Cricket

Yuzvendra Chahal's 'Trademark' Pose Mimicked by Harshal Patel in IPL MatchDuring the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chepauk, a light-hearted moment occurred when Harshal Patel mimicked Rajasthan Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal's signature pose after taking a crucial catch.In the 16th over of CSK's innings, Harshal Patel dismissed Sameer Rizvi off Kagiso Rabada's delivery with a spectacular catch. In celebration, Patel replicated Chahal's signature pose, which immediately caught the attention of the latter.Taking to social media, Chahal humorously addressed Patel and cheekily suggested seeking copyright protection for his unique pose. He wrote, "Dear @elonmusk paaji, Harsal bhai pe copyright lagana hai."Patel's lighthearted imitation adds a touch of camaraderie and fun amidst the intense competition of the IPL. Currently, Patel stands as one of the joint-leading wicket-takers in IPL 2024, having claimed 14 wickets in 10 games, showcasing his pivotal role in PBKS' campaign.Meanwhile, Chahal has been enjoying a successful season with the Rajasthan Royals, demonstrating his bowling prowess with 13 wickets in nine games. His impressive performances have earned him a comeback to the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, signifying his enduring impact on the cricketing stage.The playful gesture between Chahal and Patel highlights the camaraderie and sportsmanship that exists within the IPL, even amidst the fierce competition. It also showcases the growing popularity of Chahal's signature pose, which has become synonymous with his bowling prowess.

Hyderabad, India - The Sunrisers Hyderabad, after a string of disappointing performances, will face the formidable Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Thursday. The match holds immense significance for the Sunrisers, who are desperate to regain their footing in the tournament.The Sunrisers have struggled to chase down targets, losing consecutive matches against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. Their top and middle-order batters have failed to deliver consistently, prompting head coach Daniel Vettori to question their aggressive approach in the second innings.In contrast, the Rajasthan Royals have been in scintillating form, sitting atop the points table with 16 points. Their top order, led by Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson, has been in exceptional form. The West Indian duo of Shimron Hetymer and Rovman Powell, along with Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel, have also contributed significantly.The Royals' bowling attack is equally impressive, featuring Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, and Sandeep Sharma. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and outplay opponents has been a key factor in their success.The Sunrisers will need to address their chasing woes and find a way to rebuild their innings when their openers fail. Aiden Markram, in particular, will need to step up and justify his place in the team.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with contrasting fortunes. The Sunrisers will be eager to prove their mettle, while the Royals will aim to continue their dominance.

Sanju Samson's consistent performances in the ongoing IPL have reignited hopes of his inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad. The Rajasthan Royals skipper has led his team to the top of the points table, showcasing his leadership skills and batting prowess.Samson's batting has undergone a transformation this season. He has adopted a more consistent approach, anchoring the Royals' batting lineup at number three. His match-winning 71 against Lucknow Super Giants was a testament to his improved mental fortitude and technical adjustments.Personal coach Bijumon N attributes Samson's success to eight months of rigorous training focused on the T20 World Cup. They have worked on his mental preparation, batting technique, and ability to handle spinners. Samson has become more adept at using his feet and has added new strokes to his repertoire against slow bowlers.Despite his impressive form, Samson faces stiff competition for a spot in the Indian team. Rishabh Pant is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, leaving Samson with a limited chance to play. However, his consistent performances in the IPL have put him in contention for a backup role.Samson's inclusion in the Indian team would be a significant moment for Kerala cricket. The state has a rich cricketing history, and Samson's success could inspire future generations of players. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Samson's form and experience could prove invaluable to Team India.

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson's scintillating knock against Lucknow Super Giants has reignited the debate surrounding his inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad. Samson's match-winning 71 off just 33 balls, including seven boundaries and four maximums, has garnered support from veteran cricketers, who believe he deserves a place in the national team.Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen was quick to advocate for Samson's inclusion, stating that he "has to go" to the World Cup. Pietersen praised Samson's talent and ability to perform under pressure, emphasizing that he should be one of the first picks for the selectors.Samson's consistent batting performances throughout the IPL season have strengthened his case for World Cup selection. With 385 runs in 10 matches, including four fifty-plus scores, Samson is currently leading the run-scoring charts among all Indian wicket-keeping options in IPL 2024. He is also second in the race for the Orange Cap, further solidifying his credentials.Samson's ability to deliver under pressure was evident in his match-winning knock against Lucknow. With Rajasthan Royals needing 16 runs off the final over, Samson smashed Avesh Khan for a six and a four to secure a crucial victory.Samson's inclusion in the World Cup squad would provide India with a versatile and explosive option in the middle order. His ability to play both spin and pace bowling effectively, as well as his experience as a captain, make him a valuable asset to any team.With the T20 World Cup just a few weeks away, the selectors will have a tough decision to make regarding Samson's inclusion. However, his recent performances have undoubtedly strengthened his case, and he will be hoping to continue his impressive form in the remaining IPL matches.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul has expressed regret over his team's failure to maximize their batting potential in their home game against Rajasthan Royals (RR), which resulted in a narrow defeat."We left about 20 runs behind," Rahul admitted after the match. "We didn't get off to an ideal start, but the partnership that Deepak Hooda and I had got us on track."LSG had stumbled to 11 for 2 before Rahul and Hooda steadied the innings with a 115-run stand off 62 balls. However, Rahul believes they could have pushed the total even higher."Once we were set, that's the time when if Hooda could have pushed on and gotten 20 more runs, and if I could have pushed on and gotten 20 more runs, we could've probably finished at 220," Rahul said. "We're seeing with more games being played that it's important for the batters to make sure we give that extra cushion for the bowlers."RR bowled well in the last couple of overs, but Rahul felt LSG should have capitalized more on their strong position at 150 for 3 after 15 overs."They [RR] bowled well in the last couple of overs, but we were in a good position at 150 for 3 by the end of the 15th over," Rahul said. "So, I think we should have capitalised a bit more and got about 20-25 runs more."Rahul also explained the team's decision to bring in legspinner Amit Mishra as the Impact Player and hold back Ravi Bishnoi, who has been a regular in the LSG lineup."Mishra is an experienced player, and we've been thinking about using him from the first game," Rahul said. "Today was the day where we felt like he could be useful against their batters in the middle [order] with how slow he bowls and the slightly larger boundary. That was the idea of using him, and we were hoping to use Bishnoi in the latter half."However, the plan didn't quite work out as RR kept the pressure on LSG's bowlers."But once the runs kept flowing - even when they lost wickets, they just made sure that they put pressure on our bowlers... There was a period of two or three overs where Krunal bowled really well, and we really squeezed them hard," Rahul said."But then, once the faster bowlers came on, they [the batters] used the pace really well, and I couldn't find a good time to bring in Bishnoi, and I think it was a bit too late by the time I got him on. Obviously, the plan was to keep him at the back end and make sure if Rovman [Powell] and [Shimron] Hetmyer come in to bat, he's bowled well against them. That was the plan of how we wanted to use our legspinners."

