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Shubman Gill

Stephen Fleming Image Source: IPLT20.COM
Stephen Fleming Image Source: IPLT20.COM
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Stephen Fleming Becomes Most Successful IPL Coach By Winning 4th IPL Title

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Stephen Fleming on Friday became the most successful coach in the Indian Premier League after Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to win their fourth title in Dubai. Stephen Fleming, who has been CSK coach since 2009, surpassed Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene with his fourth title – 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021.

Stephen Fleming is the most successful coach of IPL. Under his guidance CSK won 4 IPL Title ( 2010,2011,2018, 2021) and one CLT20 (2010).

Stephen Fleming also won the battle of the Kiwi coaches as his CSK outclassed Brendon McCullum's KKR.
Stephen Fleming also won the battle of the Kiwi coaches as his CSK outclassed Brendon McCullum’s KKR. (Courtesy of BCCI).

Stephen Fleming Wins 4th IPL Title As Coach Surpassing MI’s Mahela Jayawardene Who Has 3 Titles

On the other hand, MI coach Mahela Jayawardene has won 3 trophies with MI in 2017, 2019, and 2020. Stephen Fleming also won the battle of the Kiwi coaches as his CSK outclassed Brendon McCullum’s KKR for the third successive time in IPL 2021.

“We have had a number of finals, but crossing the line is what you want to conquer. There has been a bit of criticism about the age of players on our side, but the players have stepped up. We value youth, but experience is very important. We don’t go too deep into the numbers, analytics, but are a team more on instincts. Yes we are a bit old school in that sense but it works for us in this group,” Fleming said after the match.

Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene (Photo| Mumbai Indians website)
Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene (Photo| Mumbai Indians website)

The four-time champions’ 2020 campaign was disastrous as they could not reach the playoffs for the first time in IPL history. They finished seventh in the rankings, and MS Dhoni’s captaincy reign came under question. But they turned it around in IPL 2021 in style, finishing as winners lifting the elusive trophy for the 4th time.

In the IPL 2021, the likes of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (635 runs) and Faf du Plessis (633 runs) finished as leading run-getters in IPL 2021. Moeen Ali (357 runs), Ambati Rayudu (257 runs) also delivered in crunch situations. Dwayne Bravo (14), Deepak Chahar(14), Ravindra Jadeja(13), Josh Hazlewood(11), and Shardul Thakur(21) were amongst the wickets.

Faf du Plessis Anchored Chennai’s Innings With 86 Off 59 Balls In IPL 2021 Finals

Put into bat, Chennai amassed 192-3 with opener Faf du Plessis anchoring their innings with 86 off 59 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad made 32, while Robin Uthappa (31) and Moeen Ali (37 not out) chipped in with useful cameos. Kolkata, led by England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan, got off to a flying start with a 91-run stand between openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer before wheels came off their innings finished on 165-9.

Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis (Image Credit: Twitter)

Eoin Morgan made four runs, and only four Kolkata batsmen managed double-digit scores. Shardul Thakur returned 3-38, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed 2-37 and took two stunning catches to hurt Kolkata. It was a dream comeback for the Men in Yellow as CSK, who missed out on the play-offs berth for the first time in the history of the tournament in 2020, romped to the title in 2021, making a statement once again.

MS Dhoni’s men came up with a nearly spotless campaign as they qualified for the play-offs ahead of the chasing pack and asserted their dominance in the knockout stages before eventually winning IPL 2021.

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Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Robin Uthappa Grateful To Be Part Of IPL 2021 Winning Side Chennai Super Kings

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Robin Uthappa, Chennai Super Kings batsman, said that he is extremely grateful to be a part of the winning side-Chennai Super Kings. The MS Dhoni-led CSK won their fourth IPL title as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Friday.

After Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won their fourth IPL trophy, star batsman Robin Uthappa said that he is extremely grateful and feels amazing to be part of MS Dhoni-led side, especially how last year went for them.

