Cricket

Punjab Kings Ownership Dispute: Preity Zinta Files Legal AppealThe Punjab Kings Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise is embroiled in an internal dispute that has escalated to the Chandigarh High Court. Actress and co-owner Preity Zinta has filed a legal appeal to prevent fellow owner Mohit Burman from selling a portion of his franchise shares.Zinta, who holds a 23% stake in the franchise through KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited, alleges that Burman, who holds the largest share at 48%, is attempting to sell 11.5% of his stake to an unnamed party. This action violates an internal agreement among the owners, which mandates that any stake intended for sale must first be offered to existing promoters within a specific timeframe before being offered to external parties.Burman has publicly denied any plans to sell his shares, but Zinta's legal action suggests a breakdown in communication and trust within the ownership group. This internal conflict arises at a time when IPL franchise valuations have skyrocketed following the addition of two new teams in 2022. The potential sale of even a partial stake in a franchise like Punjab Kings could be valued at approximately Rs 540-600 crore, making it a significant financial decision with potentially long-term implications for the franchise.The case, scheduled for a hearing on August 20, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the Punjab Kings. Attempts to reach Zinta, Burman, and Ness Wadia, another co-owner, for comments have been unsuccessful.The dispute highlights the importance of clear and enforceable agreements among franchise owners, especially in the context of rapidly increasing franchise valuations. It also raises questions about the future of the Punjab Kings franchise and the potential impact on its performance in the upcoming IPL seasons.

Punjab Kings (PBKS), the perennial underachievers of the Indian Premier League (IPL), are poised to appoint former India batter Wasim Jaffer as their new head coach for the upcoming season. Jaffer, who previously served as PBKS' batting consultant and batting coach, will succeed Trevor Bayliss, whose two-year contract expired.Jaffer's appointment marks his third stint with the Punjab franchise. He was released as the batting consultant ahead of the 2023 IPL season. The 46-year-old, who played 31 Tests and 2 ODIs for India, was the batting coach of PBKS from 2019-2021.PBKS, who have not reached the playoffs since 2014, endured a disappointing IPL 2023 campaign, finishing ninth in the points table. Despite recording the highest successful run-chase in T20 cricket earlier this year, chasing down 262 at the Eden Gardens to beat Kolkata Knight Riders, the team struggled for consistency.Bayliss, a World Cup-winning coach who also guided Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL trophies, failed to transform PBKS into a consistent outfit. His three-year tenure ended with the team finishing in the bottom half of the table.Jaffer's appointment is expected to bring a fresh approach to the franchise. His experience as a player and coach, coupled with his knowledge of the IPL, could prove invaluable for PBKS.Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to meet with all 10 IPL teams on July 31 to discuss the number of retentions teams can make and the Right to Match (RTM) options ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) is reportedly set to part ways with head coach Trevor Bayliss, whose two-year contract has expired. The Australian coach took over from Anil Kumble ahead of the 2023 IPL season, but PBKS's disappointing performances under his guidance have prompted the franchise to seek an Indian replacement.Bayliss's tenure at PBKS has been marked by underwhelming results, with the team finishing eighth and ninth in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons, respectively. Despite the franchise's lack of complaints about Bayliss's coaching style, the team's poor performance has ultimately led to his potential ouster.The move to replace Bayliss with an Indian coach aligns with a recent trend in the IPL, where Indian coaches and mentors have achieved notable success with various franchises. PBKS is reportedly considering several options, including Sanjay Bangar, as Bayliss's successor.Bayliss's departure from PBKS would follow the recent exit of Ricky Ponting as head coach of Delhi Capitals (DC). Ponting's seven-year tenure at DC ended without an IPL title, and the franchise is now considering Sourav Ganguly, their current team director, as a potential replacement.The coaching carousel in the IPL continues to spin, with franchises seeking to find the right combination of leadership and strategy to achieve success in the highly competitive tournament. PBKS's decision to part ways with Bayliss and pursue an Indian coach is a reflection of the evolving landscape of the IPL, where Indian coaches are increasingly being recognized for their abilities.

