Cricket

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir's Heartwarming Embrace at IPL 2024 Sparks Fairplay ApplauseIn a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, former rivals Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir shared a warm embrace during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. The moment, captured by the official broadcasters, drew widespread praise from cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.Gavaskar, commentating alongside Shastri, remarked that the embrace deserved a fairplay award, while Shastri quipped that it warranted an Oscar. The gesture marked a significant departure from the heated exchanges between the duo on the field in the past.During the IPL 2023 season, Gambhir, then serving as mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), engaged in a verbal altercation with Kohli following a heated exchange between Kohli and LSG pacer Naveen Ul Haq. However, at IPL 2024, the hatchet seemed to have been buried as Kohli and Gambhir shook hands and shared a smile during the strategic timeout.The embrace between the two former India captains was widely shared on social media, with fans and experts alike applauding their display of sportsmanship. It served as a reminder that even in the heat of competition, fairplay and respect should prevail.The moment also highlighted the transformative power of time and the ability of individuals to move beyond past differences. Kohli and Gambhir's embrace symbolized the spirit of reconciliation and the importance of putting aside grudges for the greater good of the game.

Virat Kohli's scintillating half-century propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.Kohli, continuing his impressive form in the tournament, crafted a masterful innings amidst a flurry of wickets at the other end. His exquisite flick off KKR's star acquisition Mitchell Starc in the third over, resulting in a towering six, left commentators Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Kishan in awe."What a shot. Look at that bottom hand," exclaimed Gavaskar.RCB skipper Faf du Plessis opted to bat first after winning the toss, recognizing the fresh wicket's potential. However, KKR's bowlers made early inroads, dismissing Cameron Green and Rajat Patidar cheaply.Undeterred, Kohli anchored the innings with his trademark composure, finding boundaries and rotating the strike with ease. He received support from Glenn Maxwell, who contributed a valuable 32, and Anuj Rawat, who chipped in with 24.KKR's bowling attack, led by Starc and Varun Chakaravarthy, kept RCB in check, but Kohli's resilience proved too much to handle. He reached his half-century off 38 deliveries, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.With RCB needing 15 runs off the final over, Dinesh Karthik stepped up to the plate. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter smashed two boundaries off Harshit Rana to seal the victory with two balls to spare.KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, admitted that the wicket offered assistance to spinners. He praised his team's bowling performance but acknowledged the need to capitalize on starts."It is important to stay in the present. We have to see to it that we capitalize on the start," said Iyer.RCB's victory marked their second consecutive win of the season, while KKR suffered their first defeat. Both teams will be eager to maintain their momentum in the upcoming matches.

Kolkata Knight Riders Opt to Field First Against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2024 ClashIn a highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 29.Iyer explained his decision, stating that the team had been preparing well and wanted to carry forward their momentum. He also revealed that Ankul Roy would be the only change in their lineup.RCB captain Faf du Plessis expressed his disappointment at not being able to bat first, but acknowledged the support of the home crowd. He confirmed that their team would remain unchanged.The teams took to the field with the following lineups:Royal Challengers Bangalore:* Faf du Plessis (capt)* Virat Kohli* Rajat Patidar* Glenn Maxwell* Cameron Green* Dinesh Karthik* Anuj Rawat (wk)* Alzarri Joseph* MJ Dagar* Mohammed Siraj* Yash DayalKolkata Knight Riders:* Phil Salt (wk)* Venkatesh Iyer* Shreyas Iyer (capt)* Rinku Singh* Sunil Narine* Andre Russell* Ramandeep Singh* Mitchell Starc* AS Roy* Harshit Rana* CV VarunThe match commenced with RCB openers Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli facing the KKR bowlers. The duo provided a solid start, putting on a 50-run partnership before du Plessis was dismissed by Mitchell Starc.Kohli continued to anchor the innings, scoring a half-century, while Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell made valuable contributions. However, the KKR bowlers managed to restrict RCB to a total of 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, KKR's openers Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer got off to a flying start, putting on a 60-run partnership. However, RCB's bowlers fought back, with Mohammed Siraj and Alzarri Joseph picking up key wickets.Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell attempted to revive the chase, but they were unable to sustain the momentum. KKR eventually fell short of the target, losing by 23 runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi's brief tenure as Pakistan's T20I captain is nearing its end, with Babar Azam set to reclaim the white-ball captaincy. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has offered the role to Babar, who has yet to accept.Babar's reluctance stems from his removal as captain across all formats following Pakistan's disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. He has requested the PCB to appoint him captain in all three formats if he is to return.Afridi's leadership has come under scrutiny after Pakistan's 4-1 T20I series loss to New Zealand and Lahore Qalandars' dismal performance in the PSL, where they finished bottom of the table. However, Afridi may feel aggrieved, given Naqvi's previous comments about Pakistan seeking a long-term captain.Babar's demand to be Test captain could put pressure on Shan Masood's position as red-ball skipper. Masood has also led Pakistan for just one series, with the team losing all three games in Australia.The captaincy saga highlights the PCB's instability over the past 18 months. Multiple chief selectors and selection committees have been appointed, with Zaka Ashraf's decision to sack Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn being the most high-profile.The current selection committee consists of four selectors, with no chief selector. Decisions are made by vote, with 4-3 majorities carrying the day.Pakistan's next series, against New Zealand in April, is expected to be led by Babar. The PCB is still searching for a head coach, with Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten among the candidates being considered.

