Premier League clubs voted in favour of reintroducing the use of five substitutes per game from the start of the 2022-23 season at a shareholder meeting, the organisation said on Thursday.

The substitutions can be made on three occasions during a game, not including halftime, and clubs can name nine substitutes in total on their team sheet, the league said in a statement.

Top-flight clubs were allowed to increase the number of substitutes from three to five per match in the 2019-20 campaign when the league restarted in June after a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soccer's law-making body IFAB had recommended making the rule permanent, but the Premier League was the only top league in Europe to decide against continuing five substitutes from 2020-21 even as a number of managers voiced concerns about player fatigue.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-to-face-arch-rivals-liverpool-on-pre-season-tour-to-thailand-australia-467162">Manchester United to face arch-rivals Liverpool on pre-season tour to Thailand, Australia</a>

The Premier League added it would stop twice-weekly COVID-19 testing of players and staff from Monday, with only symptomatic individuals to be tested.

"The wellbeing of players and staff remains a priority and the Premier League will continue to monitor the national COVID-19 situation and adapt League-wide protocols as required, in line with the latest guidance from public health authorities and medical experts," the statement said.

The Premier League also said the summer transfer window will open on June 10 and close on Sept. 1.

Premier League clubs voted in favour of reintroducing the use of five substitutes per game from the start of the 2022-23 season at a shareholder meeting, the organisation said on Thursday.

Premier League clubs voted in favour of reintroducing the use of five substitutes per game from the start of the 2022-23 season at a shareholder meeting, the organisation said on Thursday. The substitutions can be made on three occasions during a game, not including halftime, and clubs can name nine substitutes in total on their team sheet, the league said in a statement. Top-flight clubs were allowed to increase the number of substitutes from three to five per match in the 2019-20 campaign when the league restarted in June after a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Soccer's law-making body IFAB had recommended making the rule permanent, but the Premier League was the only top league in Europe to decide against continuing five substitutes from 2020-21 even as a number of managers voiced concerns about player fatigue. ALSO READ: Manchester United to face arch-rivals Liverpool on pre-season tour to Thailand, Australia The Premier League added it would stop twice-weekly COVID-19 testing of players and staff from Monday, with only symptomatic individuals to be tested. "The wellbeing of players and staff remains a priority and the Premier League will continue to monitor the national COVID-19 situation and adapt League-wide protocols as required, in line with the latest guidance from public health authorities and medical experts," the statement said. The Premier League also said the summer transfer window will open on June 10 and close on Sept. 1.

Premier League clubs to reintroduce use of five substitutes per game rule from 2022-23 season

In a tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne, Cricket Australia named a stand in memory of the spin legend at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday.

Warne's children unveiled the stand in memory of the Australian leg-spinner, who died earlier this month.

Shane Warne had a memorial service in Melbourne, in which the great singer Sir Elton John performed a heartfelt tribute.

Family members, colleagues, stars from sports, music and film came together to say goodbye to "the greatest."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-knew-how-to-use-ravichandran-ashwin-parthiv-patel-has-his-say-on-spinners-ipl-performances-467217">'MS Dhoni knew how to use Ravichandran Ashwin': Parthiv Patel has his say on spinner's IPL performances</a>

Earlier, a huge crowd gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australians bid their final adieu to Warne.

Warne, considered one of the greatest cricketers of all times, died aged 52 earlier this month from a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand.

A private funeral was held before, which was attended by dozens of celebrities, friends, family and former cricket players.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-was-surprised-that-shreyas-iyer-did-not-wasim-jaffer-on-kkr-captains-decision-making-vs-rcb-467208">'I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not...': Wasim Jaffer on KKR captain's decision-making vs RCB</a>

Warne famously claimed his 700th Test wicket at the ground on Boxing Day in 2006 when he dismissed England captain Andrew Strauss and finished his career with 56 Test wickets at the iconic venue.

Warne was one of the most influential cricketers in history. He almost single-handedly reinvented the art of leg-spin when he burst onto the international scene in the early 1990s, and by the time he retired from international cricket in 2007, he had become the first bowler to reach 700 Test wickets.

In a tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne, Cricket Australia named a stand in memory of the spin legend at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday. Warne's children unveiled the stand in memory of the Australian leg-spinner, who died earlier this month.

In a tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne, Cricket Australia named a stand in memory of the spin legend at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday. Warne's children unveiled the stand in memory of the Australian leg-spinner, who died earlier this month. Shane Warne had a memorial service in Melbourne, in which the great singer Sir Elton John performed a heartfelt tribute. Family members, colleagues, stars from sports, music and film came together to say goodbye to "the greatest." ALSO READ: 'MS Dhoni knew how to use Ravichandran Ashwin': Parthiv Patel has his say on spinner's IPL performances Earlier, a huge crowd gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australians bid their final adieu to Warne. Warne, considered one of the greatest cricketers of all times, died aged 52 earlier this month from a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand. A private funeral was held before, which was attended by dozens of celebrities, friends, family and former cricket players. ALSO READ: 'I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not...': Wasim Jaffer on KKR captain's decision-making vs RCB Warne famously claimed his 700th Test wicket at the ground on Boxing Day in 2006 when he dismissed England captain Andrew Strauss and finished his career with 56 Test wickets at the iconic venue. Warne was one of the most influential cricketers in history. He almost single-handedly reinvented the art of leg-spin when he burst onto the international scene in the early 1990s, and by the time he retired from international cricket in 2007, he had become the first bowler to reach 700 Test wickets.

