Wednesday, May 31, 2023

No Ravindra Jadeja In England Great's Combined India-Australia Test XI

Ahead of the much-anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, former England skipper Nasser Hussain has picked only one specialist spinner in his combined Test XI he would select from the two teams set to meet in the World Test Championship final. Prior to their match in the ICC World Test Championship final in London, Hussain could only find room for one spinner in a combined Test XI, despite the fact that spin was king when India and Australia clashed earlier this year.

As India successfully defended the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined for 47 wickets. Australia's Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, both spinners, also posed a threat with 36 each.

Lyon (81) and Ashwin (61) were also among the leading wicket-takers across the WTC cycle, but only one spinner from the two teams could earn a spot in the former England skipper's combined Test XI.

"If the World Test Championship Final was in the subcontinent or India, I might go Jadeja at six. But I'm not, because it's in England," Hussain told The ICC Review.

"I'm going to go for a bowling all-rounder, seam-bowler in Cameron Green. That's who I want as my all-rounder. My spin bowler would be Ravi Ashwin at eight. And he bats, obviously, very good at No.8," Hussain added.

The five batters to come in ahead of Australia's rising star Cameron Green in Hussain's combined Test XI bring much more experience to the contest and have 91 Test centuries between them.

"Rohit Sharma, very easy, top of the order and captain for me. I love the way Rohit captains," Hussain said. I'd like to have Shubman (Gill) in but I think it's just a little bit early for him to break into my combined XI, so I'm going to go with Usman Khawaja to open the batting. Then into the very easy bit, three of the all-time world greats in (Marnus) Labuschagne, (Steve) Smith and (Virat) Kohli come in at three, four, five," Hussain said.

With only one spinner in Hussain's combined Test XI the cricketer said the luxury of choosing between a host of top-line pacers to fill the remaining spots.

"(Pat) Cummins at nine, easy choice. (Mitchell) Starc at 10 to give me that left-arm variation. Mohammed Shami, just so that we can have so many replays of his seam position going down. I would have obviously Jasprit in there if he wasn't injured, but he is so I'm having Shami at 11," Hussain said.

Nasser Hussain's combined India-Australia Test XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Mohammad Shami.



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"Couldn't Sleep, Kept Thinking...": Mohit On Final Two Balls To Jadeja

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final turned out to a sporting spectacle, with Ravindra Jadeja scoring 10 runs off the final 2 balls against Mohit Sharma of Gujarat Titans to earn his team 5th title. While it was pure ecstasy for the Super Kings, the Titans unit was in complete despair after failing to defend the title with the narrowest of margins. Mohit Sharma, who conceded a six and a four on the final two balls of the match to Jadeja, admitted that he couldn't sleep that night, thinking what he could've done differently.

In a chat with The Indian Express, Mohit spoke about his plans and preparation for the final over, which went as planned until the final two balls.

"My mind was very clear in what I wanted to do. In the nets, I had practiced such situations and I have been in such scenarios before too. So I said let me bowl all balls yorkers and was backing my instinct," the Haryana speedster said.

"They wanted to know what will be plan of action. I said I will again try to bowl yorker. People are now saying this and that but frankly it has no meaning. I knew what I wanted to do," he added.

WIth Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja on strike, CSK could only score 3 runs from the first 4 balls. But, Jadeja sent the penultimate delivery straight down the ground for a six before hitting a four fine behind the stumps to complete the run-chase.

"I ran and tried to bowl (yorker) again. I just wanted to be focussed and back myself. Whole IPL I have done that. The ball landed where it shouldn't have and Jadeja got his bat. I tried, I tried my best," he says.

Having come into the team, literally from nowhere, Mohit truly had a comeback season that he would be remembered for a long time.

He said: "I couldn't sleep. Sochta raha kya alag karta joh match jeet jaate. What if I could have bowled this ball or that ball? It's not a nice feeling now. Somewhere something is missing but I'm trying to move on."

"I was picked from nowhere. I remember speaking to Ani bhai (Anirudh Chaudhary, a veteran Haryana administrator) before the season what shall I do? Shall I continue or not. He had said I should try to play. I had come with no expectation and just have continued to work hard. My work ethic has remained the same. I don't know what lies ahead, but I have enjoyed my journey," the pacer went on to say.



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"When Shubman, Virat Both Made Tons...": Sara Ali On 'Hatke' Time In IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans was a nail-biter with the former clinching the summit clash to win their fifth title. Attending the match were 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke' stars Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan. The actors posted a video in Instagram from the time at the stadium. In it, the actors can be seen giving each other a hi-five after CSK's win. The jubilant mood of the co-stars clearly reflects in the video.

Vicky Kaushal captioned his post, "Badle tere Mahi, leke jo koi saari, duniya bhi dede agar, to kise duniya chahiye. Mahi for the win. Jaadu you rockstar! What a match! GT... the best team through the tournament. Clearly the game was the real winner. #ipl2023 #iplfinal (sic)."

The two actors were also asked about their experience in the IPL final. "I have never seen a live match before. So, the first time you watch a match live and and you see MS Dhoni, then what more can you ask for," Sara Ali Khan said on Star Sports, with Vicky Kaushal by his side.

When asked to name one 'hatke' batter, who impressed them the most, Kaushal   said: "Yashashvi (Jaiswal). His journey has been special. Then to see him play the way he did, so confident. He has got that grace. He generates so much power." 

Sara said: "The 'Hatke' time for me was when Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill both made hundreds in the same match. But Virat Kohli got out after scoring really well. It was a superb match to watch. Both innings were great. That was quite 'hatke'." 

They were asked about 'hatke' bowler too, and Kaushal took Matheesha Pathirana's name.



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"Couldn't Sleep, Kept Thinking...": Mohit On Final Two Balls To Jadeja

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final turned out to a sporting spectacle, with Ravindra Jadeja scoring 10 runs off the final 2 balls against Mohit Sharma of Gujarat Titans to earn his team 5th title. While it was pure ecstasy for the Super Kings, the Titans unit was in complete despair after failing to defend the title with the narrowest of margins. Mohit Sharma, who conceded a six and a four on the final two balls of the match to Jadeja, admitted that he couldn't sleep that night, thinking what he could've done differently.

In a chat with The Indian Express, Mohit spoke about his plans and preparation for the final over, which went as planned until the final two balls.

"My mind was very clear in what I wanted to do. In the nets, I had practiced such situations and I have been in such scenarios before too. So I said let me bowl all balls yorkers and was backing my instinct," the Haryana speedster said.

"They wanted to know what will be plan of action. I said I will again try to bowl yorker. People are now saying this and that but frankly it has no meaning. I knew what I wanted to do," he added.

WIth Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja on strike, CSK could only score 3 runs from the first 4 balls. But, Jadeja sent the penultimate delivery straight down the ground for a six before hitting a four fine behind the stumps to complete the run-chase.

"I ran and tried to bowl (yorker) again. I just wanted to be focussed and back myself. Whole IPL I have done that. The ball landed where it shouldn't have and Jadeja got his bat. I tried, I tried my best," he says.

Having come into the team, literally from nowhere, Mohit truly had a comeback season that he would be remembered for a long time.

He said: "I couldn't sleep. Sochta raha kya alag karta joh match jeet jaate. What if I could have bowled this ball or that ball? It's not a nice feeling now. Somewhere something is missing but I'm trying to move on."

"I was picked from nowhere. I remember speaking to Ani bhai (Anirudh Chaudhary, a veteran Haryana administrator) before the season what shall I do? Shall I continue or not. He had said I should try to play. I had come with no expectation and just have continued to work hard. My work ethic has remained the same. I don't know what lies ahead, but I have enjoyed my journey," the pacer went on to say.



