Rajasthan Royal’s Jos Buttler is gearing up to return to the playing XI after completing his quarantine phase since arriving in the UAE for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>. Buttler will be available for RR’s next match against Kings XI Punjab and the England international said he is expecting a tough match against the KL Rahul-led outfit.&nbsp;

RR had defeated CSK by 16 runs in their opening clash in IPL 2020 and would be gunning to carry their winning run. Ahead of RR’s clash against KXIP, Buttler said that he is looking forward to take the field for the Rajasthan Royals while adding it was great to be back in the training after completing his quarantine.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-might-have-a-new-winner-predicts-former-india-coach-gary-kirsten-330458" hreflang="en">'IPL might have a new winner', predicts former India coach Gary Kirsten</a>

"Great to get a win on the board, the team played fantastically well in the first game. It was an outstanding batting performance and a fantastic bowling performance in tough bowling conditions. I am really excited to play my first game, it was great to be back in training with the boys, there's a great vibe around the team so I'm really looking forward to taking the field. The atmosphere and energy around the squad is fantastic, obviously lots of confidence after that first game," Buttler said in an official release issued by the Royals.

"The training has been very energetic, guys are lively and enjoying each other's company. So yeah good atmosphere around, expecting a really tough match against Kings XI. Obviously a fantastic team, KL Rahul was in exceptional form the other night against RCB, so he will be a key wicket as always and I think we'll see another potentially high-scoring game at Sharjah with small boundaries and the dew factor coming in. Can't wait to get back out there," he added.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-warner-to-bhuvi-srh-players-sweat-it-out-before-clash-with-kkr-330455" hreflang="en">From Warner to Bhuvi: SRH players sweat it out before clash with KKR</a>

Samson smoked 74 off 32 to help RR post 216/7 against CSK whereas Steve Smith hammered 69 runs. With the ball Rahul Tewatia bagged three wickets.

On the other hand, KXIP are coming on the back of a stunning win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the match promises to be a great contest between two in-form sides.

Rajasthan Royal’s Jos Buttler is gearing up to return to the playing XI after completing his quarantine phase since arriving in the UAE for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Rajasthan Royal’s Jos Buttler is gearing up to return to the playing XI after completing his quarantine phase since arriving in the UAE for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Buttler will be available for RR’s next match against Kings XI Punjab and the England international said he is expecting a tough match against the KL Rahul-led outfit. RR had defeated CSK by 16 runs in their opening clash in IPL 2020 and would be gunning to carry their winning run. Ahead of RR’s clash against KXIP, Buttler said that he is looking forward to take the field for the Rajasthan Royals while adding it was great to be back in the training after completing his quarantine. ALSO READ: 'IPL might have a new winner', predicts former India coach Gary Kirsten "Great to get a win on the board, the team played fantastically well in the first game. It was an outstanding batting performance and a fantastic bowling performance in tough bowling conditions. I am really excited to play my first game, it was great to be back in training with the boys, there's a great vibe around the team so I'm really looking forward to taking the field. The atmosphere and energy around the squad is fantastic, obviously lots of confidence after that first game," Buttler said in an official release issued by the Royals. "The training has been very energetic, guys are lively and enjoying each other's company. So yeah good atmosphere around, expecting a really tough match against Kings XI. Obviously a fantastic team, KL Rahul was in exceptional form the other night against RCB, so he will be a key wicket as always and I think we'll see another potentially high-scoring game at Sharjah with small boundaries and the dew factor coming in. Can't wait to get back out there," he added. IN PICS | From Warner to Bhuvi: SRH players sweat it out before clash with KKR Samson smoked 74 off 32 to help RR post 216/7 against CSK whereas Steve Smith hammered 69 runs. With the ball Rahul Tewatia bagged three wickets. On the other hand, KXIP are coming on the back of a stunning win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the match promises to be a great contest between two in-form sides.

IPL 2020: Expecting tough match against Kings XI Punjab, says Jos Buttler

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday as the action continues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Both KKR and SRH suffered crushing defeats in their season opener in IPL 2020 but will be looking to win their first game in the 13th edition of the lucrative T20 tournament.&nbsp;

KKR have a slight advantage over SRH when it comes to head-to-head clashes with KKR winning 10 out of 17 while the remaining seven have been won by Hyderabad.&nbsp;

The boundaries in Abu Dhabi are longer and a score of around 170-180 is being seen as a highly competitive score.&nbsp;

<h2>Where will the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad take place?</h2>

The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad will take place at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

<h2>What time will the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad begin?</h2>

The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad begins at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday (September 26).

<h2>How to watch live IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad begin?</h2>

The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad will be aired live on Star Sports channels. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD.

<h2>How to watch IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match online?</h2>

The online live streaming of the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad will be available at Hotstar. You can also latest updates of the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match at WION. 
&nbsp;

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday as the action continues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday as the action continues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Both KKR and SRH suffered crushing defeats in their season opener in IPL 2020 but will be looking to win their first game in the 13th edition of the lucrative T20 tournament. KKR have a slight advantage over SRH when it comes to head-to-head clashes with KKR winning 10 out of 17 while the remaining seven have been won by Hyderabad. The boundaries in Abu Dhabi are longer and a score of around 170-180 is being seen as a highly competitive score. Where will the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad take place? The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad will take place at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. What time will the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad begin? The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad begins at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday (September 26). How to watch live IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad begin? The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad will be aired live on Star Sports channels. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. How to watch IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match online? The online live streaming of the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad will be available at Hotstar. You can also latest updates of the IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match at WION.

KKR vs SRH, IPL 2020 Live Streaming: When and where to watch Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Kolkata Knight Riders are all set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both KKR and SRH lost their season opener and will be looking for redemption when they face each other in Abu Dhabi in a bid to mark their first win of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">IPL 2020</a>.

