Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings star, on Thursday (March 21) relinquished IPL captaincy by&nbsp;handing over the baton to CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024, starting on March 22 in Chennai. MS Dhoni, as fans worldwide recognise him, took a call to pick Gaikwad to fill in his shoes at CSK just one day before the start of the marquee tournament, the franchise's official announcement read.

Upon reaching out to the CSK's CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, for comments on the same, CSK’s backroom staff veteran revealed that he also knew about Dhoni relinquishing his IPL captaincy just before the captain’s meet. He insisted that Dhoni's decision is always in the team’s interest and should be respected.

"Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team. I got to know of the decision just before the captains' meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told PTI.

Upon getting picked by CSK during the maiden IPL auction in 2008 for over a million dollars, MS Dhoni captained the side for 14 years, leading the franchise to five IPL titles, joint-most with Mumbai Indians in the tournament history.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-ms-dhonis-glorious-captaincy-run-at-csk-from-a-master-to-thala-702675">IPL 2024: MS Dhoni’s glorious captaincy run at CSK – from a Master to Thala</a>

After failing to do it in the first two seasons, Dhoni-led CSK won IPL titles in 2010 and 2011. Chennai Super Kings then lost three finals in four straight seasons before facing a two-year suspension on fixing charges. A grand return to the league in 2018 saw them winning their third title that season.&nbsp;

A close loss by just one run at the hands of MI in 2019 shattered their dreams, but CSK returned in 2021 to win their fourth title. Although they suffered a dismal fate the following season in 2022, finishing in the bottom half of the points table, CSK won the IPL title last year, which happened to be the last under MS Dhoni.

<h2>Gaikwad – the new leader!</h2>

Having tried passing on the baton in 2022, with Ravindra Jadeja chosen as the new captain ahead of the season, MS Dhoni had to quickly get back to leading the side midway through the tournament.

"It didn't work out at that time, this is different," said Viswanathan of Jadeja replacing Dhoni as IPL captain in 2022.

Two years later, with Dhoni’s time running out in the IPL, given his age, he had to pick his successor, and Gaikwad was the one he chose.&nbsp;

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming also commented on the same, saying. "We weren't ready to move away from MS in 2022. Dhoni has a good sense of the game, but we want to develop the young players for the role. We are well prepared this time."

Meanwhile, Gaikwad, the right-handed opener made his IPL debut in 2020 and has featured in 52 matches, hitting 1797 runs at 39.07. He has scored 14 fifties and a hundred.&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the curtain-raiser on March 22 in Chennai.&nbsp;

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings star, on Thursday (March 21) relinquished IPL captaincy by handing over the baton to CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024, starting on March 22 in Chennai.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings star, on Thursday (March 21) relinquished IPL captaincy by handing over the baton to CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024, starting on March 22 in Chennai. MS Dhoni, as fans worldwide recognise him, took a call to pick Gaikwad to fill in his shoes at CSK just one day before the start of the marquee tournament, the franchise's official announcement read. Upon reaching out to the CSK's CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, for comments on the same, CSK’s backroom staff veteran revealed that he also knew about Dhoni relinquishing his IPL captaincy just before the captain’s meet. He insisted that Dhoni's decision is always in the team’s interest and should be respected. "Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team. I got to know of the decision just before the captains' meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told PTI. Upon getting picked by CSK during the maiden IPL auction in 2008 for over a million dollars, MS Dhoni captained the side for 14 years, leading the franchise to five IPL titles, joint-most with Mumbai Indians in the tournament history. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: MS Dhoni’s glorious captaincy run at CSK – from a Master to Thala After failing to do it in the first two seasons, Dhoni-led CSK won IPL titles in 2010 and 2011. Chennai Super Kings then lost three finals in four straight seasons before facing a two-year suspension on fixing charges. A grand return to the league in 2018 saw them winning their third title that season. A close loss by just one run at the hands of MI in 2019 shattered their dreams, but CSK returned in 2021 to win their fourth title. Although they suffered a dismal fate the following season in 2022, finishing in the bottom half of the points table, CSK won the IPL title last year, which happened to be the last under MS Dhoni. Gaikwad – the new leader! Having tried passing on the baton in 2022, with Ravindra Jadeja chosen as the new captain ahead of the season, MS Dhoni had to quickly get back to leading the side midway through the tournament. "It didn't work out at that time, this is different," said Viswanathan of Jadeja replacing Dhoni as IPL captain in 2022. Two years later, with Dhoni’s time running out in the IPL, given his age, he had to pick his successor, and Gaikwad was the one he chose. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming also commented on the same, saying. "We weren't ready to move away from MS in 2022. Dhoni has a good sense of the game, but we want to develop the young players for the role. We are well prepared this time." Meanwhile, Gaikwad, the right-handed opener made his IPL debut in 2020 and has featured in 52 matches, hitting 1797 runs at 39.07. He has scored 14 fifties and a hundred. Chennai Super Kings will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the curtain-raiser on March 22 in Chennai.

IPL 2024: ‘You’ve to respect his decision’ – CSK CEO on MS Dhoni handing over captaincy to Gaikwad

In PICS | MS Dhoni’s Captaincy Run at CSK in IPL

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fondly known as MS Dhoni among cricket fans worldwide, has relinquished his IPL captaincy at Chennai Super Kings, handing over the baton to CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad a day before the start of the 17th edition in Chennai. Following an official announcement from the franchise, Dhoni’s glorious captaincy run in IPL has ended.

Chennai Super Kings picked MS Dhoni at the maiden IPL auction in 2008 for a million dollars, naming him the captain.&nbsp;

Dhoni’s IPL journey began with a bang, leading his team to the final against Rajasthan Royals in the maiden IPL final, which they lost. Chennai lost to RCB in the semis the next season in South Africa but returned stronger in 2010 when MS Dhoni-led CSK won its first IPL title.

Dhoni’s CSK were crowned champions the following year in 2011 - when he led India to their second 50-over World Cup at home.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Chennai lost three finals in the next four seasons, going down to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2012 and against Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2015. But what transpired after had put IPL’s credibility at stake, with CSK and RR facing two-year suspension on fixing charges.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-ruturaj-gaikwad-replaces-ms-dhoni-as-chennai-super-kings-captain-702645">IPL 2024: MS Dhoni steps down as CSK captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad announced his replacement</a>

Upon returning to the cash-rich league in 2018, Chennai won its third IPL title, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in the final. Chennai suffered a crushing fate in the 2019 final, losing to Mumbai Indians by just one run. In the following season, Chennai was seventh on the points table – their worst in the tournament history.&nbsp;

However, in 2021, under MS Dhoni, CSK beat KKR in the final to become IPL champions for the fourth time. 2022 was another low chapter in CSK’s glorious history, finishing ninth, just above Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;

2023, which now happened to be MS Dhoni’s last season as CSK’s captain, saw his team beat Gujarat Titans to lift the trophy for the record fifth time, joint most (with MI) in IPL history.&nbsp;

<h2>MS Dhoni’s IPL numbers –</h2>

In 250 IPL matches, MS Dhoni has scored 5082 runs at 39.09 with a strike rate of 135.96. Dhoni has scored 24 fifties in the IPL, with the highest score of 84*.&nbsp;

Dhoni’s best season with the bat in hand was in 2013, when he scored 461 runs in 18 matches at 162.89 (strike rate), smashing 32 fours and 25 sixes. However, he slammed the most number of sixes in 2018, wherein he hit 30 biggies in addition to scoring 455 runs in 16 outings.

Regarding his fielding stats in the IPL, MS Dhoni has picked 142 catches and affected 42 stumpings thus far.

While Dhoni has handed over the IPL captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024, he will continue to play as a batter.&nbsp;

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fondly known as MS Dhoni among cricket fans worldwide, has relinquished his IPL captaincy at Chennai Super Kings, handing over the baton to CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad a day before the start of the 17th edition in Chennai.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fondly known as MS Dhoni among cricket fans worldwide, has relinquished his IPL captaincy at Chennai Super Kings, handing over the baton to CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad a day before the start of the 17th edition in Chennai. Following an official announcement from the franchise, Dhoni’s glorious captaincy run in IPL has ended. Chennai Super Kings picked MS Dhoni at the maiden IPL auction in 2008 for a million dollars, naming him the captain. Dhoni’s IPL journey began with a bang, leading his team to the final against Rajasthan Royals in the maiden IPL final, which they lost. Chennai lost to RCB in the semis the next season in South Africa but returned stronger in 2010 when MS Dhoni-led CSK won its first IPL title. Dhoni’s CSK were crowned champions the following year in 2011 - when he led India to their second 50-over World Cup at home. Meanwhile, Chennai lost three finals in the next four seasons, going down to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2012 and against Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2015. But what transpired after had put IPL’s credibility at stake, with CSK and RR facing two-year suspension on fixing charges. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: MS Dhoni steps down as CSK captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad announced his replacement Upon returning to the cash-rich league in 2018, Chennai won its third IPL title, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in the final. Chennai suffered a crushing fate in the 2019 final, losing to Mumbai Indians by just one run. In the following season, Chennai was seventh on the points table – their worst in the tournament history. However, in 2021, under MS Dhoni, CSK beat KKR in the final to become IPL champions for the fourth time. 2022 was another low chapter in CSK’s glorious history, finishing ninth, just above Mumbai Indians. 2023, which now happened to be MS Dhoni’s last season as CSK’s captain, saw his team beat Gujarat Titans to lift the trophy for the record fifth time, joint most (with MI) in IPL history. MS Dhoni’s IPL numbers – In 250 IPL matches, MS Dhoni has scored 5082 runs at 39.09 with a strike rate of 135.96. Dhoni has scored 24 fifties in the IPL, with the highest score of 84*. Dhoni’s best season with the bat in hand was in 2013, when he scored 461 runs in 18 matches at 162.89 (strike rate), smashing 32 fours and 25 sixes. However, he slammed the most number of sixes in 2018, wherein he hit 30 biggies in addition to scoring 455 runs in 16 outings. Regarding his fielding stats in the IPL, MS Dhoni has picked 142 catches and affected 42 stumpings thus far. While Dhoni has handed over the IPL captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024, he will continue to play as a batter.

IPL 2024: MS Dhoni’s glorious captaincy run at CSK – from a Master to Thala

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - the two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions will be hoping to shrug off the disappointment of last year when they failed to qualify for the playoffs after winning only six games. The franchise showed they were not here to muck around in the auction by splurging a staggering Rs 24.75 crore to acquire the services of Mitchell Starc -- making him the most expensive buy in the 17-year history of the tournament.&nbsp;

<h2>Kolkata Knight Riders</h2>

Home: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Best Performance: Winners in 2012 &amp; 2014

Captain: Shreyas Iyer

Vice Captain: Nitish Rana

<h2>KKR IPL 2024 Auction Buys:</h2>

Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, K.S. Bharat, Ramandeep Singh,&nbsp;Angkrish Raghuvanshi,&nbsp;Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Rahman, Sakib Hussain, Sherfane Rutherford, Gus Atkinson

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-complete-squad-2024-ipl-2024-auction-kolkata-knight-riders-players-list-captain-batsmen-bowlers-keeper-670945">Also read |&nbsp;KKR complete squad 2024 IPL 2024 Auction Kolkata Knight Riders players list, captain, batsmen, bowlers, keeper</a>

<h2>KKR Full Squad 2024</h2>

Squad: Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer (c), Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dushmantha Chameera,&nbsp;Sakib Hussain.

<h2>Team News (Injuries &amp; Replacements)</h2>

Jason Roy pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons. Phil Salt has been called as his replacement.&nbsp;

Gus Atkinson will also not participate in the tournament and has been replaced by Dushmantha Chameera.