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season witnessed a plethora of captivating moments and remarkable achievements. Here are some of the most unforgettable highlights:Mitchell Starc's "Ball of the Tournament"Kolkata Knight Riders' Mitchell Starc lived up to his hefty price tag with exceptional performances in the playoffs. In the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he delivered a mesmerizing delivery that breached opener Abhishek Sharma's defense. The ball pitched on middle stump and deviated away at the last moment, clipping the off bail. Sharma was left bewildered by Starc's brilliance.Punjab Kings' Record-Breaking ChasePunjab Kings etched their name in history by chasing down the highest total in T20 cricket history against Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR had posted a formidable 261/6, but Punjab Kings cruised to victory with eight wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. Prabhsimran Singh set the tone with a blistering 54 off 20 balls, while Jonny Bairstow smashed an unbeaten 108 off 48 balls. Shashank Singh provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 68 off 28 balls.Thrilling Final Over in RCB vs CSKThe most nail-biting finish of the IPL came in the crucial match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). CSK needed 17 runs off the final over to qualify for the playoffs ahead of RCB. MS Dhoni started with a massive six, but a change of ball helped RCB's Yash Dayal bowl his slower deliveries into the pitch. CSK fell 10 runs short, and RCB celebrated a remarkable comeback.'Travishek' Sets Powerplay RecordSunrisers Hyderabad created history by registering the highest Powerplay team score in T20 cricket against Delhi Capitals. The opening duo of Travis Head (84 off 26 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (40 off 10 balls) went on a rampage, smashing the Delhi bowlers for 125 runs in the first six overs.Will Jacks' Sensational HundredOne of the most impressive individual performances of the IPL came from RCB's Will Jacks against Gujarat Titans. The England all-rounder transformed from a struggling 17 off 17 balls to a destructive force, scoring 83 off the next 24 balls. He took Rashid Khan to the cleaners, hitting 10 sixes in a staggering 41-ball hundred.

Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious in their final league match of IPL 2024, defeating Punjab Kings by 4 wickets in Hyderabad on Sunday. The match witnessed a heartwarming moment between Punjab Kings' bowler Arshdeep Singh and Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma.Abhishek Sharma, the Man of the Match, played a pivotal role in the victory, smashing a blistering 28-ball 66, including 6 sixes and 5 fours. His heroics helped Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down Punjab Kings' total of 215 with 5 balls to spare.After the match, a video shared by Abhishek Sharma's sister went viral, capturing a touching moment between Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek's mother. Arshdeep, who hails from the same region as Abhishek, approached the stands and sought blessings from Abhishek's mother."Give me the blessings which you give to Abhishek, I want the same," Arshdeep said in Punjabi.Abhishek Sharma has been in exceptional form for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 467 runs from 13 matches at an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 209.42. He has hit the most number of sixes in this edition of the IPL (41) and will be looking to add to his tally when SRH takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, has been a key performer for Punjab Kings, taking 19 wickets from 14 matches. He is currently third in the most wicket-takers list in this edition of the IPL and will be hoping to make a significant contribution with the ball in India's T20 World Cup campaign next month.The victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad sets up an exciting Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, while Punjab Kings will be hoping to bounce back in the Eliminator.

Punjab Kings Coach Bangar Addresses Challenges Amidst England Players' DeparturePunjab Kings coach Sanjay Bangar has expressed his disappointment over the unexpected departure of key England players for international duty during the crucial phase of IPL 2024. In a press conference after their final league match, Bangar revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had initially assured the availability of their players for the entire IPL season, but changes in the tournament's schedule disrupted these plans."The ECB had made it clear that all the players will be available. It is just that it so happens that the tournament got slightly extended, I would say, because of multiple reasons. Everybody was in a similar position but we lost those English players," Bangar stated after Sunday's game.The departure of England players, including Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Sam Curran, has significantly impacted several teams as these players left for the T20I series against Pakistan starting on May 22. For Punjab Kings, this meant losing their captain, Sam Curran, among others, just before crucial matches.With Curran's departure, Jitesh Sharma stepped up as captain for the first time on Sunday. Despite posting a strong total of 214 after electing to bat first, Punjab Kings were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad, marking a disappointing end to their campaign.Bangar highlighted that the absence of key international players was a significant setback but not the sole reason for their underwhelming season. "For us, even losing Livingstone with a niggle around his knee, the ECB pulling him out. Even KG (Kagiso Rabada) had an infection and he had to go back (to South Africa). Those things coupled together meant that when we came to the last two matches, we were short of players of international pedigree and experience. That hurt us but that is not the sole reason why our season was below par," he explained.The departure of these international stars has left a noticeable gap in several teams, impacting their performance at the crucial juncture of the tournament. Punjab Kings, like many others, have had to navigate these challenges while striving to maintain competitive form.

