IPL 2016, RPS vs RCB: Harsha Bhogle takes a dig at Mahendra Singh Dhoni after uncharacteristic knock

Right through the tournament, the senior commentator has offered insights for followers of the game on social media and newspaper columns.
On Friday, Bhogle took at dig at Rising Pune Supergiants skipper MS Dhoni after he was dismissed for 41 off 38 balls.
Dhoni walked in to bat after Steve Smith's dismissal but was unable to finish the match for his side.
The wicketkeeper-batsman started off slowly and lost his wicket when it was time to go for the big hits.

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Taking to social micro-blogging site Twitter, Bhogle wrote, "180+ run chase. 41 (38) can't win it for you. Some days it might come off but most days it won't from there."

180+ run chase. 41 (38) can't win it for you. Some days it might come off but most days it won't from there

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 22, 2016

Bhogle's serious cricket observation, was seen through the prism of the recent controversy involving him by most of his followers.
It is believed that Dhoni was unhappy with an Indian commentator during the ICC WT20. This was evident when he endorsed Amitabh Bachchan's remarks after India's 1-run win over Bangladesh.
While Bhogle's name was never mentioned, his sacking by the BCCI meant something was not right.

Source--zeenews.india

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Pep Guardiola’s arrival an inflection point in Premier League history

Over 20,000 professional players deemed not one footballer from the English Premier League worthy of starring in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2015, as was revealed at the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich's Kongresshaus.
Barring England, all European hotbeds – Spain, France, Italy and Germany – found representation in a team comprising football’s crème de la crème from the continent.
This has been a recurring theme at the gala in recent years. Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic in 2012 was the last player, having played a full season for an English club, to make the cut.

Premier League’s elite clubs continue to struggle against their contemporaries from the La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A on the grand stage of the world’s biggest club competition year on year.
The Football Association’s flagship brand is the oldest and most watched football league in the world. Sadly, it isn’t the best league in the world. While squad depths of all 20 clubs make for an exciting league, the gap between the best in England and Spain is only growing.
The Premier League’s top dogs come up a cropper against the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League. If a list of the world’s top 20 players is compiled, not more than two players from England will be part of it at the moment.
From Cristiano Ronaldo to Gareth Bale, Premier League stars continue to be seduced by the prospect of playing in Madrid and Barcelona. Despite a gigantic television rights deal, English top-flight football has fallen out of favor with the very best in the business.
Barring Sergio Aguero, no players of genuine game-changing repute have moved the other way. Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Angel di Maria did, only because they were surplus to requirements at their respective La Liga clubs.
From the perspective of Premier League football fans, a heartening new trend has taken shape of late that could gradually help England regain its position as the ultimate club football destination.
Managers of pedigree – Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and Jurgen Klopp – have jumped on the Premier League caravan in the last two years. This clearly is a positive development for the league’s brand. The best players want to work with the game’s best minds, which is why influential managers are pivotal. High-profile figures like these help elevate the stature of a league.
Come June 30, another name will join England’s managerial heavyweights. Manchester City gatecrashed transfer deadline day, announcing Manuel Pellegrini’s summer replacement as the irrepressible Pep Guardiola.
Pep’s credentials are mighty but not spotless. While he ticked all the boxes with the Catalan giants, the missing Champions League trophy with the Bavarians should count as a major miss.
Sheik Mansour has signed the best-paid manager in world football with the singular motive of winning a Champions League. Some believe the Spaniard will make City serial winners, while other feel he could build a dynasty rivaling Sir Alex Ferguson.
Guardiola inherited winning teams at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. This City side is not on the same level as both of Pep’s previous employers. Hence whether Pep can bring transformational
change to the blue half of Manchester remains debatable at this juncture.
However, what is not a matter of debate is the value the 45-year-old brings to City and the Premier League in general. Pulling power
While Lionel Messi, may still be out of bounds for City, Pep will use his pulling power to sign some of the best players in the world. With him in charge, the club will automatically become a popular destination for all the big names. Considering the resources at his disposal, Guardiola will inject City’s already formidable squad with more world-class talent. The opportunity of working under him will be hard for any player to resist.
Play, possession and position
With the Spaniard at the helm, City fans can expect their team to play way better next season. As the great Thierry Henry revealed on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Pep orders his players to stick to a rigid positional system, allowing ‘freedom’ in the final third. No player from the right can move over to the left and vice-versa in Pep’s system. His obsessive approach will help City operate at an extremely high level of efficiency.
Added focus on youth
There is no doubt Pep’s arrival will lead to a rejig of City’s squad. The club’s new youth academy will be the biggest beneficiary of life under the new manager. Guardiola is known to spend considerable time in supervising the development of young players. From nurturing La Masia’s golden generation, to ushering Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich into Bayern’s first team, Pep pays special attention to young talent.
Extraordinary style
Guardiola’s teams play with a distinct style. His system is a cross between thrilling attacking football and organizational discipline in defense. Pep’s drills his philosophy of fierce pressing and speedy attack into the entire squad. He is no advocate of one particular style. The intelligence of his plan lies in its flexibility. At heart, Pep is a pragmatist, which is why his approach will be wedded to City’s strengths.
With 19 trophies in six-and-a-half seasons, Pep’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium marks a definitive moment in Premier League’s history. His unrelenting pursuit of perfection and meticulous attention to detail will not just bolster City but also raise the benchmark of excellence in the league. More importantly, the hallmark of brand Pep, its credibility, will help England’s top-flight football regain its importance and influence in Europe.
Source- zeenews.india

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Virat Kohli: Facets which define the supreme rise of star Indian batsman

Chaitan Papnai Real Picture

‘Miracles don’t happen; you have to make your own miracle,’ thus Virat Kohli and others sold India's World Twenty20 dreams in a promotional video. It's a different matter that it failed to come to fruition. But the tag line seems apt for the top-order Indian batsman, who has made it a habit of taking his team out of trouble more often than not.
His unbeaten match-winning knock against a formidable Australian bowling line-up, in a virtual quarter-final clash of the World T20, was one such act. The dynamic cricketer has done this so many times in the past that his fans now expect such performances every time he steps on to the field.
With the help of his sheer hardwork and strong will, the Delhi batsman has taken his game to another level. His miraculous 55* against Pakistan and 82* against Australia and a splendid 89* against eventual champions West Indies in WT20, illustrates how well he reads the game.

