Cricket

Shubman Gill, the newly appointed captain of the Gujarat Titans, has embarked on a remarkable journey from sneaking into stadiums to watch IPL matches to leading a team. Reflecting on his path, Gill shared his admiration for iconic stars who will guide him as a leader.Gill's journey began in 2008 when he stealthily entered stadiums to witness the inaugural IPL season. He recalled jumping over gates and evading security guards to catch a glimpse of legendary players like Brett Lee, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mahela Jayawardene.As a captain, Gill draws inspiration from MS Dhoni, India's World Cup-winning skipper. Dhoni's leadership qualities and ability to handle pressure have left an indelible mark on Gill. However, he also acknowledges the influence of Rohit Sharma, under whom he has played extensively at the international level."I have played most of my cricket under Rohit Sharma; there are a lot of qualities I will be picking up from him," said Gill.Gill's upcoming encounter with Hardik Pandya, his former captain and teammate, promises to be intriguing. "It is going to be exciting. Hopefully, the stadium will be fully packed, cheering for us," he said.Gill's focus remains on creating lasting memories with his team. "If we make some good memories, I would be able to sit back and tell myself that we had a great season," he concluded.Gill's journey from a young fan to a team leader is a testament to his passion and determination. As he embarks on this new chapter, he carries the wisdom of his mentors and the unwavering support of his team.

Riyan Parag, the Rajasthan Royals all-rounder, has silenced his critics with an impressive knock in the opening match of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Parag, who has often been criticized for failing to capitalize on his opportunities, showcased his talent with a blistering 43 off just 29 deliveries against the Lucknow Super Giants.Parag's innings was a testament to his hard work and dedication in the off-season. He had a stellar run of form in domestic cricket, and he has carried that momentum into the IPL. His knock was characterized by aggressive strokeplay, with three towering sixes and one boundary.Parag's performance earned him widespread praise on social media, with fans and experts alike applauding his efforts. Many hailed it as a sign of his redemption and a potential breakout season for the young all-rounder.The Rajasthan Royals captain, Sanju Samson, had expressed confidence in Parag before the match, stating that he would be their number four batter. Parag justified Samson's faith with his impressive display, providing a much-needed boost to the Royals' batting lineup.The Royals, who won the toss and elected to bat first, posted a competitive total of 180/6. Jos Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer also made significant contributions with scores of 45 and 37, respectively.The Lucknow Super Giants, in reply, fell short of the target, managing only 165/8. Marcus Stoinis top-scored for the Giants with 46, while Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran chipped in with 35 and 32, respectively.The Royals' victory was a perfect start to their IPL campaign, and Parag's knock was a major highlight. The all-rounder has proven that he has the talent and determination to succeed at the highest level, and he will be looking to continue his impressive form throughout the season.

Hardik Pandya's return to Ahmedabad as Mumbai Indians face Gujarat Titans, the franchise he led for two seasons, has set the stage for an intriguing encounter. After Pandya's departure for Mumbai, Gujarat promoted Shubman Gill as their skipper. On Sunday, Gill and Pandya will reunite as MI travel to Ahmedabad for their opening game of the season against GT.Gill acknowledged the dynamic shift in IPL dynamics and expressed excitement about facing Pandya at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Before the match, Gill shared his admiration for some of India's finest captains. While he hasn't played under MS Dhoni's captaincy, he has been inspired by the wicket-keeper batter's leadership. "I haven't played under Mahi Bhai (MS Dhoni) as such, but watching him as a kid go about things on the field, he is my inspiration," Gill said.Gill also looked up to Virat Kohli but has played most of his Team India career under Rohit Sharma. "I have played under Virat (Kohli) Bhai as well, but I have played most of my cricket under Rohit (Sharma) Bhai and there are a lot of qualities I will be picking personally from him," the 24-year-old added.Gill expressed confidence in Gujarat's home advantage against Mumbai Indians. "It is amazing to play against Mumbai Indians, who have won the title five times. But playing them in Ahmedabad, we haven't lost a match here against MI, so hopefully we are going to continue the streak," he explained.Regarding Pandya, under whom Gill has played both in the Indian team and Gujarat Titans, Gill anticipates an exciting challenge. "It is going to be exciting. Hardik (Pandya) bhai is someone, who I have played under in the Indian team as well as at GT. So it is going to be an exciting and fantastic dynamic," Gill asserted.Gill expressed his hope for a packed stadium and a thrilling atmosphere. "Hopefully it is going be a hundred and ten thousand people cheering for us and there is nothing better than that," he said.