Robin Uthappa scored a brisk 15-ball 31 in the IPL 2021 Final against Kolkata Knight Riders | Photo Credit: PTI
Robin Uthappa scored a brisk 15-ball 31 in the IPL 2021 Final against Kolkata Knight Riders | Photo Credit: PTI

Robin Uthappa Felt Amazing To Be Part Of IPL 2021 Winning Team Chennai Super Kings

CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the IPL 2021 final and lifted their fourth IPL title. CSK had earlier won three IPL titles in 2010, 2011, and 2018.

“Extremely grateful, it feels amazing to be part of this side, especially how last year went for us. It was a very lean season for us last year and so it was important for us to come back and play as well as we could and be really grateful that we have been able to,” said Robin Uthappa after the win.

Chennai Super Kings beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to claim their fourth IPL title. SportzPics
Chennai Super Kings beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to claim their fourth IPL title. SportzPics

The consistently proven match-winner, Robin Uthappa, was traded to Chennai Super Kings by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2021 Player Auction. He had joined the Royals ahead of the 2020 season and played 12 games for them. Earlier, he was one of KKR’s star-turns in the title-winning efforts in 2012 and 2014.

Robin Uthappa Wanted To Contribute To CSK’s Success

Robin Uthappa played only 4 games in IPL 2021 for CSK but managed to amass 115 runs averaging 28.75 besides a fifty. His 63 came against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 while he hit a quickfire 15 ball 31 in the final.

“I just want to come in and contribute to the team’s success,” he added.

Talking about the environment in the CSK group, the stylish batsman said that there is a lot of clarity.

“They create a very secure environment within the group and there’s a lot of clarity and communication within the support staff and the players and that really helps in building a secure group,” said Robin Uthappa, who performed well with the bat for CSK in the last two matches.

Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis (Image Credit: Twitter)

“I believe it’s your players who are not playing in the eleven that really create the atmosphere within the group and they make sure that they look after the players who are not playing in the eleven and I think that’s one of the biggest takeaways of our success in IPL,” he added.

Notably, Faf du Plessis finished with 633 runs in IPL 2021, just 2 short of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s tally of 635, which helped him become the youngest Orange Cap winner. CSK, who posted 192/3 on the board in the IPL 2021 final on the back of Faf du Plessis’ brilliant 86, restricted KKR to 165/9 and sealed a 27-run win.

KKR’s openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer scored the much-needed 50s, but after they were dismissed, the middle-order was exposed, and KKR’s batsmen fell without much resistance.

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Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram
Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram
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Covid-19 Induced Break Came At The Right Time For Venkatesh Iyer: Brendon McCullum

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Brendon McCullum hailed the impact Venkatesh Iyer, and the rest of his Indian players had in the UAE, allowing the team to bounce back from a dismal position after the first half of the season and reach the final.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum was full of praise for the impact that opener Venkatesh Iyer and the rest of the Indian top-order batsmen (Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, and Nitish Rana) had in the second half of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL). As a result, KKR went from having just two wins in seven matches to reach the final in the UAE leg of the season.

Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum BCCI

Brendon McCullum: Venkatesh Iyer Has Been An Incredible Story

In opening the innings with Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs in 10 innings and even put in handy shifts with the ball, taking three wickets in the season. In just 10 IPL 2021 games, all at UAE, the opener Venkatesh Iyer has 370 runs beside his name, averaging 41.11 with as many as 4 fifties. It was his debut IPL season, where he also picked 3 scalps averaging 23 with the ball.

“Venkatesh Iyer has been an incredible story. He was actually going to play in the next game after what turned out to be our last game in India but the break came at the right time there in a funny way. It gave him the opportunity to get a couple of months of cricket under his belt,” Brendon McCullum told the media after KKR’s 27-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final on Friday.

“Then it was just a matter of bringing the game that he owns. The ‘Venkatesh Iyer Game Plan’ which is an aggressive intent. He is a big presence, a tall man, plays the game with a kind of a cavalier streak. It is so important to hold on to that because he might be challenged to change his methods,” said Brendon McCullum.

Venkatesh Iyer scored a half century in the final.
Venkatesh Iyer scored a half-century in the final. (Courtesy of BCCI)
“He might not be the most consistent with his flamboyance but I hope he remains the Venkatesh Iyer we have seen so far. He has got a big future in this game and he is a very intelligent man. I thank him for all his efforts he was a big catalyst for our turnaround this season,” said Brendon McCullum.

