It's a do-or-die match for both teams

May 23, 2012

dhoni_gange_do_or_die

Amidst the Indian Premier League's mixed bag of last over finishes and the insinuations about spot-fixing and slanderous nights, irony too has found a place to flourish.


Royal Challengers Bangalore was expected to saunter into the play-offs, however, the men in red and golden shades imploded at Hyderabad. Now the aggrieved team-members, perhaps with a wry smile, will watch their home-turf — Chinnaswamy Stadium — play host to the Eliminator match between defending champion Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians here on Wednesday night. Irony could not have had a louder version!


Destiny's child

The league's recent quixotic results, especially Deccan Chargers' ambush of RCB, have helped CSK find a way back into the last-four stage. Fate's strange ways have also revived an old prefix that tailed M.S. Dhoni's name — ‘destiny's child.' The skipper though leads an outfit that has shed its domineering veneer and the stumble against King's XI Punjab at Dharamshala almost triggered a free-fall until RCB inadvertently lent a helping hand.


CSK's previous visit to Bangalore was spent watching the rain and the forecast hints at a few wet spells though the city has suffered a dry phase over the last two days.


Twin defeats

Squaring up against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni's team will remember its twin defeats against Harbhajan Singh's men in the league stage. History's sobering reminder may well count for nothing in a do-or-die match with the loser crashing out and the winner finding a berth in the second qualifier.


Faf du Plessis (398), Suresh Raina (341) and Dwayne Bravo (305) have clicked for CSK while Dhoni (269) remains a pivotal presence despite the lack of a game-changing innings in the latest edition.


The rest have cobbled together some runs but more needs to be done in a decisive game on a pitch, which has been good to batsmen.


CSK's bowlers though will be hard-pressed against the Mumbai Indians' batsmen with Rohit Sharma (419), Ambati Rayudu (322), Sachin Tendulkar (313) finding adequate backing in recent times from the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith.


Lasith Malinga (22 wickets) is the biggest impact bowler on either side and the way he is countered will also determine Mumbai Indians' progress and CSK's fate.


Combative players

Besides improving his own form, Harbhajan will be well advised to rein in his combative players, who have had many run-ins with rivals and authorities. When Mumbai Indians last played here, a rousing triumph against the host was marred by Rayudu's outburst against Harshal Patel.


It is a trait that could be avoided more so in a season that has seen the IPL churn news of different shades.


The league had commenced at Chennai with Mumbai Indians defeating CSK on April 4.


Life has come a full circle for the two teams and on Wednesday night, only one will be left standing for the remainder of the tournament.


It is a context that can only engineer a cracking contest.


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News Network
January 29,2020

Hamilton, Jan 29: India defeated New Zealand in the third T20 International via Super Over to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series here on Wednesday.

India posted a competitive 179 for five at Seddon Park after being sent into bat. Opener Rohit Sharma top scored for India with a 65-run knock while skipper Virat Kohli contributed 38 runs in team's total.

Later, skipper Kane Williamson smashed a 48-ball 95 but New Zealand faltered in the final over to take the match into the Super Over.

Needing nine runs of the last over, New Zealand lost Williamson and Ross Taylor to finish at 179 for six and tie the match.

In the Super Over, New Zealand scored 17, a target which India overwhelmed in the final ball with Rohit smashing Tim Southee for two consecutive sixes.

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News Network
April 30,2020

New Delhi, Apr 30: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday mourned the demise of veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, called his death 'unreal and unbelievable' loss.

"This is unreal and unbelievable. Yesterday Irrfan Khan and today Rishi Kapoor ji. It's hard to accept this as a legend passes away today. My condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace," Kohli tweeted.

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
"It's shocking to hear about the sudden demise of #RishiKapoor ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace," Dhawan tweeted.

Earlier today, actor Amitabh Bachchan confirmed the news of the demise of the 67-year-old Rishi Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.

In September 2019, the veteran actor returned to Mumbai after staying in New York for almost a year for cancer treatment.

He was last seen in the 2019 film 'The Body' alongside Emraan Hashmi and Shobita Sobhita Dhulipala.

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News Network
May 29,2020

Kolkata, May 29: Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara believes missing Angelo Mathews due to an injury hurt Sri Lanka badly in the summit clash of the 2011 World Cup, which hosts India won after a gap of 28 years.

Having played a key role in their thrilling semifinal win against New Zealand, Mathews was forced out of the final against India at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium by a quadriceps muscle injury.

Reflecting on the six-wicket loss to India, the former Sri Lankan captain said Mathews' injury forced him to opt for a 6-5 combination and was also the reason behind his decision to bat first after winning the toss.

"In that WC final, that's the biggest thing I look back and think...You can talk about drop catches and all of that happens. But the composition of the side and the fact that we were forced to make the change was to me the turning point," Sangakkara said in the latest episode of Instagram series 'Reminisce with Ash' hosted by India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Mahela Jayawardene's unbeaten 103 went in vain as India hunted down 275 with Gautam Gambhir setting up the chase with a 97-run knock before skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished off in style, smashing Nuwan Kulasekara for the winning six in his unbeaten 91.

"But for 100 per cent, if Angelo (Mathews) had been fit, I know for sure we would have gone for chase... I'm not sure whether the result would have changed. That balance of team that Mathews would give at seven really was a bonus," the former wicketkeeper batsman said

"If you take our entire campaign, whatever we did Mathews' overs and his ability to bat with the tail and read situations was an incredible bonus to us. He was a young chap who came into the side and from day one he could read situations. It's just instinct, how to up the rate, how to control the bowler, when to accelerate."

During the conversation, Ashwin also asked him about the controversial toss when the coin was flipped twice amid the cacophony of the Wankhede and eventually Sangakkara elected to bat.

"The was crowd was huge. It never happens in Sri Lanka. Once I had this at Eden Gardens when I could not talk to the first slip and then of course at the Wankhede. I remember calling on the toss then Mahi wasn't sure and said did you call tail and I said no I called head.

"The match referee actually said I won the toss, Mahi said he did not. There was a little bit of confusion there and Mahi said let's have another toss of the coin and heads went up again," he said.

"I am not sure whether it was luck that I won. I believe probably India might have batted if I had lost."

The loss prolonged Sri Lanka's wait for another world title as yet again the 1996 champions failed in the final hurdle.

"Whether we win or lose, we have this equilibrium on how to take a win or loss. The smile hides a huge amount of sadness, of disappointment, of thinking of 20 million people back in Sri Lanka who had been waiting for this for so long, since 1996.

"We had an opportunity in 2011, opportunity in 2007, then T20 opportunities in 2009 and 2012," Sangakkara said.

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