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Showing posts from March, 2024

David Willey got replaced by Matt Henry in the Lucknow Super Giants.

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The fast bowler of team New Zealand Matt Henry has signed with the Lucknow Super Giants for the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League 2024. Henry takes David Willey's place, the England all-rounder, who pulled out of the competition for private reasons. The 32-year-old Kiwi joined the Lucknow franchise at a base price of ₹1.25 crore. Henry has so far played for New Zealand in 17 T20 internationals, 82 one-day internationals, and 25 Tests. He has played in the Tata IPL for both the Chennai Super Kings and the Punjab Kings. He has so far appeared in two Tata IPL games, both in 2017 for the Punjab Kings. Ahead of the Indian Premier League season 2024, it was reported that Willey would miss the start of the league due to personal reasons.   The English left-arm seamer was signed by the Lucknow Super Giants at his base price of Rs 2 crore in December's auction in Dubai last year.

Ahead of RCB vs KKR, Shane Watson gifts Virat Kohli copy of his book

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Leading up to their IPL 2024 showdown against Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru stirred emotions on social media with a heart-warming image of Shane Watson alongside Virat Kohli, thus evoking memories of their bond during Watson’s stint with RCB in 2016 and 2017. “This is giving 2016 Friends, captains and most importantly Royal Challengers! So good to see you, Watto. ” the post said on Twitter. Later, Watson also presented Kohli with a copy of his book, “The Winner’s Mindset,” In "The Winner's Mindset," Watson's rise to prominence in international T20 cricket is chronicled, and the tactics and inner strength that drove him are revealed. Released recently, the book provides a first-hand account of Watson’s experiences, coupled with scientific insights and practical techniques for achieving peak performance. As RCB enter the match with two points from two games, they seek to maintain their momentum following a thrilling victory over Punjab Kings.

Despite mixed form, Steve Smith is set to open the India vs Australia Test series

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Steve Smith is going to retain his spot as Test opener for the upcoming India vs. Australia five-match Test series this summer. This comes despite his inconsistent performances in recent matches against the West Indies and New Zealand. The selectors believe that Steve Smith’s four-test stint as an opener wasn’t a large enough sample size to judge his effectiveness. They’re willing to give him a shot against India, a much tougher opponent. This decision means the battle for the opening spot in the future will be between other players. With Steve Smith and current partner Usman Khawaja nearing the twilight of their careers, a spot will eventually open for a new opener. Players like Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Nathan McSweeney are all vying for this position. Their performances in domestic cricket and Australian A matches will be crucial in determining who gets the call-up.  

Fit & firing Shivam Dube isn’t just need of Chennai, but Team India’s as well

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There is one reason why the Indian players are excited about this IPL 2024. In addition to helping their individual sides win the competition, strong performances could guarantee the players a spot in Team India's T20 World Cup. Without a doubt, CSK all-around standout Shivam Dube is one of those players. All eyes will be on the hard-hitting batsman, who produced a match-winning 34 off 28 balls in the opening encounter against RCB on Friday, when Chennai plays Gujarat Titans on Tuesday. Whether it was during the IND versus AFG series, when he hit two fifties, or the Ranji Trophy after that, the man has been in exceptional form with the bat for a good while. For Team India, his form is encouraging. Due to his batting and quick bowling skills, Dube may also be included in the squad if he continues to play well in the IPL. Hardik Pandya, in good form, appears certain to join the squad. Dube has featured in 52 league games so far, during which he has amassed 1140 runs at an avera

Ahead of the IPL 2024 opener, Virat Kohli catches up with MS Dhoni

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Ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season opener, the star batsman of team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli, opened up on their clash against Chennai Super Kings and said that it would be “good” to catch up with the legendary cricketer MS Dhoni.  Kohli is the highest run-getter in the IPL of all time. In 237 matches and 229 innings, the India talisman batter has scored 7263 runs at an average of 37.24 with a strike rate of 130.02. His best score is 113. He has scored seven centuries, most by a batter, and 50 fifties in his IPL career. In a recent episode of RCB’s Bold Diaries, Kohli said that it’s been a “while” that he has met Dhoni. Watch the video here. The former captain of Team India said that it would be “nice” to play in front of the “passionate” CSK fans at the iconic Chepauk Stadium. He also added that the season opener of the IPL 2024 will be a “big game.”. Kohli said, “Playing against Chennai is obviously always a special occasion, a big game

