The Mumbai Indians started their training camp, roughly two weeks before the start of the Indian Premier League. The likes of Hardik Pandya, Arjun Tendulkar. etc. could be spotted in the training camp, mesmerising fans with their practice sessions. The Mumbai franchise shared a video of Arjun bowling in full rhythm to a left-handed batter. Up against Arjun in the nets, the batter was bamboozled by a toe-crushing yorker that saw him lose balance and drop to the ground. Many social media users thought that the batter was Ishan Kishan. The India star has been in the headlines for a while because of his intriguing red-ball cricket stance.
However, Mumbai Indians released a list of players who attended the practice and Ishan Kishan's name was missing.
"Mumbai Indians team started their first practice session with a grilling session in the nets, Captain Hardik Pandya, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal, Nehal Wadhera, Akash Madhwal, Arjun Tendulkar, Vishnu Vinod, Shivalik Sharma, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj were amongst the other players who trained at the CCI grounds," MI said in a release.
Arjun was roped in by the Mumbai franchise in 2021 but it took him two years to make his debut. In the IPL 2023 season, Arjun featured in a total of 4 matches for the franchise. Looking at his performance in the nets, Arjun could be in for a longer haul in the playing XI this time.
The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will start from March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set to clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a South Indian derby at their home arena--MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Last year's runners-up Gujarat Titans and five-time champions Mumbai Indians will square off against each other in a mouth-watering clash on March 24 at Ahmedabad. The fixture has gained a lot of hype because of star all-rounder Pandya's move to his former franchise MI following two great seasons with GT. Shubman Gill has taken over the captaincy of GT.
The new Indian Premier League (IPL) season beckons and one of the most intriguing aspects of it will be the change of guard in Mumbai Indians. The five-time champions will have a new skipper at the helm in Hardik Pandya, with previous captain Rohit Sharma featuring just as a batter. The move to change captaincy has been one of the most debated topics in the buildup to the IPL 2024. Whether Hardik Pandya can lead his old franchise with success is the question.
In a video, which has been widely shared on social media, former Indian cricket team player Praveen Kumar can be seen being asked this tough question on Mumbai Indians' change in captaincy.
"Did MI take a hurried decision? Or, the decision to make Hardik Pandya captain was the right one?" Praveen Kumar, who has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, was asked.
"You don't play two months before, you get injured two months before the IPL, you don't play for the country, you don't play for your state in domestic cricket, and just directly play in the IPL. That's not how things work. It's okay to earn money, who is stopping you? There's nothing wrong with that. But you have to play for state and country and now people only give importance to the IPL", Praveen replied.
Former cricketer Praveen Kumar talking about Hardik Pandya how he's fit only for IPL but not for nation or domestic. He also feels Rohit Sharma could have captained 3-4 more years in MI colour pic.twitter.com/2I6Hljvf88
The former pacer advised young players to prioritise international cricket over the Indian Premier League (IPL) and try to balance both things in their careers.
"I have been saying this for long. Paisa kamao, kaun mana kar rha hai? Paisa kamane chahiye lekin aise bhi nahi hona chahiye ki aap domestic nahi khel rahe, country ko importance nahi de rahe. (Earn money, who is stopping you? But it shouldn't be like you are not playing for the country or domestic cricket). This thing is now firmly in the mind of players. Mai ek mahine pehle rest kar lunga, fir IPL khel lunga. Ye mentally hota hai, ki mai itne paise kaise chodun (Will rest for a month before the IPL and then play. This happens because mentally you are not willing to let go of that money). But this is not fair at all. A player needs to balance things. Money is important, but this (giving franchise cricket the priority) is wrong," Praveen had told Times of India
Legendary Australia cricketer Ian Chappell launched a scathing attack on Ben Stokes' captaincy after England were beaten 4-1 in the recently concluded five-match Test series against India. England won the first Test match in Hyderabad but ended up losing the next four matches. Chappell cited the example of the fourth Test match in Ranchi and said that Stokes' aggressive captaincy faltered in that situation resulting in India clinched the match rather easily and taking an unassailable lead.
