Sunil Gavaskar | Sportzwiki

Sunil Gavaskar

File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
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Loss To Pakistan Is An Absolute Hammering: Sunil Gavaskar

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Sunil Gavaskar, the former India skipper spoke on India’s 10-wicket loss against Pakistan, stating that India needs to gather themselves for upcoming fixtures after receiving an “absolute hammering” in the first match.

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar didn’t hold back when he spoke about the heavy loss suffered by India against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai. Sunil Gavaskar described this 10-wicket defeat as an “absolute hammering” while talking on the post-match show on Star Sports.

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Sunil Gavaskar: The First World Cup Loss To Pakistan Is An Absolute Hammering As Far As India Is Concerned

Pakistan dominated the match in both bowling and batting departments and chased down the target with more than 13 balls to spare.

The defeat didn’t go down very well with Gavaskar, who said, “The loss is an absolute hammering as far as India is concerned.”

Virat Kohli played a 57-run knock while Shaheen Afridi celebrating one of his three wickets | Photo: ICC
Virat Kohli played a 57-run knock while Shaheen Afridi celebrated one of his three wickets | Photo: ICC

However, despite the loss, Sunil Gavaskar explained that the tournament had just begun and India needed to gather themselves and prepare for the upcoming fixtures against New Zealand, Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland.

“Hopefully, India will pick themselves up quickly because that’s important. You’ve got to forget what has happened in this game and focus on the next few matches,” he added.

Pakistan came out all guns blazing as they restricted India to a below-par 151/7 in their 20 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismantled the Indian top-order, claiming three wickets that included the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and eventually that of skipper Virat Kohli.

Pakistan Openers Babar Azam And Mohammad Rizwan Ensured Pakistan Did Not Lose A Wicket In Their 152 Run Chase

After a spirited bowling performance, Pakistan openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not let the opposition bowlers settle to any kind of lines and lengths as they chased down the target in 17.5 overs without losing a solitary wicket.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan to a 10-wicket victory against India (PTI)
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan to a 10-wicket victory against India (PTI).

Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan scored half-centuries each and added 152 for an unbeaten opening stand which helped their team win the first-ever match against India at a T20 World Cup. Both India and Pakistan have New Zealand in line for their next match.

Babar Azam stroked his way to 68 while his opening partner, Mohammad Rizwan, smashed 79 as the Indian bowlers struggled to contain the two batters Earlier, Virat Kohli’s half-century helped India recover from a disastrous start and post 151/7 against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup match on Sunday.

Besides Virat Kohli’s 49-ball 57, Rishabh Pant slammed 39 in 30 deliveries. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to put India on the back foot early. India will next play New Zealand on October 31 while Pakistan will take on New Zealand on October 26.

Brief scores: India: 151/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 57, Rishabh Pant 39; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/31) lost to Pakistan: 152 for no loss in 17.5 overs (Babar Azam 68 not out, Mohammad Rizwan 79 not out) by 10 wickets.

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Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (Photo:AFP)
Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (Photo:AFP)
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Sunil Gavaskar Welcomes Move To Bring Mentor MS Dhoni On Board In 2021 T20I WC

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Sunil Gavaskar said MS Dhoni working as a mentor of the Indian cricket team will benefit them a great deal at the T20 World Cup in the UAE.

Legendary India batsman Sunil Gavaskar welcomed the inclusion of keeper MS Dhoni as India’s mentor at the T20 World Cup, saying off-field tactics might help influence the outcome of games in fast-paced T20 cricket.

File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP

Sunil Gavaskar Welcomes Move To Bring MS Dhoni As A Mentor For 2021 T20I WC

Speaking at Salaam Cricket 2021, Sunil Gavaskar said MS Dhoni’s work as a mentor will definitely benefit Virat Kohli’s team in the showpiece event but said a lot will depend on how India players execute their plans in crunch situations. MS Dhoni was appointed as India’s mentor for the T20 World Cup and the former captain is not getting any monetary benefit for the honorary role.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah had thanked MS Dhoni for the gesture as India look to end their 8-year drought for an ICC trophy. After leading Chennai Super Kings to their 4th Indian Premier League title in Dubai last week, MS Dhoni joined the Team India bio-bubble as their mentor. He was spotted having conversations with the players and the support staff during their first training session in Dubai.

MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL)
MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL)

MS Dhoni was seen with Rishabh Pant during India’s warm-up match win over Australia in Dubai as the two wicketkeepers were working on training drills. While captain Virat Kohli has lauded the appointment of MS Dhoni, opening batsman KL Rahul said he is looking forward to learning from the World Cup 2007 (T20I) and 2011 (ODI) winning former captain once again.

“Mentor won’t do much on the field. But in the change room, he is needed. T20 is such a fast-paced game that the right tactics can change the proceedings. When you have a time-out, you need to know what you have to tell your batters or fielders. To understand this, bringing MS Dhoni as mentor is a very good move. It will definitely benefit the team,” Gavaskar said.

“But he will remain in the change room. But the work on the field needs to be done by the players. So learning how to handle that pressure and then respond to that pressure will influence the result.”

KL Rahul has been one of the most consistent T20 performers for India, with astounding returns of 659, 593, 670, and 626 runs in the last four editions of IPL.

The 40-year-old MS Dhoni’s new role as a mentor of Team India is limited to the T20I World Cup.  MS Dhoni is the most successful captain in white-ball cricket with all 3 ICC titles – 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy- in his cabinet. He’s led IPL franchise CSK to victory in the IPL in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021.

Sunil Gavaskar: India Should Sort Final XI Right In Major Knock Out Games

Sunil Gavaskar highlighted that India has not been able to get past the knockout hurdles at ICC tournaments in the recent past and said team selection is something that the Asian giants should get right at these crucial matches.

“From whatever I have seen, India has lacked in major knock-out games and that lacking has been in team selection. The selection of the final XI. If you are able to sort out that final XI problem, then you might not face the hiccup,” Gavaskar said.
India cricket team. Photo: @BCCI
India cricket team. Photo: @BCCI

India was knocked out in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2016. In 2017, India lost to Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy followed by a semi-final exit at the 2019 World Cup

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Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
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Sunil Gavaskar: Everyone Would Like To See India Face Pakistan In 2021 WC Final

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Sunil Gavaskar said that even the ICC, and not just fans or commentators, would like to see India face Pakistan in the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that even the apex board International Cricket Council (ICC), and not just fans or commentators, would like to see India face Pakistan in the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup. India had beaten Pakistan in the final of the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup.

File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP

Sunil Gavaskar Would Like To See India Play Pakistan In The T20I World Cup Final

England and the West Indies were the finalists of the 2016 T20 World Cup. India and Pakistan are both looking to win the tournament for the second time in their history having won the trophy in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

India-Pakistan faced each other last in the 2019 ODI World Cup round-robin stage, where the former won by 89 runs (DLS method). Their last T20 World Cup face-off resulted in India’s 6-wicket win over Men in Green in Kolkata in the 2016 edition.

India and Pakistan rarely play against each other but have a heated rivalry. (Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
India and Pakistan rarely play against each other but have a heated rivalry. (Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

However, due to the unfortunate political situation, the two teams haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012-13. Pakistan and India’s last bilateral ties at either of the two neighbouring countries were 2 T20Is and 3 ODIs in India way back in 2012.

“I would like to see India in that final, and Pakistan. What else does anybody want? Even the ICC wants India and Pakistan to be in the final,” Gavaskar said on Salaam Cricket 2021.

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram both named India, Pakistan, England, and the West Indies as favourites to reach the semi-finals.

Wasim Akram: New Zealand’s Chances Depend On The Weather

Wasim Akram said that 2019 World Cup runners-up and World Test Championship winners New Zealand’s chances would be dependent upon the conditions.

“New Zealand’s chances really depend on the weather I feel. It is hot now and if it remains like this, it will be difficult for them but then by October, it will be pleasant. For me, the four sides that can reach semis are India, West Indies, Pakistan and England,” he said.

“They have won the World Cup twice and people keep underestimating them,” said Gavaskar of the West Indies.

Wasim Akram. (Photo: Twitter/ @shoaib100mph)
Wasim Akram. (Photo: Twitter/ @shoaib100mph)

It’s worth noting that Pakistan is yet to beat their arch-rivals India in a World Cup game in 12 encounters across the T20I and 50-over editions.