Shubman Gill amassed 478 runs in 17 games, while Nitish Rana amassed 383 runs and Rahul Tripathi managed 397 runs, while the likes of Eoin Morgan (133 runs) and Dinesh Karthik (223 runs) failed to deliver with the bat.

Brendon McCullum: Break Came At The Right Time

Brendon McCullum said that the Covid-19 induced break in the season came at the right time for KKR as they could regroup from the dismal start they had to the season. But, unfortunately, the likes of KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy and pacer Sandeep Warrier and SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha and DC’s Amit Mishra were contracted with the Covid-19 virus, which eventually led to the postponement of IPL 2021 in India and the remainder of the league was moved to UAE.

The virus had wreaked havoc in India at that time, claiming thousands of lives. Prasidh Krishna, who has been picked as a standby player for England tour, became the fourth Kolkata Knight Riders player to test positive for Covid-19. KKR wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert was reported to have tested positive for Covid-19 earlier.

“The break came at a right time for us, it is difficult to keep your composure when the results are going against you. We had just two wins in seven games so the break came at a good time. We had some conversations in those months with some guys to smooth out some rough edges,” said Brendon McCullum.

Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Always felt that our intent needed to increase to put pressure back on the opposition. I can’t speak highly enough about our top four Indian batters what they achieved during the second half of the tournament. It takes guts to play the way they did and courage to trust the way that we were asking them to play. They were absolutely fantastic and a massive reason we had such a huge chance at winning this competition,” Brendon McCullum said.

In IPL 2021 final, CSK opener Faf du Plessis led the charge, making 86 as he anchored half-century stands for each of the three wickets that fell during the course of Super Kings’ 192. Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali played their parts with the bat before Shardul Thakur ended Venkatesh Iyer’s innings – and a dangerous opening stand – to cut Knight Riders’ middle-order open and consign them to their first defeat in an IPL final.

Chennai Super Kings 192 for 3 (du Plessis 86, Moeen 37*, Narine 2-26) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 165 for 9 (Gill 51, Iyer 50, Thakur 3-38, Hazlewood 2-29) by 27 runs

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Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (Image Credit: Twitter)
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KKR’s Positive Intent On And Off The Field Reason For Reaching IPL 2021 Final: Venkatesh Iyer

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Venkatesh Iyer has credited the side’s terrific turnaround in the second leg of the IPL to the positive intent shown on and off the field by the players and management.
KKR’s positive intent on and off-field is the reason behind the team’s turnaround, says Venkatesh Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders opener. In just 9 IPL 2021 games, all at UAE, the opener has 320 runs beside his name, averaging 40 with as many as 3 fifties.
Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram
Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram.

Venkatesh Iyer on KKR’s road to grand finale:

After an underwhelming first half where KKR lost as many as five out of their seven games, the 2-time IPL champions won seven of their nine matches in the second leg in the UAE to reach the final. The two-time champions will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the summit clash in Dubai after their three-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier on Wednesday.

“The brand of cricket that the KKR is playing and by KKR I just don’t mean the cricketers who are playing out there but the entire management. The way we are thinking, the way we are going about the things that are the real turnaround for us,” Iyer told KKR chief mentor David Hussey in a video posted on IPL’s website.
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
“The intent we are showing not just on the field but off the field is what brought us here,” he added.
Chasing a modest target of 136, Venkatesh Iyer smashed a 41-ball 55 and, alongside Shubman Gill (46), set up KKR’s win over DC.

 Venkatesh Iyer Will Try To Give His Best In The IPL 2021 Final

Such has been the resurgent ride in UAE that Kolkata Knight Riders moved from seventh to fourth place in the points table and now find themselves in contention for the IPL trophy. Their opening pair of Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill have been impressive. Likewise, the bowlers have been efficient, with Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, and Sunil Narine doing the job with utmost precision.

“I wasn’t chasing 136, I just went out there to bat. I just wanted to play the first six overs and see what the situation is. That brought the best,” he said.
Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik
Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik. Photo – IPL |
Asked about the final against CSK on Friday in Dubai, he said: “I am not going to treat it as a final or big game. I will just play my game and give my best and that is what the entire team is going to do.”

