New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Mumbai Indians’ (MI) IPL 2024 campaign was majorly overshadowed by the Rohit Sharma-Hardik Pandya debacle with both players being criticised individually as well as for their impact on the team.

However, former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has backed the two players to regain form ahead of the T20 World Cup, starting from June 1 in “I wouldn’t be overly concerned with Rohit Sharma’s form at this stage. When it comes to representing his country for major events like an ICC World Cup, I see the experience of Rohit Sharma as invaluable not just with the bat but as the captain as well.

“When it comes to form for players like Rohit Sharma, the way the event is structured there’s a number of games in the group stage for players to find some form against less competitive sides,” Moody, cricket expert and commentator with official TV broadcaster Star Sports for IPL 2024, told IANS in an exclusive chat.

“When it comes to individual form or team form momentum can be captured quite early and then the team will be peaking at the right time when it comes to the back end of the tournament,” he said.

Hardik, on the other hand, has had a rollercoaster of a season which began with him being booed at the Narendra Modi Stadium in their opening match against his former team, Gujarat Titans.

The 30-year old all-rounder is averaging only 18.18 runs a game which has fallen down from 31.45 in the previous edition. Alongside his average batting stats, he is also leaking way too many runs. His economy of 10.59 in this edition of the tournament is the worst it has been in the ten years he has played in the tournament.

“Same answer as Rohit, they’re both having challenging times when it comes to their franchise and Hardik is obviously a critical part of that side, because in ICC events you don’t have impact players so your all rounders are important when it comes to creating balance in your playing XI. I am sure Hardik Pandya will benefit from those early games getting some sort of momentum and confidence back into his game, more so with the bat than ball.

“In recent games he has found some sort of rhythm and form with the ball in hand. T20 can be quite a fickle format when it comes to batting in the middle order or as a player, who comes in the back end of the innings. I am sure he will have his moments in those first few games to recapture some sort of form into his batting,” added Moody.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has questioned whether India will be able to “play the brand of cricket that’s required to win a World Cup”, considering the very limited time frame the team has, to prepare after the IPL.

The T20 showpiece is scheduled from June 1 in the West Indies and USA, while the IPL concludes on May 26.

“Australia have historically played these ICC events very well and that’s because they play big tournaments well. There’s no doubt that India have got a very strong side and they’ve got plenty of match winners in that side but can they bring that team together relatively quickly after the IPL and get them to play that brand of cricket that’s required to win a World Cup? That is yet to be answered,” Moody, cricket expert and commentator with official TV broadcaster Star Sports for IPL 2024, told IANS in an exclusive chat.

The first batch of players from team India will be leaving for the United States after the conclusion of the league phase of the Indian Premier League. The players who advance to the knockout stages joining up the squad after the IPL 2024 final. This has left many questioning whether the players will be able to quickly adapt to the new conditions that await them.

“It’s very hard to say at this stage but I think it’s going to be a very closely called World Cup. We’re yet to understand what the conditions are going to be like in the United States. Yes there are drop in pitches but what does that mean? Does it mean they’re going to be quick, bouncy or they are going to spin, be slow. We are yet to really understand who that is going to suit,” added the former SRH head coach when asked who are the favorites to win the mega event.

India will be playing all their group stage games in the United States as they take on Ireland, Pakistan, USA and Canada in their group A fixtures before heading to the Caribbean to play the rest of the knockout stage games, assuming they qualify from their group.

“We know the Caribbean, it depends on what Island you are on as the conditions will be different at every venue. I think it’s going to be the team that has the experience in those conditions and understand how to adapt their game and have the flexibility within their squad to be able to make sure that they have the appropriate selections according to oppositions & conditions and get momentum in big tournaments,” concluded the 58-year-old Australian.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, May 13 (IANS) The IPL 2024 has witnessed the return of Afghanistan’s premier leg-spinner Rashid Khan to high-octane cricketing action after undergoing a back surgery last year. So far, Rashid has been building up to achieve his best self with the ball and bat, seen from him taking ten wickets and making 102 runs in his team’s campaign so far.

Ahead of Gujarat Titans’ final home match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday evening, Rashid spoke exclusively to IANS on his performances in IPL 2024, mindset behind acing last-ball finish against Rajasthan Royals and on leadership skills of Shubman Gill.

Q. How would you analyse your performances for GT in IPL 2024, especially considering that you were out of the eleven for couple of games due to an injury in the tournament?

A. The performance is not of that level which I have been doing for the last seven years. Definitely, this year, I have struggled a little bit, but this happens as it became very hard for me to come back and play straightaway after surgery.

But I feel I am getting better and hopefully I will be back to being the player I was. This year, I felt there were a few games where I could have done better, but it just happens and you keep learning from it.

Q. How has been the support from the coaching staff in easing yourself back into cricketing action?

A. The support from coaching staff has been great so far. The support you need as a player after coming back from injury – I have been quite happy in them giving me the freedom and support, which allowed me to not have too much pressure on myself and to just take it easy and get better match by match.

Q. Can you talk about the game against RR in Jaipur, when 40 runs from 15 balls were needed and you got GT over the line in a last-ball finish alongside Tewatia?

A. It was a kind of game where we thought that it slipped out of our hands. But in T20s, anything is possible. Last year, we didn’t defend 13 in the last over and this was something I had in mind. So, I thought ‘Let’s give our hundred percent in chasing’ and we embraced the mindset of chasing this total.

