Cricket

Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) rollercoaster ride in IPL 2024 has taken a disappointing turn, with their playoff hopes dashed after a crucial loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Despite a promising start, CSK's campaign has been marred by injuries, a new captain, and the absence of their legendary leader, MS Dhoni.Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed concerns over CSK's leadership, suggesting that Ruturaj Gaikwad's captaincy could face a similar fate to Ravindra Jadeja's in 2022. Pathan emphasized the team's pedigree in winning crucial moments but highlighted their current struggles."CSK has a lot of issues at the moment," Pathan said. "Injury issues, new captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is no longer leading them. You might have seen him occasionally setting the field, but he is not the captain. You might have remembered what happened when [Ravindra] Jadeja led the side and it didn't end well, the same can happen again."Pathan also weighed in on Dhoni's future in the IPL, speculating that the CSK vs RCB match could be his last. However, he acknowledged that it remains uncertain.Ahead of the match, Pathan had predicted an advantage for RCB, which proved accurate as they emerged victorious by 27 runs. He emphasized the importance of momentum in the tournament."Nothing is easy. It's not going to be easy for both teams. RCB has the momentum, a solid momentum. And if they win as there is no more dangerous side than the one in strong momentum," Pathan concluded.

Ravindra Jadeja's dismissal for obstructing the field during the IPL 2024 match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals sparked controversy and left the CSK crowd stunned. The incident occurred in the 16th over of CSK's run chase when Jadeja guided a delivery from Avesh Khan to third-man and completed one run comfortably.As Jadeja turned and was half-way down the pitch for another run, Ruturaj Gaikwad asked him to turn back. Sanju Samson received the throw from the fielder and as he threw the ball towards the stumps on the non-striker's end, it hit Jadeja who was frantically trying to make his way back to the crease.The on-field umpires opted for a review and the third umpire decided that Jadeja deliberately changed his direction while running and decided to rule in RR's favor. The decision left the CSK crowd in disbelief and the reaction of Sakshi Dhoni - MS Dhoni's wife - has already gone viral on social media.Coming to the match, Simarjeet Singh claimed three wickets to restrict RR to a modest total of 150/9. Ruturaj Gaikwad then led by example, scoring an unbeaten 75 off 54 balls to guide CSK to an important victory. The victory took CSK to 14 points from 13 matches and they are in a good position to book their spot in the playoffs.However, if Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals, the match between CSK and RCB can be instrumental in deciding the playoff line-up.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured a crucial victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) by five wickets, boosting their chances of returning to Chennai for the playoffs. Despite losing the toss and fielding in challenging conditions, CSK's bowlers restricted RR to a modest 141 for 5 on a slow pitch.The Royals' powerplay was subdued, with CSK's bowlers conceding only seven runs in the first two overs. Simarjeet Singh emerged as a key figure, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler in quick succession. Ravindra Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana also played crucial roles, keeping the Royals' batters in check.RR's hopes of a late surge were dashed by Simarjeet, who claimed the wicket of Sanju Samson. Tushar Deshpande and Shardul Thakur maintained their discipline in the death overs, preventing the Royals from reaching a competitive total.In response, CSK's chase got off to a solid start thanks to Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell. Ravindra's six over midwicket in the second over set the tone, while Mitchell kept the momentum going. RR fought back in the middle overs, with Yuzvendra Chahal dismissing Mitchell and the spinners containing Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad.However, Shivam Dube broke the shackles with a flurry of boundaries off Ravichandran Ashwin. Despite Ashwin's late wicket, CSK captain Gaikwad anchored the chase, guiding his team to victory with five wickets in hand.

Ravindra Jadeja, India's star all-rounder, and his wife Rivaba Jadeja exercised their democratic right by casting their votes in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat's Jamnagar. Jadeja shared a picture on Instagram with his wife after they cast their votes, captioning it, "My vote, my right."Rivaba, a Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MLA from the Jamnagar North Assembly constituency, was accompanied by her husband and other family members to the polling booth. Jadeja's sister, Naina Jadeja, and father, Anirudhsinh Jadeja, also cast their votes in Jamnagar.After casting her vote, Naina spoke to ANI, emphasizing the importance of voting in a democracy. "Voting is our right in a democracy... We should vote for a better future," she said.In Jamnagar, BJP's sitting MP Poonamben Maadam is facing off against Congress' JP Marayviya. The third phase of polling is taking place on 93 Lok Sabha seats across 11 states and union territories, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.Jadeja is currently part of India's 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup. India will begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. They will then face the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15, respectively.

The upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 presents a unique opportunity for the United States of America cricket team, as they make their debut in the prestigious tournament. Among the team's roster are several established stars with roots in India, Pakistan, and other cricket-playing nations.One such player is Nisarg Patel, a left-arm spinner who migrated to the United States from India in 2003. Patel is eager to learn from some of the world's best cricketers, including India's Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli."MS Dhoni is my favorite, but he's retired now," Patel said. "I want to take some tips from Ravindra Jadeja since he's my type of player. Even a small tip from him can be very helpful."Patel and his teammates are thrilled to be participating in the T20 World Cup for the first time. "We're very excited," he said. "Playing against big teams like India and Pakistan is a dream for us. We're looking forward to learning from them and making the most of this opportunity."The USA squad features a blend of experienced players and rising stars. Corey Anderson, a former New Zealand international, will join a select group of cricketers to represent two different teams at the World Cup. The team is led by 31-year-old wicket-keeper batter Monank Patel and includes other notable names such as opener Steven Taylor, Aaron Jones, and Saurabh Netravalkar.The USA team will be hoping to make a strong impression in their World Cup debut. They have a talented squad with a mix of experience and youth, and they are eager to prove themselves on the global stage.