Kolkata Knight Riders have won two out of two in the IPL finals. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings have reached the finals nine times, emerging victorious in three of them. However, the form with the bat of their senior players Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik is a major cause of concern. Dinesh Karthik is averaging only 23.77, while Eoin Morgan’s average is an abysmal 11.72.

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File photo of Anrich Nortje. | BCCI / Sportzpics
File photo of Anrich Nortje. | BCCI / Sportzpics
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Anrich Nortje Expressed Disappointment To Not Win An Elusive IPL 2021 Title For Delhi Capitals

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Anrich Nortje, Delhi Capitals pacer said he was “proud” to be a part of the set-up but expressed “disappointed” on not being able to clinch the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 trophy.

Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2021 campaign ended with a hurtful defeat as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got over the line courtesy of Rahul Tripathi’s six-off Ravichandran Ashwin in the final over.

Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals (Image Credit: Twitter)

Anrich Nortje Feels Proud Of Delhi Capitals Achievement And Disappointed To Not Win Elusive IPL 2021 Title

Anrich Nortje shared pictures from his IPL 2021 campaign and thanked fans who supported Delhi Capitals.

“In sport and in life, things move so rapidly. Can’t believe how time went by with this amazing bunch. Proud of what we achieved and disappointed that we couldn’t get the trophy. Thank you to everyone involved, especially the fans for sticking with us,” Anrich Nortje tweeted.

Anrich Nortje
Anrich Nortje (Image Credit: Twitter)

Delhi Capitals brought in Anrich Nortje as a replacement for Chris Woakes ahead of IPL 2020 and the South African speedster, in his maiden IPL season, delivered the goods for Delhi Capitals, scalping as many as 22 wickets in 16 games. The right-arm pacer proved his worth yet again in IPL 2021 by picking 12 scalps for Delhi Capitals in 8 games averaging a mere 15.58.

Shimron Hetmyer Thanks Delhi Capitals For Giving Him Opportunity To Represent The Franchise

West Indies star batter Shimron Hetmyer thanked Delhi Capitals for giving him the opportunity to represent the side in the IPL 2021. Shimron Hetmyer managed to score 242 runs in 14 IPL 2021 games averaging a decent 34.57 at an excellent strike rate of 168.05- the best of the season.

“Thanks to @DelhiCapitals for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to represent you guys really enjoyed it,” Hetmyer tweeted.

Shimron Hetmyer (Photo: BCCI/IPL/ANI)
Shimron Hetmyer (Photo: BCCI/IPL/ANI)

After the defeat, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting said he would like to retain each and every player on his team for the IPL 2022.

“I would like to keep everyone, to be honest. We have got this terrific group of people at the Delhi Capitals. The playing staff and the coaches have done an amazing job for the last couple of seasons and I think our performances so to speak for themselves,” said Ponting during the post-match press conference.

Ricky Ponting also said Delhi Capitals failed to utilize the powerplay and were eight to 10 runs short of the good first six overs score in the game. Needing 136 runs to win, KKR was off to a brisk start, courtesy of Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer. The pair cashed in on all the scoring opportunities but DC though managed to get Venkatesh Iyer out when he and Shubman Gill were inching closer to a hundred-run stand.

While Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill added 27 runs together, DC continued to put in a fight and scalped three wickets, conceding just three runs as KKR moved from 123/1 to 126/4 at the end of the 18th over – an over where Kagiso Rabada conceded just a run and picked up a wicket. Anrich Nortje then had the better of Eoin Morgan in the penultimate over as DC pushed KKR to score 7 runs in the final over.

Ravichandran Ashwin then scalped two wickets, dismissing Shakib Al Hasan and Sunil Narine – in the first four balls of the last over. However, with 6 runs to get from the last 2 balls, Rahul Tripathi creamed a maximum to help KKR seal a place in the final.

Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 136/7 (Venkatesh Iyer 55, Shubman Gill 46; Kagiso Rabada 2/23) beat Delhi Capitals 135/5 (Shikhar Dhawan 36, Shreyas Iyer 30*; Varun Chakravarthy 2/26) by 3 wickets. 