<h2>KKR Probable Playing XI</h2>

KKR probable playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora

<h2>KKR Schedule:</h2>

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad- March 23&nbsp;- Eden Gardens, Kolkata - 7:30 PM IST

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru - March 29&nbsp;- Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru - 7:30 PM IST

Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp;vs Delhi Capitals, - April 3&nbsp;- ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam - 7:30 PM IST

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - the two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions will be hoping to shrug off the disappointment of last year when they failed to qualify for the playoffs after winning only six games.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - the two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions will be hoping to shrug off the disappointment of last year when they failed to qualify for the playoffs after winning only six games. The franchise showed they were not here to muck around in the auction by splurging a staggering Rs 24.75 crore to acquire the services of Mitchell Starc -- making him the most expensive buy in the 17-year history of the tournament. Kolkata Knight Riders Home: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Best Performance: Winners in 2012 & 2014 Captain: Shreyas Iyer Vice Captain: Nitish Rana KKR IPL 2024 Auction Buys: Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, K.S. Bharat, Ramandeep Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Rahman, Sakib Hussain, Sherfane Rutherford, Gus Atkinson Also read | KKR complete squad 2024 IPL 2024 Auction Kolkata Knight Riders players list, captain, batsmen, bowlers, keeper KKR Full Squad 2024 Squad: Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer (c), Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain. Team News (Injuries & Replacements) Jason Roy pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons. Phil Salt has been called as his replacement. Gus Atkinson will also not participate in the tournament and has been replaced by Dushmantha Chameera. KKR Probable Playing XI KKR probable playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora KKR Schedule: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad- March 23 - Eden Gardens, Kolkata - 7:30 PM IST Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru - March 29 - Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru - 7:30 PM IST Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals, - April 3 - ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam - 7:30 PM IST

KKR 2024 Full Updated squad: IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders probable XI, replacement, schedule, Captain

CSK complete squad 2024:&nbsp;The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction got done on Tuesday (Dec 19) in Dubai. All the 10 teams planned and strategised to revamp their squads ahead of the next season, which will be held early next year.

Talking about the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who&nbsp;won their fifth title in this year's edition, the team wanted to strengthen the&nbsp;squad with some valuable additions. CSK went big on New Zealand players, buying Daryl Mitchell for a whooping INR 14 core and Rachin Ravindra for INR 1.8 crore. They also bought India bowler Shardul Thakur for INR 4 crore.

<h2>CSK IPL Auction 2023 Buys:</h2>

Rachin Ravindra goes to the Yellow Army for INR 1.8 crore (180 million).

Shardul Thakur rejoins the CSK setup for INR 4 crore (400 million).

Daryl Mitchell comes to CSK for INR 14 crore (140 million).

Sameer Rizvi, the first uncapped player of the IPL auction 2024 joins CSK for INR 8.4Cr (84 million).

Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman is a Super King for INR 2 Crore.

Uncapped Avinash Rao bought by Chennai Super Kings for INR 20 lakh.

It is safe to say that CSK have a fairly strong starting XI. However, with the release of Ben Stokes, they will aim for an overseas fast-bowling all-rounder. They will look for someone who can seamlessly fit into that middle order to replace Moeen Ali in games that are not&nbsp;in Chepauk. Similarly, the Chennai setup will also hope for adding more to their pace battery, someone who can bolster their death bowling and ease Matheesha Pathirana's workload (who can be injury prone as well).&nbsp;

CSK's biggest headache will be to look for an able successor of Ambati Rayudu, who retired from all forms of cricket after IPL 2023. They will look for someone who can be their middle-overs enforcer and play spin with comfort. It will be big shoes to fill.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lsg-ipl-auction-2024-live-lucknow-super-giants-captain-batsmen-bowlers-keepers-remaining-purse-squad-670795">LSG IPL Auction 2024 LIVE: Lucknow Super Giants captain, batsmen, bowlers, keepers, remaining purse, squad</a>

Existing squad breakdown before auction

<section itemprop="articleBody">
Top-order batters:&nbsp;Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
Finishers:&nbsp;MS Dhoni
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
Allrounders:&nbsp;Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
Spinners:&nbsp;Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, Prashant Solanki
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
Fast bowlers:&nbsp;Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh
</section>

CSK squad after the auction

MS Dhoni&nbsp;(c) (wk), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway (wk), Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly

CSK complete squad 2024: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction got done on Tuesday (Dec 19) in Dubai. All the 10 teams planned and strategised to revamp their squads ahead of the next season, which will be held early next year.

CSK complete squad 2024: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction got done on Tuesday (Dec 19) in Dubai. All the 10 teams planned and strategised to revamp their squads ahead of the next season, which will be held early next year. Talking about the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who won their fifth title in this year's edition, the team wanted to strengthen the squad with some valuable additions. CSK went big on New Zealand players, buying Daryl Mitchell for a whooping INR 14 core and Rachin Ravindra for INR 1.8 crore. They also bought India bowler Shardul Thakur for INR 4 crore. CSK IPL Auction 2023 Buys: Rachin Ravindra goes to the Yellow Army for INR 1.8 crore (180 million). Shardul Thakur rejoins the CSK setup for INR 4 crore (400 million). Daryl Mitchell comes to CSK for INR 14 crore (140 million). Sameer Rizvi, the first uncapped player of the IPL auction 2024 joins CSK for INR 8.4Cr (84 million). Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman is a Super King for INR 2 Crore. Uncapped Avinash Rao bought by Chennai Super Kings for INR 20 lakh. It is safe to say that CSK have a fairly strong starting XI. However, with the release of Ben Stokes, they will aim for an overseas fast-bowling all-rounder. They will look for someone who can seamlessly fit into that middle order to replace Moeen Ali in games that are not in Chepauk. Similarly, the Chennai setup will also hope for adding more to their pace battery, someone who can bolster their death bowling and ease Matheesha Pathirana's workload (who can be injury prone as well). CSK's biggest headache will be to look for an able successor of Ambati Rayudu, who retired from all forms of cricket after IPL 2023. They will look for someone who can be their middle-overs enforcer and play spin with comfort. It will be big shoes to fill. Also read: LSG IPL Auction 2024 LIVE: Lucknow Super Giants captain, batsmen, bowlers, keepers, remaining purse, squad Existing squad breakdown before auction Top-order batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed Finishers: MS Dhoni Allrounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu Spinners: Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, Prashant Solanki Fast bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh CSK squad after the auction MS Dhoni (c) (wk), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway (wk), Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly

CSK 2024 updated squad: IPL 2024, Chennai Super Kings, probable XI, ruled out & replacement, schedule

Gujarat Titans (GT) have announced a like-for-like replacement for their talismanic strike bowler Mohammed Shami who will be not participating in the 2024 season due to an injury. Hailing from the southern state of Kerala, fast bowler Sandeep Warrier has been named Shami's replacement and will join the franchise at his base price of Rs 50 lakh ($60,000).

Warrier, who currently represents Tamil Nadu on the domestic circuit, has previous experience of playing in the big leagues, having plied his trade for Kolkata Knight Riders between 2019 and 2021 where he featured in five matches. He was with Mumbai Indians in the 2023 season but did not get any game time.&nbsp;

Warrier will link up with the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Josh Little, Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra, Darshan Nalkande and Kartik Tyagi to form the pace battery of GT.&nbsp;

Shami was the highest wicket-taker last year, ending the season with 28 scalps at an average of 18.64 and a best of 4 for 11 for the then-Hardik Pandya-led side. His performance was instrumental in the one-time winners ending as the runners-up.&nbsp;

Shami's injury remains a big body blow for Shubman Gill-led GT but the management would&nbsp;hope that Warrier can come good and replicate if not all, but some of Shami's magic on the field.&nbsp;

Gujarat Titans open their 2024 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad&nbsp;where a familiar face in Hardik Pandya will greet them, but as an opponent this time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-gujarat-titans-pacer-mohammed-shami-to-miss-full-season-to-undergo-surgery-for-ankle-injury-692685">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans pacer Mohammed Shami to miss full season</a>

<h2>Shami's successful surgery</h2>

The veteran Indian pacer recently successfully underwent surgery for his right heel problem and is currently rehabilitating.

The pacer took to his social media handles, earlier this month, to inform about the surgery and showed optimism about returning to the cricket field soon.&nbsp;

“Just had a successful heel operation on my Achilles tendon! Recovery is going to take some time, but looking forward to getting back on my feet,” Shami wrote.

Shami has not played any form of cricket since the ODI World Cup in November last year. He missed the initial WC games for the country but still emerged as the leading wicket-taker, finishing the tournament with 24 wickets.&nbsp;

Gujarat Titans squad: Abhinav Manohar, Azmatullah Omarzai, B Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Matthew Wade, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, Shubman Gill (C), Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Gujarat Titans (GT) have announced a like-for-like replacement for their talismanic strike bowler Mohammed Shami who will be not participating in the 2024 season due to an injury.

Gujarat Titans (GT) have announced a like-for-like replacement for their talismanic strike bowler Mohammed Shami who will be not participating in the 2024 season due to an injury. Hailing from the southern state of Kerala, fast bowler Sandeep Warrier has been named Shami's replacement and will join the franchise at his base price of Rs 50 lakh ($60,000). Warrier, who currently represents Tamil Nadu on the domestic circuit, has previous experience of playing in the big leagues, having plied his trade for Kolkata Knight Riders between 2019 and 2021 where he featured in five matches. He was with Mumbai Indians in the 2023 season but did not get any game time. Warrier will link up with the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Josh Little, Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra, Darshan Nalkande and Kartik Tyagi to form the pace battery of GT. Shami was the highest wicket-taker last year, ending the season with 28 scalps at an average of 18.64 and a best of 4 for 11 for the then-Hardik Pandya-led side. His performance was instrumental in the one-time winners ending as the runners-up. Shami's injury remains a big body blow for Shubman Gill-led GT but the management would hope that Warrier can come good and replicate if not all, but some of Shami's magic on the field. Gujarat Titans open their 2024 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where a familiar face in Hardik Pandya will greet them, but as an opponent this time. Also read | IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans pacer Mohammed Shami to miss full season Shami's successful surgery The veteran Indian pacer recently successfully underwent surgery for his right heel problem and is currently rehabilitating. The pacer took to his social media handles, earlier this month, to inform about the surgery and showed optimism about returning to the cricket field soon. “Just had a successful heel operation on my Achilles tendon! Recovery is going to take some time, but looking forward to getting back on my feet,” Shami wrote. Shami has not played any form of cricket since the ODI World Cup in November last year. He missed the initial WC games for the country but still emerged as the leading wicket-taker, finishing the tournament with 24 wickets. Gujarat Titans squad: Abhinav Manohar, Azmatullah Omarzai, B Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Matthew Wade, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, Shubman Gill (C), Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans announce Sandeep Warrier as Mohammed Shami's replacement

LSG IPL Auction 2024:&nbsp;One of the two newcomers to the IPL family, Lucknow Super Giants, has plenty to ponder&nbsp;before the IPL 2024 mini-auction.&nbsp;The change in the backroom staff might lead to new ideas shaping up ahead of the 17th season as LSG aim for their maiden IPL trophy next year. Here, look at the squad and the remaining purse of LSG after&nbsp;the IPL 2024 mini-auction.

With several top players released on the retention day, including Jaydev Unadkat, Avesh Khan and Romario Shepherd (both traded to Rajasthan and Mumbai, respectively), Lucknow had a few areas to work on before going all-out for any of the 333 players listed for the bidding.

Batter Devdutt Padikkal's addition to the side will bolster their chances of having a sorted middle order, with KL Rahul clearing the air about batting down the order in the coming season. They added Shivam Mavi to their squad and will look to challenge for the IPL trophy in the coming season.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-v-ind-sai-sudharsan-feels-blessed-to-contribute-in-winning-cause-pens-heartfelt-note-after-odi-debut-670758">SA v IND: Sai Sudharsan feels ‘blessed’ to contribute to winning cause, pens heartfelt note after ODI debut</a>

<h2>Here is the complete list naming Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, batters, bowlers, wicketkeepers and the remaining purse –</h2>

LSG’s remaining purse after the IPL 2024 mini-auction - INR 95 lakh&nbsp;|| Slots left - 0&nbsp;|| Overseas slots left – 0

<h2>LSG IPL 2024 Auction</h2>

Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, M. Siddharth, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Arshad Khan

<h2>LSG’s squad</h2>

Amit Mishra, Arshin Kulkarni, Ashton Turner, Ayush Badoni, David Willey, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, K Gowtham, K L Rahul (C), Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, M Siddharth, Marcus Stoinis, Mayank Yadav, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Prerak Mankad, Quinton de Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Shivam Mavi, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh ​

LSG IPL Auction 2024: One of the two newcomers to the IPL family, Lucknow Super Giants, has plenty to ponder before the IPL 2024 mini-auction. The change in the backroom staff might lead to new ideas shaping up ahead of the 17th season as LSG aim for their maiden IPL trophy next year.

