<p>Rafael Nadal's bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title was shattered by Russia's Andrey Rublev, who swept to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 quarter-final win on Friday with the great Spaniard admitting his serve was "a disaster".</p>

<p>Nadal, bidding to reach the semi-finals of a Masters for the 75th time, followed world number one Novak Djokovic, who was beaten in the third round, out of the tournament.</p>

<p>"Today was one of those days that my serve was a disaster," said world number three Nadal.</p>

<p>"It's always sad to lose here. I missed an opportunity to start the clay court season in the right way. But that's it. It's not the moment to complain.</p>

<p>"The only thing that I can do is go to Barcelona (where he plays next week) and keep practicing, try to fix the things that didn't work well."</p>

<p>Despite Friday's setback, 34-year-old Nadal will still be favourite to capture a 13th Roland Garros title in June and record-setting 21st major.</p>

<p>"For Rafa, it must be incredibly difficult to play with this pressure of always having to win," said Rublev who also made the Miami Masters semi-finals at the start of April.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm shocked to see the level which he can reach despite this pressure. It's much easier to play when you have nothing to lose."</p>

<p>It was only the second time in 16 appearances in Monte Carlo that Nadal had failed to make the semi-finals.</p>

<p>World number eight Rublev will face unseeded Casper Ruud, who put out defending champion Fabio Fognini, for a place in the final.</p>

<p>The other semi-final will feature Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas against Britain's Dan Evans, the man who shocked Djokovic.</p>

<p>Tsitsipas is now the highest seed left after world number two Daniil Medvedev was forced to withdraw due to a positive Covid-19 test.</p>

<p>Rublev is no stranger to taking out the big names -- back in 2019, he stunned Roger Federer at Cincinnati in just 62 minutes.</p>

<p>On Friday, the 23-year-old won the first set in 38 minutes but Nadal then pocketed the last four games of the 73-minute second set to level the contest.</p>

<h2>- Rublev 'deserved it' -</h2>

<p>In the decider, Rublev held his nerve, breaking the Spaniard three times on his way to a famous win, his first in three meetings with Nadal.</p>

<p>"He played well, he deserved it more than me," added Nadal.</p>

<p>"But you can't expect win against a player like him losing my serve I don't know how many times -- six, seven times? It's too much."</p>

<p>Tsitsipas advanced to the last-four when Alejandro Davidovich withdrew after losing the first set 7-5.</p>

<p>Tsitsipas, the world number five, will play his sixth Masters semi-final, and his first in the principality, against Evans, who battled past Belgian David Goffin 5-7,&nbsp;6-3,&nbsp;6-4.</p>

<p>Struggling with an injury to his left thigh, Spaniard Davidovich tried an underarm serve when facing set point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tsitsipas pounced to hit a winning backhand return with his opponent quitting after dropping the opener 7-5.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I noticed he was hurt. His leg was hurting. But I didn't want to think about it, I tried to pretend he wasn't injured and keep playing as I was doing," said Tsitsipas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Evans edged Goffin after the Belgian made 47 unforced errors, including a final forehand on match point, to win.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I played good today. I felt a bit more pressure to not just win yesterday and give a bad performance today," said Evans, 30.</p>

<p>Unseeded Ruud won 6-4, 6-3 against 15th seeded Fognini, making the last four in Monte Carlo 24 years after his father Christian had reached the quarter-finals.</p>

<p>Rublev holds a 3-0 record against Ruud, which includes back-to-back clay-court wins at Hamburg in 2019 and 2020.</p>

<p>"I've gained good confidence from this week and I've beaten good players," Ruud said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have to try to find a way to believe that I can win."</p>


Rafael Nadal's bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title was shattered by Russia's Andrey Rublev, who swept to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 quarter-final win on Friday with the great Spaniard admitting his serve was "a disaster".

Rafael Nadal's bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title was shattered by Russia's Andrey Rublev, who swept to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 quarter-final win on Friday with the great Spaniard admitting his serve was "a disaster". Nadal, bidding to reach the semi-finals of a Masters for the 75th time, followed world number one Novak Djokovic, who was beaten in the third round, out of the tournament. "Today was one of those days that my serve was a disaster," said world number three Nadal. "It's always sad to lose here. I missed an opportunity to start the clay court season in the right way. But that's it. It's not the moment to complain. "The only thing that I can do is go to Barcelona (where he plays next week) and keep practicing, try to fix the things that didn't work well." Despite Friday's setback, 34-year-old Nadal will still be favourite to capture a 13th Roland Garros title in June and record-setting 21st major. "For Rafa, it must be incredibly difficult to play with this pressure of always having to win," said Rublev who also made the Miami Masters semi-finals at the start of April. "I'm shocked to see the level which he can reach despite this pressure. It's much easier to play when you have nothing to lose." It was only the second time in 16 appearances in Monte Carlo that Nadal had failed to make the semi-finals. World number eight Rublev will face unseeded Casper Ruud, who put out defending champion Fabio Fognini, for a place in the final. The other semi-final will feature Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas against Britain's Dan Evans, the man who shocked Djokovic. Tsitsipas is now the highest seed left after world number two Daniil Medvedev was forced to withdraw due to a positive Covid-19 test. Rublev is no stranger to taking out the big names -- back in 2019, he stunned Roger Federer at Cincinnati in just 62 minutes. On Friday, the 23-year-old won the first set in 38 minutes but Nadal then pocketed the last four games of the 73-minute second set to level the contest. - Rublev 'deserved it' - In the decider, Rublev held his nerve, breaking the Spaniard three times on his way to a famous win, his first in three meetings with Nadal. "He played well, he deserved it more than me," added Nadal. "But you can't expect win against a player like him losing my serve I don't know how many times -- six, seven times? It's too much." Tsitsipas advanced to the last-four when Alejandro Davidovich withdrew after losing the first set 7-5. Tsitsipas, the world number five, will play his sixth Masters semi-final, and his first in the principality, against Evans, who battled past Belgian David Goffin 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Struggling with an injury to his left thigh, Spaniard Davidovich tried an underarm serve when facing set point. Tsitsipas pounced to hit a winning backhand return with his opponent quitting after dropping the opener 7-5. "I noticed he was hurt. His leg was hurting. But I didn't want to think about it, I tried to pretend he wasn't injured and keep playing as I was doing," said Tsitsipas. Evans edged Goffin after the Belgian made 47 unforced errors, including a final forehand on match point, to win. "I played good today. I felt a bit more pressure to not just win yesterday and give a bad performance today," said Evans, 30. Unseeded Ruud won 6-4, 6-3 against 15th seeded Fognini, making the last four in Monte Carlo 24 years after his father Christian had reached the quarter-finals. Rublev holds a 3-0 record against Ruud, which includes back-to-back clay-court wins at Hamburg in 2019 and 2020. "I've gained good confidence from this week and I've beaten good players," Ruud said. "I have to try to find a way to believe that I can win."