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Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
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Brad Hogg Predicts Ruturaj Gaikwad Will Soon Open For India In Tests After Success In IPL 2020, 2021

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Brad Hogg, the former Australian spinner, has made a big claim, predicting that rising IPL star Ruturaj Gaikwad will be opening for India in Tests in the near future. According to former spinner Brad Hogg, the young Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener has got the ability to succeed in the longer version of the game.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has had an exceptional Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign. Opening the innings for CSK, he has smashed 603 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 137.35. Heading into the final against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday, he needs 24 more runs to go past KL Rahul (626) and claim the Orange Cap.

Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images
Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images

Brad Hogg: Ruturaj Gaikwad Has Got The Technique Of A Test Opener

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Brad Hogg lavished praise on Ruturaj Gaikwad and predicted a bright future for him as a Test opener. Ruturaj Gaikwad has played 21 first-class matches amassing 1349 runs at an average of 38.54 with 4 tons.

He said: “Gaikwad is really rising in stature. It won’t be too long before, I think, we will see him opening at the Test level. I think he has got the technique for it.”

The 24-year-old smashed his maiden IPL ton against Rajasthan Royals (RR) when he blasted an unbeaten 101 off 60 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad was also the Player of the Match in Qualifier 1 of the ongoing IPL 2021 against Delhi Capitals (DC). His 50-ball 70 helped CSK chase down 173.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)

CSK will be looking up to Ruturaj Gaikwad for another big performance in the IPL 2021 final against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The youngster and Faf du Plessis (547 runs) have been key to CSK’s success in this year’s IPL.

In IPL 2020, Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a hat-trick of half-centuries in the last three games to amass 204 runs averaging 51 in 6 games after scoring 5 runs in the first 3 outings. He scored unbeaten 65, 72, and unbeaten 62 as CSK won the last 3 games but finished 7th. He has totalled 807 runs averaging 47.47 in 21 IPL games for CSK in 2020 and 2021. His figures in IPL 2021 include a career-best 101* apart from scores of 70, 88*, 75 and 64.

Brad Hogg : Venkatesh Iyer Has Been The Find Of IPL 2021

Previewing the final between CSK and KKR in Dubai, Brad Hogg claimed that the big finale match could be decided on how the openers of the two teams perform in the powerplay. Like Ruturaj Gaikwad-Faf du Plessis, Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill have also done exceptionally well for KKR.

Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram
Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram

The former chinaman bowler elaborated: “It’s going to be a battle between the openers. Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis have been carrying CSK throughout this whole tournament. For KKR, Gill and Venkatesh Iyer have been awesome. Venkatesh Iyer has crept up the ladder of leading run-getters and he has only played in the UAE. He has been the big find of the tournament and has turned it around for KKR. Whoever dominates the powerplay between these two teams will end up winning the game for their team.”

While Venkatesh Iyer has scored 320 runs in nine IPL 2021 games at a strike rate of 125, Shubman Gill has 427 runs from 16 matches at a strike rate of 118.94. Shubman Gill started IPL 2021 slowly, but in the last few games, his scores read 57, 56, 29 and 46.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar (AP Photo)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (AP Photo)
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar Isn’t In His Prime Fitness In IPL 2021: Sanjay Manjrekar

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Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, turned commentator, feels Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not in his prime fitness at the moment in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who won the Purple Cap for two consecutive IPL seasons (2016 & 2017), has looked a shadow of himself this year. After missing a few matches in the 1st phase in India due to some niggles, the 31-year old has managed to pick up only two wickets in four encounters for SRH since the resumption of IPL 2021 in the UAE.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credit: Twitter)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credit: Twitter)

Sanjay Manjrekar: In The Ongoing IPL, It Can Be Clearly Seen That Bhuvneshwar Kumar Isn’t At Fitness Peak

Once known for his wicket-taking ability with the new ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has only picked up three wickets in nine innings in the powerplay this season. Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned that Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s fitness, along with slow tracks in the UAE, maybe the reason for his underwhelming season this year in the IPL for SRH.