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Sevilla Beat Roma On Penalties To Win Europa League

Sevilla found their Europa League magic formula on Wednesday, beating Roma 4-1 on penalties in Budapest to make it a perfect seven out of seven in finals in the competition. The game finished 1-1 following extra-time after Paulo Dybala's opener was earlier cancelled out by an own goal from Roma defender Gianluca Mancini. A bad-tempered but gripping match went to a shootout at a raucous Puskas Arena, with Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proving the hero with two saves.

Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the 2022 World Cup final, netted the decisive spot-kick after Mancini and Roger Ibanez had failed to convert for Roma.

The win is a remarkable achievement for 62-year-old Jose Luis Mendilibar, who only took over at Sevilla in March and is now celebrating his first major trophy.

"We are going to enjoy this because it has cost a lot and right now I don't know if I will renew or not and I don't care," said the Spaniard, who is not certain to be at the club next season.

The veteran coach was brought in to save the club from relegation and has led them to safety as well as European glory.

"When I arrived I told the players that they were very good but that they were not mentally in the right place and that was my job," he said. 

"They have shown me in the end that they are very good."

Defeat spells heartbreak for Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who has lost a European final for the first time after five successes.

The fans created a crackling atmosphere before kick-off but the early stages of the game did not match the colour in the stands.

Dybala strike

Dybala repaid Mourinho's gamble on his fitness in the 35th minute when he latched onto Mancini's through ball from the centre circle, coolly slotting his shot past Bounou.

Sevilla, finally finding some fluency, came agonisingly close to levelling deep into the seven minutes of added-on time when Ivan Rakitic drilled a fierce left-footed strike from distance that cannoned back off an upright.

Mendilibar brought on forwards Suso and Erik Lamela for Oliver Torres and Bryan Gil at the break and the Spanish side began the second period on the front foot.

They were level after 10 minutes when Mancini bundled a Jesus Navas cross from the right into his own net from close range.

Roma seemed certain to re-take the lead against the run of play midway through the second half but the Sevilla defenders somehow scrambled the ball away after several stabs at goal from close range.

Dybala, starting a match for the first time since mid-April, was withdrawn, with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum coming on to replace him.

Sevilla thought they had a penalty with 15 minutes to go after referee Anthony Taylor ruled that Ibanez had brought down Lucas Ocampos but the decision was overturned by VAR.

Roma squandered a glorious chance to go back in front when substitute Andrea Belotti failed to keep his shot on target with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Extra-time was largely uneventful as tempers flared between the two benches but Roma defender Chris Smalling almost snatched the win when he hit the woodwork with a looping header from a corner in the dying seconds.

There were 13 yellow cards awarded, the most ever in a UEFA Europa League game.

The first three spot-kicks were converted but when man-of-the-match Bounou saved penalties from Mancini and pushed Ibanez's effort onto the post, the Spanish side had a 3-1 lead and appeared certain winners.

But there was more drama to come. 

Montiel's effort was saved by Rui Patricio but the kick was ordered re-taken after an encroachment by the goalkeeper and this time the Argentine made no mistake.

Sevilla, 11th in La Liga with one match to play will play in the Champions League next season.

But Roma's campaign could end with a whimper after the highs of winning the inaugural Europa Conference League last year.

The Italian team are sixth in Serie A with one game remaining and there are major doubts over whether Mourinho, 60, will still be manager next season.

"We felt pressure against a team that has more talent than us," said the Portuguese. "We lost a game but not dignity. I've never gone home prouder than today, even when I won."

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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French Open: Alcaraz Overcomes Wobble To Advance, Sabalenka Wins

World number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame a second set blip to defeat Japan's Taro Daniel and reach the French Open last 32 on Wednesday. The Spanish star came through 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 against his 112th-ranked opponent and will face Canada's Denis Shapovalov for a place in the fourth round. Alcaraz, 20, is bidding to add the Roland Garros title to the US Open he won in 2022.

"I'm very happy with my level. The wind meant conditions were really difficult so I had to adjust as much as possible, I was very focused on each shot," said Alcaraz.

Victory on Wednesday gave Alcaraz a 22nd win from 24 on clay in 2023, a run which has yielded titles on the surface in Buenos Aires, Madrid and Barcelona.

"Taro was playing great. He is a really tough player and this year he has won matches against great players," said Alcaraz who is top seed at a Grand Slam for the first time. On Wednesday, he fired 46 winners past New York-born Daniel.

Shapovalov, the 26th seed, saw off Italy's Matteo Arnaldi in four sets to reach the third round in Paris for the first time.

Kokkinakis ends 38-year-old Wawrinka's French Open

Thanasi Kokkinakis knocked 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka out of the French Open on Wednesday in a five-set rollercoaster to book a third round place at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015. Australian world number 108 Kokkinakis came through 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in four hours and 38 minutes against the 2015 champion.

"I feel better now that I've won," said the 27-year-old after securing victory on a fifth match point. 

"What a match. I know Stan is getting older but in the first set he was playing the best. I was nowhere, just hanging in."

Kokkinakis, who described Wawrinka, a three-time major winner, as a "legend" of the sport, last made the third round of a Slam in Paris eight years ago when he was just 19.

However, he has been plagued by physical and medical problems with a shoulder injury limiting him to just one singles match from November 2015 until May 2017. He then missed the entire 2020 season due to mono before undergoing surgery on his sinuses in 2022.

"I've had a pretty crazy story. I came on the scene when I was pretty young, looked like I was set for a big future but I went missing for a few years," he said.

Kokkinakis will take on either Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov or Moldova's Radu Albot for a place in the last 16.

Sabalenka Wins

World number two Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the French Open third round on Wednesday with a straight-sets win over fellow Belarusian Iryna Shymanovich.

The Australian Open champion took some time to get the measure of her opponent, who had never won a main-draw WTA match before this tournament, before wrapping up a 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Sabalenka will face either Poland's Magdalena Frech or Russian Kamilla Rakhimova in the last 32.



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Tuesday, May 30, 2023

ICC Seeking Guarantee From PCB Over ODI World Cup Participation: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and CEO are in Lahore to seek guarantees from the PCB that it will not push for implementing a hybrid model for its matches in the ODI World Cup in India later this year. Insiders confirmed to PTI that ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have specifically come to Lahore to get some assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the national team's participation in the World Cup in October-November.

The development comes after PCB chief Najam Sethi made it clear that the team will not travel for the World Cup in India if the Rohit Sharma-led side doesn't visit Pakistan for the preceding Asia Cup. “The ICC and World Cup hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are concerned with the hybrid model being pushed by Najam Sethi who heads the cricket management committee of the PCB.

“Although the hybrid model has been suggested by Sethi for the Asia Cup which precedes the ICC event, the concern remains that once accepted for the regional event the PCB might also then ask the ICC to implement it for the World Cup when it comes to Pakistan playing in India,” he explained.

Sethi has already indicated that if the Pakistan government doesn't give clearance or has security concerns about sending the team to India, PCB could ask the ICC to hold Pakistan's matches at a neutral venue.

“Naturally neither the ICC nor the BCCI want such a situation since Pakistan's unequivocal participation in matches in India would guarantee the success of Indo-Pakistan matches and also the tournament itself.” Another source said this was the primary reason why BCCI secretary Jay Shah was still reluctant to accept the hybrid model for the Asia Cup and support having three or four matches of the tournament in Pakistan and the remaining games in UAE or Sri Lanka.

Pakistan are the hosts of the Asia Cup and Sethi has said repeatedly that if the tournament is moved to one neutral country from Pakistan, it will not take part in the competition.