LSG IPL Auction 2024: One of the two newcomers to the IPL family, Lucknow Super Giants, has plenty to ponder before the IPL 2024 mini-auction. The change in the backroom staff might lead to new ideas shaping up ahead of the 17th season as LSG aim for their maiden IPL trophy next year. Here, look at the squad and the remaining purse of LSG after the IPL 2024 mini-auction. With several top players released on the retention day, including Jaydev Unadkat, Avesh Khan and Romario Shepherd (both traded to Rajasthan and Mumbai, respectively), Lucknow had a few areas to work on before going all-out for any of the 333 players listed for the bidding. Batter Devdutt Padikkal's addition to the side will bolster their chances of having a sorted middle order, with KL Rahul clearing the air about batting down the order in the coming season. They added Shivam Mavi to their squad and will look to challenge for the IPL trophy in the coming season. ALSO READ: SA v IND: Sai Sudharsan feels ‘blessed’ to contribute to winning cause, pens heartfelt note after ODI debut Here is the complete list naming Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, batters, bowlers, wicketkeepers and the remaining purse – LSG’s remaining purse after the IPL 2024 mini-auction - INR 95 lakh || Slots left - 0 || Overseas slots left – 0 LSG IPL 2024 Auction Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, M. Siddharth, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Arshad Khan LSG’s squad Amit Mishra, Arshin Kulkarni, Ashton Turner, Ayush Badoni, David Willey, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, K Gowtham, K L Rahul (C), Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, M Siddharth, Marcus Stoinis, Mayank Yadav, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Prerak Mankad, Quinton de Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Shivam Mavi, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh

LSG complete squad: IPL 2024 Lucknow Super Giants players list, captain, batsmen, bowlers, keeper

Rishabh Pant will lead the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL) as he gets ready to return to action after 14 months due&nbsp;to&nbsp;injury. 
 
In an&nbsp;announcement&nbsp;on Tuesday (Mar 19) in Vizag, Delhi co-owner Parth Jindal confirmed the news that Rishabh will be taking&nbsp;over from David Warner who led them last season.&nbsp;Delhi Capitals start their IPL season on Saturday against Punjab Kings and will look to start on a winning note.

<h2>Rishabh Pant to captain DC</h2>

DC Chairman and co-owner Parth Jindal said, “We are delighted to welcome Rishabh back as our Captain. Grit and fearlessness have always dictated his brand of cricket, and not surprisingly, even his road to recovery. I can’t wait to see him walk our team out once again as we look forward to a new season with renewed passion, vigour and enthusiasm.”

The event held in Vizag, Delhi’s adopted home due to the general elections programme in the national capital, saw the announcement made. Pant has not been in action since December 2022, when he was seriously injured in a near-fatal accident in Roorkee (a town 213 km east of the Indian capital New Delhi).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fans-in-hong-kong-to-receive-50-refund-after-lionel-messis-absence-during-inter-miami-friendly-701837">Fans in Hong Kong to receive 50% refund after Lionel Messi's absence during Inter Miami friendly</a>

<h2>Boost for DC ahead of IPL 2024</h2>

However, the talisman was passed fit by the National Cricket Association (NCA) ahead of the upcoming season. After missing the entire season with both the Delhi Capitals and the Indian national team, he returned to training ahead of the upcoming season. Coach Ricky Ponting was happy with his progress while the team management was confident Rishabh won’t be used as an impact player. This prompted Delhi owners to announce Rishabh’s homecoming with the captain’s armband.

As mentioned earlier, Delhi will start their campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday (Mar 23) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh.

The home fans in Delhi however, won’t be able to see Pant in action at least in the first phase of the tournament. Delhi Capitals will play three away matches during the first phase of the IPL 2024 while their remaining two matches (technically home games) will be played in Visakhapatnam.

Rishabh Pant will lead the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL) as he gets ready to return to action after 14 months due to injury.

Rishabh Pant will lead the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL) as he gets ready to return to action after 14 months due to injury. In an announcement on Tuesday (Mar 19) in Vizag, Delhi co-owner Parth Jindal confirmed the news that Rishabh will be taking over from David Warner who led them last season. Delhi Capitals start their IPL season on Saturday against Punjab Kings and will look to start on a winning note. Rishabh Pant to captain DC DC Chairman and co-owner Parth Jindal said, “We are delighted to welcome Rishabh back as our Captain. Grit and fearlessness have always dictated his brand of cricket, and not surprisingly, even his road to recovery. I can’t wait to see him walk our team out once again as we look forward to a new season with renewed passion, vigour and enthusiasm.” The event held in Vizag, Delhi’s adopted home due to the general elections programme in the national capital, saw the announcement made. Pant has not been in action since December 2022, when he was seriously injured in a near-fatal accident in Roorkee (a town 213 km east of the Indian capital New Delhi). ALSO READ | Fans in Hong Kong to receive 50% refund after Lionel Messi's absence during Inter Miami friendly Boost for DC ahead of IPL 2024 However, the talisman was passed fit by the National Cricket Association (NCA) ahead of the upcoming season. After missing the entire season with both the Delhi Capitals and the Indian national team, he returned to training ahead of the upcoming season. Coach Ricky Ponting was happy with his progress while the team management was confident Rishabh won’t be used as an impact player. This prompted Delhi owners to announce Rishabh’s homecoming with the captain’s armband. As mentioned earlier, Delhi will start their campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday (Mar 23) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. The home fans in Delhi however, won’t be able to see Pant in action at least in the first phase of the tournament. Delhi Capitals will play three away matches during the first phase of the IPL 2024 while their remaining two matches (technically home games) will be played in Visakhapatnam.

IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant to lead Delhi Capitals in upcoming season, takes over leadership role from David Warner

With less than a week to go for&nbsp;the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, the eyes of the cricketing fraternity and fans are on the big-name players as they get ready to raise the bar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been praised for its effort to host the IPL in the nation despite the ongoing buzz of the general elections. Besides, the BCCI has also earned a lot of praise for its role in safeguarding domestic cricket with its recent initiatives. Here we decode the BCCI’s policy of safeguarding domestic cricket and why was it necessary to do so.

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𝐂. 𝐇. 𝐀. 𝐌. 𝐏. 𝐈. 𝐎. 𝐍. 𝐒! 🏆 
 
Congratulations and a round of applause for the 4⃣2⃣-time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RanjiTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RanjiTrophy</a> winners - Mumbai 👏 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Final?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Final</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUMvVID?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUMvVID</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MumbaiCricAssoc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MumbaiCricAssoc</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> <a href="https://t.co/U5AuVayGzt">pic.twitter.com/U5AuVayGzt</a>
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIdomestic/status/1768211487552635161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Indian domestic cricket and how it works</h2>

Indian domestic cricket is divided into three formats like the international format with state teams being the primary participants. Apart from state teams, zonal and railways have also participated in the domestic cricket of India where they compete in the red-ball and white-ball formats. The red-ball or first-class format is represented by Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy while the white-ball format is represented by Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (ODI).

While there are no qualification criteria for the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, only the winners of Ranji Trophy qualify for the Irani Trophy and play against the rest of India.

<h2>Why did the BCCI need to safeguard domestic cricket?</h2>

Considered one of the oldest cricket tournaments, the Ranji Trophy remains the benchmark for domestic cricket which spreads over 4-5 months. However, in recent years, Ranji Trophy matches and other tournaments have not attracted a big fan base. Stadiums are generally empty which contributes to a lack of income from ticket sales. Also TV channels are hesitant to splash the cash for broadcasting and live stream the competitions which again have contributed to the lack of funds.

The low capital output has limited the salaries of players and coaching staff which makes the tournament less lucrative when compared to IPL. Also, sponsors are hesitant to invest in domestic cricket as it attracts less viewership, both on and off the field.

The above reasons have seen players and big-name coaches turn their backs on the competition. To compare, India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not played a first-class match since December 2018, that is&nbsp;more than five years ago. Ishan Kishan, another player part of India’s ODI World Cup squad during their run to the final, also opted to focus on IPL and skip the Ranji Trophy season for Jharkhand, raising serious doubts on the future of domestic cricket in India. This is where the BCCI needed to step in to protect the domestic&nbsp; cricket which serves opportunities to budding cricketers for showcasing&nbsp;their talent.

<h2>How is BCCI safeguarding domestic cricket?</h2>

Earlier this month, the BCCI announced that those who play 75 per cent of India's Tests in a season will earn $54,000 (INR 45 lakh) per Test, and those who play 50 to 75 per cent of Tests will earn $36,000 (INR 30 lakh). This is in addition to the match fee of $18,000 (INR 15 lakh). According to reports, a similar approach is being proposed for domestic cricket which will see players earn more during a domestic season and hence encourage them to prioritise it.

Currently, a player earns around $2400 (INR 2 lakh) per match in the Ranji Trophy. If he plays every match in the season and his team makes it to the final, he ends up with ten games. The match fee for the Vijay Hazare Trophy is $600 (INR 50,000) and for the Syed Mushtaq Ali $211 (INR 17,500). Considering what players earn during the IPL, this small amount has discouraged big-name players from competing in the tournament. However, an increase in pay from BCCI is likely to bring back the glory days of domestic cricket.

Also, the BCCI has now made it mandatory for players contracted to the board to compete in the domestic format if they are not available for selection for the national side. Recently, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were dropped from the central contracts having refused to compete for both national and domestic sides despite being passed fit by the National Cricket Association (NCA) in Bengaluru.

Further, the board has now created a three-member committee to boost men's domestic cricket in the nation. The committee comprises national men’s team coach Rahul Dravid, NCA head VVS Laxman and national men’s team selector Ajit Agarkar.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/explained-what-to-watch-out-for-in-each-team-during-ipl-2024-season-701805">Explained: What to watch out for in each team during IPL 2024 season</a>

<h2>IPL vs Domestic Cricket</h2>

The biggest issue with the current system is the lack of pay parity in Indian cricket. For example, Rinku Singh, uncapped during the IPL 2023 for India was reported to have earned a whopping amount in just eight weeks for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, had he played the entire season of Ranji Trophy he would have pocketed not more than $50,000. The players also get better hospitality during the IPL where they travel on flights and stay in seven-star hotels, compared to Ranji Trophy tournaments where players are often seen travelling by train and staying in three-star hotels.

Players are also exposed to more glamour and on-screen popularity during the IPL which does not exist during the domestic tournaments. This has resulted in players showing their back to the domestic tournaments.

However, it will be interesting to see how the BCCI now deals with the situation as they try to implement a new solution to increase the popularity of the domestic formats.&nbsp;

With less than a week to go for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, the eyes of the cricketing fraternity and fans are on the big-name players as they get ready to raise the bar.