"Rohit Sharma and Ben Stokes have waged an intriguing captaincy battle in their Test series. However Stokes' aggressive leadership faltered at a crucial time and India - well led by Rohit - claimed the series with a resounding victory in the fourth Test in Ranchi," wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
“On the third evening Stokes desperately needed to start India's chase with his best two bowlers and try to claim at least one wicket. Incredibly, he gave the ball to a part-timer, Joe Root, and ignored the experienced, probing bowling of Jimmy Anderson. India took full advantage and scored an invaluable 40 runs off just eight overs."
“Stokes missed a trick in Ranchi. He then compounded his error by allowing too many easy singles on the final day by resorting to some cautious field placings. At a time when Stokes needed to be extremely brave as captain and hope he got lucky, he was abnormally conservative,” he added.
Chappell explained that Stokes was not up to the mark in his captaincy during a demanding chase and asked him to take inspiration from Pakistan legend Javed Miandad.
"India probably would still have won but at least by going on the attack, Stokes would have given England their best chance of an upset victory. Stokes could improve his captaincy in demanding chases if he took the example of the leadership master in those situations - Pakistan's Javed Miandad."
"Rohit proceeded to take full advantage of the tentative field placings with a thoughtful innings and India's solid opening partnership helped seal victory," Chappell concluded.
Ellyse Perry came up with an allround show as she snapped a record six-wicket haul and then smashed an unbeaten 40 to set up Royal Challengers Bangalore's dominating seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians and seal their play-off berth in the Women's Premier League on Tuesday. The star Australian allrounder, who had gone wicketless so far in the tournament, had a night to remember as she registered the best-ever bowling figures in the history of Women's Premier League, snapping six for 15 runs as RCB dismissed MI for 113, their second lowest score in WPL, after opting to bowl first.
Chasing 114 to win, RCB were 39 for 3 in the seventh over. It could have been worse had Nat Sciver-Brunt held on to two catches off Shabnim Ismail.
However, the 33-year-old Perry slammed a 38-ball 40, sharing an unbroken 76-run stand with Richa Ghosh (36 off 28) to take RCB across the finish line in 15 overs.
With the win, RCB finished their league engagements at third position with eight points, while MI (10) stayed at the second spot behind Delhi Capitals (10) in the table.
Needing a win to seal their top-three position, Perry got the ball to nip back from the crease consistently to clean up four batters and trap two in front of the wicket to drain the life out of defending champions, leaving them tottering at 82 for 7 in 13 overs.
Sent in to bat, Hayley Matthews (26) and Sajeevan Sajana (30), who was promoted up the order, provided a blistering start to MI, adding 43 off 35 balls.
Matthew was the aggressor at the start, using her slog shots to blast two fours and two sixes. While Renuka Singh was on the line for Matthews in the third over, Sajana picked Sophie Molineux in the fifth over for special treatment.
However, Sophie Devine ended the powerplay dismissing Matthews, who holed out to Perry as MI were 43 for one in six overs.
Sajana then took over the reins and smashed Devine for a four and a six before Perry brought RCB back into the game.
Perry bowled outside off length deliveries and both Sajana and Harmanpreet Kaur fell for the trap as the ball rattled their stumps to leave MI at 65 for 3 in 9 overs.
Sajana hit five boundaries and a six in her 21-ball knock.
Perry continued to wreak havoc with the ball as she returned to trap Amelia Kerr (2) in front before cleaning up Amanjot Kaur (4) in the 11th over.
Completing her bowling quota of four overs on the trot, the Australian then flattened the off stumps of Pooja Vastrakar (6) first and then deceived Nat Sciver-Brunt (10) with another inward seam delivery in her final over to grab a record six-wicket haul.
It was a sensational show from Perry, who took the six wickets off her last 15 balls. Asha Sobhana (1/12), Molineux (1/26) and Shreyanka Patil (1/3) were also among the wickets.
Priyanka Bala, who replaced Yastika Bhatia in the XI, tried her bit smashing two sixes in her 18-ball 19 before MI folded up for a small total in 19 overs. It was only the second time that MI have been bowled out in WPL.
The India vs England Test series brought several positives for the Rohit Sharma-led hosts. Despite top stars like Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami missing from action, the Indian cricket team was boosted by the presence of debutants like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel. They gave a good account of themselves along with the seniors as India notched a 4-1 series win in the five-match series. Kuldeep Yadav was one of the standout performers for India. The left-arm wrist spinner was the joint third-highest wicket-taker with 19 scalps. But more than that, it was his batting which impressed everybody.
