Cricket

Virat Kohli's remarkable consistency in the IPL 2024 has been undeniable, with the star batsman leading the competition with 634 runs from 12 matches. However, despite his impressive tally, some critics have questioned his strike rate of 153.51, suggesting he wasn't scoring quickly enough for a top-order batsman.Kohli responded emphatically to these criticisms with a blistering 92 runs off just 47 balls against Punjab Kings on Thursday night, keeping Bengaluru alive in the playoff race. The former RCB captain subtly responded to critics who had questioned his intent, but his comments also drew criticism from former India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden weighed in on the debate, stating that such criticisms are common for technical and conventional cricketers like Kohli. "He's a very conventional cricketer. He's a very technical cricketer, which makes him great across all three formats," Hayden said.Hayden praised Kohli's ability to address the shortcomings highlighted in the media and focus on his game. "But one of the big concerns that we've all had is through the middle. And so, like all great champions, if there is something out there in the media or there's something where you can feel yourself to improve, then you get about making your business to do so. And I sense that that's exactly what's happened to Virat Kohli this season," he added.Hayden emphasized the importance of Kohli's improved strike rate against spin, a critical factor for India in international matches. "Those middle phases being that 138 strike-rate against spin, that's critical for India because international sides they'll line up with spin. Every side will have two, sometimes three spinners as their resource, and they'll use it to slow down a Kohli who, inside that powerplay has got such a huge energy and momentum and creates great pressure on opposition," Hayden said.The Australian legend cited examples of former cricketers who responded to criticism by letting their performances speak for themselves. "Steve Waugh never used to have a word to him. Kevin Pietersen, he used to love the pressure. Brian Lara, Don't talk to him. Why would you do that? He'll just smash you. So, guys that are of that kind of quality, if you try and needle them, all they do is get better," Hayden said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) directive for players to return home for national duty from the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of the T20 World Cup has sparked a heated debate. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for decisive action from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL franchises against players and their respective cricket boards for withdrawing from the IPL midway through the season.Gavaskar emphasized the need for repercussions against players and their cricket boards for breaching their commitments. He urged IPL franchises to deduct a substantial portion of the players' salaries, citing the financial repercussions faced by the franchises due to their sudden exit."I am all for players choosing country before anything else, but having assured various franchises about their availability for the full season, if they pull out now, it will be letting down the franchises," Gavaskar stated. "The franchises should not only be allowed to deduct a substantial amount from the fee that the player was bought for, but also not give the Board, to which the player belongs, the stated 10 per cent commission of the fee that each player gets."Gavaskar also highlighted the disparity in treatment between the IPL and other T20 leagues worldwide, particularly regarding the 10 per cent commission paid to cricket boards for players' participation in the tournament."If the Board has gone back on its assurance they need to be penalized too. This 10 per cent commission to the Boards happens only in the IPL and nowhere else. Does the BCCI get any thanks for its generosity? No way," Gavaskar emphasized.The controversy surrounding England players' IPL exit underscores the complexities of balancing international and franchise cricket commitments. As discussions between the ECB and BCCI continue, stakeholders await clarity on the way forward.