With less than a week to go for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, the eyes of the cricketing fraternity and fans are on the big-name players as they get ready to raise the bar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been praised for its effort to host the IPL in the nation despite the ongoing buzz of the general elections. Besides, the BCCI has also earned a lot of praise for its role in safeguarding domestic cricket with its recent initiatives. Here we decode the BCCI’s policy of safeguarding domestic cricket and why was it necessary to do so. 𝐂. 𝐇. 𝐀. 𝐌. 𝐏. 𝐈. 𝐎. 𝐍. 𝐒! 🏆 Congratulations and a round of applause for the 4⃣2⃣-time #RanjiTrophy winners - Mumbai 👏 👏#Final | #MUMvVID | @MumbaiCricAssoc | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/U5AuVayGzt — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 14, 2024 × Indian domestic cricket and how it works Indian domestic cricket is divided into three formats like the international format with state teams being the primary participants. Apart from state teams, zonal and railways have also participated in the domestic cricket of India where they compete in the red-ball and white-ball formats. The red-ball or first-class format is represented by Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy while the white-ball format is represented by Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (ODI). While there are no qualification criteria for the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, only the winners of Ranji Trophy qualify for the Irani Trophy and play against the rest of India. Why did the BCCI need to safeguard domestic cricket? Considered one of the oldest cricket tournaments, the Ranji Trophy remains the benchmark for domestic cricket which spreads over 4-5 months. However, in recent years, Ranji Trophy matches and other tournaments have not attracted a big fan base. Stadiums are generally empty which contributes to a lack of income from ticket sales. Also TV channels are hesitant to splash the cash for broadcasting and live stream the competitions which again have contributed to the lack of funds. The low capital output has limited the salaries of players and coaching staff which makes the tournament less lucrative when compared to IPL. Also, sponsors are hesitant to invest in domestic cricket as it attracts less viewership, both on and off the field. The above reasons have seen players and big-name coaches turn their backs on the competition. To compare, India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not played a first-class match since December 2018, that is more than five years ago. Ishan Kishan, another player part of India’s ODI World Cup squad during their run to the final, also opted to focus on IPL and skip the Ranji Trophy season for Jharkhand, raising serious doubts on the future of domestic cricket in India. This is where the BCCI needed to step in to protect the domestic cricket which serves opportunities to budding cricketers for showcasing their talent. How is BCCI safeguarding domestic cricket? Earlier this month, the BCCI announced that those who play 75 per cent of India's Tests in a season will earn $54,000 (INR 45 lakh) per Test, and those who play 50 to 75 per cent of Tests will earn $36,000 (INR 30 lakh). This is in addition to the match fee of $18,000 (INR 15 lakh). According to reports, a similar approach is being proposed for domestic cricket which will see players earn more during a domestic season and hence encourage them to prioritise it. Currently, a player earns around $2400 (INR 2 lakh) per match in the Ranji Trophy. If he plays every match in the season and his team makes it to the final, he ends up with ten games. The match fee for the Vijay Hazare Trophy is $600 (INR 50,000) and for the Syed Mushtaq Ali $211 (INR 17,500). Considering what players earn during the IPL, this small amount has discouraged big-name players from competing in the tournament. However, an increase in pay from BCCI is likely to bring back the glory days of domestic cricket. Also, the BCCI has now made it mandatory for players contracted to the board to compete in the domestic format if they are not available for selection for the national side. Recently, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were dropped from the central contracts having refused to compete for both national and domestic sides despite being passed fit by the National Cricket Association (NCA) in Bengaluru. Further, the board has now created a three-member committee to boost men's domestic cricket in the nation. The committee comprises national men’s team coach Rahul Dravid, NCA head VVS Laxman and national men’s team selector Ajit Agarkar. ALSO READ | Explained: What to watch out for in each team during IPL 2024 season IPL vs Domestic Cricket The biggest issue with the current system is the lack of pay parity in Indian cricket. For example, Rinku Singh, uncapped during the IPL 2023 for India was reported to have earned a whopping amount in just eight weeks for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, had he played the entire season of Ranji Trophy he would have pocketed not more than $50,000. The players also get better hospitality during the IPL where they travel on flights and stay in seven-star hotels, compared to Ranji Trophy tournaments where players are often seen travelling by train and staying in three-star hotels. Players are also exposed to more glamour and on-screen popularity during the IPL which does not exist during the domestic tournaments. This has resulted in players showing their back to the domestic tournaments. However, it will be interesting to see how the BCCI now deals with the situation as they try to implement a new solution to increase the popularity of the domestic formats.

Explained: BCCI’s policy to sustain and boost domestic cricket amid focus on IPL

IPL 2024:&nbsp;Sri Lanka seamer Dilshan Madushanka has suffered a left hamstring injury and is ruled out of the remainder of the Bangladesh series and the initial stage of IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) released a statement, saying an MRI scan revealed the nature of the injury with the left-arm seamer returning home for rehab.

<h2>Dilshan Madushanka Ruled Out of IPL 2024</h2>

The statement further said it is a new injury, with everyone unaware of the time it will take to get healed. Madushanka will miss the third and final ODI, alongside two Tests.

"We got the report on his injury only today [Sunday], and it shows a small tear," Sri Lanka team manager Mahinda Halangoda said.&nbsp;

"It's a new injury. We're not yet sure how long it will take for him to recover, but he'll have to be assessed again when he goes home by the medical team at the high-performance centre. For now, we know he's out of the ODI tomorrow for sure."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-refused-to-drop-kohli-for-t20-world-cup-sends-clear-message-to-jay-shah-reports-701106">Rohit refused to drop Kohli for T20 World Cup, sends clear message to Jay Shah – Reports</a>

During the second ODI in Chattogram, where Sri Lanka won the game by three wickets, levelling the three-match series 1-1, Madushanka opened the bowling and picked two wickets up front but left the field by 6.4 overs.&nbsp;

<h2>MI to miss Dilshan upfront</h2>

His absence comes as a blow to the former five-time IPL winners, who picked him for a whopping INR 4.6 crore (US$554,000 approx.) at the IPL auction. Alongside him, MI also picked his national side teammate Nuwan Thushara, who recently made headlines for picking his maiden T20I hat-trick against the Tigers.

The two Sri Lankan seamers will join Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff, Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal and Arjun Tendulkar at MI. Newly-appointed captain Hardik Pandya, Romario Shepherd and Anshul Kamboj will also come in handy as seam-bowling all-rounders for the franchise.

Meanwhile, Madushanka rose to the limelight during the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai, wherein he&nbsp;clean-bowled Virat Kohli off a peach on zero. In his brief career thus far, the left-arm pacer has picked 41 wickets from 23 ODIs to go with 14 scalps from as many T20Is.&nbsp;

In his only Test against Pakistan in Colombo last year, Madushanka went wicketless in one inning.

Mumbai Indians will face Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2024 opener on Sunday (March 24) in an away clash.&nbsp;

IPL 2024: Sri Lanka seamer Dilshan Madushanka has suffered a left hamstring injury and is ruled out of the remainder of the Bangladesh series and the initial stage of IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians.

IPL 2024: Sri Lanka seamer Dilshan Madushanka has suffered a left hamstring injury and is ruled out of the remainder of the Bangladesh series and the initial stage of IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) released a statement, saying an MRI scan revealed the nature of the injury with the left-arm seamer returning home for rehab. Dilshan Madushanka Ruled Out of IPL 2024 The statement further said it is a new injury, with everyone unaware of the time it will take to get healed. Madushanka will miss the third and final ODI, alongside two Tests. "We got the report on his injury only today [Sunday], and it shows a small tear," Sri Lanka team manager Mahinda Halangoda said. "It's a new injury. We're not yet sure how long it will take for him to recover, but he'll have to be assessed again when he goes home by the medical team at the high-performance centre. For now, we know he's out of the ODI tomorrow for sure." ALSO READ: Rohit refused to drop Kohli for T20 World Cup, sends clear message to Jay Shah – Reports During the second ODI in Chattogram, where Sri Lanka won the game by three wickets, levelling the three-match series 1-1, Madushanka opened the bowling and picked two wickets up front but left the field by 6.4 overs. MI to miss Dilshan upfront His absence comes as a blow to the former five-time IPL winners, who picked him for a whopping INR 4.6 crore (US$554,000 approx.) at the IPL auction. Alongside him, MI also picked his national side teammate Nuwan Thushara, who recently made headlines for picking his maiden T20I hat-trick against the Tigers. The two Sri Lankan seamers will join Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff, Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal and Arjun Tendulkar at MI. Newly-appointed captain Hardik Pandya, Romario Shepherd and Anshul Kamboj will also come in handy as seam-bowling all-rounders for the franchise. Meanwhile, Madushanka rose to the limelight during the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai, wherein he clean-bowled Virat Kohli off a peach on zero. In his brief career thus far, the left-arm pacer has picked 41 wickets from 23 ODIs to go with 14 scalps from as many T20Is. In his only Test against Pakistan in Colombo last year, Madushanka went wicketless in one inning. Mumbai Indians will face Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2024 opener on Sunday (March 24) in an away clash.

IPL 2024: Blow to Mumbai Indians as Dilshan Madushanka ruled out of initial stage

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians could be without their best batter, Suryakumar Yadav, for their first match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 24). SKY, as most fans call him, last played on December 14 against South Africa in a T20I match in Johannesburg and has been away since, recovering from the ankle surgery he underwent earlier this year.

Speaking to the media in a presser on Monday (March 18), Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher remained tight-lipped on Suryakumar’s fitness status, hinting at his absence from the XI for the marquee clash this coming Sunday. Per the latest reports, SKY will miss MI’s two warm-up games on Monday and Wednesday (March 20) before they fly to Ahmedabad for GT clash.

Boucher said he keeps reading several reports of players getting injured and missing action but admitted to trusting MI’s medical staff to take care of the star batter as the 17th season of IPL looms.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-know-he-is-mi-skipper-hardik-says-he-wont-feel-awkward-in-leading-india-captain-rohit-in-ipl-2024-701487">'I know he is...': MI skipper Hardik says he won't feel 'awkward' in leading India captain Rohit in IPL 2024</a>

"Surya at the moment is on the guidance of the Indian cricket team as well," Boucher said at the pre-season press conference in Mumbai on Monday.&nbsp;

"Just waiting for updates on that. I don't like to micromanage. We've got a world-class medical team that's in control of all of that. Yes, the past, we have had a few fitness issues. We are always going to be in that sort of domain of having fitness issues as other teams are as well.

"Every time I look at my WhatsApp, there are reports of other teams also losing players. We trust our medical team that they're doing the right things. Look, if we lose one or two from a fitness perspective, it is what it is. That's important, and we just have to keep on the right track and sharp on replacements,” Boucher explained.

<h2>Record-breaker SKY yet to return to action</h2>

Meanwhile, since slamming his record-equalling fourth T20I hundred against the Proteas at the Wanderers, SKY missed all on-field action. He has undergone two surgeries since, one for his ankle and another for a sports hernia.&nbsp;

Although without him, India won the T20I series against Afghanistan (at home in January) – their last white-ball assignment before IPL begins, the Men in Blue will need SKY at number four in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June.

Per the earlier reports, Suryakumar, like Hardik Pandya, who was also away from international cricket in October last year, was set to play in the DY Patil T20 Cup, a private annual event in Mumbai, but remained on the sidelines, waiting to get fitness clearance certificate from the doctors at the NCA.

The IPL 2024 begins on March 22 (Friday) in Chennai, with CSK and RCB playing the tournament opener.&nbsp;

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians could be without their best batter, Suryakumar Yadav, for their first match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 24).

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians could be without their best batter, Suryakumar Yadav, for their first match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 24). SKY, as most fans call him, last played on December 14 against South Africa in a T20I match in Johannesburg and has been away since, recovering from the ankle surgery he underwent earlier this year. Speaking to the media in a presser on Monday (March 18), Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher remained tight-lipped on Suryakumar’s fitness status, hinting at his absence from the XI for the marquee clash this coming Sunday. Per the latest reports, SKY will miss MI’s two warm-up games on Monday and Wednesday (March 20) before they fly to Ahmedabad for GT clash. Boucher said he keeps reading several reports of players getting injured and missing action but admitted to trusting MI’s medical staff to take care of the star batter as the 17th season of IPL looms. ALSO READ: 'I know he is...': MI skipper Hardik says he won't feel 'awkward' in leading India captain Rohit in IPL 2024 "Surya at the moment is on the guidance of the Indian cricket team as well," Boucher said at the pre-season press conference in Mumbai on Monday. "Just waiting for updates on that. I don't like to micromanage. We've got a world-class medical team that's in control of all of that. Yes, the past, we have had a few fitness issues. We are always going to be in that sort of domain of having fitness issues as other teams are as well. "Every time I look at my WhatsApp, there are reports of other teams also losing players. We trust our medical team that they're doing the right things. Look, if we lose one or two from a fitness perspective, it is what it is. That's important, and we just have to keep on the right track and sharp on replacements,” Boucher explained. Record-breaker SKY yet to return to action Meanwhile, since slamming his record-equalling fourth T20I hundred against the Proteas at the Wanderers, SKY missed all on-field action. He has undergone two surgeries since, one for his ankle and another for a sports hernia. Although without him, India won the T20I series against Afghanistan (at home in January) – their last white-ball assignment before IPL begins, the Men in Blue will need SKY at number four in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June. Per the earlier reports, Suryakumar, like Hardik Pandya, who was also away from international cricket in October last year, was set to play in the DY Patil T20 Cup, a private annual event in Mumbai, but remained on the sidelines, waiting to get fitness clearance certificate from the doctors at the NCA. The IPL 2024 begins on March 22 (Friday) in Chennai, with CSK and RCB playing the tournament opener.

