Cricket

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a setback ahead of their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday. Pacer Deepak Chahar, a key member of the CSK bowling attack, has been ruled out of the game due to a groin injury.Chahar sustained the injury during CSK's match against Punjab Kings on Wednesday in Chennai. He walked off the field in pain after bowling just three balls of the Kings' chase. The 31-year-old underwent a scan on Thursday, which confirmed the extent of the injury.CSK CEO K.S. Viswanathan stated that the team is awaiting the full report on Chahar's injury. He added that the pacer might travel to Ahmedabad, where he will be further assessed. However, Viswanathan emphasized that Chahar is not being ruled out of the tournament at this stage.Coach Stephen Fleming had expressed concern about Chahar's injury in the post-match press conference. He said that the injury was "not ideal" and that the team would have to wait for the scan results.Chahar's absence is a significant blow to CSK, who have already been struggling with injuries this season. The pacer has been a key performer for the team, taking 11 wickets in seven matches. He has also been economical, with an economy rate of 7.93.CSK will now have to find a replacement for Chahar in their bowling attack. They have several options to choose from, including Chris Jordan, Matheesha Pathirana, and Mukesh Choudhary.The match against PBKS is crucial for CSK, who are currently placed ninth in the IPL standings with four wins and five losses. A victory would help them improve their position and boost their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

Jasprit Bumrah Extends Record with Three-Wicket Haul in IPLMumbai Indians' pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has further cemented his dominance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by extending his record for the most three-wicket hauls in the tournament's history. In a match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Bumrah returned impressive figures of 3/18, taking his tally to 23 three-wicket hauls in just 131 innings.Bumrah's precision and ability to deliver under pressure have made him a formidable force in the IPL. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace and bounce has consistently troubled batsmen. Not far behind Bumrah is Yuzvendra Chahal, the crafty leg-spinner, who has claimed 20 such hauls in 154 innings. Chahal's knack for outfoxing batsmen with his guile and variations has been crucial for his teams over the years.Sri Lankan yorker specialist Lasith Malinga has also left an indelible mark on the league with 19 hauls of 3 wickets or more in 122 innings. Malinga's lethal death bowling and ability to clinch wickets at crucial junctures have made him a legend in the IPL. Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra rounds off this elite list with 17 hauls in 162 innings. Known for his flight and turn, Mishra has been a consistent wicket-taker, proving time and again the value of spin in the shortest format of the game.In the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Bumrah's astonishing spell helped Mumbai Indians bowl out their opponents for a modest 169. Sri Lankan medium pacer Nuwan Thushara (3/42) blew away the top-order, while Bumrah was menacing at the back end. Skipper Hardik Pandya (2/44) also chipped in with a couple of wickets.For KKR, Venkatesh Iyer (70 off 52) and Manish Pandey (42 off 31) made significant contributions, but their efforts were not enough to propel the team to a competitive total. Mumbai Indians ultimately chased down the target with ease, thanks to a solid batting performance led by Ishan Kishan (51 off 43) and Suryakumar Yadav (43 off 30).

