Cricket

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has unveiled his IPL Team of the Tournament, featuring a star-studded lineup of players who have excelled throughout the season. Ahead of the grand finale between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hayden has selected 12 exceptional individuals who have showcased their brilliance on the field.Hayden's team boasts a formidable opening pair in Sunil Narine and Travis Head. Narine, the Kolkata Knight Riders' talisman, has amassed an impressive 482 runs, including a century and three fifties, while Head has accumulated 567 runs for the finalists, including a hundred and four half-centuries.At the pivotal number three spot, Hayden has chosen Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore's batting maestro. Kohli has emerged as the tournament's highest run-getter, slamming 741 runs in 15 games, including a century and five fifties.The middle order is equally formidable, with Rajasthan Royals' captain Sanju Samson (531 runs) and Riyan Parag (573 runs), Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran (499 runs), and Hyderabad's Heinrich Klaasen (463 runs) all contributing significantly to their respective teams' success.In the spin department, Hayden has opted for Rajasthan's Yuzvendra Chahal (18 wickets) and KKR's Varun Chakaravarthy (20 wickets), both of whom have been instrumental in their teams' bowling attacks.Leading the pace bowling charge is Mumbai Indians' Jasprit Bumrah (20 wickets), who has consistently delivered match-winning performances. He is joined by Rajasthan's Avesh Khan (19 wickets) and Sandeep Sharma (13 wickets), who have also impressed with their pace and accuracy.Hayden's Team of the Tournament:1. Sunil Narine2. Travis Head3. Virat Kohli4. Sanju Samson5. Nicholas Pooran6. Riyan Parag7. Heinrich Klaasen8. Yuzvendra Chahal9. Varun Chakaravarthy10. Jasprit Bumrah11. Avesh Khan12. Sandeep Sharma

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson's impressive performance in IPL 2024 has been overshadowed by his disappointing dismissal in Qualifier 2. Despite leading his team to the penultimate stage of the tournament, Samson's failure to deliver in the crucial match has raised questions about his shot selection and consistency.As a batter, Samson had a stellar season, amassing 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.47. However, his inability to perform under pressure has become a recurring theme in his career. In the Qualifier 2 match against SunRisers Hyderabad, Samson fell for a mere 10 runs off 11 balls, leaving his team in a precarious position.Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has been vocal in his criticism of Samson's shot selection. Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar questioned the player's decision-making, stating, "What's the use of scoring 500 runs if you can't win your team the match or title? Everyone got out while playing glamorous shots."Gavaskar believes that Samson's poor shot selection has hindered his progress in the Indian team. "If his shot selection had been good, his India career too would have been long," he said. "I hope that the opportunity he has got in the T20 World Cup, he grabs it with both hands and cements his place."Samson has been included in the 15-member India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. However, with Rishabh Pant likely to be India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, Samson's chances of playing in the tournament are limited.Samson's dismissal in Qualifier 2 has served as a reminder of the importance of consistency and composure in high-pressure situations. While he has shown glimpses of brilliance, his inability to deliver in crucial matches has raised concerns about his suitability for the Indian team.

Former Australia batter Tom Moody has criticized Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson for his tactical decision-making in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). RR's 36-run defeat ended their hopes of reaching the final, which will now be contested between SRH and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).Chasing 176, RR struggled to keep up with the required run rate, eventually finishing on 139/7. Moody believes that Samson's decision to send Dhruv Jurel ahead of Shimron Hetmyer was a "tactical blunder.""Hetmyer had to go in ahead of Dhruv Jurel, regardless of whether he played very nicely," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo. "They needed to negate the two left-arm spinners, right at the outset. That was the hole, Sunrisers had in their attack and they needed to negate that."Moody argued that Hetmyer's ability to play spin would have been crucial in countering SRH's left-arm spinners, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, who shared five wickets between them."They should have sent Hetmyer in and said just play your game. Take it down in your zone, let's get ahead in this game, do not allow these left-arm spinners to take control of the game," Moody added.Former India batter Virender Sehwag echoed Moody's sentiments, stating that Hetmyer's inclusion earlier in the innings would have been beneficial."I was surprised by their decision to bring in Hetmyer so late. They should have bought him earlier, because there were two left-arm spinners. The quicker a left-arm batters comes, it would have been better," Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.RR's defeat highlights the importance of tactical decision-making in high-pressure matches. Samson's decision to hold back Hetmyer proved costly, as SRH's left-arm spinners exploited the weakness in RR's batting lineup.