Aakash Chopra is excited to see Rishabh Pant in action once again

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The anticipation for Rishabh Pant's 14-month absence from professional cricket is growing every day. Pant will make his return to cricket with the IPL 2024, where he will lead the Delhi Capitals. Pant has been absent from cricket since December 2022, and the southpaw’s return has got many cricketing fans excited. Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra is one such person. Chopra is thrilled to watch the southpaw play again following a prolonged absence. But he also emphasized the difficulties that the IPL's wicket-keeper hitter would run into when he goes back to playing in the big leagues. Chopra said in his video, “Opportunities are absolutely plentiful." Our emotional quotient has gone very high for Rishabh Pant. We are all waiting for Rishabh Pant to come, hit, and shine. Everyone has even started talking about the T20 World Cup, saying that he will reach there if he scores runs.” “At the moment, we are riding high on emotion because we all love him so much. However,

At M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB unveiled their new red and blue jerseys

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The franchise of Indian Premier League Royal Challengers Bangalore has finally launched their long-awaited new jersey for the upcoming and highly anticipated IPL 2024 season. The men’s side of RCB have donned their new red and darkish-blue jerseys during the stat-studded RCB Unbox event at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite the widespread buzz around their new design, the new look has received mixed emotions from fans of cricket and franchises on social media. Watch it here . Both the men’s and women’s teams of RCB were present in front of a stacked-up crowd. Treading away from their usual red, black, and yellow color combination, the red and blue jerseys certainly raised a few eyebrows amongst the fans, both at the stadium and on social media. Apart from their jersey reveal, RCB has also declared that from the upcoming IPL season they will feature under their new name, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The first match of RCB in their new colors will be in their IPL 2024 opener aga

Ahead of IPL 2024, Virat Kohli gets a makeover from'salt and pepper’ to King look

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The star batsman of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat Kohli, is all set to return to action in IPL 2024. The star of the RCB will play again after missing time since January 2024. Kohli joined the RCB camp on Monday, days before the side faces off against CSK in the IPL 2024 opener. Virat Kohli received a makeover prior to the competition, which has fans going crazy. "It's great to be back," said Kohli, "first to play cricket and now to be starting the IPL." Returning to Bangalore for the commencement of the IPL season is always an exciting experience. So, similar emotions, similar feelings, and I haven’t been off the media radar.” He also added, “I have been into normalcy, you can say, for two months. I am therefore quite delighted and excited to be back, and I hope the same for all of my admirers.

The 'Dad' T-shirt of Virat Kohli steals the spotlight as he joins RCB’s IPL 2024 camp

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On Monday, cricket superstar Virat Kohli joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp. The India great is ready to take on the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 season. His return to RCB has generated a buzz not just for his cricketing skills but also for a sweet gesture towards his children, Akaay and Vamika. Virat Kohli arrived in Bengaluru wearing a relaxed ensemble that comprised a white T-shirt bearing a unique message. Fans saw the shirt, which had a cartoon and the word "Dad," as a tender ode to his newborn son Akaay and daughter Vamika. This touching act emphasizes Kohli's status as a loving father. Watch the video here. Fans of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are ecstatic. The team will host the RCB Unbox 2024 event in Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 19. The team's new uniform will be unveiled at this much awaited event, which will also commemorate their recent rebranding as Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Virat Kohli's return to

To honor his IPL stint, Shane Watson opts out of the race to coach the Pakistan Cricket Team

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Former all-rounder of team Australia Shane Watson has stepped away from the race to become Pakistan cricket team head coach, choosing to honor his current coaching and commentary roles. Shane Watson, a popular figure in Pakistan after coaching the Quetta Gladiators in the recent PSL season, was reportedly in advanced talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board for the limited-overs head coach position. Shane Watson relished his stay in Pakistan and gave the offer careful thought, but in the end, he decided to accept it because of his prior obligations. He currently balances commentary for the Indian Premier League 2024, a head coaching role with the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket, and his family, based in Sydney. According to the article, accepting the position with the Pakistan cricket team would have conflicted with his current schedule by requiring him to relocate right away and dedicate himself full-time to their year-round limited-overs program. With Watson no long

Musheer Khan, happy to not be picked for the IPL, says he has another year to prepare

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While IPL is the top-most priority, not for Indian cricketers but for players from all over the world, there is a rare breed of players who are unfazed by the glamor and pull of the league. One of those cricketers is Sarfaraz Khan‘s brother Musheer, who is fresh from a mighty successful U-19 World Cup and the Ranji Trophy. Musheer revealed that he is happy that he went unsold during the IPL auction. Musheer said, “My name is not in the IPL. But I don’t feel disappointed. My father tells me to play Test cricket and play for Team India. IPL will eventually happen; if not today, then tomorrow.” “It’s good that I got another year to prepare for the IPL. I will understand T20 cricket more and how I should prepare for this format,” said Musheer. He further added, “I am really inspired by my brother because of his dedication and the way he bats. Our batting style is similar. He told me before the game (Ranji final) to think of it as a normal match and not to take too much pressure. From outsi

After a reported injury to Shreyas Iyer ahead of the IPL, fans blast BCCI-Jay Shah

