Indian Premier League 2015: Duminy set to lead Delhi in IPL 2015

March 27, 2015

Mar 27: South Africa’s explosive left-handed batsman JP Duminy has been chosen to lead the Delhi Daredevils in this year’s Indian Premier League. He succeeds Kevin Pietersen, who is also one of the 13 players not bought back by the franchise in February’s auction due to their rebuilding strategy, having finished at the bottom of the points table last year.

duminiHowever, Duminy is one of the few players who will be playing for the second consecutive season for Delhi and was preferred over World Cup winning Indian allrounder Yuvraj Singh and current Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews.

Like last year, Yuvraj was once again the most sought-after player in the world by all the franchise and managed to fetch Rs.16 crore. Delhi had the biggest purse than all the other teams, and used that to their advantage with the aim of finding the right balance for the team.

Yuvraj has had past experience in leading an IPL team, notably Kings XI Punjab in 2008 and 2009 and Pune Warriors India in 2011. Plus his match-winning ability and the aura he possesses in the minds of the younger Indian players can hardly be questioned.

Yet, the Daredevils management wasn’t entirely on board of handing the captaincy to him and instead found the reasons for selecting Duminy more apt. Hemant Dua, CEO of Delhi Daredevils, is of the opinion that Duminy is the "right choice" as he is a "composed individual and well respected by his teammates and peers."

In the past, Duminy had clearly harboured captaincy ambitions for South Africa and in fact did lead them in the three-match Twenty20 series against Australia in November 2014 as stand-in captain for Faf du Plessis.

The advantage Duminy gives to the side this year is the fact that he is in line with the vision that the franchise has, having already played for them last year and thoroughly understanding the set-up. Plus he has had a very solid professional bonding with head coach Gary Kirsten, as the two have worked together for South Africa as well was for the Cape Cobras in South African domestic cricket.

Their mutual respect has been very evident as Kirsten has been one of Duminy’s biggest backers over the years, believing that he has both, talent and attitude to be considered an X-factor for the Proteas.

Many who know a lot about South African cricket are aware that Duminy has been an integral part of South Africa’s leadership group for a while now, even if he hasn’t been declared leader officially. An immensely likeable guy, Duminy was also named the president of the influential South African Players' Association.

"JP is the right choice to lead the team for the upcoming season," Kirsten said in a media release. "He has the necessary experience and demeanour to take the team forward. I have seen him progress and mature as a player and leader through the years with the South African national team."

If all that wasn’t convincing enough, Duminy also has present form and past records on his side. He was the Daredevils' best batsman by far the previous season with 410 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 134. The South African was honoured to be selected and believes that the Delhi could "turn around the fortunes".

For that, he would need strong backing from the seniors in the squad, that too Yuvraj who is a lot more accomplished than him. Dua said that Duminy’s leadership is likely to give Yuvraj the license to go out and focus on as well as enjoy his own game rather than pressurizing him to take decisions.

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News Network
May 6,2020

May 6: They have similar impact on their teams but Virat Kohli is driven by sheer passion to subdue the rivals while Steve Smith just enjoys batting, says Australia opener David Warner.

India skipper Kohli and top Australian batsman Smith are arguably the top two cricketers of the current era. They achieve new milestones consistently, invoking debates, who is better between them.

"Virat's passion and drive to score runs is different to what Steve's would be," Warner said while speaking to Harsha Bhogle on 'Cricbuzz in Conversation'.

"Steve is going out there for a hit in the middle, that's how he sees things. He's hitting them out in the middle, he's having fun, he's enjoying himself, just does not want to get out."

Warner feels, while Kohli is batting he is aware that if he sticks around the middle his team will be on top of the proceedings.

"Virat obviously doesn't want to get out but he knows if he spends a certain amount of time out there, he's going to score plenty of runs at a rapid rate. He's going to get on top of you. That allows the guys coming in, especially in the Indian team you've got a lot of players who can be flamboyant as well."

The Australian opener added that both men are mentally strong and a good knock by them boosts the morale of the entire team.

"When it comes to cricket, they both have got the mental strength, the mental capacity to score runs. They both love spending time in the middle.

"They stabilise, they boost morale - if they score runs, everyone else's moral is up. If they are out cheaply you almost sense that on the field that everyone is (down on morale and thinking) 'now we all have to step up'. It's a very bizarre situation," he added.

Asked about the similarities between himself and Kohli, who are both live wires on the field, Warner said the passion to do better than the opponent keeps him going.

"I can't speak for Virat, obviously, but it's almost like we got this thing in us when we go (out to the middle) we need to prove people wrong, prove someone wrong."

"If you're in that contest, and if I'm going at him for example, you're thinking, 'Alright, I'm going to score more runs than him, I'm going to take a quick single on him'. You are trying to better that person in that game. That's where the passion comes from."

Warner also explained how he breaks down a match into smaller competitions.

"Obviously you want to win the game but you almost break it down to: If I can score more runs than Virat, or if Pujara scores more runs than Steve Smith, you have these little contests and that's how you try to narrow the game in the sense that if we do these little things, we can be ahead of the game or we can be behind the game.

"The passion is driven by...I know my sense - one, the will to win and two, wanting to do better than that person in the opposition," said Warner.

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Agencies
January 23,2020

Aurangabad, Jan 23: An FIR has been registered against three people including former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin for allegedly duping a travel agent, Mohammad Shadab, of more than Rs 20 lakh.

However, Mohammad Azharuddin has refuted allegations and said: "I strongly rubbish the false FIR filed against me in Aurangabad. I am consulting my legal team and would be taking action as necessary."

Azharuddin's personal assistant Mujeeb lives in Augurangabad and has good relations with the travel agency of Shadab.

The travel agent alleged that Mujeeb asked him to book some flight tickets but did not pay the amount.

The police have booked the three under Section 406, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

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Agencies
February 4,2020

Potchefstroom, Feb 4: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena guided India to a comfortable ten wickets win over Pakistan in the ICC U19 World Cup semifinal at Senwes Park on Tuesday and progressed to the final of the tournament.

Chasing 173, Indian openers Jaiswal and Saxena played cautiously and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 176 runs.

The duo built the highest opening partnership of the tournament's history. Jaiswal, the left-handed batsman, scored his maiden century of the tournament as he amassed unbeaten 105 runs studded with eight fours and four sixes.

Saxena scored 59* off 99 balls including six fours. India chased down the total in 35.2 overs. This is the first time in the history of the U19 World Cup that a team won a knockout match by ten wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

Opener Haider Ali and skipper Rohail Nazir's half-centuries guided the side to a respectable total of 172. Ali played a knock of 56 runs while Nazir accumulated 62 runs including six boundaries.

Pakistan did not have a good start as they lost Mohammad Hurair (4) in the second over. Fahad Munir, came to bat at number three, failed to score a single run and was departed by Ravi Bishnoi on a duck in ninth over.

Apart from Ali and Nazir, Mohammad Haris was the only batsman to score runs in double digits. He played an innings of 21 runs off 15 balls. Indian bowlers showed a spirited performance as they bowled out arch-rival in 43.1 overs.

Pacers Karthik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra bagged two and three wickets respectively. Spinner Ravi Bishnoi clinched two scalps and conceded 46 runs in his ten overs.

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