Sanju Samson's Playoff Woes Continue as Rajasthan Royals Fall to Sunrisers HyderabadRajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson's dismal record in IPL playoffs extended on Friday as his team suffered a Qualifier 2 defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. Samson's underwhelming performance, scoring just 10 runs off 11 deliveries, drew sharp criticism from fans on social media.Samson's struggles in the knockouts have been a recurring theme throughout his IPL career. Since 2013, he has managed just a single half-century in nine playoff matches, with six scores below 20. His latest failure against SRH added to his poor record, leaving his side in a precarious position in their pursuit of 176.The Royals' chase got off to a shaky start as Samson fell in the ninth over, leaving his team in disarray. His dismissal followed a disappointing performance in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he scored only 17 runs.Samson's poor form in the playoffs has raised questions about his leadership and ability to perform under pressure. Fans took to social media to express their frustration, with many calling for a change in captaincy.Despite Samson's struggles, the Royals bowlers put up a valiant effort, with Trent Boult and Avesh Khan claiming three wickets each. However, SRH managed to post a competitive total of 175 for nine, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen's 34-ball 50 and contributions from Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi.The defeat marks the end of the Royals' IPL campaign, while SRH will face Chennai Super Kings in the final on Sunday. Samson's playoff woes will continue to be a talking point as he looks to improve his record in future tournaments.

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 2 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on May 24. The winner of this match will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the final in Chennai on May 26.Samson explained his decision, stating that the team was recovering from a recent illness and felt better. He also confirmed that the Royals would field the same XI that played in their previous match.Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins acknowledged that his team had underperformed in their last match. He announced two changes to the lineup, with Jaydev Unadkat and Aiden Markram replacing Shreyas Gopal and Romario Shepherd.The Royals' batting lineup features Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Their impact players include Simron Hetmyer, Nandre Burger, Shubham Dubey, Donovan Ferreira, and Kuldeep Sen.The Sunrisers' batting lineup includes Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, and T Natarajan. Their impact players are Shahbaz Ahmed, Mayank Markande, Glenn Phillips, Sanvir Singh, and Umran Malik.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having a strong chance of reaching the final. The Royals have been in impressive form throughout the tournament, while the Sunrisers have shown resilience in bouncing back from setbacks.

Rajasthan Royals Skipper Sanju Samson Emphasizes Resilience and Character in Dramatic IPL Eliminator VictoryIn a thrilling IPL 2024 Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson led his team to a dramatic four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Reflecting on the win, Samson highlighted the importance of resilience and character in overcoming adversity."Cricket and life have taught us that we will have good and bad phases," Samson said. "But we need to have the character to bounce back."The Royals' victory was a testament to their collective effort, with strong performances in fielding, batting, and bowling. Samson praised his team's ability to adapt to the opposition's tactics."Credit to the bowlers; they are always thinking about what the opposition batters might do and how to set the fields accordingly," he remarked.Samson also singled out young talents Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal for their crucial contributions. Despite their limited experience, both players displayed remarkable skill and composure under pressure."They are 22 each, as is Jurel," Samson noted. "With very little experience, the way they are performing at this level is amazing."Samson acknowledged that he is not at full health due to a bug circulating in the dressing room. However, he expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome these challenges."Rovman finished that off well," Samson said, referring to Rovman Powell's match-winning knock. "I think we have a travel day and rest now, looking forward to the next game."The victory keeps Rajasthan Royals' hopes alive in the IPL 2024 playoffs. Samson's leadership and the team's collective effort have been instrumental in their success thus far.