 

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Virat Kohli, RCB
Virat Kohli, RCB
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IPL 2021: Virat Kohli Is Unfortunate To Not Finish On A High, Says Sunil Gavaskar

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Sunil Gavaskar said Virat Kohli has been able to bring great value to RCB’s brand image despite not winning an IPL title with the Bangalore-based franchise. But, unfortunately, Virat Kohli’s captaincy reign came to a disappointing end on Monday.

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar empathized with Virat Kohli after the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain ended his reign as the skipper of the franchise without being able to win a title. As a result, RCB lost an opportunity yet again to win an elusive IPL title as they were ousted in the Eliminator of IPL 2021 by Kolkata Knight Riders in Sharjah.

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Sunil Gavaskar: Virat Kohli Finishing Without An IPL Title Is Disappointing But Everyone Don’t Have The Fortune To Finish On A High

Virat Kohli took over as RCB’s full-time captain in 2013 and led them in 140 matches, winning 66 and losing as many as 70. However, despite scoring plenty during his reign as captain, Virat Kohli was not able to win silverware for RCB. Virat Kohli took RCB to the playoffs four times, including the last two seasons, but they have faltered at the big stages.

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)

Speaking to Star Sports on Monday, Sunil Gavaskar conceded that it is disappointing to see Virat Kohli finish without a title but that there is no doubt about his valuable contribution to the team.

“It certainly is (disappointing). Everybody wants to finish on a high. Individually, you want to finish on a high. But these things don’t always happen according to what you wish or your fans wish. Look at what happened to Sir Don Bradman.

“Just 4 runs are needed (for 100 average), he gets out for zero in his last innings. Look at what happened to Sachin Tendulkar. He would have wanted to finish with a hundred (in his last Test) but he got 79 in his 200th Test match,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

“The script is not always written that way. Not everybody has this great fortune of going on a high,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

The batting great added that Virat Kohli had added brand value to RCB that only very few other cricketers have been able to do for their respective franchises. Virat Kohli has scored 4674 runs at an average of 43.27 as captain with an impressive strike rate of 134.11.

With 38 fifties and 5 hundred to his name, Virat Kohli has had a pretty good run with the bat for RCB as captain since taking over the reins from Daniel Vettori. Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 6283 runs in 207 matches averaging 37.39 with 5 tons and 42 fifties.

Sunil Gavaskar: Virat Kohli Was Committed To RCB

Virat Kohli’s RCB posted just 138/7 in 20 overs against KKR in the eliminator as they were humbled by Sunil Narine, who took 4 wickets, including that of the captain, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell. Riding on Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal’s heroics, RCB took the match to the final over, but it was not enough for them.

“But can one ever dispute what he has done for RCB? He has done magnificently. There was one year where he got 973 runs in T20s in the IPL. Fell short of 27 runs for 1000 runs.”

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)
“That’s such a rarity. Look at what he has done for RCB. He has given RCB a kind of profile, a kind of brand recognition that very few cricketers have given to their franchise. Therefore, yes, it is sad to see him not winning. But the fact he is committed to RCB till he plays just tells you his commitment to RCB,” Gavaskar said.
In 2016, Virat Kohli had a dream run as a batsman, hitting a record-setting 973 runs, including 4 hundred. Despite the heroic effort, RCB lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. In 2016, he sat atop on the top run-scorers list, thereby donning the Orange Cap at the end of the ninth edition of the league.
In the eliminator against KKR, Virat Kohli top-scored for RCB with 39 runs off 33 balls. He finished off IPL 2021 with 405 runs in 15 IPL 2021 games averaging 28.92 at a strike rate below 120.

Kolkata Knight Riders 139 for 6 (Gill 29, Narine 26, Iyer 26, Chahal 2-16, Harshal 2-19, Siraj 2-19) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 138 for 7 (Kohli 39, Narine 4-21, Ferguson 2-30) by four wickets

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Hardik Pandya Bowling
Hardik Pandya Bowling
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Hardik Pandya Not Bowling In IPL 2021 Is A Big Blow For Mumbai Indians And India: Sunil Gavaskar

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Sunil Gavaskar feels that swashbuckling all-rounder Hardik Pandya not bowling in the ongoing IPL is a “big blow” for not just Mumbai Indians but also the T20 World Cup-bound Indian team. The Indian selectors have named all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the forthcoming T20 World Cup squad, but the Baroda all-rounder has not been bowling for Mumbai Indians, two years after undergoing back surgery in the UK.

