Why Players Are Pulling Out Of IPL 2021 Ahead Of Season?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play without Josh Hazlewood this season as the Australian pacer has decided to pull off from IPL 2021 to spend time with his family. He has a very busy season ahead and he wants to spend the coming winter months with his family.

What excuses did Josh Hazlewood give for missing IPL 2021?

He said that it had been a long 10 months into bubbles and quarantine at different times, so he decided to take a rest from cricket and spent some time at home for the next two months. Cricket.com.au quoted Hazlewood as saying that he wanted time to prepare for the upcoming tournaments. Australia will play with the West Indies and Bangladesh T20 tour at the end of the winter season in Australia.

MS Dhoni led CSK has won IPL title in 2010, 2011, and 2018, but it finished seventh in the 2020 season. This year, CSK was quite hopeful of winning the title this year as it has all the top bowlers including Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Lungi Ngidi, Dwayne Bravo, and Josh Hazlewood. But Hazlewood has withdrawn from the IPL 2021.

Other players that pulled out of IPL 2021

Sunrisers Hyderabad announced that it is replacing Mitchell Marsh with Jason Ray as the all-rounder has pulled out of IPL 2021

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) also has to find a replacement for batsman Joshua Philippe that decided to pull out of the season citing personal reasons.

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Former Australian Skipper Steve Smith Wants To Lead Australian Team Again

Steve Smith said he was willing to lead the national cricket team of Australia if he was given an opportunity. He made this announcement after almost two years after Cricket Australia banned him for one year for his involvement in the Sandpaper Gate incident.

What was the Sandpaper Gate incident?

It as ball-tempering incident happened the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018. Steve Smith was the skipper of Australian cricket at that time and he confirmed his involvement in the incident. The Cricket Australia board took cognizance of the matter and banned Steve from international cricket for one year. The opening batsman David Warner also received a similar punishment but Cameron Bancroft was let off with a nine-month suspension.

Would Steve Smith join the national cricket team of Australia?

While Smith has completed his suspension but the Australian coach Justin Langer isn’t willing to take him back. Langer replied to Steve’s call for an opportunity to lead the Australian team again by saying that there was no captaincy position available in the team.

He said that Australia had two very good captains – Tim Paine (Test captain) and Aaron Finch (white-ball captain). He further said that the Australian team was preparing for two important tournaments – an Ashes and a T20 World Cup.

What is the future of Steve Smith?

While his entry into the national cricket team of Australia looks delayed, the right-handed batsman will be seen batting for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning April 9.

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See MS Dhoni Unveiling Chennai Super Kings New Yellow Jersey Ahead Of Season

Chennai Super Kings will play their first match on 10 April 2021 in yellow jersey just revealed by their skipper MS Dhoni. A video of MS Dhoni unpacking and unveiling the new jersey in yellow is posted by CSK on social media.

How does this new jersey look?

MS Dhoni will don a new yellow jersey during the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League starting April 9. But CSK will play its first match on April 10 with Delhi Capitals in Mumbai. MS Dhoni unveiled the new jersey for his team ahead of the IPL 2021 season. It is in shining yellow color with green touch on the shoulders and CSK badging on top of the left side. The front of the jersey is designed by Myntra sticker.

How will new jersey impact the CSK team?

The three-time champions finished the last IPL season 2020 at sixth-position, but this time they aim to better their performance and the change of jersey is the first step towards that direction. Also, the team is bolstered by the inclusion of Suresh Raina.

Why did Suresh Raina miss the last IPL season?

Suresh Raina missed IPL 2020 for personal reasons, but he has arrived in Mumbai for the 14th edition of the IPL and currently serving his quarantine period. He arrived on Wednesday and is in touch with his teammates and fans through his Instagram stories.

MS Dhoni is also looking for more runs this season as he could barely manage to score 200 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 116.24 with no half-centuries.

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No Spectators For Remaining Indian V/S England T20Is

Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) decided to hold the remaining T20Is between India and England behind closed doors in the wake of rising cases of COVID-19 in Ahmedabad. The decision was taken after a detailed consultation with the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).

When would the remaining matches be played?

It was a series of five T20Is between Indian and England. Out of these five matches, two have been played on Friday and Sunday and each team won a match. While the first two matches were played with audiences up to 50% of the capacity of stadiums, the remaining three matches on March 16, 18 and 20.