KKR and SRH had a batting order collapses in their last match against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively. While KKR’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure while chasing a big total, SRH batting order wasn’t up for the challenge possessed by RCB with the batting unit collapsing like a pack of cards following the departures of Jonny Bairstow and Manish Pandey.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-csk-fans-see-suresh-raina-in-ipl-2020-csk-ceo-gives-an-update-330410" hreflang="en">Will CSK fans see Suresh Raina in IPL 2020? CSK CEO gives an update</a>

<h2>KKR vs SRH: Head-to-head stats</h2>

Talking about the head-to-head encounters between KKR and SRH, the Kolkata outfit have won 10 out of their 17 encounters with SRH winning the remaining seven. KKR bowlers have to be wary of David Warner as he holds the most runs scored in the matches between KKR and SRH (533). For KKR it was Robin Uthappa with most runs against SRH but he has now moved to Rajasthan Royals.&nbsp;

Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds the most wickets in matches between KKR and SRH (19) with Umesh Yadav picking the second-most wickets at 11. However, Umesh is now with RCB.

The longer boundaries in Abu Dhabi has come as a headache for many and with the dew factor coming into the play, a score of 170-180 will be a good total to put on board for the team batting first.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-gavaskar-issues-clarification-after-commentary-controversy-involving-kohli-anushka-330397" hreflang="en">Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after commentary controversy involving Kohli-Anushka</a>

The highest score for SRH in matches against KKR stands at 209 whereas KKR have top-scored 183 against SRH. The lowest score remains 128 from SRH and 101 for KKR.

In the last five encounters, KKR have won twice while losing thrice against SRH and the Dinesh Karthik-led outfit would be gunning to prove their talent when they take to the field on Saturday.&nbsp;

<h2>KKR vs SRH - Squads:</h2>

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: David Warner(c), Jonny Bairstow(w), Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammad Nabi, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jason Holder, Bavanaka Sandeep, Billy Stanlake, Fabian Allen, Virat Singh, Basil Thampi, K Khaleel Ahmed, Sanjay Yadav, Abdul Samad

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Nikhil Naik, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Sandeep Warrier, Rahul Tripathi, Siddhesh Lad, Chris Green, Prasidh Krishna, Lockie Ferguson, Rinku Singh, Ali Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Tom Banton, Varun Chakravarthy, Manimaran Siddharth

Kolkata Knight Riders are all set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both KKR and SRH lost their season opener and will be looking for redemption when they face each other in Abu Dhabi in a bid to mark their first win of IPL 2020.

Kolkata Knight Riders are all set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both KKR and SRH lost their season opener and will be looking for redemption when they face each other in Abu Dhabi in a bid to mark their first win of IPL 2020. KKR and SRH had a batting order collapses in their last match against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively. While KKR’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure while chasing a big total, SRH batting order wasn’t up for the challenge possessed by RCB with the batting unit collapsing like a pack of cards following the departures of Jonny Bairstow and Manish Pandey. ALSO READ: Will CSK fans see Suresh Raina in IPL 2020? CSK CEO gives an update KKR vs SRH: Head-to-head stats Talking about the head-to-head encounters between KKR and SRH, the Kolkata outfit have won 10 out of their 17 encounters with SRH winning the remaining seven. KKR bowlers have to be wary of David Warner as he holds the most runs scored in the matches between KKR and SRH (533). For KKR it was Robin Uthappa with most runs against SRH but he has now moved to Rajasthan Royals. Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds the most wickets in matches between KKR and SRH (19) with Umesh Yadav picking the second-most wickets at 11. However, Umesh is now with RCB. The longer boundaries in Abu Dhabi has come as a headache for many and with the dew factor coming into the play, a score of 170-180 will be a good total to put on board for the team batting first. ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after commentary controversy involving Kohli-Anushka The highest score for SRH in matches against KKR stands at 209 whereas KKR have top-scored 183 against SRH. The lowest score remains 128 from SRH and 101 for KKR. In the last five encounters, KKR have won twice while losing thrice against SRH and the Dinesh Karthik-led outfit would be gunning to prove their talent when they take to the field on Saturday. KKR vs SRH - Squads: Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: David Warner(c), Jonny Bairstow(w), Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammad Nabi, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jason Holder, Bavanaka Sandeep, Billy Stanlake, Fabian Allen, Virat Singh, Basil Thampi, K Khaleel Ahmed, Sanjay Yadav, Abdul Samad Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Nikhil Naik, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Sandeep Warrier, Rahul Tripathi, Siddhesh Lad, Chris Green, Prasidh Krishna, Lockie Ferguson, Rinku Singh, Ali Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Tom Banton, Varun Chakravarthy, Manimaran Siddharth

IPL 2020, KKR vs SRH Preview: Karthik and Warner eyeing first win for their team

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a torrid start to their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>&nbsp;losing two out of their three matches in the campaign. While plenty of questions have been raised on the form of top-order batsmen, fans have called for the return of Suresh Raina, who opted out of IPL 2020 due to ‘personal reasons’.&nbsp;

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has ruled out the possibility of Raina’s return in the CSK camp for IPL 2020 as he said they need to respect his decision of pulling out of IPL 2020 and the CSK management is not thinking about it.

"See, we cannot look at Raina because he made himself unavailable and we respect his decision and his space. We are not thinking about it,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told ANI.

CSK started strong with a win against Mumbai Indians in the opener but have since lost two matches on the bounce – against RCB and DC – which have raised major concerns surrounding the form and rhythm of the players.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-lacking-a-bit-of-steam-ms-dhoni-unhappy-with-form-of-csk-openers-in-ipl-2020-330393" hreflang="en">We are lacking a bit of steam: MS Dhoni unhappy with form of CSK openers in IPL 2020</a>

However, the CSK CEO is confident that despite worries from CSK fans, the players and the franchise will bring back the smiles to the faces of the supporters.&nbsp;

"We have been blessed with some of the best fans in the cricketing world and I can assure them that we will bounce back strongly. It is a game and you have your good days and bad days. But the boys know what they need to do and the smiles will be back," he asserted.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-gavaskar-issues-clarification-after-commentary-controversy-involving-kohli-anushka-330397" hreflang="en">Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after commentary controversy involving Kohli-Anushka</a>

The loss of Ambati Rayudu due to hamstring injury came as a massive blow to CSK, who lost both their matches in the absence of the right-handed batsmen. The CSK boss has confirmed that Rayudu will be back in their next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

"Like I told you last day (before the Delhi Capitals game), he would miss one game at worst. He is fit and ready for the next game," he said.