The 56-year old Sanjay Manjrekar opined: “When Bhuvi made his comeback during the home series against England, he was giving assurances that he’s back in his prime form again. But, then in Sri Lanka, it seemed like he’s not a hundred percent fit.”

Sanjay Manjrekar | Sportzpics
Sanjay Manjrekar | Sportzpics

“Again, in the ongoing IPL, we can clearly see that he’s not at the peak of his fitness. This is the only for his underwhelming form currently because you can’t criticize him for his bowling. He’s speed has dipped a bit now. Trent Boult is in a similar situation, where his pace has also taken a hit,” said Sanjay Manjrekar.

Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Bhuvneshwar looked in prime form in England series at home. However, in the next Sri Lanka limited-overs series, it looked like he is not a hundred per cent fit.

Frequent niggles and injuries were the reasons pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been in and out of the national setup for the past few years. However, he will look to revamp his performances during the remainder of IPL 2021 and try to justify his selection in the squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, which will be held in UAE and Oman.

The Indian selectors will be watching Bhuvneshwar Kumar closely and could even consider replacing the 31-year-old pacer with either Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar. They are currently in the reserves named for the T20 World Cup. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a massive haul of 141 wickets in 131 IPL games averaging 25.26, which is much better than his IPL 2021 bowling average- an extremely poor 62.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Made His 100th Appearance For SRH Against KKR In IPL

Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his 100th appearance for SRH in the IPL match against the eventual winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday (October 3). KKR won the game with 6 wickets in hand, with pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling an economical spell of four overs for just 20 runs. He could not pick up any wickets, however.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar[photo: Twitter]
It was a must-win game for KKR, and they took two points from the encounter to keep their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive. Sunrisers Hyderabad, who were already out of contention to make it into the top four, fell to their 10th loss of the season.

Playing his first game of the second leg, and only his fourth overall this season, Shakib Al Hasan made a mark in his very first over by running out Kane Williamson with a direct athletic hit at stumps.  The spin trio of Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy ended with combined figures of 12-0-58-3.

Tim Southee and Shivam Mavi also took 2 wickets each to restrict SRH to only 115/8. Shubman Gill returned to form by scoring 57 as KKR won by 6 wickets to stay in the playoff race.

Kolkata Knight Riders 119 for 4 (Gill 57, Rana 25, Holder 2-32) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 115 for 8 (Williamson 26, Samad 25, Southee 2-26, Chakravarthy 2-26, Mavi 2-29) by six wickets

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Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Shubman Gill’s Place In Test Squad Is Doubtful And Several Players Have Moved Ahead Of Him In T20s: Ajay Jadeja

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Shubman Gill scored his first half-century of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 to help Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secure a crucial win over bottom-ranked Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.

In a low-scoring affair, opener Shubman Gill scored 57 off 51 balls to help KKR chase 116 to stay in the fourth spot, with qualification for the playoffs still in their hands. Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja, however, remained critical of Shubman Gill and said that several players had moved ahead of the KKR opener since he got injured after the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.

Shubman Gill Photo Credit: (BCCI)
Shubman Gill Photo Credit: (BCCI)

Shubman Gill Didn’t Have A Good Year: Ajay Jadeja

Ajay Jadeja said that Shubman Gill’s Test spot was already in jeopardy following the resurgence of KL Rahul in the recently concluded Test series against England and consistent stellar performances from Rohit Sharma. Ajay Jadeja opined that now in the T20s as well, other young openers like Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have surpassed Shubman Gill with their showings this season.

Ajay Jadeja
Ajay Jadeja (Photo- Twitter)

“This year has not been a good one for Shubman Gill. When he came back from injury, other players had moved way ahead of him. Because he had become a favourite in the Indian team after the series in Australia. After his injury, KL Rahul, who wasn’t even in the team, has established himself, Rohit Sharma too. So even his place in the Test squad is now in doubt, and in T20s, all these names are also there ahead of him now,” Jadeja told Cricbuzz.