Shane Warne Stand unveiled at iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in memory of spin legend

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p>

KKR suffered a mini batting collapse as they were bowled out for 128 thanks to brilliant bowling performances from Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. In response, RCB found the going difficult but were able to reach the target with just four balls to spare.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-suresh-raina-ms-dhoni-and-ab-de-villiers-were-the-most-challenging-to-bowl-to-says-sandeep-sharma-467156" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni &amp; ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma</a>

Russell bowled just 2.2 overs and ended up conceding 36 runs as he was taken to task by the RCB batsmen. The West Indies all-rounder did not look completely fit and in the post-match press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum explained why he did not bowl his full quota.<o:p></o:p>

"Dre had run around the boundary and dived, and unfortunately picked up a little bit of a bump. His shoulder was a little bit sore. But Dre being Dre, he still wants to try to get the job done, and he wasn't quite able to. Those are things which happen in low-scoring games," McCullum said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dinesh-karthik-is-as-close-as-it-gets-to-ms-dhoni-faf-du-plessis-lauds-rcbs-finisher-after-kkr-win-467160" hreflang="en">Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher DK, compares him to MS Dhoni</a>

"I actually thought the intent was great. You back the fact that you played the extra batter, and you played a long batting line-up. You don't anticipate being bowled out obviously."<o:p></o:p>

"Honestly I felt we didn't have a lot of luck today. Every time we sort of went for our aggressive option, we seemed to find a fielder or things didn't quite go our way. That can happen sometimes. But I want us to continue to keep that intent because that served us so well last year. The way we set our teams up at the auction, and the players we picked, it suits them as well," he added.<o:p></o:p>

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday. KKR suffered a mini batting collapse as they were bowled out for 128 thanks to brilliant bowling performances from Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. In response, RCB found the going difficult but were able to reach the target with just four balls to spare. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni & ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma Russell bowled just 2.2 overs and ended up conceding 36 runs as he was taken to task by the RCB batsmen. The West Indies all-rounder did not look completely fit and in the post-match press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum explained why he did not bowl his full quota. "Dre had run around the boundary and dived, and unfortunately picked up a little bit of a bump. His shoulder was a little bit sore. But Dre being Dre, he still wants to try to get the job done, and he wasn't quite able to. Those are things which happen in low-scoring games," McCullum said. Also read | Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher DK, compares him to MS Dhoni "I actually thought the intent was great. You back the fact that you played the extra batter, and you played a long batting line-up. You don't anticipate being bowled out obviously." "Honestly I felt we didn't have a lot of luck today. Every time we sort of went for our aggressive option, we seemed to find a fielder or things didn't quite go our way. That can happen sometimes. But I want us to continue to keep that intent because that served us so well last year. The way we set our teams up at the auction, and the players we picked, it suits them as well," he added.

IPL 2022: Brendon McCullum reveals why Andre Russell did not bowl his full quota against RCB

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken about his mental and emotional struggles, saying in a social media post on Thursday that it was "hard some days to stay positive".

The 37-year-old Briton assured fans on Instagram that they were not alone. 
"It's been such a tough year already with everything that is happening around us," Hamilton said.

"I have struggled mentally and emotionally for a long time, to keep going is a constant effort but we have to keep fighting, we have so much to do and to achieve.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/miami-open-naomi-osaka-outclasses-danielle-collins-to-set-up-maiden-semifinal-date-against-belinda-bencic-466949">Miami Open: Naomi Osaka outclasses Danielle Collins to set up maiden semifinal date against Belinda Bencic</a>

&nbsp;

"I'm writing to tell you it's OK to feel the way you do, just know that you are not alone and we are gonna get through this."

Hamilton missed out on a record eighth championship last year after a controversial final race of the season in Abu Dhabi that he had led until the last lap.

The sport's most successful driver of all time, with a record 103 wins and poles, shunned social media from the day of that December race until February.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uefa-womens-champions-league-ramona-bachmanns-late-strike-against-bayern-helps-psg-progress-on-aggregate-467182">UEFA Women's Champions League: Ramona Bachmann's late strike against Bayern helps PSG progress on aggregate</a>

His silence fuelled speculation surrounding his future, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff describing Hamilton as "disillusioned".

The sport's only Black driver, an outspoken champion for equal opportunities and diversity, Hamilton has also experienced racism and online abuse.

The Briton has had a difficult start to his 16th season, finishing only 10th in Saudi Arabia last weekend after failing to get through the first phase of qualifying in a car that has been off the pace.

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken about his mental and emotional struggles, saying in a social media post on Thursday that it was "hard some days to stay positive".