 
The Super Kings will be next face SunRisers Hyderabad on October 2 in Dubai. 
&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a torrid start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 losing two out of their three matches in the campaign. While plenty of questions have been raised on the form of top-order batsmen, fans have called for the return of Suresh Raina, who opted out of IPL 2020 due to ‘personal reasons’.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a torrid start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 losing two out of their three matches in the campaign. While plenty of questions have been raised on the form of top-order batsmen, fans have called for the return of Suresh Raina, who opted out of IPL 2020 due to ‘personal reasons’. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has ruled out the possibility of Raina’s return in the CSK camp for IPL 2020 as he said they need to respect his decision of pulling out of IPL 2020 and the CSK management is not thinking about it. "See, we cannot look at Raina because he made himself unavailable and we respect his decision and his space. We are not thinking about it,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told ANI. CSK started strong with a win against Mumbai Indians in the opener but have since lost two matches on the bounce – against RCB and DC – which have raised major concerns surrounding the form and rhythm of the players. ALSO READ: We are lacking a bit of steam: MS Dhoni unhappy with form of CSK openers in IPL 2020 However, the CSK CEO is confident that despite worries from CSK fans, the players and the franchise will bring back the smiles to the faces of the supporters. "We have been blessed with some of the best fans in the cricketing world and I can assure them that we will bounce back strongly. It is a game and you have your good days and bad days. But the boys know what they need to do and the smiles will be back," he asserted. ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after commentary controversy involving Kohli-Anushka The loss of Ambati Rayudu due to hamstring injury came as a massive blow to CSK, who lost both their matches in the absence of the right-handed batsmen. The CSK boss has confirmed that Rayudu will be back in their next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. "Like I told you last day (before the Delhi Capitals game), he would miss one game at worst. He is fit and ready for the next game," he said. The Super Kings will be next face SunRisers Hyderabad on October 2 in Dubai.

Will CSK fans see Suresh Raina in IPL 2020? CSK CEO gives an update

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-sunil-gavaskar-creates-controversy-with-remark-on-virat-kohli-anushka-sends-strong-message-330161">massive controversy was created after former India captain Sunil Gavaskar</a>, while doing his commentary duties in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">IPL 2020</a>, brought up the incident where Virat Kohli was seen taking throw downs from his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma. While Gavaskar’s comments was wrongly translated in the first place on Twitter which led to the massive stir following which Anushka issued a scathing statement.&nbsp;

Now, Gavaskar has issued a clarification on the incident while urging everyone to go through the original clip again. The former Indian opener said that he never made any sexist comment and just mentioned Kohli didn’t get any real practice during lockdown apart from facing Anushka’s bowling.&nbsp;

Gavaskar during commentary in CSK vs DC match stated, "I did not make any sexist comment. I said Virat Kohli didn't get time to practice during lockdown. We all saw how Virat Kohli was practicing on his terrace and Anushka was bowling to him. I just said Virat only got chance to practice on Anushka's bowling."&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-lacking-a-bit-of-steam-ms-dhoni-unhappy-with-form-of-csk-openers-in-ipl-2020-330393" hreflang="en">We are lacking a bit of steam: MS Dhoni unhappy with form of CSK openers in IPL 2020</a>

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Rt max <a href="https://t.co/xm7CRZpggo">pic.twitter.com/xm7CRZpggo</a>
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Many celebrities and influencers jumped in following Anushka’s statement as almost everyone supported the latter. This is not the first time Anushka has put out a statement as her name continues to be dragged after poor performances by Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-trivia-top-records-of-thala-ms-dhoni-in-the-tournament-328205" hreflang="en">IPL trivia: Top records of 'Thala' MS Dhoni in the tournament</a>

Following the incident, Gavaskar was heavily trolled on social media. While many slammed Gavaskar for his comments on Kohli and Anushka, some supported him as they said the translated version of Gavaskar’s commentary was taken out of context.&nbsp; 
Meanwhile, Kohli is yet to react on the issue.&nbsp;

A massive controversy was created after former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, while doing his commentary duties in IPL 2020, brought up the incident where Virat Kohli was seen taking throw downs from his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma.

A massive controversy was created after former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, while doing his commentary duties in IPL 2020, brought up the incident where Virat Kohli was seen taking throw downs from his wife and Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma. While Gavaskar’s comments was wrongly translated in the first place on Twitter which led to the massive stir following which Anushka issued a scathing statement. Now, Gavaskar has issued a clarification on the incident while urging everyone to go through the original clip again. The former Indian opener said that he never made any sexist comment and just mentioned Kohli didn’t get any real practice during lockdown apart from facing Anushka’s bowling. Gavaskar during commentary in CSK vs DC match stated, "I did not make any sexist comment. I said Virat Kohli didn't get time to practice during lockdown. We all saw how Virat Kohli was practicing on his terrace and Anushka was bowling to him. I just said Virat only got chance to practice on Anushka's bowling." ALSO READ: We are lacking a bit of steam: MS Dhoni unhappy with form of CSK openers in IPL 2020 Rt max pic.twitter.com/xm7CRZpggo — #freepogba (@sacredutd) September 25, 2020 × Many celebrities and influencers jumped in following Anushka’s statement as almost everyone supported the latter. This is not the first time Anushka has put out a statement as her name continues to be dragged after poor performances by Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore. ALSO READ: IPL trivia: Top records of 'Thala' MS Dhoni in the tournament Following the incident, Gavaskar was heavily trolled on social media. While many slammed Gavaskar for his comments on Kohli and Anushka, some supported him as they said the translated version of Gavaskar’s commentary was taken out of context. Meanwhile, Kohli is yet to react on the issue.

Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after commentary controversy involving Kohli-Anushka

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a horrendous start to their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> as the MS Dhoni-led outfit has now lost two of their three games following their crushing 44-run defeat to Delhi Capitals on Friday. MS Dhoni has raised concerns regarding the form and rhythm of the batsmen and openers as he said failure to gain momentum from the start is hurting CSK in IPL 2020.&nbsp;

The likes of Shane Watson and Murali Vijay have failed to impress at the top with no important partnership right at the top for CSK. The scoring rate of top order batsmen, especially openers, have also raised some eyebrows.&nbsp;

“I feel when it comes to the batting department, we are lacking a bit of steam. There is no momentum right from the start, which hurts. If you are already chasing 160-plus, the run-rate keeps mounting and it puts added pressure on the middle-order batsmen. So we need to figure that out,” said Dhoni.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-shaw-and-rabada-shine-as-dc-beat-csk-by-44-runs-330310" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: Shaw and Rabada shine as DC beat CSK by 44 runs</a>

However, CSK will now have a week-long break before their next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad with the three-time IPL winners likely to have Ambati Rayudu back in the playing XI. Dhoni hinted on change in team combination after Rayudu returns to the team as he said his inclusion gives CSK cushion or liberty to try something different.&nbsp;

"We are one batter heavy to start off with but at the same time, if you are looking to get one more seamer or spinner into the side then the batsmen need to take that added pressure. I feel Rayudu will come back in the next game so that gives us some cushion, or liberty of trying something different," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-trivia-top-records-of-thala-ms-dhoni-in-the-tournament-328205" hreflang="en">IPL trivia: Top records of 'Thala' MS Dhoni in the tournament</a>

“I feel the coming seven days are the best break we could have. We'll give the guys a bit more match simulation and come back with a clearer picture as to what is the best combination, looking at how everyone is contributing,” opined the 39-year-old. 
&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a horrendous start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 as the MS Dhoni-led outfit has now lost two of their three games following their crushing 44-run defeat to Delhi Capitals on Friday.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a horrendous start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 as the MS Dhoni-led outfit has now lost two of their three games following their crushing 44-run defeat to Delhi Capitals on Friday. MS Dhoni has raised concerns regarding the form and rhythm of the batsmen and openers as he said failure to gain momentum from the start is hurting CSK in IPL 2020. The likes of Shane Watson and Murali Vijay have failed to impress at the top with no important partnership right at the top for CSK. The scoring rate of top order batsmen, especially openers, have also raised some eyebrows. “I feel when it comes to the batting department, we are lacking a bit of steam. There is no momentum right from the start, which hurts. If you are already chasing 160-plus, the run-rate keeps mounting and it puts added pressure on the middle-order batsmen. So we need to figure that out,” said Dhoni. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Shaw and Rabada shine as DC beat CSK by 44 runs However, CSK will now have a week-long break before their next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad with the three-time IPL winners likely to have Ambati Rayudu back in the playing XI. Dhoni hinted on change in team combination after Rayudu returns to the team as he said his inclusion gives CSK cushion or liberty to try something different. "We are one batter heavy to start off with but at the same time, if you are looking to get one more seamer or spinner into the side then the batsmen need to take that added pressure. I feel Rayudu will come back in the next game so that gives us some cushion, or liberty of trying something different," he added. ALSO READ: IPL trivia: Top records of 'Thala' MS Dhoni in the tournament “I feel the coming seven days are the best break we could have. We'll give the guys a bit more match simulation and come back with a clearer picture as to what is the best combination, looking at how everyone is contributing,” opined the 39-year-old.

We are lacking a bit of steam: MS Dhoni unhappy with form of CSK openers in IPL 2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a crushing 97-run defeat to Kings XI Punjab at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday as Virat Kohli admitted that his mistakes on the field led to the humiliating loss as action continued in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>.

Kohli dropped two sitters of KXIP skipper KL Rahul in the 17th and 18th over after which the latter went on to score a century and piled crucial runs for KXIP to take them to 206/3.

Rahul hammed 26 runs off Dale Steyn in the 19th over and ended the 20th with a four and two sixes as he went on to achieve the highest-ever score by and Indian batsman and captain in IPL history.

<h2>We know exactly where we went wrong: Virat Kohli</h2>

"I think we were good in the middle phase with the ball, they got off to a decent start and we pulled things back nicely," said Kohli on Star Sports after the match. "I have to stand in front and take the brunt of it, not the best day in the office, couple of important chances of KL when he was set and that cost us 35-40 runs at a later stage maybe if we restricted them to 180 we wouldn't have under pressure from ball one to chase. We know exactly where we went wrong and I have to put my hand up and say couple of important chances went down."

Kohli demoted himself to no. 4 to try Josh Philippe at no. 3. However, the move failed as the Aussie scored a duck and Kohli was sent packing for one run.&nbsp;

"He (Philippe) has batted at the top of the order for Western Australia and done well in the BBL as well, early days in the tournament so we thought we will maximise his ability and see how we go from thereon. We thought we will give ourselves a bit of depth in the middle overs," said Kohli. 
&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a crushing 97-run defeat to Kings XI Punjab at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday as Virat Kohli admitted that his mistakes on the field led to the humiliating loss as action continued in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a crushing 97-run defeat to Kings XI Punjab at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday as Virat Kohli admitted that his mistakes on the field led to the humiliating loss as action continued in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Kohli dropped two sitters of KXIP skipper KL Rahul in the 17th and 18th over after which the latter went on to score a century and piled crucial runs for KXIP to take them to 206/3. Rahul hammed 26 runs off Dale Steyn in the 19th over and ended the 20th with a four and two sixes as he went on to achieve the highest-ever score by and Indian batsman and captain in IPL history. We know exactly where we went wrong: Virat Kohli "I think we were good in the middle phase with the ball, they got off to a decent start and we pulled things back nicely," said Kohli on Star Sports after the match. "I have to stand in front and take the brunt of it, not the best day in the office, couple of important chances of KL when he was set and that cost us 35-40 runs at a later stage maybe if we restricted them to 180 we wouldn't have under pressure from ball one to chase. We know exactly where we went wrong and I have to put my hand up and say couple of important chances went down." Kohli demoted himself to no. 4 to try Josh Philippe at no. 3. However, the move failed as the Aussie scored a duck and Kohli was sent packing for one run. "He (Philippe) has batted at the top of the order for Western Australia and done well in the BBL as well, early days in the tournament so we thought we will maximise his ability and see how we go from thereon. We thought we will give ourselves a bit of depth in the middle overs," said Kohli.