He has three 25-plus scores, which may not look big, but in terms of its impact left a lasting impression. He struck crucial stands with India in tricky spots and helped his team.
"We know Kuldeep's got something about him when he bowls. In the last couple of years, he's just come along a long way after he was injured and the way he's come back in white-ball cricket and now you got to see in red ball as well what he can do. He's understood what he needs to do," Rohit said on Jio Cinema.
"He's gone back, worked with his coaches, worked here as well. I see him bowling every time, putting one stump there and just getting that accuracy right. And then, obviously, I've been very critical about his batting. I've been the one who's been pushing him to bat well. Go and work out whatever he can because it definitely adds up when you bat at No. 8 or 9. We know how crucial it is when you add those
runs at the back end. And he's got the ability to bat and play some shots as well," he added.
Rohit was happy with the way Kuldeep Yadav and Shubman Gill batted in Rajkot.
"I'm very happy with his batting. He's played a crucial role with the bat as well. In Rajkot, we wanted that partnership. It was the fourth day, morning, I think with Gill and him batting there. Although Gill was not quite pleased with that runout.
"But what makes this team quite happy is also enjoying each other's success. Gill was quite happy about how Kuldeep batted when he came out rather than going and criticising him about that run. It definitely adds up to us when he bats like that and he puts runs on the board for us. It gives us another addition to our batting
lineup," he concluded.
Australia's Alex Carey joined the elite company of legendary compatriot Adam Gilchrist and Indian star Rishabh Pant, smashing the second-highest score ever by a wicketkeeper-batter in a successful Test run-chase. Carey achieved this during his side's second Test against New Zealand at Christchurch During a tense run-chase of 279 runs, Carey guided Australia out of troubled waters, rescuing them from 80/5. He went on to score 98* in 123 balls, striking 15 boundaries in a fine match-winning knock. He also had a crucial stand with skipper Pat Cummins.
The highest-ever score by a wicketkeeper in a successful run-chase is by Gilchrist, who smashed 149* in 163 balls against Pakistan in 1999 at Hobart in a run-chase of 369 runs. At number three is Pant, who smashed 89* in 138 balls against Australia at The Gabba back in 2021 in a run-chase of 328, securing a series win by 2-1 for India and becoming the first team to beat Aussies at the venue in 32 years.
The Christchurch Test was a historic affair for Carey as he also tied with Gilchrist for most dismissals in a Test match for Australia, with a total of 10 dismissals. Gilchrist had also affected 10 dismissals in the match against New Zealand back in 2000 at Hamilton.
Carey was given 'Player of the Match' for his fine performance.
Australia clean-sweeped the two-match Test series against New Zealand.
Chasing 279 runs for victory in the second Test, Australia were 80/5 but the lower middle order fought back remarkably. Carey, Mitchell Marsh (80 in 102 balls, with 15 fours and a six) and Cummins (32* in 44 balls, with four boundaries) sealed a three-wicket win for Australia and a series win of 2-0.