He has also hinted that if Pakistan didn't get to host some Asia Cup matches it could have an adverse bearing on the World Cup as well.

“The ICC officials are trying to work as a bridge between the PCB and BCCI and resolve the outstanding issues pertaining to the Asia Cup and World Cup.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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ICC Seeking Guarantee From PCB Over ODI World Cup Participation: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and CEO are in Lahore to seek guarantees from the PCB that it will not push for implementing a hybrid model for its matches in the ODI World Cup in India later this year. Insiders confirmed to PTI that ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have specifically come to Lahore to get some assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the national team's participation in the World Cup in October-November.

The development comes after PCB chief Najam Sethi made it clear that the team will not travel for the World Cup in India if the Rohit Sharma-led side doesn't visit Pakistan for the preceding Asia Cup. “The ICC and World Cup hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are concerned with the hybrid model being pushed by Najam Sethi who heads the cricket management committee of the PCB.

“Although the hybrid model has been suggested by Sethi for the Asia Cup which precedes the ICC event, the concern remains that once accepted for the regional event the PCB might also then ask the ICC to implement it for the World Cup when it comes to Pakistan playing in India,” he explained.

Sethi has already indicated that if the Pakistan government doesn't give clearance or has security concerns about sending the team to India, PCB could ask the ICC to hold Pakistan's matches at a neutral venue.

“Naturally neither the ICC nor the BCCI want such a situation since Pakistan's unequivocal participation in matches in India would guarantee the success of Indo-Pakistan matches and also the tournament itself.” Another source said this was the primary reason why BCCI secretary Jay Shah was still reluctant to accept the hybrid model for the Asia Cup and support having three or four matches of the tournament in Pakistan and the remaining games in UAE or Sri Lanka.

Pakistan are the hosts of the Asia Cup and Sethi has said repeatedly that if the tournament is moved to one neutral country from Pakistan, it will not take part in the competition.

He has also hinted that if Pakistan didn't get to host some Asia Cup matches it could have an adverse bearing on the World Cup as well.

“The ICC officials are trying to work as a bridge between the PCB and BCCI and resolve the outstanding issues pertaining to the Asia Cup and World Cup.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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The MS Dhoni Decode! What IPL 2024 Season Could Actually Mean For 'Thala'

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was numb. He didn't raise his head even as Ravindra Jadeja had started sprinting towards the dugout and his mates in canary yellow responding in kind. Maybe Dhoni was trying to process it all after a gruelling two months. Moeen Ali hugged him and the contours of his face were devoid of any emotion. Maybe there was a storm brewing in his mind during those last six balls and it was the calm after-effect. Dhoni has just guided CSK to a fifth IPL trophy in 11 final appearances and he remained unfazed. Job done, what's the fuss about. He couldn't suppress his wide grin as an ecstatic Jadeja jumped on to his lap and engaged in a bear hug.

There were conjectures about their relationship deteriorating after Jadeja had to relinquish CSK captaincy mid-season in 2022, but as they say in Hindi, "anth bhala toh sab bhala" (all's well that ends well).

If Dhoni is involved, one would never know what actually transpired. Because what happens in 'Dhoniland' stays in 'Dhoniland'. Ask any CSK faithful, and he would vouch that it's an old concrete jungle saying.

Did the world see moistened eyes? Perhaps yes. But there won't be any overt display of emotions. It was all about process and execution with precision. A lot of pluck, and yes, a bit of luck, too.

He quietly trudges onto the field. Pats unlucky Gujarat Titans bowler Mohit Sharma's head. He knows how it feels to come so near and yet miss out. Remember Old Trafford where he was setting it up ala Dhoni style. That's why Dhoni is special and eminently relatable. He can relate with failures as much as he can with success.

Mohit is someone who learned the ropes of top-flight bowling under Dhoni at CSK before fading into oblivion and then making a grand re-entry this IPL.

In the meantime Jadeja does a TV interview and dedicates his performance and win to "MS Dhoni". The Motera stand, resembling a sunflower, erupts, but is it a hint that the end is near.

The question has followed Dhoni to every city and different people had asked him in a different manner. The street-smart player that he is, he always gave a cheeky reply, like one to Danny Morrison where he joked that he is already forcing him to retire, or at a promotional event where he said that any announcement would make things go haywire.

Have we seen the last of him? Maybe or maybe not. Only time will tell how he copes with a damaged knee when is nearing 43.

"If you circumstantially see, it's the best time to announce the retirement. The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire. But the hard thing to do is to work hard for nine months and try to play one more IPL season. The body has to hold up.

"The amount of love I have received from CSK fans, it would be a gift for them to play one more season," Dhoni said before receiving his fifth trophy.

The love of Chennai fans has been unconditional and Chepauk has been his amphitheater, and he has been the hero as well as the main protagonist for them.

"The way they've shown their love and emotion, it's something I need to do for them. It's the last part of my career. It started over here and the full house was chanting my name. It was the same thing in Chennai, but it will be good to come back and play whatever I can," Dhoni assured all those who braved rain, changed itinerary, burnt hole in their pockets, and were present to hear him speak well past midnight.

So will it be a practical decision or an emotional one if Dhoni, who would be pushing 43 next year, decides to play another season of a gruelling two-month tourney? It is easier said than done in professional sport but Dhoni wants to bide time. On the face of it, it might seem emotional because CSK isn't just another team for Dhoni, which pays him a fat pay cheque. It is an emotional investment.

Going into the next decade, he will only be making all cricketing decisions and as a quick learner, work alongside Rupa Gurunath to also understand the business of running a franchise.

But those who have seen Dhoni, they know that N Srinivasan, the venerable CSK owner, is the former India captain's life coach and he has learnt one thing from him: if possible, always bide time, and take it deep, on and off the field.

So if another IPL is 10 months away and he has to keep himself cricket-fit for at least three months in the lead-up to the next edition, he will try and do it.

"The kind of cricket I play, they feel they can play that cricket. There's nothing orthodox about it and I like to keep it simple," Dhoni said.

As Stephen Fleming pointed out after the match. Dhoni's training sessions are on need basis.

"I can assure you that he has done no wicket-keeping practice during the IPL. It is all natural. He tried to do a keeping session with Devon Conway, who is an international wicketkeeper, and it was almost comical," Fleming said.

"Today was phenomenal, the style he does it with is awesome. That stumping is MS Dhoni at his best. It is nature, he has learned from tennis-ball cricket and it is just pure skill," Fleming added.

The impact player rule will give Dhoni a chance to maybe keep wickets for 20 overs but not use himself as a batter save a few occasions.

"Look, he knows, his power-hitting game is long gone. Like on Monday, he came ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. You could say it's because of maintaining the left-right combination but even then he took a chance because 15 balls were left.

"Had Jadeja gone out before him and got a first-ball duck, Dhoni might not have been able to finish the game," a former CSK player told PTI when asked how the skipper thinks.

So will he play next season? "My hunch is that he won't play as a batter anymore. He would perhaps still play a few games and check if he can run the team from dugout without being on the field. The moment, he cracks that code, he won't play anymore. For that if you read Fleming's words, he would try to fit in Devon Conway in that slot," the former player said.

After all, MSD is CSK and CSK is MSD.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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The MS Dhoni Decode! What IPL 2024 Season Could Actually Mean For 'Thala'

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was numb. He didn't raise his head even as Ravindra Jadeja had started sprinting towards the dugout and his mates in canary yellow responding in kind. Maybe Dhoni was trying to process it all after a gruelling two months. Moeen Ali hugged him and the contours of his face were devoid of any emotion. Maybe there was a storm brewing in his mind during those last six balls and it was the calm after-effect. Dhoni has just guided CSK to a fifth IPL trophy in 11 final appearances and he remained unfazed. Job done, what's the fuss about. He couldn't suppress his wide grin as an ecstatic Jadeja jumped on to his lap and engaged in a bear hug.