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken about his mental and emotional struggles, saying in a social media post on Thursday that it was "hard some days to stay positive". The 37-year-old Briton assured fans on Instagram that they were not alone. "It's been such a tough year already with everything that is happening around us," Hamilton said. "I have struggled mentally and emotionally for a long time, to keep going is a constant effort but we have to keep fighting, we have so much to do and to achieve. ALSO READ: Miami Open: Naomi Osaka outclasses Danielle Collins to set up maiden semifinal date against Belinda Bencic "I'm writing to tell you it's OK to feel the way you do, just know that you are not alone and we are gonna get through this." Hamilton missed out on a record eighth championship last year after a controversial final race of the season in Abu Dhabi that he had led until the last lap. The sport's most successful driver of all time, with a record 103 wins and poles, shunned social media from the day of that December race until February. ALSO READ: UEFA Women's Champions League: Ramona Bachmann's late strike against Bayern helps PSG progress on aggregate His silence fuelled speculation surrounding his future, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff describing Hamilton as "disillusioned". The sport's only Black driver, an outspoken champion for equal opportunities and diversity, Hamilton has also experienced racism and online abuse. The Briton has had a difficult start to his 16th season, finishing only 10th in Saudi Arabia last weekend after failing to get through the first phase of qualifying in a car that has been off the pace.

'Hard some days to stay positive': Lewis Hamilton reveals he struggled mentally and emotionally

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians got a boost in its middle-order when India batter Suryakumar Yadav joined the squad's bio-bubble after recovering from a finger injury and completing the mandatory quarantine period. 
 
Yadav on Wednesday participated in a strength and conditioning session with some other Mumbai Indians stars and will now be available for their match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday (April 2) at the D.Y Patil Stadium here. 
 
Suryakumar had suffered a hairline fracture during a fielding attempt in the third and final T20I against the West Indies in Kolkata on February 20. He was undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy and has recently recovered from the injury. 
 
Suryakumar Yadav exited his mandatory quarantine and joined the team for the gym session in the company of his mates Kieron Pollard, Ishan Kishan and Jasprit Bumrah," the franchise informed in a statement on Thursday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-ms-dhoni-on-cusp-of-joining-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-and-shikhar-dhawan-in-t20-elite-list-467192">IPL 2022: MS Dhoni on cusp of joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in T20 elite list</a> 
 
The team underwent a strength and conditioning session on Wednesday under the watchful eyes of Paul Chapman. The session involved weight and fitness training, with the focus on working on core fitness and building strength, the statement said. 
 
In Yadav's absence, the Mumbai Indians'&nbsp;middle-order had struggled to build on the good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma (41) and Ishan Kishan (81), who raised 67 for the opening wicket in their four-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals. Mumbai Indians had posted a below-par 177/5 that Delhi chased in 18.2 overs. 
 
If Yadav returns to action against the Royals on Saturday, the pressure on Tilak Verma and Kieron Pollard in the middle order will be eased a bit.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians got a boost in its middle-order when India batter Suryakumar Yadav joined the squad's bio-bubble after recovering from a finger injury and completing the mandatory quarantine period.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians got a boost in its middle-order when India batter Suryakumar Yadav joined the squad's bio-bubble after recovering from a finger injury and completing the mandatory quarantine period. Yadav on Wednesday participated in a strength and conditioning session with some other Mumbai Indians stars and will now be available for their match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday (April 2) at the D.Y Patil Stadium here. Suryakumar had suffered a hairline fracture during a fielding attempt in the third and final T20I against the West Indies in Kolkata on February 20. He was undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy and has recently recovered from the injury. Suryakumar Yadav exited his mandatory quarantine and joined the team for the gym session in the company of his mates Kieron Pollard, Ishan Kishan and Jasprit Bumrah," the franchise informed in a statement on Thursday. ALSO READ: IPL 2022: MS Dhoni on cusp of joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in T20 elite list The team underwent a strength and conditioning session on Wednesday under the watchful eyes of Paul Chapman. The session involved weight and fitness training, with the focus on working on core fitness and building strength, the statement said. In Yadav's absence, the Mumbai Indians' middle-order had struggled to build on the good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma (41) and Ishan Kishan (81), who raised 67 for the opening wicket in their four-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals. Mumbai Indians had posted a below-par 177/5 that Delhi chased in 18.2 overs. If Yadav returns to action against the Royals on Saturday, the pressure on Tilak Verma and Kieron Pollard in the middle order will be eased a bit.

IPL 2022: Big Boost for Mumbai Indians as Suryakumar Yadav returns from injury, to be available against RR

Former Indian cricket team wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes that Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL numbers have not been the same since leaving Chennai Super Kings back in 2016.<o:p></o:p>

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Parthiv said that Ashwin’s figures have taken a hit since leaving CSK and it is because of that fact that MS Dhoni knew how to use the veteran spinner properly.&nbsp;

"First of all, it depends on the type of pitch you use. In Chennai, 140 or 150 is a winning score and spin also happens a lot. Because of that his numbers are better with Chennai. Also, the captain makes a difference. MS Dhoni knew how to use R Ashwin and where to use him. In 2010, he only made Ashwin use the new ball. He used him well and also got helped from the wicket," he said.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-suresh-raina-ms-dhoni-and-ab-de-villiers-were-the-most-challenging-to-bowl-to-says-sandeep-sharma-467156" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni &amp; ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma</a>

<o:p></o:p>

"These numbers are not that bad. He has even made a comeback in the Indian team", he added.

