Cricket

Karnataka Unveils Squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vysakh Vijaykumar ReturnsKarnataka has announced its 15-player squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scheduled to take place in Indore from November 23rd to December 5th. The team will be led by Mayank Agarwal, with Manish Pandey serving as vice-captain.The squad features the return of fast bowler Vysakh Vijaykumar, who recently missed two rounds of the Ranji Trophy due to his selection for the Indian T20I team. Vijaykumar's inclusion bolsters Karnataka's bowling attack, which also includes experienced campaigners like Shreyas Gopal and Vasuki Koushik.Karnataka's batting lineup boasts a wealth of talent, including India's middle-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinav Manohar, and KL Shrijith. The team will be hoping for consistent performances from these batsmen to guide them through the tournament.Karnataka has been placed in Group B for the tournament and will face a challenging schedule. They will open their campaign against Uttarakhand, followed by matches against Tripura, Saurashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Baroda, and Gujarat.The team's support staff remains unchanged, with Yere Goud continuing as head coach and Mansur Ali Khan as bowling coach. They will be tasked with guiding Karnataka to success in the tournament.The full Karnataka squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is as follows:* Mayank Agarwal (Captain)* Manish Pandey (Vice-captain)* Devdutt Padikkal* Abhinav Manohar* Shreyas Gopal* R Smaran* KL Shrijith (Wicketkeeper)* Vysakh Vijaykumar* MacNeil H Noronha* Vasuki Koushik* Manoj Bhandage* Vidyadhar Patil* LR Chethan (Wicketkeeper)* Shubhang Hegde* L Manvanth Kumar

Manish Pandey's impact as an impact player proved pivotal in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) 24-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.After KKR's top order collapsed, Pandey entered the fray at No. 7 and played a crucial 31-ball 42. His 83-run partnership with Venkatesh Iyer, who top-scored with a 52-ball 70, propelled KKR to a respectable 169.KKR captain Shreyas Iyer hailed Pandey's contribution, stating that the impact-player rule had specifically benefited them in this game. He praised Pandey for capitalizing on his opportunity and building a partnership with Iyer.Venkatesh, the Player of the Match, emphasized the importance of rebuilding the innings, even at a slower pace, to preserve the likes of Andre Russell for the death overs. He acknowledged Pandey's guidance and experience throughout the innings.Venkatesh's half-century was his second of IPL 2024 and his best score so far. He attributed his success to a smarter approach, focusing on decision-making rather than brute force.KKR's bowlers then restricted MI to 145, with Umesh Yadav claiming three wickets. The victory was a significant boost for KKR, who had lost their previous two matches.