Kent's Joey Evison played a valiant innings of 50 not out, but Lancashire dominated the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Emirates Old Trafford.Evison, aided by Grant Stewart's 33, rescued Kent from a precarious 129 for six. The duo launched a counterattack against Lancashire's Test spinners, Nathan Lyon and Tom Hartley, adding 69 for the seventh wicket.However, Lancashire's George Balderson had earlier claimed three wickets in 28 balls, including the dismissals of Ben Compton, Zak Crawley, and Daniel Bell-Drummond. Jack Leaning's dismissal left Kent reeling at 76 for four at lunch.After the break, Harry Finch fell cheaply to Will Williams, but Evison and Joe Denly steadied the ship with a 46-run partnership. Denly's dismissal to Lyon brought Stewart to the crease, and the pair took the attack to the spinners.Stewart's six off Hartley brought up the 50-run stand, but his innings ended abruptly when he nicked a delivery to Luke Wells. Balderson finished with three for 62, while Lyon took two for 42. Williams, with two for 28, is one wicket away from his 200th in first-class cricket.Despite Evison's heroics, Lancashire holds the upper hand heading into day two.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Andre Russell Suffers Costly Run Out in Loss to Mumbai IndiansKolkata Knight Riders' hopes of securing their first win at the Wankhede Stadium since 2012 were dashed on Friday as they were bowled out for a modest 169 by the Mumbai Indians. The match was poised for a thrilling finish when Andre Russell, known for his explosive hitting, entered the crease with the score at 140 for six in the 17th over.Russell began his innings with a thunderous six off Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya's first delivery. However, disaster struck three balls later when he was involved in a calamitous run out. Russell's partner, Venkatesh Iyer, failed to respond to his call for a run on the final ball of the over. Iyer reverse-swept a Pandya delivery to short third man, and Russell immediately set off from the non-striker's end.To Russell's dismay, Iyer remained rooted to his crease. By the time Russell had almost reached his partner, it was too late. Pandya collected a wide throw and swiftly dismantled the stumps at the non-striker's end, sending Russell back to the pavilion for a mere 2-ball 7.Commentator Shane Watson later lamented that Russell's run out cost Kolkata Knight Riders approximately 30 runs towards the end of their innings. The costly dismissal proved to be a turning point in the match, as Mumbai Indians went on to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to a below-par total.With six wins in nine matches, Kolkata Knight Riders currently occupy the second spot on the points table. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, languish at the ninth spot with just three wins in 10 games.

Mayank Yadav and Deepak Chahar's IPL 2024 Hopes Dwindle Due to InjuriesLucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav's IPL 2024 campaign is likely over after sustaining a suspected abdominal muscle tear during the match against Mumbai Indians. This is his second injury setback in the past four weeks.According to a report by Cricbuzz, Yadav's participation in the remaining IPL games is in serious doubt. Earlier, a PTI report suggested that he might be able to play if LSG reaches the playoffs. However, a BCCI source has now stated that it is unlikely, as Yadav's injury is more likely a grade 1 tear.Yadav's injury is a significant blow to LSG, who have relied heavily on his pace and wicket-taking ability. He burst onto the scene with impressive performances at the start of the IPL, including a 156.6 kmph delivery and back-to-back 'Player of the Match' awards.Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar is also facing an uncertain future in the IPL 2024 due to a hamstring injury. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan expressed doubts about Chahar's participation, saying, "Deepak's injury is not looking good. I will not say he is ruled out of the season but doubtful."Chahar pulled his hamstring while bowling only two deliveries in the match against Punjab Kings. His absence would be a major setback for CSK, who have struggled with their bowling attack this season.The injuries to Yadav and Chahar highlight the physical demands of the IPL and the importance of player management. With the T20 World Cup approaching, the Indian cricket establishment will be keen to handle both players with care to ensure their availability for the global tournament.

