Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

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…

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…