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Akash Madhwal deserves all the credit for taking Mumbai to Qualifiers: Irfan Pathan

The Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians stormed into the Qualifier 2 of the ongoing TATA IPL 2023 by knocking Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a largely one-sided encounter at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The five-time IPL champions ticked-off all the boxes in a highly-anticipated contest to set up a clash with defending champions Gujarat Titans on Friday.

After their batters chipped in with valuable contribution to guide MI to an above-par 181-8 on spin-friendly Chepauk track, uncapped India pacer Akash Madhwal ran-riot through LSG batters and return with best figures of 5-5.

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan lavished praise upon the Uttarakhand seamer for putting up such a show in a high-stakes encounter and speaking on Start Sports’ Cricket Live, he said: “We have never seen an uncapped player dominate in a high-pressure game. Akash Madhwal has picked up 9 wickets in the last two games. He deserves all the credit for taking MI to the Qualifier.”

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif also lauded the right-arn quick for his mastery over his craft and control over the cricket ball.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Md Kaif expressed: “Akash Madhwal bowls hard length. His bowling style resembles Mohd Shami and gets the zip off the surface. What a player he has been for Mumbai Indians lately. He’s looked like a matured bowler with every game he’s played.”

Madhwal, who polished his bowling skills with tennis-ball cricket, garnered praise from former India cricketer Ravi Shastri for bowling hard length and being a street smart cricketer in the big game.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Ravi Shastri said: “Madhwal applied himself in this game brilliantly, he bowled beautifully and bowled the hard length on a slow Chepauk track. He also has a good cutter. Tennis ball cricketers are very street smart and Madhwal has shown that skill on the big stage. He’s a young bowler and a quick learner. It was another superb effort from this young talent.”

MI’s batting mainstay Suryakumar Yadav also played another vital knock in a big encounter as he gauged the pitch conditions well on a challenging Chepauk surface.

Hailing SKY for the array of shots in his batting arsenal, former India cricketer cricketer Harbhajan Singh stated no other batter in the world has a better hitting range than Suryakumar Yadav.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Harbhajan Singh said: “I can say with confidence that no other batsman in the world has the range and variety of Surya. The way Surya came back with a bang after failing in the initial matches proves how mentally strong he is as a player.”

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I am not Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement: Akash Madhwal

Mumbai Indians (MI) pacer Akash Madhwal picked a sensational five-wicket haul to help his side outclass Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 81 runs in the eliminator and move into Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday night.

Before the Wednesday’s game, Madwal had led Mumbai to the Playoffs with a four-wicket haul in the must-win last league encounter with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede a couple of days ago.

Earlier, ave pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the IPL 2023 ahead of the tournament due to injury while Jofra Archer had returned home mid-way due to an elbow injury.

When being termed as a replacement for the experienced bowlers — Bumrah & Archer, Madhwal played down the comparison and said: “I am trying my best to fulfil the responsibilities given to me by the team. I am not Bumrah’s replacement but I’m trying my best to do what I can,” Madhwal said in the post-match presentation after Mumbai registered a massive 81-run victory against LSG.

Though the track at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai hasn’t been helpul for pacers however, Madhwal managed to rubberstamp his authority on it.

“The wicket at Chepauk was good. As you saw, the ball was not gripping but skidding. I am a swing/sling bowler, and I pitched my deliveries in hard lengths aiming for wickets,” Madhwal said.

Madhwal, who was signed as a replacement for injured Suryakumar Yadav in 2022, came close to making his MI debut last year however, despite being unused, he kept training with the team in the nets and grabbed the ooportunity with both the hands.

Speaking of opportunities and how he managed to get retained by MI, Madhwal, 29, said: “I was given the clarity of my role with the team. I have to continue the process I was following and had the surety that I would get opportunities next season. That w”s very clear.”

Asked what tactics from tennis-ball cricket he implements while bowling with a proper cricket ball in T20 cricket, he said: “Through the tennis ball, I have only learnt how to bowl yorkers and I use that in my bowling today. There is only one way of evading those deliveries.

