Jos Buttler, the skipper of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), and his England teammates have departed the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to join their national team for the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup. This departure is a significant loss for RR, which is currently in playoff contention. Buttler has played a pivotal role in RR’s success this season, scoring two centuries and amassing 359 runs in 11 games. His absence will be a challenge for the franchise as they seek to secure a playoff spot.
Former India cricketer Virat Kohli has been the subject of much criticism over the past few years for his strike rate, especially in the middle overs and against spinners. However, Kohli has silenced his critics with a string of impressive performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, including a match-winning 92 against Punjab Kings in which he showcased his new-found ability to play the slog sweep. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has praised Kohli’s willingness to keep improving his game, saying that it is one of the qualities that makes him “one of the greatest players in the world.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s talismanic batter Virat Kohli engaged in a lighthearted exchange with teammate Mohammed Siraj in the dressing room following their resounding 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. This jovial interaction highlights the growing camaraderie within the RCB squad as they continue their resurgence in the tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ former captain Gautam Gambhir has expressed his regret over not maximizing Suryakumar Yadav’s potential during the latter’s time with the franchise. Yadav, now a key player for the Indian team and Mumbai Indians, was part of KKR from 2014 to 2017 but failed to establish himself as a regular in the playing XI. Gambhir acknowledged that Yadav’s true batting position was never identified, and he was underutilized as a lower middle-order batter.
Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson has been in stellar form this IPL season, shattering his previous bests and contributing significantly to the team’s dominant performance. With his outstanding batting, wicket-keeping, and leadership, Samson has earned a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad. This season, he has accumulated 485 runs in 12 matches at an impressive average of 67.29 and a strike rate of 163.54. Despite a brief setback against Chennai Super Kings, Samson is expected to bounce back and continue his impressive run. His form will undoubtedly influence Team India’s selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where he will compete with Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper-batter role.
Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma has faced criticism for his poor performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, but former cricketer Pragyan Ojha has come out in his defense. Sharma has struggled to score big runs for MI this season, leading to concerns about his form ahead of the T20 World Cup in about three weeks. However, Ojha believes that Sharma has the ability to bounce back strongly in the tournament.
After enduring two forgettable seasons, Kolkata Knight Riders have roared back to form in 2024, securing a playoff berth with two games remaining. The return of former captain Gautam Gambhir as a mentor has proven to be a masterstroke, guiding the team to almost guarantee a top-two finish. Gambhir’s jubilant reaction during the 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens was a testament to the team’s newfound success.
Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma has sparked a frenzy on social media after he was spotted having an intense meeting with members of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. The incident, which occurred amid a rain delay at the Eden Gardens, has led to speculation that Sharma may be considering a move to KKR next season. The speculation intensified after a video posted by KKR, which later went viral, showed Sharma seemingly expressing dissatisfaction with the situation at MI. Cricket experts like Wasim Akram have also expressed their desire to see Sharma join KKR, citing the suitability of the Eden Gardens conditions to his batting style.
In the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at Eden Gardens on Friday, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will aim to extend their dominance over Mumbai Indians (MI). KKR, currently atop the table, comes off a resounding victory against Lucknow Super Giants, while MI ended their losing streak against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their recent clash. With 16 points, KKR is poised for a playoff spot, unlike MI, which is out of contention for the top four.
Delhi Capitals bowler Khaleel Ahmed expressed his elation upon being selected as a traveling reserve for India’s T20 World Cup squad. Despite being left out of the 15-player roster, Ahmed’s 14 wickets in 12 IPL 2024 matches earned him a spot on the wider squad. He spoke about the challenges he faced after being dropped from the national side in 2019 and the determination that drove his return.