'Disaster' as Nadal's bid for 12th Monte Carlo title ended by Rublev

<p>England forward Harry Kane suffered a worrying ankle injury ahead of next week's League Cup final after scoring twice in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw away to Everton in the Premier League on Friday.</p>

<p>Gylfi Sigurdsson also grabbed two goals for Everton in a result that did little for either side's European hopes.</p>

<p>Kane, expected to lead England's attack in this year's coronavirus delayed European Championships, went off in stoppage time towards the end of the match after rolling his ankle when challenged in the box at an Everton corner.</p>

<p>"It is too early to say something," Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports when asked afterwards about Kane's injury.</p>

<p>"For him to leave the pitch with a few minutes to go is obviously because he felt something.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Let me be optimistic and believe that he has time to recover. Let's see.</p>

<p>"It's obvious he's a very important player for us. I cannot say much or speculate."</p>

<p>Kane's 20th league goal of the season put Spurs ahead in the 27th minute at Goodison Park only for Sigurdsson to equalise soon afterwards from the penalty spot.</p>

<p>It was the reverse story in the second half, Sigurdsson getting his second in the 62nd minute before Kane levelled six minutes later.</p>

<p>Spurs remain seventh, five points off the top four having played one game more than West Ham.</p>

<p>Mourinho said of Kane's double: "It was great finishing.</p>

<p>"Two beautiful goals but not a surprise for the ones who see him do it every day in training."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Mourinho had little time for Paul Pogba's recent criticism of his management style when he was in charge of Manchester United.</p>

<p>Pogba accused Mourinho of "going against players" and making them feel like "they don't exist any more."</p>

<p>But Mourinho, who made France midfielder Pogba the world's most expensive player when he brought him to Old Trafford in 2016, insisted Friday: "I would like to say that I couldn't care less what he says. I am not interested at all."</p>

<h2>- 'Keep fighting' -</h2>

<p>Everton were left a place and one point further back than Tottenham, but do have a game in hand on Mourinho's side.</p>

<p>"It was probably the best we played at home this season," said Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We were unlucky. We did easy mistakes and when you do mistakes against Harry Kane you are condemned.</p>

<p>"We have more difficulties to reach Europe but we have to keep fighting. We still have (the) possibility, playing like tonight."</p>

<p>After an uninspiring opening, Spurs broke the deadlock with their first effort on target.</p>

<p>Everton's Michael Keane missed Tanguy Ndombele's cross and in the process allowed Kane to control the ball and shoot into the bottom corner past England team-mate Jordan Pickford.</p>

<p>This was Kane's 20th goal of the Premier League season -- the fifth time in his career he had achieved the feat.</p>

<p>Only Alan Shearer (seven) and Sergio Agüero (six) have done so in more Premier League seasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the Londoners' lead lasted barely four minutes, with Everton equalising after Sergio Reguilon charged into James Rodriguez and Sigurdsson beat Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot.</p>

<p>Lloris kept the game all square come half-time, however, by denying both Rodriguez and Richarlison with fine saves.</p>

<p>Spurs then squandered several chances to regain the lead and they were punished for their wastefulness when Iceland's Sigurdsson fired into the far corner following a pull-back from Seamus Coleman.</p>

<p>But Kane had his second goal when he pounced from close range after Everton's Mason Holgate and Keane collided in the Merseysiders' box.</p>


England forward Harry Kane suffered a worrying ankle injury ahead of next week's League Cup final after scoring twice in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw away to Everton in the Premier League on Friday.