खेल की पिचों पर इंग्लैंड पर श्रृंखला में मिली शानदार जीत न केवल भारत की घरेलू मैदान पर सर्वश्रेष्ठ जीत थी, बल्कि इससे खेल के लंबे प्रारूप में भी उसकी श्रेष्ठता की पुष्टि हुई, जिसमें युवा और वरिष्ठ खिलाड़ियों ने मिलकर 'बजबॉल' की धज्जियां उड़ाईं। विराट कोहली और मोहम्मद शमी जैसे खिलाड़ी पूरे मैच में उपलब्ध नहीं थे और सीरीज के पहले मैच में मिली करारी हार के बाद केएल राहुल और रवींद्र जडेजा के चोटिल होने से भारत का घरेलू मैदान पर दबदबा खतरे में पड़ गया, लेकिन रोहित एंड कंपनी ने अगले चार मैचों में अपने आक्रामक विरोधियों पर दबाव बनाने का तरीका ढूंढ लिया।
पांच में से चार डेब्यू करने वाले खिलाड़ी - सरफराज खान, ध्रुव जुरेल, आकाश दीप और देवदत्त पडिक्कल - ने दिखाया कि वे बड़े मंच के लिए तैयार थे, जबकि कप्तान खुद, जसप्रीत बुमराह और आर अश्विन जैसे टीम के स्तंभ भी समय पर प्रदर्शन करके मजबूत स्थिति में रहे।
परिवर्तन के दौर से गुजर रही टीम का भविष्य उज्ज्वल दिखता है।
भारत को इंग्लैंड पर अपना दबदबा बनाए रखने में मदद करने वाले स्टैंडआउट प्रदर्शन करने वाले युवा सलामी बल्लेबाज यशस्वी जायसवाल और कलाई के स्पिनर कुलदीप यादव थे।
यह घरेलू मैदान पर भारत की लगातार 17वीं सीरीज जीत थी, एक उल्लेखनीय उपलब्धि जिसे अक्सर हल्के में लिया जाता है।
"मुझे लगता है कि कभी-कभी हम इसे हल्के में न लें। खास तौर पर खुशी की बात यह है कि पिछले 10 साल या एक दशक से भारत का दबदबा रहा है और वह लगातार सफल सीरीज जीतने में सफल रहा है और उसने बहुत ज्यादा टेस्ट मैच नहीं हारे हैं, जबकि विदेशी खिलाड़ियों को इस देश में जो अनुभव मिलता है, उसकी तुलना 90 या 80 के दशक या यहां तक कि 2000 के शुरुआती सालों में आईपीएल से पहले मिलने वाले अनुभव से नहीं की जा सकती है," हेड कोच राहुल द्रविड़ ने कहा।
वह शनिवार को यहां पांचवें और अंतिम टेस्ट में पारी और 64 रन की जीत के बाद बोल रहे थे, जिससे भारत ने सीरीज 4-1 से जीत ली।
"मुझे पता है कि यह एक अलग प्रारूप है, लेकिन यह परिचितता के बारे में है। बहुत से इंग्लिश खिलाड़ी या ऑस्ट्रेलियाई खिलाड़ी यहां इन परिस्थितियों में बहुत समय बिताते हैं, वे लोगों को जानते हैं। इसलिए यह बहुत आसान हो गया है। लेकिन इसके बावजूद, यह तथ्य कि हम उस रिकॉर्ड और मानक को बनाए रखने में सक्षम हैं, खिलाड़ियों के लिए एक वास्तविक श्रद्धांजलि है।"
जैसबॉल ने बाजबॉल को पछाड़ा
जैसवाल ने सीरीज में अपनी उम्र का लोहा मनवाया और 712 रन बनाए, महान सुनील गावस्कर के बाद सीरीज में 700 रन का आंकड़ा छूने वाले दूसरे भारतीय बल्लेबाज बने।
हालांकि, यह विशाल संख्या सीरीज में उनके निर्णायक प्रभाव को मापने के लिए पर्याप्त नहीं होगी।
विजाग और राजकोट में उनके लगातार दोहरे शतक ने अंग्रेजों को दूर रखने में काफी मदद की। खासकर विजाग में दूसरे टेस्ट में, उनके 209 रन ही एकमात्र कारण थे कि भारत पहली पारी में 396 रन तक पहुंच सका, इसके बाद अगला सर्वश्रेष्ठ स्कोर 34 रहा।
जिस तरह से वह ऐसा करने में सक्षम थे दबाव को झेलना और गियर बदलना उनकी बल्लेबाजी की पहचान थी और श्रृंखला में 26 छक्के उनके पावर गेम के बारे में बहुत कुछ बताते हैं।
फिट और मजबूत कुलदीप ने घातक स्पिन आक्रमण को और अधिक मजबूत बना दिया है
घरेलू परिस्थितियों में रवींद्र जडेजा और आर अश्विन की गेंदबाजी किसी भी विपक्षी टीम के मन में डर और संदेह पैदा करती है और उन्होंने क्रमशः 26 और 19 विकेट लेकर अपनी प्रतिष्ठा को बरकरार रखा।
कुलदीप यादव ने पिछले चार टेस्ट मैचों में अपने सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन से स्पिन आक्रमण को और अधिक घातक बना दिया, जिससे भ्रमित विपक्ष को सांस लेने का मौका नहीं मिला।
धर्मशाला में उनके प्रदर्शन ने टीम के लिए उनके अमूल्य योगदान को दर्शाया। पहले दिन सपाट पिच पर, उन्होंने गेंद को दूसरों की तुलना में बहुत अधिक घुमाया और पांच विकेट लिए, जिससे इंग्लैंड की टीम 1 विकेट पर 100 रन से 218 रन पर ऑल आउट हो गई।