Have to take the brunt of it: Virat Kohli reacts to RCB's crushing defeat to KXIP in IPL 2020

Nine persons have been arrested from different parts of Kolkata for allegedly betting on an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, police said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the Kolkata Police's detective department conducted raids in Hare Street, Park Street, Jadavpur and Salt Lake areas on Thursday night and arrested nine persons, mostly in their mid-20s, for allegedly betting on the previous day's IPL cricket match, a senior officer said.

Several documents, laptops, mobile phones, tablets and a vehicle have been seized from their possession, he said. 
"The matter is being probed and we are trying to find out whether the accused persons are involved in any inter- state betting racket," the officer said.

The nine accused persons will be produced before a city court during the day, he added.

Nine persons have been arrested from different parts of Kolkata for allegedly betting on an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, police said on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the Kolkata Police's detective department conducted raids in Hare Street, Park Street, Jadavpur and Salt Lake areas on Thursday night and arrested nine persons, mostly in their mid-20s, for allegedly betting on the previous day's IPL cricket match, a senior officer said.

Nine persons have been arrested from different parts of Kolkata for allegedly betting on an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, police said on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the Kolkata Police's detective department conducted raids in Hare Street, Park Street, Jadavpur and Salt Lake areas on Thursday night and arrested nine persons, mostly in their mid-20s, for allegedly betting on the previous day's IPL cricket match, a senior officer said. Several documents, laptops, mobile phones, tablets and a vehicle have been seized from their possession, he said. "The matter is being probed and we are trying to find out whether the accused persons are involved in any inter- state betting racket," the officer said. The nine accused persons will be produced before a city court during the day, he added.

9 arrested for IPL betting in Kolkata

Veteran midfielder Javi Martinez admitted it was "a dream" to be able to write more UEFA Super Cup history for Bayern Munich on Thursday as his header in extra time sealed a 2-1 win over Sevilla in Budapest.

Having equalised with a crucial 120th-minute goal seven years ago when Bayern won the 2013 Super Cup on penalties against Chelsea in Prague, Martinez struck on 104 minutes at the Puskas Arena to hand the Champions League winners a fourth title in 2020.

There were a smattering of travelling Bayern and Sevilla fans among the 15,180 crowd in Budapest as both clubs played for the first time in front of spectators since the Covid-19 pandemic first hit Europe in March.

After Lucas Ocampos converted an early penalty for Sevilla, Leon Goretzka equalised for Bayern, who had two second-half goals disallowed before substitute Martinez, 32, struck from a late corner.

Bayern head coach Hansi Flick praised his team for "pulling through with their mentality. In the end, my players went through the pain barrier to win."

Having replaced Goretzka on 99 minutes, it was Martinez - linked to a return to Spain after losing his first-team place - whose header extends Bayern's winning streak to 23 games dating back to February.&nbsp;

"Whenever I wear the Bayern shirt, I always try to give my best and I showed that once again today," Martinez told Sky.

"I always want to help the team by scoring a goal. It's a dream come true.

"I'm really happy to win this trophy for a second time after also scoring in 2013."

After also sweeping the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League trophies, Bayern can win a fifth title this year when they host Borussia Dortmund in Munich for the German Super Cup on Wednesday.

<h2>- Rakitic regrets -</h2>

Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic said Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made the difference with two superb late saves to deny Youssef En-Nesyri.

"We saw tonight how important Neuer is for them," said Rakitic.

"We had two great chances to go ahead, but he stopped them.

"Then we gave away a silly corner and they scored. Nevertheless, we can be proud of how we played against the best team in Europe."

Champions League winners Bayern fell behind for the first time this season on 14 minutes when the VAR judged David Alaba had fouled Rakitic in the area and Ocampos converted Sevilla's penalty.

Alaba was booked for the challenge and there were nervous glances in the Germans' ranks, especially when defender Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Mueller both missed chances.

Goretzka got Bayern back on level terms when Mueller and Robert Lewandowski combined in the area for the midfielder to smash home the equaliser with 34 minutes gone. &nbsp;

It stayed 1-1 at the break, but Bayern turned up the heat on the Europa League holders.

Just six minutes after the break, Lewandowski had the ball in the net after being set up by Thomas Mueller, but the VAR spotted the Poland striker was offside.

<h2>- Happy Neuer -</h2>

With an hour gone, Bayern winger Leroy Sane was left frustrated after his shot powered past Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, but the VAR spotted Lewandowski had fouled a Sevilla defender in the build up.

With 90 minutes almost up, Manuel Neuer underlined his status as one of the world's best goalkeepers with a finger-tip save to deny En-Nesyri after Sevilla attacked from the edge of their own penalty area.

Sevilla made a great start to extra-time with Bayern in all sorts of trouble, as Ocampos had a shot blocked while En-Nesyri's shot clipped the post after crashing off Neuer's leg.

However, the scene was set for Martinez, a veteran of the side which won the 2013 Champions League final in London, to add to his chapter in Bayern's folklore.

"I was so happy when the coach brought Javi on, because I know how good he is with his head from set pieces," said Bayern captain Neuer.

"Sevilla are a well-drilled team, it's not easy to play against them, but overall we deserved the win and can be proud of ourselves."

Veteran midfielder Javi Martinez admitted it was "a dream" to be able to write more UEFA Super Cup history for Bayern Munich on Thursday as his header in extra time sealed a 2-1 win over Sevilla in Budapest.