PCB Reinstates Haris Rauf's Central Contract After Acknowledgment of ErrorThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reinstated fast bowler Haris Rauf's central contract after he acknowledged his mistake in writing. Rauf's contract was terminated in February due to disciplinary reasons, as he declined to participate in the Test tour of Australia, citing workload and Big Bash commitments.PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi clarified that there was a misunderstanding regarding Rauf's decision. "After receiving his written reply, the board has decided to restore his central contract," Naqvi stated.In his response, Rauf expressed his unwavering commitment to playing for Pakistan and acknowledged that his viewpoint had been misunderstood. "I accept my mistake," he wrote.Naqvi emphasized the importance of Rauf's fitness, noting that he sustained an injury during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). "We need to take proper care of him," Naqvi said.Rauf's reinstatement comes as a relief for the PCB, which values his contributions to the national team. The fast bowler has been a key member of Pakistan's bowling attack in recent years, showcasing his pace and wicket-taking abilities.The PCB's decision to reinstate Rauf's contract is a testament to the board's commitment to fostering a positive and productive relationship with its players. It also highlights the importance of open communication and the willingness to resolve misunderstandings.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is eagerly anticipating the hosting of the Champions Trophy next year, as an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is set to visit the country on March 25 to assess the ongoing preparations for the prestigious tournament. The delegation, which will include a security expert, will inspect all proposed venues, with particular emphasis on Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.Pakistan has the opportunity to host an ICC event for the first time since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India. "The delegation will be given briefings on the preparations. They will visit the venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi to see the upgradation work we will be carrying out for the Champions Trophy," stated Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday.Last month, a delegation from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) also visited Pakistan to evaluate security and other arrangements for their team's tour to the country in mid-April for five T20 Internationals. Naqvi reiterated that the Champions Trophy would be held as scheduled in Pakistan.When asked if Pakistan would consider a tit-for-tat response if the Indian government refused to send its team to Pakistan, Naqvi responded, "why are we even discussing such possibilities?" He added, "We had a good meeting in Dubai on the tournament and its technical side and as far as we are concerned we see no reason the event would not be held in Pakistan so why even discuss other scenarios."India had declined to send its team for the Asia Cup last year in August, resulting in several matches being relocated to Sri Lanka.

IPL Match Halted Due to Spidercam Wire SnappingIn an unprecedented incident, the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants was briefly halted for seven minutes on Sunday due to a snapped spidercam wire. The incident occurred during the first over of Rajasthan's innings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.As skipper Sanju Samson elected to bat after winning the toss, the spidercam wire fell onto the outfield after just two balls were bowled. Engineers swiftly responded, rushing onto the ground to retrieve the fallen wire and remove it from the field of play.The spidercam, a camera system suspended from wires above the field, is used to capture aerial footage of the match. The snapping of the wire raised concerns about safety and the potential for further disruptions.Despite the brief interruption, the match resumed without further incident. Rajasthan Royals, fielding three overseas players in Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, and Shimron Hetmyer, faced off against Lucknow Super Giants, led by returning wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul.The two teams have a history of close encounters in the IPL, with Lucknow Super Giants emerging victorious once and Rajasthan Royals securing wins twice. In their most recent meeting, Lucknow Super Giants triumphed over Rajasthan Royals by a margin of 10 runs.The incident highlights the importance of safety measures in sports events, particularly those involving high-tech equipment. The swift response of the engineers ensured that the match could continue without any major delays or injuries.