The Mumbai Indians, a formidable force in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have been under the spotlight recently due to the change in captaincy from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya. This transition has sparked speculation about the relationship between the two star players.Under Rohit's leadership, MI captured five IPL titles, establishing themselves as one of the most successful teams in the league. However, the team management opted for a fresh start by appointing Hardik as captain. This decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some questioning whether Hardik has the experience and maturity to lead a team of MI's caliber.The team's performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 has further fueled the debate. MI has lost its first two matches under Hardik's captaincy, raising concerns about the team's chemistry and strategy. The pressure on Hardik is mounting, and all eyes are on him to turn things around.Amidst the on-field struggles, an off-field incident has drawn attention to the relationship between Rohit and Hardik. The Kolkata Police used a photo of the duo to raise awareness about QR code scams. The post, written in Bengali, translates to: "When you scan the QR code after listening to a fraud, Rohit is the bank account and Hardik is the deceived."This incident has sparked further speculation about the dynamics between Rohit and Hardik. Some believe it could be a sign of tension or resentment, while others dismiss it as a harmless joke.However, former India batter Robin Uthappa has provided a more positive perspective. After MI's match against Gujarat Titans, Uthappa observed a lengthy conversation between Rohit and Hardik. He believes this interaction suggests that the two players are exchanging ideas and working together for the team's success.Uthappa praised Rohit for sharing his experience with Hardik, noting that it is a testament to his character. He also emphasized that Rohit did not have to do this, given the rumors surrounding their relationship.Uthappa's observations offer a glimmer of hope for MI fans. They indicate that Rohit and Hardik are committed to working together and that the team may be able to overcome its early struggles. Only time will tell if Hardik can lead MI to another IPL title, but the support and guidance of Rohit Sharma could prove invaluable.

Alan Wilkins, the renowned broadcaster and former Glamorgan cricketer, has been appointed as the club's new president for a three-year term. Wilkins, who played for Glamorgan from 1976 to 1983, is a highly respected figure in the cricketing world.As a left-arm seamer, Wilkins claimed 243 first-class wickets and 130 List A wickets for Glamorgan. He was instrumental in the club's run to the Gillette Cup final in 1977. After retiring from playing, Wilkins embarked on a successful broadcasting career, becoming a familiar face and voice on BBC Wales' sports coverage. He currently works for Star Sports India.Wilkins expressed his delight at being appointed president, saying, "I am thrilled and honored to have been considered for this role. I have come full circle back to where my cricketing journey began." He emphasized his desire to make a positive impact on the club, both on and off the field.Glamorgan CCC Chair, Mark Rhydderch-Roberts, praised Wilkins' appointment, stating, "Alan will add huge value as we move forward into a period of potential change. His cricket expertise and global connections will be invaluable."Wilkins' appointment comes at a time of transition for Glamorgan, with the club recently appointing Grant Bradburn as their new head coach. Wilkins expressed his excitement about working with Bradburn, saying, "I know our new Head Coach well from my travels with Pakistan, and I cannot wait to see his brand of cricket out on the hallowed turf of Sophia Gardens."Wilkins' passion for Glamorgan is evident in his words, "I honestly feel good things are coming here. I still get goosebumps and butterflies looking out onto that field, and wish I could still play!" His appointment is a testament to his dedication to the club and his desire to see it succeed.