The Indian cricket team's wicket-keeping conundrum for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 has been resolved, with the selectors opting for specialist wicket-keeper batters Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. However, with the team's composition, it's likely that only one of them will make the playing XI.Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh weighed in on the selection, expressing his admiration for Pant's return from a near-fatal car accident. However, he ultimately chose Samson as his pick due to his exceptional form in the ongoing IPL 2024."Rishabh Pant played well in the IPL. He has come out of his injuries. He looked fit, batted well, and did some nice wicketkeeping. But Sanju played really well. I would like to see him get a chance. He has been performing consistently. He has been scoring 60s and 70s and is not the old Sanju anymore who would score just 30s and 40s," Harbhajan said.Another notable exclusion from the 15-member squad was Rinku Singh, who was named in the reserves list. Harbhajan believes Singh should be added in place of a spin option."The World Cup team has been selected. The batting is good. I think we are one fast bowler short. One player that I think we will miss is Rinku Singh, because he is someone who can win the match single-handedly for us. He can chase down 60 runs in 20 balls. I think selecting four spinners is a bit too much. Three would have been enough. I wish Team India all the best, hope they bring the cup," Harbhajan said.Regarding the spin options, Harbhajan believes India will likely field three spinners in a game, with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal being the most likely candidates.Harbhajan expressed confidence in India's chances against Pakistan in their highly-anticipated T20 World Cup match on June 9. "I am sure we will win against Pakistan, we have a great track record against them and have a better team," he concluded.

Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals face a daunting challenge as they prepare to face the in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore in a do-or-die IPL Eliminator on May 22 in Ahmedabad. The Royals, once considered favorites, have suffered a string of four defeats and a washout in their last game, leaving them in third place behind Sunrisers Hyderabad.On the other hand, RCB has staged a remarkable comeback after losing seven of their first eight games. Led by Faf du Plessis, the team has notched up six consecutive wins, including a victory over defending champions Chennai Super Kings, to secure a playoffs berth.Rajasthan Royals' recent struggles have exposed frailties in their batting and bowling. The absence of Jos Buttler has depleted their firepower, and the team will rely heavily on Yashasvi Jaiswal, skipper Samson, and Riyan Parag to halt the slide.RCB, on the other hand, boasts a formidable batting lineup led by Virat Kohli, the tournament's leading run-getter. Kohli and du Plessis have formed a dominant partnership at the top, while Rajat Patidar has provided solidity in the middle order.The venue for the Eliminator, the Narendra Modi Stadium, has not been a batting paradise this season. Only twice in 12 innings has the 200-run mark been breached, indicating that teams with disciplined bowling attacks and strong batting lineups are likely to succeed.Rajasthan Royals' strong bowling lineup, featuring Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult, could prove crucial. However, RCB's left-arm seamer Yash Dayal has been in impressive form, turning around his fortunes in the last match to deny CSK a win.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting fortunes. Rajasthan Royals will be desperate to arrest their slide and keep their playoff hopes alive, while Royal Challengers Bangalore will be aiming to continue their winning streak and reach the Qualifier 2.

Sanju Samson's exceptional performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have propelled him into the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The 29-year-old has secured the position of the second wicketkeeper-batter, behind Rishabh Pant, surpassing formidable contenders like KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan.Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes that this is the opportune moment for Samson to make a significant impact on the international stage. He expects the wicketkeeper-batter to not only participate but also lead India to victories.Gambhir emphasizes that Samson has accumulated ample experience and should now harness his full potential to deliver memorable performances. "Now that you've gotten picked in the World Cup team, you have that opportunity-the kind that you need to make sure you start winning games for India if you get the chance," Gambhir told SportsKeeda.He adds, "You have that experience of playing international cricket. You are not a newbie that you will wait any longer. You have tasted international cricket and you've done well in the IPL, and now you have the chance to play the World Cup. So, hopefully, Sanju shows the world what he is capable of at this stage."Gambhir also believes that Samson's captaincy experience with the Rajasthan Royals will positively influence his batting at the T20 World Cup. "Just the quality of a player. I don't need to see much. Five minutes are enough to figure out what kind of a player he is," Gambhir said."Mentally, you always grow, and skill-wise as well. Otherwise, if you get stagnant, you won't be able to survive for too long. The good thing is be it fitness, power-hitting, keeping or captaincy... he has not put a foot wrong. Through captaincy, you start accessing, judging better, reading better. That is when you also become a better batter. I hope Samson's captaincy reflects on his batting at the T20 World Cup if he gets a chance."Samson's inclusion in the Indian squad is a testament to his consistent performances in the IPL. He has been a key player for the Rajasthan Royals, leading them to the finals in the 2022 season. His ability to score runs quickly and his impressive wicketkeeping skills make him a valuable asset to the Indian team.