“If the bowling lengths are pitched a bit high or low, it would gift away boundary — four or six. Thus, I needed to bowl strong yorkers in tennis cricket and that is what I do today with a proper cricket ball.”

Talking about his meteoric rise, Madhwal said: “I have been with Uttarakhand Cricket Association ever since they got affiliation with the BCCI in 2018. In 2019, I was a net bowler with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Later on, I joined Mumbai Indians and started out as a net bowler again. Fast forward to today, I am getting the opportunity to play in the team.”

Mumbai Indians will next face defending champions Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on May 26 for a place in the final against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

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IPL 2023 Eliminator: 5 players to watch out for

The cricketing fans are all set to be treated with a blockbuster showdown as the much-anticipated first Eliminator of IPL 2023 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) takes place in Chennai on Tuesday.

The stage is set at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, where the mighty Mumbai will clash with the resilient Lucknow in a battle for the ages.

Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, are determined to reclaim their spot in the final after a lacklustre performance in the previous season. With a stunning comeback this year, they have stormed into the playoffs, oozing confidence and hungry for another title. Meanwhile, LSG have secured their spot in the IPL playoffs for the second consecutive season, proving their consistency and determination.

The Chepauk Stadium’s pitch, known for its spin-friendly nature, sets the stage for a fascinating contest. Two back-to-back games grace this venue, adding to the excitement. Traditionally, teams batting first have had an edge here, although successful chases have also occurred this season. The battle between bat and ball, further intensified by the presence of veteran leg-spinners Amit Mishra for LSG and Piyush Chawla for MI, promises to be a spectacle to behold.

Adding to the intrigue, LSG has enjoyed a flawless record against MI, emerging victorious in all three previous encounters. However, this match will test their mettle once again as they aim to maintain their winning streak against the five-time champions. MI, fueled by the desire for redemption, will be relentless in their pursuit of breaking LSG’s dominance and advancing to the next stage.

Here are the top 5 players to watch out for in the IPL 2023 Eliminator:

  • Piyush Chawla: The veteran spinner has had a sensational comeback in the TATA IPL 2023, emerging as one of the leading wicket-takers with 20 scalps at an economy of 7.81. His expertise on the spin-friendly track at Chepauk makes him a crucial player for Mumbai Indians, and his performance could be key to their success in the eliminator.
  • Nicholas Pooran: The explosive West Indian batsman has been a game-changer for Lucknow Super Giants. With his ability to score quick runs, Pooran has played crucial innings, helping his team set imposing targets. Having amassed 358 runs at a blistering strike rate of 173.79, LSG will heavily rely on his firepower to emerge victorious in the eliminator.
  • Cameron Green: The talented all-rounder had a remarkable debut season in the IPL for Mumbai Indians. Green’s century in the final group stage match propelled MI to a stunning chase, showcasing his immense batting prowess. With two half-centuries and valuable contributions with the ball, Green will be a vital asset for MI in their quest for victory.
  • Ravi Bishnoi: LSG’s go-to man for picking up key wickets and breaking partnerships, Ravi Bishnoi has been a standout performer. The leg-spinner has bagged 16 wickets at an economy of 7.76, displaying his ability to thrive on spinner-friendly pitches. Bishnoi’s role will be crucial in LSG’s bowling attack as they seek to outsmart the MI batsmen.
  • Suryakumar Yadav: While he may have started slowly, Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as Mumbai Indians’ most dangerous weapon in the latter stages of the tournament. With four half-centuries and a century to his name, Yadav has accumulated 511 runs at an impressive strike rate of 185.14. His explosive batting and vast range of shots make him a formidable opponent for the LSG bowlers.
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Piyush Chawla’s wicket-taking software is amazing: Harbhajan

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an another high-voltage encounter in the Eliminator of the IPL 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.

When the two teams met last time in the ongoing season, newcomers LSG triumphed over the five-time champions and so the Rohit Sharma-led side will be aiming to return the favour this time around and settle the score.

Notably, the Chepauk wicket is traditionally known for helping the spinners, hence the focus in the Eliminator will be on the tweakers of both teams.

