Cricket

In March 2024, Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), inadvertently revealed the date of the IPL final as May 26. Two months later, his prediction has come to fruition.KKR, led by Shreyas Iyer, secured a spot in the final after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1. Mitchell Starc's impressive bowling performance (3/34) restricted SRH to 159, which KKR chased down in just 13.4 overs. Skipper Iyer (58* off 24) and Venkatesh Iyer (51* off 28) played unbeaten half-century knocks to seal the victory.The opponent for KKR in the final will be determined by Qualifier 2, scheduled for May 24. The winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face SRH in Qualifier 2.Interestingly, Gambhir's prediction of the final date was made on March 16, when the full IPL schedule was still unknown. In a video posted by KKR, Gambhir expressed his desire for the team to reach the final on May 26."On 26th May, we should be there, giving everything possible; and it starts from today...So if we walk the same path and if we fight, I am sure we are going to achieve a lot of success," Gambhir had said.Gambhir's words have proven prophetic, as KKR will now play their fourth IPL final on May 26. The former India opener is also reportedly in contention for the post of Team India's head coach, replacing Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup in June.

Shreyas Iyer Joins Elite Captains with Most 50+ Scores in IPL PlayoffsIn a remarkable display of leadership and batting prowess, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer has etched his name among the most successful captains in IPL playoff history. With an unbeaten 58 off just 24 balls in the Qualifier 2 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Iyer guided his team to a comfortable victory and a berth in the IPL final.Iyer's blistering knock, which included six fours and four sixes, was instrumental in KKR's successful chase of 160 runs in just 13.4 overs. His unbeaten 97-run partnership with Venkatesh Iyer showcased their exceptional batting skills and the team's ability to perform under pressure.Iyer's achievement is even more impressive considering the high-stakes nature of the IPL playoffs. Only a select few captains have consistently delivered notable batting performances in these crucial matches. Joining Iyer in this elite group are three renowned captains: MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and David Warner.Dhoni, the former Chennai Super Kings captain, is known for his ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed. His clutch performances have been pivotal in guiding CSK through many critical playoff matches.Rohit Sharma, the former Mumbai Indians skipper, mirrors Dhoni's prowess with his calm demeanor and explosive batting. His contributions with the bat have often been the backbone of Mumbai's successful campaigns, helping them secure multiple IPL titles.David Warner, the former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, has consistently been among the top scorers in the league. His aggressive style and leadership have propelled his team forward in crucial playoff encounters, making him a formidable opponent.With his latest performance, Shreyas Iyer has proven that he belongs among these legendary captains. His ability to lead by example and deliver under pressure makes him a valuable asset to the Kolkata Knight Riders and a rising star in the IPL.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended a lifeline to Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were previously excluded from the central contracts list for missing Ranji Trophy matches. The duo has been included in the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) High Performance Monitoring Programme for the 2024-25 domestic cricket season.This move signals that the BCCI and national selection committee are not holding grudges against Iyer and Kishan. If they demonstrate a positive attitude towards domestic cricket and perform well for their respective state teams, they could regain their central contracts and be recalled to the Indian team.Mumbai allrounder Musheer Khan, who impressed in the Under-19 World Cup and played a key role in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy triumph, has also been included in the NCA program. The list primarily consists of players who are not centrally contracted but are on the cusp of breaking into the Indian team.The selected players are expected to undergo a month-long camp at the new NCA facility near Bengaluru under the guidance of chairman VVS Laxman. The camp will focus on enhancing their skills and preparing them for higher levels of competition.Other notable players included in the NCA program are pacers Mayank Yadav, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed, and Tushar Deshpande. Batsmen Riyan Parag, Ashutosh Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Kishore, and Prithvi Shaw are also part of the group. Mumbai's spin allrounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian have also been selected.The national selectors have also chosen a set of players for the under-23 camp, which includes those who have yet to feature in domestic cricket. This camp will provide opportunities for young players to showcase their talent and potentially earn a place in the NCA program in the future.

