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Showing posts from May, 2023

"When Shubman, Virat Both Made Tons...": Sara Ali On 'Hatke' Time In IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans was a nail-biter with the former clinching the summit clash to win their fifth title. Attending the match were 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke' stars Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan . The actors posted a video in Instagram from the time at the stadium. In it, the actors can be seen giving each other a hi-five after CSK's win. The jubilant mood of the co-stars clearly reflects in the video. Vicky Kaushal captioned his post, " Badle tere Mahi, leke jo koi saari, duniya bhi dede agar, to kise duniya chahiye . Mahi for the win. Jaadu you rockstar! What a match! GT... the best team through the tournament. Clearly the game was the real winner. #ipl2023 #iplfinal (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) The two actors were also asked about their experience in the IPL final. "I have never seen a

"Couldn't Sleep, Kept Thinking...": Mohit On Final Two Balls To Jadeja

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final turned out to a sporting spectacle, with Ravindra Jadeja scoring 10 runs off the final 2 balls against Mohit Sharma of Gujarat Titans to earn his team 5th title. While it was pure ecstasy for the Super Kings, the Titans unit was in complete despair after failing to defend the title with the narrowest of margins. Mohit Sharma, who conceded a six and a four on the final two balls of the match to Jadeja, admitted that he couldn't sleep that night, thinking what he could've done differently. In a chat with The Indian Express, Mohit spoke about his plans and preparation for the final over, which went as planned until the final two balls. "My mind was very clear in what I wanted to do. In the nets, I had practiced such situations and I have been in such scenarios before too. So I said let me bowl all balls yorkers and was backing my instinct," the Haryana speedster said. "They wanted to know what will be plan of action. I

"Could've Been Valuable For India In WTC Final": Ponting On GT Star

Batting legend Ricky Ponting feels that India should have picked Hardik Pandya in their squad for the World Test Championships final against Australia in London, saying his all-round abilities could have turned out to be the deciding factor in the one-off game. Pandya has not played a Test since 2018 and he has opted sit out of the five-day format due to ongoing fitness concerns. But Ponting felt Pandya could have played in the winner-takes all clash at The Oval from June 7-11. Primarily because he has bowled in more or less every game in the just-concluded IPL for Gujarat Titans which he captains. "...I thought about the other day for India in this game is how valuable someone like Hardik Pandya could be in a one-off Test match," Ponting wrote for the ICC Review. "I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game... he's been bowling every game through this IPL and he's bowling quick."

Watch: Emotional Rayudu Breaks Down In Tears After Winning 6th IPL Title

Chennai Super Kings' middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu on Monday said he can afford to smile for the rest of his life after a "fairytale finish" to his cricketing career. Rayudu, who had announced his decision to stop playing IPL just before the final against Gujarat Titans, said his hard work for the last 30 years has paid rich dividends. "It's a fairytale finish. I couldn't have asked for more. I'm fortunate to have played in really great sides. I can smile for the rest of my life. All the hard work I've done in the last 30 years, I'm happy I got to finish on this note. "I would really like to thank my family, my father. Without them this wouldn't have been possible," said Rayudu after CSK beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL final. Ambati Rayudu Crying pic.twitter.com/5NvClKNPhE — CS Rishabh (Professor) (@ProfesorSahab) May 30, 2023 CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a six and four in the last two balls to se

Watch: Emotional Rayudu Breaks Down In Tears After Winning 6th IPL Title

Chennai Super Kings' middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu on Monday said he can afford to smile for the rest of his life after a "fairytale finish" to his cricketing career. Rayudu, who had announced his decision to stop playing IPL just before the final against Gujarat Titans, said his hard work for the last 30 years has paid rich dividends. "It's a fairytale finish. I couldn't have asked for more. I'm fortunate to have played in really great sides. I can smile for the rest of my life. All the hard work I've done in the last 30 years, I'm happy I got to finish on this note. "I would really like to thank my family, my father. Without them this wouldn't have been possible," said Rayudu after CSK beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL final. Ambati Rayudu Crying pic.twitter.com/5NvClKNPhE — CS Rishabh (Professor) (@ProfesorSahab) May 30, 2023 CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a six and four in the last two balls to se

