team on Thursday. Athiya took to Instagram to express her love for her husband, posting a heartfelt message along with a photo of them together. "My whole heart for my whole life, happy birthday, my everything," she wrote.Beyond the personal moments, Rahul has also shared insights into his cricketing journey. In a recent interview, he revealed how he signed his first IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). It was Virat Kohli who approached Rahul after being impressed by his performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy."Virat asked me if I would like to play for RCB," Rahul recalled. "I was thrilled and signed the contract immediately. Virat said it would be a crazy ride, and he was right. I gained invaluable knowledge and experience in those two months at RCB."Under Rahul's leadership, LSG has made a strong impact in the IPL, qualifying for the playoffs in both of their seasons. His calm demeanor and strategic decision-making have been instrumental in the team's success.As LSG prepares to face CSK, the presence of Athiya Shetty at the stadium provides a source of inspiration and support for Rahul. The couple's bond serves as a reminder that even in the midst of intense competition, love and family remain paramount.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul has acknowledged the need for introspection after his team's second consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite a promising start to the season, LSG has now slipped to fifth place on the points table."We're not panicking, but we can't afford to be complacent," Rahul said after the eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). "We need to identify our mistakes and have some tough conversations."LSG's batting has been a concern, with the team failing to cross 160 in their last two matches. "We need to figure out how to get to the 180-200 run mark," Rahul emphasized.Against KKR, LSG lost wickets in clusters, leaving them with a below-par total. "We kept losing wickets in bunches, and we left about 30 runs out there," Rahul lamented. "If we had kept wickets in hand, we could have gotten a lot more runs."KKR captain Shreyas Iyer praised his bowlers for their performance. "We bowled well under pressure," Iyer said. "We wanted to minimize the half-volleys and force the batters to use their power."The unbeaten 120-run partnership between Iyer and Phil Salt proved decisive for KKR. Salt credited Iyer for his support and praised the Eden Gardens wicket for its similarity to home conditions in England."Shreyas was good in the middle and kept me on task," Salt said. "The ball bounces a bit more here, and you can aim squarer."LSG will need to address their batting woes and find a way to post more competitive totals if they want to regain their winning ways. KKR, on the other hand, will look to build on their momentum and maintain their position near the top of the table.

Ayush Badoni, the young Lucknow Super Giants batter, has expressed gratitude towards skipper KL Rahul and coach Justin Langer for their unwavering support during his initial struggles in the ongoing IPL season. Badoni's impressive performance against the Delhi Capitals, despite the team's loss, was a testament to the faith placed in him.Badoni's unbeaten 55 off 35 balls played a crucial role in resurrecting LSG's innings, helping them post a competitive 167 for 7. However, the Delhi Capitals chased down the target with ease in 18.1 overs."The start of the season was not good, but I was doing well at the nets," Badoni said. "I am thankful to KL Rahul and Justin Langer for backing me and giving me a chance."Badoni's strategy was to take the game deep and then attack, aiming to score over 150 runs. He acknowledged that the team fell short by about 20 runs.The 24-year-old batter emphasized the positive impact of his strong bond with Rahul and Langer. "I spoke a lot to KL Rahul, and he backs me every time," Badoni said. "I also share a good bonding with Justin. I went to Australia last year, and there also, he made me learn a few things and improved my game."Badoni credited Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav for his match-winning performance. "Kuldeep was bowling well. He broke our momentum," he said.Meanwhile, DC assistant coach Pravin Amre praised Jake Fraser-McGurk's debut IPL knock, which helped the team chase down the target effortlessly. "It was a tremendous innings by Jack because he was batting very well at the nets," Amre said. "We have got that he has that X-factor, the ability to strike the sixes."Amre also acknowledged Prithvi Shaw's contribution in providing a solid start. "As an opener, he has got a role to play, winning the powerplay is also critical," Amre said.The assistant coach lauded the performance of spinners Kuldeep and Axar Patel, who dominated the crucial middle overs. "We are forgetting Kuldeep's contribution. He bowled a dream ball to dismiss Nicholas Pooran," Amre said. "Axar also bowled well in the middle overs, giving away just 25 runs off his 4 overs."