Ashwin has failed to replicate his performance in the CSK colours which saw him take 90 wickets in 97 matches at an economy rate of 6.46. Since leaving CSK, he has taken 25 wickets for Punjab Kings at an economy of 7.67 and 20 wickets for Delhi Capitals at an economy rate of 7.55.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-no-1-in-top-celebrity-endorser-list-despite-brand-valuation-dip-dhonis-climbs-to-61-million-report-467190">Kohli remains No. 1 in top celebrity endorser list despite brand valuation dip</a>

During his stint with Pune under Dhoni, he took 10 wickets in 14 appearances at an economy rate of 7.25.<o:p></o:p>

Ashwin was picked by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2022 and he formed a formidable spin partnership with Yuzvendra Chahal in the franchise. The Royals started their campaign with a brilliant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad but Ashwin failed to take his first wicket.<o:p></o:p>

Former Indian cricket team wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes that Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL numbers have not been the same since leaving Chennai Super Kings back in 2016.

Former Indian cricket team wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes that Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL numbers have not been the same since leaving Chennai Super Kings back in 2016. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Parthiv said that Ashwin’s figures have taken a hit since leaving CSK and it is because of that fact that MS Dhoni knew how to use the veteran spinner properly. "First of all, it depends on the type of pitch you use. In Chennai, 140 or 150 is a winning score and spin also happens a lot. Because of that his numbers are better with Chennai. Also, the captain makes a difference. MS Dhoni knew how to use R Ashwin and where to use him. In 2010, he only made Ashwin use the new ball. He used him well and also got helped from the wicket," he said. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni & ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma "These numbers are not that bad. He has even made a comeback in the Indian team", he added. Ashwin has failed to replicate his performance in the CSK colours which saw him take 90 wickets in 97 matches at an economy rate of 6.46. Since leaving CSK, he has taken 25 wickets for Punjab Kings at an economy of 7.67 and 20 wickets for Delhi Capitals at an economy rate of 7.55. Also read | Kohli remains No. 1 in top celebrity endorser list despite brand valuation dip During his stint with Pune under Dhoni, he took 10 wickets in 14 appearances at an economy rate of 7.25. Ashwin was picked by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2022 and he formed a formidable spin partnership with Yuzvendra Chahal in the franchise. The Royals started their campaign with a brilliant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad but Ashwin failed to take his first wicket.

'MS Dhoni knew how to use Ravichandran Ashwin': Parthiv Patel has his say on spinner's IPL performances

Sandeep Sharma is no stranger to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The medium pacer from Punjab made his debut in 2013 and during his stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 112 wickets in the competition. It was sort of a homecoming for Sandeep as he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of 2022 season and currently, he is one of the senior campaigners in the side.<o:p></o:p>

The Mayank Agarwal-led side started the tournament on a positive note as they chased down a target of 206 runs to clinch the win against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Speaking exclusively to WION, Sandeep opened up about the game and the feeling in the dressing room after the win.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/universe-boss-show-not-over-yet-chris-gayle-kicks-off-preparations-for-ipl-2023-see-pic-467065" hreflang="en">Universe Boss' show not over yet! Chris Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 - see pic</a>

&nbsp;“It is always a good feeling to win the first game of the tournament and we want to carry forward that momentum. Chasing 200 runs is very difficult but our batting was able to pull it off. It was a very positive result and the entire dressing room is extremely happy with what we were able to achieve.”<o:p></o:p>

The one thing that caught the attention of most experts during the match was the number of extras conceded by both sides. A total of 45 extras was conceded during the face-off – an IPL record – including 33 wides (12 from Punjab bowlers).&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

In this regard, Sandeep explained dew as a factor but believes that wides were mainly conceded due to the bowlers’ reluctance to bowl in the batter's hitting arc.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harshal-patel-equals-ipl-record-with-back-to-back-maiden-overs-against-kolkata-knight-riders-466982" hreflang="en">Harshal Patel equals IPL record with back-to-back maiden overs against Kolkata Knight Riders</a>

“The conditions were okay and it was mainly a batting wicket. I feel the bowlers did not want to come into the batsman’s arc and as they wanted to stay away from that line, they ended up bowling wide. Dew was also there and in coming games, it will become a factor,” the 28-year-old said.<o:p></o:p>

This year’s IPL will be played in just four venues around Maharashtra and the constant fixtures can result in pitches slowing down gradually towards the end of the tournament. However, Sandeep said that he is hoping for that to happen and only the Pune pitch can see big changes in the future.<o:p></o:p>

“I am not hoping for that as all the venues have 4-5 pitches and they will have 3-4 games each. Pitches in Maharashtra are very good and I think they will be able to sustain 4 games. As I said, dew will also play a part and once dew sets in, the ball will not move even if the wicket is slow. Maybe the pitches will slow down a little but the impact will not be that much.”