ICC Seeking Guarantee From PCB Over ODI World Cup Participation: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and CEO are in Lahore to seek guarantees from the PCB that it will not push for implementing a hybrid model for its matches in the ODI World Cup in India later this year. Insiders confirmed to PTI that ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have specifically come to Lahore to get some assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the national team's participation in the World Cup in October-November. The development comes after PCB chief Najam Sethi made it clear that the team will not travel for the World Cup in India if the Rohit Sharma-led side doesn't visit Pakistan for the preceding Asia Cup. “The ICC and World Cup hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are concerned with the hybrid model being pushed by Najam Sethi who heads the cricket management committee of the PCB. “Although the hybrid model has been suggested by Sethi for the Asia Cup which precedes the ICC event, the concern remains that

The MS Dhoni Decode! What IPL 2024 Season Could Actually Mean For 'Thala'

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was numb. He didn't raise his head even as Ravindra Jadeja had started sprinting towards the dugout and his mates in canary yellow responding in kind. Maybe Dhoni was trying to process it all after a gruelling two months. Moeen Ali hugged him and the contours of his face were devoid of any emotion. Maybe there was a storm brewing in his mind during those last six balls and it was the calm after-effect. Dhoni has just guided CSK to a fifth IPL trophy in 11 final appearances and he remained unfazed. Job done, what's the fuss about. He couldn't suppress his wide grin as an ecstatic Jadeja jumped on to his lap and engaged in a bear hug. There were conjectures about their relationship deteriorating after Jadeja had to relinquish CSK captaincy mid-season in 2022, but as they say in Hindi, "anth bhala toh sab bhala" (all's well that ends well). If Dhoni is involved, one would never know what actually transpired. Because what happens in 'Dho

From Gill To Jaiswal: List Of All Award Winners From IPL 2023 Season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season concluded on a thrilling note, with MS Dhoni 's Chennai Super Kings lifting the title for the 5th time, equalling Mumbai Indians' tally. While CSK went ahead and claimed glory, defending champions Gujarat Titans could only conclude the season as the runners-up despite having the Orange Cap holder Shubman Gill and Purple Cap winner Mohammed Shami in their side. For Gill and Shami, who were at their absolute best throughout the tournament, it was a bitter end to the campaign, with both of them ending on the losing side. Gill couldn't hit his 4th ton of the season, scoring 39 runs off 20 balls in the final. But, Gujarat still managed to put 214 runs on the board, thanks to Sai Sudharsan 's 96 off 47 balls. As for Shami, the purple cap holder, he couldn't add another wicket to his tally of 28 scalps in the match, conceding 29 runs in 3 overs in the final without any success. After the conclusion of the final, the names of a

Watch: Dhoni, Ziva And More! Emotional Post-Match Scenes Sum Up IPL Final

The MS Dhoni -led Chennai Super Kings made history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final as they defeated defending champions Gujarat Titans in a last-ball thriller to lift the title for the 'record-equalling' 5th time. It was an emotional moment for fans all across the world as they saw Dhoni lead CSK all the way in what was seen as his last match in the tournament's history. In an emotional video shared by the IPL on Tuesday morning, Dhoni could be seen lifting Ravindra Jadeja in celebration while also acknowledging GT skipper Hardik Pandya for his side's effort. Later, daughter Ziva came and gave Dhoni a big hug, congratulating on the title. After clinching the title, Dhoni's daughter Ziva was seen lifting the IPL trophy with CSK players, celebrating the gigantic triumph at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Here's the beautiful video, summing up the emotional moments after Ravindra Jadeja's match-winning four.  We are not crying, you ar

