Cricket

Rohit Sharma, the enigmatic Indian cricketer, has amassed a fervent fan base that has reached new heights since his appointment as India's captain. His popularity has soared to unprecedented levels in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, with an elderly lady stealing the show with her unwavering support for the former Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper.Despite MI's dismal performance this season, languishing at the bottom of the table with only three wins in 11 matches, Rohit's charisma continues to captivate fans. In a heartwarming video circulating on social media, a 77-year-old woman clad in a traditional sari was spotted cheering enthusiastically at an MI match. Her placard, emblazoned with the words "I'm 77 and here only for Rohit Sharma," became an instant viral sensation.Rohit's leadership and batting prowess have endeared him to cricket enthusiasts across the globe. His ability to inspire his team and produce match-winning performances has earned him widespread admiration. Even in the face of MI's struggles, Rohit's fans remain steadfast in their support, recognizing his exceptional talent and unwavering determination.The elderly lady's unwavering devotion to Rohit is a testament to the enduring power of sports to unite people from all walks of life. Her presence at the stadium, despite MI's poor form, serves as a reminder that true fandom transcends wins and losses. It is a celebration of the human spirit and the joy that sports can bring.As MI's season draws to a close, Rohit's fans will undoubtedly continue to cheer him on, hoping to witness a resurgence from their beloved team. Whether or not MI can turn their fortunes around, Rohit's legacy as one of India's greatest cricketers remains secure. His ability to inspire and captivate fans, both young and old, is a testament to his enduring star power.

Kolkata Knight Riders Match Mumbai Indians' Record with Six 200+ Scores in IPL SeasonKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have etched their name in the history books of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by matching Mumbai Indians' (MI) remarkable feat of notching up six scores of 200 or more runs in a single season. This extraordinary achievement showcases KKR's exceptional batting prowess and solidifies their status as a formidable force in the tournament.KKR's latest 200-plus total came during their clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The Knight Riders put up a formidable 235/6 in their allotted 20 overs, powered by impactful contributions from Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Ramandeep Singh.Prior to this match, KKR had already amassed 200-plus run totals against various opponents throughout the season, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings. This consistent display of batting dominance has propelled KKR to the top of the IPL standings.KKR's total of 235/6 against LSG is not only the highest score ever recorded against the franchise but also at the Ekana Stadium, their home ground. This surpasses the previous record set by Gujarat Titans last season.KKR's exceptional batting performance not only sets a new benchmark against LSG but also establishes them as a force to be reckoned with in the IPL. Their ability to consistently post high scores showcases their prowess with the bat in hand and makes them a formidable opponent for any team.

Kolkata Knight Riders Crush Lucknow Super Giants in High-Scoring EncounterIn a thrilling encounter at the Ekana Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a commanding margin of 98 runs. The match witnessed a batting masterclass from KKR, who posted a mammoth total of 235, while LSG's bowling attack struggled to contain the onslaught.LSG captain KL Rahul expressed disappointment with his team's performance, particularly highlighting the bowling as a major concern. He acknowledged that KKR's openers, Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, put immense pressure on his young bowlers, who were unable to handle the aggressive approach."We've seen how they have batted. They put a lot of pressure on the opposition, and our young bowlers just couldn't handle that kind of pressure," Rahul said. "He [Narine] hit some really, really good shots, and that's how the IPL is: you'll come up against some really good players, and that's when your character is tested. And I think we weren't up to the mark today."Rahul also admitted that LSG's batting performance was below par, with the team failing to chase down the daunting target. He attributed the scoreboard pressure to the bowlers' inability to restrict KKR's scoring, which resulted in a required run rate of over 13 runs per over."Our batting performance was really poor. But when you're chasing such a big score under pressure, it's always hard," Rahul said.Despite the heavy defeat, Rahul remained optimistic about LSG's chances in the tournament. He emphasized the importance of learning from their mistakes and improving their execution in future matches."Once we come here [to Lucknow], it's about execution, and we went wrong on that part. Bowlers tried their best. But the sooner you learn, the better it is for our team," Rahul said.