Hardik Pandya-the younger Pandya brother largely failed to hit a big knock in the first leg of IPL 2021. In 11 IPL 2021 matches so far, he scored 117 runs averaging a pathetic 14.62.
Hardik Pandya Image Source : GETTY
Hardik Pandya Image Source: GETTY

Sunil Gavaskar: Hardik Pandya Not Bowling In IPL 2021 Is A Big Blow For Mumbai Indians And India

After missing out on a lot of action owing to a back injury, Hardik Pandya made a phenomenal comeback in the IPL 2020 season, playing the finisher role for the team and hammering the ball in the slog overs at a strike rate of 178. But both his average and strike rate have dipped this season. He has managed only 117 runs from 11 games at a strike rate of 112.5 and an average of 14.62 with unbeaten 40 his highest score.

“Hardik Pandya, not bowling is a big blow, not just for Mumbai Indians, but for India as well, because he was taken in the team as an all-rounder. And if you are in the team, batting at No.6 or No.7, and you’re not able to bowl, then it makes it difficult for the captain. He doesn’t get the flexibility and option that is so required for somebody batting at No.6 or 7 like an all-rounder,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The batting great said the Mumbai Indians duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan “have just relaxed a little bit” in the IPL after getting picked for the Indian team.

“I think it looks to me like Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan have just relaxed a little bit after getting the India cap,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.

“They might not have, but some of the shots they are playing – it looks like they are trying to play these big shots just because they are India players,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

Both Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan have been horribly out of form in the UAE leg of the lucrative league.

Sunil Gavaskar: Shot Selection Of Mumbai Indians Batsmen Weren’t Correct

Suryakumar Yadav made his international T20 debut against England in March earlier this year and played his first ODI against Sri Lanka at Colombo in July. Ishan Kishan, an explosive top-order batsman, and a wicketkeeper has managed just 157 runs from the nine IPL games he has played this season. According to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who has 10,122 Test runs, it is important to get the short selection right.

“Sometimes what happens is, you gotta give yourself a little bit of time, and you have got to get your shot selection right. I think that is where they have missed this time around, where their shot selection has not been exactly correct, and that’s why they’ve got out cheaply,” added Sunil Gavaskar while speaking about why Mumbai Indians players might be out of form.

Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan - SPORTZPICS
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan – SPORTZPICS

Ishan Kishan was the top run-getter for Mumbai Indians in the 2020 season, scoring 516 runs at an average of 57.33, and later went on to make his T20I and ODI debut where he scored the fifties. But in IPL 2021, he has only 157 runs to his name in 9 games averaging only 19.62 so far after registering an unbeaten 50 against Rajasthan.

Suryakumar Yadav excelled in his role as an opener and scored over 500 runs in 2018, including four fifties. In IPL 2019, he amassed 424 runs to be MI’s second-highest run-getter. He outperformed himself in the 2020 season scoring 480 runs at a strike rate of 145 and went on to make his T20 International debut later for India. Suryakumar Yadav has so far 235 runs in 13 IPL games in IPL 2021 averaging a below-par 18.07.

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Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan - SPORTZPICS
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan - SPORTZPICS
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Suryakumar Yadav And Ishan Kishan Lacked Fire In IPL 2021 After Getting India Cap: Sunil Gavaskar

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Sunil Gavaskar believed that the Mumbai Indians batting duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan didn’t have fire in their bellies after getting the India cap. The duo has failed to light up the 2nd half of the Indian Premier League in the UAE after getting selected in the upcoming 2021 T20I World Cup.

Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday lamented the Mumbai Indians duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan after their poor run of form in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Suryakumar Yadav Failed To Score More Than 33 In 5 Matches Of UAE Leg Of IPL 2021 While Ishan Kishan Have Been Dropped After 3 Failures

Suryakumar Yadav has reached double figures only once in the second leg of IPL 2021. His last five innings are 3,5,8,0 and 33. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan was dropped from the Mumbai Indians squad after three failures. Ishan Kishan scored 11, 14, and 9 in his last three innings, before his axe.

Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav (BCCI)

Hardik Pandya has scored 112 runs in 10 IPL 2021 games, while his elder brother Krunal Pandya managed only 134 runs and only 5 wickets in 12 outings. The in-form Suryakumar Yadav has managed only 222 runs in 12 IPL games, while Ishan Kishan has scored 107 runs in 8 games. This is in stark contrast to MI’s last season in UAE, where Suryakumar Yadav had scored 480 runs in 16 games, and Ishan Kishan had hit 516 runs in 14 games in IPL 2020.

Sunil Gavaskar: Suryakumar Yadav And Ishan Kishan Have Relaxed After Getting India Cap

India batting legend and former skipper Sunil Gavaskar said that the duo has relaxed after getting the India caps and that’s why they are out of form.

“I think it looks to me like Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan have just relaxed a little bit after getting the India cap. They might not have, but for some of the shots they are playing it looks like they are trying to play these big shots just because they are India players,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

“Sometimes what happens is, you gotta give yourself a little bit of time, and you gotta get your shot selection right. And I think that is where they have missed this time around, where their shot selection has not been exactly correct, and that’s why they’ve got out cheaply,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya[photo: Twitter]

Sunil Gavaskar also suggested that Hardik Pandya, not bowling is a big blow not only for Mumbai Indians but might harm India’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will take place after IPL 2021 concludes.

“Hardik Pandya not bowling is a big blow, not just for the Mumbai Indians, but for India as well, because he was taken in the team as an all-rounder. And if you are in the team, batting at No 6 or No 7, and you’re not able to bowl, then it makes it difficult for the captain,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

“He doesn’t get the flexibility and option that is so required for somebody batting at No 6 or 7 like an all-rounder,” he added.

Mumbai Indians will face Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday in Sharjah. It’s a must-win match for both teams as they are aiming for the one remaining playoff spot. Rajasthan Royals kept their playoffs hope alive by beating the current table-toppers Chennai Super Kings in their previous match.

Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, didn’t perform well as a unit in the second leg of the IPL 2021. Their batsmen failed miserably, and as a result, they managed to win only one of their last 5 matches. They are currently placed at the 7th spot in the standings with 10 points.

RR Probable XI: Yashaswi Jaiswal, Evin Lewis, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shivam Dube, Glenn Phillips, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman, Aakash Singh/ Kartik Tyagi, Mayank Markande.

MI Probable XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Quinton De Kock(wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary/Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar/ Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Trent Boult.

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File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
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Rishabh Pant Could Have Stepped In And Defused The Situation In The KKR-DC Match In IPL 2021: Sunil Gavaskar

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Sunil Gavaskar said that Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant could have stepped or refused to take the contentious run when a row erupted between his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan in an IPL 2021 match.

While most of the debate in the row between Ravichandran Ashwin and Eoin Morgan during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match was around who of the two was right or wrong, former India captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar said that Delhi Capitals skipper and Ravichandran Ashwin’s teammate Rishabh Pant could have defused the situation.

Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant (Image Credit: Twitter)

Ravichandran Ashwin Ran An Extra Run Which Resulted In An Exchange Of Words With Tim Southee And Eoin Morgan

The row erupted after Ravichandran Ashwin ran an extra run when the ball hit Rishabh Pant after a throw. It was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Tim Southee who exchanged words with Ravichandran Ashwin first and then KKR skipper Eoin Morgan.

Ravichandran Ashwin then celebrated animatedly when he dismissed Eoin Morgan during the KKR innings. KKR wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik later explained that Eoin Morgan had taken exception to Ravichandran Ashwin taking the extra run.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Eoin Morgan had a heated exchange during KKR vs DC match.© IPL
Ravichandran Ashwin and Eoin Morgan had a heated exchange during KKR vs DC match.© IPL

Delhi Capitals’ Ravichandran Ashwin took to Twitter to observe that he didn’t realize the ball had deflected off Rishabh Pant’s body when the duo pinched the extra run via an overthrow, which in turn upset Kolkata Knight Riders’ fielders in the 41st game of the IPL 2021. Ravichandran Ashwin also said he had the right to take the extra run even if he knew it had ricocheted off a batter’s body.

Sunil Gavaskar: Rishabh Pant Could Have Stepped In And Defused The Situation

After Ravichandran Ashwin’s dismissal, KKR bowler Tim Southee and skipper Eoin Morgan got involved in a heated argument with the Indian spinner over the extra run taken. While Ravichandran Ashwin ended up with the last laugh by scalping Eoin Morgan for a duck, it was KKR who won the contest by 3 wickets with 10 balls to spare and delayed DC’s qualification for the playoffs.

