Cricket

Trent Boult's Early Wicket Sets IPL Record, Bolsters Rajasthan Royals' Bowling ArsenalIn a thrilling encounter between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, pacer Trent Boult etched his name in the Indian Premier League (IPL) record books. Boult's dismissal of star MI batter Rohit Sharma in the first over of the match marked a unique milestone in the tournament's history.Boult's wicket not only gave RR an early advantage but also showcased his exceptional ability to strike in crucial moments. Notably, it was his first wicket in the powerplay in the previous five matches, with his last such dismissal also coming against MI.The credit for the dismissal also goes to RR skipper Sanju Samson, who held a well-judged skier after Rohit went for an expansive shot. The ball swung away from the right-hander, and he miscued it completely.With this wicket, Boult surpassed Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25) to become the bowler with the most wickets in the first over of IPL history. He now has 26 wickets to his name, followed by Praveen Kumar (15), Sandeep Sharma (13), Deepak Chahar, and Zaheer Khan (12 each).This achievement further solidifies Boult's reputation as a formidable new-ball bowler in the IPL. His ability to strike early and create pressure on the opposition has been a significant factor in RR's bowling success this season.Earlier, MI captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat against RR. MI made three changes to their playing XI, while RR welcomed back Sandeep Sharma in place of Kuldeep Sen.In their previous encounter earlier this season, RR defeated MI by six wickets in Mumbai. This match marked RR's last game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium this season.

RR vs PBKS Live Score: Rajasthan Royals Seek Redemption Against Punjab KingsThe Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Gujarat Titans when they face the Punjab Kings in an Indian Premier League match on Saturday. The Royals had an opportunity to secure their fifth consecutive victory and solidify their position at the top of the standings, but Rashid Khan's heroics propelled the Titans to a thrilling last-ball triumph.The defeat exposed some tactical errors by the Royals, particularly their decision not to fully utilize the experience of Trent Boult. The veteran left-arm pacer was economical in his two overs, conceding just eight runs, and his presence in the final overs could have made a significant difference.Despite Boult's traditional role as a new-ball specialist, his experience and ability to execute under pressure make him a valuable asset in crucial situations. The Royals will need to improve their strategic decision-making and execution against the Kings.The Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have been a mixed bag this season, capable of both brilliance and inconsistency. They will be looking to capitalize on the Royals' recent setback and secure a much-needed victory.The match promises to be an intriguing contest between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. The Royals will be determined to prove that their loss to the Titans was an anomaly, while the Kings will be eager to show that they can compete with the best in the league.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) teammates Jos Buttler and Trent Boult engaged in a lighthearted Q/A session ahead of their clash with Punjab Kings (PBKS). The duo shared their favorite TV shows, actors they would like to portray them in a biopic, and their IPL and cricketing preferences.Buttler expressed his admiration for Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, stating that he would choose him to play his character in a biopic. Boult, known for his humor, revealed that the last thing he searched on his phone was "Trent Boult dismissing Jos Buttler."When asked about his craziest fan interaction, Boult remarked on the enthusiastic nature of Indian fans, describing their requests for selfies, waves, and kisses as "weird." Buttler, a self-proclaimed fan of the American sitcom "Friends," said he could binge-watch it for the rest of his life.Boult named KL Rahul as his favorite Indian player, while Buttler praised Virat Kohli's cover drive. Boult's most memorable IPL dismissal was his 100th wicket in the tournament, which happened to be Kohli. He also expressed his desire to dismiss former England batter Kevin Pietersen if given the chance.If not a cricketer, Boult said he would have been a postman. When asked to choose between England's "Bazball" style of cricket and Yashasvi Jaiswal's "Jaisball" style, Buttler sided with the latter, acknowledging Jaiswal's impressive performance in the Test series against England.Boult crowned Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the "best new ball bowler" and expressed his desire to have Rashid Khan in the RR team.

Tim Southee, the New Zealand Test captain and one of the most successful swing bowlers of all time, recently spoke about his experiences and insights on the game.Southee has enjoyed his role as captain, having worked closely with Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson. He believes that the leadership group plays a crucial role in team success.New Zealand is currently ranked third in the ICC World Test Championship table, and Southee is optimistic about their chances of reaching the final. He acknowledges the tough matches ahead, especially in the subcontinent.Southee's long-standing partnership with Trent Boult has been one of the most formidable new-ball alliances in cricket. He attributes their success to their close friendship, mutual understanding of each other's game, and complementary skills.Southee praises Boult's exceptional ability to swing the ball, particularly in the first over of an innings. He also highlights Boult's fitness and injury-free record.India has recently produced several promising pace bowlers, and Southee is not surprised. He believes that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has played a significant role in their development. He is particularly impressed with Mayank Yadav's pace and control.Southee has faced some of the greatest batters in the game, including A.B. de Villiers, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. He considers de Villiers to be the toughest batter he has bowled to across all formats.Among the bowlers he admires, Southee mentions Glenn McGrath, Jacques Kallis, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, and Kagiso Rabada.Southee has mixed feelings about the recent trend of "Bazball" in Test cricket, as exemplified by England. While he acknowledges its success, he believes that England's style may not be sustainable in all conditions. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to different pitches and situations.Southee expresses concerns about the future of Test cricket, given the increasing popularity of T20 cricket. However, he hopes that measures can be taken to preserve the longest format, which he considers the pinnacle of the game.New Zealand will tour India later this year, and Southee is eager to perform well. He recalls his best Test figures of seven for 64, which he achieved in Bengaluru in 2012.Southee is also excited about the emergence of Rachin Ravindra, a young New Zealand cricketer who has shown great promise. He believes that Ravindra has a bright future in the game.

Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody has raised concerns over Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson's captaincy decisions during their defeat to Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2024. RR suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday after four consecutive wins.Moody questioned Samson's decision to underutilize pacer Trent Boult, who bowled only two overs and conceded eight runs in his first spell. However, Samson opted to bowl veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin at the death instead of completing Boult's quota of overs."You had to use Trent Boult at the back end. He's certainly been used at the death before, and he's got a huge amount of experience. So when it comes to pressure, he's used to absorbing that pressure and taking on those challenges. So I was really surprised that he wasn't spent today. He left the park with two overs left in the bank, which doesn't make any sense whatsoever," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta also echoed Moody's sentiments, questioning Samson's decision to use Ashwin over Boult in the 17th over. "I can understand Ashwin bowling the 15th over, but the 17th? If you look at the bowling unit, Boult is the most experienced fast bowler there. Irrespective of whether it's his strength or not, you're still going to bowl him at the back-end. If he's got overs left, you've got to bowl him," Dasgupta said.Former India opener Aakash Chopra also criticized Samson's decision, stating that Boult should have been utilized in the middle overs. "If you are bowling with a dry ball, then if you have scored enough runs, you should have the bowling to defend it. The truth is that Rajasthan have the bowling. They didn't play Nandre Burger, but despite that, they have the bowling. Keshav Maharaj made his debut, and they got him to bowl only two overs," Chopra said."Why did Trent Boult bowl only two overs? I didn't understand that. Two overs, eight runs, and he bowled only two overs. Why? Keshav gave 16 runs in his two overs, so totally only 24 runs went in those four overs. Trent Boult could have been given overs in the middle, but you didn't do that. You went towards spinners," he added.Despite the defeat, RR remain atop the table after five games. They will next face Punjab Kings on Saturday.

Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals Gear Up for Clash in JaipurThe Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals will face off in a highly anticipated match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday. Both teams will be eager to secure a victory after mixed starts to their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaigns.Royals Look to Bounce BackThe Royals, who have struggled at home in recent times, will be determined to turn their fortunes around. They possess a solid batting lineup led by Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag. However, Buttler needs to find his scoring touch quickly after a disappointing start to the season.Capitals Seek Middle-Order StabilityThe Capitals, on the other hand, will be looking to address their middle-order woes. Despite a strong start against the Punjab Kings, they failed to capitalize on their advantage. The return of Anrich Nortje could bolster their bowling attack, but they will need their middle order to step up.Key Players to Watch* Jos Buttler (RR): The explosive English opener will be crucial to the Royals' success.* Rishabh Pant (DC): The Indian wicketkeeper-batter will be eager to make an impact after a difficult week.* Trent Boult (RR): The New Zealand pacer has been in impressive form and will be a key threat to the Capitals' batting.* Kuldeep Yadav (DC): The left-arm spinner will be looking to make an impact against the Royals' strong batting lineup.Pitch and ConditionsThe pitch in Jaipur is expected to be two-paced and slightly dry, favoring both pace and spin. Temperatures are likely to be high, which could aid the spinners.Stats to Consider* The Capitals have had the fewest half-century partnerships among all teams since 2023.* Trent Boult has the second-highest number of powerplay wickets since 2022.* The Royals lost a wicket every 17.9 balls between overs seven and 15 last year, the lowest among all teams.Quotes* "Warner and Marsh opened for Australia at the top and have done well together, so we decided to open with them." - Capitals mentor Sourav Ganguly* "He's seen the huge jumps that [Yashasvi] Jaiswal and [Dhruv] Jurel have made, and he's got the hunger [back] and an example to follow into the national team." - Royals director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara on Riyan Parag

Rajasthan Royals (RR) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with a hard-fought 20-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur. Led by Sanju Samson's unbeaten 82 off 52 balls, RR posted an imposing 193 for 4.LSG's chase got off to a disastrous start as Trent Boult and Nandre Burger reduced them to 11 for 3 within the first four overs. However, KL Rahul (58) and Nicholas Pooran (64*) put up a valiant fight with an 85-run partnership.Sandeep Sharma's crucial spell of death bowling, which included limiting Pooran to just two boundaries in the penultimate over, proved decisive. Avesh Khan then closed out the contest with ease, leaving LSG with too much to do.Samson's innings was the cornerstone of RR's total. He shared a 93-run stand with Riyan Parag (43), who also played a key role in the team's recovery from a slow start.LSG's spinners, particularly Krunal Pandya, found some purchase on the dry surface. However, Samson and Parag stepped up their intensity after the strategic time-out, hitting three sixes in a 21-run over.Boult's early wickets set the tone for LSG's batting collapse. He dismissed Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal in quick succession, while Burger accounted for Ayush Badoni.Despite Rahul and Pooran's efforts, LSG ultimately fell short of the target, handing RR a valuable victory in their opening match.