It seems as if he has started to meander his aggression in the right direction. His sheer chutzpah and ability to take up the challenge head-on make him a dangerous batsman.
Here are the five factors that make Virat Kohli a superstar in the gentleman’s game.
Conventional style: In the slam-bang version of the game, where most of the batsmen try cheeky shots to score runs at a rapid pace, Kohli has a knack of playing with the straight bat and hitting conventional shots. His ability to find gaps and hit boundaries at will, even when the ball is not coming on to the bat, puts the opposition bowlers and skippers under immense pressure. England’s Joe Root and Kohli are possibly the only two batsmen in contemporary cricket who can snatch the game away even while playing proper copy book shots in the shortest format. Art of finding gaps with ease and playing in the ‘V’ makes their batting look even more beautiful.
Fitness: It is certainly an important part in the life of a sportsperson, but in the Indian cricket team, Kohli is a fitness freak, who religiously hits the gym to strengthen his body. That’s the reason he is one of the best fielders in the Indian team and an outstanding runner between the wickets. His sprints in WT20, especially against Australia and West Indies were a treat to watch. The way he ran between the wickets and put the fielding units under constant pressure shows how fitness can help you push your limits and achieve the target with ease.
Finisher: At a time when many are of the view that an ageing Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s has lost his mojo to finish off the games, run-machine Kohli seems to have taken up the role for the Indian team. His record while chasing has always been exceptional, but the way he has been finishing games of late for Team India has proved that he has taken his game to next level. The big-match player is emerging as a new finisher for his side. Considering the fact that he is not a big hitter of the ball, his ability to pace innings to perfection while chasing – irrespective of the target, big or small – forces the opposition to doff their hats to the stylish cricketer.
Consistency: This is the hallmark of his batting and that’s the reason the 27-year-old has been the mainstay of Indian cricket team for the last half-a-decade or so, in all forms of the game. Even with so many big-hitters and dangerous batsmen in world cricket, Kohli has managed to make a special place for himself. In limited-overs cricket, he has a stupendous average of over 50 (in ODIs & T20Is), with 25 tons and 52 half-centuries. In Test cricket, his average is a shade above 44, with 11 hundreds and 12 fifties under his belt. More than anything else, his stature is growing with every passing match.
New facet of his personality: Kohli is known for his flamboyance and on-field antics, but of late, he has shown a new side of his personality. He praised tainted Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir openly for his memorable spell against India in the Asia Cup T20. In fact, he then went a step further to gift him a bat ahead of the high-profile cash against the arch-rivals in the WT20. His demeanor has changed significantly over the years. Now one can easily feel the tranquility in his personality, which was missing earlier. He bats more purposefully now, which is certainly a good sign for the future of Indian cricket.
Barring the forgettable England tour, the Delhi-lad has hardly disappointed with the willow. The way he has been batting, he is not just destined to break many cricket records in the near future but to become an icon of young cricketers as well

Source-zeenews.india.

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FIFA sets up worker welfare body for 2022 Qatar World Cup

governing body FIFA urged Qatar to hasten improvements in safety and labour conditions for builders working on sites for the 2022 World Cup and declared:"we will not just sit and wait".

Gianni Infantino, on a two-day visit to Qatar, announced plans for a special working group to monitor the situation and achnowledged there were still "many challenges".
Amnesty International reported on abuses in Qatar`s preparations for the World Cup in a wide-ranging report three weeks ago based on the accounts of 132 workers at the sites.
It found construction workers from Nepal and India had been charged recruitment fees and housed in squalid conditions.
Infantino said Qatar, the tournament`s first Arab host, supported the monitoring initiative.
"I acknowledge very much the efforts which are being done. I want to see these efforts now being put in practice," Infantino, elected as president of the scandal-plagued federation in February, told reporters. "Of course we will not just sit and wait.
"FIFA will step up its efforts in overseeing....in order to ensure the protection of the workers` rights in the construction of the FIFA World Cup sites is fulfilled".
AMNESTY ACCUSATIONS
The head of Qatar`s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Hassan al-Thawadi, has said Doha is working to reduce abuses he described as occurring on construction sites all over the world.
Infantino faces pressure from human rights groups to press for reform of labour laws in Qatar including its "kafala" sponsorship system, whereby employers effectively control a worker`s freedom to leave the country.
Infantino said he had told Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani measures taken by Qatari authorities to ensure fair working conditions were going in the right direction.
"I, of course, discussed with the prime minister this morning about this topic, about the Kafala (sponsorship) legislation, about how it will be, or how it is going to change with regard to the workers," he said.
Switzerland`s attorney-general has launched a investigation into FIFA`s decision to award the event to Qatar, as well as the 2018 World Cup to Russia, at a vote in December 2010 in Zurich.
But Infantino said there was no question of the tournament being held elsewhere.
In an earlier statement issued by FIFA, Infantino said the hosting of the World Cup was an opportunity to set a benchmark for fair conditions for all workers in Qatar.


Source-- zeenews.india

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Chinese Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg extends win streak in Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton seventh

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Shanghai: Nico Rosberg claimed a dominant win in an action-packed Formula One Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his championship lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, who battled up to seventh with some feisty driving after starting last.

Rosberg crossed the line a mammoth 37.7 seconds ahead of German compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who recovered after colliding with his Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner, to claim his third win from three races this season.
Daniil Kvyat finished third to score Red Bull their first podium finish since September’s Singapore Grand Prix but the Russian had to defend himself after the race when an angry Vettel blamed him for the collision between the Ferraris.
Sunday’s win was the 17th of Rosberg’s career and extends his streak of race victories to six, dating back to last November’s Mexican Grand Prix.
The German now leads Hamilton at the top of the standings by 36 points with 18 rounds of a record 21-race season to run.
Hamilton, who had started from dead last after failing to set a time in Saturday’s qualifying session due to an engine problem, finished seventh, running into further trouble at the start when he lost his front wing in a first-corner collision.
The Briton used some good-old fashioned racing nous and clever strategy from Mercedes to work his way up to third, but his challenge faded in the later stages of the race.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth. The Australian rocketed off the line from second on the grid and shot past Rosberg into an early lead, but was pushed onto the back foot after being forced into an early stop by a tyre failure.
Raikkonen, who came off worse in the first-corner collision with team mate Vettel, was sixth ahead of Felipe Massa of Williams.
Max Verstappen was eighth ahead of Toro Rosso team mate Carlos Sainz, while Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top ten for Williams.
The race was interrupted by an early safety car after a series of incidents at the very first corner left debris across the track.
The safety car led to a chopping and changing of the order with some drivers choosing to pit even as others stayed out, putting a mix of tyre strategies into play.
Source- zeenews.india.

