Cricket

Will Jacks, the rising star of English cricket, is eager to showcase the invaluable lessons he learned from batting alongside Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as England prepares to defend its T20 World Cup title.Jacks, who has played a pivotal role in England's recent warm-up victory over Pakistan, credits Kohli for providing him with crucial guidance during their partnership in the IPL. He believes that Kohli's unwavering intensity and attention to detail have left a lasting impression on him."He's a very good role model," Jacks said of Kohli. "The way he approaches all the training and every aspect of the game off the field, his intensity, everything he does is a 100 percent attention."Jacks particularly values the insights Kohli shared with him about pacing the game and maintaining focus during high-pressure chases. He believes that these lessons will be invaluable as England embarks on its World Cup campaign."When we were batting together, he was coaching me through there," Jacks revealed. "I learned some valuable things about chasing in that innings and pacing the game, which was really helpful."Despite his impressive performances in the IPL, Jacks remains humble about his England record. He acknowledges that his T20 average of 18.16 is a "mixed bag," but he is determined to improve his consistency and make a significant contribution to the team's success."I've been getting starts every game and it's about how do I change those into match-winning scores," Jacks said. "That's more of a mindset thing. It doesn't matter what I'm averaging: if the team's winning, then it's good."As England gears up for its World Cup opener against Scotland, Jacks is confident that the team is building in the right direction. He is excited to represent his country on the global stage and believes that the lessons he has learned from Kohli and other experienced players will help him make a positive impact.

Virat Kohli: A Global Superstar Transcending CricketFormer New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has hailed Virat Kohli as a "global superstar in the world of sports," whose influence extends far beyond the cricket field. Kohli's massive social media following and broader impact on sports culture have earned him admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.Taylor, who has played 112 Tests and 236 ODIs for New Zealand, believes that social media has made cricketers more accessible to the public. He views this as a positive development, as it allows players to connect with their fans on a more personal level."Players are putting out posts endorsing products and things like that. Who would have thought of that in 2008? Someone like Kohli, who is a superstar in the world of cricket, but is also a global superstar in the world of sports. In terms of Instagram and social media, he's up there with Ronaldo and Messi!" Taylor said.Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, however, expressed mixed feelings about the impact of social media on players' privacy. While acknowledging its benefits, he also highlighted the drawbacks, particularly the constant scrutiny that players face."In the early 2000s, when the phones came in, people would take a photo with you. There was an autograph and a photo. In mid-2015 and 2020, what happens now is that the players are always on show now. Anyone that is playing in the Indian Premier League, they are always on show, they go out for dinner, and someone comes with a phone camera," Lee said."The phone camera was the best thing and the worst thing ever invented. The best thing is to capture beautiful memories with your family and friends, and as a spectator and lover of the sport, you also capture those moments. But also, the privacy now, for players, has been cut in half because you are on show everywhere."Former Australian cricketer Michael Bevan emphasized the potential impact of social media on young players' performance. He advised them to be mindful of the comments they read and to make informed decisions about their social media usage."The younger generation uses social media that would impact their situation and circumstance and career. They would have to make a decision on whether they want to read the comments, or how much they want to post," Bevan said."I could imagine it would be extra difficult for some of the modern-day players, with T20 cricket, with social media…but as a player, you've always got to make the decision on how you handle. Do you want to read things or do you not want to read things? That's the most important thing… to understand yourself, and to understand your game."

Ambati Rayudu, the former Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians batter, has been making headlines with his critical comments about the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise and its star player, Virat Kohli. Rayudu's remarks came after RCB's disappointing exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign.Rayudu took aim at RCB's management, suggesting that they prioritize individual brilliance over collective effort. He pointed out that while Kohli is a legendary player, it's unrealistic to expect every player to match his high standards. Rayudu emphasized the importance of nurturing young players and allowing them to develop their own identities and strengths."You can't expect somebody to win the game in the first season. You need to give him that leeway and time to grow into a match-winner," Rayudu said. "So I think the management has its task out, and even Virat Kohli needs to ease his standards a bit when it comes to youngsters, nurturing them, and letting them go."Rayudu's comments sparked a debate on social media, with some fans supporting his views and others defending Kohli and RCB. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen initially reacted to Rayudu's remarks by calling him a "joker," but later clarified that he was simply joking around."Come on guys! This tribalism with/against Indian players on social media needs to slow down! Example - @RayuduAmbati and I were messing around after the IPL final and all of a sudden that banter has turned into an avalanche of abuse towards Ambati. PLEASE stop it?" Pietersen wrote on social media.Rayudu's criticism of RCB and Kohli highlights the challenges faced by teams in balancing individual talent with team cohesion. It also raises questions about the role of experienced players in mentoring and supporting younger teammates. As the IPL continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how teams address these issues and strive for success in the highly competitive tournament.

Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, is set to rejoin his teammates ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up game against Bangladesh. Kohli had taken a break from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to spend time with his family.Kohli's return to the team comes as a relief to the Indian management, who were concerned about his availability for the warm-up clash. However, it has now been reported that Kohli will be ready for the practice game."He will reach New York before the warm-up vs Bangladesh on June 1. Whether he plays or not in the warm-up will be management's call - whether they feel there is enough gap between him landing and the warm-up fixture," a source was quoted as saying by News 18.The likes of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant have already reached New York. The second batch of players, including stars left on Monday morning while a few others like Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be joining the squad soon.India's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. India versus Pakistan clash will take place on June 9. They will later play tournament co-hosts USA (June 12) and Canada (June 15) to wrap up their Group A matches.In the tournament, India will be aiming to end their ICC trophy drought, having last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, India has reached the 50-over World Cup final in 2023, semifinal in 2015 and 2019, the title clash of the ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and 2023, T20 WC final in 2014, semifinals in 2016 and 2022 but failed to secure a big ICC trophy.India will be aiming to win their first T20 WC title ever since they won the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2007 in South Africa. In the last edition held in Australia in 2022, India lost to England by 10 wickets in the semifinals.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's star batter Virat Kohli expressed immense pride and satisfaction after securing the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite RCB's elimination in the playoffs, Kohli's exceptional performance in the latter half of the tournament played a crucial role in their qualification for the playoffs.Kohli amassed an impressive 741 runs in 15 matches, averaging 61.75 with a century and five half-centuries. His highest score of 113* and a strike rate of 154.69 marked his best performance in a single IPL season."I'm extremely honored to win the Orange Cap this season," Kohli said after the match. "It was a rollercoaster of a ride, but I'm really pleased with the way I performed for the team, especially in the latter half, where we needed to win every game to qualify."Kohli's teammate and Punjab Kings pacer Harshal Patel also made history by winning his second Purple Cap for the most wickets in the tournament. Patel finished with 24 wickets in 14 matches, becoming only the third pacer after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dwayne Bravo to achieve this feat."Deeply honored to be presented with the Purple Cap," Patel said. "It's been a rewarding journey. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and my family. I look forward to the 2025 season."Kolkata Knight Riders' mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy had the opportunity to surpass Patel in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he could only manage one wicket. The Riders ultimately emerged victorious, claiming their third IPL title.

Virat Kohli, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, silenced critics and proved his T20 prowess in the 2024 Indian Premier League season, securing the Orange Cap and leading RCB to the playoffs.Despite facing criticism for his strike rate, Kohli emerged as the tournament's top run-scorer, amassing 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69. His tally included one century and five fifties, marking the second time he has claimed the Orange Cap after his record-breaking 973 runs in 2016.Kohli's performances were a timely reminder of his T20 dominance. He faced scrutiny over his strike rate throughout the league phase, but he addressed the criticism head-on after a stellar knock against Gujarat Titans. Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull advised Kohli to disregard the "rubbish" criticism, while batting legend Sunil Gavaskar criticized broadcasters for repeatedly airing Kohli's on-air rant against pundits.RCB icon Dinesh Karthik credited Doull for motivating Kohli. "He started okay but thanks to people like Simon (Doull) and a few others, they just really spurred him on," Karthik said. "He is someone who inadvertently wants to hold on to certain things to do well."Kohli's fierce determination and ability to prove his detractors wrong have been central to his success. "He loves proving people wrong, and even though he might not come out and say it, it really fuels his passion," Karthik added.Kohli's remarkable form and ability to perform under pressure make him a key player for India as they aim for World Cup glory. His performances in the IPL have silenced critics and underlined his status as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time.