Veteran midfielder Javi Martinez admitted it was "a dream" to be able to write more UEFA Super Cup history for Bayern Munich on Thursday as his header in extra time sealed a 2-1 win over Sevilla in Budapest. Having equalised with a crucial 120th-minute goal seven years ago when Bayern won the 2013 Super Cup on penalties against Chelsea in Prague, Martinez struck on 104 minutes at the Puskas Arena to hand the Champions League winners a fourth title in 2020. There were a smattering of travelling Bayern and Sevilla fans among the 15,180 crowd in Budapest as both clubs played for the first time in front of spectators since the Covid-19 pandemic first hit Europe in March. After Lucas Ocampos converted an early penalty for Sevilla, Leon Goretzka equalised for Bayern, who had two second-half goals disallowed before substitute Martinez, 32, struck from a late corner. Bayern head coach Hansi Flick praised his team for "pulling through with their mentality. In the end, my players went through the pain barrier to win." Having replaced Goretzka on 99 minutes, it was Martinez - linked to a return to Spain after losing his first-team place - whose header extends Bayern's winning streak to 23 games dating back to February. "Whenever I wear the Bayern shirt, I always try to give my best and I showed that once again today," Martinez told Sky. "I always want to help the team by scoring a goal. It's a dream come true. "I'm really happy to win this trophy for a second time after also scoring in 2013." After also sweeping the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League trophies, Bayern can win a fifth title this year when they host Borussia Dortmund in Munich for the German Super Cup on Wednesday. - Rakitic regrets - Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic said Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made the difference with two superb late saves to deny Youssef En-Nesyri. "We saw tonight how important Neuer is for them," said Rakitic. "We had two great chances to go ahead, but he stopped them. "Then we gave away a silly corner and they scored. Nevertheless, we can be proud of how we played against the best team in Europe." Champions League winners Bayern fell behind for the first time this season on 14 minutes when the VAR judged David Alaba had fouled Rakitic in the area and Ocampos converted Sevilla's penalty. Alaba was booked for the challenge and there were nervous glances in the Germans' ranks, especially when defender Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Mueller both missed chances. Goretzka got Bayern back on level terms when Mueller and Robert Lewandowski combined in the area for the midfielder to smash home the equaliser with 34 minutes gone. It stayed 1-1 at the break, but Bayern turned up the heat on the Europa League holders. Just six minutes after the break, Lewandowski had the ball in the net after being set up by Thomas Mueller, but the VAR spotted the Poland striker was offside. - Happy Neuer - With an hour gone, Bayern winger Leroy Sane was left frustrated after his shot powered past Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, but the VAR spotted Lewandowski had fouled a Sevilla defender in the build up. With 90 minutes almost up, Manuel Neuer underlined his status as one of the world's best goalkeepers with a finger-tip save to deny En-Nesyri after Sevilla attacked from the edge of their own penalty area. Sevilla made a great start to extra-time with Bayern in all sorts of trouble, as Ocampos had a shot blocked while En-Nesyri's shot clipped the post after crashing off Neuer's leg. However, the scene was set for Martinez, a veteran of the side which won the 2013 Champions League final in London, to add to his chapter in Bayern's folklore. "I was so happy when the coach brought Javi on, because I know how good he is with his head from set pieces," said Bayern captain Neuer. "Sevilla are a well-drilled team, it's not easy to play against them, but overall we deserved the win and can be proud of ourselves."

Martinez hands Bayern 'dream' UEFA Super Cup win in front of 15,000 fans

Manchester United and Chelsea need a swift response to their title credentials being damaged by home defeats last weekend, while one or both of Liverpool and Arsenal's perfect records will come to an end when they face off at Anfield on Monday night.

Crystal Palace and Everton also have the chance to claim top spot when they meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday, while the other side with maximum points from the opening two weekends, Leicester, face a daunting trip to Manchester City.

Gareth Bale will not be fit to feature to Tottenham when they host Newcastle on Sunday, but Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are enough for the Magpies to fear after the England captain set up the South Korean to score four at Southampton.

Chelsea travel to bottom-of-the-table West Brom, who are still seeking their first point back in the top-flight.

AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of this weekend's action.

<h2>Mayday for Man Utd?</h2>

Optimism that United could return to challenging for the title after a 14-game unbeaten run to end last season was washed away with that unbeaten record as Palace were good value for their 3-1 win at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men looked desperately short of match sharpness having had barely two weeks of pre-season training.

A month-long off season was also disruptive off the field with captain Harry Maguire being handed a suspended prison term in Greece, which he is appealing, and teenage striker Mason Greenwood being sent home by England for breaching coronavirus protocols when on international duty.

There is also outcry among the United fanbase at a lack of signings in the transfer market, while their rivals still spend freely despite the economic affects of the pandemic.

The Red Devils desperately need three points at Brighton on Saturday to bring some calm, but the Seagulls have shown enough in their opening two games to suggest United face a far tougher test than when they won 3-0 on the south coast in June.

Brighton were the better side for long spells despite losing 3-1 to Chelsea on the opening weekend and bounced back with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Newcastle.

United did manage to get past Championship side Luton in the League Cup on Tuesday despite Solskjaer making 10 changes, but the Norwegian needed to bring on Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Greenwood in the latter stages to kill the tie off with Rashford and Greenwood getting on the scoresheet.

"We need to get competitive games and minutes into the legs of our players because normally we're in a pre-season after such a short training (period)," said Solskjaer.

"It's great for them to get minutes as well but also goals."

<h2>More motivated Everton shine</h2>

Everton's investment in the transfer market is reaping immediate rewards as they have won their opening two league games of the season for the first time in seven years.

Carlo Ancelotti has been able to recruit Champions League-winning quality in James Rodriguez, alongside Brazilian international Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in midfield.

"The players have come back with more ambition and motivation," said Ancelotti after finishing 12th last season. "The new signings have helped us be more motivated."

Palace will provide an early test of how far Ancelotti's men can go this season as they have picked off Southampton and United at ease on the counter-attack with Wilfried Zaha rediscovering his best form to score three times in two games.

<h2>Third time lucky for Liverpool?</h2>

Arsenal have got the better of Liverpool twice in recent months, but the acid test for Mikel Arteta's side comes at what he described as the "toughest place to go in the world", Anfield, on Monday.

The Gunners rode their luck to beat the Reds after Jurgen Klopp's men had sealed the title last season, but the Community Shield clash between the two a month ago was a far more balanced game, which Arsenal won on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal have built on their momentum from winning the FA Cup by beating Fulham and West Ham to strengthen the conviction that Arteta can lead them back into the top four this season.

But Liverpool showed in sweeping aside Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last weekend that they remain the team to beat and have only strengthened with the signing of Thiago Alcantara.