Wasim Akram Weighs In on Kohli-Gavaskar Spat, Emphasizes Mutual RespectFormer Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has expressed his views on the recent verbal altercation between Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Sunil Gavaskar during IPL 2024, highlighting the importance of mutual respect despite differences in opinion.Akram, known for his astute analysis, acknowledged the stature of both Kohli and Gavaskar in the cricketing world, describing them as "greats" and "proud Indians" with immense contributions to the sport. He emphasized that both individuals are highly respected figures in the cricketing fraternity.Reflecting on the contentious exchange, Akram stated, "Both are greats. Sunny bhai, as a cricketer, as a human being, I know him off the field. As a commentator, he has been doing it for God knows how many years. And coming to the great man, Virat Kohli, he is a top player, a modern great. In fact, he is an all-time great in history, given the kind of performances he has had. But I think Virat shouldn't have said it."Akram's comments shed light on the delicate balance between player critique and respect for commentators' roles in shaping public discourse around the game. He underscored that commentators, like Gavaskar, are integral to the cricketing ecosystem, offering valuable insights and analysis derived from years of experience in the sport."It is the commentators' job. If he got slow in a couple of matches and he [Gavaskar] said something, forget about it. Virat is not that kind of a person. Both are proud Indians; both are greats. It's OK; they both will move on pretty quickly. Don't think either will take it personally. They will be fine, I know. I am telling you now. I know them both very well," Akram reassured, emphasizing his confidence in the resilience and maturity of both individuals to overcome this disagreement.Akram's intervention serves as a reminder of the importance of mutual respect and understanding within the cricketing community. While differences in opinion may arise, it is crucial to maintain a level of decorum and respect for the contributions and perspectives of others.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticized Virat Kohli's recent outburst against critics who have questioned his strike rate and struggles against spin bowling. Kohli had lashed out at "pundits" after Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) match against Gujarat Titans (GT) last weekend.Gavaskar questioned why Kohli, who has repeatedly stated that he ignores social media criticism, would react to "outside noise." He also slammed broadcasters for repeatedly airing Kohli's rant on television."That particular post-game interview has been shown on this channel earlier as well, right now, on this particular program it has probably been shown half a dozen times. I hope that Star Sports recognizes that when that is being shown, asking where are the critics, the critics are the commentators. Your Star Sports commentators are the ones from whom the questions are being asked," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.Gavaskar's comments come amid a resurgence of an old video in which he praised former Indian captain MS Dhoni. In the video, an emotional Gavaskar recalled the moment when Dhoni signed his shirt during IPL 2023."It was a very emotional moment for me (getting the shirt signed by MS Dhoni). MS Dhoni has done a lot for Indian cricket. If I have 2 minutes to live, I would like to witness Kapil Dev lift the 1983 World Cup trophy and MS Dhoni hit the World Cup winning six and the way he rolled over his bat after hitting the six," Gavaskar had said.Gavaskar's contrasting reactions to Kohli and Dhoni have sparked discussions about the different standards applied to players. Some have argued that Gavaskar's criticism of Kohli is unfair, given that he has been a vocal supporter of Dhoni in the past. Others have defended Gavaskar's comments, arguing that Kohli's outburst was unprofessional and disrespectful to the commentators who have criticized him.

Virat Kohli's strike rate in T20 cricket has been a topic of intense debate among fans and experts alike. Despite being selected for India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, Kohli's slow scoring pace has drawn criticism from some quarters.Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has been particularly vocal in his criticism, questioning Kohli's intent and suggesting that his poor strike rate is hindering India's chances of success in T20 cricket. However, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has defended Kohli, arguing that the criticism is unwarranted.Akram believes that Kohli's strike rate is not a major concern, as long as he is scoring runs and contributing to his team's victories. He pointed out that Kohli has been crucial to Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) success this season, despite his relatively low strike rate."If the guy is scoring 100 at 150 strike rate, isn't it fine?" Akram said. "If the team had won, there wouldn't have been criticism."Akram also criticized the notion that Kohli is not playing with enough intent. He argued that Kohli is under immense pressure as both a player and a captain, and that he is doing the best he can in a difficult situation."He is scoring, but one player cannot win the match," Akram said. "Criticising him unnecessarily... it's not fair."Akram also questioned the role of an "anchor" in T20 cricket, suggesting that the concept is outdated in the modern game. He pointed to the high scores being posted in this year's IPL as evidence that teams are now expected to score quickly from the outset."If you look at this IPL, it feels like it's over," Akram said. "The way teams are scoring 270s, it looks like it. People are calling an anchor slow even when the strike rate is 150."

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has expressed his astonishment over the exclusion of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer T Natarajan from India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Natarajan, with his impressive performance in the ongoing IPL season, has emerged as a strong contender for the Purple Cap, having claimed 13 wickets in just seven matches.Watson highlighted Natarajan's exceptional ability to consistently deliver yorkers, a skill that could have significantly benefited the Indian team. "His ability to put that yorker in, his variations of speed when he needs to bowl that, it's something he continues to produce over and over again," Watson said. "That's why I was surprised that he wasn't in the Indian T20 squad because of his consistency of performances, especially when he's bowling in crucial times of the game when batters are going strong."Watson's sentiments were echoed by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who also praised Natarajan's performances in IPL 2024. "I was thinking more like T Natarajan, the left-arm pacer bowler. He has been bowling extremely well. So, I thought maybe he could have been in the team," Gavaskar said.Despite the exclusion of Natarajan, India's T20 World Cup squad boasts a formidable pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh are expected to compete for the second spot in the playing XI, while Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan have been included in the list of travelling reserves.India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Hardik Pandya (VC)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Virat Kohli* Suryakumar Yadav* Rishabh Pant* Sanju Samson* Shivam Dube* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Yuzvendra Chahal* Arshdeep Singh* Mohammed Siraj* Jasprit BumrahReserves:* Shubman Gill* Rinku Singh* Khaleel Ahmed* Avesh Khan

