Cricket

Mitchell Starc's Redemption: From Trolling to TriumphWhen Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir acquired Australian speedster Mitchell Starc for a record-breaking Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2022 auction, it raised eyebrows. Starc's initial performances were underwhelming, leading to criticism and mockery.However, as the tournament progressed, the 34-year-old rediscovered his rhythm. In the playoffs, he delivered two exceptional performances, silencing his detractors. In Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Starc claimed three wickets for 23 runs.In the IPL Final against the same opposition, Starc once again showcased his brilliance. He returned figures of 2 for 14, while fellow quicks Andre Russell and Harshit Rana shared five wickets. SRH was dismissed for a paltry 113, the lowest total in an IPL final since 2013.Gambhir's faith in Starc was vindicated, and he was widely praised for his decision. The initial skepticism transformed into admiration and respect for the KKR mentor.Starc's resurgence is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite the initial setbacks, he remained focused and worked hard to regain his form. His performances in the playoffs and final proved that he is still one of the most dangerous bowlers in the world.The KKR victory is a collective effort, but Starc's contribution cannot be overstated. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace made him a formidable weapon for the Kolkata franchise.

Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan made a triumphant return to the public eye at the IPL Final against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, just days after being hospitalized for a heat stroke. Accompanied by his wife Gauri Khan and children Suhana and Aryan, SRK witnessed KKR's remarkable bowling performance that ultimately led to their victory.SRK's appearance at the match was a testament to his unwavering support for his team, despite his recent health scare. The actor was seen wearing a mask throughout the game, but his enthusiasm and excitement were evident as he celebrated KKR's success alongside his family.Meanwhile, on the field, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first. However, KKR's bowlers put on a dominant display, restricting SRH to a modest total of 168 runs. Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana were the standout performers for KKR, taking three wickets each.In response, KKR's batters chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine. Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer also made significant contributions, ensuring KKR's fourth IPL title.SRK's presence at the final was a fitting end to a memorable IPL season for KKR. The team's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, and SRK's unwavering support played a significant role in their success.

Mitchell Starc's Early Strike Sets Tone for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 FinalIn a pulsating IPL 2024 final at the iconic Chepauk Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders' star pacer Mitchell Starc showcased his big-match temperament with a crucial early breakthrough against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-arm seamer struck in the very first over of the match, dismissing the in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, dealing a significant blow to Hyderabad's hopes of a strong start.Starc, the IPL's most expensive player, left the Chennai crowd in awe with a peach of a delivery that breached Sharma's defenses and clipped the outside of his off-stump. The length ball, pitched on middle stump, deviated away at the last moment, leaving Sharma helpless.The early strike set the tone for the match, as Kolkata Knight Riders tightened their grip on the proceedings. Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins had won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to capitalize on the momentum gained from their virtual semi-final victory over Rajasthan Royals two days prior.However, Starc's early breakthrough put Hyderabad on the back foot, and they struggled to recover. The Knight Riders bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length, restricting Hyderabad's scoring rate and forcing them to take unnecessary risks.Kolkata Knight Riders, under the guidance of former India batsman Gautam Gambhir, are seeking their third IPL title after victories in 2012 and 2014. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, are aiming for their second title, having won their maiden crown in 2016 under Australian David Warner.As the match progressed, the Knight Riders continued to dominate, with their bowlers keeping the Hyderabad batsmen in check. The Sunrisers were unable to build any substantial partnerships, and their innings eventually folded for a below-par total.Kolkata Knight Riders, in response, chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to a solid batting performance led by their skipper, Shreyas Iyer. The victory marked a memorable triumph for the Knight Riders, who had endured a challenging season but rose to the occasion when it mattered most.

Rajasthan Royals' hopes of capturing their second Indian Premier League (IPL) title were dashed after a heartbreaking 36-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 2 match on Friday.Batting first, SRH posted a competitive total of 175/9, with Heinrich Klaasen leading the charge with a half-century. The Royals' chase was derailed by the spin duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, who combined for five wickets to restrict RR to 139/7.RR's elimination marked a disappointing end to a season that began with high expectations. The team had dominated the first half of the tournament, winning nine of their first ten matches. However, a string of four consecutive defeats in the second half of the season proved costly.Despite the setback, RR skipper Sanju Samson praised his team's performance and highlighted the emergence of young talent such as Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel."We have found some really great talent for the country," Samson said. "We have had some great seasons from the last three years."SRH's victory propelled them into the final, where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday in Chennai.