उनकी बेहतर फिटनेस ने उन्हें सीधे रन अप के साथ तेज गति से गेंदबाजी करने की अनुमति दी और इससे सारा अंतर पैदा हुआ।
डेब्यू करने वाले खिलाड़ियों ने अहम भूमिका निभाई
विकेटकीपर बल्लेबाज ध्रुव जुरेल और सरफराज खान ने राजकोट में अपने डेब्यू मैच में तुरंत प्रभाव छोड़ा।
जुरेल ने पहली पारी के अंत में 46 रन बनाए और दूसरी पारी में बेन डकेट को रन आउट किया। इसके बाद उन्होंने 90 रन की पारी खेलकर भारत की अगली टेस्ट सीरीज के लिए खुद को सुरक्षित किया, जिससे मेजबान टीम इंग्लैंड के पहली पारी के स्कोर 353 के करीब पहुंच गई।
सरफराज, जिन्हें अपने बड़े ब्रेक के लिए सालों तक इंतजार करना पड़ा, ने राजकोट टेस्ट की दोनों पारियों में अर्धशतक बनाकर शुरुआत से ही खुद को सहज महसूस किया। स्पिन के खिलाफ उनका खेल शानदार था और धर्मशाला में उन्होंने दिखाया कि वह मार्क वुड की तेज गति का भी सामना कर सकते हैं।
तेज गेंदबाज आकाश दीप ने रांची में पहले दिन इंग्लैंड के शीर्ष क्रम को ध्वस्त करते हुए अपने जीवन की सबसे अच्छी सुबह बिताई, जबकि धर्मशाला में अप्रत्याशित पदार्पण करने वाले देवदत्त पडिक्कल ने 103 गेंदों पर 65 रन बनाकर अपनी क्लास दिखाई।
"युवा भारतीय खिलाड़ियों का आत्मविश्वास देखकर अच्छा लगा। युवा लड़के जिन्हें अपनी क्षमता पर बहुत भरोसा है। बहुत अधिक अनुभव और यह निश्चित रूप से मदद करता है," द्रविड़ ने कहा।
"इन सभी खिलाड़ियों को हाल ही में टीम में शामिल किया गया है।
भारत बनाम इंग्लैंड लाइव
स्ट्रीमिंग,
पहला टी20 कब, कहां और कैसे देखें IND vs ENG
भारत की अगुआई वाली टीम बुधवार, 22 जनवरी को कोलकाता के ईडन गार्डन्स में पांच मैचों की सीरीज के पहले टी20आई में इंग्लैंड से भिड़ेगी। तेज गेंदबाज मोहम्मद शमी एक साल से अधिक समय तक बाहर रहने के बाद भारतीय टीम में अपनी बहुप्रतीक्षित वापसी करेंगे। अक्षर पटेल को अतिरिक्त जिम्मेदारी दी गई है क्योंकि उन्हें पांच मैचों की सीरीज के लिए उप-कप्तान बनाया गया है। भारत और इंग्लैंड ने टी20आई में 24 बार एक-दूसरे का सामना किया है, जिसमें भारत ने 13 जीत के साथ इंग्लैंड के 11 के मुकाबले मामूली बढ़त हासिल की है।
इंग्लैंड ने पहले टी20आई के लिए अपनी प्लेइंग इलेवन की घोषणा कर दी है। जोस बटलर पूरी सीरीज के लिए विकेटकीपिंग नहीं करेंगे।
भारत ने इंग्लैंड के खिलाफ अपने पिछले सात टी20आई मैचों में से पांच जीते हैं। भारत और इंग्लैंड का आखिरी टी20 मैच 2024 आईसीसी पुरुष टी20 क्रिकेट विश्व कप था, जहां भारत ने सेमीफाइनल में यादगार जीत हासिल की थी।
> टीमें: भारत: सूर्यकुमार यादव (कप्तान), संजू सैमसन, अभिषेक शर्मा, तिलक वर्मा, हार्दिक पांड्या, रिंकू सिंह, नीतीश कुमार रेड्डी, अक्षर पटेल (उपकप्तान), हर्षित राणा, अर्शदीप सिंह, मोहम्मद शमी, वरुण चक्रवर्ती, रवि बिश्नोई, वाशिंगटन सुंदर, ध्रुव जुरेल पहले टी20 मैच के लिए इंग्लैंड की प्लेइंग इलेवन: बेन डकेट, फिल साल्ट (विकेट कीपर), जोस बटलर (कप्तान), हैरी ब्रुक, लियाम लिविंगस्टोन, जैकब बेथेल, जेमी ओवरटन, गस एटकिंसन, जोफ्रा आर्चर, आदिल राशिद, मार्क वुड।
Former England spinner Graeme Swann doesn't believe Rohit Sharma's captaincy was better than Ben Stokes' in the five-match Test series. Rather, it was a lethal set of bowlers that "did the trick" for the India skipper. While Stokes' leadership style has attracted all the attention prior to and during the series, Rohit's team emerged 4-1 winners in the end. "I don't think he has been superior as a captain because his bowlers have done the trick for him. I think he's got more weapons at his armoury," Swann told PTI Videos in an exclusive chat after India inflicted an innings and 64-run defeat on England in the fifth and final Test here on Saturday.
