Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has reintroduced the uncapped player rule, allowing teams to retain experienced players at a reduced cost. This rule has come as a boon for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who can now retain MS Dhoni for just Rs 12 crores over three seasons.Dhoni, who has been the face of CSK since the inaugural edition of the IPL, brings immense value to the team both on and off the field. His leadership, experience, and ability to mentor young players make him an invaluable asset.The uncapped player rule states that a capped Indian player becomes uncapped if they have not played in the starting XI in international cricket or do not have a central contract with the BCCI in the last five calendar years. This rule allows teams to retain players who may not be regular members of the national team but still have the ability to perform at the highest level.Former Australia all-rounder and ex-Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody believes the uncapped player rule is a positive move. He said, "I think it's a great rule. It allows players who are good enough and have longevity to continue playing on the big stage and perform."Moody also suggested that the five-year rule could be further reduced to three years. He said, "I personally think five years is a long time; I would like to see it as a three-year window."CSK has yet to have discussions with Dhoni regarding his future after the retention rules were announced. However, the team is likely to retain him as one of their three players. This would allow them to retain other key players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Matheesha Pathirana.The reintroduction of the uncapped player rule is a significant development for the IPL. It allows teams to retain experienced players at a reduced cost, which could lead to more competitive and exciting matches in the future.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction is set to be a pivotal event for all 10 franchises. With a mega auction on the horizon, teams must carefully consider their retention strategies to build competitive squads.According to the BCCI, franchises can retain a maximum of six players, either through retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. The combination of retentions and RTMs can include up to five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players. The auction purse for each franchise has been set at INR 120 Crore.For five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who endured a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign, the upcoming auction holds immense significance. The team boasts a star-studded roster, including Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma. However, the franchise faces a crucial decision regarding player retention.Former IPL-winning coach Tom Moody has expressed his reservations about Hardik Pandya's potential retention at the highest price of INR 18 crore. Moody believes that Pandya's recent struggles with fitness and performance may not warrant such a high valuation."When you dissect all of those areas with Hardik Pandya, does he deserve to be an 18 crore player? Is he worth it? If you've got to be an 18 crore player, you've got to be a genuine match-winner and do it regularly," Moody said.Moody also highlighted Mumbai Indians' past struggles at the auction table, particularly in retaining players at inflated prices. He cited the examples of Ishan Kishan and Jofra Archer, who failed to deliver consistent returns despite their hefty price tags."They've had a little bit of a problem at the auction table the last couple of years. They've gotten caught up in a way too loyal in some cases and tried to retain, or get players back into their squad, which has cost them dearly," Moody said.The Mumbai Indians management will have to make some tough decisions regarding player retention. They must balance loyalty with performance and value for money to build a squad capable of challenging for the IPL title in 2025.

Tom Moody, the former Australian all-rounder and current coach of Oval Invincibles, recently revisited Lord's Stadium, the site of his 1999 Cricket World Cup triumph. As he prepared his team for The Hundred final, Moody reflected on Australia's dominant campaign 25 years ago.Despite being favorites entering the tournament, Australia faced early setbacks with losses to New Zealand and Pakistan. However, they rallied to secure a Super Six berth, setting the stage for a remarkable run to the title."We came in as favorites, but we played poorly for the first half of the tournament," Moody admitted. "We basically had to win seven in a row to be crowned champions. Being part of that journey for those seven games was pretty special."Australia's resurgence culminated in a resounding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final. Chasing a modest target of 133, Australia cruised to victory in 20.1 overs, powered by Shane Warne's four-wicket haul and Adam Gilchrist's blistering half-century. Moody himself contributed with the wickets of Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood.The victory sparked jubilant celebrations in the Australian dressing room, a moment etched in Moody's memory. "We had a long period of time in the dressing room to enjoy the experience of the journey and the occasion," he recalled. "All sorts of people came through, from family to famous cricket fans, but we were in our own bubble."Moody's 1999 World Cup performance was instrumental in Australia's success. He scored 117 runs at an impressive average of 117.00, including a half-century, and chipped in with seven crucial wickets.As he aimed to guide Oval Invincibles to victory at the home of cricket, the memories of his own triumph at Lord's served as a potent reminder of the power of resilience and teamwork on the biggest stage.