“What nobody asked is, why did Pant run? He was the one who was struck by the ball and if at all anybody should have known that the tradition is not to take the run after the ball is deflected, then it was the Delhi skipper. Maybe, in the heat of the battle and the anxiety to add runs to the team’s total, he took that extra run,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

“But why blame Ashwin? He may not have even seen the ball hitting his skipper as he would be intent on getting to his end and may have only seen the ball that was away from a fielder and so responded for the extra run.

“Pant could have stepped in and defused the situation, but in the intensity of the battle and especially in the hot and humid desert atmosphere, it is extremely tough to keep a cool head, so he may have not realised what had happened,” explained Sunil Gavaskar.

In the 19th over of the Delhi Capitals innings, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rishabh Pant ran an overthrow after Rahul Tripathi’s shy from point had taken a ricochet off Rishabh Pant at the non-striker’s end. However, an argument broke out in the next over once Tim Southee had dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin.

Eoin Morgan quickly joined in, giving a mouthful to the spinner while Dinesh Karthik rushed in to play peacemaker. Ravichandran Ashwin later said that he hadn’t seen the ball striking Rishabh Pant but he would have taken that run even if he had.

While several former cricketers backed Ravichandran Ashwin as he was within the rules to take the extra run, some slammed the Delhi Capitals spinner for his action. Now, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has shared his views on the incident and said it is unfair to blame Ravichandran Ashwin.

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Chris Gayle PTI
Chris Gayle PTI
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Kevin Pietersen And Sunil Gavaskar Criticize Punjab Kings For Unfair Treatment Of Chris Gayle

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Kevin Pietersen and Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the Punjab Kings team management for their unfair treatment of Chris Gayle after the 42-year-old decided to leave the IPL bio-bubble midway.

Chris Gayle is arguably the greatest ever player to have played in the history of the IPL. However, the league might have seen the last of him. The star batsman has decided to leave the Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) bio-bubble for the ongoing edition to stay fresh for the T20 World Cup.

Chris Gayle Image Source : IPLT20.COM
Chris Gayle Image Source: IPLT20.COM

Kevin Pietersen Lashes Out For Unfair Treatment Of Chris Gayle As Punjab Kings Didn’t Play Him On His Birthday

With a mega-auction set to take place for IPL 2022, it remains to be seen if Chris Gayle decides to put his name in the hat again and whether any franchise puts in a bid for the 42-year-old. However, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and former England captain Kevin Pietersen have blamed PBKS’s unfair treatment of the Caribbean southpaw for his decision to leave the ongoing tournament midway.

Speaking to Star Sports, Kevin Pietersen recounted that Chris Gayle was left out of the side for the first game of the UAE leg against Rajasthan Royals on his birthday.

Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain - Sportzpics
Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain – Sportzpics

Kevin Pietersen said: “He is not being treated right in his environment. He feels like they are using him and getting rid of him, using him and getting rid of him. They didn’t play him on his birthday, cast him aside. If he is not happy, he is 42, let him do what he wants.”

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.

Kevin Pietersen highlighted that PBKS did not give Chris Gayle a game on his 42nd birthday last month. As a result, Chris Gayle played only two out of PBKS’s three matches in the UAE leg of IPL 2021, where he managed just 1, and 14 in the two said games.

Sunil Gavaskar  Chris Gayle Is A Game Changer

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar felt that despite his age Chris Gayle is still a game-changer who can turn the game’s momentum in no time, and his absence from the team will be a big loss, echoing Kevin Pietersen’s statement.

“A game-changer like Chris Gayle, if he is not in the team, 100 percent it’s a big loss. I think he is in and out of the team. I don’t know what the calculations are. And sure, he is over 40 and he might not be able to do it at a consistent level that he used to do. But he is a game-changer. 3 overs of Gayle storm and the game is gone from the opposition,” said Gavaskar. 

File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP

Chris Gayle’s decision to leave the competition on Thursday night left Punjab Kings’ fans perplexed.

In a statement issued by the franchise, Chris Gayle said: “Over the last few months, I have been a part of the CWI bubble, CPL bubble followed by the IPL bubble, and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself.” 

