Cricket

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.

IPL 2024: Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma Face Spin Challenge in Qualifier 2In a highly anticipated Qualifier 2 clash, Sunrisers Hyderabad will face Rajasthan Royals on Friday, with the IPL's top power-hitters, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, set to encounter a formidable spin challenge from Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin.Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing the conditions at the Chepauk stadium. The pitch is expected to be sticky, posing a different challenge for the Hyderabad batsmen.Head and Sharma, known as "Travishek," have been in scintillating form this season, amassing 72 sixes and 96 boundaries between them. However, they will need to adapt their power-hitting against the wily spin of Chahal and Ashwin.Hyderabad have made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Aiden Markram and Jaydev Unadkat for Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Shahbaz Ahmed. Rajasthan remains unchanged.Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins expressed confidence in his team's batting despite their below-par performance in the previous game. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening their bowling with the inclusion of Unadkat.Samson, on the other hand, acknowledged that his team is still recovering from a recent illness but believes they can cross the line despite playing at 70% of their potential.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Hyderabad's power-hitting duo will be tested by Rajasthan's spin twins, while the Royals will need to contain the dangerous Hyderabad batting lineup.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) hopes of reaching the IPL 2024 final hinge heavily on the performance of their star opener, Travis Head, according to former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra. SRH will face Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday, and Head's recent struggles have raised concerns.Head has been a standout performer for SRH this season, amassing 533 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 199.62 in 13 innings. However, he has fallen for ducks in his last two outings against left-arm seamers. With Trent Boult and potentially Nandre Burger in Rajasthan's lineup, Head faces a stern test.Chopra emphasized the critical role of SRH's opening pair, Head and Abhishek Sharma, in their success. "Their strength is their two openers. If these two openers start firing, no one is able to stop them. They turn the match in their favor in the first eight to 10 overs. Travis Head has gone down a little, gotten out two successive times, but you expect him to play well," Chopra stated.Chopra noted that while Head's overall numbers are impressive, his recent vulnerability against left-arm seamers could be exploited by Rajasthan. "Trent Boult hasn't troubled him that much, although he could have got out last time. Riyan Parag dropped a catch. So they might try to trap Travis Head in the same way once again. However, he scored a fifty against this team last time. This team cannot progress without Travis Head scoring runs," Chopra added.Abhishek Sharma, SRH's second-highest run-scorer this season with 470 runs at a strike rate of 207.04, also received praise from Chopra. "My second player is Abhishek Sharma because he is batting very well. If Travis Head is scoring runs in the first innings, Abhishek Sharma is scoring runs in the second innings. If he keeps batting like this, you never know, he might play for India soon. Times are changing, the Indian selectors have already started focusing on the next generation," he elaborated.Chopra emphasized the importance of SRH maintaining their momentum, pointing out other key players who could make a difference. "The thing that goes in favor of this team is that, because of the type of cricket they have played, if they get on a roll, it's very difficult to bring them down. Rahul Tripathi is batting well now. Nitish Reddy plays very well against spin, scored 70-odd runs against this team last time, and hit massive sixes," he said.However, Chopra also highlighted SRH's potential weaknesses in the middle order. "After that, they have Heinrich Klaasen. So Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, the two openers, then Heinrich Klaasen and two Indians in the middle. This is both a strength and a weakness because only Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed are left after that. So they are seen slightly stumbling there," he observed.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the star spinner, has emerged as a crucial player for the Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL season. After battling an abdomen injury, Ashwin has regained his form and is now a key figure in the team's quest for an IPL title.Ashwin's journey in the IPL has been a tale of two halves. In the first half of the tournament, he struggled with an abdomen injury that hindered his performance. However, as the tournament progressed, the injury healed, and Ashwin began to find his rhythm.The Chepauk pitch, where the Royals will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the qualifier, is expected to favor spinners. Ashwin's experience and understanding of the conditions will be invaluable to the Royals.In the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Ashwin showcased his versatility by employing a variety of variations, including the slower off-break, the faster off-break, and the drifter. His ability to control the flow of runs and pick up crucial wickets has made him a formidable force in the Royals' bowling attack.Ashwin's resurgence has coincided with the emergence of Yuzvendra Chahal, India's No. 1 T20 leggie. The duo has formed a formidable spin partnership, providing the Royals with a potent weapon in the middle overs.With the Chepauk pitch offering assistance to spinners, Ashwin and Chahal will be looking to make a significant impact in the qualifier. If they can replicate their recent performances, they could lead the Royals to a memorable victory and a place in the final.