Former South African skipper AB de Villiers has heaped praise on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer, hailing him as "absolutely incredible" in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.In the 17th season of the IPL, Iyer has led KKR to the top of the points table, becoming the first skipper in the franchise's history to achieve this feat. In 12 matches, he has amassed 287 runs at a strike rate of 135.38.Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers lauded Iyer's composure and intelligence as a captain. "Shreyas Iyer has been absolutely incredible. There have been a lot of doubts and talks about him as captain. I punted him from the start of the tournament. He is a wise guy, a smart cricketer, and I love the way he is calm and composed as a captain. He never seems to get rushed, never seems to panic even though you know deep down that you feel some panic, especially playing at the Eden Gardens," De Villiers said.De Villiers also acknowledged the challenges of captaining a team with senior players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. "It's not easy to captain senior players who have been around for ages, especially Narine and Russell. We know that the West Indies have got different personalities, they are outgoing and can be outspoken sometimes. It must be sometimes difficult with a difference in culture to communicate properly with some of these experienced players," he added.KKR have won 9 of their 13 matches so far, losing only to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Punjab Kings (PBKS). They currently have 19 points and a net run rate of 1.428.In their upcoming match, KKR will face Rajasthan Royals on Sunday at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.

The exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the list of centrally-contracted players was a decision made solely by chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, according to BCCI secretary Jay Shah. This decision has sparked controversy, with many questioning the rationale behind it.Shah emphasized that "nobody is indispensable" and that the decision was made in accordance with the BCCI's policy of prioritizing domestic cricket. Kishan and Iyer were left out after failing to show up for domestic engagements despite a directive from the BCCI.Kishan went on a long break after the end of the ODI World Cup last year and remained unavailable until the IPL. Iyer eventually did feature in a few matches for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, including the semifinal and the final. However, he still found himself at the receiving end after it emerged that he had attended a Kolkata Knight Riders' camp in Mumbai when his domestic side was busy playing a Ranji Trophy fixture.Shah reiterated the Board's position that Indian players will have to prioritize domestic cricket. He stated that he had spoken with the players after their exclusion and that they had expressed their willingness to play in domestic tournaments if they were considered for white-ball selection.Shah also addressed the issue of high scores in this year's IPL, saying that it ultimately comes down to who is playing well and who can sustain performance. He emphasized that players need to prove themselves and give back-to-back performances in Team India.Shah also revealed that he had a conversation with Kishan after Mumbai Indians' match against Gujarat Titans. He said that he did not advise him anything but rather had a friendly talk with him, encouraging him to do well.The decision to exclude Kishan and Iyer has been met with mixed reactions. Some have criticized the BCCI for being too harsh, while others have supported the move, arguing that it sends a strong message to players about the importance of domestic cricket.

Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop has come to the defense of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer, who has faced criticism from fans despite the team's impressive performance this season.Bishop took to social media to question the double standards of fans who attribute KKR's wins to mentor Gautam Gambhir but blame Iyer for their losses. He highlighted Iyer's respectable record as captain during his previous seasons with the Delhi Capitals (DC)."Shreyas became DC captain in 2018 when GG stepped down after DC lost 5 of first 6 gms. DC then finished the season winning 4 of next 8 games. 2019 DC 3rd, 2020 DC 2nd. 2021 injury & only 8gms so Pant captained. To KKR 2022, new franchise, 7th. Missed 2023. 2024," Bishop tweeted.Bishop argued that if Gambhir receives praise for KKR's victories, then Iyer should not be solely blamed for their defeats. He also questioned whether fans would blame Gambhir if the team lost.Gambhir has been actively involved in the dugout since returning to KKR as a mentor, providing tactical advice to Iyer. However, Bishop believes that Iyer deserves credit for the team's success.KKR pacer Harshit Rana also acknowledged Gambhir's tactical brilliance at a recent press conference.On Sunday, Sunil Narine's blistering 81 off 39 balls helped KKR thrash Lucknow Super Giants by 98 runs and take top spot in the IPL table. The win almost guarantees KKR a play-off berth.