Both LSG and MI have quality spin bowlers in their ranks and all eyes will be on the veteran MI spinner Piyush Chawla.

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has hailed the 34-year-old leggie, who has been nothing short of a revelation in the ongoing season due to his penchant for outfoxing even the best of batters in the competition.

Speaking on Star Sports Studio, Harbhajan Singh said: “Piyush Chawla’s wicket-taking software is amazing. This guy is awesome. He has troubled the veterans of every team with his spin. I am very happy for this player because, in the last season, he was not considered useful by any team. This season it has told every team that there is no replacement for experience. There is no match for this player.”

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif also lavished praise upon the leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh for doing the bulk of the damage for his team in this competition and said: “Chawla has taken half of the wickets that Mumbai has taken so far. This is a champion bowler. As if taking wickets on the very first ball in every match has become his habit. Chawla has proved that there is no substitute for experience. He has stability in his deliveries and has been impressive on all types of wickets. His impact this season has been solid.”

Meanwhile, focus will also be on Mr 360-degree Suryakumar Yadav – who has set the tournament on fire with his electrifying performances with the willow.

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar praised the Mumbaikar for his batting effort this season however, also cautioned him to make those subtle changes in his batting to prevail on the spin-friendly Chennai track.

“SKY is outstanding. Look at the big stride he takes when it comes to playing such agricultural shots. However, he needs to plan his game better on slow and turning pitches. He’s going to be crucial for MI in the Playoffs games. Remember, the first couple of playoff games are going to be played on a slow Chennai track.”

Significantly, in the absence of regular captain KL Rahul, senior cricketer Krunal Pandya has performed well for Lucknow, making good use of the conditions and players at his disposal.

Harbhajan recknoed that the way the senior of the Pandya Brothers rotated the spinners will bode LSG well on slow Chepauk tracks.

“Credit to Krunal Pandya for rotating his bowlers well. It was the highest quality of spin bowling from LSG against KKR. Hat’s off to the spinners for bowling with courage in the middle overs and under tough situations. Good signs for them ahead of Playoffs as Chepauk is good for spinners.”

Meanwhile, former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan also showered prais on LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir for showing faith in Nicholas Pooran despite his initial struggles in the season and the senior West Indies batter is returning the favour with consistent performances this season.

“Gautam Gambhir showed his faith in Nicholas Pooran’s potential. Nicholas Pooran is finally proving his mettle in IPL in this tournament because of the backing and support from LSG team management.”

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Green & Gill batted well for Mumbai Indians, Sachin’s cheeky tweet

Gujarat Titans’ (GT) opener Shubman Gill slammed a magnificent ton to power his side to a thrilling win and knock Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) out of the ongoing IPL 2023 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Meanwhile, Gujarat’s win also ensured a playoff berth for five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI).

GT opener Gill starred with an unbeaten 104 off 52 balls, also his second straight IPL century, laced with five boundaries and eight maximum and with a strike-rate of 200 to power his side to a thrilling win six wicket win over RCB in a high scoring thriller in their last league match on Sunday.

RCB’s loss also meant that Mumbai claimed the final spot in the play-offs having beaten SunRisers Hyderabad earlier in the day.

After the affair, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar posted a cheeky tweet after the five-time champions MI advanced to the play-offs.

“Cameron Green and Shubman Gill batted well for Mumbai Indians. Amazing innings by Virat Kohli too to score back-to-back 100s. They all had their methods and were in a class of their own. So happy to see MI in the playoffs. Go Mumbai,” Sachin tweeted.

Earlier in the day, MI faced a must-win match in their last game of the league stage and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) where all-rounder Cameron Green’s scintillating and unbeaten 100 off 47 kept Mumbai alive in the race as the home side thumped the visitors by eight wickets.

GT will next play Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 23 in Qualifier 1 while MI will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in eliminator 1 on May 24 in Chennai.

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Rohit’s struggle with the bat is mental, not technical: Sehwag

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) skipper Rohit Sharma has been struggling for runs in the ongoing IPL season and the ace batter has managed just one fifty plus score.