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-cristiano-ronaldo-of-cricket-punjab-kings-star-lavishes-praise-on-former-rcb-skipper-466978" hreflang="en">Virat Kohli is Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket: Punjab Kings star lavishes praise on former RCB skipper</a>

“Maybe the Pune wicket can be different as dew is not a factor that much and the pitches are black soil pitches. So that is the only place where we can see a bit of change in conditions,” he added.<o:p></o:p>

Over the years, Sandeep has bowled to a number of world-class batsmen in the tournament and when asked about his toughest challenges, he was quick to name three seasoned veterans.<o:p></o:p>

“With the new ball, Suresh Raina was the most challenging batsman for me. With the old ball, I will have to say MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers as they are both amazing finishers,” Sandeep concluded.<o:p></o:p>

Sandeep Sharma is no stranger to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The medium pacer from Punjab made his debut in 2013 and during his stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 112 wickets in the competition.

Sandeep Sharma is no stranger to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The medium pacer from Punjab made his debut in 2013 and during his stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 112 wickets in the competition. It was sort of a homecoming for Sandeep as he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of 2022 season and currently, he is one of the senior campaigners in the side. The Mayank Agarwal-led side started the tournament on a positive note as they chased down a target of 206 runs to clinch the win against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Speaking exclusively to WION, Sandeep opened up about the game and the feeling in the dressing room after the win. Also read | Universe Boss' show not over yet! Chris Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 - see pic “It is always a good feeling to win the first game of the tournament and we want to carry forward that momentum. Chasing 200 runs is very difficult but our batting was able to pull it off. It was a very positive result and the entire dressing room is extremely happy with what we were able to achieve.” The one thing that caught the attention of most experts during the match was the number of extras conceded by both sides. A total of 45 extras was conceded during the face-off – an IPL record – including 33 wides (12 from Punjab bowlers). In this regard, Sandeep explained dew as a factor but believes that wides were mainly conceded due to the bowlers’ reluctance to bowl in the batter's hitting arc. Also read | Harshal Patel equals IPL record with back-to-back maiden overs against Kolkata Knight Riders “The conditions were okay and it was mainly a batting wicket. I feel the bowlers did not want to come into the batsman’s arc and as they wanted to stay away from that line, they ended up bowling wide. Dew was also there and in coming games, it will become a factor,” the 28-year-old said. This year’s IPL will be played in just four venues around Maharashtra and the constant fixtures can result in pitches slowing down gradually towards the end of the tournament. However, Sandeep said that he is hoping for that to happen and only the Pune pitch can see big changes in the future. “I am not hoping for that as all the venues have 4-5 pitches and they will have 3-4 games each. Pitches in Maharashtra are very good and I think they will be able to sustain 4 games. As I said, dew will also play a part and once dew sets in, the ball will not move even if the wicket is slow. Maybe the pitches will slow down a little but the impact will not be that much.” Also read | Virat Kohli is Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket: Punjab Kings star lavishes praise on former RCB skipper “Maybe the Pune wicket can be different as dew is not a factor that much and the pitches are black soil pitches. So that is the only place where we can see a bit of change in conditions,” he added. Over the years, Sandeep has bowled to a number of world-class batsmen in the tournament and when asked about his toughest challenges, he was quick to name three seasoned veterans. “With the new ball, Suresh Raina was the most challenging batsman for me. With the old ball, I will have to say MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers as they are both amazing finishers,” Sandeep concluded.

EXCLUSIVE: Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers were the most challenging to bowl to, says Sandeep Sharma

MS Dhoni is on the cusp of joining an elite list as defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face newcomers Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Thursday.<o:p></o:p>

Dhoni is just 15 runs away from joining Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Robin Uthappa in the list of Indian cricketers who have completed 7000 runs in T20s. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Kohli leads the list with 10,326 runs in the shortest format of the sport followed by Rohit (9936 runs) and Punjab Kings opener Dhawan with 8818 runs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-suresh-raina-ms-dhoni-and-ab-de-villiers-were-the-most-challenging-to-bowl-to-says-sandeep-sharma-467156" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni &amp; ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma</a>

The two other names in the list are – former CSK batsman Suresh Raina who has 8654 runs under his belt and Dhoni’s current teammate Robin Uthappa who has scored 7070 runs in his T20 career.<o:p></o:p>

Dhoni was the top-scorer for CSK in their season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders as he scored his first half-century in almost three years to steady the innings after an early collapse. However, that was not enough as KKR marched on to a five-wicket victory thanks to Ajinkya Rahane’s batting.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/universe-boss-show-not-over-yet-chris-gayle-kicks-off-preparations-for-ipl-2023-see-pic-467065" hreflang="en">Universe Boss' show not over yet! Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023</a>

During the encounter, Dhoni also became the oldest cricketer to score an IPL fifty surpassing Rahul Dravid’s record when he scored 65 off 51 deliveries against Delhi Daredevils in 2013.<o:p></o:p>

Oldest Indian to score an IPL fifty:<o:p></o:p>

40y 262d - MS Dhoni v KKR, 2022<o:p></o:p>

40y 116d - Rahul Dravid v DC, 2013<o:p></o:p>

39y 362d - Sachin Tendulkar v DC, 2013<o:p></o:p>

Dhoni stepped down as CSK skipper ahead of IPL 2022 and passed the baton on Ravindra Jadeja.<o:p></o:p>

MS Dhoni is on the cusp of joining an elite list as defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face newcomers Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Thursday.