Sanju Samson's scintillating unbeaten 71 off 33 balls propelled Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants, boosting their chances of reaching the IPL playoffs.Chasing a challenging target of 197, Samson and Riyan Parag (52* off 34) forged an unbeaten 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket, guiding the Royals to victory with an over to spare. Samson's knock was studded with four sixes, including the winning blow.Earlier, KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda had provided a solid foundation for Lucknow with a 115-run stand for the third wicket. Rahul scored 76 off 48 balls, while Hooda contributed 50 off 31. However, the Royals bowlers restricted the Super Giants to 196/5, with Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna claiming two wickets each.Samson's performance has reignited his hopes of being selected as Rishabh Pant's backup wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup. His aggressive batting and ability to finish matches under pressure have impressed the selectors.The victory takes Rajasthan to 16 points, six clear of second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders. They are now on the verge of becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Lucknow, on the other hand, remain in fourth place with 10 points.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), chasing down a challenging target of 197 with an over to spare. The victory marked RR's eighth win in nine games, solidifying their position at the top of the standings.LSG had set a formidable target, thanks to a century partnership between KL Rahul (76) and Deepak Hooda (50). However, RR's bowlers, led by Sandeep Sharma (2-31), kept the opposition in check, restricting them to a manageable total.RR's chase got off to a solid start, with openers Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal putting on 60 runs in the powerplay. However, the loss of three quick wickets, including Buttler and Jaiswal, put RR in a precarious position.Enter Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel. The duo forged a crucial 121-run partnership, guiding RR back into contention. Samson remained unbeaten on 71, while Jurel contributed a valuable 52.Despite a late surge from LSG, RR held their nerve to secure a seven-wicket victory. The win not only extended their lead at the top of the table but also virtually assured them a place in the playoffs.

K.L. Rahul's resilient knock of 76 runs and a crucial partnership with Deepak Hooda propelled Lucknow Super Giants to a competitive total of 196 for five against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow.Rahul's innings was a tale of recovery and determination. After losing Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis early to Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma, respectively, Rahul steadied the ship with a composed 48-ball knock. He overcame a shaky start, where he lost his balance and fell down while attempting a slog sweep, to anchor the Lucknow innings.Rahul's partnership with Hooda was the cornerstone of Lucknow's recovery. The duo combined for 115 runs for the third wicket, with Hooda contributing a brisk 48 off 30 deliveries. Hooda showcased his off-side range, punching Boult through covers and backward point with ease.Avesh Khan's 21-run eighth over proved to be a turning point in the match. Rahul started the over with a chip over mid-wicket before hooking a No Ball over the fine-leg fielder. He then dispatched a full toss on the Free Hit to bisect the boundary riders at deep mid-wicket and long on.However, Lucknow's momentum was halted by the dismissal of Hooda, who holed out at long on immediately after reaching his half-century. Nicholas Pooran failed to make an impact, while Ayush Badoni's late flourish was not enough to push Lucknow past the 200-run mark.In the end, Lucknow's total of 196 for five proved to be a challenging target for Rajasthan Royals, who eventually fell short by 24 runs.

High-flying Rajasthan Royals will face a resurgent Lucknow Super Giants in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Lucknow on April 26. The Royals, who have won seven of their eight games, will be looking to continue their winning streak and consolidate their position at the top of the standings. The Super Giants, on the other hand, have won five of their eight games and are placed fourth.The Royals have been in ominous form this season, with Assam batter Riyan Parag emerging as their batting mainstay. The youngster has scored 318 runs in eight games, including a match-winning 104 against Mumbai Indians. Skipper Sanju Samson and West Indian Shimron Hetymer have also contributed significantly to the team's success.The Royals' bowling attack is equally impressive, featuring experienced pacers Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, and Sandeep Sharma. The spin department is led by Yuzvendra Chahal, who has taken 13 wickets in eight games.The Super Giants will be seeking revenge after losing to the Royals by 20 runs in their first encounter this season. They will be buoyed by the return to form of Marcus Stoinis, who smashed an unbeaten century in their last game against Chennai Super Kings.KL Rahul's side also boasts a strong batting lineup, with Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, and Nicholas Pooran capable of scoring big runs. However, their bowling has been a concern, with Mayank Yadav missing the last few games due to a lower abdominal strain.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. The Royals will be the slight favorites, but the Super Giants will be determined to prove their worth and climb up the leaderboard.