Former SunRisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody has expressed his disappointment with Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) bowling strategy in their opening match of IPL 2024 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Moody criticized RCB's bowlers for their excessive use of short balls, which he believes made them "predictable" and allowed CSK to chase down the target comfortably.Moody pointed out that RCB's bowlers, particularly Alzarri Joseph and Cameron Green, repeatedly targeted Shivam Dube with short deliveries. While Dube initially struggled, he eventually smashed an unbeaten 34 to guide CSK to victory. Moody argued that RCB's bowlers should have varied their tactics and not relied solely on short balls."The art of bowling short balls well is not being predictable with it," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo. "And I thought they were predictable with that plan (vs CSK). Yes, Dube has got a potential grey area when it comes to the short ball, but you've got to use it as a surprise. You can't use it nearly every single ball."Moody emphasized that RCB's bowlers need to be more strategic in their use of short balls and not become too reliant on them. He suggested that they should mix up their deliveries and use short balls sparingly to catch the batsman off guard.In the match, CSK chased down RCB's total of 173/6 with relative ease. CSK pacer Mustafizur Rahman was the star performer with figures of 4-29. Anuj Rawat (48) and Dinesh Karthik (38*) were the top scorers for RCB, while Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shivam Dube contributed to CSK's victory.CSK's win extended their unbeaten streak against RCB at home since 2008. The result also highlighted the importance of tactical bowling and the need for teams to adapt their strategies to the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis etched their names into Test cricket history as the third pair to score centuries in both innings of a match. Their remarkable feat helped Sri Lanka set a daunting 511-run target for Bangladesh in the first Test at Sylhet.Resuming on 119-5, Sri Lanka lost nightwatchman Vishwa Fernando early, but de Silva and Mendis took control. De Silva reached his century with a single off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, while Mendis brought up his ton just before tea. The pair shared a 173-run partnership, becoming the third and fourth Sri Lankans to score centuries in both innings against Bangladesh.Mehidy broke their partnership, but de Silva added 108 to his first-innings 102, while Mendis scored 164 after his 102 in the first innings. Their combined efforts helped Sri Lanka post a formidable 418 in their second innings.Bangladesh's bowlers toiled hard, with Mehidy claiming 4-74. However, Sri Lanka's batting dominance proved too much to overcome.The victory sets up an intriguing second Test in Chittagong, where Sri Lanka will aim to seal the series. They have never lost a Test series to Bangladesh, and their current form suggests they are unlikely to break that streak.

Western Australia's dominance in Australian domestic cricket continued as they clinched a historic hat-trick of Sheffield Shield titles with a crushing 377-run victory over Tasmania at the WACA.Resuming on day four with a commanding lead of 316 runs, WA's batsmen extended their advantage to 537 before declaring their second innings on 376. Hilton Cartwright led the way with an unbeaten 94, while Cameron Gannon and Corey Rocchiccioli wreaked havoc with the ball for Tasmania.Tasmania's chase of an improbable 538 runs proved futile as they were bowled out for a mere 160 in just 40.5 overs. Gannon starred with a five-wicket haul, while Rocchiccioli claimed three wickets.The Tasmanian innings imploded under a withering new-ball spell from Gannon and Joel Paris, who reduced them to 26 for 3. Beau Webster, the Shield's leading run-scorer, provided a brief glimmer of hope with a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Aaron Hardie, but his dismissal late in the day ended any chance of a miracle.WA's victory cemented their status as the powerhouse of Australian domestic cricket. It was only the second three-peat over the past 20 years and WA's first since the late 1980s. They are also the only team to have won three consecutive Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup titles.Tasmania, who needed an outright victory to end an 11-year drought, played aggressively but were outmatched by WA's brilliant attack. WA dominated all facets of the match, while Tasmania appeared overmatched after missing their chance to host the final due to a last-round loss to South Australia.