Despite losing the toss in the majority of their Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have maintained their winning ways, according to skipper Shreyas Iyer. After their victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday, KKR climbed to the top of the points table.In the match against LSG, Iyer lost his eighth toss in 11 games, but it did not affect KKR's performance. After being asked to bat first, KKR posted an impressive total of 235 for six. Their batting prowess was complemented by a strong bowling display, as they restricted the hosts to a mere 137 runs, securing another crucial win on their journey towards the playoffs."The last 6 matches in the dressing room there has been havoc, teammates are coming in and asking skip what's happening, we are losing tosses, but we are winning games that's what matters," said Iyer at the post-match presentation in Lucknow."We had a great start in the powerplay. A lefty-righty combination makes things difficult for the opposition. It's all about the freedom, to go out and express themselves.""We want to go out and be positive whatever the situation is, sometimes it doesn't work out but sometimes it does."Opener Sunil Narine smashed an unbeaten 81 off 39 balls before the bowlers did their job to script a big win.LSG need to win their remaining three games to push for a play-off spot, and the do-or-die situation will help his team, insisted skipper KL Rahul."We've made a couple of mistakes when we've come up against batters like Sunil and anyone that's powerful. That type of intimidation puts pressure on our bowlers. That'll be the chat once we get back to the dressing room - move on from this game, see where we went wrong and try and get better.""This is our last home game for us, so we are on the road for the next three games. It's pretty clear for us, if you want to get to the top four, you got to win all the games. That will give us a little bit of freedom to go out there and be a little bit more fearless, little bit brave to take on the game," said Rahul.

Sri Lanka Women's cricket team secured a thrilling 15-run victory over United Arab Emirates in the semi-final of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. This triumph not only earned them a spot in the main event in Bangladesh later this year but also a place in Tuesday's final against Scotland.Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 149 for 6, thanks to a solid innings from Vishmi Gunaratne, who top-scored with 45 runs off 44 deliveries. Gunaratne shared a 52-run opening partnership with Chamari Athapaththu, who contributed 21 runs. After Athapaththu's dismissal, the middle order accelerated the scoring, adding 43 runs in the final three overs. Nilakshika Silva's quickfire 18 off 10 balls, including three boundaries, helped boost the total.In response, UAE's chase got off to a shaky start as Inoshi Fernando dismissed Theertha Satish for a duck. However, Esha Oza emerged as a beacon of hope for UAE, smashing 66 runs off 44 balls, including two fours and four sixes. Her aggressive batting kept UAE in contention for an upset.Khushi Sharma (22) and Kavisha Egodage (16) provided valuable support to Oza, but Sri Lanka's bowlers managed to break through the UAE resistance. Athapaththu dismissed Egodage, while Udeshika Prabodhani bowled Oza in the next over. The run-out of Heena Hotchandani triggered a collapse, with UAE losing three wickets for just seven runs in 12 balls.Athapaththu claimed another wicket, removing Samaira Dharnidharka for 5. Vaishnave Mahesh fought valiantly for UAE, scoring 13 not out off eight balls, but the asking rate proved too daunting. Sri Lanka's bowlers held their nerve, restricting UAE to 134 for 7, securing a hard-fought victory.