There were conjectures about their relationship deteriorating after Jadeja had to relinquish CSK captaincy mid-season in 2022, but as they say in Hindi, "anth bhala toh sab bhala" (all's well that ends well).

If Dhoni is involved, one would never know what actually transpired. Because what happens in 'Dhoniland' stays in 'Dhoniland'. Ask any CSK faithful, and he would vouch that it's an old concrete jungle saying.

Did the world see moistened eyes? Perhaps yes. But there won't be any overt display of emotions. It was all about process and execution with precision. A lot of pluck, and yes, a bit of luck, too.

He quietly trudges onto the field. Pats unlucky Gujarat Titans bowler Mohit Sharma's head. He knows how it feels to come so near and yet miss out. Remember Old Trafford where he was setting it up ala Dhoni style. That's why Dhoni is special and eminently relatable. He can relate with failures as much as he can with success.

Mohit is someone who learned the ropes of top-flight bowling under Dhoni at CSK before fading into oblivion and then making a grand re-entry this IPL.

In the meantime Jadeja does a TV interview and dedicates his performance and win to "MS Dhoni". The Motera stand, resembling a sunflower, erupts, but is it a hint that the end is near.

The question has followed Dhoni to every city and different people had asked him in a different manner. The street-smart player that he is, he always gave a cheeky reply, like one to Danny Morrison where he joked that he is already forcing him to retire, or at a promotional event where he said that any announcement would make things go haywire.

Have we seen the last of him? Maybe or maybe not. Only time will tell how he copes with a damaged knee when is nearing 43.

"If you circumstantially see, it's the best time to announce the retirement. The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire. But the hard thing to do is to work hard for nine months and try to play one more IPL season. The body has to hold up.

"The amount of love I have received from CSK fans, it would be a gift for them to play one more season," Dhoni said before receiving his fifth trophy.

The love of Chennai fans has been unconditional and Chepauk has been his amphitheater, and he has been the hero as well as the main protagonist for them.

"The way they've shown their love and emotion, it's something I need to do for them. It's the last part of my career. It started over here and the full house was chanting my name. It was the same thing in Chennai, but it will be good to come back and play whatever I can," Dhoni assured all those who braved rain, changed itinerary, burnt hole in their pockets, and were present to hear him speak well past midnight.

So will it be a practical decision or an emotional one if Dhoni, who would be pushing 43 next year, decides to play another season of a gruelling two-month tourney? It is easier said than done in professional sport but Dhoni wants to bide time. On the face of it, it might seem emotional because CSK isn't just another team for Dhoni, which pays him a fat pay cheque. It is an emotional investment.

Going into the next decade, he will only be making all cricketing decisions and as a quick learner, work alongside Rupa Gurunath to also understand the business of running a franchise.

But those who have seen Dhoni, they know that N Srinivasan, the venerable CSK owner, is the former India captain's life coach and he has learnt one thing from him: if possible, always bide time, and take it deep, on and off the field.

So if another IPL is 10 months away and he has to keep himself cricket-fit for at least three months in the lead-up to the next edition, he will try and do it.

"The kind of cricket I play, they feel they can play that cricket. There's nothing orthodox about it and I like to keep it simple," Dhoni said.

As Stephen Fleming pointed out after the match. Dhoni's training sessions are on need basis.

"I can assure you that he has done no wicket-keeping practice during the IPL. It is all natural. He tried to do a keeping session with Devon Conway, who is an international wicketkeeper, and it was almost comical," Fleming said.

"Today was phenomenal, the style he does it with is awesome. That stumping is MS Dhoni at his best. It is nature, he has learned from tennis-ball cricket and it is just pure skill," Fleming added.

The impact player rule will give Dhoni a chance to maybe keep wickets for 20 overs but not use himself as a batter save a few occasions.

"Look, he knows, his power-hitting game is long gone. Like on Monday, he came ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. You could say it's because of maintaining the left-right combination but even then he took a chance because 15 balls were left.

"Had Jadeja gone out before him and got a first-ball duck, Dhoni might not have been able to finish the game," a former CSK player told PTI when asked how the skipper thinks.

So will he play next season? "My hunch is that he won't play as a batter anymore. He would perhaps still play a few games and check if he can run the team from dugout without being on the field. The moment, he cracks that code, he won't play anymore. For that if you read Fleming's words, he would try to fit in Devon Conway in that slot," the former player said.

After all, MSD is CSK and CSK is MSD.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Defending Champion Iga Swiatek Enters French Open Second Round

Defending champion Iga Swiatek overcame an early wobble to reach the French Open second round on Tuesday with a straights sets win over Cristina Bucsa of Spain. The world number one, bidding to become the first woman to successfully defend the title at Roland Garros since Justine Henin in 2007, came through 6-4, 6-0.

"I know this court pretty well and I am focusing on the future," said Swiatek, who could lose the top ranking to Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros.

Swiatek, the champion in Paris also in 2020, had dropped just one game to Bucsa when the pair met at the Australian Open in January.

She struggled for rhythm on Tuesday in a first set which featured five breaks of serve. However, once the opener was wrapped up, the 21-year-old swept aside Bucsa, ranked 70 in the world, in a 22-minute second set. Next up for Swiatek is a clash against either Ylena In-Albon of Switzerland or Claire Liu of the United States.                



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Monday, May 29, 2023

Different Shades Of Thala: Dhoni's Many Moods In IPL Final Last-Over Drama

From the start of IPL 2023, one man who was showered with all the adulation at every venue was MS Dhoni. Wherever Chennai Super Kings played, be it at home Chennai or in away matches, Dhoni had the crowd backing him. It was only fitting that it was Dhoni's CSK which lifted the title in Ahmedabad defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets. However, the task was not easy. Chasing 171 in 15 overs (the target was revised due to rain interruption), CSK  needed 13 off the last over. Only three runs were scored in the first four balls, but then the genius Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and a four off Mohit Sharma to take CSK over the line. MS Dhoni was not even looking at the play when the last ball was being bowled and he sat calmly in the dugout. 

But once the match was completed, even he too celebrated like a child and lifted Jadeja. 

Under the stewardship of the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings embellished their already fabulous record in the IPL with a fifth title triumph, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a thrilling summit showdown here on Monday.

Dhoni has been the cynosure of all eyes ever since the Indian Premier League began this year and in a fitting end to the finale, the captain finished with a record-levelling fifth trophy.

B Sai Sudharsan slammed 96 in 47 balls as Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four after being asked to bat first.

Set a revised target of 171 in 15 overs after rain interrupted play at the start of the second innings of a final that was pushed to the reserve day owing to heavy downpour, CSK completed the task in the last ball, in what could turn out to be Dhoni's final outing in the T20 league.

Ravindra Jadeja struck a six and a four off Mohit Sharma in the final two balls to win it for CSK and even as the players in the yellow jersey run onto the field, Dhoni remained in the dugout, his eyes closed.

With PTI inputs



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Watch: The Moment Jadeja Hit Last-Ball 4 To Clinch 5th IPL Title For CSK

At last, it was worth the wait. The IPL 2023 final which was supposed to end on May 28, finally finished on May 30 (IST) and MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings clinched a thriller for a record-equalling fifth IPL title. CSK completed the task in the last ball against defending champions Gujarat Titans at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in what could turn out to be the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni's final outing in the T20 league. Ravindra Jadeja struck a six and a four off Mohit Sharma in the final two balls to win it for CSK.