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Rejuvenated Rafael Nadal defeats Gael Monfils for ninth Monte Carlo title

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Monte Carlo: Rafael Nadal needed nearly three hours to defeat Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 on Sunday and win a record ninth title at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The Spaniard claimed his first trophy in the Principality since 2012 as he played in his 100th final and tenth in Monte Carlo.
Nadal`s win pulled him level with ATP leader Novak Djokovic on 28 trophies at the Masters 1000 level.
Nadal improved to 12-2 over Monfils as he won a first Masters honour since Madrid in May, 2014.
Nadal and Monfils were both plagued by unforced errors in the tight contest, with the winner striking 36 while Monfils made more than 50.
The match was also riddled with 34 break points, with Nadal converting on eight of 21 while Monfils managed five of 13.
"It`s great to win a Masters title again," Nadal said.
"I had a tough season last years. but I`ve had better preparation this year, even with a tough start to the season.
"I hope this week will help me a lot," the Spaniard said as he prepared to move onto his home clay of Barcelona next week.
Nadal now owns 68 titles and will carry on in the run-up to the French Open with renewed confidence; Monfils can take small consolation after winning his first-ever set against Nadal on clay.
The opening set took almost an hour and a quarter and set the stage for the second, which at one point featured three consecutive breaks of serve out to 4-4.
Monfils moved into winning position with a break for 6-5 and kept the struggle alive as he won the set for one apiece.
But the third was all Nadal as the Spanish fifth seed swept to a love finish to win his eighth clay match against the Frenchman without a defeat.
Nadal improved his superlative tournament record to 58-4 after winning eight straight titles from 2005-2012. His last finals appearance here was in 2013 when he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Nadal`s specialist record on his favoured clay is all but untouchable, with the 14-time Grand Slam winner standing 48-8 in clay finals
Source- zeenews.india

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Bengaluru FC ease past Salgaocar FC to claim second I-League title in three years

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Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC were on Sunday crowned as I-League football champions for the second time in three years as they blanked Salgaocar 2-0 in their penultimate league match here today.

Eugenson Lyngdoh (8th minute) and Seminlen Doungel (87th) socred for Bengaluru as Ashley Westwood-coached side took full three points to clinch their second I-League title in front of their home crowd at the Kanteerava Stadium.
They had won their maiden crown in 2013-14 season and had finished second last season (2014-15) behind Mohun Bagan.
With 32 points from 15 matches, Bengaluru took an unassailable five point lead from currently second-placed Mohun Bagan (27 points from 15 matches) with one match to spare.
This means that their last league fixture against Mohun Bagan on April 23 in Siliguri has been rendered inconsequential as far as I-League title is concerned.
But that match will have importance for deciding the second-place finisher as East Bengal (25 points from 15 matches) are currently at third just two points behind Mohun Bagan.
East Bengal can finish at second if they beat Shillong Lajong in their last match on April 24 in Shillong and Mohun Bagan lose against Bengaluru.
Seeking to clinch the title today itself, Westwood fielded the first choice eleven for the clash with Curtis Osano and John Johnson returning to the fold as centre halves with Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Michael Collins manning the midfield.
Youngster Malsawmzuala got a start with Udanta Singh as the wingmen. Skipper Sunil Chhetri combined with Korean Kim Seong Yong to form the attacking nucleus of the 'Blues'.
It took just eight minutes for Bengaluru FC to open the scoring through Eugeneson Lyngdoh. The India midfielder scored his third goal in his comeback from injury as he latched onto a loose ball from Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh's punch off a cross from the left.
Unmarked 25 yards out, Lyngdoh drove it straight across the ground with a right footer to take the early lead and leave the Goans fluttered.
Salgaocar tried to make a comeback as Jackichand Singh made his way past a couple of defenders but Amrinder Singh was quick to get onto the ball. Thangjam Saran Singh was booked after he brought down Udanta Singh during a Lyngdoh freekick and Salgaocar never really pressed after that during the first half.
Kim Seong Yong could have added the second goal for Bengaluru but was blocked by Leny Pereira and on the second attempt off it, Eder did well to deny Sunil Chhetri from close range.
Six minutes past the half hour mark, Salgaocar keeper Karanjit pulled off fine save, diving to his left to deny Michael Collins.
After some lighting related interruption, the second half started with Salgaocar tried to break the resolute Bengaluru defense but were unable to create much of an impact with their attempts.
Skipper Chhetri set up the second goal for Bengaluru which sealed the title three minutes from time. After a fine move at the left channel, Chhetri squared the ball into the box and with Salgaocar keeper Karanjit out of his line, substitute Seminlen Doungel was there to calmly dab the ball into the open net.
The Kanteerava crowd erupted to wild cheers as the referee blew the whistle.
Source-- zeenews.india

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Inzamam-ul-Haq takes heavy paycut for Pakistan coaching job: Report

Zee Media Bureau

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New Delhi: In order to become the next coach of the Pakistan cricket team, former cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq has agreed to take a heavy pay cut.

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Inzamam-ul-Haq quits as Afghanistan coach to become Pakistan chief selector

According to a report in The Indian Express, Inzy took a hefty pay cut of 4 lakh rupees from existing monthly salary of 12 lakh that he drew from Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
Earlier, the Pakistani legend resigned after almost eight months before the expiry of his contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
According to a statement ACB, Inzamam resigned from his post considering his national obligations, pointing towards upheaval in Pakistan cricket.

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ICC World T20: There are no security concerns in India, says Inzamam ul Haq

The statement by ACB further added that Inzamam has hailed the professional co-operation of the Afghan team and cricket board, khaama. com reported on Sunday.
ACB also added that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan spoke regarding Inzamam’s resignation as Afghanistan cricket head coach had requested Shafiqullah Stanikzai to cooperate in this regard.
Under Inzamam, Afghanistan had a decent outing at the ICC World Twenty20, where they defeated West Indies, who went on to win their second title.
Source-- zeenews.india.

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Indian Premier League, Match 13: Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Preview

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Mohali: Having notched up their first victory against Pune Supergiants, an upbeat Kings XI Punjab face the all-round might of two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League cricket tournament encounter, here on Tuesday.

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Watch: When KXIP's Mitchell Johnson showed his football skills against Gujarat Lions

While KKR have four points from three games with two wins under their belt, Kings XI opened their account with a six-wicket win against Pune yesterday.
On paper, KKR are overwhelming favourites against Punjab with a more balanced outfit but reputations count for little in the shortest format as most of the contests are won on the day.
Expect an interesting battle between KKR's much vaunted batting line-up against KXIP's bowling which has looked disciplined during their last match against Pune on a two-paced wicket.

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So there could be some intriguing smaller battle within the battles. How Gambhir tackles Mohit Sharma's slower deliveries or how Sandeep Sharma can stop Andre Russell from hitting those towering sixes.
It will also be a challenge for KXIP spinners like Axar Patel as KKR is one side which has quality batsmen against slow bowlers.
For Knight Riders, the best part about their journey since Gambhir taking over in 2011 is the amount of consistency that they have shown over the years.
Not only have they won the title twice in 2012 and 2014 but more importantly have stuck with their core group of players in thick and thin during these years.
Skipper Gambhir, opener Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have all settled down in their respective roles in the past few years giving them a dangerous look despite the absence of a huge star in the ranks of a Kohli, Dhoni or AB de Villiers.
They have been more or less clinical in their two wins against Daredevils at home and Sunrisers in an away game. The loss against Mumbai Indians could be attributed more to Rohit Sharma's individual brilliance backed up nicely by Jos Buttler's pyrotechnics.