Watch: The Moment Jadeja Hit Last-Ball 4 To Clinch 5th IPL Title For CSK

At last, it was worth the wait. The IPL 2023 final which was supposed to end on May 28, finally finished on May 30 (IST) and MS Dhoni 's Chennai Super Kings clinched a thriller for a record-equalling fifth IPL title. CSK completed the task in the last ball against defending champions Gujarat Titans at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in what could turn out to be the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni's final outing in the T20 league. Ravindra Jadeja struck a six and a four off Mohit Sharma in the final two balls to win it for CSK. This moment is #IPL2023Final #CSKvGT #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/6BCgehszxy — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 29, 2023 B Sai Sudharsan slammed 96 in 47 balls as Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four after being asked to bat first. Set a revised target of 171 in 15 overs after rain interrupted play at the start of the second innings of a final that was pushed to the reserve day owing to heavy downpour, CSK kept their calm till the end

Kohli Joins India Training Ahead Of WTC Final, Rohit To Join From Tuesday

Batting mainstay Virat Kohli joined the national team's training session on Monday at the picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Club along with left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who seemed to have recovered from left shoulder injury. India will play Australia at the Oval in the one-off Test from June 7 to 11. The BCCI on Monday shared pictures of the members of the team, including Kohli, pace duo of Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj on their official twitter handle. "Team India members begin their preparations for the WTC23 at Arundel Castle Cricket Club," BCCI said in a tweet. While Kohli, Umesh and Siraj were seen jogging in their new training kit, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could be seen rolling his arm over at the nets. Unadkat was also engaged in a discussion with head coach Rahul Dravid and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing for Sussex in the English county circuit to prepare for the final, also was seen arriving in the training gro

Josh Hazlewood In Australia's 15-Member Squad For WTC Final Against India

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been included in the 15-member squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India beginning at The Oval on June 7. The 32-year-old had flown back home from the Indian Premier League before his side Royal Challangers Bangalore's must-win game against Gujarat Titans due to a side soreness. He has, however, been included in the squad alongside fellow pacers, Test skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. The inclusion of Hazlewood, a veteran of 59 Tests and 222 wickets, means the selectors no longer need to bring in all-rounders Michael Neser or Sean Abbott into the squad as cover. Both Neser and Abbott are playing country cricket and Australian chief coach Andrew McDonald had said recently they could be drafted into the squad if anyone in the touring party got injured. Hazlewood, though, has struggled with injuries of late. He joined the RCB camp late as he was recovering from an Achilles injury. He has played just four T

"If MS Dhoni Isn't Captain, He Won't Even...": Sehwag On Thala's Future

The arrival of 'Impact Player' rule gave many players the opportunity to prolong their careers. The likes of Faf du Plessis and Rohit harma were seen making use of the rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. But, such a step was never opted by Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni . Though Dwayne Bravo feels Impact Player rule will help Dhoni play a few more years, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag disagrees. In a chat, Sehwag explained who Impact Player rule doesn't apply to Dhoni. As there continues to remain a debate around Dhoni's future in the IPL beyond this season, Sehwag feels the veteran wicket-keeper batter can continue to play, but not as an Impact Player. "It's not difficult (to play cricket in 40s), if you're fit. MS Dhoni hasn't batted too much this year. He's not aggravating his knee injury. Often, he would come in the last two overs. If I count the total balls he faced, I think he would've faced 40-50 delive

IPL 2023 Final, Reserve Day: Hourly Weather Report Of GT vs CSK Decider

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The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League couldn't crown a winner on Sunday, with excessive rain preventing a single ball from being bowled in the Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans decider at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match was pushed to Reserve Day (Monday), with the authorities and fans hoping that a full 40-over contest will be possible. After rain prevented a single ball from being bowled on Sunday, fans have their sights set on the weather forecast on Monday at Motera, Gujarat. There simply isn't the worst sight than seeing cricketing action being suspended due to rain. Thankfully, there was a Reserve Day in place for the IPL 2023 final. As far as the forecast goes, a full 40-over contest seems quite likely at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. Accuweather suggests that the skies would mostly remain clear throughout the day, with their being only a 3% chance of rain at night. Even if the hourly weather forecast is looked at,