B Sai Sudharsan slammed 96 in 47 balls as Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four after being asked to bat first. Set a revised target of 171 in 15 overs after rain interrupted play at the start of the second innings of a final that was pushed to the reserve day owing to heavy downpour, CSK kept their calm till the end.

Earlier, GT were off to a flying start with their opening duo of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill putting on 67 runs in seven overs.

While Gill was sent back by star left-arm spinning all-rounder Jadeja for a 20-ball 39, Saha went on to make 54 off 39 balls to lay a strong foundation for a formidable total.

Saha was dismissed by seamer Deepak Chahar, who had dropped Gill when the batter was on 3.

Sudharsan, who has also been in good form in recent times, hit six sixes and eight fours in his whirlwind knock.

Tushar Deshpande gave away 56 runs in his four overs.

With PTI inputs



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Watch: The Moment Jadeja Hit Last-Ball 4 To Clinch 5th IPL Title For CSK

At last, it was worth the wait. The IPL 2023 final which was supposed to end on May 28, finally finished on May 30 (IST) and MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings clinched a thriller for a record-equalling fifth IPL title. CSK completed the task in the last ball against defending champions Gujarat Titans at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in what could turn out to be the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni's final outing in the T20 league. Ravindra Jadeja struck a six and a four off Mohit Sharma in the final two balls to win it for CSK.

B Sai Sudharsan slammed 96 in 47 balls as Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four after being asked to bat first. Set a revised target of 171 in 15 overs after rain interrupted play at the start of the second innings of a final that was pushed to the reserve day owing to heavy downpour, CSK kept their calm till the end.

Earlier, GT were off to a flying start with their opening duo of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill putting on 67 runs in seven overs.

While Gill was sent back by star left-arm spinning all-rounder Jadeja for a 20-ball 39, Saha went on to make 54 off 39 balls to lay a strong foundation for a formidable total.

Saha was dismissed by seamer Deepak Chahar, who had dropped Gill when the batter was on 3.

Sudharsan, who has also been in good form in recent times, hit six sixes and eight fours in his whirlwind knock.

Tushar Deshpande gave away 56 runs in his four overs.

With PTI inputs



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Sai Sudharshan Enters History Books, Breaks 9-Year-Old Record In IPL Final

Gujarat Titans' 21-year-old Sai Sudharsan played the scintillating innings to notch up the highest score by an uncapped player in the history of the Indian Premier League final. Sudharsan achieved this feat during the IPL 2023 final match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday where he played a sensational innings of 96 off just 47 balls. Sudharsan also became the second-youngest batter to score a half-century in the IPL final. At the age of 21 years and 226 days, He broke the record of Manan Vohra, who scored a fifty in the IPL 2014 final, at the age of 20 years and 318 days. GT acquired Sudharsan for Rs. 20 lakh in the IPL 2022 auction.

Coming to the match, Sai Sudharsan's sensational knock of 96 and Wriddhiman Saha's fine fifty propelled Gujarat Titans (GT) to 214/4 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 here at Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.

Sudharsan scored the highest for Gujarat with a sensational 96 off 47 deliveries while Saha played a fine knock of 54 off 39 balls. For CSK, Matheesha Pathirana bagged two while Deepak Chahar and Ravindra Jadeja scalped one wicket each.

After being put to bat first, Gujarat Titans got off to the finest start with their openers Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha slamming CSK bowlers all around the ground.

The Gujarat openers rotated the strike brilliantly, not allowing the CSK bowlers to settle down while whacking the loose balls on offer.

CSK's experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja provided his team with a big breakthrough as he dismissed star batter Gill for 39 off 20 balls in the seventh over of the game. However, Saha displayed great resilience and determination as he slammed CSK bowlers at regular intervals.

The left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan then came out to bat. The pair of Saha and Sudharsan took their team's target beyond the 100-run mark, stitching up a fine partnership.

Saha continued his blistering form as he brought up his half-century in 36 balls. Saha's innings at the crease was cut short as he was sent packing by Deepak Chahar after scoring 54 runs. GT captain and right-handed batter Hardik Pandya came out to bat.

Sudharsan opened his hands and slammed Maheesh Theekshana for two big sixes in the 15th over of the game. The fantastic youngster Sudharsan slammed a sensational half-century in 33 balls and kept the scoreboard ticking for Gujarat.

Sudharsan kept the momentum going for Gujarat Titans as he slammed boundaries at regular intervals. Sudharsan single-handedly hammered Tushar Deshpande for 20 runs with the help of three boundaries and one maximum in the 17th over.

Pandya and Sudharsan stitched up fifty run partnership stand in just 23 balls. Pandya and Sudharsan hammered Deshpande for 18 runs and guided their team beyond the 200-run mark.

CSK bowlers did not had any answer to Sudharsan's on slaughter as the batter kept hammering every bower all around the ground.

In the last over, Sudharsan slammed two back-to-back sixes, however, he lost his wicket to Matheesha Pathirana. Sudharsan fell short of 4 runs off making his maiden IPL century. Rashid Khan then came out to bat.

Pathirana then delivered superb balls and took the wicket of Rashid Khan on the last ball of the final over to restrict GT to 214/4 in 20 overs.



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Kohli Joins India Training Ahead Of WTC Final, Rohit To Join From Tuesday

Batting mainstay Virat Kohli joined the national team's training session on Monday at the picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Club along with left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who seemed to have recovered from left shoulder injury. India will play Australia at the Oval in the one-off Test from June 7 to 11. The BCCI on Monday shared pictures of the members of the team, including Kohli, pace duo of Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj on their official twitter handle. "Team India members begin their preparations for the WTC23 at Arundel Castle Cricket Club," BCCI said in a tweet.

While Kohli, Umesh and Siraj were seen jogging in their new training kit, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could be seen rolling his arm over at the nets.

Unadkat was also engaged in a discussion with head coach Rahul Dravid and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing for Sussex in the English county circuit to prepare for the final, also was seen arriving in the training ground.

Umesh and Shardul Thakur were among the first batch of Indian players to arrive for the WTC final.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and young Mumbai opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have also reached, while the last batch including Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, K S Bharat and Ajinkya Rahane, will be leaving on Tuesday following the IPL final in Ahmedabad.

Jaiswal was included in the squad as a stand-by player after Ruturaj Gaikwad informed BCCI about him getting married on June 3-4.

India had finished runners-up in 2022 after losing the WTC final to Kane Williamson-led New Zealand by eight wickets in Southampton two years ago.

India won't play any warm-up game as the English County Championship is on and also this being an ICC event, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is under no obligation to arrange practice matches for the visiting team.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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Kohli Joins India Training Ahead Of WTC Final, Rohit To Join From Tuesday

Batting mainstay Virat Kohli joined the national team's training session on Monday at the picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Club along with left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who seemed to have recovered from left shoulder injury. India will play Australia at the Oval in the one-off Test from June 7 to 11. The BCCI on Monday shared pictures of the members of the team, including Kohli, pace duo of Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj on their official twitter handle. "Team India members begin their preparations for the WTC23 at Arundel Castle Cricket Club," BCCI said in a tweet.

While Kohli, Umesh and Siraj were seen jogging in their new training kit, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could be seen rolling his arm over at the nets.

Unadkat was also engaged in a discussion with head coach Rahul Dravid and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing for Sussex in the English county circuit to prepare for the final, also was seen arriving in the training ground.

