Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

Something has changed for Avesh Khan this season. This is not just an opinion but a sentiment echoed by many who follow the IPL. And by change, one doesn’t mean a change of franchise, but rather the transformation he has brought to his bowling, which has made him Rajasthan Royals’ go-to bowler in the death overs. As a capped Indian bowler, it’s a responsibility given to him. So far, he has done well to live up to the promise of the franchise. Avesh has emerged as one of the top performers at the death overs in IPL 2024, having bowled…

During the toss, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Pat Cummins suggested that 240 would be just par on a flat-looking Chinnaswamy pitch. His batters took his words seriously, and their performance exceeded expectations. If SRH managed to score 277 in their previous match, they surpassed it by 10 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The batting display witnessed was nothing short of brutal, with sixes raining down and runs flowing at a rocket pace. This onslaught resulted in an IPL record being broken, as SRH collectively put up the highest total in the tournament’s history – 287 for 3, shattering their own…

As India’s players prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, the focus naturally gravitates towards established stars like Jasprit Bumrah, rightfully acknowledged as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers and undoubtedly India’s best at the moment. However, amid the fervent discussions about team composition and strategies, one name deserving closer attention is Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep, the 25-year-old left-arm seamer from Punjab, has quietly been making a compelling case for himself as India’s second seamer in the World Cup lineup. While Bumrah’s presence is formidable, having a reliable partner at the opposite end could significantly bolster India’s attack. Over the…

To begin with, Rajasthan Royals accurately assessed the pitch conditions. Opting for an additional spinner on a pitch historically favoring pacers was a daring decision, yet it proved fruitful. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, relied on just one specialist spinner, leading to difficulties in controlling the run rate during the middle overs. As a result, the runs scored during this phase proved pivotal. Ashutosh Sharma’s brisk cameo of 31 runs bolstered PBKS to a total of 147, a target that seemed manageable for the in-form RR batting line-up. However, the match turned out to be closer than anticipated, yet…

Both teams are coming off narrow defeats, having missed out on opportunities to secure victory in their last games. However, they’ve experienced contrasting fortunes, overall. While the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have appeared as a formidable unit, the Punjab Kings (PBKS), much like in previous seasons, have seemed out of sorts. The only similarity between the two teams lies in the performances of their openers. Shikhar Dhawan and Jos Buttler have performed reasonably well, but their opening partners, Jonny Bairstow and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have struggled to make an impact. The focus will be on the openers, not only due to current…

Is it even an IPL season if Sanju Samson isn’t a hot topic of discussion, especially regarding his chances of making it into the Indian T20I squad? In a new year and new season, the same conversation about Samson the star. It’s been just five games for Samson in this year’s IPL, and he’s once again looking like a million-dollar player, the one in whom Rahul Dravid invested a lot. With 246 runs under his belt at a staggering average of 82 and a strike rate of 157.69, talk has begun swirling about him being the prime candidate for the…

Given the way Gujarat Titans’ middle-order has fared this season, not many would have given them a chance to win the game at the halfway mark, when Rajasthan Royals finished at 196 in their allotted 20 overs. But a resilient Shubman Gill, with another captain’s knock, and the lower-middle-order’s resistance defied the odds. They put an end to RR’s unbeaten streak in this year’s IPL by chasing the target on the last ball of the match, winning the cliffhanger and maintaining their dominant record over the Royals. Jaiswal on a lean run Once again, Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to make it…

It’s a narrative marked by divergent fortunes, not only from the team’s viewpoint but also from that of the players. While one has enjoyed a reasonably positive beginning, the other has seemed somewhat disoriented. All eyes will be on Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rajasthan Royals take on Gujarat Titans in Jaipur today. Earlier this year in January, Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid vowed to persist with the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. If that statement is to be believed, then Jaiswal is an automatic choice for the ICC T20 World Cup. However, things…

In the lead-up to the season opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad found himself confronted with one of the most formidable challenges in the IPL: assuming leadership of the Chennai Super Kings. Unlike many of its counterparts, CSK boasts a deep-rooted dependence on the enduring legacy of its former captain, MS Dhoni. Thus, stepping into Dhoni’s illustrious role presented Gaikwad with a daunting task, compounded by the weighty expectations and traditions associated with the franchise. For years, Dhoni’s leadership on and off the field has been synonymous with CSK’s success. Under his stewardship, the team has clinched five IPL titles and established itself…

The match was more or less sealed when Kolkata Knight Riders stumbled to 85/5 at the end of the 12th over, following a remarkable performance by Ravindra Jadeja. The left-arm spinner returned figures of 3/18 in four overs. Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad then came up with an unbeaten 67 to help the home team past the target of 138 with lots to spare. It was KKR’s first defeat in four matches and CSK’s third win in five. All-round bowling effort from CSK Despite losing Phil Salt early, KKR managed 56 in the powerplay, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Sunil…