Chennai Super Kings' Daryl Mitchell Apologizes and Compensates Fan After Accidental HitDuring a practice session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings batsman Daryl Mitchell inadvertently struck a fan with a powerful shot. The incident occurred at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.The impact of the shot caused the fan to fall from his seat, resulting in damage to his iPhone. A viral video captured the moment, showing the fan holding his injured phone.Mitchell, known for his sportsmanship, immediately apologized from the nets for his unintended stroke. However, he went above and beyond by presenting the injured fan with his pair of gloves as a gesture of goodwill. The fan proudly displayed the gloves in the same video.In the subsequent IPL 2024 match, Ravindra Jadeja played a pivotal role in CSK's 28-run victory over Punjab Kings. Batting first, CSK benefited from Jadeja's quick-fire 43 off just 26 deliveries, providing the necessary impetus to their batting effort.In response, PBKS struggled from the outset, with only two batsmen managing to make notable scores. Prabhsimran Singh scored 30, while Shashank Singh contributed 27. However, their efforts were insufficient as PBKS could only muster 139 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.Jadeja's bowling figures of 3 for 20 played a key role in restricting the opposition and sealing the victory for CSK. His all-round performance showcased his versatility and underlined his importance to the team.

Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch has hailed Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as a "class player" due to his exceptional versatility that brings balance to any team he represents. Jadeja's recent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have further solidified his reputation as a top-class cricketer.In Chennai Super Kings' victory over Punjab Kings on May 5, Jadeja showcased his all-around abilities. He scored a valuable 40 runs and claimed three wickets, playing a pivotal role in his team's triumph. Finch, who has witnessed Jadeja's brilliance firsthand, was impressed by his performance."Ravindra Jadeja is such a versatile player, which makes him so effective. With the ball, he would have loved more wickets," Finch said. "He's been economical, going at under eight per over throughout the tournament. Leading with three wickets today (Sunday), he showed he is an absolute class player."Finch was particularly impressed by Jadeja's ability to return with figures of 3/20 in his full quota of four overs while defending a modest total of 169. "Three wickets for just 20 runs when the Punjab Kings were chasing a total of 170 odd runs is just superb. It just shows why he's one of the best players in the world," the Australian said.Finch also praised Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine, another versatile player who has been in exceptional form this season. The 2021 World T20-winning Australian skipper believes that it is extremely difficult to contain Narine for a long period of time."It's truly remarkable, isn't it? I mean, seeing Sunil Narine stride out to open the batting. Before this season, you're thinking, if we can just keep him quiet for a couple of balls, he'll try and do something and play a big shot. But this season, he's not only getting off to explosive starts but also batting smartly and seizing control of the innings," Finch said.The 35-year-old Narine smashed 81 off just 39 balls to power KKR to a comfortable 98-run win over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday night. In the process, Narine also became the fourth player to score more than 450 runs and take 10 plus wickets in a single IPL edition.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious over Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 28 runs in a thrilling encounter. CSK posted a competitive total of 167 for 9, thanks to a crucial 43 from Ravindra Jadeja. PBKS, despite a promising start, collapsed from 62 for 2 to 78 for 7, handing CSK the advantage.CSK's innings got off to a shaky start with the loss of Ajinkya Rahane in the powerplay. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube provided some stability before falling in quick succession. Jadeja's timely intervention at No. 6 ensured CSK reached a respectable total.PBKS's chase began brightly, with Prabhsimran Singh hitting a brisk 30. However, Rahul Chahar's mastery of the googly and Harshal Patel's return to form proved too much for the Punjab side. Chahar claimed three wickets, while Patel picked up two, including the prized scalp of MS Dhoni.The pitch played a significant role in the match. Despite its initial appearance as a batting paradise, it offered reverse swing and extra bounce, making shot-making difficult. Spinners also found assistance, with Chahar and Jadeja producing double-wicket overs.CSK's victory was a testament to their resilience and the brilliance of Jadeja, Chahar, and Patel. PBKS, on the other hand, will need to address their inconsistency and find a way to sustain their early momentum.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad hailed star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's performance with the ball as a "match-turning spell" following CSK's resounding 78-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.CSK dominated proceedings comprehensively, asserting control in all aspects of the game and leaving SRH struggling. Gaikwad highlighted Jadeja's contribution with the ball, deeming it as the turning point of the match, particularly in the wet conditions."Special mention to Jaddu as well. In these wet conditions to go for 22 runs, that was the match-turning spell," Gaikwad emphasized during the post-match presentation.Jadeja, known for his all-round abilities, delivered an economical four-over spell, conceding just 22 runs and crucially dismissing SRH's Nitish Reddy.Reflecting on CSK's batting performance after being put in to bat by SRH skipper Pat Cummins, Gaikwad expressed satisfaction with the team's overall display. Despite falling just two runs short of his second century of the season, Gaikwad focused on the collective effort and hailed CSK's clinical performance."Tough to play in such wet conditions, and to be able to win by 70-odd runs is a clinical performance," Gaikwad remarked.Gaikwad also highlighted the team's improved fielding and adherence to plans, attributing the victory to a disciplined approach."Stuck to the plans and knew what the conditions were. With the impact player rule, you always want the extra 20 runs. Never know what par score is. That was one area - not getting wickets in powerplay. That's the only way it can put the opposition on the back foot," Gaikwad concluded, reflecting on the team's strategy for future matches.