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IPL 2016: Probably we should have got 200 runs, says KKR's Manish Pandey after MI loss

The best part about KKR's campaign so far has been Gambhir's form as he is on top of the run-getters' table with 192 runs at a healthy strike-rate of 125.49. He has been playing the role of sheet anchor to perfection as has forged a good opening partnership with Robin Uthappa.
Uthappa's 81 runs in three matches may not look big in terms of volume but in both the wins, his contributions have been 35 and 38.
While it may not actually be a cause of worry, the nine-wicket win against Daredevils and eight-wicket win against Sunrisers but KKR's middle-order has not been put to test during the three matches that they have played.
However with a three-pronged spin attack of Narine, Piyush Chawla and Shakib Al Hasan, KKR can put the KXIP batting to test which has not been very consistent in their three matches so far.
Apart from these three, KKR also have veteran chinaman bowler Brad Hogg, who has also done well in the two matches that he has played.
The pace duties are expected to be shared between Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav and Russell.
In KXIP team, Manan Vohra, who has scored 38, 32 and 51 in the three matches, the others have not lived upto the expectations. Glenn Maxwell's 14-ball-32 did help in their win against Pune Supergiants but Maxwell has had a struggle on Indian pitches since the start of the World T20.
The big shots have not come off as frequently as he would have expected. The worrying factor for KXIP is Maxwell's 34 runs in 3 matches and skipper David Miller's 31 in 3 games.
That has put the team under lot of pressure with another seasoned campaigner Shaun Marsh scoring only 17 in 2 games.
But in the three games, the shining light for KXIP has been their two pacers Sandeep Sharma (4 wickets) and Mohit Sharma (3 wickets), especially Mohit, who is also coming back from an injury. They have had decent economy rates of 5.55 and 6.57 respectively in the three matches so far.
He has shown the ability to mix and match his deliveries, varying the pace effectively during death overs. Sandeep has also bowled in good areas.
The problem area for KXIP in their bowling has been spinners Axar Patel and Pardeep Sahu, both of whom have leaked runs in the three matches that they have played. KXIP will certainly look at trying out someone in place of Sahu -- may be mystery spinner KC Cariappa or India discard all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann.
Teams (from):
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautham Gambhir (capt), Piyush Chawla, John Hastings, Brad Hogg, Jason Holder, Sheldon Jackson, Kuldeep Yadav, Chris Lynn, Manan Sharma, Morne Morkel, Colin Munro, Sunil Narine, Manish Pandey, Yusaf Pathan, Ankit Rajput, Andre Russell, Rajgopal Satish, Shakib Al Hasan, Jaydev Unadkat, Robin Uthappa, Suryakumar Yadav and Umesh Yadav.
Kings XI Punjab: Kings XI Punjab: David Miller (Capt.), Kyle Abbott, Murali Vijay, Manan Vohra, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Anureet Singh, Axar Patel, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Pardeep Sahu, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Marcus Stoinis, Swapnil Singh, Armaan Jaffer, Farhaan Behardien, KC Cariappa, Rishi Dhawan, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Nikhil Naik, Shardul Thakur.
Match Starts at 8 pm.
Source- zeenews.india.

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Know the Premier League Teams, post-draft

The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2016 will be starting from April 22nd. This is the most prestigious cricket league of Bangladesh, with 12 clubs participating in it for the ultimate glory.  The Players' Draft was held and here are the teams after the draft.

Prime Bank Cricket Club

Sabbir Rahman, Taibur Rahman Parvez, Md. Nazmul Islam Apu, Rubel Hossain, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Monir Hossain Khan, Shenaz Ahmed, Md. Azim, Jony Talukdar, Yasir Arafat Mishu, Nurul Hasan Sohan (retained), Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury (retained)


Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club

Nasir Hossain, Farhad Reza, Rakibul Hasan (Jnr.), Al-Amin Hossain, Rahatul Ferdous, Imtiaz Hossain Tanna, Sahagir Hossain Pavel, Md. Ziaur Rahman, Md. Zakaria Masud, Rony Talukder (retained), Sanjamul Islam (retained)


Dhaka Abahani Ltd

Tamim Iqbal Khan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Taski Ahmed, Saklain Sajib, Abul Hasan Raju, Avishek Mitra, Jubair Hossain Likhon, Taposh Baishay, Amitav Kumar Noyon, Abu Bakker Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Kumar Das (retained), Mosaddek Hossain (retained)


Kalabagan Cricket Academy

Irfan Sukkur, Bishonath Haldar, Mayshukur Rahman, Abu Jayed Chowdhury, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Ad. Abdul Halim, Prosonjit Das, Nur Hossain Munna, Taposh Ghosh, Rifat Pradhan, Didar Hossain Imran, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (retained), Md. Mahmudul Hasan Leemon (retained)


Mohammedan Sporting Club

Mushfiqur Rahim, Saikat Ali, Ezaz Ahmed, Nayeem Islam (jnr.), Enamul Haque (jnr.), Nazmul Hossain Milon, Shuvashish Roy Chowdhury, Hamidul Islam Himel, Habibur Rahman Jony, Nazmul Hossain, Sayed Golam Kibria, Mustafizur Rahman, Nayeem Islam (retained), Mr Ariful Haque (retained)


Legends of Rupganj

Soumya Sarker, Taijul Islam, Asif Ahmed Ratul, Abu Haider Rony, Zunaed Siddique, Alauddin Babu, Mizanur Rahman, Mehede Hasan Rana, Nahidul Islam, Sajjadul Haque Ripon, Murad Khan, Shaheen Hossain, Mithun Ali, Jahurul Islam (retained), Khandokar Musharraf Hossain (retained)


Victoria Sporting Club

Mominul Haque, Dhiman Ghosh, Al-Amin (jnr.), Abdul Majid, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Fazle Rabbi Mahmud, Anamul Haque, Jubair Ahmed, Dollar Mahmud, Mahamdul Haque Setu, Humayan Kabir Shahin, Nadif Chowdhury (retained), Sohrawardi Shuvo (retained)


Brothers Union

Imrul Kayes, Md. Zakir Hasan, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Mohammad Shahid, Nabil Samad, Ahmed Sadikur Rahman, Sanjit Saha Dip, Tushar Imran, Nur Alam Saddam, Nafees Iqbal Khan, Rumman Ahmed, Sheikh Najmul Hossain, Asif Hassan (retained), Iftekhar Sazzad Rony (retained)


Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd

Mahmudullah Riyad, Marshall Ayub, Moktar Ali, Joyraz Sheikh, Shafiul Islam, Nazmus Sadat, Zabid Hossain, Rasel Al Mamun, Mahbubul Karim Mithu, Abdur Rahman Rony, Shohag Gazi (retained), Arafat Sunny (retained)

Kalabagan Krira Chakra

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Md. Sharifullah, Md. Sadman Isam Anik, Md. Tanvir Haider Khan, Mehrab Hossain (jnr.), Nihad Uz Zaman, Md. Jashimuddin, Dewan Sabbir Ahmed, Md. Hasanuzzaman, Robiul Islam Shiblu, Shoriful Islam, Abdur Razzak (retained), Tasamul Haque Rubel (retained)


Cricket Coaching School

Nasum Ahmed, Saeed Sarkar, Rajin Saleh, Amit Majumdar, Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi, Salman Hossain Emon, Refatuzzaman Ovi, Ali Ahmed Manik, Mehrab Hossain Joshi, Md. Saif Hassan (retained), Md. Saifuddin (retained)


Gazi Group Cricketers

Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Sharif, Md. Farhad Hossain, Delwar Hossain, Mr. Furkan, Abu Sayeem Chowdhury, Nasir Uddin Faruque, Sajedul Islam, Imamul Mustakin Russell, Alok Kapali (retained), Mohammad Elias (retained)
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Tigers dominate the WT20 2016 stat charts

Despite Bangladesh exiting the ICC Wt20 2016 from the Super 10 stage, the Tigers have been pretty dominant in the tournament stat charts. A few of the feats of Bangladesh players have stayed unbeaten at the end of the event.