England forward Harry Kane suffered a worrying ankle injury ahead of next week's League Cup final after scoring twice in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw away to Everton in the Premier League on Friday. Gylfi Sigurdsson also grabbed two goals for Everton in a result that did little for either side's European hopes. Kane, expected to lead England's attack in this year's coronavirus delayed European Championships, went off in stoppage time towards the end of the match after rolling his ankle when challenged in the box at an Everton corner. "It is too early to say something," Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports when asked afterwards about Kane's injury. "For him to leave the pitch with a few minutes to go is obviously because he felt something. "Let me be optimistic and believe that he has time to recover. Let's see. "It's obvious he's a very important player for us. I cannot say much or speculate." Kane's 20th league goal of the season put Spurs ahead in the 27th minute at Goodison Park only for Sigurdsson to equalise soon afterwards from the penalty spot. It was the reverse story in the second half, Sigurdsson getting his second in the 62nd minute before Kane levelled six minutes later. Spurs remain seventh, five points off the top four having played one game more than West Ham. Mourinho said of Kane's double: "It was great finishing. "Two beautiful goals but not a surprise for the ones who see him do it every day in training." Meanwhile, Mourinho had little time for Paul Pogba's recent criticism of his management style when he was in charge of Manchester United. Pogba accused Mourinho of "going against players" and making them feel like "they don't exist any more." But Mourinho, who made France midfielder Pogba the world's most expensive player when he brought him to Old Trafford in 2016, insisted Friday: "I would like to say that I couldn't care less what he says. I am not interested at all." - 'Keep fighting' - Everton were left a place and one point further back than Tottenham, but do have a game in hand on Mourinho's side. "It was probably the best we played at home this season," said Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti. "We were unlucky. We did easy mistakes and when you do mistakes against Harry Kane you are condemned. "We have more difficulties to reach Europe but we have to keep fighting. We still have (the) possibility, playing like tonight." After an uninspiring opening, Spurs broke the deadlock with their first effort on target. Everton's Michael Keane missed Tanguy Ndombele's cross and in the process allowed Kane to control the ball and shoot into the bottom corner past England team-mate Jordan Pickford. This was Kane's 20th goal of the Premier League season -- the fifth time in his career he had achieved the feat. Only Alan Shearer (seven) and Sergio Agüero (six) have done so in more Premier League seasons. But the Londoners' lead lasted barely four minutes, with Everton equalising after Sergio Reguilon charged into James Rodriguez and Sigurdsson beat Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot. Lloris kept the game all square come half-time, however, by denying both Rodriguez and Richarlison with fine saves. Spurs then squandered several chances to regain the lead and they were punished for their wastefulness when Iceland's Sigurdsson fired into the far corner following a pull-back from Seamus Coleman. But Kane had his second goal when he pounced from close range after Everton's Mason Holgate and Keane collided in the Merseysiders' box.

Ankle injury clouds Kane double as Spurs draw with Everton

Punjab Kings' Shahrukh Khan talks about his knock against Chennai Super Kings, learnings from IPL, his role as finisher, conversations with Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran among others.

IPL: Conversations with Gayle, Pooran helping me grow: Shahrukh Khan

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming talks about the match against Punjab Kings, MS Dhoni and his 200 appearances for CSK, Deepak Chahar's performance and more.

Heartbeat of CSK: Stephen Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th appearance

<p class="MsoNormal">Indian batsman Hanuma Vihari is currently plying his trade for County club Warwickshire as a short-term cover for Pieter Malan. While Vihari was one of the heroes for India in the Test series against Australia, he ended up tearing his hamstring and was ruled out of the series against England as well. Vihari went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction but was roped in by Warwickshire.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Vihari, who has been preparing for India’s upcoming tour of England, took a blinder of a catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Steven Mullaney for 31. While Mullaney pulled a shorter delivery towards the cow corner, Vihari was alert at the edge of the 30-yard-circle and jumped to complete the one-handed stunner.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravindra-jadeja-considered-for-grade-a-contract-didnt-get-approval-reports-378172" hreflang="en">Ravindra Jadeja considered for Grade A+ contract, didn't get approval: Reports</a></strong></p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Watch the stunning catch by Hanuma Vihari here:</h2>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">𝗩𝗜𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜!<br />
<br />
WHAT A CATCH. 🙌<br />
<br />
Match Centre 🖥 <a href="https://t.co/0efkMHnNAw">https://t.co/0efkMHnNAw</a><br />
<br />
🐻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YouBears?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YouBears</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOTvWAR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NOTvWAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/N2y9LC101Y">pic.twitter.com/N2y9LC101Y</a></p>
— Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/WarwickshireCCC/status/1382690841232343041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Indian batsman is part of a strong Warwickshire squad featuring the likes of Dom Sibley, Olly Stone and former England all-rounder Tim Bresnan. Vihari, with the bat, was dismissed for a 23-ball duck but made contributions in the field.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-selects-9-venues-for-icc-t20-world-cup-2021-in-india-reports-378114" hreflang="en">BCCI selects 9 venues for ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in India: Reports</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Vihari has been one of the key players for Team India in away conditions. While the batsman is yet to play a home Test match, Vihari has played a pivotal role in India’s tours of Australia and West Indies. After impressing in two tours of Australia, a lot of eyeballs would be on Vihari when India later tour England for the five-match Test series.</p>

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Indian batsman Hanuma Vihari is currently plying his trade for County club Warwickshire as a short-term cover for Pieter Malan. While Vihari was one of the heroes for India in the Test series against Australia, he ended up tearing his hamstring and was ruled out of the series against England as well.