Chris Silverwood, the former England head coach, has secured a new role as an assistant coach for the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred. Silverwood joins Tom Moody's coaching staff, replacing Azhar Mahmood, who departed to take up a full-time role with Pakistan.Silverwood's appointment comes after a brief stint with Sri Lanka, where he served as the head coach for two years. He resigned from that position following Sri Lanka's group-stage exit from the recent T20 World Cup, citing a desire to spend more time at home.Silverwood's return to English cricket marks his first coaching role since his dismissal as England head coach in early 2022. He will join Matt Walker and Jim Troughton as part of Moody's coaching staff for the Invincibles.Meanwhile, James Foster, who was previously the head coach of the Northern Superchargers, has also returned to the Hundred. He will serve as an assistant coach for the London Spirit, replacing Paul Collingwood, who is unavailable due to Test duty with England.The Spirit have also added Ali Maiden and Marc Broom to their women's coaching staff, which is led by Ashley Noffke. Maiden is a potential successor to Noffke, who is expected to step down at the end of the season.The most high-profile coaching appointment in the Hundred this year is Andrew Flintoff, who has replaced Foster as the head coach of the Superchargers. Flintoff will make his debut as a head coach in the Hundred opener against Trent Rockets on Friday night.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Triumph: Gautam Gambhir's Strategic Brilliance and Humorous InterruptionFollowing Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) triumphant victory in the IPL 2024 final, head coach Chandrakant Pandit commenced his customary post-match address in the jubilant dressing room. However, the celebratory atmosphere took an unexpected turn when team mentor Gautam Gambhir interjected with a humorous remark."Ladke pagal ho rahe hai dance karne ke liye," Gambhir quipped with a wry smile, suggesting that the players were eager to break into dance. The video of this witty interruption has since gone viral, capturing the unusually jovial mood of Gambhir.Gambhir's influence on KKR's success cannot be overstated. As captain, he led the team to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. His return to the franchise as a mentor ahead of the 2024 season proved pivotal in guiding KKR to their third IPL triumph, ending a decade-long wait.Gambhir's strategic acumen has been widely praised. Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody commended Gambhir's impact on ESPNcricinfo, saying, "His ability to just get the ship in the right direction is crucial. He is very clear in what he believes the dressing room needed to go, the personnel that needed to be in that playing XI, and the likes of Narine being back to the top of the order again."Moody emphasized that Gambhir's clarity and stability brought significant positive changes to KKR, addressing the confusion and inconsistency that had plagued the team in previous seasons. "A lot of things have just worked perfectly for KKR this year, in a positive way. I think Gambhir should be given a huge amount of credit for his impact as a leader. He has created stability and clarity that is the most important thing," Moody added.With Gambhir's arrival, KKR clinched their third Indian Premier League title in 2024. His strategic influence and leadership were instrumental in transforming the team's fortunes. The season saw KKR overcoming previous challenges and inconsistencies, culminating in a memorable victory.

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.

The Punjab Kings' decade-long playoff drought in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been attributed to "inconsistency in leadership," according to former head coach Tom Moody. The franchise has appointed 15 different captains in 17 seasons, a factor that Moody believes has hindered their progress."I think it is a pretty good indication of why they have their struggles," Moody told IANS. "They have many changes with regards to leadership whether it be on field or off field. There seems to always be that inconsistency when it comes to what direction their leadership is taking both on and off the field. Therefore that inconsistency is naturally going to flow into what happens on the field."Moody, who coached Punjab to their first playoff appearance in 2008, emphasized the importance of stability in leadership. He pointed to his successful tenure with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he led the team to five playoff appearances and the title in 2016.Despite Punjab's struggles, Moody expressed optimism about the future of Indian cricket. He praised the emergence of young players like Riyan Parag and Abhishek Porel, who have impressed in the ongoing IPL season."The future is very bright, the IPL always uncovers many domestic players showcase their talents," Moody said. "We've seen many grow as the seasons unfold and a good example of that is Riyan Parag at Rajasthan. He has been in the IPL for a number of years, he is still a young player but this year has been a breakout season for him and it sort of put his name on the radar as a future potential Indian player.""Another example of that is (Abhishek) Porel from the Delhi Capitals, he is another one that has had a really good season. It is great to have a platform like this where not only Indian players but overseas players can showcase their skills in the best T20 tournament in the world."

Former SunRisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody heaped praise on Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill after his match-winning century against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024 clash. Gill's blistering knock of 104 off just 55 balls, along with Sai Sudharsan's 103 off 51 balls, powered GT to a record-breaking opening stand and a crucial victory.Moody emphasized the significance of Gill's century, particularly after his omission from India's T20 World Cup squad. "It reaffirms his status as a world-class batter," Moody said. "He's obviously gutted about not being part of India's World Cup team, but this knock shows that he's still a force to be reckoned with."Moody also highlighted the impact of GT's fielding effort, which he believes was crucial in separating the two sides. "Gujarat was very good in the field, they took all their catches, some really good catches," he said. "CSK were unlike CSK, just a little sloppy in their performance out there."The win keeps GT's playoff hopes alive, while CSK remains in fourth place despite the defeat. Moody believes that GT's fielding effort was a key factor in their victory. "It's important for the bowlers when the conditions are difficult for them to survive," he said. "The fielding effort today was a big difference."

Virat Kohli's unwavering dedication to training has enabled him to overcome his limitations and maintain his status as one of the world's top batters, according to former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody.Despite being 35 years old, Kohli has showcased remarkable agility and fitness, as evidenced by his brilliant direct hit run-out against Punjab Kings. Moody praised Kohli's ability to execute such a challenging play, highlighting his exceptional focus and determination.Kohli's season total now stands at 634 runs at an average of 70.44, placing him among the leading run-scorers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Moody attributed Kohli's success to his continued commitment to improving his skills, even if he may not train as intensely as he once did.Kohli's mastery of the slog-sweep has proven to be a potent weapon against spinners in the middle overs. Moody believes that Kohli's ability to adapt and innovate has been crucial to his success.With Kohli in top form, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have turned their season around, winning four consecutive games after a dismal start. Moody believes that RCB still have a chance of making the playoffs if they continue to play with the same intensity and determination.Kohli's exceptional performance has been a delight for fans, and Moody believes that his presence on the field is worth every penny. RCB will play their final two league games at home, and Kohli's continued brilliance will be key to their playoff hopes.