Tamim Iqbal was the first to score a century for Bangladesh in T20Is, and he chose the occasion of WT20 2016 to do that. He was also the first to score a century in the tournament. Tamim carried his bat during the century and stayed not out at 103, the feat of being the highest individual scorer being unbroken throughout. Chris Gayle also scored an unbeaten century, but he scored exactly 100 in the match against England. Tamim Iqbal bagged two Player of the Match awards for his unbeaten 83 in Bangladesh’s first match and then again for his 103* against Oman.

The dashing opener from Bangladesh is also the highest run getter of WT20 2016 with 295 runs in 6 matches, sitting above Player of the Tournament Virat Kohli of India, who scored 273 runs in his 5 matches. Tamim hit the most sixes (14) in the process, another feat of his which stays at the top of the charts. He has hit 24 boundaries, sharing the third position with Joe Root, sitting below Kohli (29) and Samuels (26). Tamim Iqbal is also positioned number four with most fours (10) and sixes in an innings (5), both feat achieved in that devastating innings he played against Oman.

Mustafizur Rahman played only three matches in WT20 2016, but holds the feat of the Best Bowling Figures of the tournament, with 5-22 against New Zealand. He is one of the two bowlers who clinched a fifer in the event, Faulkner being the other one (5-27). Mustafizur took 9 wickets in the 3 matches he played for his side and also has the best strike rate (8.00) among the bowlers.

Shakib Al Hasan also enlisted his name at the top five in the bowling charts. He took a total of 10 wickets in 7 matches and positions himself among the top five most wicket-taking bowlers. With the best bowling figures of 4-15 against Oman in Bangladesh’s last match of the first round of matches, the all-rounder from Bangladesh also kept his name in the best bowling figures of the tournament.

There had been a good lot of individual achievements for the Tigers in ICC WT20 2016. Bangladesh came close to winning against India and had a close encounter against Australia, but this years’ journey at WT20 ended in a rather disappointing manner against New Zealand. Bangladesh started off their WT20 2016 venture on a high, beating Netherlands, then saw the Ireland match washed away to rain and won the Oman-game convincingly to qualify to the Super 10s.
source-- tigercricket

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English Star forced to retire due to a heart condition

England and Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor’s has unfortunately retired from cricket after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Taylor originally withdrew himself from last week’s fixture against Cambridge MCCU with an illness then thought to be a viral condition. Following the withdrawal, specialist scans revealed yesterday that the 26-year-old has been suffering from a very serious heart condition, ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Arrhythmia). 

England Team Director Andrew Strauss said, "It is both shocking and saddening to hear that James' career has been cut short in such a sudden and unexpected manner. Throughout his career, he has constantly impressed with his determination to make the absolute most of his ability, and it is immensely cruel that such a hard working player will be unable to fulfil his great potential in the international arena.

“The ECB will work closely with Nottinghamshire and together we will do everything possible to help James through this difficult period, and aid him in his recovery."

James Taylor made his debut against South Africa in 2012 and played his last of the seven Tests against the same opposition last winter. He debuted against Ireland in ODIs in 2011, the side he captained his side against last May during England's trip, and played his last ODI against Pakistan in November 2015.


Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell added, "Myself and all of James’ teammates and colleagues are terribly sad to hear this news, which comes as a big shock to us all. He is a model professional, the most hard working I’ve ever known in cricket, making it all the more difficult to accept that his career has been cut short in this way.

“It goes without saying that he has the very best wishes of us all in terms of recovering from his operation, and that we are looking forward to seeing him back at Trent Bridge when he is fit and able.”

The news of James' saddening retirement and illness did come as great shocks to the whole cricket fraternity. Taylor is currently being treated in hospital in Nottingham. The whole cricket world does hope that the attacking English middle order batsman comes back to a normal life soon with a surgery scheduled to take place coming Thursday or Friday.

According to the British Heart Foundation, ARVC is an inherited heart condition that causes the walls of the organ's muscle to stretch, restraining blood flow and progressively worsen over time. As well as causing palpitations, light-headedness and fainting, it carries a risk of sudden death due on exertion. It is not curable but most of the symptoms can be managed using medicine.

Sports Reporter at TigerCricket. He is a Marketing Graduate, and was involved with Cricket at University level. He is extremely passionate about the game and loves to write and perform analytics of the matches at times.
source--tigercricket

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Mustafiz shines in his maiden IPL stint

Despite a defeat for his side, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mustafizur Rahman played his part with the ball in brilliant fashion. The Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 45 runs, posting 227-4 on board, a bit too much for Sunrisers Hyderabad to chase down.

Ashish Nehra dropped down in a groin injury, as the second big blow for the side after Yuvraj missing out. The rest of the bowlers all gave out runs at an economy over 10, whereas Mustafiz kept his economy even below 7, at an innings that yielded 227 runs in 120 deliveries! Mustafizur Rahman’s bowling figures showed 4-0-26-2, which stands that RCB picked up 201-2 in the other 16 overs-absolutely devastating stuff from the devastating batting line-up consisting of Gayle-Virat-AB-Watson-Sarfaraz.

Mustafizur initially was introduced in the powerplay, to bowl the third over and then the sixth. He gave away only 4 runs in his first over, and 6 runs in the second-RCB yielding only 10 runs in the two overs Muustafiz bowled in the powerplay. Warner kept him reserved for the end part of the innings, which was probably not the thing to do with Virat and AB settling down in a pretty easy manner, hitting away all around the grounds. One over in between and then the nineteenth would have been an ideal ask.

The Virat-AB partnership of 157 runs took the game away from Sunrisers, and then the stormy knock from Sarfaraz in the end. Warner looked dangerous in the fight back, but to little effect. Wickets kept on tumbling on frequent basis for his side and the middle order failure brought in tremendous pressure for the lower orders to carry on the run flow to a win, thus resulted in a loss. The next game for Sunrisers Hyderabad is against Mumbai Indians on April 18^th.

