IPL 2018: Kolkata beat RCB by 6 wickets; Chirs Lynn scores match-winning 68

In 29th match of Vivo IPL 2018 Kolkata Knight Riders won it by 6 wickets against Royal Challengers Banglore. Chris Lynn made match-winning 62

In the 29th match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 6 wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. KKR pulled up a great show with the bat and chased the target of 176 runs on the last over. RCB bowlers could not get an early breakthrough and dropping Chris Lynn on 7 runs cost RCB the match as he went on for a match-winning knock. There was a little contest in the last few overs as wickets fell, but overall it looked like a one-sided match as RCB bowlers and fielders failed to perform. After winning today's match Kolkata Knight Riders consolidated their position in Vivo IPL points table with 8 points.

Kolkata Knight Riders innings update: Over by over

Over 1: Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine to open for KKR. Tim Southee to start off for RCB. Single to Lynn. Chance, Kohli just couldn't reach it. KKR: 5-0

Over 2: Umesh Yadav is into the attack. SIX, FOUR. what an over. KKR: 18-0

Over 3: Southee continues, two fours. Brilliant stuff. In the air, safe again. KKR 29-0

Over 4: Yuzvendra Chahal is into the attack. Swept for four by Lynn. Lynn hits it in the air, M Ashwin puts it down. KKR: 36-0

Over 5: Umesh is back, four to Lynn. Dot ball. And another one. SIX, down the ground. Cracking shot, stopped. Just one. Dot ball. KKR: 47-0

Over 6: Chahal continues, almost took the off stump. Missed again. Lynn gives himself room and wacks it four. Missed again, almost hit the wicket. KKR: 51-0

Over 7: Siraj is into the attack, bouncer, wide. Single to Sunil. Single again. Dot ball. Cracking shot for four. Lynn is on fire. KKR: 59-0

Over 8: Murugab Ashwin is into the attack. Sunil Narine hits it to the long-off and he is gone. Brilliant start for Ashwin. Uthappa is the new man in, one run. Swept for one. In the air, almost gone, but goes for six. What turn. KKR: 67-1

Over 9: Siraj is back, bouncer, given wide. One run to Lynn. Dot ball. Single to Lynn. Flicked off the pads for four. Single, that was risky. Dot to finish. KKR: 74-1

Over 10: Ashwin continues, Four, brilliant timing. Reverse swept for four. Single. Swept for four now. Single taken. 14 came from it. KKR: 88-1

Over 11: Chahal continues, just one. Uthappa, wacks it for six. Easy singles. Runs coming very easily. Dot ball. Single taken. KKR 98-1

Over 12: Umesh is back. Dot to start off with. Cut for one. Bouncer. Flicked for four. KKR: 106-1

Over 13: Aswhin back in the attack, Uthappa hits it in the air, taken on the ropes. He goes for 36. Chirs Lynn trying to hit it hard. Six runs from the over. KKR 112-2

IPL 2018: Dhoni does it with trademark 6, CSK back on top of points table

Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni led the chase of 206 and made sure CSK cross the line in the end. CSK beat RCB by 5 wickets. CSK are now on the top of VIVO IPL points table

Chasing a huge total of 206, Chennai Super Kings' captain Mahendra Singh Dhoniand Ambati Rayudu held their nerves after wickets fell in the initial overs. Rayudu made a brilliant 82 runs to make the chase possible. CSK beat Royal Challengers Banglore by 5 wickets with two balls to spare. Dwayne Bravo hit some good shots in the last over to make it easy for MSD to hit the winning shot. With this win, CSK goes on the top of VIVO IPL points table. RCB could not bowl well in the final overs, despite having built pressure on CSK by reducing them to 74-4. The partnership between Ambati Rayudu and Dhoni turned it around for CSK. Siraj gave a few extras in the penultimate over. Prior to that, Negi bowled a costly over that brought down the required run rate.

Earlier, Quick wickets and a few runouts helped CSK restrict RCB to 205 when they could have crossed 220 easily. Some brilliant bowling at the death helped CSK's cause. However, Washington Sundar hit it well and helped RCB touch 200 mark. CSK will now need 206 to win.

Earlier, After a brilliant start given by AB De Villers and Quinton De Kock, RCB seemed to lose their way as wickets fell in packs. ABD, De Kock, Cory Anderson fell in back to back overs. Imran Tahir scalped ABD and Cory.