Indian batsman Hanuma Vihari is currently plying his trade for County club Warwickshire as a short-term cover for Pieter Malan. While Vihari was one of the heroes for India in the Test series against Australia, he ended up tearing his hamstring and was ruled out of the series against England as well. Vihari went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction but was roped in by Warwickshire. Vihari, who has been preparing for India’s upcoming tour of England, took a blinder of a catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Steven Mullaney for 31. While Mullaney pulled a shorter delivery towards the cow corner, Vihari was alert at the edge of the 30-yard-circle and jumped to complete the one-handed stunner. ALSO READ: Ravindra Jadeja considered for Grade A+ contract, didn't get approval: Reports Watch the stunning catch by Hanuma Vihari here: 𝗩𝗜𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜! WHAT A CATCH. 🙌 Match Centre 🖥 https://t.co/0efkMHnNAw 🐻#YouBears | #NOTvWAR pic.twitter.com/N2y9LC101Y — Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) April 15, 2021 × The Indian batsman is part of a strong Warwickshire squad featuring the likes of Dom Sibley, Olly Stone and former England all-rounder Tim Bresnan. Vihari, with the bat, was dismissed for a 23-ball duck but made contributions in the field. ALSO READ: BCCI selects 9 venues for ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in India: Reports Vihari has been one of the key players for Team India in away conditions. While the batsman is yet to play a home Test match, Vihari has played a pivotal role in India’s tours of Australia and West Indies. After impressing in two tours of Australia, a lot of eyeballs would be on Vihari when India later tour England for the five-match Test series. ×

Watch: India's Hanuma Vihari takes stunning catch for Warwickshire in County Championship

<p>The 25-member Women’s Hockey Core probable group for the Tokyo Olympic Games will return to SAI, Bengaluru for the National Coaching Camp after a 10-day break.&nbsp;The group will report on 18 April and undergo mandatory quarantine before commencing their preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p data-ogsb="white">In January, the Indian Women’s Team toured Argentina where they played seven matches between their junior team, B team and the senior squad ranked no.2 in the world. This was the team’s first tour in 12 months. In February, the team travelled to Dusseldorf, Germany where they played four matches against their senior side.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-ogsb="white"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-to-field-teams-for-2028-los-angeles-olympics-womens-team-to-play-in-2022-cwg-378111" hreflang="en">BCCI to field teams for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, women's team to play in 2022 CWG</a></strong></p>

<p data-ogsb="white">“These exposure tours would not have been possible if not for the efforts of Hockey India and SAI. Getting these matches were absolutely important for us to analyse the level we are at and the work required to improve in specific areas ahead of the Olympic Games in July. In the upcoming camp too, we will be focusing on these areas and also keeping up with our fitness will be a priority,” stated Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p data-ogsb="white">The 25-member probable list includes goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu&nbsp;and Bichu Devi Kharibam.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-ogsb="white"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/biden-backs-japan-pm-on-holding-safe-and-secure-olympic-games-378108" hreflang="en">Biden backs Japan PM on holding 'safe and secure' Olympic Games</a></strong></p>

<p data-ogsb="white">The defenders selected for the national camp includes Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Manpreet Kaur, Gurjit Kaur and Nisha. Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Neha, Lilima Minz, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Namita Toppo are the midfielders called up for the national camp while forwards Rani, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Navjot Kaur, Navneet Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Jyoti, Sharmila Devi, Udita, Rashmita Minz will also report for the camp.&nbsp;</p>


The 25-member Women’s Hockey Core probable group for the Tokyo Olympic Games will return to SAI, Bengaluru for the National Coaching Camp after a 10-day break. The group will report on 18 April and undergo mandatory quarantine before commencing their preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 25-member Women’s Hockey Core probable group for the Tokyo Olympic Games will return to SAI, Bengaluru for the National Coaching Camp after a 10-day break. The group will report on 18 April and undergo mandatory quarantine before commencing their preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games. In January, the Indian Women’s Team toured Argentina where they played seven matches between their junior team, B team and the senior squad ranked no.2 in the world. This was the team’s first tour in 12 months. In February, the team travelled to Dusseldorf, Germany where they played four matches against their senior side. ALSO READ: BCCI to field teams for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, women's team to play in 2022 CWG “These exposure tours would not have been possible if not for the efforts of Hockey India and SAI. Getting these matches were absolutely important for us to analyse the level we are at and the work required to improve in specific areas ahead of the Olympic Games in July. In the upcoming camp too, we will be focusing on these areas and also keeping up with our fitness will be a priority,” stated Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne. The 25-member probable list includes goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu and Bichu Devi Kharibam. ALSO READ: Biden backs Japan PM on holding 'safe and secure' Olympic Games The defenders selected for the national camp includes Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Manpreet Kaur, Gurjit Kaur and Nisha. Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Neha, Lilima Minz, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Namita Toppo are the midfielders called up for the national camp while forwards Rani, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Navjot Kaur, Navneet Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Jyoti, Sharmila Devi, Udita, Rashmita Minz will also report for the camp.

Indian women’s hockey core group returns to national camp

<p>The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise Delhi Capitals, who went down fighting against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, will be looking to bounce back when they take on Punjab Kings in their third encounter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the&nbsp;Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.</p>

<p>While speaking about taking on the Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals' fast bowler&nbsp;Anrich Nortje expressed that the Delhi franchise cannot underestimate any team in the IPL 2021, "There's no team that's got a bad team so every side is really competitive, and it can come off for anyone on any day. We are definitely not going to underestimate anyone and hopefully, we can bring our A-game."</p>

<p>When asked about the make-up of the Delhi Capitals squad, the South African said, "We are unfortunately missing Shreyas (Iyer), but we definitely have a great combination of players. We have got a great bowling line-up as well. It's just about picking the right team on the right wicket and conditions. We definitely have a lot of options in our bowling line-up, which is really nice to have and hopefully we can make the best of the conditions and the different players that we have got."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">📽️ | <a href="https://twitter.com/RickyPonting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RickyPonting</a>'s Dressing Room speech after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RRvDC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRvDC</a> 👉🏻 Leave it to the Boss to lift up the spirits of the DC boys with all the positives from an absolute thriller 💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YehHaiNayiDilli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YehHaiNayiDilli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/JRAkkSssE7">pic.twitter.com/JRAkkSssE7</a></p>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1383359707927121922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-host-broadcaster-enjoy-blockbuster-viewership-for-opening-match-fails-to-break-ipl-2020-record-378133" hreflang="en">IPL 2021: Host broadcaster enjoy blockbuster viewership for opening match, fails to break IPL 2020 record</a></strong></p>