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.

Pat Cummins, the Australian captain and a renowned leader in the cricketing world, is on the cusp of adding another significant achievement to his illustrious career by potentially securing the IPL title with Sunrisers Hyderabad.Cummins' remarkable success as a leader has been evident in his recent triumphs, guiding Australia to victories in the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. Now, he aims to lead SRH to their second IPL title in the tournament's history.Ahead of the IPL 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders, Cummins' meticulous preparation has been evident. A video of him intently studying highlights of MS Dhoni's batting performance went viral on social media, showcasing his respect for the legendary Indian captain's enduring influence on the sport.Cummins attributes SRH's success this season to the blend of experience and youthful exuberance within the team. "It's been huge," he said. "We have quite an experienced bowling line-up, including (Jaydev) Unadkat and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar). Also, so many youngsters have come through and have won us games by themselves, like Nitish (Reddy) and Abhishek (Sharma)."Despite finishing second on the points table, SRH lost to KKR in Qualifier 1. However, Cummins remains confident in his team's ability to bounce back and secure the title.

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.

Multiple Grammy-winning rapper Drake has made a significant bet on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to emerge victorious in the IPL 2024 final against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Canadian musician, known for his frequent bets on sporting events, shared a picture of the receipt on Instagram, revealing a massive wager of USD 250,000 (approximately Rs 2.07 Crore). This marks Drake's first bet on a cricket match.Drake's betting history has been a mixed bag. He has lost substantial sums, including a USD 2 million bet on the UFC fight between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in 2022. However, he accurately predicted the outcome of Super Bowl 2024, with the Kansas City Chiefs triumphing over the San Francisco 49ers.KKR topped the league stages with 19 points and secured a spot in the final after defeating SRH in Qualifier 1. SRH, on the other hand, finished third in the points table but fought their way to the final through the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.After the match, KKR captain Pat Cummins expressed his delight at the team's performance. "The boys have been fantastic all season," he said. "We knew our strength was our batting and we wouldn't underestimate the experience we have in this squad."SRH captain Kane Williamson acknowledged the challenge of facing KKR in the final. "170 was a tough chase and had we got a couple of wickets we knew we had a chance," he said. "It is for the whole franchise, probably 60 or 70 of them who put their heart and soul into this and hopefully one more left."Drake's bet has garnered significant attention on social media, with users commenting on his betting record and the potential impact of his wager on the match. The outcome of the IPL 2024 final remains uncertain, but Drake's bet has undoubtedly added an extra layer of excitement to the highly anticipated clash.

Pat Cummins, the Australian fast bowler and captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has etched his name in the record books of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by equaling Anil Kumble's feat of taking the second-highest number of wickets in a single season by a captain.Cummins achieved this milestone in the Qualifier 2 match of IPL 2024 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Chennai on Friday. He dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore to reach 17 wickets in the tournament, matching Kumble's tally from the 2010 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).The Australian skipper now has the opportunity to surpass Kumble's record and even challenge Shane Warne's all-time record of 19 wickets in an IPL season for a captain. Warne achieved this feat with Rajasthan Royals in 2008.Cummins' impressive performance in IPL 2024 is a testament to his exceptional bowling skills and leadership abilities. He has been a key figure in SRH's success this season, guiding them to the final where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday.The 29-year-old all-rounder has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, consistently delivering match-winning performances with both bat and ball. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the IPL.Cummins' success in the IPL is a continuation of his remarkable achievements in international cricket. He led Australia to victory in both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year, cementing his status as one of the best all-rounders in the world.With his team on the cusp of IPL glory, Cummins will be eager to add another chapter to his illustrious career by breaking Warne's record and guiding SRH to their second IPL title.