SPORTS

Led by Jonny Bairstow's scintillating century, Punjab Kings shattered records previously held by South Africa's national team, who chased down 259 runs against West Indies last year. This remarkable feat eclipsed the previous IPL milestone set by Rajasthan Royals, who chased down 224 runs against KKR, mirroring their achievement against then Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2020.

“Last two games, we’ve shown great signs of fight. SRH game was 270 plus, we got 260. KKR game as well – 1 run. We’ve been close for a while, but you need to win matches to get confidence as a group. Will sleep easier tonight.

Patidar's blistering 50 runs in 20 deliveries overshadowed Virat Kohli's unbeaten knock of 51 in 43 deliveries, but this time, it was the chance of a formidable total of 206 for seven after RCB batted first.

Just four games are left in the season with 74 points on table, three points behind Arsenal. Together with two games remaining, City faces Brighton on Thursday, and they currently lead Liverpool by just one point.

Captaining the side from the front, Captain Rishabh Pant showed his mettle with an unbeaten 88 off just 43 deliveries, assisted well by Axar Patel's aggressive 66 off 43 balls, pushing DC to a formidable total of 224/4. Although the overall tally runs appeared a daunting target, GT showed commendable run-scoring prowess with Sudharsan's 65 and Miller's 55 keeping them in the chase.

Introduced in IPL 2023 after successful trials in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the impact player rule permits all ten teams to substitute a player from the five nominated reserves at any point during a match, essentially converting an IPL game into a 12-player contest per side.

Facing a daunting target, Lucknow Super Giants faced an early setback as Quinton de Kock departed without scoring. However, despite the early setback, Stoinis, along with KL Rahul, kept their chase on track until Mustafizur Rahman struck, dismissing Rahul for 16 runs. Devdutt Padikkal's struggle continued as he managed only 12 runs off 16 balls.

This milestone moment unfolded during the intense clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the electrifying Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Chahal showcased his mastery of leg-spin as he artfully deceived Afghan batsman Mohammad Nabi with a well-flighted delivery, enticing him into a mistimed shot that resulted in an easy catch for Chahal, sealing his landmark achievement.

Jaiswal, known for his lofty standards, ended his dry spell in the IPL with a remarkable century, propelling Rajasthan Royals to a convincing nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. Lara commended Jaiswal's approach, emphasizing his focus on playing authentic cricketing shots while patiently waiting for the right deliveries to capitalize on.

While Rohit has been designated as India’s skipper for the prestigious event, the question remains regarding his opening partner. Kohli, currently leading the run charts in IPL 2024 with a stellar performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as an opener, emerges as a strong contender. On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite facing a lean phase with Rajasthan Royals, has displayed glimpses of brilliance, including a notable half-century against Mumbai Indians.