Saturday (all times GMT)

Brighton v Manchester United (1130), Crystal Palace v Everton (1400), West Brom v Chelsea (1630), Burnley v Southampton (1900)

Sunday

Sheffield United v Leeds (1100), Tottenham v Newcastle (1300), Manchester City v Leicester (1530), West Ham v Wolves (1800)

Monday

Fulham v Aston Villa (1745), Liverpool v Arsenal (1900)

Manchester United and Chelsea need a swift response to their title credentials being damaged by home defeats last weekend, while one or both of Liverpool and Arsenal's perfect records will come to an end when they face off at Anfield on Monday night.

Manchester United and Chelsea need a swift response to their title credentials being damaged by home defeats last weekend, while one or both of Liverpool and Arsenal's perfect records will come to an end when they face off at Anfield on Monday night. Crystal Palace and Everton also have the chance to claim top spot when they meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday, while the other side with maximum points from the opening two weekends, Leicester, face a daunting trip to Manchester City. Gareth Bale will not be fit to feature to Tottenham when they host Newcastle on Sunday, but Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are enough for the Magpies to fear after the England captain set up the South Korean to score four at Southampton. Chelsea travel to bottom-of-the-table West Brom, who are still seeking their first point back in the top-flight. AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of this weekend's action. Mayday for Man Utd? Optimism that United could return to challenging for the title after a 14-game unbeaten run to end last season was washed away with that unbeaten record as Palace were good value for their 3-1 win at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men looked desperately short of match sharpness having had barely two weeks of pre-season training. A month-long off season was also disruptive off the field with captain Harry Maguire being handed a suspended prison term in Greece, which he is appealing, and teenage striker Mason Greenwood being sent home by England for breaching coronavirus protocols when on international duty. There is also outcry among the United fanbase at a lack of signings in the transfer market, while their rivals still spend freely despite the economic affects of the pandemic. The Red Devils desperately need three points at Brighton on Saturday to bring some calm, but the Seagulls have shown enough in their opening two games to suggest United face a far tougher test than when they won 3-0 on the south coast in June. Brighton were the better side for long spells despite losing 3-1 to Chelsea on the opening weekend and bounced back with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Newcastle. United did manage to get past Championship side Luton in the League Cup on Tuesday despite Solskjaer making 10 changes, but the Norwegian needed to bring on Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Greenwood in the latter stages to kill the tie off with Rashford and Greenwood getting on the scoresheet. "We need to get competitive games and minutes into the legs of our players because normally we're in a pre-season after such a short training (period)," said Solskjaer. "It's great for them to get minutes as well but also goals." More motivated Everton shine Everton's investment in the transfer market is reaping immediate rewards as they have won their opening two league games of the season for the first time in seven years. Carlo Ancelotti has been able to recruit Champions League-winning quality in James Rodriguez, alongside Brazilian international Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in midfield. "The players have come back with more ambition and motivation," said Ancelotti after finishing 12th last season. "The new signings have helped us be more motivated." Palace will provide an early test of how far Ancelotti's men can go this season as they have picked off Southampton and United at ease on the counter-attack with Wilfried Zaha rediscovering his best form to score three times in two games. Third time lucky for Liverpool? Arsenal have got the better of Liverpool twice in recent months, but the acid test for Mikel Arteta's side comes at what he described as the "toughest place to go in the world", Anfield, on Monday. The Gunners rode their luck to beat the Reds after Jurgen Klopp's men had sealed the title last season, but the Community Shield clash between the two a month ago was a far more balanced game, which Arsenal won on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Arsenal have built on their momentum from winning the FA Cup by beating Fulham and West Ham to strengthen the conviction that Arteta can lead them back into the top four this season. But Liverpool showed in sweeping aside Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last weekend that they remain the team to beat and have only strengthened with the signing of Thiago Alcantara. Saturday (all times GMT) Brighton v Manchester United (1130), Crystal Palace v Everton (1400), West Brom v Chelsea (1630), Burnley v Southampton (1900) Sunday Sheffield United v Leeds (1100), Tottenham v Newcastle (1300), Manchester City v Leicester (1530), West Ham v Wolves (1800) Monday Fulham v Aston Villa (1745), Liverpool v Arsenal (1900)

Man Utd aim to bounce back as Arsenal face acid test at Liverpool

The undisputed king of clay, Rafael Nadal is one title away from matching Roger Federer's all-time Grand Slam record, but 15 years on from the Spaniard's first French Open triumph he appears more vulnerable than ever at his beloved Roland Garros.

Nadal owns an astounding 93-2 record in Paris dating back to his debut in 2005, when, still a teenager, he became the first player to win the French Open on his first attempt since Mats Wilander in 1982.&nbsp;

Fast-forward to the present day, and his 19 Grand Slam crowns -- a record 12 of which have come at Roland Garros -- coupled with Federer's absence after knee surgery leave him on the brink of history at a venue where he has won each of the past three years.

Yet a multitude of factors, mostly beyond his control, have conspired against Nadal and offered hope to his chief rivals -- namely Novak Djokovic and recent US Open winner Dominic Thiem.

Boris Becker, a former coach of world number one Djokovic, suggested the rescheduled tournament -- pushed back from its traditional spring billing due to the coronavirus pandemic -- will be tougher than usual for Nadal.

The heavier conditions could suit hardcourt players more and negate some of Nadal's lethal topspin, possibly aiding Thiem who has finished runner-up in Paris twice in succession.&nbsp;

"This year is going to be particularly hard for Rafael Nadal. He's my number one favourite but the difference between him and the other players is less big this year than usual," said Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion.

"He's not in his regular rhythm. He needs match practice. Normally, he was coming to Roland Garros having often played four big clay tournaments, which he had generally won."

Nadal will head into the French Open without a clay title under his belt for the first time, having lost in straight sets to Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals at Rome -- his first tournament in six months.

"It's not a moment for excuses. I've spent a long time without competing, I played two good matches," Nadal, who skipped the US Open citing Covid-19 concerns, said following the defeat. &nbsp;

"It's a completely special and unpredictable year," he added. "I did my job here. I did a couple things well and other things bad. At least I played three matches."

&nbsp;

<h2>- 'Beatable on clay' -</h2>

&nbsp;

Despite the sense this is the most understrength version of Nadal at the French Open in recent times, Djokovic remains adamant the 34-year-old is again the favourite to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires.

