Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

There is a different sense of calm whenever Ruturaj Gaikwad bats. The CSK skipper is a nervy starter and, at times, he tends to lose his wicket early in the powerplay. Matt Henry bowled a big inswinger first up to Gaikwad in the Tuesday night clash between CSK and LSG. Gaikwad left it alone, and the ball went over the stumps. On other days, that same ball might have crashed into them. But it was Gaikwad’s day, and after that ball, he didn’t look back. Next over, he played a back-foot punch and a cover drive; both going for fours…

Australian players know exactly how to silence a full-capacity crowd. Travis Head did it in Ahmedabad during the 2023 ODI World Cup, and Marcus Stoinis repeated the feat against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings in Chennai. He smashed an unbeaten 63-ball 124 runs to steer his team to a six-wicket win in a run-chase of 211. Stoinis’ innings overshadowed Ruturaj Gaikwad’s majestic hundred, which allowed CSK to cross the 200-run mark, but it ultimately proved insufficient. This victory has now elevated LSG to the fourth position, while CSK has dropped to fifth. Ton-up Gaikwad sizzles Ajinkya Rahane…

Just three days after enduring a heavy defeat in Lucknow, the Chennai Super Kings will once again face off against the Lucknow Super Giants, this time hosting the fifth-placed side at their fortress, Chepauk. However, if CSK replicates their performance from the match in Lucknow, it could spell trouble, allowing KL Rahul and his team to conquer the fortress, especially if they capitalise on the powerplay. At the heart of CSK’s struggles with the new ball lies one of their most reliable players, Deepak Chahar. The 31-year-old right-arm pacer, who joined CSK in 2018, has been their most successful…

Just three months ago, in January, Jitesh Sharma was considered the front-runner for the wicketkeeper’s spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. With Rishabh Pant sidelined after a serious car accident, it became clear why the selectors had opted for Jitesh as India’s primary wicketkeeper. He possessed all the necessary skills – powerful striking ability, adept glovework, and, most importantly, game sense. He seemed like the ideal choice. Everything seemed to align in his favour, including his performance of 100 runs from nine T20Is at a strike-rate of 147.05. His forte lay in his capacity to hit…

Although it was a home game for Punjab Kings (PBKS), they failed to read the conditions. Gujarat Titans (GT) assessed the pitch well, opting to play an extra spinner, and that proved to be a match-turning decision. Three GT spinners bagged seven wickets between them, restricting PBKS to 142. With the home side playing just one frontline spinner in Harpreet Brar, it was never going to be enough. PBKS still tried to make a game of it, but once again, Rahul Tewatia stood in their way and ensured that the home side didn’t run away with a win. PBKS middle-order…

Last year, two IPL-winning teams, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT), were involved in one of the biggest trade deals of all time. Hardik Pandya moved back to his previous franchise, Mumbai, from GT, where he had led the team for two years. Replacing Rohit Sharma came as a shock to many in the cricket fraternity. Two big questions being raised are, how did GT let go of their skipper and how did MI appoint Pandya as captain. Amidst these questions, the undeniable occurred. It all unfolded rapidly but was undeniably enjoyable. Mumbai Indians introduced Pandya to the cricketing…

When Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans last met, Shubman Gill registered his personal best of the season. The visiting team found new heroes in Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, who led them to victory in that game in Ahmedabad. These two teams, in the bottom half of the table, go up against each other again in Mullanpur in Punjab. The last time GT took the field, they were bowled out for 89 against Delhi Capitals on their home ground. That was their worst batting display ever since they came to existence in 2022. They would look to forget that night…

It was in 2008 that a young, tall, lanky Indian pacer, Ishant Sharma, outstripped the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Anil Kumble, and Muthiah Muralitharan, as well as Chaminda Vaas and Brett Lee, to be bought for $950,000 by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), making him the most expensive bowler in the first-ever IPL player auction. Ishant, standing at 6’4″ and still growing, was not even 20 at the time. He had only played in five Tests and seven ODIs at the time, and taken 12 and eight wickets. What people saw of him…

If Rishabh Pant could pick a day where everything went perfectly for his side, this would be it. From dismissing GT for 89 in under 18 overs to chasing the target down inside 9 overs, DC were relentless and unstoppable in every aspect of the game. Batting, bowling, fielding, stumping, catching – they excelled in areas, registering a six-wicket win in Ahmedabad. DC bowlers dismantle GT batting line-up It began with a poor shot from the Gujarat Titans captain, Shubman Gill, who chipped the ball straight to Prithvi Shaw at cover, setting the tone for the hosts’ struggles. Wriddhiman Saha…

Rishabh Pant has enjoyed success with the bat since returning to competitive cricket, but as a captain, he has struggled to find the right formula. As a result, the Delhi Capitals find themselves in ninth place with just two wins in six games in IPL 2024. Besides Pant’s batting form and Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling, there isn’t much to celebrate for the Capitals. Injuries, especially the recent one to David Warner, have compounded their challenges, and they face a formidable opponent with a strong home record in their next match against Gujarat Titans. Additionally, the Titans will be boosted by the…