IPL 2024: Blow to Mumbai Indians as Suryakumar Yadav doubtful for side’s opener against Gujarat Titans

Former India seamer Praveen Kumar has come down hard on the Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for skipping domestic matches and choosing IPL over playing for his state team in the Ranji Trophy.&nbsp;

After what happened with the young duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who got released from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season for not abiding by the board’s instructions, questions were raised about Pandya’s name on the list (in A category), despite him not featuring for India across formats for some time now.

With the board urging all centrally-contracted players to appear for their state teams in all domestic competitions, including Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy, while being away from international commitments, Pandya hasn’t featured in one.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/impossible-to-be-without-virat-kohli-at-t20-world-cup-2024-kris-srikkanth-slams-rumour-mongers-700421">Impossible to be without Virat Kohli at T20 World Cup 2024: Kris Srikkanth slams rumour-mongers</a>

While he remains the top guy in the white-ball format, primarily in the T20Is (for his exploits), Pandya hasn’t turned up for the Test side since last playing in 2018.

Irked over BCCI’s double standards regarding certain players, Praveen, known for being blunt with his expressions, asked why rules differ for Hardik while others suffer a contrasting fate for similar fouls.

“Has Hardik Pandya descended from the moon? He has to play too. Why are there different rules for him? The BCCI should threaten him. Why would you play just the domestic T20 tournament (DY Patil)? Play all three formats. Or have you played 60-70 Test matches that you will just play T20? The country needs you," Kumar said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel.

<h2>Praveen seeks clarity on Pandya as Test cricketer</h2>

After dodging queries around his role as a Test cricketer, Pandya, around last year’s World Test Championship (in June), reverted to one of the questions, saying, ‘I haven't even done 10 per cent to reach there.’&nbsp;

Questioning his role as a Test cricketer, Praveen asked if Pandya had given it in writing to the board that he would remain unavailable for selection in the longer format, and if not then he must clear his stance on picking format per his liking.

"Give it in writing that I am not available for Tests. Neither are you committing from it nor are you withdrawing entirely. The BCCI should also be questioned.&nbsp;

"You can't twist and mould rules for one player. But I feel that there must have been a discussion. If they think Hardik is an asset in T20 and we don't want his fitness to be affected. Then it's fine. Either that or a player should be informed that he is only going to be considered for T20s and ODIs but not for Tests. That way, a player is satisfied knowing about his future," Praveen added.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting March 22 in Chennai. Mumbai will face Gujarat on Sunday (March 24) in an away clash in their opener.&nbsp;

Former India seamer Praveen Kumar has come down hard on the Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for skipping domestic matches and choosing IPL over playing for his state team in the Ranji Trophy.

Former India seamer Praveen Kumar has come down hard on the Mumbai Indians captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for skipping domestic matches and choosing IPL over playing for his state team in the Ranji Trophy. After what happened with the young duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who got released from BCCI’s central contract list for the upcoming season for not abiding by the board’s instructions, questions were raised about Pandya’s name on the list (in A category), despite him not featuring for India across formats for some time now. With the board urging all centrally-contracted players to appear for their state teams in all domestic competitions, including Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy, while being away from international commitments, Pandya hasn’t featured in one. ALSO READ: Impossible to be without Virat Kohli at T20 World Cup 2024: Kris Srikkanth slams rumour-mongers While he remains the top guy in the white-ball format, primarily in the T20Is (for his exploits), Pandya hasn’t turned up for the Test side since last playing in 2018. Irked over BCCI’s double standards regarding certain players, Praveen, known for being blunt with his expressions, asked why rules differ for Hardik while others suffer a contrasting fate for similar fouls. “Has Hardik Pandya descended from the moon? He has to play too. Why are there different rules for him? The BCCI should threaten him. Why would you play just the domestic T20 tournament (DY Patil)? Play all three formats. Or have you played 60-70 Test matches that you will just play T20? The country needs you," Kumar said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel. Praveen seeks clarity on Pandya as Test cricketer After dodging queries around his role as a Test cricketer, Pandya, around last year’s World Test Championship (in June), reverted to one of the questions, saying, ‘I haven't even done 10 per cent to reach there.’ Questioning his role as a Test cricketer, Praveen asked if Pandya had given it in writing to the board that he would remain unavailable for selection in the longer format, and if not then he must clear his stance on picking format per his liking. "Give it in writing that I am not available for Tests. Neither are you committing from it nor are you withdrawing entirely. The BCCI should also be questioned. "You can't twist and mould rules for one player. But I feel that there must have been a discussion. If they think Hardik is an asset in T20 and we don't want his fitness to be affected. Then it's fine. Either that or a player should be informed that he is only going to be considered for T20s and ODIs but not for Tests. That way, a player is satisfied knowing about his future," Praveen added. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting March 22 in Chennai. Mumbai will face Gujarat on Sunday (March 24) in an away clash in their opener.

IPL 2024: Praveen Kumar launches scathing attack on Hardik Pandya over 'special treatment'

Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra finally broke his silence on Hardik Pandya’s shock trade to his former franchise, Mumbai Indians, ahead of IPL 2024. Although Nehra said that the franchise would miss Pandya, he admitted not trying enough to convince him to stay, knowing Pandya's intentions of returning to his old team for which he played for six years.&nbsp;

Nehra explained how, with each passing year, everyone learns a lot from the cash-rich league, Pandya’s switch to MI (where he replaced Rohit as the new captain) makes one understand the importance of growth and what moving ahead in life means.&nbsp;

Nehra said in times to come, more such trades will make headlines.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-gt-coach-nehra-throws-weight-behind-new-captain-shubman-gill-says-hes-excited-to-watch-him-operate-700905">IPL 2024: GT coach Nehra throws weight behind new captain Shubman Gill, says he’s excited to watch him operate</a>

"I didn't try to convince him a lot. That is because as you play more, the more experience you gain - like he came here and played for two years."

“[But] he played for that team (Mumbai Indians) for five or six years. And the way this game has been going along, people say that it is heading in the direction of soccer or basketball. So, we will end up seeing those trades [in cricket too]. "

“Yes, GT will miss Hardik Pandya. But it is a new opportunity for him. Every year IPL teaches you something new, and this year too there will be something new to learn. Best wishes [to him] from our side,” Nehra said.

<h2>Not easy to replace Shami, Hardik</h2>

Having won the league in their first attempt in 2022, Gujarat made it to the finals in their second season only to lose to CSK in a rain-hit thriller. The mantra behind their success was the core that included several overseas stars and Indian Team players like Pandya, Gill and Mohammed Shami – two of whom will not be there this season.

Speaking on Shami and Pandya’s absence, Nehra said no money can buy the experience both brought to the table and that the franchise will miss them.

“In any sport, you have to move on. You can't buy experience to replace Hardik, Shami, it's not going to be easy," Nehra said.&nbsp;

“But, there's the learning curve. Every year, new guys come, and they step in, and that's how teams move forward. In IPL, every team has the luxury of 25 players. It's a 12-person game, but you are talking about Hardik Pandya and Shami - to fill those shoes is not easy.”

“But like I said, we have enough people, Umesh Yadav, again a guy who has been playing IPL [for] 10-12 years. Sai Kishore, he didn't play last year, but he's been doing so well. So every year, you will see new guys, and you have to believe in yourself and prepare for that,” Nehra added.

Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra finally broke his silence on Hardik Pandya’s shock trade to his former franchise, Mumbai Indians, ahead of IPL 2024. Although Nehra said that the franchise would miss Pandya, he admitted not trying enough to convince him to stay, knowing Pandya's intentions of returning to his old team for which he played for six years.

Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra finally broke his silence on Hardik Pandya’s shock trade to his former franchise, Mumbai Indians, ahead of IPL 2024. Although Nehra said that the franchise would miss Pandya, he admitted not trying enough to convince him to stay, knowing Pandya's intentions of returning to his old team for which he played for six years. Nehra explained how, with each passing year, everyone learns a lot from the cash-rich league, Pandya’s switch to MI (where he replaced Rohit as the new captain) makes one understand the importance of growth and what moving ahead in life means. Nehra said in times to come, more such trades will make headlines. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: GT coach Nehra throws weight behind new captain Shubman Gill, says he’s excited to watch him operate "I didn't try to convince him a lot. That is because as you play more, the more experience you gain - like he came here and played for two years." “[But] he played for that team (Mumbai Indians) for five or six years. And the way this game has been going along, people say that it is heading in the direction of soccer or basketball. So, we will end up seeing those trades [in cricket too]. " “Yes, GT will miss Hardik Pandya. But it is a new opportunity for him. Every year IPL teaches you something new, and this year too there will be something new to learn. Best wishes [to him] from our side,” Nehra said. Not easy to replace Shami, Hardik Having won the league in their first attempt in 2022, Gujarat made it to the finals in their second season only to lose to CSK in a rain-hit thriller. The mantra behind their success was the core that included several overseas stars and Indian Team players like Pandya, Gill and Mohammed Shami – two of whom will not be there this season. Speaking on Shami and Pandya’s absence, Nehra said no money can buy the experience both brought to the table and that the franchise will miss them. “In any sport, you have to move on. You can't buy experience to replace Hardik, Shami, it's not going to be easy," Nehra said. “But, there's the learning curve. Every year, new guys come, and they step in, and that's how teams move forward. In IPL, every team has the luxury of 25 players. It's a 12-person game, but you are talking about Hardik Pandya and Shami - to fill those shoes is not easy.” “But like I said, we have enough people, Umesh Yadav, again a guy who has been playing IPL [for] 10-12 years. Sai Kishore, he didn't play last year, but he's been doing so well. So every year, you will see new guys, and you have to believe in yourself and prepare for that,” Nehra added.

IPL 2024: ‘I didn't try to convince him a lot’- Nehra breaks silence on Hardik Pandya’s move to Mumbai Indians

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra is not nervous about newly-elected captain Shubman Gill leading the franchise in IPL 2024; instead, he is excited to see how the young prodigy operates at the helm with a strong squad. Speaking to the media ahead of the 17th season that begins on March 22 in Chennai, Nehra said more than wanting Gill to succeed as a captain, he wants him to become a better person, a natural pathway to becoming a great leader.

"The whole of India, not only me," Nehra said. "He (Gill) is that kind of player. He is someone who is looking to play and looking to do well in all three formats. So we, as a franchise, as a support staff, are really excited to help him grow as a person more than as a captain. If he grows as a person, then he will definitely be a better captain going forward,” the GT head coach added.

Addressing the elephant in the room regarding Gill being a rookie in the leadership group, Nehra backed his ace player to deliver in his maiden stint as IPL captain.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-gavaskar-urges-bcci-to-implement-incentive-scheme-in-ranji-trophy-to-motivate-players-700886">Sunil Gavaskar urges BCCI to implement 'incentive scheme' in Ranji Trophy to motivate players</a>

Nehra said since ten teams play in this cash-rich league, several such instances of players not having enough captaincy experience doing well have been witnessed and will keep making headlines in times to come.

"And you know, Hardik also did not captain anywhere before he captained GT. Now there are ten teams. This is not the first example. You will see more and more people, you know, somebody like Shreyas Iyer, even Nitish Rana did captaincy for KKR.&nbsp;

So, this is a great experience for all these guys, and let's see who capitalises on that and move ahead, again, first as a person then as a player,” Nehra explained.

<h2>GT behind Gill</h2>

Shubman Gill is one of the most promising batters across formats worldwide, let alone from India, and GT’s batting coach, Gary Kirsten, feels this will help him as a leader in the upcoming season. Kirsten added that coaches will assist Gill in getting the best out of his players while backing him to lead the team the way he wants.

“I think the leadership is going to be an important role for him, and I know he's really keen to do the job, and we, as coaches, just need to assist him in making sure he's getting the best out of his players and he's leading the team appropriately, and in the way we want him to lead,” Kirsten said.&nbsp;

Kirsten heaped praises on Gill, saying, he’s determined but must accept the challenges that come his way.&nbsp;

“He's a quality player. He's a thoroughly nice person. He's got massive motivation and determination as an individual, which we've seen when playing for India.&nbsp;

"But like any new leader, he's starting from scratch, and he's going to be met with challenges along the way, and we, as coaches, will just have to assist him along the way,” Kirsten said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, GT will play their IPL 2024 opener against five-time champion Mumbai Indians on Sunday (March 24).

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra is not nervous about newly-elected captain Shubman Gill leading the franchise in IPL 2024; instead, he is excited to see how the young prodigy operates at the helm with a strong squad.