Chris Gayle added, “I want to refocus on helping the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and would like to take a break in Dubai. My thanks to the Punjab Kings for giving me the time off. My wishes and hopes are with the squad always. All the very best for the games coming up.” 

Despite leaving the Punjab camp, he remains in UAE and joins the West Indies squad in a few days for the upcoming T20 World Cup after a short break.  In the 2021 season, Chris Gayle featured in 10 games and scored just 193 runs at an average of 21.44 and strike rate of 125.44.

The ‘Universe Boss’ is an IPL legend who already has several records to his name. The Caribbean batsman has amassed 4965 runs in the IPL. He is the third-highest run-getter among overseas players in the IPL, only behind Sunrisers Hyderabad opener David Warner, who has scored 5449 runs and AB de Villiers (5083 runs).

Chris Gayle’s feat includes six tons, which is the most by a batsman in the league. He was won 59 Man of Match awards in his T20 career, which the most by a batsman in the format. The big-hitter holds the record for fastest IPL hundred, as he scored a ton in 30 balls against Pune Warriors India in 2013. His 175 not out against PWI is still the highest individual score in the league.

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MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL)
MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL)
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Sunil Gavaskar And Kevin Pietersen Praised MS Dhoni Who Showed Glimpses Of Return To Form

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Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian legendary batsman, and former England batsman Kevin Pietersen praised Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni for his performance, with the latter even saying MS Dhoni’s return to form is a big worry for other teams.

In the all-important match against bottom-ranked Sunrisers Hyderabad, MS Dhoni came to bat at a stage when CSK still needed 26 runs to win in just about four overs. Former captains, Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen relished MS Dhoni’s heroics against SRH as they looked back to the MS Dhoni of the old.
Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen react on MS Dhoni's finishing skills in the IPL
Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen react to MS Dhoni’s finishing skills in the IPL

Sunil Gavaskar: MS Dhoni Does Take The Game Into The Last Over Often And Then Win The Game For CSK

CSK beat SRH by 6 wickets to book a place in the playoffs, while Sunrisers became the first team to be knocked out of IPL 2021, officially. Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen praised MS Dhoni for his performance.

“He (Dhoni) does it so often. He takes it into the last over. When the supporters are biting the nail – they also know he is going to do it. But that anxiety, that you feel. He has done it so many times in his career,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports after the match.

MS Dhoni finished off the chase with a huge six over deep mid-wicket off Siddharth Kaul in the final over to seal a playoff spot for his team Image Source : iplt20.com
MS Dhoni finished off the chase with a huge six over deep mid-wicket off Siddharth Kaul in the final over to seal a playoff spot for his team. Image Source: iplt20.com

Once again, in typical MS Dhoni fashion, the CSK skipper stretched the match to the final over, and just when it looked like the match may go to a Super Over, MS Dhoni finished off the game with his signature six-off SRH pacer Siddarth Kaul. While Sunil Gavaskar said, MS Dhoni does it often taking the game deep into the last over, Kevin Pietersen reckoned this should scare oppositions.

Kevin Pietersen: MS Dhoni Hasn’t Been In The Form For Two Seasons

MS Dhoni scored exactly 200 runs in IPL 2020, averaging a below-par 25 while managing only 66 runs in IPL 2021 in 10 games averaging a dismal 13.2. His strike rate is also below 120 in both editions. But he scored an unbeaten 14 off only 11 balls including 1 four and 1 six showing that he can still perform as a batsman.

Chennai Super Kings is the second most successful team in the history of IPL, with 3 titles under their belt, only 2 behind Mumbai  Indians (5 titles). But arguably they are the most consistent team in the IPL. CSK has been involved in 8 finals and qualified for playoffs 10 times, only missing out in 2020 while the side was suspended for two years in 2016 & 2017.

“Dhoni has done it for so many years, he keeps doing it and doing it and doing it. What he has done now, should strike fear into the opposition,” Kevin Pietersen added.

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood during IPL 2020 in the UAE. Credit: iplt20.com/Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics for BCCI
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood during IPL 2020 in the UAE. Credit: iplt20.com/Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics for BCCI

“He has not been in the form for two seasons, so if he starts doing that nowhere, then, goodness, they got one hand on the trophy, they really do. They are serious out, on these conditions that are really good. They got the Hazlewood effect, and the Jadeja effect, and the openers have been really good. So, if Dhoni starts coming off now, finishes games off, then others team have a problem. Scary proposition,” he signed off.