Somerset's appointment of England captain Heather Knight to their board has been hailed as a shrewd move by England Women's head coach Jon Lewis. Knight's role will involve advising on cricketing matters as Somerset prepares to compete in the top tier of the new domestic women's competition next year.Lewis believes Knight's experience and knowledge will be invaluable to Somerset, who are one of three new teams joining the top flight alongside Durham and Essex. "Somerset have made a really smart decision in getting someone involved in their board who's got a real intrinsic knowledge of women's cricket," Lewis said.Knight's appointment comes at a critical time for women's cricket in England and Wales, with the regional set-up set to be disbanded after this summer. Many players face moving to different cities to play at the highest level, or playing in the lower tiers of the new competition.Knight is acutely aware of the challenges facing players and has emphasized the importance of supporting them during this transition. "It's important that the girls are looked after and helped to transition into the new structure," she said.Meanwhile, Bess Heath may find herself taking on more wicketkeeping duties for Northern Diamonds after being earmarked as Amy Jones' understudy in the England set-up. Lewis expressed concern that Heath had not been keeping wicket regularly for Diamonds, despite being one of the best young wicketkeepers in the country."It does really concern me that one of the best young wicketkeepers in the country isn't keeping wicket," Lewis said. "She's a really dynamic batter and we hope that she's able to keep wicket for the Diamonds."Heath's importance as a back-up keeper for England was highlighted by the omission of Tammy Beaumont from the T20I squad to face Pakistan. Lewis emphasized the need to balance Heath's development with providing cover for Jones."We need to balance her development with as equal a dose of playing as we can, whilst also having cover for Amy Jones because we would look a little bit silly if Amy injured a finger during a game or during warm-ups and we didn't have a keeper around," Lewis said.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed confidence in the Indian team's chances at the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the USA and West Indies from June 2 to 29.Assessing the 15-member Indian squad, Ganguly praised the team's depth and match-winning capabilities. "They are a very strong team. All the 15 were good enough to be selected," he said.Ganguly highlighted the presence of star players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson, emphasizing their ability to turn matches in India's favor. He also commended the inclusion of Shivam Dubey, a promising all-rounder.The former captain acknowledged the importance of spinners in the West Indies, where the pitches are typically slow and low. "They are playing in the West Indies, where the pitches will spin and will be slow and (will keep) low and big grounds. Spinners will be important," he said.Ganguly explained the decision to select an additional spinner over finisher Rinku Singh, stating that the team wanted to prioritize spin bowling. "They wanted to go with another spinner. He has not got a place, but it's just the beginning for Rinku."Regarding the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), Ganguly, who is the team director of Delhi Capitals, acknowledged the intense competition among teams for playoff berths. "Everybody is on the same boat," he said.

Corey Anderson, a former New Zealand international, has been named in the USA squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Anderson, who represented New Zealand in the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups, will now don the USA jersey for the upcoming tournament.The USA squad also includes Ali Khan, who has experience playing in various T20 leagues worldwide, and Shayan Jahangir, who has represented USA in 12 ODIs. Gajanand Singh and Usman Rafiq have been dropped from the squad that recently defeated Canada in a five-match T20I series.Monank Patel and Aaron Jones, who captained and vice-captained the team against Canada, have retained their positions. Patel was USA's leading run-scorer in that series, while Harmeet Singh and Shadley Van Schalkwyk were the top wicket-takers.Anderson, who has played in T20 leagues around the world, will bring valuable experience to the USA team. He has scored over 2,000 runs and taken over 100 wickets in T20 cricket. Khan, despite limited T20I experience, has played in the Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, and International League T20.Jahangir, who began his career in Pakistan, has played 12 ODIs for USA. His inclusion adds depth to the team's batting lineup.USA will open the T20 World Cup against Canada in Dallas on June 1. The tournament will be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.

West Indies have unveiled their 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with Shimron Hetmyer making a notable return and Shamar Joseph receiving a surprise call-up.Hetmyer, who famously missed his flight to the 2022 T20 World Cup, has been recalled to the fold after a strong showing in domestic cricket. The left-handed batsman has been in impressive form for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), averaging over 40 with a strike rate of 140.Another notable inclusion is Joseph, a 24-year-old fast bowler who has played only three T20s for West Indies. However, his stunning seven-wicket haul in the historic Test win at the Gabba against Australia has caught the attention of selectors.Alzarri Joseph has been named deputy to captain Rovman Powell, while Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, and Jason Holder are all included in the squad.West Indies head coach Daren Sammy confirmed that Sunil Narine was considered for selection but is unavailable due to his retirement from international cricket. Sammy also stated that CWI has requested the BCCI to release West Indies players from the ongoing IPL as soon as possible.West Indies are placed in Group C alongside Papua New Guinea (PNG), Uganda, New Zealand, and Afghanistan. Their first two matches will be played in Providence, Guyana, against PNG on June 2 and Uganda on June 8. They will then face New Zealand at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on June 12, before their final group game against Afghanistan on June 17 in St Lucia.