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Shreyas Iyer's recurring back injury has ignited a firestorm of criticism directed at the Board of Control for Cricket in India and its secretary, Jay Shah. Supporters are furious because they believe the board is pressuring Iyer to participate in the Ranji Trophy, which could exacerbate his pre-existing ailment. Fans believe this was undue pressure that ultimately led to Iyer’s current predicament. Notably, Shreyas Iyer has not played on Day 4 and Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy Final at the Wankhede Stadium. According to the report, this is because of an injury, and the Kolkata Knight Riders captain could now also miss out on the initial matches of the Indian Premier League 2024. In addition, supporters are wondering why Shreyas Iyer was forced to compete in the Ranji Trophy despite not being entirely healthy. Furthermore, some people don't believe the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) evaluation that said he was fit to play. Twitter is ablaze with criticism of the BCCI'

Ahead of the IPL 2024 Royal Challengers Bengaluru dropped a major hint of a name change

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Ahead of IPL 2024, it looks like Royal Challengers Bangalore are finally going to change their team name. The side dropped a major hint indicating a name change with a video on their social media handle. Sandalwood actor Rishabh Shetty asks a person in the video to take a horse away who had a ‘Bangalore’ banner on its back. It is pertinent to note that all other sides (belonging to various sports) use Bengaluru and not Bangalore as their team names. This includes Bengaluru FC (ISL), Bengaluru Bulls (PKL), and so on. Though late, the change in the side’s name will be welcomed by their loyal fans in Karnataka. RCB will be in the hunt for their maiden IPL trophy. Led by skipper Faf du Plessis, the team will finally lay their hands on the cup. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli, as he will aim to utilize the stage to be in the best shape for the T20 World Cup 2024.  

Tickets for the IPL 2024 opening game between CSK and RCB are still not available online

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Ten days remain until the IPL 2024, and anticipation for the competition is already high. The inaugural game of the IPL 2024 season would pit Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore against MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings. For this year's home matches, CSK has decided to only sell tickets online in order to avoid long lines. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the game is just ten days away, tickets are still not accessible on the website of the ticketing provider Paytm Insider. Despite the webpage indicating that tickets for the CSK vs. RCB game are "coming soon," Tickets for the Punjab Kings’ opening game and IPL 2024’s second match against the Delhi Capitals scheduled for March 23 have been made available on Paytm Insider’s website. PBKS vs. DC will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mohali. Reports regarding CSK’s decision to sell tickets for home matches online surfaced recently with the aim of increasing revenue and keeping fans’ conv

Watch: Bangladesh Star's No-Look Run-Out Has Internet In Awe

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The wicketkeeper-batter of Bangladesh cricket team Litton Das inflicted a stunning no-look run-out during the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet on Saturday. Dasun Shanaka and Sadeera Samarawickrama attempted to sneak a few runs for the visitors on the last ball of Sri Lanka's innings. Shanaka flicked the delivery of Mustafizur Rahman's towards mid-on, hoping to steal a couple of runs. Shanaka crawled towards the keeper's end to finish the second run, but the pair had successfully completed the first. Rishad Hossain fired his throw at the striker's end, but his attempt was a bit wayward. But Litton took everyone by surprise when he demonstrated excellent awareness to retrieve the ball and then make a no-look dash out. His effort reminded fans of former India captain MS Dhoni, who had a knack for pulling no-look runouts throughout his career. Watch the video here. In the series decider, Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh with a career-best 86 from Kusal

Highlights of the IND vs. ENG 5th Test Match at HPCA Dharamshala

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On Day 2 of the fifth Test match in Dharamshala, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah look in fine touch for eight-down India after Shoaib Bashir took four wickets and Tom Hartley contributed with two scalps for England. Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal scored gritty half-centuries before losing their wickets to Bashir. In the second session, Ben Stokes castled Rohit Sharma and James Anderson dismissed Shubman Gill in quick succession after both batters slammed brilliant centuries. Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav bundled out England for a woeful 218.  Here are some pointers from the 5th Test between India and England: India were 376/3 at Tea, leading by 158 runs. Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal ensured India didn’t lose their advantage in the second session. Rohit Sharma scored his 12th Test century, his fourth as India’s captain in the longest format. Shubman Gill reached his 4th Test century with a four Ben Stokes bowled for the first time in nine months and dismissed

Ahead of IPL 2024, GT Skipper Gill revealed his belief mantra

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Believe is the most important thing you need to win the IPL trophy. This is what Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill thinks. Having been given the opportunity to lead the side following Hardik Pandya’s departure last year, the 24-year-old has placed the ‘believe’ mantra higher than anything else. Gill joined the franchise in 2022 after being let go by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Since then, the batter has dominated the league with his bat. Last season, he was inches away from breaking Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs scored in a single season. As he gets ready to lead his team on March 24 against the Mumbai Indians at their home ground, he talks about the approach he takes when starting an event. While talking, Gill said, “When you start any tournament, it is important for every team member to have the belief that we can win the title. People weren’t rating our team (the Gujarat Titans) highly when we started (2022). I had the belief that we’d win; we wanted to win the IPL. I pers