"He's been good don't get me wrong, Rohit Sharma, but, I don't think if you pick this apart and say Stokes has captained badly, I think you are barking up the wrong tree there.
"Rohit Sharma's bowlers have really come to town for him, come to the party for him, in the last four Test matches, they didn't in the first one but they have done for the last four," Swann noted.
No blaming Bazball
Far from blaming 'Bazball' for England's loss, Swann said Stokes and Co actually failed to play the brand of cricket that has brought them success in recent times.
Swann's observation is in stark contrast to the views expressed by few other former players who attributed the drubbing to the visitors' fixation with Bazball.
"I don't think we have seen Bazball in this trip whatsoever, we saw it for one innings of this Test series, that's when Ollie Pope got a 190, and that was the definition of bazball," he said.
"I think England, where they have fallen flat in this series is, they have not been brave enough. I don't think they have played what you guys in the media call Bazball.
"I think if they had, I think this series would have been closer if I am honest." Bazball, which is derived from England Test coach Brendon McCullum's nickname Baz, fell flat as the tourists capitulated inside three days in the fifth Test, helping India secure their 17th straight Test series triumph on home soil.
On the match getting over in under three days, Swann said: "I would say it's a very good advertisement for Test cricket, because it was an exciting match.
"India were just too good for England in this game. It's always at the end of a series if it's already been won by one team, you worry that this will happen, the resistance will be completely blown away and it was in this Test match.
"So England will have to go home and shake themselves off wondering where it went so badly wrong. India are world class especially their bowling attack, and that was really shown again in this Test match." As a former off-spinner himself, Swann applauded Ravichandran Ashwin's stupendous performance on his 100 Test match.
"You know what it's brilliant, to get a fifer on his hundredth Test match. I have not actually seen him, I was looking to go and congratulate him myself but I will have to do that at the hotel later.
"Bowling so well and making those early inroads, that was brilliant, possibly one of his best fifers in his 100 Test matches, so you have got to take your hat off to Ashwin," he observed.
On James Anderson becoming the first fast bowler to reach 700 wickets, Swann said: "He's a joke, Jimmy is an absolute joke, how he has kept going for all this amount of time.
"When I say it's a joke I mean that in a good way, he's been incredible, and to get 700 wickets, well you know it's almost nonsensical the achievement and I love him to bits.
"I was kind of hoping when he almost bounced Kuldeep out, almost hit his gloves and bobbled in the air, that would have been the dream for Jimmy, because he has not bowled a decent bouncer for 10 years, but he has now."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Richa Ghosh hit two monstrous sixes but paid the price for her poor fitness as Delhi Capitals found her short of crease to win a cliffhanger against Royal Challengers by a solitary run in the Women's Premier League on Sunday. Needing 17 off last over to reach a target of 182, Richa, who blasted 51 off 29 balls, smote left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen for a 78 metre straight six and another maximum off the penultimate delivery to bring the equation down to two runs off the final delivery.
However Richa, not exactly known for being the fittest among Indian cricketers despite brute power in her strokes, wasn't fast enough to beat Jonassen, who whipped the bails off in a flash to restrict RCB to 180 for 7.
DC, with their fifth win, are now on 10 points and lead the table due to superior net run-rate (+0.918) compared to Mumbai Indians (+.343).