What is the reason for playing behind the doors?

BCCI held a detailed discussion with GCI and local health authorities before making a statement regarding hosting remaining matches behind the closed doors. The statement issued by BCCI reads that the cricket control board is committed to follow the regulations suggested to curb the spread of the pandemic. It also said that the cricket board keeps health of players, workers and spectators on the top.

Since the remaining three T20Is will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium that has a capacity of seating 1.32 lack spectators, it is decided to hold the matches behind the closed doors as allowing even 50% of the spectators will be significant.

What will spectators do with tickets?

Cricket fans that have already booked seats in the stadium can get refund and those with complimentary tickets are requested not to visit the stadium as no spectator will be allowed.

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Team India Can’t Attend Jasprit Bumrah’s Marriage On 14-15 March In Goa

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah it going to tie the knot with a former model and sports anchor, Sanjana Ganeshan, on March 14 or 15 in Goa. But they have never been spotted together in the media. The only time they were seen together when Sanjana interviewed Bumrah in an award function of BCCI.

Bumrah withdrew his name from the fourth test against England

Gossips of Jasprit Bumrah marriage started coming to the fore when the pacer withdrew his name from the fourth and last test of the series against England despite doing well in the earlier match. But it wasn’t certain how the Indian pacer is marrying. Earlier his name was also associated with a south Indian actress Anupama Parameswaran.

Why Jasprit Bumrah’s name was associated with Anupama Parameswaran?

Anupama’s mother Sunita put a period on the gossips that her daughter who’s also a successful actress is going to marry Jasprit Bumrah. She also clarified the reason for which Anupama’s name associated with Bumrah. She said that people started gossiping of their relation when they both started following each-other on social media. But there’s no truth in the gossips. Sunita was talking to Manorma Online while denying her daughter’s relations with Bumrah.

Why team India won’t attend the marriage of their buddy?

Presently team India is under a bio-bubble that doesn’t allow them to travel outside of the bubble for health reasons. Team is playing its fourth test with England and according to pandemic rules, they have to limit their contacts in order to prevent the pandemic.

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No Home Matches For Teams In IPL 2021 Season

The IPL 2021 will start on April 9 and conclude on May 30. And the matches will be played in six venues but no team will play at home ground.

IPL venues

Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai are the venues where IPL matches will be played. Mumbai has been included in the list of venues despite the city witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases. But the matches will be played behind closed doors for added safety of the players. The final match will be played at the Nardendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 30.

The opening fixture of IPL

The first match of IPL season 2021 will be played in Chennai on April 9. It will be between the defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Total matches of IPL

IPL season 2021 will host a total of 56 matches out of which Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata & Bengaluru will host 10 matches each while Ahmedabad and Delhi will host 8 matches each. During the league states, all the teams will play at 4 out of 6 venues and all the venues will be neutral for the teams.

IPL season 2021 doubleheaders

This time, there’ll be 11 doubleheaders with 6 teams playing three afternoon matches and 2 teams playing two afternoon matches. The timing of matches will be 3:30 PM IST for afternoon matches and 7:30 PM IST for evening matches.

The previous season was shifted to UAE due to epidemic but this season will be played in India because the COVID-19 situation has improved in the country.

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West Indies VS Sri Lanka: Watch 6 Sixes In An Over After A Hat Trick Of 3 Dismissals

Audiences at the Antigua stadium had a joyous moment in the West Indies vs Sri Lanka first T20 International (T20I). They first witnessed a hat-trick by Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya who dismissed three top players of West Indies. But in the next over, Kieron Pollard sent his balls to boundaries.

Akila Dananjaya’s hat trick

West Indies were playing on 52/0 in 3.1 overs when Dananjaya stalled their momentum by dismissing Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran in successive deliveries. It was a great feat by Lankan spinner but the celebrations were cut short by the West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard.

Kieron Pollard hits sixes

A confident Akila Dananjaya was brought in to dismiss more players in the sixth over but this time Kieron Pollard turned the tables on Sri Lanka by delivering six sixes.

The first one was thrown over the cow corner when Pollard caught Akila unaware about his batting skills. In the next ball, Pollard took a shot straight to the sight-screen. The third and fourth deliveries were on long-off and deep midwicket respectively. The fifth one was a half-tracker and the sixth was again to the deep midwicket.