Commenting on the MI skipper’s struggle with the bat, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has reckoned that Rohit’s problem isn’t technical and a lot mental.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Sehwag said: “Rohit Sharma is not battling with the bowlers but with himself. There is a mental block. There’s no problem with his batting technique. Some confusion is going on in his mind. But the day he gets going, we will make up for all the previous matches.”

Former South Africa cricketer Imran Tahir has lauded Kohli for consistently scoring runs and termed it a result of his hard work and dedication.

“Virat Kohli has always had the urge to score runs. You can score maximum runs in one season, two or three seasons, but if you are successful in doing this for 15 consecutive seasons, then it can be attributed to the result of your hard work and dedication. What Virat has done in the last 15 years is really commendable.”

Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch claimed Mumbai Indians’ opening batters look confused and that they need to learn from the way CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.

“MI’s opening combination looks confused they are taking a lot of risk. They were looking to hit all the balls. They should learn from Ruturaj Gaikwad, he remains so calm in the middle and hits the loose balls.”

RCB find themselves at the bottom half of the points table but former India cricketer S Sreesanth has backed Faf du Plessis & Co. to bounce back and regain their form.

“RCB still has many matches. This team will definitely win. You look at Delhi itself. After losing six matches, this team is now winning. RCB is already winning. I think RCB will regain its rhythm.”

Meanwhile, the match between KKR and PBKS ended in the latter’s win in a last-over thriller and it was their star duo of Andre Russell and Rinku Singh who took KKR home with the latter hitting the winning run on the last ball of the match.

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif hailed Rinku Singh for continuously growing his stature.

“Credit to Rinku for asking a player like Russell to rotate strike on the fifth ball of the delivery. An uncapped Indian player like Rinku Singh asking a finisher like Russell to come to the non-striker’s end shows the confidence this player has in his game. This for me, is a story of IPL.”

Harbhajan Singh, meanwhile, claimed Russell finding his form back is good news for KKR.

“The win against PBKS will give a lot of confidence to KKR. Their star players Andre Russell and Rinku Singh finished the game for them. Russell regaining his form is big news for them.”

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Rohit’s challenges as MI skipper have doubled: Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has reckoned that Rohit Sharma’s challenges as skipper of five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians “have doubled” in the few years, citing the change in players in his team.

Notably, the inclusion of two new teams ahead of IPL 2022 meant Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya went to Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants respectively, while Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard retired from the cash-rich league.

Moreover, issues also increased with Jofra Archer unavailable in IPL 2022 due to long run with injuries and is still finding his rhythm in IPL 2023, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out this year due to long-standing back injury.

“The resources that you had two or three years ago isn’t quite the same. The challenges as a captain might have doubled for him. The work as a captain would have doubled as opposed to two years ago when everything was nice, set – go out there and do the job. And then comes the challenge of how do you get them (the team) going, how do you motivate that bunch, how do you create a combination, how do you see who is the best in that lot to fit in and deliver at a certain stage of the game,” Shastri was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Currently, Mumbai, who finished last on the table with just four wins in the league stage, are currently at sixth place on the points table.

In the last season, Rohit could manage only 268 runs without a single fifty, averaging 19.14 and strike rate of 120.17. Similarly in IPL 2023, he has managed to amass just 184 runs at an average of 18.39 and strike rate of 126.89, with the highest score of 65.

Shastri also felt not being in form with the bat has affected Rohit’s captaincy in the IPL. “If you start getting on a purple patch where you are scoring runs, the job as a captain becomes much easier, the body language on the field changes, that energy on the field is different as opposed to when you are not getting runs. You can go flat no matter who you are.”

“That’s where, as a captain, it is more important that your performances come into play. It is harder now because of the stage of his career, the kind of team that they have. The same team could be a terrific team in a year’s time or two years’ time, once they start gelling together. But to get that right mix, that’s the job of the captain.”

Mumbai’s next game in IPL 2023 will be against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.

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Mumbai Indians reportedly sign Chris Jordan for IPL 2023

Five-times IPL champions Mumbai Indians has reportedly acquired the services of England pacer Chris Jordan as a replacement for injured Jhye Richardson.