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra is not nervous about newly-elected captain Shubman Gill leading the franchise in IPL 2024; instead, he is excited to see how the young prodigy operates at the helm with a strong squad. Speaking to the media ahead of the 17th season that begins on March 22 in Chennai, Nehra said more than wanting Gill to succeed as a captain, he wants him to become a better person, a natural pathway to becoming a great leader. "The whole of India, not only me," Nehra said. "He (Gill) is that kind of player. He is someone who is looking to play and looking to do well in all three formats. So we, as a franchise, as a support staff, are really excited to help him grow as a person more than as a captain. If he grows as a person, then he will definitely be a better captain going forward,” the GT head coach added. Addressing the elephant in the room regarding Gill being a rookie in the leadership group, Nehra backed his ace player to deliver in his maiden stint as IPL captain. ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar urges BCCI to implement 'incentive scheme' in Ranji Trophy to motivate players Nehra said since ten teams play in this cash-rich league, several such instances of players not having enough captaincy experience doing well have been witnessed and will keep making headlines in times to come. "And you know, Hardik also did not captain anywhere before he captained GT. Now there are ten teams. This is not the first example. You will see more and more people, you know, somebody like Shreyas Iyer, even Nitish Rana did captaincy for KKR. So, this is a great experience for all these guys, and let's see who capitalises on that and move ahead, again, first as a person then as a player,” Nehra explained. GT behind Gill Shubman Gill is one of the most promising batters across formats worldwide, let alone from India, and GT’s batting coach, Gary Kirsten, feels this will help him as a leader in the upcoming season. Kirsten added that coaches will assist Gill in getting the best out of his players while backing him to lead the team the way he wants. “I think the leadership is going to be an important role for him, and I know he's really keen to do the job, and we, as coaches, just need to assist him in making sure he's getting the best out of his players and he's leading the team appropriately, and in the way we want him to lead,” Kirsten said. Kirsten heaped praises on Gill, saying, he’s determined but must accept the challenges that come his way. “He's a quality player. He's a thoroughly nice person. He's got massive motivation and determination as an individual, which we've seen when playing for India. "But like any new leader, he's starting from scratch, and he's going to be met with challenges along the way, and we, as coaches, will just have to assist him along the way,” Kirsten said. Meanwhile, GT will play their IPL 2024 opener against five-time champion Mumbai Indians on Sunday (March 24).

IPL 2024: GT coach Nehra throws weight behind new captain Shubman Gill, says he’s excited to watch him operate

Former Chennai Super Kings batter and IPL great Ambati Rayudu has finally answered the most-asked question – the reason for CSK’s success in the Indian Premier League. A two-time IPL winner with CSK, Rayudu revealed what makes this team the most successful regarding reach, connectivity with fans, and trophies won&nbsp;since the inception of the tournament.

Having retired from the competition last year following Chennai’s joint-most IPL title win (Mumbai Indians too has 5 titles to its name), Rayudu shed light on the dressing room environment and what makes CSK different from other outfits in the tournament.

Rayudu said the approachable nature of the franchise, similar to that of their captain and icon, MS Dhoni, makes all the difference. Rayudu explains how connecting with the fans throughout the season, be it at the team hotel or during the training sessions, increases the bond, making the fans feel they are part of the team.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-praveen-kumar-launches-scathing-attack-on-hardik-pandya-says-why-special-treatment-for-him-700459">IPL 2024: Praveen Kumar launches scathing attack on Hardik Pandya for 'special treatment'</a>

“The biggest connect is CSK being CSK. They are very homely. It's like sitting in your living room. That's how CSK is. They are very approachable, even when you are staying in a hotel, people will come and click pictures with you fans will come and meet you.&nbsp;

“They allow people to meet the players and watch training so there is a sense of connect, and they make the fans feel that it's their own team,” Rayudu said during the 'Star Sports Press Room.

<h2>MS brings everyone together</h2>

Having the reputation of being the most followed man in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni keeps the team together, Rayudu says. The former top-order batter also mentions that with the massive fan following MS has, he is looked up to by everyone, even by Tamil fans worldwide.&nbsp;

“Fans feel like they are playing in the team. They are part of the team, and that's what makes the CSK family a whole lot bigger, and now it's spread across the world, they have a huge fan base and most importantly, they are MS Dhoni fans first, and then CSK fans it's not the other way around," said&nbsp;Rayudu.

“It's he who brings everybody together be it the Tamil-speaking population or anyone around the world. He is that one pillar, who everybody looks up to,” he added.

Chennai Super Kings will play the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore at their home ground in Chepauk on March 22. Veteran MS Dhoni will captain the side in perhaps his final IPL.

Former Chennai Super Kings batter and IPL great Ambati Rayudu has finally answered the most-asked question – the reason for CSK’s success in the Indian Premier League.

Former Chennai Super Kings batter and IPL great Ambati Rayudu has finally answered the most-asked question – the reason for CSK’s success in the Indian Premier League. A two-time IPL winner with CSK, Rayudu revealed what makes this team the most successful regarding reach, connectivity with fans, and trophies won since the inception of the tournament. Having retired from the competition last year following Chennai’s joint-most IPL title win (Mumbai Indians too has 5 titles to its name), Rayudu shed light on the dressing room environment and what makes CSK different from other outfits in the tournament. Rayudu said the approachable nature of the franchise, similar to that of their captain and icon, MS Dhoni, makes all the difference. Rayudu explains how connecting with the fans throughout the season, be it at the team hotel or during the training sessions, increases the bond, making the fans feel they are part of the team. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: Praveen Kumar launches scathing attack on Hardik Pandya for 'special treatment' “The biggest connect is CSK being CSK. They are very homely. It's like sitting in your living room. That's how CSK is. They are very approachable, even when you are staying in a hotel, people will come and click pictures with you fans will come and meet you. “They allow people to meet the players and watch training so there is a sense of connect, and they make the fans feel that it's their own team,” Rayudu said during the 'Star Sports Press Room. MS brings everyone together Having the reputation of being the most followed man in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni keeps the team together, Rayudu says. The former top-order batter also mentions that with the massive fan following MS has, he is looked up to by everyone, even by Tamil fans worldwide. “Fans feel like they are playing in the team. They are part of the team, and that's what makes the CSK family a whole lot bigger, and now it's spread across the world, they have a huge fan base and most importantly, they are MS Dhoni fans first, and then CSK fans it's not the other way around," said Rayudu. “It's he who brings everybody together be it the Tamil-speaking population or anyone around the world. He is that one pillar, who everybody looks up to,” he added. Chennai Super Kings will play the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore at their home ground in Chepauk on March 22. Veteran MS Dhoni will captain the side in perhaps his final IPL.

IPL 2024: Ambati Rayudu ends suspense behind CSK’s success, reveals what makes them connectable with fans

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) have roped in Australian batting talent Jake Fraser-McGurk for the upcoming season after star South African pacer Lungi Ngidi was unable to join the squad due to injury. Fraser-McGurk, having represented Australia in two ODIs will head to the Capitals side and will work with fellow Aussie and coach Ricky Ponting. Ngidi's absence will certainly be a setback for the 2020 IPL runners-up as they will be weakened in the bowling department.

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🚨 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 🚨 
 
Australia's young sensation 𝗝𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝗠𝗰𝗚𝘂𝗿𝗸 is all set to don the DC colours 🔵🔴 for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2024</a> 🫶🏼 
 
He replaces 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗡𝗴𝗶𝗱𝗶 who has been ruled out due to an injury 🔻 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YehHaiNayiDilli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YehHaiNayiDilli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JakeFraserMcGurk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JakeFraserMcGurk</a> <a href="https://t.co/FqxweYmNt9">pic.twitter.com/FqxweYmNt9</a>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1768531025091867075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Delhi announce replacement for Ngidi</h2>

"Delhi Capitals (DC) named all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk as a replacement for Lungisani Ngidi for the upcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024."

"Ngidi, who has played 14 IPL matches and has 25 wickets against his name, was ruled out of the TATA IPL 2024 due to injury."

"Jake Fraser-McGurk has played 2 ODIs for Australia. He joins DC for his reserve price of INR 50 Lakh," read the statement from IPL.

With exactly a week to go for the start of IPL 2024, Delhi had a choice to make to replace the Proteas pacer. However, in a surprise move, Delhi opted to bring in a batter in place of a bowler to strengthen the side. The move made sense after England batter Harry Brook pulled out of the competition.

Interestingly, Fraser-McGurk is not new to the franchise having played for them during the recently concluded ILT20. Representing the Dubai Capitals, Fraser-McGurk scored 109 runs with a top score of 51 and a staggering strike rate of 213.72.

The last 48 hours have been interesting for the Delhi Capitals with the Board of Control for Cricket&nbsp;in India (BCCI) announcing Rishabh Pant fit for IPL. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Brook’s withdrawal came in as a setback for the side.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2024-icc-to-release-additional-tickets-for-13-matches-on-march-19-700176">T20 World Cup 2024: ICC to release additional tickets for 13 matches on March 19</a>

<h2>DC start against Punjab Kings</h2>

DC will start their campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday (Mar 23) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. The home fans in Delhi, however, won’t be able to see Pant in action at least in the first phase of the tournament. Delhi will play three away matches during the first phase of the IPL 2024 while their remaining two matches (technically home games) will be played in Visakhapatnam. The upcoming general elections in India have forced the above-mentioned adjustments for Delhi Capitals.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) have roped in Australian batting talent Jake Fraser-McGurk for the upcoming season after star South African pacer Lungi Ngidi was unable to join the squad due to injury.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) have roped in Australian batting talent Jake Fraser-McGurk for the upcoming season after star South African pacer Lungi Ngidi was unable to join the squad due to injury. Fraser-McGurk, having represented Australia in two ODIs will head to the Capitals side and will work with fellow Aussie and coach Ricky Ponting. Ngidi's absence will certainly be a setback for the 2020 IPL runners-up as they will be weakened in the bowling department. 🚨 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 🚨 Australia's young sensation 𝗝𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝗠𝗰𝗚𝘂𝗿𝗸 is all set to don the DC colours 🔵🔴 for #IPL2024 🫶🏼 He replaces 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗡𝗴𝗶𝗱𝗶 who has been ruled out due to an injury 🔻 #YehHaiNayiDilli #JakeFraserMcGurk pic.twitter.com/FqxweYmNt9 — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 15, 2024 × Delhi announce replacement for Ngidi "Delhi Capitals (DC) named all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk as a replacement for Lungisani Ngidi for the upcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024." "Ngidi, who has played 14 IPL matches and has 25 wickets against his name, was ruled out of the TATA IPL 2024 due to injury." "Jake Fraser-McGurk has played 2 ODIs for Australia. He joins DC for his reserve price of INR 50 Lakh," read the statement from IPL. With exactly a week to go for the start of IPL 2024, Delhi had a choice to make to replace the Proteas pacer. However, in a surprise move, Delhi opted to bring in a batter in place of a bowler to strengthen the side. The move made sense after England batter Harry Brook pulled out of the competition. Interestingly, Fraser-McGurk is not new to the franchise having played for them during the recently concluded ILT20. Representing the Dubai Capitals, Fraser-McGurk scored 109 runs with a top score of 51 and a staggering strike rate of 213.72. The last 48 hours have been interesting for the Delhi Capitals with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcing Rishabh Pant fit for IPL. Meanwhile, Brook’s withdrawal came in as a setback for the side. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup 2024: ICC to release additional tickets for 13 matches on March 19 DC start against Punjab Kings DC will start their campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday (Mar 23) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. The home fans in Delhi, however, won’t be able to see Pant in action at least in the first phase of the tournament. Delhi will play three away matches during the first phase of the IPL 2024 while their remaining two matches (technically home games) will be played in Visakhapatnam. The upcoming general elections in India have forced the above-mentioned adjustments for Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals rope in Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk to replace injured Lungi Ngidi

The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a special treat to cricket fans as India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is all set for a return. Pant, who has been sidelined from cricket since December 2022 after suffering several injuries during a near-fatal car accident has been passed fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and will feature for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. Rishabh ahead of the upcoming season has started preparations with the DC side.

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The Greatest Comeback Story 
 
This story is about inspiration, steely will power and the single-minded focus to get <a href="https://twitter.com/RishabhPant17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RishabhPant17</a> back on the cricket field. We track all those who got the special cricketer back in shape after a deadly car crash. 
 