About the Author

Minhaz Ali Khan Plabon

Sports Reporter at TigerCricket. He is a Marketing Graduate, and was involved with Cricket at University level. He is extremely passionate about the game and loves to write and perform analytics of the matches at times.
source-.tigercricke

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The ‘switch-story’ with Colin Munro

The Eden Gardens is lit up and the Kolkata Knight Riders are going full throttle in their practice session. In one corner Andre Russell and Yusuf Pathan are giving the white ball a sound thrashing. Coach Jacques Kallis is keeping a keen watch over the nets and alongside him is New Zealand’s Colin Munro. He is having a chat with his ‘cricketing idol’, someone he admired growing up as a young kid in South Africa. “He is one of my biggest cricketing idols. In my opinion he is probably the world’s best all-rounder and the best cricketer the world has ever seen,” Munro says as we take a seat beside the boundary ropes.

He goes on to talk about Kallis with a glint in his eye and in the same breath says, “My intention is to become an all-rounder, not just a batsman who can bowl a couple of overs here and there. I want to be a fine all-rounder and I am working on it really hard. I have had some good interactions with Jacques about playing in different situations and going about my routines. Sometimes I can just go to the nets and have a bit of a slog and feel happy. Sometimes it is about going out there with a specific target that you want to work on. It is nice to have him behind the nets and give me inputs.”

Munro realizes he has walked into the IPL with a reputation of being a big-hitter. After all, he has the record for the second-fastest fifty in international cricket (second only to Yuvraj Singh); against Sri Lanka at Eden Park in Auckland early in January this year he scored a half-century that came off just 14 balls. “I have always had hard-hitting abilities because I don’t have the greatest technique to hang around for too long. I have to try and score my runs really quickly,” he says with a reassuring smile. “But I am working on hitting the ball in different areas and to be able to soak up pressure,” he quickly adds. “You don’t have to always hit the ball over the ropes. I am working really hard to try and build an innings which is something I did during a couple of T20 World Cup games.”

The T20 World Cup saw Munro’s inventive and daring stroke-play. His reverse smash for a six against India and the switch cut and a switch dab against Australia and Pakistan got everyone talking. Not that he hadn’t done it in the past in a few games back home where bowlers have been completely dumb founded by his ability to execute the switch hit to perfection. “The first time I saw someone play the switch hit was in an India-Australia game. I saw David Warner playing it in SCG where he just turned around and hit R Ashwin over long on (for the right-hander) for a six. I also saw Kevin Pietersen executing it a few times to good effect. That is when I thought why not I give it a go. I just stumbled across it in a club game as well where I was finding it hard to get the spinner away. He brought up his fielder at point and I thought why not I just turn around and hit it right-handed? It worked and since then it has been a shot that I have progressed on.”

But is it all planned in his head before going for the switch hit or is it pure instinct? “It is a hundred percent pre-meditation,” pat comes the reply. “It is a shot that I am looking to hit for a six. If it is not there to be hit and it is outside of my eye line then I can play it for a late cut or try and keep along the ground if it is a very short ball. Against someone that is really quick, I would probably put it away but it depends a lot on the wicket. If it is a really good wicket then I wouldn’t play it as often. If it is a slow turning wicket where it is hard to rotate the strike then I would use the switch hit as a boundary option. You want the ball coming on to your bat a little bit so you can just hit through the line. I am also working on a switch hit that will help keep the ball along the ground and doesn’t get me out often. It is a work in progress and we will see how it goes.”

Munro felt his fondness to play hockey helped him in executing the switch hit to good effect. “Hockey plays a big part in my power game. It helps my switch hit and when it comes to sweeping the ball. The natural hand-eye coordination in hockey helps me with my batting. It helps me to get my hands to the ball a lot quicker as well. It is about getting really low to the ground and in hockey you are horizontal the whole time in terms of getting the stick down to your ground and having a steady motion whether you are passing or taking a stroke to strike a goal. It is all in one motion.”

Though happy to play the switch hit, Munro wants to keep his options open and not go big on improving just one aspect of his game. “I don’t practice it often at the nets. Obviously you want to evolve your game once you come to India and learn to play with the straight bat first and hit the ball down the ground and be open to other options. The switch hit is always there but against wrist spinners I want to get into good positions and look nice and solid. I want to rotate the strike, understand the pace of the wicket and look to hit over the ropes.”

As we continue to talk about hard-hitting batsmen around the world, Munro flips back the years and speaks about how he wants to hit the ball like the former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener. “Lance Klusener was right up there when it came to hitting the ball hard. He could just stand still and hit the ball straight and hard. He didn’t move his feet a heck of a lot but he could hit them really hard. It is just about standing still and trusting the preparations that you have done leading into your game and getting your hands through the ball as hard as you can. He was a big hitting left-hander and bowled good medium pace with nice change up deliveries. I want to model my bowling on those lines.”

Talking about his current contemporaries he says, “Chris Gayle has to be there. When he hits sixes they just don’t go over the ropes, they go into the second or third tier of the stands. Then you have Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite who can hit the ball soaring into the stands. Most of the West Indian boys are big and strong and can hit them far. I don’t think you need to be big and strong to hit sixes but it definitely helps. To hit the ball continuously over 90 meters being strong definitely helps. There are plenty of guys who hit the ball hard like Corey Anderson and Jos Buttler. You have guys who hit the ball hard, but you also have guys who can time the ball really well as well. By all means I am not the biggest or the hardest hitter of the cricket ball,” he chuckles.

Munro believes over the years he has developed as a player and is beginning to come to terms with his own game. He wants to make the most of this IPL experience and use it to nurture his game and become a better cricketer. “In the past I would just go out there, whack it and get a good 20 or 30 and be happy with myself. But I think I have progressed to be a better player than that. For me to be successful I need to bat for longer which means I don’t take those risks early on. I want to build an innings and capitalise on it. Ideally on a good wicket, I would want to generate a healthy strike-rate early on in the innings. It is about reading situations and playing on merit.

“It is good to be alongside some great guys in the KKR setup. I am also getting some help from Gautam Gambhir who is one of the best players of spin in the world. I am trying to pick his brain on boundary options and the way he can play off the backfoot to cut into gaps and rotate the strike. I am trying to develop some different slower balls as well and it is a work in progress along with Wasim Akram.”
source-iplt20

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Long wait over, Rajkot set to roll out red carpet for maiden IPL game

As Gujarat Lions captain Suresh Raina got up to join his teammates for the training session after addressing a pre-match conference, he was mobbed from all corners with cameras being thrust into his face. As the locals surrounded him for selfies and photos, Raina calmly addressed every request before returning back to the field. Similar scenes greeted Dale Steyn when he made his way out from the Rajkot Airport. The team staff had to form a security cover to ensure a safe passage.

Outside the team hotel, large groups of fans wait endlessly in scorching heat for one glimpse of the superstars. A five-run victory over Kings XI Punjab two days ago at the latter’s den has given Gujarat a perfect launch pad and expectations have soared.

With the Lions set to play their maiden home game against Rising Pune Supergiants, Rajkot has been bathed in colours of yellow and orange. The beautiful Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, which has hosted three international games (two ODIs & one T20I), is all set to welcome the IPL jamboree. “It’s (a special occasion) for everyone. Gujarat never had an IPL team in the first eight years. We are looking forward to playing for Gujarat,” said Raina with excitement.