Umesh and Shardul Thakur were among the first batch of Indian players to arrive for the WTC final.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and young Mumbai opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have also reached, while the last batch including Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, K S Bharat and Ajinkya Rahane, will be leaving on Tuesday following the IPL final in Ahmedabad.

Jaiswal was included in the squad as a stand-by player after Ruturaj Gaikwad informed BCCI about him getting married on June 3-4.

India had finished runners-up in 2022 after losing the WTC final to Kane Williamson-led New Zealand by eight wickets in Southampton two years ago.

India won't play any warm-up game as the English County Championship is on and also this being an ICC event, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is under no obligation to arrange practice matches for the visiting team.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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Sunday, May 28, 2023

IPL 2023 Final, Reserve Day: Hourly Weather Report Of GT vs CSK Decider

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League couldn't crown a winner on Sunday, with excessive rain preventing a single ball from being bowled in the Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans decider at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match was pushed to Reserve Day (Monday), with the authorities and fans hoping that a full 40-over contest will be possible. After rain prevented a single ball from being bowled on Sunday, fans have their sights set on the weather forecast on Monday at Motera, Gujarat.

There simply isn't the worst sight than seeing cricketing action being suspended due to rain. Thankfully, there was a Reserve Day in place for the IPL 2023 final.

As far as the forecast goes, a full 40-over contest seems quite likely at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. Accuweather suggests that the skies would mostly remain clear throughout the day, with their being only a 3% chance of rain at night.

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Even if the hourly weather forecast is looked at, the chances of rain are negligible. Though there's a small possibility of rain during the day, during the match timings, the skies are mostly clear.

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The fans who had turned up for the match on Sunday can attend the match on Monday too with the same tickets, IPL had confirmed.

"The #Final of the #TATAIPL 2023 has been moved to the reserve day on 29th May - 7:30 PM IST at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Physical tickets for today will be valid tomorrow. We request you to keep the tickets safe & intact," IPL tweeted.

This is the first time in IPL history that a summit clash has moved to a reserve day. The postponement of the match was a shocker for many excited fans who were in the stadium as well as those who were waiting for the summit clash in their homes. Around 11 PM IPL made the official announcement and ended many speculations.

With PTI inputs 



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'Dhoni And Reserve Day' Bring Back Harrowing Memories Of 2019 WC Semis

The final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 headed into the Reserve Day after play could not be possible on Sunday due to persistent rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Fans turned up in numbers hoping to see MS Dhoni lift the IPL trophy for the 5th time in his career with the Chennai Super Kings but had to return home disappointed. Though Dhoni's men are scheduled to take on Gujarat Titans on Monday, the prospect of Dhoni playing on a 'Reserve Day' brought back some horrible memories.

It was the semi-final of the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup between India and New Zealand when the match had to be shifted to the 'Reserve Day' because of rain on the scheduled day. New Zealand pacers, particularly Matt Henry, ran riot in overcast conditions to put India on the backfoot early on.

The match also saw Dhoni, the last hope of the Indian team, being run-out by Martin Guptill, helping the Kiwis secure an 18-run win. The match turned out to be Dhoni's last in the Indian jersey, with the former skipper deciding to retire from international cricket a few months later.

Seeing the IPL 2023 final heading into a Reserve Day too, fans fear if this would be the last time they would see Dhoni bat in the IPL too.

After the Qualifier 1, Harsha Bhogle had asked Dhoni about his future plans. The former India captain didn't give a clear answer and said he has about 8-9 months to decide whether he will play next year or not.

"I don't know. I have 8-9 months to decide. The small auction will be around December. So why to take that headache right now? I have ample time to decide. But, I will always be there for CSK whether it's in the playing form or sitting somewhere outside. I don't really know," Dhoni had said.

As for the CSK vs GT final on Reserve Day, the name of the winner can be decided even via a Super Over if rain disrupts proceedings again. If play is not possible at all, Gujarat Titans will be declared winners as they finished higher in the league stage of the campaign.



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'What Truly Impressed Me...': Sachin's Praise For Gill Ahead Of IPL Final

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sachin Tendulkar showered praises on Gujarat Titans star Shubman Gill following his match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Qualifier 2. Gill was in sublime form as he scored 129 off just 60 deliveries with the help of 7 fours and 10 sixes. Sachin said that the knock was nothing short of unforgettable and the legend went on to laud the youngster for his temperament and unwavering calmness on the field.

“Shubman Gill's performance this season has been nothing short of unforgettable, marked by two centuries that left an indelible impact. One century ignited @mipaltan's hopes, while the other dealt them a crushing blow. Such is the unpredictable nature of cricket! What truly impressed me about Shubman's batting was his remarkable temperament, unwavering calmness, hunger for runs and astute running between the wickets,” Tendulkar said.

In a chat on ABP news, former India fast bowler Atul Wassan said that he feels Gill will 'swallow' the iconic trio of Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni as he grows as a cricketer.

"Mujhe to lag raha hai ye tridev ko ye Gill nigal jayega jis tarah se ye batting kar raha hai (I think Gill will swallow this legendary trio the way he has been batting)," Wassan said on ABP news when talking about Gill and his success against the likes of Kohli and Rohit in recent matches.

Wassan also said that MS Dhoni is the next in line (for Gill to beat), as Gujarat Titans are set to take on Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 final.

"I feel next in line is Mahi. Even the Gujarat Titans team has looked excellent. Mumbai were in the game with Suryakumar Yadav there, but Gujarat have a good bowling depth as well. Despite coming in as a new team, they have made an impact. We had seen such excellence from CSK. Talking about Gill, he is a well-grounded player. Anyone could lose focus given the money and fame in IPL, but Gill has looked composed," he said.



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'What Truly Impressed Me...': Sachin's Praise For Gill Ahead Of IPL Final

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sachin Tendulkar showered praises on Gujarat Titans star Shubman Gill following his match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Qualifier 2. Gill was in sublime form as he scored 129 off just 60 deliveries with the help of 7 fours and 10 sixes. Sachin said that the knock was nothing short of unforgettable and the legend went on to laud the youngster for his temperament and unwavering calmness on the field.

“Shubman Gill's performance this season has been nothing short of unforgettable, marked by two centuries that left an indelible impact. One century ignited @mipaltan's hopes, while the other dealt them a crushing blow. Such is the unpredictable nature of cricket! What truly impressed me about Shubman's batting was his remarkable temperament, unwavering calmness, hunger for runs and astute running between the wickets,” Tendulkar said.

In a chat on ABP news, former India fast bowler Atul Wassan said that he feels Gill will 'swallow' the iconic trio of Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni as he grows as a cricketer.

"Mujhe to lag raha hai ye tridev ko ye Gill nigal jayega jis tarah se ye batting kar raha hai (I think Gill will swallow this legendary trio the way he has been batting)," Wassan said on ABP news when talking about Gill and his success against the likes of Kohli and Rohit in recent matches.

Wassan also said that MS Dhoni is the next in line (for Gill to beat), as Gujarat Titans are set to take on Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 final.

"I feel next in line is Mahi. Even the Gujarat Titans team has looked excellent. Mumbai were in the game with Suryakumar Yadav there, but Gujarat have a good bowling depth as well. Despite coming in as a new team, they have made an impact. We had seen such excellence from CSK. Talking about Gill, he is a well-grounded player. Anyone could lose focus given the money and fame in IPL, but Gill has looked composed," he said.



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Australian Trio Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques, Adam Zampa To Feature In Major League Cricket

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques and Adam Zampa have become the latest Australia players who are set to feature in the inaugural edition of the United States T20 tournament. Henriques will take up the captaincy role for the Washington Freedom franchise. The 36-year-old has led the Big Bash League franchise the Sixers to back-to-back titles in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He could still be joined by two more BBL teammates as opening batter Josh Philippe and fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis are also being linked to the Washington franchise for the July tournament.