Qualifier 2: Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - A Clash of Batting and Bowling ProwessThe stage is set for a thrilling Qualifier 2 encounter between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The match, scheduled for 19:30 IST (14:00 GMT), promises an intriguing battle between SRH's explosive batting lineup and RR's formidable bowling unit.SRH's Batting Juggernaut vs RR's Bowling ArsenalSRH has shattered IPL batting records this season, boasting the highest team total of 263/5. Their destructive opening pair, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, has been instrumental in their success, scoring over 100 runs in the powerplay twice. Heinrich Klaasen, the in-form T20 batter, adds further firepower to their lineup.RR, on the other hand, possesses one of the most potent bowling attacks in the tournament. Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, and Sandeep Sharma provide early breakthroughs, while R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal form a formidable spin duo. The battle between SRH's batters and RR's bowlers will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.Form and Previous MeetingBoth teams have struggled in their recent outings in Chennai. SRH lost heavily to Chennai Super Kings, while RR fell short against the same opposition. However, their previous encounter was a nail-biting affair, with RR narrowly losing by 2 runs.Team News and Impact Player StrategyRR may consider including Keshav Maharaj as a third spinner on the slow Chepauk pitch. However, they may need to adjust their overseas combination if they bowl first. SRH could bring in Aiden Markram or Glenn Phillips to strengthen their batting, with Mayank Markande replacing Sanvir Singh as their legspinner.Players in the SpotlightR Ashwin has regained his form in recent games, picking up seven wickets in his last four outings. He will be eager to continue his impressive run on his home ground. Travis Head, SRH's MVP, has been dismissed twice by left-arm seamers in his last two matches. RR's Trent Boult will be looking to exploit this weakness.Stats that Matter* Ashwin has never dismissed Head but has kept him quiet, conceding only 10 runs in 17 balls.* Klaasen has dominated his match-up against Chahal, scoring 108 runs off 46 balls.* Jaiswal has an impressive record against Bhuvneshwar and Cummins, having never been dismissed by either bowler.Pitch and ConditionsThe Chennai pitch is expected to be hot and humid, with dew likely in the second innings. Teams may prefer to bowl first on winning the toss, as chasing teams have won five of the seven games played here this season.

KKR's Gurbaz Returns from Afghanistan to Aid Team in IPL PlayoffsKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has revealed that his mother is still recovering in the hospital, but he returned from Afghanistan to support his team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs.Gurbaz played a crucial knock of 23 runs from 14 balls in KKR's Qualifier 1 victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he expressed his gratitude for the support of his family and the KKR franchise."My mother is still recovering in the hospital, but I knew my KKR family needed me here once Phil Salt left. So I came back from Afghanistan, and I'm happy to be here. My mother is happy for me too," Gurbaz said.The 22-year-old had not featured in any games for KKR this season due to the success of Salt and Sunil Narine at the top of the order. However, with Salt departing, Gurbaz was called upon to fill the void.In the match against SRH, Gurbaz provided a solid start alongside Narine, scoring two fours and two sixes before being dismissed. His innings helped set the platform for a dominant run-chase by KKR, who reached the target with 38 balls to spare.Skipper Shreyas Iyer (58*) and Venkatesh Iyer (51*) played blistering half-centuries to guide KKR to victory. Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers for KKR, taking 3/34 in four overs.With this win, KKR has secured a direct spot in the final, while SRH will face the winner of the eliminator match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

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.

Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious in their final league match of IPL 2024, defeating Punjab Kings by 4 wickets in Hyderabad on Sunday. The match witnessed a heartwarming moment between Punjab Kings' bowler Arshdeep Singh and Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma.Abhishek Sharma, the Man of the Match, played a pivotal role in the victory, smashing a blistering 28-ball 66, including 6 sixes and 5 fours. His heroics helped Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down Punjab Kings' total of 215 with 5 balls to spare.After the match, a video shared by Abhishek Sharma's sister went viral, capturing a touching moment between Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek's mother. Arshdeep, who hails from the same region as Abhishek, approached the stands and sought blessings from Abhishek's mother."Give me the blessings which you give to Abhishek, I want the same," Arshdeep said in Punjabi.Abhishek Sharma has been in exceptional form for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 467 runs from 13 matches at an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 209.42. He has hit the most number of sixes in this edition of the IPL (41) and will be looking to add to his tally when SRH takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, has been a key performer for Punjab Kings, taking 19 wickets from 14 matches. He is currently third in the most wicket-takers list in this edition of the IPL and will be hoping to make a significant contribution with the ball in India's T20 World Cup campaign next month.The victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad sets up an exciting Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, while Punjab Kings will be hoping to bounce back in the Eliminator.