Cricket

Matthew Hayden's daughter, Grace, recently experienced the electrifying atmosphere of the Mumbai Indians (MI) fan base at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As the team prepared for their match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Grace immersed herself in the vibrant cricketing environment.Donning the iconic blue MI jersey, Grace embraced the local culture by sampling traditional Indian cuisine and learning the enthusiastic chants of the MI faithful. She danced and sang alongside the passionate fans, fully immersing herself in the unique experience.Grace's father, Matthew Hayden, a former Australian cricketer, played for the Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2010. Since his retirement, Hayden has become a respected commentator in the Indian Premier League (IPL), providing expert analysis and insights.Despite their struggles this season, with only three wins in 11 matches under new captain Hardik Pandya, the MI fans remain unwavering in their support. Grace's presence at the Wankhede Stadium showcased the enduring popularity of the franchise and the infectious enthusiasm of its supporters.As the IPL continues, Grace's experience serves as a testament to the captivating atmosphere and global appeal of the tournament. The Mumbai Indians, with their passionate fan base and rich history, continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of cricket.

Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden has reignited the debate over Virat Kohli's batting position, particularly in the context of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Hayden's comments came in the wake of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar's criticism of Kohli's explosive response to critics questioning his scoring rate in IPL 2024.Kohli played a scintillating performance against Gujarat Titans, where he scored an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls, including a blistering display against spinners. Kohli's response to criticism regarding his scoring intent in the middle overs has sparked intense debate within the cricketing fraternity.In evaluating Kohli's potential role as an opener for India in the T20 World Cup, Hayden emphasized the significant improvement in Kohli's strike rate over the past four IPL seasons. "That strike rate is trending in the right direction, it's trending up," Hayden commented on Star Sports. "So 150 for me is kind of that sweet spot that starts in and everyone having conversation well where you bat? Is it three, is it open? You know those first six overs, it doesn't matter if Kohli is in those first six overs. You know that there's going to be fireworks."Hayden highlighted Kohli's adaptability and aggressive approach regardless of his batting position, particularly in the context of the explosive nature of the first six overs in T20 cricket. He expressed confidence in Kohli's ability to deliver fireworks irrespective of where he bats in the lineup.Reflecting on the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies, Hayden emphasized the favorable batting conditions and Kohli's proficiency in capitalizing on such surfaces. He cited Kohli's outstanding record as an opener in T20Is, including his sensational century in the Asia Cup last year, as evidence of his capability to excel in the role.However, Hayden also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the conditions in New York, one of the venues for the T20 World Cup, while expressing confidence in Kohli's adaptability and the firepower of India's batting lineup. "They're not so sure about those conditions in New York. I've seen that overlaid venue and it looks magnificent. But certainly through the West Indies, they're going to be benign conditions and Kohli is going to come in and look to strike away knowing that he has a superb batting side that also has a great strike rate," Hayden added.

Virat Kohli's inclusion in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad has sparked debate, with former Australian opener Matthew Hayden questioning whether the veteran batter is the right choice. Despite Kohli's impressive form in the ongoing IPL season, Hayden believes that the BCCI should prioritize performance over reputation.Kohli has been in scintillating form for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), amassing 500 runs in just 10 matches, including four half-centuries and a century. His crucial knock of 70 off 44 balls against Gujarat Titans on Sunday further cemented his status as a key player for RCB.However, Hayden argues that Kohli's slow strike rate and lack of impact in the middle overs could be a liability for India in the T20 World Cup. He suggests that the BCCI should consider younger players who are more suited to the demands of modern T20 cricket."From an Australian cricket point of view, our philosophy is pretty simple. We pick not the names or the icons but select those who are going to win you the World Cup," Hayden said. "We've got our own debates on our front. David Warner... should he go? We've had our challenges and I think we have been very good over the last 20 or even 30 years to actually think what is the side that is going to win."Hayden acknowledges Kohli's impressive statistics but questions whether he is the best option for India in the T20 World Cup. "This Virat Kohli discussion is probably the primary discussion here. Is he the individual who is going to win you the World Cup? I mean, his last ODI World Cup was a fantastic campaign. He has got nothing wrong with his statistics, historically no matter what tournament he plays.""So the challenge from mine is his experience vs the young impetus that is required to play great World Cup cricket."Despite the concerns raised by Hayden, the BCCI has shown faith in Kohli by including him in the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup. It remains to be seen whether Kohli can justify his selection and lead India to victory in the tournament.

