Sports news
#VIDEO #Catching #bowling #PowerPlay #improvement #Director #Cricket #Venugopal">VIDEO | Catching, bowling in PowerPlay need improvement: DC Director of Cricket Venugopal Venugopal Rao, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket, lamented his team’s poor catching and bowling in the first six overs after a demoralising six-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. Despite posting its highest-ever total of 264 for two, courtesy K.L. Rahul’s career-best unbeaten effort of 152, DC contrived to go down with seven balls to spare.
Among the flaws laid bare, the fielding lapses were particularly galling. Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer, who form the fulcrum of PBKS’ power-packed batting line-up, were all offered reprieves that they gleefully capitalised on.
“Fielding let us down. We dropped almost six catches today. When you are dropping catches at a crucial time, especially of players like Prabhsimran, Priyansh and Shreyas, we won’t win these kind of matches,” Venugopal told the media on Saturday.
Another aspect where the host faltered was its bowling in the PowerPlay. The DC attack allowed Kings to waltz to 116 for none in six overs, with Priyansh and Prabhsimran depositing the ball into the stands as nonchalantly as they would in a range-hitting training session. Venugopal highlighted Lungi Ngidi’s enforced absence due to an injury in the third over of the chase as a decisive factor.
“There were lots of good bits. If you look back, (not having) four overs of Ngidi and (spilling) six catches made a big difference. We all know what Ngidi can do with his experience. We missed that. Where we can improve is PowerPlay bowling and catching,” the former India batter assessed.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Venugopal Rao, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket, lamented his team’s poor catching and bowling in…
Sports news
#IPL #Klaasen #finds #joy #steadying #boat #SRH #fussing #strikerates">IPL 2026: Klaasen finds joy in steadying the boat at SRH without fussing over strike-rates
Heinrich Klaasen’s 39-ball 59 ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) maintained the momentum through the middle overs after Abhishek Sharma’s blistering start against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Even as wickets fell at regular intervals around him, the South African held firm, guiding the side to its highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total against CSK.
While runs have continued to flow from his bat, his strike rate has drawn scrutiny. This season, he has scored at 144.39 – significantly lower than his previous highs of over 170.
Notably, he has also been among the slowest starters, striking at 106.66 in his first 10 deliveries.
Earlier this month, Klaasen admitted he needed to improve his scoring rate. However, after steering SRH to a narrow 10-run win on Saturday, he emphasised that his priority was navigating difficult situations rather than focusing on strike rate.
ALSO READ | Chief selector Ajit Agarkar set to get an extension till 2027
“I have been coming in at situations where we have lost four wickets in one or two overs. So I cannot go right from the start. I need to get the job done. In difficult situations, you have to take responsibility and be mature,” he explained.
“We get paid to do the job, and I don’t care about strike rate. I know there has been a lot said about it this season, but I have been putting the team in good positions, and I am just doing my job,” he said.
“The wicket was good enough. We lost too many wickets up front, and we needed to get to that 220 mark. I thought CSK bowled extremely well at the back, and that’s why we didn’t get there.”
Klaasen also noted that the early loss of wickets led to Liam Livingstone being introduced as the Impact Player, even if it meant the likes of Nitish Kumar had to complete their full quota.
“Nitish has been bowling brilliantly. That gives us the luxury to make brave decisions like that. We know that the wicket is not going to spin a lot, so we didn’t mind him bowling the couple of overs that he did.”
Published on Apr 19, 2026
Heinrich Klaasen’s 39-ball 59 ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) maintained the momentum through the middle overs after Abhishek Sharma’s blistering start against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Even as wickets fell at regular intervals around him, the South African held firm, guiding the side to its highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total against CSK.
While runs have continued to flow from his bat, his strike rate has drawn scrutiny. This season, he has scored at 144.39 – significantly lower than his previous highs of over 170.
Notably, he has also been among the slowest starters, striking at 106.66 in his first 10 deliveries.
Earlier this month, Klaasen admitted he needed to improve his scoring rate. However, after steering SRH to a narrow 10-run win on Saturday, he emphasised that his priority was navigating difficult situations rather than focusing on strike rate.