Chennai Super Kings' Matheesha Pathirana Clarifies Gesture Towards MS DhoniDuring the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT), a video clip emerged on social media suggesting that Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana had touched the feet of former CSK captain MS Dhoni. However, a subsequent video from a different angle has shed light on the actual incident.The side angle footage reveals that Pathirana did not touch Dhoni's feet but instead bent down to pick up the bowling marker, which was placed near Dhoni's feet. The initial video, which had gone viral, had sparked speculation that Pathirana was seeking blessings from Dhoni.Meanwhile, CSK registered a comprehensive 63-run victory over GT at the Chepauk fortress. Deepak Chahar provided a strong start for CSK, dismissing Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill in the powerplay. GT never threatened to chase down the target in the final six overs, as CSK inflicted GT's biggest defeat in terms of runs.Earlier, CSK got off to a flying start with the bat, despite losing Rachin Ravindra's wicket in the final over of the powerplay. Ravindra amassed 46 off just 20 deliveries, while skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad provided support. Shivam Dube and Daryl Mitchell also contributed with valuable knocks, helping CSK post a total of 206/6.

Bangladesh's young batting lineup is facing a steep learning curve in Test cricket, and assistant coach Nic Pothas urges patience from fans and observers. The team's inexperience was evident in their heavy defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka, where they were bowled out for under 200 in both innings."We have a very young and inexperienced group of batters," Pothas said. "There was a very elite group before this. Now we have to rebuild. The only thing that we request is that people are patient. These are very good young players, but they are young and they are playing against an experienced team and it will take time to learn lessons."Pothas emphasized that the young players have a solid foundation and a positive dressing room environment. "From a hunger point of view, they want to do really well in the Test. They always really want to do well. They are a fantastic group. They get on very, very well. You can just see by smiles on their faces."The return of Shakib Al Hasan, who missed the first Test due to an eye condition, is a major boost for Bangladesh. "I think any team that has Shakib in it is very fortunate," Pothas said. "We welcome him back. It is always great to have him in the change room. His energy is very infectious. He has a lot of experience for the guys to learn from and whenever Shakib is back, he's a giver. So we really enjoy having him around the group."Pothas also addressed the criticism of Litton Das's performance in the first Test. "We have had conversations. Litton is in a good space," Pothas said. "The trouble that we generally have is that the pressure on Litton comes from the outside. If we just leave Litton to be Litton, I think he'll show you the best of him.""If we keep jumping on his back in the media and on social media, we forget that just because these guys are very able cricketers and they appear on television, at the root they're still human beings. If we treat them like human beings and allow him to do what's best for him, I promise you he'll show you results."

Steven Smith, who faced relentless heckling after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, has advised Hardik Pandya to "block out" the boos and abuse he has received from fans during the ongoing IPL. Smith believes that Hardik needs support from his Mumbai Indians teammates, especially Rohit Sharma, who he replaced as captain.Smith, who was banned for a year after admitting to "leadership failure" in the Newlands Test, said he treated the heckling he experienced as "white noise." He suggested that Hardik might be surprised by the reception because it is not often that India's top players are booed by fans.However, Smith acknowledged that the abuse from fans, coupled with criticism of his captaincy, could impact Hardik adversely. He pointed out that Hardik has not experienced such a reception before, especially as a star Indian player.Smith also expressed concern about Hardik's tactical decisions in Mumbai Indians' back-to-back losses. He believes Hardik erred by batting himself too low in the first game and by not bowling Jasprit Bumrah enough in the second game.Smith suggested that Rohit Sharma could play a role in supporting Hardik, similar to how Virat Kohli defended Smith during the 2019 World Cup. He said that Rohit could stand up and ask fans to support Hardik, which could help him overcome the current challenges.