On the other hand, Australia's star white-ball spinner Adam Zampa is also set to join the Kolkata Knight Riders-owned franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders. While Matthew Wade is another to have signed with an MLC club.

Zampa and Wade who have spent the past two months in the Indian Premier League outfits Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans respectively.

Zampa has claimed eight wickets in six matches for the Royals, while the versatile wicketkeeper-batter has struggled to make his way into the playing XI of the defending champions. Former India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has kept him out of the side for almost the entire season.

Till now, Washington has announced the most number of overseas signings out of the six MLC franchises with Henriques joining South African pair of Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen, New Zealand's Glenn Phillips and Adam Milne, and Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

CNSW Head of Male Elite Cricket Michael Klinger, has been tasked with heading the Washington Freedom's high-performance program has said that he was "pleasantly surprised" with the quality of players in the US while speaking to cricket.com.au.

"The talent is there, there's no doubt about that. There's a lot of ex-players from the subcontinent who've played international cricket or been part of IPL franchises or PSL (Pakistan Super League) franchises," Klinger said.

"There were players who had been in first-class systems in the subcontinent, first-class systems in South Africa who left for different reasons. So there was definitely a positive feel about the quality that was there and that they'd be able to match it against some of our high quality overseas players as well," Klinger concluded.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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CSK vs GT: Final Of IPL 2023 Moved To Reserved Day Due To Persistent Rains

The final of the Indian Premier League 2023 was on Sunday moved to the reserved day after relentless rains delayed the toss and subsequently the start of the summit showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The announcement was made at 10:55 pm local time. The title clash between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, thus, will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday. With the weather forecast not being too promising for the final on Sunday, it only kept getting worse for the fans who had turned up to pack the house.

It began raining at the venue in the evening half an hour before the toss time - around 6:30 pm local time - and did not stop for longer durations at least for the next two-and-a-half hours.

The rain, however, did stop after 9:00 pm local time and the covers were taken off, with two super sopper already in action from around 8:30 pm IST.

However, heavy spell of rain returned to force the ground staff to cover the field again and players off the pitch, who had started warming up.

There were some serious puddles on the covers and exposed parts of the outfield, which would have taken the groundstaff more than a hour to clear, provided the rain had stopped.

As per the rules, the IPL final will have a reserve day - Monday, May 29 in this year's case - in case the match is not able to start by 12:06am cut-off time, in which case there will be a five-overs per-side contest.

There are no such predictions of rain here on Monday, which means that there is full possibility of a 20-20 over match.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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Saturday, May 27, 2023

"Prithvi Shaw Thinks He Is A Star And...": Shubman Gill's Childhood Coach

Former U19 World Cup winners for India in 2018, Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw have had two contrasting journies since winning the coveted trophy as teenagers. While Gill has gone on to become a pillar in the Indian team across all three formats, Shaw is struggling to even be a part of the national squad in any of the three formats. Launching a scathing attack on Shaw's attitude, Gill's childhood coach claimed that the Delhi Capitals opener thinks he is already a star and can't be touched by anyone.

"They were in the same team that won the U-19 World Cup in 2018, right? Today where is Prithvi Shaw and where is Shubman Gill? They are in two different categories," Karsan Ghavri was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

"Shaw thinks he is a star and nobody can touch him. But he needs to understand that at the international level, irrespective of whether you are playing T20, 50 over or the Test match or even the Ranji Trophy, it takes only one delivery to get you out.

Garvi, who coached Gill as an 11-year-old, said that to excel at the highest level, one requires discipline and temperament.s Shaw has struggled to show both of these traits, having put in fairly inconsistent performances, not just for India but also for his IPL franchise.

"You require discipline and a good temperament. You need to constantly work on yourself. You are required to occupy the crease, and if you do that, you are bound to get more runs," Ghavri said.

Suggesting all is not lost yet, Ghavri wants Shaw to work on his flaws, put in the hard yards, and emerge as a stronger player in the future.

"They are of the same age. Nothing has been lost yet. Gill has worked on his flaws, while Shaw hasn't. He still can. He needs to work hard; otherwise, there is no point in having so much potential," he says.

In IPL 2023 season, Shaw played the first six games of Delhi Capitals, scoring 12, 7, 0, 15, 0, and 13 before he was dropped. He came into the team again for the final two games, scoring one half-century. But, couldn't change critics' perception of his batting.



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"Prithvi Shaw Thinks He Is A Star And...": Shubman Gill's Childhood Coach

Former U19 World Cup winners for India in 2018, Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw have had two contrasting journies since winning the coveted trophy as teenagers. While Gill has gone on to become a pillar in the Indian team across all three formats, Shaw is struggling to even be a part of the national squad in any of the three formats. Launching a scathing attack on Shaw's attitude, Gill's childhood coach claimed that the Delhi Capitals opener thinks he is already a star and can't be touched by anyone.

"They were in the same team that won the U-19 World Cup in 2018, right? Today where is Prithvi Shaw and where is Shubman Gill? They are in two different categories," Karsan Ghavri was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

"Shaw thinks he is a star and nobody can touch him. But he needs to understand that at the international level, irrespective of whether you are playing T20, 50 over or the Test match or even the Ranji Trophy, it takes only one delivery to get you out.

Garvi, who coached Gill as an 11-year-old, said that to excel at the highest level, one requires discipline and temperament.s Shaw has struggled to show both of these traits, having put in fairly inconsistent performances, not just for India but also for his IPL franchise.

"You require discipline and a good temperament. You need to constantly work on yourself. You are required to occupy the crease, and if you do that, you are bound to get more runs," Ghavri said.

Suggesting all is not lost yet, Ghavri wants Shaw to work on his flaws, put in the hard yards, and emerge as a stronger player in the future.

"They are of the same age. Nothing has been lost yet. Gill has worked on his flaws, while Shaw hasn't. He still can. He needs to work hard; otherwise, there is no point in having so much potential," he says.

In IPL 2023 season, Shaw played the first six games of Delhi Capitals, scoring 12, 7, 0, 15, 0, and 13 before he was dropped. He came into the team again for the final two games, scoring one half-century. But, couldn't change critics' perception of his batting.



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"Why Are You...?": Chahar Recalls Incident When Dhoni Scolded Pacer

IPL 2019 was a breakthrough year for Chennai Super Kings' star pacer Deepak Chahar. He was bought by CSK in IPL 2018 and the next season saw him picking up a total of 22 wickets across 17 matches at an economy of 7.47. While Chahar ended the season well in terms of his individual performance, an incident during the edition also saw him getting almost scared by MS Dhoni. It was CSK's match against Punjab Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. With PBKS needing 39 runs in 12 balls, Dhoni handed the ball to Chahar, who bowled two back-to-back beamers at the start of the over and got to face the wrath of the CSK captain.

During a recent interview, Chahar recalled the moment where Dhoni scolded him and later acknowledged his comeback in the over.

"Sarfaraz (Khan) was batting and I was bowling in the death for the first time. There was (Dwayne) Bravo and Shardul (Thakur) as they can't bowl with the new ball. He (Dhoni) didn't used to bowl me in the death over because of Shardul and Bravo. But Bravo got injured. He saw me bowling in the nets and was satisfied," said Chahar to Gaurav Kapur during an episode of Breakfast with Champions.

"The match was tight as they needed 40-42 (39) in the last three overs. I bowled a slower one but twisted my ankle. I tried it again but once again it was a high full toss. I was thinking that 'I have bowled two waist high no balls and my chance won't come. My death over bowling career is finished'. He came to me and said 'You act smart. You know everything. Why are you bowling in this manner?' And I was looking down and thinking 'it is the end of my career'. But I gave away 5 runs in the remaining five balls and he gave me a hug after the match," added the CSK pacer.