While the team has a bevy of international stars in Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Dale Steyn and Aussies James Faulkner and Aaron Finch, it is the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who holds a special place in the hearts of the cricket-crazy fans.
Set to tie the knot soon, crowd favourite Jadeja is not merely a star attraction, but a vital cog in Gujarat’s line-up. The team-management relies on him for clues and first-hand information about the conditions. On the eve of the match, he was dispatching the balls into the stands. “He is an important player for India and for us in the IPL. He can bat, bowl and give you good runouts. He has good brains to read the game. He bats as per situation at No.7. He is a local boy and he has a lot of information about the wicket and local conditions. He is a key member and one of the first members to take feedback from,” explained coach Heath Streak.

Though the buzz has centered around Gujarat Lions, Streak is well aware that playing at home won’t make them overwhelming favourites. MS Dhoni’s RPS have the firepower to dash Gujarat’s party on Thursday night and Streak’s role would be to ensure Gujarat remains focused.
“It is good to have a winning start as it boosts your confidence. We have got really good experienced players in all the departments, and they will be keen to put up a good performance for the Gujaratis. In IPL, every game is a hard game and you can’t get carried away,” he said.

The first home game will pit Raina and Jadeja against former franchise mates Ravichandran Ashwin and Dhoni. With both teams having enough knowledge of each other’s strength, Raina said ideally the pressure would be on RPS, but Dhoni’s presence balances the equation.
“They will be also playing their first game against us, so it is the same for both the teams. We will play positively against them. This is our first game in Gujarat, so home support will be there.

“Pressure will be there on the opposition, but MS is the type of captain who has earned respect everywhere. We too have some players who are respected everywhere, so it is going to be quite an interesting game.”

Raina added that despite the team being together for only about a week, they have started gelling. “Heath (Streak) has played many matches for Zimbabwe in India, so he knows what it takes to motivate Indian youngsters. Then when you have so many seniors like Baz (McCullum), DJ Bravo, (Dwayne) Smith, James Faulkner, you have a lot to learn in the dressing room. How to enjoy and have fun together. That makes you perfect. Coaches give us the platform to express ourselves and be calm. That’s the key to T20 success.”
source-iplt20

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Preview: M6 - GL vs RPS

Match 6 of VIVO IPL 2016 will feature a clash between the two new franchises to join the most exciting cricket league in the world.

Gujarat Lions, who started their IPL campaign with a win over Kings XI Punjab on Monday, will play host to the MS Dhoni-led Rising Pune Supergiants, who themselves were impressive in their maiden IPL outing when they defeated the defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Suresh Raina’s decision-making, Dwayne Bravo’s match-changing over in which he dismissed the deadly duo of David Miller and Glenn Maxwell, and Aaron Finch’s powerful strikes at the top of the chase were the highlights of Gujarat Lions’ victory. MS Dhoni’s midas touch which brought him a wicket almost every time he made a bowling change and Ajinkya Rahane’s serene batting were the highlights of RPS’ maiden IPL win.

When

14 April 2016, 2000 Hrs IST

Where

Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

Weather

Temperature: Max 32°c, Min 28°c
Humidity: Max 55%
Wind: 18kmph

The Protagonists

The Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiants both have several destructive batsmen in their ranks. While GL have Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch and Suresh Raina in their top three, RPS have the finesse of Ajinkya Rahane, and the might of Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen and MS Dhoni in their top four. Given how destructive each of those batsmen are, chances are the fate of the match will be decided by the performance of one or two of those individuals. Keep an eye on Ravindra Jadeja too, for he will be playing an IPL match in front of his home crowd for the very first time.

On the bowling front, GL possibly have an edge over RPS, thanks to the presence of Dwayne Bravo – the highest wicket-taker in the T20 format, and James Faulkner, who is some kind of a limited overs specialist.

Trivia

The SCA Stadium in Rajkot will become the 32nd venue overall and the 21st Indian venue to host an Indian Premier League match.

In the ten Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches played at the SCA Stadium in the 2013-14 season, seven were won by the team chasing. The team batting first scored 170 in five of those ten matches.

The Rising Pune Supergiants captain MS Dhoni needs 14 more runs to become the seventh batsmen to reach the 3000-IPL-runs milestone. His opposite number sits atop the list of top run-getters in the IPL, with 3719 runs.

In the only T20 International played at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot, Australia scored 201-7 batting first, after which India chased down the runs to win by six wickets, with two balls remaining.

What Next

Gujarat Lions will head to Mumbai to clash with the defending champions Mumbai Indians on April 16. The MS Dhoni-led Rising Pune Supergiants will be seen in action the following day – on April 17 – when they compete against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali
source-iplt20

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Daredevils geared to go all out against KXIP: Amit Mishra

The Delhi Daredevils have been training at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground for the past few days in an effort to turnaround their fortunes. The Zaheer Khan-led side, which lost their first game of the tournament to the Kolkata Knight Riders, will be taking on Kings XI Punjab in their first game at home.

Under the watchful eyes of mentor Rahul Dravid and coach Paddy Upton, the Daredevils have been honing their skills in the sweltering Delhi heat. Keen to get a win under their belt, the team will be looking to take the opposition head-on in Friday’s clash. Speaking to the media ahead of the match, DD leg-spinner Amit Mishra said, “We will have a positive approach. The preparations are going well. We have been working hard at the nets. We are confident and we want to do well. We are going to go all out with an aggressive approach.”

Speaking about his own preparation while looking forward to the season, he said, “My effort would be to remain in the top 10 wicket-takers list this season. Daredevils didn't do well in the last two years and we want to finish in the top four. We are looking to start that journey from here in Delhi. We have been working hard and you can see that in the net sessions.”

Speaking about the young DD team, he elaborated, “This team has a lot of good players. We have some big hitters in Carlos (Brathwaite). Sanju (Samson) is there in the middle-order along with Karun Nair and Rishabh Pant. We have players who have been doing well in the domestic circuit. We need to click as a unit. We have a good team composition and we have been discussing and working on how to come up with the results we want.”

While preparing for various situations they will encounter in a match, the players are being guided by the mentor, coach and assistant coaches. The sessions are being monitored carefully while the players work on their skills diligently. Speaking about Dravid’s inputs during these sessions, Mishra said, “Rahul Dravid is a great player and respected by all. He shares his experiences and tells the batsmen what shots to play while keeping their styles and what suit their style of play. He tells the bowlers to go for the wickets, be positive and not worry about going for runs.”

Having done the hard yards over the past few days, it will be time for the Delhi Daredevils to put their plans to action and execute them well when they come up against David Miller’s side on March 15. 

source--.iplt20

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Match Report: M6 - GL vs RPS

The Gujarat Lions notched up their second win in two games in VIVO IPL 2016 after they defeated Rising Pune Supergiants by 7 wickets on Thursday. The win was a special occasion for Suresh Raina and co., for it was the team’s first outing at their home ground - the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, and also propelled them to the top of the standings.