Me and Rahul had the same discussion that ‘If one of us stay here and take it till the last ball, there is more possibility of chasing it’. That’s what happened – we both stayed till the last over and just chased it.

Q. You recently broke a wicket-less run via the CSK clash on Friday. How was it for you to be back amongst the wicket-takers in that game?

A. I have faced situations in the IPL, where I went wicketless a couple of times in the games. But the next game does give you an opportunity to get wickets. I am not thinking much about whether I am taking wickets or not – I think more about how I am bowling and what I need to do to deliver for the team when it needs you, which is more important – either an economical spell or wickets.

So, I think about that side more than the wickets – you try your best and bowl well. If you get wickets, its great; if you don’t, I don’t put too much pressure on myself – I just need to ensure I enjoy my skills and cricket.

Q. As a bowler, how do you feel about these high totals in IPL 2024 and more aggression shown by batters this time?

A. As a bowler, high batting totals makes it harder – when you see scores of 250, 260 and 280 being posted by teams on TV, it gives you various challenges as a bowler. But still, the bowlers have to come out with their best – everyone is having different skills.

So, as long as you believe in your skills, that gives you a better chance to perform than the others. Though batters are doing great, we as bowlers can do better and can learn from it after being hit for runs. I am sure the bowlers will learn from this experience and will be more mature from it.

Q. Finally, how do you see Shubman Gill as a GT captain – in what is also his first major leadership role & what qualities in him stand out as a skipper on and off the field?

A. He has been great so far in the way he has led the team. He has kept things very calm inside and is someone who doesn’t come under pressure very quickly in a big stage like IPL. Definitely that kind of pressure does happen to a youngster when leading the team in a big tournament, especially when people are scoring 240-250.

But he hasn’t felt that and is always trying to deliver his best for the team, and give the best energy to the bowler. I am impressed by his captaincy so far and definitely he will do a great job in future as well.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) After six Indian grapplers secured Olympic quotas, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh has said that the federation will decide which wrestler will be participating at the 2024 Paris Games, “not the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)”

He said that the fresh trials will be conducted to pick the final squad for the showpiece event.

“Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will decide which wrestler will participate in the Paris Olympics, not IOA, and there will be fresh trials as well, WFI president Sanjay Singh told IANS.

Earlier, there were reports that IOA will take a final call on wrestlers but the WFI has cleared, “we have got approval/authority/recognition from the UWW (United World Wrestling). And it will be our duty to pick the team. How can IOA take that call.”

In the recently concluded World Qualifiers in Istanbul, which was the final Paris Olympics qualifying event for wrestlers, Aman Sehrawat and Nisha Dahiya took India’s number of quotas to six in wrestling.

Antim Panghal (53kg) earned India’s first quota from the 2023 World Wrestling Championships while Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Reetika Hooda (76kg) added further quotas at the Asian Qualifiers held in Bishkek last month.

–IANS

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Charlotte (US), May 13 (IANS) Rory McIlroy overturned a two-shot deficit as he played his final 11 holes in six-under to win the Wells Fargo Championships by a whopping five shots despite a closing double bogey.

The 35-year-old Northern Irishman produced a stunning burst of golf by landing two eagles and four birdies over an eight-hole stretch from Hole No. 8 to breeze to his second win of the season. He also won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour and was third at the Texas Open.

Korea’s Byeong Hun An (66) was third at 9 under, and Jason Day (70) and Sungjae Im tied for fourth a 6-under.

Indian-Americans Sahith Theegala (72) at 8-over was T-52 and Akshay Bhatia (74) was 5-over and 42nd. Both will head to the PGA Championships at Valhalla next.

McIlroy won the Wells Fargo for a record fourth time even as no other player has won the event more than twice. It was his second straight PGA Tour event after partnering Shane Lowry to take the Zurich Classic two weeks ago in New Orleans. It was also his 26th PGA Tour win.

The two wins in two starts should give McIlroy ideal momentum heading to Kentucky for the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, the site of his last major win 10 years ago.

“I really got some confidence,” McIlroy said. “My golf swing feels a lot more comfortable than it has. So going to a venue next week where I’ve won, it feels like the stars are a lining a little bit. But I’ve got a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat next week. Going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.”

McIlroy has often called Quail Hollow one of his favourite courses because it allows for him to take advantage of his length off the tee. But it was his putting that won him the 26th career PGA TOUR title Sunday. He needed just 25 putts, making five longer than 10 feet.

Schauffele finished second for the second straight year and saw his winless drought stretch to 39 tournaments, a streak dating to 2022. He led by four shots after 36 holes.

An set himself up for a strong showing at the upcoming PGA Championship, the year’s second major. The 32-year-old An hit an impressive seven birdies against two bogeys at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina to post his career best score in the US$20 million tournament even though he finished a distant eight shots back of runaway winner, Rory McIlroy

It was his fifth top-10 of the season, and second in successive weeks after a T4 in The CJ Cup Byron Nelson last weekend.

An is also a strong contender to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in August and make the International Team for the Presidents Cup against the U.S in September.

As An finished third, his Korean compatriot Sunjgae Im, who started the final round four shots off the lead, endured a tough front nine 39 before salvaging his day with birdies on 11 and 12 for a 73 to finish tied fourth alongside Australian Jason Day. It was his second top-10 of the season after a tied fifth at the season-opening The Sentry in Hawaii, and moved him up to 27th place in the FedExCup rankings.

Si Woo Kim closed with a 70 for a share of 16th place while Tom Kim came home in 76 to settle for T47

–IANS

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