Chennai Super Kings innings update: Over by over

Over 1: Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson open the batting for CSK. Pawan Negi starts off the bowling. Six, what a shot by Watson. He is gone. Caught at mid-off

Over 2: Brilliant bowling by Umesh Yadav. Just two from it.

Over 3: Washington Sundar into the attack, Ambati Rayudu hits for a huge six, and here is one more. CSK: 24-1

Over 5: Siraj is in the attack. Good batting. CSK: 50-1

Over 6: Umesh continues, leading edge of Raina's bat, gone. Sam Billings is the new man in. Huge appeal for LBW, turned down. Flicked for four. Oh, that was a ripper, bisected Billings into half. CSK: 55-2

Over 7: Yuzvendra Chahal is into the attack, Swept by Billings for four. Billings steps out and misses, stumped. Ravindra Jadeja is new man in. CSK: 61-3

Over 8: Umesh is back, very good line. Dealing in singles. CSK: 66-3

Over 9: Chahal continues, Rayudu sweeps and misses. SIX. WIDE. Jadeja is bowled. CSK: 74-4

Over 10: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the new man. Wacks a huge six.

Over 11: Chahal continues. Double. Single to Dhoni. NO BALL, FREE HIT. CSK: 90-4

Over 12: Corey Anderson is the new bowler. Huge appeal for LBW, reviewed. Turned down. SIX. Single to end the over. CSK: 101-4

Over 13: Chahal continues, single to Dhoni. Dot ball. Boundaries are not coming easily. CSK: 107-4

Over 14: Negi continues, bowls a half volley, goes for six, and again. Dot ball. One run. Now Rayudu hits for a six, brings up his 50. CSK: 126:4

Over 15: Mohammad Siraj is back. Rayudu wacks for a six. Single. Another dot. CSK 135-4

Over 16: Corey continues, Rayudu hits high in the air, dropped by Yadav. WIDE. Flat six by Rayudu. Six again. CSK: 151-4.

From Dhoni to Kohli, why skippers prefer their IPL boys in national team

Sports psychologists believe having IPL teammates playing together helps the national team's performance

Indian cricket team captains like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli seem to prefer playing more with players from their respective IPL teams even in the national team. We have seen that for various tours over the years. But is there a real correlation between the composition of IPL teams and the Indian national cricket squad?

Business Standard analysed historical data, valuation reports and franchise balance sheets to comprehend the correlation, if any. What emerged was an interesting picture. The facts first.

In 2014, when Dhoni was the captain of Chennai Super Kings, its players found a spot in the national squad 35 times in five tours. In 2017, when Virat Kohli captained Royal Challengers Bangalore, the team found a place in the Indian national side 26 times in eight tournaments. This was the highest among all IPL teams that year. An aberration was perhaps Mumbai Indians. Its players found a place in these tours 21 times in 2017. Mumbai’s representation in the national side has been consistent over the years.

On an average, Bangalore and Mumbai accounted for almost half the Indian squad in many of the tournaments in 2017. Bangalore's representation has risen phenomenally over the past two years, while Mumbai Indians has consistently been sending at least three players to the national team since 2010.

An equally impressive representation in the Indian team is that of Sunrisers Hyderabad. But Hyderabad's high representation is on account of some of its marquee players like Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have all been part of the Indian team for long now.

Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, has been prolific in sending many of its new and young talent to the national side. Mumbai IPL players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are now an inextricable part of the national team.

Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils players, on the other hand, have failed to find a sizeable representation in the national team in years. In 2017, Kings XI Punjab sent only three players to the national squad, while only two Delhi Daredevils players got selected in the national team on an average. Players from these low-ranked IPL teams are often drafted into the national squad for low-profile tournaments where the big guns are rested. For instance, five players from Punjab and Delhi were part of the Indian squad for Zimbabwe in 2015 that played just One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 matches.

In the ICC T20 World Cup 2015, no player from Punjab found a place in the squad. If it was not for Team India regular Mohammad Shami, even Delhi would have been left with only Pawan Negi, who was bought from Chennai for Rs 70 million just a day after he was announced by Indian selectors as part of the T20 World Cup squad.(more)

Dhoni backs Kohli, says team needs preparation time for tough tours

We play so much cricket that we do not get much preparation time when we go overseas: Dhoni

Senior India player Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday backed captain Virat Kohlion the issue of cramped scheduling and said that the team needs time to get used to the conditions in tours like South Africa.

Dhoni, who is not in the Test side but will be in the ODI team in the upcoming South Africa tour, however, said that as an international cricketer it was a challenge one has to face.