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face off against Delhi Capitals (DC) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Friday, with LSG holding a significant advantage.LSG, currently third in the points table, boasts a formidable bowling attack. Despite the potential absence of Mayank Yadav due to an abdominal niggle, they have a strong lineup including Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, and Ravi Bishnoi. Their opening pair of Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul has been consistent, while Nicholas Pooran has been in exceptional form. However, Devdutt Padikkal remains a concern, having yet to reach double digits.DC, on the other hand, has struggled to find a Plan B, as evidenced by their recent losses to Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians. Their Indian pace attack lacks firepower, with Khaleel Ahmed and Ishant Sharma failing to deliver consistently. Mukesh Kumar is expected to return from injury, but his performance has been underwhelming. Medium pacers Sumit Kumar and Rasikh Dar could face challenges against LSG's strong batting lineup.Pace spearhead Anrich Nortje has also been inconsistent, leaking runs at a high economy rate. DC's batting has been heavily reliant on skipper Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs, with a lack of depth in Indian talent on the bench. Prithvi Shaw has shown some improvement, but uncapped Indian players have failed to make a significant impact.

The highly anticipated fifth and final Test match between India and England is set to commence on March 7 in Dharamsala. Despite India's commanding 3-1 lead in the series, both teams are determined to give it their all in the final encounter.Ahead of the match, a video of batter Shubman Gill undergoing an intense workout at the PCA Stadium in Mohali has surfaced on social media. Gill's dedication and focus are evident as he sprints across the ground, leaving fans impressed.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced updates to India's squad for the Dharamsala Test. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the fourth Test, will make his return to the team. Bumrah has been a formidable force in the series, claiming 17 wickets at an impressive average of 13.64.However, India will be without wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul, who has been ruled out due to an injury. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring his condition and coordinating with specialists in London for further management.Meanwhile, Washington Sundar has been released from the squad to participate in the Ranji Trophy for his domestic side, Tamil Nadu.The updated India squad for the Dharamsala Test includes:* Rohit Sharma (capt)* Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Rajat Patidar* Sarfaraz Khan* Dhruv Jurel (wk)* KS Bharat (wk)* Devdutt Padikkal* R Ashwin* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohammed Siraj* Mukesh Kumar* Akash DeepAs India aims to maintain its top spot in the World Test Championship points table, England will be eager to salvage some pride in the final match. The clash promises to be an exciting and competitive affair, with both teams determined to end the series on a high note.

The Indian cricket team will be without the services of key players KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming fourth Test against England in Ranchi, starting February 23. Rahul, who has been struggling with a right quadriceps injury, has not been able to recover in time, while Bumrah has been released from the squad as part of workload management.Rahul's absence is a significant blow to India's batting lineup. The right-hander was in impressive form in the opening Test in Hyderabad, scoring a century before succumbing to the injury. He was also the only Indian centurion in the drawn two-match Test series in South Africa in December.Bumrah's release from the squad is a precautionary measure, considering the heavy workload he has endured in the first three Tests. The pace spearhead has bowled 80.5 overs so far in the series, taking 17 wickets, including a match-winning spell in the second Test in Visakhapatnam.India are well-placed to seal the series in Ranchi, leading 2-1 after the first three Tests. However, if they are unable to do so, they will desperately need the services of Bumrah for the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, beginning March 7.In the absence of Rahul and Bumrah, India have called up pacer Mukesh Kumar to the squad. Kumar, who was released from the squad for the third Test in Rajkot to play a Ranji game for Bengal, has joined the team in Ranchi.India's updated squad for the fourth Test:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Rajat Patidar* Sarfaraz Khan* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* KS Bharat (WK)* Devdutt Padikkal* R Ashwin* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Washington Sundar* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Mukesh Kumar* Akash Deep