Part 1 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiracleMan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiracleMan</a>… <a href="https://t.co/ifir9Vplwl">pic.twitter.com/ifir9Vplwl</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1767876644637655068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Rishabh Pant sprints in training session</h2>

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on its official handle shared a video of Pant sprinting during the training session. The video showcased the Indian batter being in the best possible body shape to return to cricket having missed the IPL 2023, World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup in India. In the video Pant was seen sprinting at full strength as he took intense training sessions under the close observation&nbsp;of coach Ricky Ponting in Vizag.

The Indian batter last played competitive cricket in December 2022 when India beat Bangladesh in the two-match Test series. Days after the conclusion of the Test match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Pant met with the accident in Roorkee (a village 213 km East of the Indian capital New Delhi).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mi-vs-rcb-wpl-2024-eliminator-mi-vs-rcb-playing-xi-weather-pitch-live-streaming-all-you-need-to-know-700061">MI vs RCB- WPL 2024 Eliminator: MI vs RCB playing XI, weather, pitch, live streaming | All you need to know</a>

While there was no timeline set for his return, Pant has now managed to prove his fitness and will possibly feature for the Delhi Capitals in the early stage of the season. DC will start their campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday (Mar 23) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh.

<h2>Delhi to start against Punjab Kings</h2>

The home fans in Delhi however, won’t be able to see Pant in action at least in the first phase of the tournament. Delhi Capitals will play three away matches during the first phase of the IPL 2024 while their remaining two matches (technically home games) will be played in Visakhapatnam. The upcoming general elections in India have forced the above-mentioned adjustments for Delhi Capitals.&nbsp;

The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a special treat to cricket fans as India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is all set for a return.

The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a special treat to cricket fans as India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is all set for a return. Pant, who has been sidelined from cricket since December 2022 after suffering several injuries during a near-fatal car accident has been passed fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and will feature for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. Rishabh ahead of the upcoming season has started preparations with the DC side. The Greatest Comeback Story This story is about inspiration, steely will power and the single-minded focus to get @RishabhPant17 back on the cricket field. We track all those who got the special cricketer back in shape after a deadly car crash. Part 1 of the #MiracleMan… pic.twitter.com/ifir9Vplwl — BCCI (@BCCI) March 13, 2024 × Rishabh Pant sprints in training session The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on its official handle shared a video of Pant sprinting during the training session. The video showcased the Indian batter being in the best possible body shape to return to cricket having missed the IPL 2023, World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup in India. In the video Pant was seen sprinting at full strength as he took intense training sessions under the close observation of coach Ricky Ponting in Vizag. The Indian batter last played competitive cricket in December 2022 when India beat Bangladesh in the two-match Test series. Days after the conclusion of the Test match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Pant met with the accident in Roorkee (a village 213 km East of the Indian capital New Delhi). ALSO READ | MI vs RCB- WPL 2024 Eliminator: MI vs RCB playing XI, weather, pitch, live streaming | All you need to know While there was no timeline set for his return, Pant has now managed to prove his fitness and will possibly feature for the Delhi Capitals in the early stage of the season. DC will start their campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday (Mar 23) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. Delhi to start against Punjab Kings The home fans in Delhi however, won’t be able to see Pant in action at least in the first phase of the tournament. Delhi Capitals will play three away matches during the first phase of the IPL 2024 while their remaining two matches (technically home games) will be played in Visakhapatnam. The upcoming general elections in India have forced the above-mentioned adjustments for Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant sprints during training session as star batter prepares for return with DC - Watch

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will get underway in less than 10 days, with Delhi Capitals still seeking clearance on seamer Anrich Nortje, who has resumed bowling in competitive cricket for the first time since September last year. Though his return to action will boost the side's morale, the reality surrounding his workload still looms.

Nortje last played an international game on September 9, 2023, against Australia, bowling just five overs before pulling out with a lumber stress fracture, which kept him out of the 50-over World Cup, the Test series at home against India and the second edition of the SA20 since.&nbsp;

However, the pacer returned to action for the Warriors in a CSA T20 Challenge match against the Tuskers at St George's Park, wherein he conceded 12 runs without picking a wicket. Although he likes bowling with the new ball up front, Nortje bowled the second, sixth, ninth and 15th over in his comeback game.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-likely-to-miss-ipl-2024-start-due-to-recurring-back-injury-reports-699897">Shreyas Iyer likely to miss IPL 2024 start due to recurring back injury - Reports</a>

Speaking with Cricbuzz, Warriors coach Robin Peterson said,&nbsp;"He came through well. His pace was up; he's as quick as I've seen him. He looks happy with his body. Now his target is playing back-to-back competitive games."

While Nortje missed a few games after that for personal reasons, he will return to play the home game against Boland on Sunday.

<h2>Nortje eyes comeback</h2>

Nortje is among those super-fast pacers who have clocked three of the ten quickest balls bowled in the history of IPL, with him searing over 150 Kmph regularly.&nbsp;

Having missed IPL 2019 and the World Cup later that year, Nortje knows what it means to remain on the sidelines for the most important tournaments.

However, Peterson backs Nortje to be mentally ready for the action-packed summer, including the T20 World Cup (in June in the Caribbean and the USA).&nbsp;

"There's always that element of getting confident in the machine again," Peterson said.&nbsp;

"But Anrich is incredibly professional. He's had injuries before, so he's got some sort of formula on how to recover and what to do. The more I watch him bowl, the more he seems fine. He looks fit and healthy. He looks happy."

What was his mental state? "He's rock solid," Peterson said. "He's got no issues. Anrich is a low-maintenance cricketer. He does his work and gets on with it,” the coach added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Nortje will join hands with Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Jhye Richardson at DC ahead of the new season.&nbsp;

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will get underway in less than 10 days, with Delhi Capitals still seeking clearance on seamer Anrich Nortje, who has resumed bowling in competitive cricket for the first time since September last year.

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will get underway in less than 10 days, with Delhi Capitals still seeking clearance on seamer Anrich Nortje, who has resumed bowling in competitive cricket for the first time since September last year. Though his return to action will boost the side's morale, the reality surrounding his workload still looms. Nortje last played an international game on September 9, 2023, against Australia, bowling just five overs before pulling out with a lumber stress fracture, which kept him out of the 50-over World Cup, the Test series at home against India and the second edition of the SA20 since. However, the pacer returned to action for the Warriors in a CSA T20 Challenge match against the Tuskers at St George's Park, wherein he conceded 12 runs without picking a wicket. Although he likes bowling with the new ball up front, Nortje bowled the second, sixth, ninth and 15th over in his comeback game. ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyer likely to miss IPL 2024 start due to recurring back injury - Reports Speaking with Cricbuzz, Warriors coach Robin Peterson said, "He came through well. His pace was up; he's as quick as I've seen him. He looks happy with his body. Now his target is playing back-to-back competitive games." While Nortje missed a few games after that for personal reasons, he will return to play the home game against Boland on Sunday. Nortje eyes comeback Nortje is among those super-fast pacers who have clocked three of the ten quickest balls bowled in the history of IPL, with him searing over 150 Kmph regularly. Having missed IPL 2019 and the World Cup later that year, Nortje knows what it means to remain on the sidelines for the most important tournaments. However, Peterson backs Nortje to be mentally ready for the action-packed summer, including the T20 World Cup (in June in the Caribbean and the USA). "There's always that element of getting confident in the machine again," Peterson said. "But Anrich is incredibly professional. He's had injuries before, so he's got some sort of formula on how to recover and what to do. The more I watch him bowl, the more he seems fine. He looks fit and healthy. He looks happy." What was his mental state? "He's rock solid," Peterson said. "He's got no issues. Anrich is a low-maintenance cricketer. He does his work and gets on with it,” the coach added. Meanwhile, Nortje will join hands with Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Jhye Richardson at DC ahead of the new season.

IPL 2024: Boost for Delhi Capitals as Anrich Nortje returns to bowling in competitive cricket

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) might be changing its name ahead of the start of the new season, if the social media footprint of the club is any indication.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) might be changing its name ahead of the start of the new season, if the social media footprint of the club is any indication. RCB, one of the most popular teams in the history of the cash-rich T20 league might have its name rechristened to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, reflecting the official name of the city. The hint about the name change was dropped in a teaser video released by the club on its social media handles. In the clip, Kannada actor Rishabh Shetty can be seen hinting at the proposed change that will be announced at the RCB Unbox event on March 19. "Understood what Rishabh Shetty is trying to say? You’ll find out at RCB Unbox," RCB said in the critic post. ರಿಷಬ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಎನ್ ಹೇಳ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅರ್ಥ ಆಯ್ತಾ? Understood what Rishabh Shetty is trying to say? You’ll find out at RCB Unbox. Buy your tickets now. 🎟️@shetty_rishab #RCBUnbox #PlayBold #ArthaAytha #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/sSrbf5HFmd — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 13, 2024 × Notably, the state government of Karnata in 2014 changed the name of the city to Bengaluru from Bangalore. Since then, there had been demands that the franchise management change the name but the team stuck with the name adopted in 2008, during the inaugural edition. Also read | IPL 2024: RCB captain Faf du Plessis recalls how he connected instantly with Virat Kohli Fans elated Although the franchise is yet to officially confirm the name change, the video has given joy to the supporters who are elated and hope that it will lead to a turnaround in fortunes. "Thank you RCB management for finally listening to fans. We needed this," said one fan, while another commented: "Finally after so many years, they have made the decision to change Bangalore to BENGALURU. Thank you!" A third added: "Hopefully, the name change brings luck and RCB win their first IPL trophy." Despite being hugely popular among the cricket fans, RCB is yet to win the coveted IPL trophy. The previous 16 seasons have seen the team come perilously close to the title on three separate occasions but falling at the final hurdle. Also read | Mega auctions to be scrapped? IPL chairman Arun Dhumal provides update The last time RCB qualified for the final was in 2016 when Sunrisers Hyderabad stopped Virat Kohli and co. from winning the maiden title. RCB will start their 2024 campaign on the opening day of the tournament by squaring up against defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 22. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024: RCB set for name change? Franchise drops major hint ahead of opening match - Watch

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has revealed that star batter Rishabh Pant could play in the T20 World Cup, scheduled later this year if he can don the wicketkeeping gloves once again.&nbsp;

Pant is set to make his much-awaited comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) later this month, after being involved in a horrific car crash in December 2022.&nbsp;

"He is batting well, he is keeping well. We will declare him fit very soon," Shah told news agency PTI.

"If he can play the T20 World Cup for us, that will be a big thing for us. He is a big asset for us. If he can keep, he can play the World Cup. Let's see how he does in the IPL."

The car crash had caused significant physical damage to Pant who was forced to step back from the game. According to reports, the Indian dasher suffered a severe right knee injury that required ligament reconstruction surgery. He also had a fractured wrist and ankle that took significant physiotherapy to heal.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ben-duckett-hasnt-seen-pant-play-rohit-sharma-schools-english-opener-over-absurd-bazball-remark-697252">Also read |&nbsp;‘Duckett hasn’t seen Pant play’: Rohit Sharma schools English opener over absurd Bazball remark</a>

<h2>Ponting updates on Pant's comeback</h2>

While Shah hinted at Pant's comeback to the national team, his franchise Delhi Capital's head coach Ricky Ponting provided encouraging signs about Pant's participation in the marquee tournament.&nbsp;

“It's a big decision we'll have to make because if he is fit, you'd think he'd step straight back into that captaincy role,” Ponting said.

“If he's not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we've got some decisions to make there,” he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-delhi-capitals-coach-ricky-ponting-offers-clarity-on-rishabh-pants-role-in-upcoming-season-698857">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting offers clarity on Rishabh Pant's role in upcoming season</a>

Ponting updated that Pant has played some practice games and has shown improved fitness throughout the games.

“He's actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us. I know he's worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he's at now. He's kept in one of those games, he's fielded in these games and the batting hasn't seemingly been an issue for him so far," said Ponting.