"It is absolutely right, because we play so much cricket that we do not get much preparation time when we go overseas to play. But as an international cricketer, this is also a challenge," Dhoni said here.

"It takes some time to get used to, but if you see this team, there are many cricketers who have played overseas and it helps a lot. If they get six to eight or 10 days, it is good, but whatever time they get, I think they will do well," he said in response to a question about Kohli's statement.

The former India captain was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a match played at Kunzer cricket ground, 35km from Srinagar, in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Dhoni was the chief guest at the finals of Chinar Cricket Premier League, organised by Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army.

"This time when the (Test) team leaves for South Africa, they will only get some time to prepare before playing the matches. The ODI team after that will also want to try to get seven to eight days because the conditions are different there, there is more bounce," he said.

Asked whether there should be a bilateral series between India and Pakistan, Dhoni said it should be best left to the government.

He said when it comes to a cricket match between the arch-rivals, it becomes much more than sports. (more)

ICC Champions Trophy: Top 8 memorable India vs Pakistan matches

Ahead of the Champions Trophy clash, we look at India-Pakistan ODI matches in ICC tournaments

The most awaited contest in the ICC Champions Trophy, 2017, will be the one between arch-rivals India and Pakistan -- on Sunday, June 4, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The match is sure to refresh the age-old rivalry followed closely over decades, and it promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament.

While India-Pakistan Cricket matches had been more common in earlier years of this decade, things have changed in the past few years, and India-Pak clashes on cricket field have become few and far in between. Matches in marquee ICC tournaments have an added significance, given the prize that any team wins is much bigger. While India has never lost a match to Pakistan in World Cup tournaments, it has been beated in two of the three times the two teams have met in Champions Trophy tournaments.

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India-Pakistan Cricket has been known to stop traffic, give people racing heartbeats and force students to skip studies even during exams. Fans expect Sunday's match to be nothing short of great, despite Indian captain Virat Kohli playing down the importance of this clash and branding it as 'any other match'. Even as we wonder if India will begin its defence of the Champions Trophy title on a successful note, let's take a look at earlier memorable India-Pakistan matches in World Cup and Champions Trophy tournaments.

1. 1992 World Cup

This was during the 1992 World Cup at SCG in Sydney that these two nations from the Indian sub-continent played together in a World Cup match for the first time. (more)

AB de Villiers No 1 batsman in ICC ODI list, Kohli only Indian in top 10

Kagiso Rabada ranked No 1 bowler, not a single Indian player in top 10 bowlers ranking

India captain Virat Kohli is the lone cricketer from the country to feature in the top 10 of the ICC Players Rankings for ODIs as he managed to hold on to his third spot in the batsman's chart.

The intense competition in the individual rankings justifies the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy's significance as players from the eight participating teams feature prominently in it and not much separates the top players in the fray.

The top three batsmen - South Africa's AB de Villiers (874 rating points), Australian David Warner (871) and Kohli (852) are separated by just 22 points.

Among other Indians to feature in the top 20 of the ICC Players Ranking for ODI batsmen are Rohit Sharma (12th), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (13th) and Shikhar Dhawan, who dropped a place to 15th.

Also Read : Google marks ICC Champions Trophy with its addictive doodle

However, there was disappointment for India in the bowlers chart as not a single cricketer from the country features in the top 10 list which is being headed by Kagiso Rabada of South Africa.

Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel finds himself at joint 11th spot along with New Zealand's Matt Henry while Amit Mishra (13th) and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (joint 18th) are the other two Indian bowlers to feature in the top 20 list.

Only 23 points separate the top three bowlers - Rabada (724 points), Imran Tahir (722) and Mitchell Starc (701).

India, South Africa and England have four batsmen each inside the top 20 with New Zealand (three), Australia and Pakistan (two each) also having significant presence. Read more

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat RCB by 35 runs in IPL opener

Yuvraj's innings had seven fours and three sixes; Henriques' innings had three fours and two sixes

Defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad made a perfect start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign crushing a depleted Royal Challengers Banaglore (RCB) by 35 runs in the opening encounter on Wednesday night.

Veteran Yuvraj Singh's blazing blade (62 off 27 balls) and unheralded Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan Arman (2/36 in 4 overs)'s crucial breakthroughs enabled Sunrisers to outwit a Virat Kohli-less RCB in all departments.

A challenging target of 208 was achievable on a placid track but RCB could only manage 172 in 19.4 overs losing wickets at regular intervals. This was the first time after 23 IPL matches that RCB were all-out.