Punjab Kings' Harshal Patel has etched his name in the franchise's history books by equaling Andrew Tye's record for the most wickets in a single Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Patel achieved this milestone in the team's final league stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.In the game, Patel took 2/49 in four overs, dismissing Rahul Tripathi and Nitish Kumar Reddy. With this performance, he has now taken 24 wickets in the ongoing season, surpassing his previous best of 21 wickets in 2021. Patel's impressive bowling has been a key factor in Punjab's improved performance this season, as they finished with five wins and nine losses.Patel's achievement is even more remarkable considering that he has bowled with an economy rate of just 9.73, the lowest among all bowlers with 20 or more wickets this season. His best bowling figures of 3/15 came against Chennai Super Kings in Match 13.Patel's success has not gone unnoticed, as he is currently the leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2023 season. However, he will not have the opportunity to add to his tally as Punjab failed to qualify for the playoffs.Andrew Tye (24 wickets in 2018), Kagiso Rabada (23 wickets in 2022), and Mohammed Shami (20 wickets in 2020) are the other bowlers who have taken the most wickets in a single IPL season for Punjab.In the match against SRH, Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bat first. A blistering half-century from Prabhsimran Singh (71 off 45 balls) and contributions from Rilee Rossouw (49 off 24 balls) and Atharva Taide (46 off 27 balls) propelled them to a formidable total of 214/5.In response, SRH chased down the target with five balls to spare, thanks to a quickfire fifty from Abhishek Sharma (66 off 28 balls) and valuable contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy (37 off 25 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (42 off 26 balls).Abhishek Sharma was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. SRH finished the league stage in second place with eight wins and five losses, while Punjab Kings finished ninth with five wins and nine losses.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Pat Cummins has lauded young batter Abhishek Sharma for his fearless approach at the crease, which played a pivotal role in their four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS).Abhishek, alongside Heinrich Klaasen, delivered powerful performances that propelled SRH to victory, elevating them to the second spot on the points table. Abhishek's display of versatile batting skills during the match in Hyderabad on Sunday was particularly notable, as his contributions played a crucial role in SRH's successful chase against PBKS.Speaking after the game in the post-match presentation, Cummins said, "It is pretty cool, it is awesome. We have won six out of seven games here (at Hyderabad), it has been great and amazing. I did not know many guys coming into this season, but we have played great cricket and had some fun. Great bunch of guys. He (Abhishek) is amazing. I would not want to bowl to him. It is scary, as he plays with freedom, not only against pacers but also against spinners."Cummins also heaped praise on young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, for his "maturity beyond his age" and class as a player."Really satisfying and exciting. I have not played in finals (of IPL) before, we will know in a few hours which game it is. Playing some really good cricket, excited for what is ahead," he concluded.Abhishek has been a standout performer for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) this season, amassing 467 runs in 13 innings, making him the ninth highest run-scorer. His impressive batting average of 38.91 and a phenomenal strike rate of 209.41 underscore his impactful contributions to the team. Abhishek has scored three half-centuries, with an unbeaten 75 being his highest score of the season.Additionally, another exciting find for SRH this season has been Reddy, whose classy and composed batting style has won hearts and caught the attention of fans and critics alike. In 10 matches, he has scored 276 runs in eight innings at an impressive average of 46.00 and a strike rate of 151.64, including two half-centuries. Reddy has also showcased his utility with the ball, claiming three wickets, further enhancing his value to the SRH squad.Coming to the match, PBKS won the toss and elected to bat first. A hard-hitting half-century from Prabhsimran Singh (71 in 45 balls, with seven fours and four sixes) and knocks from Rilee Rossouw (49 in 24 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and Atharva Taide (46 in 27 balls, with five fours and two sixes) set the tone for a big total, taking PBKS to 214/5 in their 20 overs.T Natarajan (2/33) was the pick of the bowlers for SRH.In the run-chase, after losing Travis Head for a duck, Abhishek Sharma (66 in 28 balls, with five fours and six sixes), Nitish Kumar Reddy (37 in 25 balls, with a four and three sixes) and Heinrich Klaasen (42 in 26 balls, with three fours and two sixes) played fiery knocks to propel SRH to 215/6 in 19.1 overs, winning the game with five balls left.Arshdeep Singh (2/37) was the pick of the bowlers for PBKS. Abhishek Sharma was the Player of the Match for his quickfire fifty.

Punjab Kings' stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their penultimate Indian Premier League (IPL) contest in Hyderabad on May 19. While Punjab Kings are out of contention for making the IPL playoffs for the 10th year in a row, Sunrisers Hyderabad are eyeing two points from this game to bolster their chances of finishing second. SRH are currently third in the points table with 15 points, behind table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, who play later in the day. The outcomes of both games on Sunday will finalise the team standings as well as playoffs fixtures in Ahmedabad and Chennai. KKR, RR, SRH, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the four teams to have made the playoffs this year.Punjab Kings, led by Sharma, posted a competitive total of 151/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Prabhsimran Singh top-scored with a 41-ball 56, while Jitesh Sharma contributed a valuable 29 off 24 deliveries. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan picked up two wickets each.In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad fell short by 12 runs, finishing on 139/9. Abhishek Sharma (43) and Rahul Tripathi (34) provided a solid start, but the middle order failed to capitalize. Punjab Kings' bowlers shared the wickets, with Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, and Rahul Chahar taking two wickets each.The victory for Punjab Kings was their sixth of the season, while Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered their eighth defeat. Both teams will play their final league matches on May 22, with Punjab Kings facing Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad taking on Mumbai Indians.