<p>Nortje had to spend an extended period of time in quarantine due to a false-positive result for COVID-19. However, the fast bowler re-joined the camp on 16 April 2021 after testing negative thrice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Ten days in the room was quite a lot for me. It was nice to get out, run around and bowl a bit. I really enjoyed it and hopefully, I can build it up from here on," signed off&nbsp;Nortje&nbsp;</p>

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The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise Delhi Capitals, who went down fighting against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, will be looking to bounce back when they take on Punjab Kings in their third encounter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise Delhi Capitals, who went down fighting against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, will be looking to bounce back when they take on Punjab Kings in their third encounter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. While speaking about taking on the Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals' fast bowler Anrich Nortje expressed that the Delhi franchise cannot underestimate any team in the IPL 2021, "There's no team that's got a bad team so every side is really competitive, and it can come off for anyone on any day. We are definitely not going to underestimate anyone and hopefully, we can bring our A-game." When asked about the make-up of the Delhi Capitals squad, the South African said, "We are unfortunately missing Shreyas (Iyer), but we definitely have a great combination of players. We have got a great bowling line-up as well. It's just about picking the right team on the right wicket and conditions. We definitely have a lot of options in our bowling line-up, which is really nice to have and hopefully we can make the best of the conditions and the different players that we have got." 📽️ | @RickyPonting's Dressing Room speech after #RRvDC 👉🏻 Leave it to the Boss to lift up the spirits of the DC boys with all the positives from an absolute thriller 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/JRAkkSssE7 — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 17, 2021 × ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Host broadcaster enjoy blockbuster viewership for opening match, fails to break IPL 2020 record Nortje had to spend an extended period of time in quarantine due to a false-positive result for COVID-19. However, the fast bowler re-joined the camp on 16 April 2021 after testing negative thrice. "Ten days in the room was quite a lot for me. It was nice to get out, run around and bowl a bit. I really enjoyed it and hopefully, I can build it up from here on," signed off Nortje ×

IPL 2021: Hoping to bring our A-game against Punjab Kings, says Anrich Nortje

<p class="MsoNormal">The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the annual contract list for its players. While the list welcomed some new faces in the likes of Shubman Gill and Mohammad Siraj, others like Hardik Pandya received a promotion. However, ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja retained his Grade A contract and wasn’t named in the A+ category, which included the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">A+ category has an annual income of INR 7 crore whereas Grade A guarantees an annual salary of INR 5 crore. According to reports, there were talks of Jadeja being included in A+ category but the BCCI went against the proposal and kept the Saurashtra all-rounder in Grade A.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI insiders have revealed that Jadeja was considered for the Grade A+ category. However, the report didn’t reveal why Jadeja wasn’t handed a promotion.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-such-a-great-talent-brian-lara-on-rcbs-devdutt-padikkal-378158" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- 'Such a great talent': Brian Lara on RCB's Devdutt Padikkal</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">One of the reasons could be that Jadeja has missed plenty of international cricket due to injuries. While he missed a part of India’s tour of Australia, the all-rounder was completely ruled out of the home series against England.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Former Team India chief selector, MSK Prasad opined on the matter as he said the southpaw is a genuine contender for ICC Rankings and he can’t see any reason why he wasn’t included in A+ Grade. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/heartbeat-flemings-special-praise-for-ms-dhoni-after-200th-csk-appearance-in-ipl-378124" hreflang="en">'Heartbeat': Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th CSK appearance in IPL</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“Jadeja is a genuine A+ candidate. Those who play all formats and have good ICC rankings are included in the list. I cannot see any reason why he was not considered for A + Grade,” Prasad told Cricbuzz.<o:p></o:p></p>


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the annual contract list for its players. While the list welcomed some new faces in the likes of Shubman Gill and Mohammad Siraj, others like Hardik Pandya received a promotion.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the annual contract list for its players. While the list welcomed some new faces in the likes of Shubman Gill and Mohammad Siraj, others like Hardik Pandya received a promotion. However, ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja retained his Grade A contract and wasn’t named in the A+ category, which included the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. A+ category has an annual income of INR 7 crore whereas Grade A guarantees an annual salary of INR 5 crore. According to reports, there were talks of Jadeja being included in A+ category but the BCCI went against the proposal and kept the Saurashtra all-rounder in Grade A. According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI insiders have revealed that Jadeja was considered for the Grade A+ category. However, the report didn’t reveal why Jadeja wasn’t handed a promotion. ALSO READ: IPL 2021- 'Such a great talent': Brian Lara on RCB's Devdutt Padikkal One of the reasons could be that Jadeja has missed plenty of international cricket due to injuries. While he missed a part of India’s tour of Australia, the all-rounder was completely ruled out of the home series against England. Former Team India chief selector, MSK Prasad opined on the matter as he said the southpaw is a genuine contender for ICC Rankings and he can’t see any reason why he wasn’t included in A+ Grade. ALSO READ: 'Heartbeat': Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th CSK appearance in IPL “Jadeja is a genuine A+ candidate. Those who play all formats and have good ICC rankings are included in the list. I cannot see any reason why he was not considered for A + Grade,” Prasad told Cricbuzz.