MS Dhoni is on the cusp of joining an elite list as defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face newcomers Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Thursday. Dhoni is just 15 runs away from joining Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Robin Uthappa in the list of Indian cricketers who have completed 7000 runs in T20s. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Kohli leads the list with 10,326 runs in the shortest format of the sport followed by Rohit (9936 runs) and Punjab Kings opener Dhawan with 8818 runs. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni & ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma The two other names in the list are – former CSK batsman Suresh Raina who has 8654 runs under his belt and Dhoni’s current teammate Robin Uthappa who has scored 7070 runs in his T20 career. Dhoni was the top-scorer for CSK in their season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders as he scored his first half-century in almost three years to steady the innings after an early collapse. However, that was not enough as KKR marched on to a five-wicket victory thanks to Ajinkya Rahane’s batting. Also read | Universe Boss' show not over yet! Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 During the encounter, Dhoni also became the oldest cricketer to score an IPL fifty surpassing Rahul Dravid’s record when he scored 65 off 51 deliveries against Delhi Daredevils in 2013. Oldest Indian to score an IPL fifty: 40y 262d - MS Dhoni v KKR, 2022 40y 116d - Rahul Dravid v DC, 2013 39y 362d - Sachin Tendulkar v DC, 2013 Dhoni stepped down as CSK skipper ahead of IPL 2022 and passed the baton on Ravindra Jadeja.

IPL 2022: MS Dhoni on cusp of joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in T20 elite list

Poland's Iga Swiatek continued her terrific run with a 6-3 6-3 win over Petra Kvitova on Wednesday to reach the Miami Open semi-finals, while Norway's Casper Ruud upset men's second seed Alexander Zverev in their quarter-final clash.

Swiatek, who came to Miami full of confidence after claiming back-to-back titles at Doha and Indian Wells, pressured twice Wimbledon champion Kvitova's serve throughout the 77-minute match and never faced a break point.

The Polish second seed, who will take over the world number one ranking next week, has now won 15 consecutive matches dating back to Qatar and will next face 16th seed Jessica Pegula.

"I want to use the confidence that I built since the beginning of Doha," said Swiatek.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/miami-open-rohan-bopanna-denis-shapovalov-sania-mirza-kirsten-flipkens-crashes-out-in-quarterfinals-467002">Miami Open: Rohan Bopanna-Denis&nbsp;Shapovalov, Sania Mirza-Kirsten Flipkens crashes out in quarterfinals</a>

"I'm on a roll and I want to use that. Having that kind of streak got pretty tricky, but I'm pretty glad that I could play well, that I'm healthy, and that I can compete against players like Petra. She's a legend."

Pegula advanced after Spanish fifth seed Paula Badosa retired with a viral illness while trailing 4-1.

"Been struggling with illness since the last match the other day," Badosa wrote on Twitter. "Tried everything to recover but wasn't enough. I'll take some days to recover well and prepare for clay court season."

For Pegula, it marked the second consecutive abrupt ending to a match as unseeded Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinin retired while down 6-0 in their fourth-round clash.

Norwegian sixth seed Ruud secured the biggest win of his career with a 6-3 1-6 6-3 triumph over world number four Zverev.

After Zverev levelled the match, it was Ruud who was the aggressor in the decider as he frequently approached the net with great success, held tough during baseline rallies and limited his unforced errors.

Ruud had failed to win a set in two previous meetings against Zverev.

"I feel a little bit good. I mean, it's obviously an exciting night and the biggest win of my career so far," Ruud told reporters.

"This is now the fourth time I'm reaching a semi-final in a Masters 1000 event and ... the first time on hard court so that means it's a little bit extra special for me."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/miami-open-naomi-osaka-outclasses-danielle-collins-to-set-up-maiden-semifinal-date-against-belinda-bencic-466949">Miami Open: Naomi Osaka outclasses Danielle Collins to set up maiden semifinal date against Belinda Bencic</a>

Ruud lost the three Masters semi-finals he previously played in Rome, Monte Carlo and Madrid -- all claycourt tournaments.

"Let's see if I can take what I have learned from the three previous semi-finals where unfortunately I lost all of them and see if I can turn it around and make the fourth time the lucky charm," he added.

Up next for Ruud will be Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, whose dream run in his ATP Masters 1000 debut continued after Italian ninth seed Jannik Sinner was forced to retire from their match with foot blisters.

Cerundolo, who is ranked 103rd, was leading 4-1 when Sinner decided to call the match and becomes the lowest-ranked men's singles semi-finalist in the tournament's history.