Will Jacks, the rising star of English cricket, is eager to put the valuable lessons he learned from batting alongside Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to good use when England defends its T20 World Cup title next month.Jacks, who has played in two Tests, seven ODIs, and 12 T20Is for England, made a significant impact in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He struck a blistering century off just 41 balls against Gujarat Titans, showcasing his power-hitting abilities.During his time with RCB, Jacks had the privilege of batting alongside Kohli, one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He described Kohli as a "very good role model" who taught him valuable lessons about training, intensity, and the importance of maintaining focus."He's done it for such a long time and I can appreciate that as a young guy who often doesn't want to do the hard yards, but you see him doing it and want to copy that," Jacks said.Jacks also highlighted the importance of "pacing the game" and staying in partnerships, lessons he learned from Kohli during their time together at the crease."When we were batting together, he was coaching me through there. I learned some valuable things about chasing in that innings and pacing the game, which was really helpful," Jacks said.Now, Jacks is looking forward to applying these lessons in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He is excited to play in a major global tournament and believes that England is building in the right direction."Playing in a World Cup is something I've dreamed of since I was a little kid. I'm really excited to do it," he said. "It's getting closer now and we're building in the right direction."Jacks acknowledged that his T20 record for England is a "mixed bag," but he is determined to improve his consistency and become a match-winner."I've been getting starts every game and it's about how do I change those into match-winning scores. That's more of a mindset thing. It doesn't matter what I'm averaging: if the team's winning, then it's good," Jacks said.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) talismanic batter Virat Kohli has expressed his pride in securing the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. Despite RCB's elimination in the Eliminator, Kohli's exceptional performance in the latter half of the tournament has earned him the prestigious award.RCB faced an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs, needing to win all their remaining six group-stage matches and rely on favorable results from other teams. Led by Kohli's batting brilliance, the Challengers achieved this remarkable feat, eliminating Chennai Super Kings from title contention and securing their place in the playoffs.Kohli's outstanding performance earned him the Orange Cap, having amassed 741 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 61.75. His tally included a century and five half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 113. Kohli also maintained a strike rate of 154.69, the highest in his IPL career."Extremely honored to win the orange cap this season. It was a rollercoaster of a ride. I was really pleased with the way I performed for the team, especially in the latter half, where we needed to win every game to qualify. Thank you everyone for your support," Kohli remarked during the post-match presentation.While Kohli claimed the Orange Cap, his former teammate and Punjab Kings pacer Harshal Patel secured his second Purple Cap for the highest wicket-taker. Patel finished the tournament with 24 wickets in 14 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 9.73 and an average of 19.87.This achievement marked Patel's second Purple Cap, following his impressive 32-wicket haul in the 2021 season while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore. Patel became only the third pacer, alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dwayne Bravo, to win the Purple Cap twice in IPL history."Deeply honored to be presented with the purple cap. It's been a rewarding journey. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and my family. I look forward to the 2025 season," Patel stated.In the final match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, Kolkata Knight Riders' mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy had the chance to overtake Patel in the leading wicket-takers list, requiring a five-wicket haul. However, he managed to dismiss only Shahbaz Ahmed as the Riders went on to clinch their third IPL title.

Ambati Rayudu's Relentless Swipe at Royal Challengers Bengaluru Continues After KKR's IPL TriumphFormer Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians batter Ambati Rayudu has reignited his feud with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) following Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Rayudu, who has been relentlessly trolling the Bengaluru franchise since their IPL 2024 exit, took another swipe, emphasizing the importance of collective performances over individual accolades.Rayudu's criticism stems from Virat Kohli's impressive performance this season, where he emerged as the top-scorer with over 700 runs. However, despite Kohli's individual brilliance, RCB was eliminated in the Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals."Congratulations to the KKR team for really standing up for stalwarts like Narine, Russell, and Starc and also contributing their share in the team's win. That's how a team wins the IPL. We have seen this over the years. It's not the Orange Cap that wins you the IPL, but it is the contributions like 300 runs each (of many players)," Rayudu said in a chat on Star Sports.Rayudu went on to suggest that Kohli should lower his standards to reduce the pressure on younger players in the team. "Virat Kohli is a stalwart and a legend there in the team. He sets so high standards which puts pressure on the youngsters to emulate him. So, Virat needs to lower his standards a bit so that the youngsters can be in a good state of mind in the dressing room," Rayudu stressed.Rayudu's criticism extends beyond Kohli's individual performance. He has also called out the poor management by RCB's bosses, accusing them of prioritizing individual milestones over team titles. "My heart truly goes out to all the RCB supporters who have passionately supported the team over the years. If only the management and the leaders had the team's interests ahead of individual milestones... RCB would have won multiple titles," Rayudu said in a social media post.While Kohli has consistently delivered runs for RCB, he has lacked the necessary support from his teammates. The franchise's bowling department has also struggled to produce consistency. Rayudu's criticism highlights the need for a more balanced approach and a greater emphasis on team cohesion if RCB is to break their title drought.