Needing 28 off final two overs, Shikha Pandey conceded couple of boundaries but removed Georgia Wareham, leaving left-arm spinner Jonassen to defend 17 in the final over.
Earlier, Jemimah Rodrigues displayed her complete mastery over slow bowlers with a 26-ball half-century that propelled Delhi Capitals to a competitive 181 for 5 in 20 overs. However, young off-spinner Shreyanka Patil grabbed four for 26 in her four overs and was brilliant at the business end of the DC innings to put brakes on the home team's scoring.
In front of a vociferous holiday crowd, Rodrigues brought out sweeps, cuts, pulls and the exquisite inside-out lofted drive from the closet to score 58 off 34 balls, adding 97 runs in just 10.1 overs for the third wicket with Alice Capsey (48 off 32 balls), who used the long handle to good effect during the slog overs.
This was after Shafali Verma (23 off 18 balls) and Meg Lanning (29 off 26 balls) added 54 for the opening stand but they were then dismissed in quick succession.
Rodrigues, not exactly known for her power-hitting, depended on her solid touch play, immaculate timing and deft placements to get eight fours and a six.
The maximum off leg-break bowler Georgia Wareham, imperiously hit over extra cover, brought up her fifty.
However, her best shot was the inside out loft that was dispatched to boundary just wide of long-off. She found an able ally in Capsey, who initially let the Indian take more of the strike before upping the ante during the death overs.
Spinner Asha Shobhana, seeing her coming down the track, tried to bowl one wide and out of her reach but the Southern Stars batter used her big reach to wallop her over extra cover.
Rodrigues, who should have scored more, was bowled round the legs when she tried to convert off-spinner Shreyanka's full-toss into an over-pitched delivery in her bid to play a paddle sweep.
Capsey, who also hit eight boundaries, continued to find the gaps before opposition's best bowler Shreyanka bowled a great last couple of overs to keep DC under check, conceding only nine runs in them.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rohit Sharma's captaincy was rather understated vis-a-vis Ben Stokes' on-the-edge methods, but India head coach Rahul Dravid was delighted to see the players identify themselves with the Mumbaikar's leadership principles. Under Rohit, India never made tall claims even once but silently and categorically nullified the visitors' much-talked-about 'Bazball' and grabbed the five-match series 4-1. "I'm privileged to work with a lovely team. I'm learning from them all the time. Rohit has been fantastic to work with. I think he's a terrific leader, and the guys gravitate towards him phenomenally, which is fantastic to see," said Dravid told broadcasters after the match.
Dravid said India's series win was dotted by several shining moments but acknowledged that the return of Ravichandran Ashwin from a personal emergency underlined the character of this outfit.
"I'd just say Ashwin coming back to the team after what he went through (as the stand-out moment). Ash wanting to come back and contribute to the team... I think, for me, it signified what this team is about and what the character of this team is.
"I think that was just for me, probably the standout moment of the series. It really gladdens your heart as a coach to the kind of environment that that had been created," said Dravid.
Ashwin had to leave for Chennai because of a family emergency on the second day of the Rajkot Test, but the veteran off-spinner rejoined the action on the fourth day of the third Test.
There have been talks about the doors of the Indian team being shut now for players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer after they defied the BCCI diktat to play in Ranji Trophy.
But Dravid did not buy into that.
"Rohit and I are selecting playing 11. Sometimes even I don't know who is contracted and who is not. So, no one is out of the mix as far as we are concerned," Dravid later said in the post-match press conference.
Kuldeep Yadav twinkled radiantly with his left-arm wrist spin besides chipping in with some handy runs lower down the order.
Dravid was chuffed to see the wholesome improvement in Kuldeep.
"It's been tough on Kuldeep Yadav. He's been bowling at a time when two legends (Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) are playing for the team. He brings the X-Factor to the team. He has also worked hard on his batting which has been a bonus," said the former Indian captain.
India all-rounder Shardul Thakur recently urged the bigwigs to look into the hectic Ranji Trophy schedule, which he said has been putting a lot of pressure on the players.
Taking a serious note of the call, Dravid the players' views should be considered sooner than later.
"We need to hear the players. They are the ones putting bodies on the line. If they are saying (about a busy schedule), we need to see how to manage the domestic schedule better," he added.