Poland's Iga Swiatek continued her terrific run with a 6-3 6-3 win over Petra Kvitova on Wednesday to reach the Miami Open semi-finals, while Norway's Casper Ruud upset men's second seed Alexander Zverev in their quarter-final clash.

Poland's Iga Swiatek continued her terrific run with a 6-3 6-3 win over Petra Kvitova on Wednesday to reach the Miami Open semi-finals, while Norway's Casper Ruud upset men's second seed Alexander Zverev in their quarter-final clash. Swiatek, who came to Miami full of confidence after claiming back-to-back titles at Doha and Indian Wells, pressured twice Wimbledon champion Kvitova's serve throughout the 77-minute match and never faced a break point. The Polish second seed, who will take over the world number one ranking next week, has now won 15 consecutive matches dating back to Qatar and will next face 16th seed Jessica Pegula. "I want to use the confidence that I built since the beginning of Doha," said Swiatek. ALSO READ: Miami Open: Rohan Bopanna-Denis Shapovalov, Sania Mirza-Kirsten Flipkens crashes out in quarterfinals "I'm on a roll and I want to use that. Having that kind of streak got pretty tricky, but I'm pretty glad that I could play well, that I'm healthy, and that I can compete against players like Petra. She's a legend." Pegula advanced after Spanish fifth seed Paula Badosa retired with a viral illness while trailing 4-1. "Been struggling with illness since the last match the other day," Badosa wrote on Twitter. "Tried everything to recover but wasn't enough. I'll take some days to recover well and prepare for clay court season." For Pegula, it marked the second consecutive abrupt ending to a match as unseeded Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinin retired while down 6-0 in their fourth-round clash. Norwegian sixth seed Ruud secured the biggest win of his career with a 6-3 1-6 6-3 triumph over world number four Zverev. After Zverev levelled the match, it was Ruud who was the aggressor in the decider as he frequently approached the net with great success, held tough during baseline rallies and limited his unforced errors. Ruud had failed to win a set in two previous meetings against Zverev. "I feel a little bit good. I mean, it's obviously an exciting night and the biggest win of my career so far," Ruud told reporters. "This is now the fourth time I'm reaching a semi-final in a Masters 1000 event and ... the first time on hard court so that means it's a little bit extra special for me." ALSO READ: Miami Open: Naomi Osaka outclasses Danielle Collins to set up maiden semifinal date against Belinda Bencic Ruud lost the three Masters semi-finals he previously played in Rome, Monte Carlo and Madrid -- all claycourt tournaments. "Let's see if I can take what I have learned from the three previous semi-finals where unfortunately I lost all of them and see if I can turn it around and make the fourth time the lucky charm," he added. Up next for Ruud will be Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, whose dream run in his ATP Masters 1000 debut continued after Italian ninth seed Jannik Sinner was forced to retire from their match with foot blisters. Cerundolo, who is ranked 103rd, was leading 4-1 when Sinner decided to call the match and becomes the lowest-ranked men's singles semi-finalist in the tournament's history.

Miami Open: Iga Swiatek runs down Petra Kvitova to enter semis, Casper Ruud stuns Alexander Zverev

The United States and Mexico both booked tickets to this year's World Cup in Qatar in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying on Wednesday.

The United States, who missed out on the 2018 tournament, lost 2-0 to Costa Rica but still progressed along with the Mexicans, who beat El Salvador 2-0. 
Canada, who already secured qualification on Sunday, lost 1-0 at Panama but still finished top of the group.

Costa Rica finished fourth in the standings and will face New Zealand in an intercontinental qualifier in Qatar in June for another spot at the finals.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-beckham-and-family-left-shaken-after-burglary-at-ps40m-london-mansion-467116">David Beckham and family left ‘shaken’ after burglary at £40m London mansion</a>

On the final matchday of CONCACAF qualifying, the United States knew that a win, draw or loss by less than six goals would ensure a return to the World Cup finals.

Costa Rica went ahead in the 51st minute from a Juan Pablo Vargas header before Anthony Contreras doubled the lead from close range shortly after.

The United States, whose squad includes only four players from the side which failed to reach Russia in 2018, held steady the rest of the way to ensure qualification.

The United States and Mexico both booked tickets to this year's World Cup in Qatar in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying on Wednesday. The United States, who missed out on the 2018 tournament, lost 2-0 to Costa Rica but still progressed along with the Mexicans, who beat El Salvador 2-0.

The United States and Mexico both booked tickets to this year's World Cup in Qatar in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying on Wednesday. The United States, who missed out on the 2018 tournament, lost 2-0 to Costa Rica but still progressed along with the Mexicans, who beat El Salvador 2-0. Canada, who already secured qualification on Sunday, lost 1-0 at Panama but still finished top of the group. Costa Rica finished fourth in the standings and will face New Zealand in an intercontinental qualifier in Qatar in June for another spot at the finals. ALSO READ: David Beckham and family left ‘shaken’ after burglary at £40m London mansion On the final matchday of CONCACAF qualifying, the United States knew that a win, draw or loss by less than six goals would ensure a return to the World Cup finals. Costa Rica went ahead in the 51st minute from a Juan Pablo Vargas header before Anthony Contreras doubled the lead from close range shortly after. The United States, whose squad includes only four players from the side which failed to reach Russia in 2018, held steady the rest of the way to ensure qualification.