'Dhoni And Reserve Day' Bring Back Harrowing Memories Of 2019 WC Semis

The final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 headed into the Reserve Day after play could not be possible on Sunday due to persistent rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Fans turned up in numbers hoping to see MS Dhoni lift the IPL trophy for the 5th time in his career with the Chennai Super Kings but had to return home disappointed. Though Dhoni's men are scheduled to take on Gujarat Titans on Monday, the prospect of Dhoni playing on a 'Reserve Day' brought back some horrible memories. It was the semi-final of the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup between India and New Zealand when the match had to be shifted to the 'Reserve Day' because of rain on the scheduled day. New Zealand pacers, particularly Matt Henry , ran riot in overcast conditions to put India on the backfoot early on. The match also saw Dhoni, the last hope of the Indian team, being run-out by Martin Guptill , helping the Kiwis secure an 18-run win. The match turned out to be Dhoni's last

'What Truly Impressed Me...': Sachin's Praise For Gill Ahead Of IPL Final

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sachin Tendulkar showered praises on Gujarat Titans star Shubman Gill following his match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Qualifier 2. Gill was in sublime form as he scored 129 off just 60 deliveries with the help of 7 fours and 10 sixes. Sachin said that the knock was nothing short of unforgettable and the legend went on to laud the youngster for his temperament and unwavering calmness on the field. “Shubman Gill's performance this season has been nothing short of unforgettable, marked by two centuries that left an indelible impact. One century ignited @mipaltan's hopes, while the other dealt them a crushing blow. Such is the unpredictable nature of cricket! What truly impressed me about Shubman's batting was his remarkable temperament, unwavering calmness, hunger for runs and astute running between the wickets,” Tendulkar said. Shubman Gill's performance this season has been nothing

Australian Trio Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques, Adam Zampa To Feature In Major League Cricket

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques and Adam Zampa have become the latest Australia players who are set to feature in the inaugural edition of the United States T20 tournament. Henriques will take up the captaincy role for the Washington Freedom franchise. The 36-year-old has led the Big Bash League franchise the Sixers to back-to-back titles in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He could still be joined by two more BBL teammates as opening batter Josh Philippe and fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis are also being linked to the Washington franchise for the July tournament. On the other hand, Australia's star white-ball spinner Adam Zampa is also set to join the Kolkata Knight Riders-owned franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders. While Matthew Wade is another to have signed with an MLC club. Zampa and Wade who have spent the past two months in the Indian Premier League outfits Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans respectively. Zampa has claimed eight wickets in six matches for the Royals

IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony: Artists, Live Streaming - All You Need To Know

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League was not less than any rollercoaster ride as the fans got to witness some extraordinary moments of cricket. The action-packed season has now reached to it's conclusion with Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans being the finalists. To mark the end of the season, a closing ceremony will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, right before the match where different artists will be gracing the stage and entertaining the audience. Who will be performing at the IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony? Well-known rapper King and DJ Nucleya will be performing at the IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony. They will also be joined by singers Divine and Jonita Gandhi. When will the IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony be held? The IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 28. Where will the IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony be held? The IPL 2023 Opening Ceremony will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. What time will the IPL 2023 Closing Ceremony

"Shubman Gill Will Swallow Trio Of Dhoni, Kohli, Rohit": Ex-India Pacer

Unarguably the finest batter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, Shubman Gill has been ruling the roost for Gujarat Titans. Having already notched up 851 runs this season, Gill will arguably pose the biggest threat to Chennai Super Kings as MS Dhoni 's men look to claim the title for the 5th time. Gill has already decimated the teams of Virat Kohli (RCB) and Rohit Sharma (MI), scoring centuries against both. Former India cricketer Atul Wassan feels MS Dhoni (CSK) is next. In a chat on ABP news , Wassan said that he feels Gill will 'swallow' the iconic trio of Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni as he grows as a cricketer. " Mujhe to lag raha hai ye tridev ko ye Gill nigal jayega jis tarah se ye batting kar raha hai (I think Gill will swallow this legendary trio the way he has been batting)," Wassan said on ABP news when talking about Gill and his success against the likes of Kohli and Rohit in recent matches. Wassan also said that MS Dhoni is the next in lin

