IPL 2024

Acknowledging Pandya's tough outing, Pollard defended him, citing cricket's fluctuating nature where players experience both highs and lows. He emphasized Pandya's confidence and dedication to improving his skills, reminding everyone of his potential selection for India's T20 World Cup squad.

Rohit Sharma's heroic innings of 105 runs off 63 balls, comprising 11 fours and five sixes, stood out amidst a lack of substantial support from the rest of the MI lineup. Despite Rohit's valiant effort, CSK's bowling attack, led by Pathirana, proved too much for the defending champions.

Dhawan's absence was notable in the match against Royals, with Sam Curran stepping up to lead the team in his place. Bangar shed light on Dhawan's injury, stating, "He's nursing a shoulder injury, indicating he might need a couple of days to recover. Having an experienced opener like Shikhar, especially on challenging pitches, is paramount for the team's success. We're monitoring his response to treatment, but it appears he could be sidelined for at least a week to ten days."

Stephen Fleming, the long-standing head coach of Chennai Super Kings, brings a unique perspective having closely observed both Dhoni and Gaikwad. While Fleming refrains from drawing direct comparisons between the two captains, he confidently asserts that Gaikwad possesses the same cool headedness as Dhoni. Despite his nascent captaincy journey, the Maharashtra native has already showcased remarkable composure, debunking any notions of sluggishness in his batting approach.

The stage was set after the Royals restricted Punjab to a modest total of 147/8 on a sluggish pitch. Despite facing adversity at 115/5 during their chase, Hetmyer's blitzkrieg of boundaries, including a crucial four and three sixes, turned the tide in favor of Rajasthan. Rovman Powell also played a crucial role, contributing a vital 11 runs off just five balls to secure a narrow victory in the final over.

The Delhi Capitals chased down LSG's target of 167 runs in just 18.1 overs, losing a mere four wickets along the way. Australian talent Frazer-McGurk dazzled with a 35-ball 55 in his IPL debut, forming a formidable 77-run partnership with Rishabh Pant (41), leaving Rahul's side rueing the absence of Yadav.

Lucknow Super Giants, batting first on a central spongy pitch, set a challenging target of 168 runs for Delhi Capitals. Ayush Badoni played a crucial innings, scoring a fine half-century. Kuldeep Yadav's bowling brilliance restricted Lucknow to 167/7, with figures of 3-20 in his four overs.

Bumrah's recent performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru reaffirmed his stature as a game-changer, as he clinched a five-wicket haul, sharing the prestigious purple cap with Yuzvendra Chahal. Harbhajan Singh, speaking on 'Cricket Live' with Star Sports, marveled at Bumrah's evolution as a bowler, praising his insatiable hunger for improvement.

Nevertheless, amidst the sea of disapproval, Pandya discovered a pocket of support at the Wankhede Stadium, with encouragement even coming from rival star batsman Virat Kohli. "He (Pandya) loves challenges," remarked Kishan to the media post-Mumbai Indians' triumphant victory over RCB. "I know that he must be enjoying it. I know him personally. He is ready for the challenges because you cannot complain to the fans, they will come up with their explanations and their point of views."

Bumrah's standout performance, clinching a stellar 5-21, propelled Mumbai Indians (MI) to a commanding victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), securing a seven-wicket win with 27 balls to spare in the 25th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the electric Wankhede Stadium.