ALSO READ | Chief selector Ajit Agarkar set to get an extension till 2027
“I have been coming in at situations where we have lost four wickets in one or two overs. So I cannot go right from the start. I need to get the job done. In difficult situations, you have to take responsibility and be mature,” he explained.
“We get paid to do the job, and I don’t care about strike rate. I know there has been a lot said about it this season, but I have been putting the team in good positions, and I am just doing my job,” he said.
“The wicket was good enough. We lost too many wickets up front, and we needed to get to that 220 mark. I thought CSK bowled extremely well at the back, and that’s why we didn’t get there.”
Klaasen also noted that the early loss of wickets led to Liam Livingstone being introduced as the Impact Player, even if it meant the likes of Nitish Kumar had to complete their full quota.
“Nitish has been bowling brilliantly. That gives us the luxury to make brave decisions like that. We know that the wicket is not going to spin a lot, so we didn’t mind him bowling the couple of overs that he did.”
Published on Apr 19, 2026
Heinrich Klaasen’s 39-ball 59 ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) maintained the momentum through the middle…
Sports news
#VIDEO #Jurel #Sooryavanshis #fearless #batting #game #easy">VIDEO | Jurel says Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting makes game “look easy”
Rajasthan Royals batter Dhruv Jurel on Friday said teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless strokeplay not only dismantles opposition attacks but also boosts the confidence of his teammates, even as it tempts them to take more risks.
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi lit up the contest with a stunning 78 off 26 balls, powering RR to a comfortable six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru while chasing 202.
Jurel, who walked in at No. 3, said batting alongside the youngster creates a unique mix of confidence and pressure in the middle.
“When I go in, he makes it look really easy. You walk in and he’s smashing every ball, so you start to feel like nothing is happening on the wicket. But inside, you know cricket isn’t as easy as he’s making it look,” Jurel said at the post-match press conference.
The wicketkeeper-batter admitted that Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach often pushes others to raise their own scoring rate.
“When you walk in, there’s also that pressure — you feel like, ‘He’s doing it, I need to do the same.’ At the same time, it feels easier because you think the wicket is good if he’s batting like that. So it works both ways,” he added.
Sooryavanshi’s whirlwind knock, which included a 15-ball half-century, set the tone early as RR raced to one of the fastest powerplay totals of the season.
Jurel complemented the youngster with a fluent unbeaten 76, stitching together a crucial partnership that effectively took the game away from RCB.
He said the momentum created by Sooryavanshi allowed him to play with more freedom.
“We were around 65-70 after five overs, and I was just telling myself to cash in and make it count. From the other end, the way he bats is phenomenal,” Jurel said.
Published on Apr 11, 2026
Rajasthan Royals batter Dhruv Jurel on Friday said teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless strokeplay not only dismantles opposition attacks but also boosts the confidence of his teammates, even as it tempts them to take more risks.
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi lit up the contest with a stunning 78 off 26 balls, powering RR to a comfortable six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru while chasing 202.
Jurel, who walked in at No. 3, said batting alongside the youngster creates a unique mix of confidence and pressure in the middle.
“When I go in, he makes it look really easy. You walk in and he’s smashing every ball, so you start to feel like nothing is happening on the wicket. But inside, you know cricket isn’t as easy as he’s making it look,” Jurel said at the post-match press conference.
The wicketkeeper-batter admitted that Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach often pushes others to raise their own scoring rate.
“When you walk in, there’s also that pressure — you feel like, ‘He’s doing it, I need to do the same.’ At the same time, it feels easier because you think the wicket is good if he’s batting like that. So it works both ways,” he added.
Sooryavanshi’s whirlwind knock, which included a 15-ball half-century, set the tone early as RR raced to one of the fastest powerplay totals of the season.
Jurel complemented the youngster with a fluent unbeaten 76, stitching together a crucial partnership that effectively took the game away from RCB.
He said the momentum created by Sooryavanshi allowed him to play with more freedom.
“We were around 65-70 after five overs, and I was just telling myself to cash in and make it count. From the other end, the way he bats is phenomenal,” Jurel said.
Published on Apr 11, 2026
Rajasthan Royals batter Dhruv Jurel on Friday said teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless strokeplay not only…