"Prithvi Shaw Thinks He Is A Star And...": Shubman Gill's Childhood Coach

Former U19 World Cup winners for India in 2018, Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw have had two contrasting journies since winning the coveted trophy as teenagers. While Gill has gone on to become a pillar in the Indian team across all three formats, Shaw is struggling to even be a part of the national squad in any of the three formats. Launching a scathing attack on Shaw's attitude, Gill's childhood coach claimed that the Delhi Capitals opener thinks he is already a star and can't be touched by anyone. "They were in the same team that won the U-19 World Cup in 2018, right? Today where is Prithvi Shaw and where is Shubman Gill? They are in two different categories," Karsan Ghavri was quoted as saying by The Indian Express . "Shaw thinks he is a star and nobody can touch him. But he needs to understand that at the international level, irrespective of whether you are playing T20, 50 over or the Test match or even the Ranji Trophy, it takes only one delivery to g

"Why Are You...?": Chahar Recalls Incident When Dhoni Scolded Pacer

IPL 2019 was a breakthrough year for Chennai Super Kings' star pacer Deepak Chahar . He was bought by CSK in IPL 2018 and the next season saw him picking up a total of 22 wickets across 17 matches at an economy of 7.47. While Chahar ended the season well in terms of his individual performance, an incident during the edition also saw him getting almost scared by MS Dhoni . It was CSK's match against Punjab Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. With PBKS needing 39 runs in 12 balls, Dhoni handed the ball to Chahar, who bowled two back-to-back beamers at the start of the over and got to face the wrath of the CSK captain. During a recent interview, Chahar recalled the moment where Dhoni scolded him and later acknowledged his comeback in the over. "Sarfaraz (Khan) was batting and I was bowling in the death for the first time. There was (Dwayne) Bravo and Shardul (Thakur) as they can't bowl with the new ball. He (Dhoni) didn't used to bowl me in the death over beca

Watch: Amid Gambhir's Chat With Tendulkar, Fans Chant Virat Kohli's Name

Needless to say, the infamous Virat Kohli - Gautam Gambhir spat was one of the most unforgettable moments of the IPL 2023. The incident happened after the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants on May 1. Since then, fans have targetted Gambhir and LSG Naveen-ul-Haq , who also had an on-field altercation with the former RCB captain during the match, by chanting Kohli's name. After LSG lost to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator earlier this week, the crowd in Chennai was heard chanting Kohli's name while Gambhir was having a chat with batting great and MI mentor Sachin Tendulkar . God of Masses. One n only @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/4gkGOJvrQT — Kohlified. (@123perthclassic) May 25, 2023 On Wednesday, Gambhir took to social media to post a special message after his side was eliminated from IPL 2023. "Down but not defeated! Big thanks to the fans for showing immense love. We'll be back!" Gambhir posted on Twitter. Down but not defea

'God Blessing Prince': Tendulkar, Gill Catch Up In Ahmedabad, Pic Viral

Shubman Gill took the cricketing fraternity by storm after he smashed his third century of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season to fire Gujarat Titans to their second final in as many years. Gill's 60-ball 129 fired Gujarat to 233-3, a total they defended by bowling out five-time winners Mumbai for 171 in 18.2 overs in the final playoff which started late due to rain in Ahmedabad. The 23-year-old struck 10 sixes and put on a second-wicket stand of 138 with Sai Sudharsan , who made 43, to tear into the opposition attack at the world's biggest cricket stadium. After the match, Gill was seen having a chat with batting great Sachin Tendulkar , who is the mentor of MI, in the dugout. The interaction between Gill and Tendulkar has gone viral on social media. Here's how Twitter reacted: Shubman Gill with Sachin Tendulkar. Best picture on internet today pic.twitter.com/QUv9OIE9jN — Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) May 26, 2023 Shubman Gill with Sachin Tendulkar. pic.