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, has launched a scathing attack on Virat Kohli for his recent comments about critics. Kohli had stated that he doesn't pay attention to critics who question his strike rate and ability to play spin.Gavaskar, speaking ahead of the RCB vs GT match on Saturday, took exception to Kohli's remarks. He felt that such comments were a direct insult to the knowledge and experience of former cricketers who work as experts."Commentators questioned only when his strike rate was 118. I'm not too sure. I don't watch too many matches, so I don't know what the other commentators have said otherwise. But if you come and open and then have a strike of 118 when you get out in the 14th or the 15th over, I mean, if you want applause for that, that's a little bit different," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.Gavaskar also criticized Kohli for responding to outside noise if he didn't care about it. "All these guys talk about, 'oh we don't care about outside noise'. Accha! Then why are you replying to any outside noise or whatever it is. We all played a bit of cricket, not a lot of cricket. We don't have agendas. We speak about what we see. We don't necessarily have any likes and dislikes. Even if we have likes and dislikes, we actually speak on what is happening," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar even criticized IPL's official broadcasters for showing Kohli's interview time and again. "I hope Star Sports realizes that when that clip is shown, questioning the critics, the critics are your own commentators. For you to show the person belittling your own commentators, I'm not sure that's a great thing. You need to realize you have shown it enough times, everybody's got the message. I would be very disappointed if you show it once more."Gavaskar's comments have sparked a debate on the role of critics in sports. Some believe that critics have a right to express their opinions, while others feel that they should be more respectful of players.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed confidence in Hardik Pandya's ability to excel for the national team in the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite his underwhelming performance for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL.Gavaskar believes that Pandya's performance for India will be significantly different from his IPL form, as playing for the country brings out a different level of motivation and determination in players. He noted that Pandya has faced challenges in the IPL but has handled them well, and expects him to be in a more positive frame of mind when representing India.Gavaskar also praised the overall strength of the Indian team, stating that they are title contenders for the World Cup. He emphasized the importance of luck in international tournaments, but expressed confidence that India has the potential to bring the trophy back home for the first time since 2007.The former India skipper highlighted the benefits of the IPL in preparing players for the World Cup, as it provides them with ample match practice and allows them to maintain their rhythm. He believes that the team will be well-conditioned and refreshed after a brief break between the IPL and the World Cup.Gavaskar's comments come as India prepares to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5. Pandya has been retained as vice-captain of the 15-member squad, despite his modest IPL performance.

Virat Kohli's performance in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has drawn criticism from legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. Despite Kohli's contribution of 51 runs, Gavaskar expressed concern over the pace at which he scored.Gavaskar highlighted the importance of strike rate in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket. While Kohli's runs were valuable, his slow accumulation of runs raised questions about his approach. Kohli scored 32 runs off the first 18 balls he faced, but his next 19 runs came from 25 deliveries."In the middle, he just seemed to have lost touch," Gavaskar said. "From 31-32 to the time he got out, he did not hit a boundary. When you face the strike in the first ball of the innings and get out in the 14th or 15th over, you have a strike rate of 118. That's not what your team expects from you."Gavaskar's criticism underscores the changing nature of T20 cricket, where strike rate has become a crucial factor. Teams are increasingly looking for players who can score runs quickly and keep the scoreboard ticking.In contrast to Kohli's measured approach, Rajat Patidar played an explosive innings for RCB. Patidar scored 50 runs off just 20 balls, showcasing the importance of aggressive batting in T20 cricket.Kohli's performance against SRH has raised questions about his role in the RCB team. While he remains a valuable player, his slow strike rate may become a concern for the team as the tournament progresses.