Middlesex's Sam Robson and Leus du Plooy dominated the first day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Leicestershire at Lord's, sharing a record-breaking third-wicket partnership to put the home side in a commanding position.Robson, returning from a thumb injury, top-scored with a meticulous 162, while Du Plooy struck 131 from 191 balls, his second century since joining Middlesex from Derbyshire. Their 252-run stand is the highest third-wicket partnership for Middlesex against Leicestershire.The Seaxes posted a formidable 407 for eight, giving them a first-innings lead of 101. Leicestershire's bowlers struggled to make inroads, with Ben Mike, Scott Currie, Ben Green, and Rehan Ahmed each picking up two wickets.However, with the first day washed out entirely and a gloomy weather forecast for Monday, a draw looks the most probable outcome.The visitors had doubled their overnight tally to two wickets in the first over of the day, but Robson and Du Plooy steadied the ship, accumulating runs steadily. Robson survived a scare on 39 when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Ben Cox, and went on to reach his half-century with a leg-glance off Tom Scriven.Du Plooy also reached his half-century, giving Green the charge and hoisting a short delivery into the Mound Stand for six. After lunch, Robson reached his century from 198 balls, while Du Plooy completed his ton despite being dropped on 84.The second new ball proved fruitful for the batters, who soon accelerated beyond Leicestershire's total of 306. Robson pulled Mike for two fours and a six before tea, but the Foxes bowlers finally began to make inroads during the final session.Du Plooy was first to depart, feathering one behind from Currie, and Ryan Higgins was bowled swinging at Green. Robson was also dismissed by Green, caught at backward point. Nathan Fernandes maintained Middlesex's momentum with a pugnacious 25-ball knock of 31, including sixes off Green and Rehan, but holed out to deep midwicket. Toby Roland-Jones also perished in pursuit of quick runs prior to bad light intervening.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ascended to the summit of the IPL 2024 standings with a resounding 98-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday. The triumph propelled the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit to 16 points, placing them on the cusp of securing a playoff berth. LSG, on the other hand, slipped to fifth position with 12 points, level with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad but with an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR).In the other match of the day, CSK maintained their third position with a 28-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS), taking their tally to 12 points. PBKS languish in eighth place with 8 points from 11 matches.Sunil Narine's scintillating half-century and a collective bowling effort orchestrated KKR's comprehensive victory over LSG. Opting to bat first, KKR became the first team to breach the 200-run mark at the Ekana stadium.Narine, once again proving his batting prowess, unleashed a six-hitting spree, smashing seven maximums and six fours to propel the visitors to a formidable 235/6.Chasing the imposing total, LSG batters struggled to find their rhythm and were eventually dismissed for a paltry 137 in 16.1 overs. Within the first 10 overs, LSG had lost half their side, including skipper KL Rahul (25), Arshin Kulkarni (9), Deepak Hooda (5), Marcus Stoinis (36), and Nicholas Pooran (10).Ashton Turner's lusty blows hinted at a potential fightback, but the Australian was unfortunate to be dismissed by a caught and bowled off Varun Chakravarthy after an inside edge deflected off his boot.With the victory, KKR moved to the top of the table, level on points with Rajasthan Royals but having played one game more. LSG, on the other hand, dropped out of the top four to the fifth spot with 12 points from 11 games. Their NRR also took a significant hit, dropping from 0.094 to -0.371.In the other match, Ravindra Jadeja produced an all-round performance to guide CSK to a 28-run victory over PBKS. Sent into bat, Jadeja contributed 43 runs off 26 balls and then claimed 3 for 20 to seal the win for CSK.Chasing a modest 168, PBKS faltered from the outset, with only Prabhsimran Singh (30) and Shashank Singh (27) making notable contributions before being restricted to 139 for 9 in 20 overs.Besides Jadeja, Simarjeet Singh (2/16) and Tushar Deshpande (2/35) picked up two wickets each for CSK.Earlier, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and pacer Harshal Patel claimed three wickets apiece as PBKS restricted CSK to 167 for nine. Jadeja, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (32), and Daryl Mitchell (30) got starts for CSK but failed to convert them into substantial scores.Chahar (3/23) and Harshal (4/24) were the standout bowlers for PBKS, while stand-in captain Sam Curran (1/34) and Arshdeep Singh (2/42) also contributed to the wicket tally.

Yorkshire continued their dominance over Glamorgan on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash at Headingley, extending their lead to 127 runs. Joe Root, who resumed on 92 overnight, completed a superb 156, while Fin Bean's 173 helped Yorkshire post an imposing 519 for seven declared.Glamorgan's depleted bowling attack struggled to contain Yorkshire's batsmen, with Root and Bean sharing a 265-run partnership for the third wicket. Harry Brook added 65, including two sixes, before Mason Crane sparked the declaration with a five-wicket haul.Despite batting on a deteriorating pitch, Glamorgan's openers Eddie Byrom and Joe Root started their second innings brightly, sharing 56 inside 18 overs. However, both fell either side of tea, and Kiran Carlson was unfortunate to be run out.Sam Northeast and Colin Ingram steadied the ship for Glamorgan, reaching 46 and 43 respectively at the close of play. However, they will need to significantly build on their 78-run partnership to give Glamorgan a chance of avoiding defeat.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will face off in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Saturday, with both teams vying for a victory to enhance their playoff chances. The encounter holds significance as RCB had previously defeated GT in a one-sided affair last weekend, with Virat Kohli and Will Jacks playing pivotal roles.Kohli, who has faced scrutiny for his strike rate, showcased his prowess with an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls in the previous match. However, it was Jacks who stole the limelight with an astonishing unbeaten 100 off just 41 balls, reaching his first 50 in 31 balls and then requiring only 10 more to reach triple figures.Ahead of the return leg against GT, Kohli and several RCB players attended an event. A video of Kohli dancing while entering the room has gone viral on social media, capturing the attention of fans. In the video, Kohli is seen dancing with RCB skipper Faf du Plessis, who provides him with a shoulder massage.Kohli has been in exceptional form in the ongoing IPL, currently ranking as the second-highest run-getter with 500 runs in 10 matches. He trails CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad by a mere nine runs in the Orange Cap race. Kohli's performance in the remaining matches will be crucial not only for RCB but also for Team India, as he has been selected in the 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has addressed the ongoing debate surrounding Kohli's strike rate, stating that the team is not concerned and that there is a difference between IPL and international cricket. Agarkar emphasized the importance of experience and the team's overall balance and power.There has been speculation about whether Kohli should open the batting during the T20 World Cup. India captain Rohit Sharma has neither confirmed nor denied this possibility, stating that all options are open and the decision will be made based on conditions in the West Indies.