Shubman Gill was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 and turned in useful contributions for them in his debut season and 2019 season, managing above 200 runs in both editions, averaging about 33. He averaged similarly in 2020, where he managed 440 runs, but he could score only 239 runs in 12 games in IPL 2021, averaging below 20 before this match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Shubman Gill has played only 8 Tests and 3 ODIs but is touted as a future star in the making. However, he was injured after the WTC Final and didn’t play any of the 4 Tests against hosts England.

Ajay Jadeja: Shubman Gill Is A Boundary Player As He Doesn’t Take A Lot Of Singles

Ajay Jadeja said KKR opener Shubman Gill has good game sense and is good in low-scoring chases, but needs to improve his skillset.

“The players who score a lot of runs when they are young, they have a great game sense. He has a good idea of the game, so when the game is in control, he won’t throw it away, but if he makes some additions to his skills, he can be even better,” he said.

Shubman Gill | Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI
Shubman Gill | Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI

Ajay Jadeja opined that Shubman Gill has consistently played short knocks that have given KKR the much-needed momentum they need in their innings. Still, he has had an otherwise poor season as he failed to capitalize on good starts and failed to convert starts to big innings.

Ajay Jadeja went on to explain: “He’s not made a big score before this. He has played impressive knocks, but short ones. Whenever an innings has needed some momentum or impetus, he has provided that, so it doesn’t feel like he has had a poor season. “

“But he hasn’t played a long knock after the field has spread after the Powerplay. Because that’s his style. He is a boundary player. He doesn’t take a lot of singles. So when he hits a four, you think oh, what a shot, but then one or two dots around the boundary brings him back to run-a-ball.”

Shubman Gill has scored 296 runs in 13 matches this year, at a strike rate of 117.92. While he had seven half-centuries in the three seasons before this one, this was his first in this edition of the IPL.

Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 119/4 (Shubman Gill 57, Nitish Rana 25; Jason Holder 2/32) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 115/8 (Kane Williamson 26, Priyam Garg 21; Varun Chakravarthy 2/26) by 6 wickets. 

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Arshdeep Singh [photo: Twitter]
Arshdeep Singh [photo: Twitter]
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Arshdeep Singh Praised By Virender Sehwag For His Wonderful Inswinger

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Arshdeep Singh, Punjab Kings’ speedster, left some serious impact with his phenomenal bowling show against inconsistent Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League 2021 match no. 45 in Dubai. The young left-arm pacer registered the figures of 3 for 32 in his four-over spell to help his team restrict KKR to 165 for 7.

Punjab Kings kept their playoff hopes alive, even if it hangs by a thread with their win over Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai on Friday.

PBKS bowler Arshdeep Singh (Photo| ANI)
PBKS bowler Arshdeep Singh (Photo| ANI)

Arshdeep Singh Praised By Virender Sehwag Who Asked BCCI To Make Sure His Talent Doesn’t Get Wasted

Arshdeep Singh provided an early breakthrough for Punjab by knocking over KKR opener Shubman Gill in the third over. He bowled a lethal inswinger that got a little inside edge before ramming into the off and middle stump.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag praised the young Punjab pacer for his classy delivery to clean up Shubman Gill. Speaking with Cricbuzz after PBKS’ five-wicket win, Virender Sehwag said Arshdeep Singh has the capabilities to benefit Team India with his remarkable bowling and urged the BCCI to nurture him.

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag (Image Credit: Twitter)

“That’s typical bowling from a left-arm fast bowler that comes in after pitching away from the off stump. He [Arshdeep] said he worked with Zaheer Khan for three days. If he can swing the ball within three days, imagine the benefits he can provide to the Indian team if he spends some time with them. If such a player is not in the team, then the BCCI must look after him and make sure his talent doesn’t get wasted,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

“Arshdeep is a very fine bowler and if he continues to work hard and perform like this, he would surely make it to Team India someday,” he added.

In pursuit of a 166-run target, skipper KL Rahul smashed a gritty fifty while Shahrukh Khan slammed 22 off 9 balls as PBKS registered a win. They needed 24 runs in the last three overs, and the duo helped the side register a win over KKR despite a wobble in the last over.

Arshdeep Singh Is Among The Top 5 Leading Wicket Takers In IPL 2021

The in-form pace bowler, Arshdeep Singh, was called in early, and he made the inroad his skipper was looking for. After a couple of wayward deliveries, the 23-year-old found the perfect length outside off. There was considerable movement on offer, and Shubman Gill was unable to deal with it.

