Author: Bharath Ramaraj

By Bharath Ramaraj Royal Challengers Bangalore got back to winning ways with a comfortable 23-run win over the Delhi Capitals, firmly rooted to the foot of the Indian Premier League table. Delhi could only manage 151-9 in pursuit of 175, as they lost their fifth consecutive game in IPL 2023. Here is a list of the major takeaways from the game. Yet another fifty for Virat Kohli In four matches this season, Kohli has already notched up three half-centuries and is currently the third-highest run-getter. He started his innings against Delhi in trademark fashion, lofting and crunching one of…

Overview Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowling unit laid low by the inconsistency bug – A familiar headline from the past seems to be haunting the franchise once again. In the first and second game of IPL 2023, Bangalore’s slog-overs bowling came under scrutiny. In their gut-wrenching loss against Lucknow Super Giants, the franchise ended up giving away a whopping 115 runs between overs 7 to 16. It is true that two of the three matches were played at the Chinnaswamy stadium, where we generally get to see true wickets. But that indicates that Bangalore perhaps don’t have the required artillery to…

By Bharath Ramaraj MS Dhoni walking back, after not being able to provide the finishing touches to a chase in front of a sea of yellow at the Chepauk Stadium, is a poignant moment to capture. Whether his team wins or loses, Dhoni’s demeanour doesn’t change. But it turned out to be a day of rollercoaster emotions for Chennai Super Kings fans. When Dhoni was smacking sixes in the last few overs, thousands and thousands of yellow flags were being waved in celebration. Just that with five needed off the last ball, Dhoni could collect only a single. Soon a…

By Bharath Ramaraj The instinctive nature of Nicholas Pooran’s game makes you wonder about his mindset. At the post-match presentation for the Royal Challengers Bangalore-Lucknow Super Giants game played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Pooran shared his thoughts on his approach towards batting: “The second ball I came in and smashed a six. It isn’t about getting a look in. If it is in my slot, then I will smash it for six.” That simple mantra of ‘see the ball, hit the ball’ was at the heart of Pooran silencing all the loud chants of ‘RCB, RCB, RCB’ for a few…

By Bharath Ramaraj The IPL is about sixes, fours and entertainment. The Royal Challengers Bangalore – Lucknow Super Giants game had several thrills and spills, and the fortunes of both sides oscillated to and fro before Lucknow sealed a nerve-wracking one-wicket win off the last ball of the game. Bedlam and chaos in the slog In the 17th over, with Nicholas Pooran still at the crease, it seemed as if LSG would cruise to a famous win. At that juncture, the in-form Pooran flicked a full toss from Mohammed Siraj straight into the hands of Shahbaz Ahmed at deep backward…

The young boy who smashed sixes against much older kids, and who had the gift of swinging the ball both ways, is now mixing it with the game’s elite in the IPL. February 13, 2022. Arshad Khan’s brother and father had to visit the mosque for prayers. But on that day, the father-son duo was also thinking about another event that was taking place some 1450 km away in Chennai – the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. Arshad was one of the uncapped players in the auction, and Zakariya had a gut feel that his brother’s name was about to…

–Bharath Ramaraj Overview In a long tournament, every team would want to start on a winning note. Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals – two sides that lock horns in an IPL game in Guwahati – have certainly done that, by beating Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in their respective opening encounters. The RR camp would have been pleased with their performance against SRH. The top-order engine room clicked, while Yuzvendra Chahal, their lead spinner, ran through SRH’s batting order. Trent Boult once again made the early incisions by picking up a couple of scalps in his first over. Having…

By Bharath Ramaraj The second ball that Mark Wood bowled at Delhi Capitals’ Prithvi Shaw in IPL 2023 was fast and pounded hard into the deck. Shaw found himself in an awkward position as he attempted to pull, with the ball whistling past the edge. With the batter pushed back, Wood soon pitched one fuller,,and zoomed it on the stumps. Shaw’s response was an expansive drive played without conviction. He heard the death rattle behind him. The way Wood dislodged Shaw gave insight into how he had sowed the seeds of doubt in the opener’s head. This is what quality fast…

By Bharath Ramaraj There is always some intrigue surrounding a clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. It isn’t any different this time around, though Virat Kohli versus Rohit Sharma is now confined to history’s back pages after Kohli stepped down from leadership duties before the 2022 IPL season. Both sides have a few aress of concern, especially in the backdrop of injury woes. The Faf du Plessis-led side would miss out on the services of Rajat Patidar, their enterprising middle-order batter, and Josh Hazlewood, the experienced Australian pace bowler, with heel and Achilles-tendon injuries. Glenn Maxwell too is…

By Bharath Ramaraj Venue – The grand theatre that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground Match – India versus Pakistan Contest – Haris Rauf against Virat Kohli Just for a moment, Rauf has taken a flight to a different zone, where his thought process is clear and concise. The fast bowler is digging it short, twinning slower short deliveries with quicker offerings. His idea is to force the two batters at the crease to target the longer boundary, which is around 84 metres away. The equation is an improbable 28 off 8 balls and it seems near-impossible even for Kohli,…