Set to chase 164 for their first home win, the Lions were off to an explosive start, with both openers Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum dealing in boundaries in their 85-run association. When they were separated in the ninth over, the opening pair had brought the required run rate, which was 8.20 at the start of the innings, to a more manageable 6.77.

Finch, who struck 74 in the Lions opening match, brought up his second half-century of the season when he slammed 50 from 36 balls. The Australian was cautious against RP Singh and R Ashwin, but took on the other bowlers; he scored 15 from 10 off Ishant, 16 from 8 off the leg-spinner Ashwin and 12 from 5 off Bhatia. He was dismissed in the ninth over when an attempted sweep was pouched by Ishant Sharma patrolling the fence.

Shortly after Finch was dismissed, McCullum took the cudgels and hit the off-spinner Ashwin for a four and six off consecutive deliveries. The Kiwi batsman was dismissed shortly after, for 49 from 31 balls and aided with three fours and as many sixes.

Suresh Raina creamed one boundary through cover in his run-a-ball 24 before he was stumped off the bowling of the leg-spinner. Bravo (22) and Jadeja (4) thereafter completed the job, steering their team past the finish line in the 19th over.

For RPS, the off-spinner Ashwin bowled his four overs for 26 but couldn’t pick up a wicket; he should have had the wicket of McCullum, but Dhoni missed a straightforward stumping opportunity. The leg-spinner Ashwin finished with figures of 2-31, while Ishant (1-39) was the only other wicket-taker.

Earlier in the evening, after MS Dhoni won the toss and decided his team would bat first, the Rising Pune Supergiants were steady off the blocks. Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis helped the visitors to 23 after three overs, when the former was foxed in the air by the leg-spinner Pravin Tambe and trapped in front of the stumps.

Kevin Pietersen, who walked out to bat at three, stamped his authority almost from the word go; his first aggressive stroke was a whip to midwicket, after which he welcomed Dwayne Bravo with a pull six. After the sixth over, which was bowled by Bravo, RPS had raced to 57 for 1. The duo kept the foot on the pedal for the next two overs from which they realized 19 runs.

However, between overs 9 and 14, the hosts pulled things back splendidly, conceding only 37 runs, while also picking up the wicket of a well-set Pietersen (37 from 31 balls). The second-wicket pair added 86 for the Supergiants.

du Plessis, who brought up his half-century off 33 balls, hit Pravin Tambe for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries, but was stumped as he charged down the ground in search of a third big hit; he made 69 from 43 balls before his dismissal in the 16th over.

Ravindra Jadeja bowled two splendid overs – the 17th and 19th of the innings – in which he gave away only four runs while also picking up the wickets of Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh, while the 18th over bowled by Bravo only saw five runs being scored.

In the final over of the innings, MS Dhoni imposed himself, winning the battle against his ex-teammate Bravo; apart from sprinting like a hare to pick up three twos, he also hit two fours and a six. He remained unbeaten on 22 from 10 balls, and RPS finished their innings with a competitive 163-5.

Jadeja, who bowled 14 dot balls, was the pick of the hosts bowlers, returning with figures of 2 for 18 from his four overs. Praveen Kumar bowled two quiet overs at the start but didn’t get to bowl his complete quota. Tambe (2-33) and Bravo (1-43) were the other wicket-takers for the home side.

source--iplt20

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Jamie Vardy's Party Set To Become Football's Definitive Cinderella Story

Jamie Vardy has scored 21 goals for Leicester City in the 2015/16 EPL and his contribution has been the main driving force behind the team's success.On a chilly Tuesday evening in London, the Dutch were in town for a football friendly at Wembley. Starting up front for England was the man we had all come to watch -- Jamie Vardy, the Rocky Balboa of English football and the man behind the Leicester miracle this season.

With the No. 10 on his back, the explosive forward charged and probed, chasing everything down in typical fashion. The inevitable beckoned when Vardy found himself in space inside the box, hitting the back of the net from Nathaniel Clyne's cross, lifting the roof off in the 41st minute. It was his second international goal. England were impressive in attack, but a Dutch side in transition came from behind to record a spirit-boosting 2-1 victory.
"Jamie Vardy's havin' a party," echoed through Wembley. Despite the Dutch raining on Vardy's parade, for a lot of us, witnessing the enigma playing at his peak and scoring at the most iconic of stadiums got us our money's worth.
Vardy's meteoric rise has been nothing short of an underdog story for the ages. The Sheffield-born forward's career seemingly has seen more ups and downs than Arsene Wenger's famed zipper.
Released by Sheffield Wednesday in 2002, the Leicester City top scorer started his semi-professional career at Stocksbridge Park Steels in 2003, in the Northern Premier League, an astounding seven-tiers below the Premier League.
Described as a 'rough diamond', it wasn't hard to overlook Vardy's potential in his early years. Fast but lanky, his frame raised suspicions that defenders would bully him off the ball.
Sold to Halifax Town for a measly 15,000 Pounds in 2010, his career look set to follow in the steps of the quintessential 'forgotten footballer' -- raw talent, couldn't impress scouts, didn't make the cut.
Vardy though, kept fighting. Working full-time as a technician, manufacturing medical splints for the disabled, he rallied on, winning promotions with Halifax and later Fleetwood. His goals caught the eye of Nigel Pearson and in 2012, Vardy made headlines, becoming the first non-league player to be sold for 1 million Pounds, as Leicester City took a gamble on the then 25-year old.
Four years on, and a screaming Martin Tyler would have you believe that the football gods have rewarded Vardy with his very own place in Premier League folklore.
"It's eleven! It's heaven for Jamie Vardy!" he exclaimed, as Vardy smashed the league record by scoring in an unprecedented 11th consecutive game.
The feat cemented Vardy as an outlier, as one who went against the grain and ended up triumphant. The once scrawny factory worker now had a full-time job terrorizing Premier League defences.
This season, Vardy has been as heroic, as he has been prolific, and stories like his belong almost exclusively in works of fiction. He will undoubtedly inspire thousands, if not millions of footballers to have the grit to keep going, conquering obstacle, after obstacle, after obstacle.
If indeed the Leicester City fairytale does come true, Jamie Vardy's party will culminate in a well-deserved champagne finale.source:sports.ndtv

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Tyrann Mathieu says he knows alleged killer of Will Smith, calls him (expletive) coward

Arizona Cardinals safety and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu has never been one to hold back his feelings. Sunday was no different, when Mathieu took to Twitter to express his thoughts on the shocking death of New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.
Mathieu said he personally knows the man who allegedly shot and killed Smith on Saturday night in New Orleans. In a series of tweets, Mathieu ranted about the suspect, Cardell Hayes, and the type of lifestyle he might have lived.
Mathieu, who grew up in the same area as Hayes, is no stranger to adversity and has often spoke about his rough upbringing. He barely knew his mother and his father has been in prison for most of Tyrann's life. His football career was nearly derailed by drug use when he was kicked off the team at LSU after being arrested for marijuana possession.
source- .foxnews

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