USA, Mexico seal spots at World Cup finals in Qatar

Manchester United will face rivals Liverpool as part of their pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia in July, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

United will meet Liverpool in Bangkok on July 12 before flying to Australia to play A-League team Melbourne Victory on July 15 and Crystal Palace four days later.

The popular Melbourne Cricket Ground will host those matches.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-beckham-and-family-left-shaken-after-burglary-at-ps40m-london-mansion-467116">David Beckham and family left ‘shaken’ after burglary at £40m London mansion</a>

"It has been two years since the club has been able to travel on an international pre-season tour, so we can’t wait to get going this summer and reconnect with our fans in south-east Asia and Australasia," said chief operating officer Collette Roche.

United are sixth in the Premier League on 50 points after 29 matches. They host Leicester City on Saturday.

Manchester United will face rivals Liverpool as part of their pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia in July, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. United will meet Liverpool in Bangkok on July 12 before flying to Australia to play A-League team Melbourne Victory on July 15 and Crystal Palace four days later.

Manchester United will face rivals Liverpool as part of their pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia in July, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. United will meet Liverpool in Bangkok on July 12 before flying to Australia to play A-League team Melbourne Victory on July 15 and Crystal Palace four days later. The popular Melbourne Cricket Ground will host those matches. ALSO READ: David Beckham and family left ‘shaken’ after burglary at £40m London mansion "It has been two years since the club has been able to travel on an international pre-season tour, so we can’t wait to get going this summer and reconnect with our fans in south-east Asia and Australasia," said chief operating officer Collette Roche. United are sixth in the Premier League on 50 points after 29 matches. They host Leicester City on Saturday.

Manchester United to face arch-rivals Liverpool on pre-season tour to Thailand, Australia

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes that Chennai Super Kings can retain the Indian Premier League (IPL) title despite losing their first game of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders.<o:p></o:p>

The Ravindra Jadeja-led side did not have much to show in their opening encounter as they slumped to a five-wicket loss after a rare batting collapse. MS Dhoni was the sole bright spot in the batting as he scored his first IPL half century in nearly three years. Dwayne Bravo led the fightback for CSK with three wickets but it was not enough as Ajinkya Rahane guided KKR to a well- deserved victory.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-suresh-raina-ms-dhoni-and-ab-de-villiers-were-the-most-challenging-to-bowl-to-says-sandeep-sharma-467156" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni &amp; ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma</a>

However, Hayden said that there is a lot of experience in the side and with England all-rounder Moeen Ali joining the side, the Chennai side have it in them to defend their IPL crown.<o:p></o:p>

During an episode of 'Cricket Live' on Star Sports, Matthew Hayden said, "CSK will not be disheartened with the loss in their opening game against KKR. There were plenty of positives for the Ravindra Jadeja-led side. Their top-order saw a rare batting collapse in the first game but there is a lot of experience in the side and I am sure they will come back stronger in the next game."

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-vs-lsg-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-chennai-super-kings-vs-lucknow-super-giants-match-467080" hreflang="en">IPL 2022; Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants match?</a>

"They missed Moeen Ali in the tournament opener and he will be available for selection in the next match. CSK have it in them to pull it off and that makes them a dangerous side," he added.<o:p></o:p>

CSK will face Lucknow Super Giants in their second IPL 2022 clash on Thursday.<o:p></o:p>

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes that Chennai Super Kings can retain the Indian Premier League (IPL) title despite losing their first game of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes that Chennai Super Kings can retain the Indian Premier League (IPL) title despite losing their first game of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders. The Ravindra Jadeja-led side did not have much to show in their opening encounter as they slumped to a five-wicket loss after a rare batting collapse. MS Dhoni was the sole bright spot in the batting as he scored his first IPL half century in nearly three years. Dwayne Bravo led the fightback for CSK with three wickets but it was not enough as Ajinkya Rahane guided KKR to a well- deserved victory. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni & ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma However, Hayden said that there is a lot of experience in the side and with England all-rounder Moeen Ali joining the side, the Chennai side have it in them to defend their IPL crown. During an episode of 'Cricket Live' on Star Sports, Matthew Hayden said, "CSK will not be disheartened with the loss in their opening game against KKR. There were plenty of positives for the Ravindra Jadeja-led side. Their top-order saw a rare batting collapse in the first game but there is a lot of experience in the side and I am sure they will come back stronger in the next game." Also read | IPL 2022; Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants match? "They missed Moeen Ali in the tournament opener and he will be available for selection in the next match. CSK have it in them to pull it off and that makes them a dangerous side," he added. CSK will face Lucknow Super Giants in their second IPL 2022 clash on Thursday.

IPL 2022: Can Chennai Super Kings defend their title this year? Matthew Hayden has his say

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Sayan Ghosh

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.