India’s recent home Test success has been built on a strong foundation of spin bowling, but the lower order’s contributions with the bat have been equally crucial. While the top and middle orders have struggled, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel have stepped up to deliver crucial runs, ensuring India maintains its dominant home record.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s exceptional batting performance, especially his three consecutive fifties in the latter stages of the tournament, proved crucial in Dindigul Dragons’ triumph in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Ashwin’s willingness to open the batting and his adaptability throughout the tournament demonstrate his commitment to the team’s success.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2024. SRH boasts the most explosive batting lineup, while RR has arguably the best bowling attack in the tournament. Both teams finished the league stage with 17 points but SRH secured a higher position due to a superior net run rate. SRH lost the first qualifier to KKR, while RR beat RCB in the Eliminator to reach Qualifier 2. The winner of this match will advance to the IPL 2024 final.
Virat Kohli’s exceptional batting and fielding performance led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a commanding 60-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday. Despite being dropped on two occasions, Kohli went on to smash a blistering 92 off 47 balls, becoming the first batter to cross 600 runs in the IPL with a 150-plus strike rate. In the field, Kohli effected an outstanding run out to dismiss Shashank Singh, PBKS’s best batter, and comically imitated PBKS batter Rilee Rossouw’s unique gun celebration after his dismissal.
West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine played a pivotal role in guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a commanding 98-run victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), propelling KKR to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) table. Continuing his impressive form with both bat and ball, Narine smashed a blistering 39-ball 81 (6 fours, 7 sixes) to power KKR to a formidable 235/6, and then chipped in with 1/22 to help dismantle LSG’s chase, restricting them to 137 all out in 16.1 overs. Narine’s exploits have been a major factor in KKR’s resurgence this season, earning him praise from team mentor Gautam Gambhir.
Dale Steyn, the retired South African cricket legend, recently expressed his thoughts on the challenges and rewards of being a bowler in today’s T20 cricket. While acknowledging that it has become increasingly difficult for bowlers to succeed with teams regularly scoring over 200 runs, Steyn also believes that a good bowler would be highly valued and respected in the current batting-dominated environment. He stated that if he could go back in time, he would choose to be a bowler in today’s game. Steyn’s comments were sparked by the impressive batting performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly by Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders. He noted that the high scores put up by these teams have made life difficult for bowlers, but also emphasized that exceptional bowlers would be in high demand.
On the occasion of Sachin Tendulkar’s 51st birthday, let’s revisit the legendary cricketer Viv Richards’ high praise for him. Richards, one of the true greats of the game, has repeatedly called Tendulkar the ‘God of Cricket’ due to his exceptional batting skills. Richards believes that Tendulkar has set a foundation for Indian batsmanship, making him a true icon in the cricketing world.
Hardik Pandya, the captain of Mumbai Indians, has been facing severe criticism for his disappointing performance in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pandya’s struggles have significantly impacted the team’s performance, affecting both his batting and captaincy. The team’s inconsistent batting order and Pandya’s lack of support from teammates have further contributed to their difficulties.