Finally, Dhoni clears the suspense regarding his new role with the latest ad from Jio Cinema

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The broadcasting partner of IPL 2024, Jio Cinema, released a fantastic advertisement on Wednesday involving MS Dhoni to promote the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. Dhoni is seen playing a double role in the advertisement. Dhoni had built up the suspense with a post on social media on Monday where he wrote, “I can’t wait for the new season and the new ‘role’. Stay tuned!” The post garnered a lot of attention, even though the exact meaning of the post remained unclear. The fans were excited as the suspense kept building up regarding Dhoni’s new role until the advertisement cleared up the confusion. The 42-year-old Dhoni is shown in the video clip playing two roles. It heightens the excitement leading up to the lucrative T20 league. “New season, double role! All the action is brought to you absolutely free with #IPLonJioCinema, starting March 22nd. Kyunki sab yahaan, aurkahaan!” Dhoni wrote in the caption after sharing the video from his Facebook channel. Watch the video  h

No Pakistani star Babar Azam among 60 Pakistani players; Williamson and Warner join in

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Ahead of the July 23 start, as many as 60 Pakistani players are in the Hundred 2024 draft. However, former Pakistani captain Babar Azam is not among the players to join the Hundred Bandwagon. David Warner and Kane Williamson are two big personalities that have jumped on the Hundred bandwagon. 389 foreign players enrolled for the Hundred draft in total, and on March 20, the teams will select their selections. Apart from Babar Azam, the fast bowlers of team Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah, are also notable players missing. Mohammad Rizwan, too, has given it a miss. It is unlikely that Babar Azam will get an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Pakistan Cricket Board. Last season, Babar was on the draft, but he was unpicked due to a lack of clarity on his NOC. Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Fakhar Zaman are three of Pakistan's best players included in the draft.

Australia World Cup Winning Captain Pat Cummins is appointed as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad

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On Monday, the star cricketer of team Australia, Pat Cummins, who successfully led his team towards victory against India in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, was appointed as the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 season. Sunrisers ended last season on a disappointing note, occupying the bottom position in the IPL 2023 Points Table with only four wins out of the 14 matches played last season. Using its official social media accounts, the team announced the hiring and posted a photo of Cummins with the hashtag "#OrangeArmy!" Our new captain, Pat Cummins, became the second most expensive player in league history after Sunrisers paid an astounding Rs 20.5 crore for him. This transaction occurred during the most recent IPL 2024 auction. Apart from Cummins, SRH also boasts two other overseas talents: Australian star batter Travis Head and Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. Significantly, the franchise has decided to make a notable chan

A T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan creates a ticket frenzy in New York

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An unprecedented amount of excitement is surrounding the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the Caribbean, with the much awaited match between India and Pakistan in New York igniting frenzy. Tickets were priced as low as $6 (INR 497) during the official sale, but the resale market shows a different story, with prices reaching outrageous heights. India vs. Pakistan and India vs. Canada matches, for example, have become rare gems that vanish during the official sale only to resurface at exorbitant costs on resale sites like StubHub and SeatGeek. Some of the tickets are being sold for far more than their original price, with others being offered for at least twice as much. For example, the official website lists VIP seats for the India vs. Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup match at $400 (INR 33 thousand) (without taxes). However, comparable seats are posted for an astounding $40,000 (INR 33 lakhs) on resale sites! With platform fees, the total almost reaches $50,000 (INR 41 lakh

On the CSK skipper’s IPL future, MS Dhoni’s close friend drops a major hint

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The skipper of Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni’s close friend, drops a hint on the star’s IPL future. As IPL 2024 is fast approaching, speculations over MSD’s future have started doing the rounds. Now, Dhoni’s friend clears the air about how long MS will play. As per information, Paramjit Singh, MS Dhoni’s close friend, says that he thinks the star will play one or two more IPL seasons. Paramjit Singh says, “I do not think this will be his (Dhoni’s) last season. He’s still fit. I think he will play one or two more seasons. He will definitely play one more season. The reason is he is fit.” MS Dhoni once again showcased the enduring bonds of friendship, this time by promoting his childhood friend’s sports shop through a unique bat sticker. The heartwarming incident unfolded during one of Dhoni’s recent practice sessions in Ranchi, capturing the attention of fans and social media enthusiasts. Dhoni is seen wielding a bat embellished with a ‘Prime Sports’ sticker. ‘Prime Sports’ is owned by