Cricket

Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan expressed his disappointment after his team's four-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore, attributing it to a slow start and a crucial dropped catch.Batting first, PBKS struggled to gain momentum, scoring only 40 runs in the powerplay. Dhawan admitted to playing slowly in the initial overs, costing his team valuable runs. The dismissal of Jonny Bairstow further hindered their progress.In the second innings, Virat Kohli's dropped catch proved costly as the RCB batter went on to score a match-winning 77. Dhawan lamented the missed opportunity, believing it could have shifted the momentum in PBKS's favor.Despite the loss, Dhawan praised Harpreet Brar's performance, who emerged as a game-changer with his economical bowling and crucial wickets.

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan's Heartfelt Reunion After RCB's IPL VictoryFormer Delhi teammates and Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan shared a poignant moment after Royal Challengers Bangalore's triumph over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024 season opener.Following RCB's victory at home, Kohli was seen consoling Dhawan, who is currently captaining the Punjab Kings side. The two shared warm embraces and laughter, capturing the depth of their bond both on and off the field.Dhawan's recent struggles to meet his son Zoravar have been well-documented. In December 2023, he revealed that he had been blocked from contacting his nine-year-old son for the past five to six months.In an emotional Instagram post on his son's birthday, Dhawan shed light on the challenges he faced following his unsuccessful marriage with Aesha Mukerji. In October 2023, a Delhi court granted divorce to Dhawan, citing "cruelty" inflicted by his estranged wife.Despite his personal challenges, Dhawan has remained a formidable force on the cricket field. He has played a key role in Punjab Kings' early success in the IPL 2024 season, leading the team to one victory and one defeat in their first two matches.Kohli's gesture of support towards Dhawan highlights the camaraderie and empathy that exists within the Indian cricket fraternity. The two players have shared countless memorable moments on the field, and their friendship continues to endure off the field as well.

Punjab Kings' captain Shikhar Dhawan led the charge with a gritty 45 off 37 deliveries, laying the foundation for their competitive total of 176 for six against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The pitch provided ample bounce, aiding the RCB bowlers initially.Dhawan's innings was characterized by his ability to capitalize on loose deliveries, including a lofted six over long-on off Mayank Dagar. He formed a crucial partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (25 off 17), who showcased his aggressive instincts with a flicked six over mid-wicket off Cameron Green.However, the RCB bowlers, particularly Yash Dayal (1/23), kept the Punjab batsmen in check with accurate deliveries. Prabhsimran's dismissal, caught by Anuj Rawat off Glenn Maxwell, and Dhawan's subsequent departure, caught by Virat Kohli off Maxwell, left Punjab at 98 for four in the 12th over.Jitesh Sharma (27 off 20) provided a much-needed boost with two sixes off Dagar, while Sam Curran (34 off 23) added valuable runs in a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shashank Singh's late cameo, including a 20-run over off Alzarri Joseph, helped Punjab reach a respectable total.Despite the solid batting performance, Punjab would have preferred a higher score to challenge the formidable RCB batting lineup.

DY Patil T20 Cup: CAG and Tata Sports Club Advance to Semi-FinalsThe 18th DY Patil T20 Cup witnessed thrilling quarter-final matches on Thursday, with CAG and Tata Sports Club emerging victorious.DY Patil Stadium:At the DY Patil Stadium, DY Patil Blue faced CAG in a closely contested encounter. Blue's innings was anchored by Shikhar Dhawan's unbeaten 99 off 51 deliveries, including eight boundaries and six sixes. However, CAG's bowlers kept the pressure on, with Sanveer Singh and Writwick Chatterjee claiming two wickets each.Blue finished on 182 for six, but CAG's chase was led by Varun Lavande's 73 off 53 balls. Sanveer Singh's unbeaten 45 off 27 balls sealed the victory for CAG, who reached 185 for four in 19.1 overs.DY Patil University Ground:Meanwhile, at the DY Patil University Ground, Tata Sports Club dominated Indian Oil. Sufiyan Shaikh and Chinmay Sutar put on a 107-run partnership for the second wicket, with Shaikh scoring 64 off 36 balls and Sutar contributing 61 off 39 balls.Tata posted a formidable 232 for five in their 20 overs, with Rohan Raje being the only Indian Oil bowler to impress with figures of 2-38.In response, Indian Oil struggled to keep up with the required run rate, losing wickets at regular intervals. Shorabh Phaliwal was the standout bowler for Tata, claiming three wickets for 15 runs. Indian Oil was eventually bowled out for 172 in 19.4 overs, handing Tata a convincing 60-run victory.