Virat Kohli's inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad is a foregone conclusion, but the selection committee faces a dilemma: experience versus youth. Former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden believes the committee must weigh Kohli's proven track record against the potential of younger players.Kohli's recent IPL performances have silenced critics who questioned his place in the squad. With 500 runs in 10 matches, including one century and four half-centuries, he has demonstrated his enduring class. However, Hayden raises concerns about Kohli's ability to adapt to the slow and low wickets expected in the United States and West Indies.Hayden suggests that India's young T20 squad, which recently defeated Australia 4-1, could provide a more dynamic option. Players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal have shown exceptional talent and could bring a fresh impetus to the team.Hayden emphasizes that Australia's selection philosophy prioritizes players who can win the World Cup, regardless of reputation. He believes India should adopt a similar approach, focusing on players who can perform under pressure and deliver results.The selection committee must carefully consider the balance between experience and youth, weighing Kohli's proven ability against the potential of emerging stars. The decision will ultimately shape India's chances of success in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former India opener and chief selector, has strongly advocated for the inclusion of left-handed batter Rinku Singh in India's 15-member squad for the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. Srikkanth believes that Singh's impressive international track record and finishing skills make him a certainty for the team.Singh rose to prominence during the 2023 IPL season, where he hit five consecutive sixes in the final over against the Gujarat Titans. He continued to showcase his finishing prowess throughout the season, amassing 356 runs in 15 T20I matches for India, with a remarkable strike rate of 176.23.Despite limited opportunities in the ongoing IPL 2024 due to Kolkata Knight Riders' strong top-order performance, Singh has maintained a high strike rate of 157.74 in eight matches. Srikkanth emphasized that Singh's international record should be prioritized over recent form."Rinku Singh is a certainty in my 15. He hasn't got that many opportunities to bat in the IPL, but you see his international track record, it's an amazing track record. Amazing track record in South Africa and with every opportunity he has got. So Rinku Singh has to be a certainty in the 15," said Srikkanth.Matthew Hayden, the former Australia batter, also praised the IPL for its role in identifying and developing Indian talent. He believes that the tournament has brought players like Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal into the spotlight, making them contenders for the World Cup squad.India, the 2007 T20 World Cup champions, will begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland in New York. They are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Canada, and tournament co-hosts USA.

Virat Kohli's batting position in the upcoming T20 World Cup has sparked a debate among cricket experts. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Kohli opening the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma would create opportunities for power-hitting finishers like Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube in the Indian playing XI.Pathan, who played a pivotal role in India's 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, suggests that Yashasvi Jaiswal should partner Rohit Sharma as the openers due to their contrasting batting styles and Jaiswal's impressive international strike rate of 160. However, he acknowledges that Kohli opening the batting would allow for a more balanced team composition."If Virat opens up the batting, it will allow the combination of 11 to be in a certain way, which you want," Pathan explained. "If that happens, you might see Shivam Dubey playing, if he's there in the squad. You might see guys like Rinku Singh in the playing 11 as well."Pathan also emphasizes the importance of Jaiswal's underutilized leg-break bowling, which could provide the team with an additional bowling option. "Jaiswal has actually been bowling regularly in the nets," he said. "So what you can do is you can actually play proper five bowlers and maybe have him as a sixth bowler, as an option to keep it."Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden also advocates for Kohli batting as much as possible in the powerplay. "I've got to have him in the powerplay," Hayden said. "If I'm going to pick him, he has to play in the powerplay. He has to play the majority of those six overs as an opener."Hayden believes that Kohli's batting position is crucial for India's success in the World Cup. "It all comes down to are we interested in selecting a side that we believe is the right balance and is going to win this World Cup," he said.