But in the next over, Pollard lost his wicket at leg-before. But the damage to the Sri Lanka had already been done by the West Indies batsman.

Kieron Pollard became the second batsman to score six-sixes in an over in T20I. The first one is Yuvraj Singh who smashed Stuart Broad of England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. In international cricket, Pollard became the third batsman to hit six-sixes.

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Rohit Sharma Is Next Best To Virat Kohli In ICC Test Batting Rankings

The opening batsman Rohit Sharma became No. 8 on the ICC Test Batting Rankings. He moved 6 spots after winning the third test against England at Ahmedabad. In India, Rohit Sharma is the second best batsman after captain Virat Kohli who stands on 5th position on ICC Test Batting Rankings. But the senior batsman Cheteshwar Pujara slipped two spots to No. 10.

How Rohit Sharma improved his test batting rankings?

He started out as an opening batsman for test matches in 2019 and proved his worth in all conditions and situations. And this Mumbai Indians captain was instrumental in winning three tests against the ongoing four test match series against England. He ended his dry spell of Australia tour on the home pitch.

How Rohit Sharma performed on home pitch?

He showed the magic of batting in the second test in Chennai where he scored 161 runs and defended the match. His big century helped India make a comeback in the series by leveling the series with 1-1. It is to be noted that India lost the first test to England in Chennai.

Rohit Sharma successfully passed the pink ball test in the third test Ahmedabad when he scored the match-winning 61 runs. The match ended within two days. Rohit amassed 298 runs in three tests against England.

R Ashwin enters the top 3 club

Off-spinner R Ashwin becomes the only spinner in the top 10 of the Test Bowling Rankings. He moved 4 spots to become No. 3 on the rankings. Ashwin picked 13 wickets in three tests in Australia but he has so far taken 24 wickets in three tests against England. Ashwin … Read the rest

India Wins Ahmedabad Test But The Feat Is Still Incomplete

India defeated England in the 3rd test of the 4-test match series at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. And it is a big feat for India as it is now closer to reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Lord’s.

What next for Indian cricket team?

After winning the third-test match of thumping victory of 10-wickets, India is gearing up for a crucial fourth-test match starting 4th March at the same place. While England has lost its contention the final of WTC, it can spoil India’s chance to play the final, if it wins the fourth-test match.

India Wins Ahmedabad Test

The fourth-test match is crucial for black caps, if they want to pay the final. They have to win the match or at the best, draw the match in order to prevent Australia from getting a lead over them. The points tally gives the real reason for Indian team to fear losing the fourth-test and the final.

What are the points of India, England and Australia?

One of the three teams will reach the ICC WTC final and play with New Zealand. But England is out of the contention and it won’t make a comeback even, if, it wins the fourth-test against India. But Australia could get a lead, if India loses its fourth-test.

India stands on points tally with 71 points and England is down to 64.1 points. But Australia with 69.2 points is closer to India. If India loses the fourth-test, it will lose the battle to Australia. The final match will be played in June at Lords.

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Why Should India Bat First In Motera Stadium?

India will play its third test against England at Motera Stadium, Ahmedabad. India is playing 4-test series with England. The first two matches of the series were played in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. India lost the first test but won the second match with 317 runs.

Motera Stadium

It is a newly built stadium and it is the first match of the stadium. It will be a day-night match played with a pink ball. The stadium has a capacity of over 110,000 audiences.

How is the pitch at Motera Stadium?

The pitch is expected to help fast bowlers as the match will be played with a pink ball and curators leave much grass on the pitch to maintain shine of the ball. Also, dew could play a crucial role in giving speed to ball. Since it is a day-night match, dew is expected to be on the pitch late in the evening. Curators have cleaned the pitch a day before the match.

How is the environment in Ahmedabad?

The match will start at 2:30 PM but then the temperature could be around 33-34 degree celsius. But it could drop to 27 degree by 10 PM. According to experts, the temperature change in late evening will bring a change in the match a well.

First batting advantage

Considering the pitch and the environment, India could have first batting advantage. Since India is considering playing with five pacers including Umesh Yadav that replaced Shardul Thakur, India will certainly have first batting advantage.

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