"Credit To Shubman. Hope He...": Rohit's Big Wish Ahead Of IPL, WTC Final

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma felt Shubman Gill made the difference in their loss to Gujarat Titans in IPL Qualifier 2 and hoped the opener continues his purple patch in India colours. Gill smashed 129 off 60 balls before Mohit Sharma (5/10) scalped a fifer as defending champions Gujarat Titans beat MI by 62 runs to storm into their second consecutive IPL final where they will meet Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. "Shubman batted well, wicket was good. They got 20-25 extra. We were positive after the first-half. We have to credit Shubman. I hope he continues that form," he said. Rohit said Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green raised some hopes with their partnership, but he felt MI lost the game in the powerplay while chasing. "Greeny and Surya batted well but we lost our way. We wanted to give it a good crack, be positive. We couldn't get going in the powerplay. We wanted one batter, like Gujarat did, and take the game deep where anything can happen on a good p

'Don't Have Words': Kohli, De Villiers React As Shubman Gill Slams 3rd Ton

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The world cricketing fraternity took to social media on Friday to express their awe for Indian batter Shubman Gill's century for Gujarat Titans (GT) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 2 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The third century of the season by in-form opener Shubman Gill and his century stand with Sai Sudarshan powered Gujarat Titans to a massive 233/3 in their Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 2 clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Ahmedabad on Friday. In the match, Gill brought up his third century of the ongoing IPL season. He scored 129 runs in just 60 balls. His knock consisted of seven fours and 10 sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 215.00. Star India batter Virat Kohli, who Gill is compared to by cricketing fans due to his consistency at a young age and his elegant strokeplay, took notice of Gill's ton and posted a story acknowledging it. He used a star emoji to express his awe for Gill's k

Virender Sehwag Picks Top-5 Batters In IPL 2023. Kohli, Gill Not In List

Only one match remains in the Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) 2023. Over the last two months, the 10 franchises competed intensely with some doing it better than the other. The tournament also saw several great batting performances. This was the first time that two uncapped batters - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prabhsimran Singh - scored centuries in one edition of the league. Also, India stars Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill his two ceneturies each. After such a great show, ahead of Gujarat Titans' Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Virender Sehwag picked the 'top-five batters' according to him. "Mere 5 Pandavas. Cricket's Pandav. My pick for five batters in the IPL. I have not picked many openers because they get a lot of opportunities. The first batter who comes to my mind in Rinku Singh . I don't think you would ask me the reason. Because it has never happened that a batter has won the team a match by hitting five straight sixes. Only Rinku Singh has done it. The

Gujarat Titans Storm Into 2nd Successive IPL Final With 62-Run Win vs MI

Shubman Gill extended his sensational run with a third century of the season as Gujarat Titans crushed Mumbai Indians by 62 runs to storm into their second consecutive IPL final in Ahmedabad on Friday. Gill's 60-ball 129 (7x4s, 10x6s) fired Gujarat Titans to a huge 233/3 and in reply, Mumbai Indians, struck by a string of injuries, went down fighting in Qualifier 2 with Suryakumar Yadav (61) and Tilak Varma (43) providing the resistance. Mohit Sharma, introduced in the 15th over, finished with figures of 2.2-0-10-5, triggering a collapse as MI collapsed from 149/4 in 14 overs to 171 all-out in 18.2 overs The 23-year-old Gill scored his third century in the last four innings, recorded the highest score of the season for any batter and took his tally to 851 runs in yet another sensational knock. Gill's whirlwind knock made him only the second Indian batter after Virat Kohli (2016) and overall fourth in the history, after Jos Buttler (2022) and David Warner (2016), to score

How Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans Emerged As IPL 'Title Favourites' Again

When the Hardik Pandya -led Gujarat Titans started their journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, one would have been pardoned for not considering them as serious contenders for the title. For IPL has not been kind to 'new teams' in the past. Be it Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2011), Sahara Pure Warriors (2011), Gujarat Lions (2016) or Rising Pune Supergiant (2016) none of the teams that got added in the cash-rich could get any title success. Pune came closest as it finished runners-up in the 2017 edition. So, when GT and Lucknow Super Giants got introduced in 2022, one would not have considered them to go the distance right in the first season. What happened, however, was quite the opposite. LSG and GT both entered the playoffs, while GT went the distance and won the IPL 2022 by defeating Rajasthan Royals. This time too, both, the teams showed amazing consistency and finished among the top three in the league phase. The Hardik Pandya-led GT has played at a different level al