Josh Hazlewood thrived at the death, picking up two wickets in three balls besides picking Jason Roy early. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s (45 off 38) 75-run partnership with Faf du Plessis (41 off 36) broke the back of a small chase and ensured even a little hiccup towards the end – three wickets in eight balls – didn’t matter. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of CSK bowlers returning with figures of 3/24 while Dwayne Bravo picked 2 scalps conceding 17 runs.

Chennai Super Kings 139 for 4 (Gaikwad 45, du Plessis 41, Holder 3-27) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 134 for 7 (Saha 44, Hazlewood 3-24, Bravo 2-17) by six wickets

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File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
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Sunil Gavaskar Hints Adil Rashid May Be A Player To Acquire Big Bucks At IPL 2022 Mega Auctions

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Sunil Gavaskar has eyes on one player, an England leg spinner, whom he calls clever and expects to make some heads turn at next year’s IPL 2022 mega auction.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar reckons all players participating in IPL 2021 need to put up an excellent show if they are to attract the ‘big bucks’ at the IPL 2022 mega auction which takes place early next year. Next year’s auction will be different than the rest, with each franchise expected to retain only 2 players, which means that all the squads could come in for an overhaul.

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Sunil Gavaskar: Adil Rashid Varies The Deliveries Nicely

Sunil Gavaskar has eyes on one player whom he calls clever and expects to make some heads turn at next year’s auction, and that cricketer is England leg-spinner, Adil Rashid. Adil Rashid is currently playing his trade for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021, which surprisingly is the 33-year-old’s maiden IPL stint.

“He’s a very clever bowler, Adil Rashid. We have seen him in limited-overs international. He varies the deliveries nicely. He bowls a different line to the left-hander, different to the right-hander taking the ball away from them so that if they are looking for a big hit, they would want to hit it against the turn so that would sky the ball in the air,” Gavaskar had said on Star Sports.

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid- Twitter

PBKS roped in Adil Rashid as a replacement for Jhye Richardson after the Australia pacer pulled out of the IPL. Adil Rashid made his IPL debut in the game against Rajasthan Royals, where he went wicketless and conceded 35 runs. He was dropped from the next game which PBKS won against Sunrisers Hyderabad but this did not indicate that he might be done. Against SRH, Punjab Kings defended 125 to keep their hopes of making the top four alive.

Sunil Gavaskar Isn’t Surprised That Adil Rashid Picked 12 Scalps In The Hundred

Former legendary batsman and skipper of India, Sunil Gavaskar feels that Adil Rashid might be one of the players to look out for at next year’s IPL 2022 mega auction.

“He’s a very, very clever bowler. I’m not surprised that he’s gotten those 12 wickets (in The Hundred). What’s surprising is that he wasn’t part of any of the franchises early on. There is a big auction coming in 4 months’ time and this is the time for him to prove himself. Not just him; in fact, all the players in every single franchise know that if they want the big bucks, they have got to perform now,” the former India batsman added.

Punjab Kings rope in Adil Rashid. (Image Credit: PBKS Twitter)
Punjab Kings’ rope in Adil Rashid. (Image Credit: PBKS Twitter)

A World Cup winner and one of the finest modern-day leg-spinners in white-ball cricket, Adil Rashid, replaced Jhye Richardson in the PBKS squad. Adil Rashid has a bag full of experience in international cricket and it will come in handy for PBKS.

England spinner Adil Rashid who emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker in ‘The Hundred’, will represent Punjab Kings in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. He was chosen as a replacement for Rs 14 crore price-tag player Jhye Richardson. Adil Rashid was the highest wicket-taker in The Hundred. He had taken 12 wickets for his franchise. Overall, he has played 202 T20s and taken 232 wickets at an economy rate of 7.45.

He has featured in 112 ODIs and 62 T20Is for England apart from featuring in the T20 Blast. In the T20Is, he has accounted for 65 wickets and has conceded runs at an economy rate of 7.48 which is pretty much decent. Even in the ODIs, he has picked 159 wickets while also picking a couple of five-wicket hauls. Adil Rashid, who had a base price of INR 1.5 crore (US$ 200,000 approx.), went unsold in the IPL auction held earlier this year.

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