Ravindra Jadeja considered for Grade A+ contract, didn't get approval: Reports

<p class="MsoNormal">Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are all set to take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. While MI have lost and won one match each, SRH suffered defeat in their IPL 2021 opener.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">SRH would be desperate to win the contest and open their account in the IPL 2021 season. However, Mumbai Indians would be looking to continue their winning momentum against SRH. The defending champions outclassed Kolkata Knight Riders in what was a brilliant last five-over tactical masterclass by MI.</p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><o:p>SRH vs MI, head-to-head stats:</o:p></h2>

<p class="MsoNormal">Talking about head-to-head stats between SRH and MI matches, the Rohit Sharma-led outfit has won 19 matches as compared to Sunrisers Hyderabad’ 10 in 29 matches between the two sides. Given Mumbai’s dominance in IPL, the stat doesn’t come as surprise. The David Warner-led side would be looking to break the pattern and get one over MI on Saturday.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-host-broadcaster-enjoy-blockbuster-viewership-for-opening-match-fails-to-break-ipl-2020-record-378133" hreflang="en">IPL 2021: Host broadcaster enjoy blockbuster viewership for opening match, fails to break IPL 2020 record</a></strong></p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><o:p>SRH vs MI - Chennai pitch report and weather forecast</o:p></h2>

<p class="MsoNormal">Chennai has offered slow and sticky tracks so far in IPL 2021 and both teams would be wary of the conditions. While pacers have picked up more wickets in Chennai in IPL 2021, spinners and slower deliveries have dominated the proceedings the most. A score of 170 could be a winning total. There are no chances of rain.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/heartbeat-flemings-special-praise-for-ms-dhoni-after-200th-csk-appearance-in-ipl-378124" hreflang="en">'Heartbeat': Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th CSK appearance in IPL</a></p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><o:p>SRH vs MI: Approaching milestones</o:p></h2>

<p class="MsoNormal">Moreover, a few players are approaching landmarks and could take the center stage by storm:<o:p></o:p></p>

<ul>
	<li class="MsoNormal">David Warner is one half-century away from completing 50 half-centuries in IPL and if he achieves the feat against MI then he would be the first player to do so.<o:p></o:p></li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Warner needs five sixes to complete 200 sixes in IPL.<o:p></o:p></li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Kieron Pollard needs two sixes to complete 200 sixes in IPL.<o:p></o:p></li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Manish Pandey needs two sixes to complete 100 sixes in IPL.<o:p></o:p></li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Krunal Pandya and Shahbaz Nadeen need two wickets each to complete 500 wickets in IPL.</li>
</ul>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are all set to take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are all set to take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. While MI have lost and won one match each, SRH suffered defeat in their IPL 2021 opener. SRH would be desperate to win the contest and open their account in the IPL 2021 season. However, Mumbai Indians would be looking to continue their winning momentum against SRH. The defending champions outclassed Kolkata Knight Riders in what was a brilliant last five-over tactical masterclass by MI. SRH vs MI, head-to-head stats: Talking about head-to-head stats between SRH and MI matches, the Rohit Sharma-led outfit has won 19 matches as compared to Sunrisers Hyderabad’ 10 in 29 matches between the two sides. Given Mumbai’s dominance in IPL, the stat doesn’t come as surprise. The David Warner-led side would be looking to break the pattern and get one over MI on Saturday. ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Host broadcaster enjoy blockbuster viewership for opening match, fails to break IPL 2020 record SRH vs MI - Chennai pitch report and weather forecast Chennai has offered slow and sticky tracks so far in IPL 2021 and both teams would be wary of the conditions. While pacers have picked up more wickets in Chennai in IPL 2021, spinners and slower deliveries have dominated the proceedings the most. A score of 170 could be a winning total. There are no chances of rain. ALSO READ: 'Heartbeat': Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th CSK appearance in IPL SRH vs MI: Approaching milestones Moreover, a few players are approaching landmarks and could take the center stage by storm: David Warner is one half-century away from completing 50 half-centuries in IPL and if he achieves the feat against MI then he would be the first player to do so. Warner needs five sixes to complete 200 sixes in IPL. Kieron Pollard needs two sixes to complete 200 sixes in IPL. Manish Pandey needs two sixes to complete 100 sixes in IPL. Krunal Pandya and Shahbaz Nadeen need two wickets each to complete 500 wickets in IPL. ×

MI vs SRH, IPL 2021: Head-to-head stats, Chennai pitch report, weather forecast - All you need to know

<p class="MsoNormal">The opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 fell short of the kind of viewership IPL 2020 season opener received, according to the latest BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) data. Nonetheless, it was a blockbuster opening match-day for the host broadcasters, Star India, in IPL 2021. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The IPL 2021 opener between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, played on April 9, touched 9.7 billion minutes of consumption on Star India channels. The broadcaster further reached 323 million total impressions for the opening match of IPL 2021. However, the IPL 2020 match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians had a record impression of 11.2 billion viewing minutes.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/heartbeat-flemings-special-praise-for-ms-dhoni-after-200th-csk-appearance-in-ipl-378124" hreflang="en">'Heartbeat': Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th CSK appearance in IPL</a></strong><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“The match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore received a tremendous response, bigger than opening matches of all other IPL editions held previously other than Dream11 IPL 2020,” said Star India in a statement.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">According to BARC, IPL 2020 opening match was viewed by a humongous 158 million viewers, 21 per cent higher than 131 million viewers recorded in IPL 2019 opener.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">On OTT platform Disney + Hotstar, IPL 2021 opener peaked at 6.7 million whereas, in IPL 2020, it was 8.4 million.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-i-was-gonna-run-back-chris-morris-talks-about-sanju-samson-denying-single-against-punjab-kings-377966" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- 'I was gonna run back': Chris Morris talks about Sanju Samson denying single against Punjab Kings</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">In 2019, 18 million viewers watched IPL final concurrently on digital platforms whereas last year, when the matches were held behind closed doors, the viewership ranged between four to six million on Disney+ Hotstar.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;</span>Meanwhile, the 15-21 age group has been the strongest base of viewership.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

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The opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 fell short of the kind of viewership IPL 2020 season opener received, according to the latest BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) data.

The opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 fell short of the kind of viewership IPL 2020 season opener received, according to the latest BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) data. Nonetheless, it was a blockbuster opening match-day for the host broadcasters, Star India, in IPL 2021. The IPL 2021 opener between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, played on April 9, touched 9.7 billion minutes of consumption on Star India channels. The broadcaster further reached 323 million total impressions for the opening match of IPL 2021. However, the IPL 2020 match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians had a record impression of 11.2 billion viewing minutes. ALSO READ: 'Heartbeat': Fleming's special praise for MS Dhoni after 200th CSK appearance in IPL “The match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore received a tremendous response, bigger than opening matches of all other IPL editions held previously other than Dream11 IPL 2020,” said Star India in a statement. According to BARC, IPL 2020 opening match was viewed by a humongous 158 million viewers, 21 per cent higher than 131 million viewers recorded in IPL 2019 opener. On OTT platform Disney + Hotstar, IPL 2021 opener peaked at 6.7 million whereas, in IPL 2020, it was 8.4 million. ALSO READ: IPL 2021- 'I was gonna run back': Chris Morris talks about Sanju Samson denying single against Punjab Kings In 2019, 18 million viewers watched IPL final concurrently on digital platforms whereas last year, when the matches were held behind closed doors, the viewership ranged between four to six million on Disney+ Hotstar. Meanwhile, the 15-21 age group has been the strongest base of viewership. ×

IPL 2021: Host broadcaster enjoy blockbuster viewership for opening match, fails to break IPL 2020 record

<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday suffered a crushing defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Mumbai as the Eoin Morgan-led team lost by 10 runs after cruising through the chase for 18 overs. KKR all-rounder Andre Russell reacted to the heartbreaking defeat while also backing owner and Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s tweet apologising to the fans.</p>

<p>KKR were superb with the ball as they restricted MI to 152, courtesy Andre Russell’s five-wicket-haul. Chasing 153, openers Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana stitched a 72-run stand as KKR looked comfortable with the modest chase. However, no other batsman&nbsp;managed to get to double digits as KKR slumped to a 10-run defeat.</p>

<p>Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter to express his disappointment over the defeat and apologized to KKR fans for a poor outing with the bat.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2021-kolkata-knight-riders-choke-as-mumbai-indians-continue-dominance-377373" hreflang="en">IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders choke as Mumbai Indians continue dominance</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Disappointing performance. to say the least <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKRiders</a> apologies to all the fans!</p>
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamsrk/status/1382028536949600259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>While Russell was fantastic with the ball, he failed to get into the groove with the bat and witnessed KKR go down to MI once again.</p>

<p>“Yeah, I support that Tweet but at the end of the day,&nbsp;the game of cricket… you are not sure until it’s over. I think we are still confident, we still played some good cricket and I am proud of the boys. You know, we are definitely disappointed but it’s not the end of the world, it’s only the second game and we are going to learn from it,” Russell said in the post-match press conference.</p>

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<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ben-stokes-ruled-out-of-ipl-2021-with-a-finger-injury-377361" hreflang="en">Ben Stokes ruled out of IPL 2021 with a finger injury</a></strong></p>

<p>“I just think it’s a game of cricket. I have played hundreds of T20 games and I have seen games where teams cruise in on the driver’s seat and then suddenly lose a few wickets, and that’s what happened tonight. So, we definitely have to learn from this. We will look to make sure that who’s in, stays in and once we learn from all these mistakes we will definitely do better. I have trust and confidence in the boys,” he added.</p>

<p>KKR will next be in action against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 18 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>


Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday suffered a crushing defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Mumbai as the Eoin Morgan-led team lost by 10 runs after cruising through the chase for 18 overs.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday suffered a crushing defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Mumbai as the Eoin Morgan-led team lost by 10 runs after cruising through the chase for 18 overs. KKR all-rounder Andre Russell reacted to the heartbreaking defeat while also backing owner and Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s tweet apologising to the fans. KKR were superb with the ball as they restricted MI to 152, courtesy Andre Russell’s five-wicket-haul. Chasing 153, openers Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana stitched a 72-run stand as KKR looked comfortable with the modest chase. However, no other batsman managed to get to double digits as KKR slumped to a 10-run defeat. Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter to express his disappointment over the defeat and apologized to KKR fans for a poor outing with the bat. ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders choke as Mumbai Indians continue dominance Disappointing performance. to say the least @KKRiders apologies to all the fans! — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 13, 2021 × While Russell was fantastic with the ball, he failed to get into the groove with the bat and witnessed KKR go down to MI once again. “Yeah, I support that Tweet but at the end of the day, the game of cricket… you are not sure until it’s over. I think we are still confident, we still played some good cricket and I am proud of the boys. You know, we are definitely disappointed but it’s not the end of the world, it’s only the second game and we are going to learn from it,” Russell said in the post-match press conference. × ALSO READ: Ben Stokes ruled out of IPL 2021 with a finger injury “I just think it’s a game of cricket. I have played hundreds of T20 games and I have seen games where teams cruise in on the driver’s seat and then suddenly lose a few wickets, and that’s what happened tonight. So, we definitely have to learn from this. We will look to make sure that who’s in, stays in and once we learn from all these mistakes we will definitely do better. I have trust and confidence in the boys,” he added. KKR will next be in action against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 18 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Not the end of world: Andre Russell reacts to Shah Rukh Khan's apology tweet after MI defeat