Former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad has revealed that Shreyas Iyer was being groomed to become a future Indian cricket team skipper. Prasad, who served as the BCCI chief selector between 2016 and 2020, said that Iyer caught their eye while captaining the India A side."If you go back to the stats, in the last two years, when we were at the helm, Shreyas Iyer led the side (India A). I think out of the 10 series that India A played, we won 8. In the majority of those series, Shreyas led the side. He has been in and around as captain. He has been groomed for that particular slot," Prasad said.Prasad also said that Iyer was considered to be a top contender for India captaincy after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. "We felt that post Virat, post Rohit Sharma, you needed someone to lead the side that's when we started thinking about Shreyas Iyer or Rishabh Pant. But even ahead of Pant, was Iyer as a captain," he added.Iyer has been impressive as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Prasad believes that Iyer is maturing into a very good leader. "He is slowly maturing into a very good leader. It's very important at the start of your captaincy career to have good team management. That's what he's getting from KKR. He is young, and they are going to invest in him. In the next two or three years, we will see Shreyas evolve into a wonderful captain," Prasad said.Iyer has not been included in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. However, Prasad believes that Iyer is still a future captaincy prospect for India. "He is a very good player. He has got all the shots. He is a very good fielder. He is a very good runner between the wickets. He is a complete package. He is a future captain of India," Prasad said.

Despite losing the toss in the majority of their Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have maintained their winning ways, according to skipper Shreyas Iyer. After their victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday, KKR climbed to the top of the points table.In the match against LSG, Iyer lost his eighth toss in 11 games, but it did not affect KKR's performance. After being asked to bat first, KKR posted an impressive total of 235 for six. Their batting prowess was complemented by a strong bowling display, as they restricted the hosts to a mere 137 runs, securing another crucial win on their journey towards the playoffs."The last 6 matches in the dressing room there has been havoc, teammates are coming in and asking skip what's happening, we are losing tosses, but we are winning games that's what matters," said Iyer at the post-match presentation in Lucknow."We had a great start in the powerplay. A lefty-righty combination makes things difficult for the opposition. It's all about the freedom, to go out and express themselves.""We want to go out and be positive whatever the situation is, sometimes it doesn't work out but sometimes it does."Opener Sunil Narine smashed an unbeaten 81 off 39 balls before the bowlers did their job to script a big win.LSG need to win their remaining three games to push for a play-off spot, and the do-or-die situation will help his team, insisted skipper KL Rahul."We've made a couple of mistakes when we've come up against batters like Sunil and anyone that's powerful. That type of intimidation puts pressure on our bowlers. That'll be the chat once we get back to the dressing room - move on from this game, see where we went wrong and try and get better.""This is our last home game for us, so we are on the road for the next three games. It's pretty clear for us, if you want to get to the top four, you got to win all the games. That will give us a little bit of freedom to go out there and be a little bit more fearless, little bit brave to take on the game," said Rahul.

Shreyas Iyer's resilience has been tested time and again. After a stellar performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, he faced a recurrence of back troubles, lost his BCCI contract, and was overlooked for India's T20 World Cup squad. Despite these setbacks, Iyer has remained positive and determined.Under his leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has emerged as a formidable force in IPL 2024. After nine games, they sit second in the points table with six wins. KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar attributes Iyer's success to his mental fortitude."He is one of the strongest people, mentally, I have ever known," said Nayar. "He has accepted the challenges he has faced and approached life with a positive attitude."Iyer's fitness has also improved significantly. After undergoing back surgery in 2023, he has worked diligently with KKR's strength and conditioning team."He is feeling a lot better now," said Nayar. "He is batting longer hours and has trained really hard."Despite not having a stellar IPL season with the bat, Iyer has contributed consistently. He has scored 251 runs at a strike rate of 137.15, batting primarily at Nos. 4 and 5."His mindset is to score runs, whether he plays the IPL, the Ranji Trophy, or for India," said Nayar. "He looks to score runs, and the way he has handled the challenges he has faced is commendable."As KKR prepares to face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, Iyer's focus is on leading his team to victory. Despite not being part of India's T20 World Cup squad, he remains determined to prove his worth.