Arshdeep Singh of Punjab Kings celebrates the wicket of Shubman Gill of Kolkata Knight Riders (Image Courtesy: PTI)
Arshdeep Singh of Punjab Kings celebrates the wicket of Shubman Gill of Kolkata Knight Riders (Image Courtesy: PTI)

He stepped across, looking to defend, but there was a massive gap between bat and ball. It was more than enough for the ball to sneak through and crash into the top of off-stump – the dream for every fast bowler. With the wicket of Shubmsn Gill, Arshdeep Singh entered the top 5 wicket-takers list in this season.

He has taken 16 scalps from 10 IPL 2021 games, averaging a remarkable 16.56. The youngster played three matches for PBKS in the 2019 season and was retained by the franchise ahead of the 2020 IPL auction, where he played eight games, taking nine scalps averaging 24.22.

Uncapped Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, and experienced Jasprit Bumrah are only ahead of Arshdeep Singh among the top 5 leading wicket-takers. Incidentally, all top 5, including 5th placed Mohammed Shami, are Indian pacers. Arshdeep Singh picked 5/32 against Rajasthan Royals at Dubai before his 3/32 against KKR at the same ground.

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Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Shubman Gill Is Just A Match Away From A Big Score, Says Brian Lara

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Brian Lara, West Indies legendary former batsman, thinks that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) should not consider replacing opener Shubman Gill anytime soon.

According to the iconic southpaw, Shubman Gill is just a match away from getting a big score.

Shubman Gill | Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI
Shubman Gill | Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI

Brian Lara: Shubman Gill Is Just A Match Away From A Big Score

Shubman Gill was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 and turned in useful contributions for them in his debut season and 2019 season, managing above 200 runs in both editions, averaging about 33. He averaged similarly in 2020, where he managed 440 runs, but he could score only 239 runs in 12 games in IPL 2021, averaging below 20.

Talking to Star Sports’ Game Plan, Brian Lara said, “Gill is a bit unlucky and if you look at him bat, he is in some form. I believe he is just a match away from a big score. He gels really well with Iyer (Venkatesh) and I believe that both of them can take KKR to new heights. Replacing Gill now is not something that KKR should consider.”

Brian Lara (Image Credit: Twitter)
Brian Lara (Image Credit: Twitter)

Shubman Gill has played only 8 Tests and 3 ODIs but is touted as a future star in the making. However, he was injured after the WTC Final and didn’t play any of the 4 Tests against hosts England. In IPL 2021, his highest score is 48, as he is yet to score a fifty. Shubman Gill has scores of 48, 13, 9, 30, and 7 since the restart of IPL 2021 in the UAE.

Brian Lara: PBKS’ Batting Has Come Up Very Short

Brian Lara also discussed the Punjab Kings'(PBKS) chances of winning their matches over the weekend and their team’s potential.

“I think their team has the capability even though they are not playing great cricket at the moment. Their batting has just always been their strength and that has come up very short. Nicholas Pooran and Chris Gayle have not been playing well. Even their captain KL Rahul has not been in good form since the resumption.”

“Their batting is the one thing that they depended on in the past where they posted big totals and tried to defend it. But if they don’t post big runs on the board, they find it very difficult with the bowling attack that they have.”

KL Rahul, Chris Gayle [Credits: IPL]
KL Rahul, Chris Gayle [Credits: IPL]

“Ravi Bishnoi is performing well and Mohammed Shami as you know is a professional and they expect that from him. Their batting has to be clicking and if they do click they give themselves that slight chance. It does not mean that they can pull it off but they give themselves a better chance than they have been giving themselves in recent matches,” said Brian Lara.

Punjab Kings’ flickering playoff hopes brightened after they beat Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League 2021 match by five wickets in the last over after a captain’s knock from KL Rahul. A day after Chris Gayle left them to be fresh for West Indies at the Twenty20 World Cup, Punjab joined Kolkata and Mumbai on 10 points on Friday as the three teams battle for the fourth and final qualifying spot.

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