RCB's top four --- Chris Gayle (32), Mandeep Singh (24), Travis Head (30) and Kedar Jadhav (31) were all set before getting out. Kedar's dismissal was the turning point as RCB were never in the match after that.

He was looking dangerous during his 16-ball stay and was run-out when Ben Cutting's direct throw from the deep found him short by a metre.

On a belter where pacers became easy prey for the batsmen, Sunrisers skipper David Warner rotated his spinners well trying to take the pace off the deliveries.

Young Rashid, who created history by being the first Afghan to play an IPL match got Mandeep with a fuller delivery that didn't turn. Read more

क्रिकेट जगत में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन लाने वाले इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग के 10वें साल में कई बदलावों की दरकार महसूस होती है

क्रिकेट जगत में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन लाने वाले इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग के 10वें साल में कई बदलावों की दरकार महसूस होती है

पिछले साल इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग (आईपीएल) शुरू होने से पहले ट्वेंटी-20 क्रिकेट के इस टूर्नामेंट को बेहद सख्त इम्तिहान माना जा रहा था। ऐसा मानना गलत भी नहीं था क्योंकि मार्च के आखिरी दिनों में जब यह टूर्नामेंट शुरू हुआ था, उस समय भारत के खिलाडिय़ों को एक के बाद एक दिग्गज अंतरराष्टï्रीय टीमों के खिलाफ बीस-बीस ओवरों के मुकाबले खेलते हुए तीन महीने हो चुके थे। उन तीन महीनों में भारत ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया और श्रीलंका को टी-20 मुकाबलों में धूल चटाई और बांग्लादेश में टी-20 एशिया कप में खिताबी जीत भी दर्ज की। उसके बाद भी उन्हें आराम नहीं मिला और टी-20 विश्व कप में सभी से दो-दो हाथ करते हुए टीम सेमीफाइनल तक पहुंचने में कामयाब रही। उसके बावजूद आईपीएल बेहद मनोरंजक एवं रोमांचक रहा।

उस आईपीएल की खास बात यह थी कि उच्चतम न्यायालय की तरफ से नियुक्त न्यायमूर्ति आर एम लोढ़ा समिति की सिफारिशें आने के बाद वह पहला आईपीएल टूर्नामेंट था। खास बात यह भी थी कि उस टूर्नामेंट से ठीक पहले चेन्नई सुपरकिंग्स और राजस्थान रॉयल्स की दिग्गज टीमों को टूर्नामेंट से बाहर कर दिया गया था। उनकी जगह दो नई टीमों राइजिंग पुणे सुपरजाइंट्स और गुजरात लॉयंस को शामिल किया गया था। ऐसी सूरत में 2016 के टूर्नामेंट की कामयाबी को लेकर चिंताएं होना लाजिमी था। चिंता उस समय बढ़ भी गई, जब उसे शुरुआत में टेलीविजन पर उतने दर्शक नहीं मिले, जितने उससे पिछले सालों में मिलते आए थे।

लेकिन दो हफ्ते के भीतर ही इस टी-20 लीग का खुमार एक बार फिर पूरे मुल्क पर चढ़ गया और टीवी रेटिंग एक बार फिर चढऩे लगीं। टूर्नामेंट खत्म होने पर पता चला कि लीग के दर्शकों की संख्या साल भर पहले के आंकड़े से तकरीबन 88 फीसदी बढ़कर 36.12 करोड़ तक पहुंच गई थी। टूर्नामेंट के पहले साल यानी 2008 के संस्करण में दर्शकों की संख्या से तुलना करें तो 2016 में तकरीबन ढाई गुना दर्शक आईपीएल को हासिल हुए थे। दर्शकों के साथ ही विज्ञापन से होने वाली कमाई के मामले में भी प्रदर्शन बहुत शानदार रहा। पिछले साल आईपीएल को प्रायोजकों के विज्ञापनों ने तकरीबन 1,100 करोड़ रुपये की आय हासिल हुई थी। इन आकंड़ों ने एक बार फिर साबित कर दिया कि आईपीएल अपने रास्ते में आने वाली तमाम बाधाओं से पार पाने में कामयाब रहा है। Read More

Ashwin and Virat Kohli honoured in BCCI Awards 2017

Virat Kohli with team mates during the BCCI Annual awards in Bengaluru

Kohli won the Polly Umrigar award for best international player of 2015/16, becoming the first player to get the award three times.