"The record that he has there, the history of his results, you just can't put anybody in front of him," said Djokovic, himself vying to add to his lone 2016 triumph at Roland Garros.

"But, you know, definitely Diego showed that Nadal is beatable on clay," added the Serb. &nbsp;

"The conditions that they played on, obviously heavy clay, not much bounce, humid, night sessions, we are going to have that as well in Paris. I'm pretty sure that he does not prefer that to a high bounce. I know he likes the high bounce.

"He likes the hot and warm and fast conditions, where he can use his spin a lot. Even though he's the favourite, I think there are players that can win against him there."

Another championship run for Nadal, not accounting for potential walkovers, would&nbsp;take him to a century of wins at the French Open. Only Federer, Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have hit triple digits in wins at a single major in the Open era.

Schwartzman agreed that Nadal was still the favourite.

"Rafa is the king. It's his house. He went to Roland Garros many years playing good, sometimes not playing his best and he won. &nbsp;

"I think Rafa is always there, the guy who is going to win." &nbsp;

The undisputed king of clay, Rafael Nadal is one title away from matching Roger Federer's all-time Grand Slam record, but 15 years on from the Spaniard's first French Open triumph he appears more vulnerable than ever at his beloved Roland Garros.

The undisputed king of clay, Rafael Nadal is one title away from matching Roger Federer's all-time Grand Slam record, but 15 years on from the Spaniard's first French Open triumph he appears more vulnerable than ever at his beloved Roland Garros. Nadal owns an astounding 93-2 record in Paris dating back to his debut in 2005, when, still a teenager, he became the first player to win the French Open on his first attempt since Mats Wilander in 1982. Fast-forward to the present day, and his 19 Grand Slam crowns -- a record 12 of which have come at Roland Garros -- coupled with Federer's absence after knee surgery leave him on the brink of history at a venue where he has won each of the past three years. Yet a multitude of factors, mostly beyond his control, have conspired against Nadal and offered hope to his chief rivals -- namely Novak Djokovic and recent US Open winner Dominic Thiem. Boris Becker, a former coach of world number one Djokovic, suggested the rescheduled tournament -- pushed back from its traditional spring billing due to the coronavirus pandemic -- will be tougher than usual for Nadal. The heavier conditions could suit hardcourt players more and negate some of Nadal's lethal topspin, possibly aiding Thiem who has finished runner-up in Paris twice in succession. "This year is going to be particularly hard for Rafael Nadal. He's my number one favourite but the difference between him and the other players is less big this year than usual," said Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion. "He's not in his regular rhythm. He needs match practice. Normally, he was coming to Roland Garros having often played four big clay tournaments, which he had generally won." Nadal will head into the French Open without a clay title under his belt for the first time, having lost in straight sets to Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals at Rome -- his first tournament in six months. "It's not a moment for excuses. I've spent a long time without competing, I played two good matches," Nadal, who skipped the US Open citing Covid-19 concerns, said following the defeat. "It's a completely special and unpredictable year," he added. "I did my job here. I did a couple things well and other things bad. At least I played three matches." - 'Beatable on clay' - Despite the sense this is the most understrength version of Nadal at the French Open in recent times, Djokovic remains adamant the 34-year-old is again the favourite to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires. "The record that he has there, the history of his results, you just can't put anybody in front of him," said Djokovic, himself vying to add to his lone 2016 triumph at Roland Garros. "But, you know, definitely Diego showed that Nadal is beatable on clay," added the Serb. "The conditions that they played on, obviously heavy clay, not much bounce, humid, night sessions, we are going to have that as well in Paris. I'm pretty sure that he does not prefer that to a high bounce. I know he likes the high bounce. "He likes the hot and warm and fast conditions, where he can use his spin a lot. Even though he's the favourite, I think there are players that can win against him there." Another championship run for Nadal, not accounting for potential walkovers, would take him to a century of wins at the French Open. Only Federer, Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have hit triple digits in wins at a single major in the Open era. Schwartzman agreed that Nadal was still the favourite. "Rafa is the king. It's his house. He went to Roland Garros many years playing good, sometimes not playing his best and he won. "I think Rafa is always there, the guy who is going to win."

Nadal eyes Federer record, 15 years after first Roland Garros title

Cricket Australia postponed plans to host a Test match against Afghanistan and a one-day series against New Zealand Friday, saying the coronavirus pandemic had made arranging the matches too difficult.

The Test, scheduled for Perth in late November, would have been the first played between cricketing superpower Australia and minnows Afghanistan.

The pandemic has already scuppered plans for Australia to host the West Indies, Zimbabwe and the T20 World Cup this year.

A money-spinning tour by India featuring four Tests, three ODIs and three T20s will proceed, with officials conceding the funds it generates will be crucial to CA's future.

The Afghanistan and New Zealand tours were never going to be such a high priority, although CA said it hoped to reschedule them some time before the end of 2023.

"We all worked incredibly hard to make the series happen this summer, but the challenges around international travel and quarantine restrictions ultimately convinced all parties that the series would need to be played at a later date," it said.

Cricket Australia postponed plans to host a Test match against Afghanistan and a one-day series against New Zealand Friday, saying the coronavirus pandemic had made arranging the matches too difficult.

Cricket Australia postponed plans to host a Test match against Afghanistan and a one-day series against New Zealand Friday, saying the coronavirus pandemic had made arranging the matches too difficult. The Test, scheduled for Perth in late November, would have been the first played between cricketing superpower Australia and minnows Afghanistan. The pandemic has already scuppered plans for Australia to host the West Indies, Zimbabwe and the T20 World Cup this year. A money-spinning tour by India featuring four Tests, three ODIs and three T20s will proceed, with officials conceding the funds it generates will be crucial to CA's future. The Afghanistan and New Zealand tours were never going to be such a high priority, although CA said it hoped to reschedule them some time before the end of 2023. "We all worked incredibly hard to make the series happen this summer, but the challenges around international travel and quarantine restrictions ultimately convinced all parties that the series would need to be played at a later date," it said.

Australia postpones Afghanistan Test, New Zealand ODIs

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