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has sparked a debate by advocating for Virat Kohli to open the innings for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, alongside young star Yashasvi Jaiswal. Hayden believes this left-right combination would provide a significant advantage for Team India.Hayden's reasoning stems from Kohli's exceptional form in the ongoing IPL 2024, where he has amassed 430 runs in just 9 matches at an impressive average of 61.43. He argues that Kohli's presence in the powerplay would maximize his impact on the game."I've got Virat there. I've got to have him in the powerplay. If I'm going to pick him, he has to play in the powerplay. He has to play the majority of those six overs as an opener, because Yashasvi does deserve to be there in my opinion, and it will be a left and right hand combination which will be a huge bonus," Hayden stated.Hayden's suggestion has raised eyebrows, as Rohit Sharma has been India's regular opener in recent times. However, Hayden believes that Kohli's current form and the potential benefits of a left-right combination outweigh Sharma's experience."Who would have even thought that we would be having this conversation about the greatest player in India, maybe ever. So it all comes down to are we interested in selecting a side that we believe is the right balance and is going to win this World Cup," Hayden said.India's T20 World Cup record has been mixed since their triumph in the inaugural tournament in 2007. They have reached the final only once since then, losing to Sri Lanka in 2014. Hayden's suggestion aims to address this inconsistency and give India a better chance of lifting the trophy once again.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has hailed Nicholas Pooran as the "cleanest hitter in the world" after the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wicketkeeper-batter's blistering cameo in a stunning chase of 211 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).Pooran's 15-ball 34, alongside Marcus Stoinis' sensational maiden century (124 off 63), powered LSG to the highest run chase at Chepauk. Hayden, who played with MS Dhoni in CSK, praised Pooran's exceptional hitting ability."Nicholas Pooran is the cleanest hitter in the world, I think, in this IPL," Hayden said on Star Sports Cricket Live. "Such a talented free hitter of the ball. Got great options against both pace and spin."Hayden suggested that LSG could utilize Pooran more effectively by moving him up the order to bat alongside Stoinis, similar to his role for the West Indies."There's two schools of thought. There's a school of thought that says, we need someone batting in that 5 and 6 position that can bring a game home. And Nicholas Pooran can do exactly that," Hayden said."But then you look at, you know, someone like Devdutt Padikkal, who hasn't had the tournament that you'd expect him to have. And you've got a world-class player in Nicky P who can come up the order with the Stoinis and in combination at 4 and can bat longer."Hayden believes that Pooran's experience and international pedigree could be invaluable for LSG as the tournament progresses."There's still, I think, room as the tournament gets a little tighter and scoreboard pressure becomes an option. You want an experienced international player there to take it forward for the team," he concluded.

Virat Kohli's return to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has sparked anticipation and analysis. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes that Kohli's ability to bat long on the tricky Chepauk pitch could pose a significant threat to CSK.Hayden highlighted Kohli's average of 30 and strike rate of 111 at the Chepauk Stadium, suggesting that the venue has historically presented challenges for the Indian batsman. However, he emphasized that Kohli's danger lies in his ability to adapt and become more dangerous as he spends more time at the crease."It's really tricky, so they're going to need Virat Kohli out early inside the powerplay," Hayden said. "They've done so thrice over the last 5 innings, and they'll need to do so for the 4th time."Hayden also noted that Kohli's recent form has been exceptional, with the batsman scoring 765 runs in the ODI World Cup last November. Former India batter Mohammed Kaif echoed Hayden's sentiments, praising Kohli's hunger and desire to score runs."We already know he's a great player, but every innings, he wants to play a match-winning innings, make the team win whether it's for India or RCB," Kaif said. "This hunger has been self-made and now that he's come back from a break, he'll be fresh for the IPL."Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that the onus will be on RCB's batters to win games, given the team's perceived bowling weaknesses. He suggested that RCB should aim for scores of 230 or more to give their bowlers a cushion."The best thing you can do this season, if they are batting first, doesn't matter, look to get 230, 240... they must target at least 220 or 230, because a 20-run margin can probably win them more number of games," Harbhajan said.