Despite bowling two beamers in the over, the umpires let Chahar bowl as both were slower deliveries. CSK went on to win the game by 22 runs.



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"Why Are You...?": Chahar Recalls Incident When Dhoni Scolded Pacer

IPL 2019 was a breakthrough year for Chennai Super Kings' star pacer Deepak Chahar. He was bought by CSK in IPL 2018 and the next season saw him picking up a total of 22 wickets across 17 matches at an economy of 7.47. While Chahar ended the season well in terms of his individual performance, an incident during the edition also saw him getting almost scared by MS Dhoni. It was CSK's match against Punjab Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. With PBKS needing 39 runs in 12 balls, Dhoni handed the ball to Chahar, who bowled two back-to-back beamers at the start of the over and got to face the wrath of the CSK captain.

During a recent interview, Chahar recalled the moment where Dhoni scolded him and later acknowledged his comeback in the over.

"Sarfaraz (Khan) was batting and I was bowling in the death for the first time. There was (Dwayne) Bravo and Shardul (Thakur) as they can't bowl with the new ball. He (Dhoni) didn't used to bowl me in the death over because of Shardul and Bravo. But Bravo got injured. He saw me bowling in the nets and was satisfied," said Chahar to Gaurav Kapur during an episode of Breakfast with Champions.

"The match was tight as they needed 40-42 (39) in the last three overs. I bowled a slower one but twisted my ankle. I tried it again but once again it was a high full toss. I was thinking that 'I have bowled two waist high no balls and my chance won't come. My death over bowling career is finished'. He came to me and said 'You act smart. You know everything. Why are you bowling in this manner?' And I was looking down and thinking 'it is the end of my career'. But I gave away 5 runs in the remaining five balls and he gave me a hug after the match," added the CSK pacer.

Despite bowling two beamers in the over, the umpires let Chahar bowl as both were slower deliveries. CSK went on to win the game by 22 runs.



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CSK Better Prepared For IPL Final Compared To Past, Says Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming on Saturday said that the four-time winners are better prepared for the IPL final against Gujarat Titans than any other time in the past, when conditions affected their performance. Fleming said CSK's win-loss ratio remained around 50 per cent because they would usually build and prepare their squads keeping the conditions and pitches at the home venue at Chepauk in mind, but that is not the case anymore. He said the team would be ready for any conditions -- there are rains expected during the final here on Sunday -- and that they have erred in reading conditions and pitches in the past.

“We geared ourselves up so well for Chennai that we did struggle with conditions at times in away games, so the finals were always a little bit of a challenge, and our record is about 50 per cent of winning the final," Fleming said during the pre-match press conference.

"It is maybe due to the style of the game we created — a victim of being so good at home that we had to make adjustments when we went to a neutral venue.” Fleming said CSK were "a bit more rounded" this year.

"Because of that going back to Chennai (for Qualifier 1), it was hard. I wanted to bowl (first) in the last qualifying game and batting proved to be the right call and MS (Dhoni) was the other way in the last game,” he said.

“So we are well off the mark in trying to get the conditions right but the team is rounded enough to put performances together. Come the final, we are not worried as to what conditions we get, there are two pitches to choose from now but we are not too worried. We are a lot better placed than what we had been in the past,” he said.

The former New Zealand captain said that making early breakthroughs will be key for his side as GT batter Shubman Gill's red-hot form presents the biggest challenge for CSK. "He (Gill) is playing really well. It (the plans) does not really change, you hope that you pick him up early, you have enough firepower to create an opportunity. The only thing that we are looking at is when you have got openers, when they are in such good form, there is an opportunity to get into the middle order.

"If we can get a couple of early breakthroughs then, (just like) in the last game we played there is an opportunity. But we got to get past him, he is playing really well," Fleming said.

For someone who has won IPL title four times with CSK, Fleming said it is not easy winning the trophy back-to-back.

“So hard! It is impossible, it is going to be so hard for them (GT) to do it (laughs). No, they are a good side; you got to say ‘really well done' to what they have put together in a short space of time,” he said.

“I like the coaching staff a lot, they are really balanced guys. Ashish, for all his talking, has got a really good grasp of the game, his enthusiasm is really high after working with him in Chennai. We have a huge amount of respect for what they have done but it is very hard to go back to back.” Gujarat Titans' team director Vikram Solanki also returned the favour, but added that knowledge of conditions in their ‘home ground' here should hold them in good stead.

“We are definitely better for the experience for having played here, having played in the final (last year) here, and having been successful in those big games. We are better for it,” he said.

“We entirely appreciate this sort of respect CSK have given. They have been a fabulous team for a good number of years now and we respect that. We are confident; what transpires on the day is what transpires on the day,” Solanki added.

Solanki praised GT's bowling trio of Mohammad Shami (28 wickets), Rashid Khan (27 wickets) and Mohit Sharma (24 wickets), who also are the top three wicket-takers in this IPL.

“If you look at the tournament in its entirety, the impact player rule has had a bearing on the number of batsmen that are playing, therefore, wicket-taking becomes all the more important. We have always being attacking minded, an attack that is able to take wickets in different conditions through different phases of the game,” he said.

“That is our go-to, the ability to take wickets. All three have been quite brilliant this year, they have worked extremely hard and they deserve all the success that is coming their way.” The former England batter said at just 23, Gill could be an example for young batters to model their batting on.

“For a young man, he is quite a brilliant technician as far as batting is concerned. He would certainly be one of the examples that you would like to use for young players on how to bat,” Solanki said.

“He has all of the qualities of a world-class player and he is just showing his skill level. Fortunately for us, he is in good form, he works very hard on his game, not just in practice. He is very conscious of the opposition that he is going to face, where he is likely to gain advantage, what are the dangers, what are the things that he is going to have to deal with."



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Friday, May 26, 2023

Virender Sehwag Picks Top-5 Batters In IPL 2023. Kohli, Gill Not In List

Only one match remains in the Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) 2023. Over the last two months, the 10 franchises competed intensely with some doing it better than the other. The tournament also saw several great batting performances. This was the first time that two uncapped batters - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prabhsimran Singh - scored centuries in one edition of the league. Also, India stars Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill his two ceneturies each. After such a great show, ahead of Gujarat Titans' Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Virender Sehwag picked the 'top-five batters' according to him.

"Mere 5 Pandavas. Cricket's Pandav. My pick for five batters in the IPL. I have not picked many openers because they get a lot of opportunities. The first batter who comes to my mind in Rinku Singh. I don't think you would ask me the reason. Because it has never happened that a batter has won the team a match by hitting five straight sixes. Only Rinku Singh has done it. The second middle-order batter is Shivam Dube. He has hit 33 sixes, his strike-rate is over 160. Last few seasons have not been special but this year he came with a clear-cut mindset that he has to come and hit sixes," Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz

"The third is a brilliant opener. I have to take his name because his brilliant batting has forced me to pick him up. Yashasvi Jaiswal. Then comes SKY. I am taking Suryakumar Yadav's name because he was not in form. In international cricket he was getting zeroes. In IPL also he was not doing well at the start, but then he started doing well.  Last, I can pick anybody by doing a toss because there are so many. But I will pick another middle-order batter and his name is Heinrich Klaasen. The team he was playing for (SRH), he was batting for them in the middle order, he made the most number runs. His ability to hit against spin and pace is rarely seen in a foreign player."

Interestingly, Sehwag's list has two uncapped players too. 



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