As per a report on ESPNCricinfo, the England pacer was signed to replace Richardson, who was injured and underwent a surgery just before the start of IPL 2023, in the squad.

Jordan, 34, has picked up 27 wickets in 28 innings at an average of 30.85 and an economy of 9.32 in the cash-rich league. He had last played in the IPL in 2022 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he managed two wickets in four outings.

Moreover, Jordan was seen practicing with the MI team ahead of the clash against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede stadium.

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Jofra Archer reportedly flew to Belgium for a minor elbow surgery during IPL 2023

After playing the Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2023 campaign opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Jofra Archer missed out four straight games for his franchise before taking the field against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 22.

Speaking on his absence, MI head coach Mark Boucher cited “a little niggle” as the reason behind it however now, it has come to light that the right-arm quick had paid a visit to an elbow specialist in Belgium and got a ‘little procedure’ done.

According to a report in The Telegraph, Archer travelled to Belgium for minor surgery, his fifth in 25 months, on his troublesome right elbow and the English daily also said that the development has been confirmed by the England and Wales CricketBoard (ECB).

“The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that Archer had visited his specialist in Belgium. It is understood that, after assessment by the specialist, Archer underwent what sources describe as ‘a minor procedure’, before returning to India,” the report said.

Notably, the England pacer got back in action for MI on Saturday against Punjab and bowled all his quota of four overs. During the game, he also clicked 145kmph at regular intervals. Archer was then rested for the next fixture against Gujarat Titans on Tuesday, which the Rohit Sharma-led side lost by 55 runs.

As per the reports, Archer will return to the field once again this weekend against Rajasthan Royals.

Meanwhile, reports also suggests that the ECB medical team is in constant touch with its counterpart in the MI camp as it has been just a few months since Archer made a comeback following stress fractures to his elbow and then his back.

Notably, Archer had a horrible time in 2021 as he suffered persistent elbow problems, which were eventually diagnosed as a stress fracture, which ruled him out of the T20 World Cup and Ashes.

However, he was signed by Mumbai Indians for a whopping sum of Rs 8 crore in the mega auctions the same year. Earlier in 2024, Archer also featured for the franchise’s Cape Town branch in the new SA20.

Significantly, Archer’s fitness is constantly being monitored as he is all set to team up with the English Test squad for the Ashes after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season.

On the other hand, English County club Sussex has hinted that the pacer might not feature in any first-class cricket for them before the much-awaited series against Australia at home.

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IPL 2023: Mahindra announces association with four teams as Official SUV Partner

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., pioneers of the SUV segment in India, has announced its association as the official SUV partner with four IPL teams – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals– and will be engaging in various on-ground and online activities during the upcoming season.

Through this association, Mahindra aims to deepen engagement with its customers and strengthen the bond between the brand and the T20 league teams. Mahindra will be rolling out various engagement activities to connect with its customers during the 2023 season. These activities will include meet-and-greet sessions with their favourite players from the four teams, merchandise giveaways, and contests. The meet-and-greet sessions will be exclusively for the winners of the contests that Mahindra will run during the 2023 season.

With this association, Mahindra will aim to boost test drives at its dealerships across the country. Mahindra is committed to providing a unique experience for its customers and fans by bringing the excitement of the T20 league to its showrooms.

Commenting on it, Veejay Nakra, President – Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said: ” We are thrilled to be associated with four marquee teams competing in the T20 league as the official SUV partner. This association presents a perfect opportunity to connect with our customers and fans in a unique and engaging way. In order to bring the excitement of the T20 league to our showrooms and dealerships around the nation, we are looking forward to planning a variety of on-ground activities.”

”The T20 league is one of the world’s largest cricket leagues, and we are confident that this partnership will have a positive impact on our brand, growing interest and value,” he added.

Recently, Mahindra partnered with the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships as the title sponsor, and the XUV300 TGDi and All-New Thar as the official SUVs for the event.

This collaboration offered Mahindra a unique opportunity to showcase its commitment to excellence, innovation, and performance, all of which resonate with the values of boxing. India topped the medal tally among the 63 nations winning 4 gold medals.