Engineer urged everyone to know and respect the contributions made by Pataudi to Indian cricket, saying that the Tiger was "still a world-class player despite losing one eye".

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Ashwin wins the CK Nayudu award for his performance in the West Indies in 2016. He picked up 17 wickets in four Tests, including a haul of 7/83 in North Sound.

Ajinkiya Rahane with wife during the BCCI Annual awards in Bengaluru

Sharmila Tagore with daughter Saba pose during the BCCI Annual awards in Bengaluru

More pics Click here

Photos : India beat England by an innings and 36 runs

India take very little time to pick remaining four England wickets, and register a comprehensive innings and 36-run win over the visitors in the fourth Test at the Wankhede

The visitors failed to apply themselves and collapsed within the first 30 minute’s of the fifth and final day.

Ashwin picked another ten-wicket haul in Tests, and also took five wickets in an innings for the 24th time.

The series win is India’s fifth on the trot, under Kohli. The skipper’s incredible run with the bat, and as captain, continues.

The action will now shift to Chennai where India will play for 4-0 scoreline, and England will eye pride

Virat Kohli celebrates the wicket of England batsman Jonny Bairstow

See more pics Click Here

Kohli: 'Team performances key to India's success'

His fast bowlers have been in and out of the team due to injuries, but Virat Kohli has said he was not bothered by it due to the good performances by his replacement bowlers. 

India’s captain Virat Kohli has underlined his team’s principle in compartmentalising roles for a common goal. He has said batsmen or bowlers have had a template to follow to complement the relevant efforts of others to chalk out Test victories.

Ahead of the fourth Test in Mumbai, Kohli elaborated on how his bowlers have been effective in Tests in the past year, a marked change from a lacklustre bowling effort during the tour of Australia in 2014-15, when Kohli had taken over captaincy.

Read: As always, dry pitch awaits teams at Wankhede

India, under Kohli, has won 12 of the 18 Tests it has played since the Australia tour, and lost just one, against Sri Lanka in Galle.

“I think one area that [fast bowlers] have worked really hard on is the consistency bit, and understanding that you don’t necessarily have to come at the batsman all the time. It’s important to have patience in particular sessions and for that you need to get fitter. You need to get fitter to keep bowling those lines – those fourth, fifth stump lines,” Kohli said.

Mohammed Shami doubtful for Mumbai Test

“I think it’s been a process that they’ve followed. It’s a routine that they’ve been a part of where they get physically stronger, they get mentally stronger to keep bowling in those areas. They’re not desperate to come in and pick up five wickets. They’re pretty happy playing their roles and as a captain, I think that’s the most important thing as a team, when people are willing to play their roles and not get desperate or selfish at any stage of the game. I think that’s been a key factor for us to get the results that we wanted and come back from difficult situations,” he added.

Read: Rahane ruled out for fourth and fifth Tests

His fast bowlers have been in and out of the team due to injuries, but Kohli has said he was not bothered by it due to the good performances by his replacement bowlers.

“Whoever has stepped in has given match-winning performances. The two times Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) has come in, in St. Lucia once, and in Kolkata once, he has picked up five wickets and became a match-winner for us. I’m not worried at all because the guys sitting outside are waiting for opportunities, which is I think a great sign for the team and that’s why whoever has played at any stage has given those performances for us because they’re pretty keen to step on to the field and grab the opportunity with both hands,” Kohli said.(more)

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It's a good to have contagious winning habit: Virat Kohli

It's a good to have contagious winning habit: Virat Kohli

Winning is "contagious" and Indian Test captain Virat Kohli feels that it is a "good habit" that his boys can create in order to become a formidable Test team anywhere in the world.

India trounced West Indies by an innings and 92 runs well inside four days in the first cricket Test of the four-match series.

"We want to create winning habits, good habits. And you know, winning is contagious. If we learn to win Test matches, then we'll learn how to win Tests everywhere. We will learn how to play in different situations and we will know exactly what to do when a certain situation is going a certain way," Kohli told mediapersons after a thumping victory against the hosts.

"We want to be consistent side, we need to set ourselves goals and look to execute that rather than looking at the opposition which I think this team is willing to do," said Kohli after the win.

"That for me is a very pleasing thing as a captain and for the team as well. Everyone understands the way we want to play on the field - where we need to bat, how we need to bowl, etc. We need to be comfortable with what the team requires and I think that's the most important for this team going forward."
(more)