<p class="MsoNormal">Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ended up choking in the final five overs of the match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to suffer a crushing 10-run defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, after the defeat, questioned experienced campaigners Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik’s approach in the chase in what he termed as a “shameful” defeat for KKR.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Despite needing just 31 runs off the last 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand, KKR ended up losing the match by 10 runs and failed to finish the match despite dominating for 35 overs. Two of the famed finishers in the game, Russell and Karthik, got stuck in the middle and their failure to hit boundaries and rotate the strike led to a heartbreaking defeat.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">While Russell scored 9 off 15 balls, Karthik was unbeaten on 8 off 11 balls. Sehwag opined that both Russell and Karthik wanted to stay there till the final ball but failed to finish the match.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-the-end-of-world-andre-russell-reacts-to-shah-rukh-khans-apology-tweet-after-mi-defeat-377454" hreflang="en">Not the end of world: Andre Russell reacts to Shah Rukh Khan's apology tweet after MI defeat</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“Eoin Morgan had given a statement that they will play that way (with positive intent) after the first game but it didn't look like that when Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik came in to bat. The way Russell and Karthik batted, it felt like they planned to take the game till the end and win it. But that didn’t happen. The batters who came before them – be it Shakib Al Hasan, Eoin Morgan, Shubman Gill or Nitish Rana – all of them played with positive intent,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Sehwag further said that either Rana or Gill should have finished the game for KKR.</p>

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<p>"Either Rana or Gill should have batted till the end. They had seen what had happened in the MI innings, despite getting off to a good start they could only manage 152," he said.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The likes of Rahul Chahar, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult executed the plans to perfection and managed to restrict KKR to just 20 runs in last five overs to win the match for MI.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brian-lara-gives-his-verdict-on-sanju-samsons-decision-to-refuse-morris-a-single-vs-pbks-377322" hreflang="en">Brian Lara gives his verdict on Sanju Samson's decision to refuse Morris a single vs PBKS</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Sehwag further took a jibe at KKR and said the Morgan-led outfit defined how to lose a game from a winning position while labeling it a “shameful defeat”.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“Kolkata Knight Riders just lost the game which was almost won at one stage. When Russell came into bat, KKR needed 30 runs in 27-odd balls. Dinesh Karthik batted till the end but couldn’t win the game. That’s a shameful defeat,” he said.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">“The runs per ball difference wasn’t much except for the last couple of overs. We saw how to lose a game that is almost won. You hardly get any game where you are chasing 152 and you need to score 36-odd runs in 6 overs with 6-7 wickets in hand. In such scenarios, teams prefer to end the game quickly to improve their net run rate. But KKR failed to do that and hampered their net-run rate,” he added.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">KKR will next face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday in Chennai.<o:p></o:p></p>


Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ended up choking in the final five overs of the match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to suffer a crushing 10-run defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ended up choking in the final five overs of the match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to suffer a crushing 10-run defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, after the defeat, questioned experienced campaigners Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik’s approach in the chase in what he termed as a “shameful” defeat for KKR. Despite needing just 31 runs off the last 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand, KKR ended up losing the match by 10 runs and failed to finish the match despite dominating for 35 overs. Two of the famed finishers in the game, Russell and Karthik, got stuck in the middle and their failure to hit boundaries and rotate the strike led to a heartbreaking defeat. While Russell scored 9 off 15 balls, Karthik was unbeaten on 8 off 11 balls. Sehwag opined that both Russell and Karthik wanted to stay there till the final ball but failed to finish the match. ALSO READ: Not the end of world: Andre Russell reacts to Shah Rukh Khan's apology tweet after MI defeat “Eoin Morgan had given a statement that they will play that way (with positive intent) after the first game but it didn't look like that when Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik came in to bat. The way Russell and Karthik batted, it felt like they planned to take the game till the end and win it. But that didn’t happen. The batters who came before them – be it Shakib Al Hasan, Eoin Morgan, Shubman Gill or Nitish Rana – all of them played with positive intent,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz. Sehwag further said that either Rana or Gill should have finished the game for KKR. × "Either Rana or Gill should have batted till the end. They had seen what had happened in the MI innings, despite getting off to a good start they could only manage 152," he said. The likes of Rahul Chahar, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult executed the plans to perfection and managed to restrict KKR to just 20 runs in last five overs to win the match for MI. ALSO READ: Brian Lara gives his verdict on Sanju Samson's decision to refuse Morris a single vs PBKS Sehwag further took a jibe at KKR and said the Morgan-led outfit defined how to lose a game from a winning position while labeling it a “shameful defeat”. “Kolkata Knight Riders just lost the game which was almost won at one stage. When Russell came into bat, KKR needed 30 runs in 27-odd balls. Dinesh Karthik batted till the end but couldn’t win the game. That’s a shameful defeat,” he said. “The runs per ball difference wasn’t much except for the last couple of overs. We saw how to lose a game that is almost won. You hardly get any game where you are chasing 152 and you need to score 36-odd runs in 6 overs with 6-7 wickets in hand. In such scenarios, teams prefer to end the game quickly to improve their net run rate. But KKR failed to do that and hampered their net-run rate,” he added. KKR will next face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday in Chennai.

'Shameful defeat': Sehwag questions Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik's intent after KKR collapse

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