Prior to the accident, Pant had become a mainstay for the Indian team in nearly all three formats while holding the Delhi franchise together with his scintillating performances.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has revealed that star batter Rishabh Pant could play in the T20 World Cup, scheduled later this year if he can don the wicketkeeping gloves once again.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has revealed that star batter Rishabh Pant could play in the T20 World Cup, scheduled later this year if he can don the wicketkeeping gloves once again. Pant is set to make his much-awaited comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) later this month, after being involved in a horrific car crash in December 2022. "He is batting well, he is keeping well. We will declare him fit very soon," Shah told news agency PTI. "If he can play the T20 World Cup for us, that will be a big thing for us. He is a big asset for us. If he can keep, he can play the World Cup. Let's see how he does in the IPL." The car crash had caused significant physical damage to Pant who was forced to step back from the game. According to reports, the Indian dasher suffered a severe right knee injury that required ligament reconstruction surgery. He also had a fractured wrist and ankle that took significant physiotherapy to heal. Also read | ‘Duckett hasn’t seen Pant play’: Rohit Sharma schools English opener over absurd Bazball remark Ponting updates on Pant's comeback While Shah hinted at Pant's comeback to the national team, his franchise Delhi Capital's head coach Ricky Ponting provided encouraging signs about Pant's participation in the marquee tournament. “It's a big decision we'll have to make because if he is fit, you'd think he'd step straight back into that captaincy role,” Ponting said. “If he's not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we've got some decisions to make there,” he added. Also read | IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting offers clarity on Rishabh Pant's role in upcoming season Ponting updated that Pant has played some practice games and has shown improved fitness throughout the games. “He's actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us. I know he's worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he's at now. He's kept in one of those games, he's fielded in these games and the batting hasn't seemingly been an issue for him so far," said Ponting. Prior to the accident, Pant had become a mainstay for the Indian team in nearly all three formats while holding the Delhi franchise together with his scintillating performances. (With inputs from agencies)

'Pant might play T20 World Cup if he...': BCCI secretary Jay Shah drops major hint

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has confirmed that 'mega auctions' will remain part of the marquee sporting event, ending speculations that BCCI was mulling a proposal to replace it with the English Premier League's player transfer model.

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has confirmed that 'mega auctions' will remain part of the marquee sporting event, ending speculations that BCCI was mulling a proposal to replace it with the English Premier League's player transfer model. The next mega auction will take place after the 2024 season which will allow teams to refresh their entire squads. “We will have the mega auction for sure, where you get to choose three-four players and then you have a new team. That makes it more interesting and that format will continue,” Dhumal told Sportstar. “Hopefully, the mega auction will be as big and as good as we have had earlier given newer talents coming in not from India and other countries. Teams like Afghanistan have also benefitted as they could showcase their talent,” he added. Also read | IPL 2024: RCB captain Faf du Plessis recalls how he connected instantly with Virat Kohli As big as the last one The IPL chief said he hoped that next year's mega auction will be as big as the previous ones. The 2022 mega auction saw 204 players being sold at an estimated collective price of Rs 551 crore ($66.5 million). “Hopefully, the mega auction will be as big and as good as we have had earlier given newer talents coming in not from India and other countries. Teams like Afghanistan have also benefitted as they could showcase their talent,” he added. The mega auctions usually occur every three years in the IPL calendar. During the last window, two new franchises viz. Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Supergiants were added to the fold with the former going on to win the tournament in its rookie season. Also read | 'Don't know what he'll come up with': CSK all-rounder Moeen Ali on MS Dhoni's plans The 2024 IPL season begins on March 22 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Currently, BCCI has only released the schedule for the first two weeks, owing to Lok Sabha elections. Dhumal, however, confirmed that IPL 2024 would end on either May 25 or 26 keeping in mind the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on June 7. (With inputs from agencies)

Mega auctions to be scrapped? IPL chairman Arun Dhumal provides update

Cricket is changing for good, or probably not. From considering Tests as THE format for a good hundred years to putting it in the category of something that is dying a slow death, cricket has evolved quite a lot in recent years. Many worldwide pundits, commentators and even analysts, alongside the decision-makers in the ICC and MCC, have tried to restore the game’s oldest format's pride, but none seemed to have cracked the code.

So, how does anyone get there?&nbsp;

Does playing more Tests, reducing the number, or hoping against hope that the T20 format doesn’t kill it completely, make any difference?&nbsp; 
 
Well, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has it seems found a solution, recommended by Men’s National Team chief selector Ajit Agarkar, called the "Test Cricket Incentive Scheme".

<h2>What happens under this scheme?</h2>

Following India’s famous win in the fifth and the final Test of the home series against England in Dharamsala on Saturday (March 9), Shah posted on his social media handle (X, previously known as Twitter) launching the new scheme that provides Test regulars, who will play more than 75% of the matches scheduled in a season, with a whopping incentive on their match fees.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-secretary-jay-shah-introduces-incentive-scheme-to-protect-and-promote-test-cricket-in-india-698339">BCCI secretary Jay Shah introduces ‘incentive scheme’ to protect and promote Test cricket in India</a>

Considering this scheme will come into effect retrospectively from the 2022-23 season, someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, who played seven out of the nine matches that season (77.7%), will earn INR 45 lakhs per match in addition to his match fee of INR 15 lakhs per game, making it INR 60 lakhs per game. In his case, the sum amounts to INR 4.2 crore (including incentives), compared to INR 1.05 crore he would have earned as a reward for prioritising Test cricket.&nbsp;

The BCCI secretary revealed the purpose behind this, saying this "step aimed at providing financial growth and stability" to Test players.

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I am pleased to announce the initiation of the 'Test Cricket Incentive Scheme' for Senior Men, a step aimed at providing financial growth and stability to our esteemed athletes. Commencing from the 2022-23 season, the 'Test Cricket Incentive Scheme' will serve as an additional… <a href="https://t.co/Rf86sAnmuk">pic.twitter.com/Rf86sAnmuk</a>
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Meanwhile, under this scheme, all those players featuring in 50-75% of Tests in a season will earn INR 30 lakh per Test (outside of their match fees), while those who play less than 50% of the slated games will not be eligible for the benefits under the scheme. This incentive, however, isn't linked to BCCI's annual retainers, which is a separate component.

The BCCI, in a statement, said, "This scheme is not only designed to encourage players to engage in the purest format of the sport but also addresses the evolving dynamics of the cricketing landscape, ensuring parity with match fees in other formats and league cricket."

<h3>How can this change cricket’s dynamics in India first and then worldwide?</h3>

It is not a hidden fact that BCCI is perhaps the most powerful of all cricket boards for the revenue they generate (to pocket 38.5% of the money earned by the ICC), which is heads and shoulders ahead of the second-placed England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which will earn $41 million out of $600 million the ICC is set to make in the next financial cycle.

Now, with how BCCI influences boards on countless grounds, inspiring to save Tests being one of them, this initiative will bring wholesome changes to the mentality of the budding cricketers on making the right calls to prioritise playing Tests rather than running behind money by featuring in franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/explained-where-england-lost-the-test-series-against-india-698591">Explained: Where England lost the Test series against India</a>

With the growing craze among youngsters to prefer the shorter formats, mainly to earn&nbsp;more money, the best players from outside of the Big 3 (India, Australia and England) are remaining unavailable for selection in the longest format, an example of which was the South African squad for the New Zealand tour, which had as many as seven debutants, since all first-team players preferred to playing SA20 – their newest franchise-based T20 tournament.

However, with this scheme coming into action, a sea of changes in the mindset is expected to take centrestage in India, and, who knows, if successful, other boards might follow the same path to ensure their best players are playing Tests, helping it to get back where it belonged.

<h4>What led to this scheme?</h4>

There is always something that leads to something revolutionary. From the Indian cricket perspective, the crucial case of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer led the BCCI’s decision-makers to launch this scheme.

Since Ishan and Iyer remained unavailable for selection for Ranji Trophy matches for their respective teams for separate reasons despite being fit and away from international commitments, it irked the bosses, who warned them otherwise in a second warning.&nbsp;

For not abiding by the instructions laid by the BCCI for the second time, the Indian Cricket Board released both from the annual retainers’ central contract list, sending a strong message to everyone to play the red-ball tournament rather than prioritising IPL.&nbsp;

Ishan will feature for Mumbai Indians, while Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting March 22 in Chennai.&nbsp;

Cricket is changing for good, or probably not. From considering Tests as THE format for a good hundred years to putting it in the category of something that is dying a slow death, cricket has evolved quite a lot in recent years.

Cricket is changing for good, or probably not. From considering Tests as THE format for a good hundred years to putting it in the category of something that is dying a slow death, cricket has evolved quite a lot in recent years. Many worldwide pundits, commentators and even analysts, alongside the decision-makers in the ICC and MCC, have tried to restore the game’s oldest format's pride, but none seemed to have cracked the code. So, how does anyone get there? Does playing more Tests, reducing the number, or hoping against hope that the T20 format doesn’t kill it completely, make any difference? Well, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has it seems found a solution, recommended by Men’s National Team chief selector Ajit Agarkar, called the "Test Cricket Incentive Scheme". What happens under this scheme? Following India’s famous win in the fifth and the final Test of the home series against England in Dharamsala on Saturday (March 9), Shah posted on his social media handle (X, previously known as Twitter) launching the new scheme that provides Test regulars, who will play more than 75% of the matches scheduled in a season, with a whopping incentive on their match fees. ALSO READ: BCCI secretary Jay Shah introduces ‘incentive scheme’ to protect and promote Test cricket in India Considering this scheme will come into effect retrospectively from the 2022-23 season, someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, who played seven out of the nine matches that season (77.7%), will earn INR 45 lakhs per match in addition to his match fee of INR 15 lakhs per game, making it INR 60 lakhs per game. In his case, the sum amounts to INR 4.2 crore (including incentives), compared to INR 1.05 crore he would have earned as a reward for prioritising Test cricket. The BCCI secretary revealed the purpose behind this, saying this "step aimed at providing financial growth and stability" to Test players. I am pleased to announce the initiation of the 'Test Cricket Incentive Scheme' for Senior Men, a step aimed at providing financial growth and stability to our esteemed athletes. Commencing from the 2022-23 season, the 'Test Cricket Incentive Scheme' will serve as an additional… pic.twitter.com/Rf86sAnmuk — Jay Shah (@JayShah) March 9, 2024 × Meanwhile, under this scheme, all those players featuring in 50-75% of Tests in a season will earn INR 30 lakh per Test (outside of their match fees), while those who play less than 50% of the slated games will not be eligible for the benefits under the scheme. This incentive, however, isn't linked to BCCI's annual retainers, which is a separate component. The BCCI, in a statement, said, "This scheme is not only designed to encourage players to engage in the purest format of the sport but also addresses the evolving dynamics of the cricketing landscape, ensuring parity with match fees in other formats and league cricket." How can this change cricket’s dynamics in India first and then worldwide? It is not a hidden fact that BCCI is perhaps the most powerful of all cricket boards for the revenue they generate (to pocket 38.5% of the money earned by the ICC), which is heads and shoulders ahead of the second-placed England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which will earn $41 million out of $600 million the ICC is set to make in the next financial cycle. Now, with how BCCI influences boards on countless grounds, inspiring to save Tests being one of them, this initiative will bring wholesome changes to the mentality of the budding cricketers on making the right calls to prioritise playing Tests rather than running behind money by featuring in franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide. ALSO READ: Explained: Where England lost the Test series against India With the growing craze among youngsters to prefer the shorter formats, mainly to earn more money, the best players from outside of the Big 3 (India, Australia and England) are remaining unavailable for selection in the longest format, an example of which was the South African squad for the New Zealand tour, which had as many as seven debutants, since all first-team players preferred to playing SA20 – their newest franchise-based T20 tournament. However, with this scheme coming into action, a sea of changes in the mindset is expected to take centrestage in India, and, who knows, if successful, other boards might follow the same path to ensure their best players are playing Tests, helping it to get back where it belonged. What led to this scheme? There is always something that leads to something revolutionary. From the Indian cricket perspective, the crucial case of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer led the BCCI’s decision-makers to launch this scheme. Since Ishan and Iyer remained unavailable for selection for Ranji Trophy matches for their respective teams for separate reasons despite being fit and away from international commitments, it irked the bosses, who warned them otherwise in a second warning. For not abiding by the instructions laid by the BCCI for the second time, the Indian Cricket Board released both from the annual retainers’ central contract list, sending a strong message to everyone to play the red-ball tournament rather than prioritising IPL. Ishan will feature for Mumbai Indians, while Iyer will captain Kolkata Knight Riders in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting March 22 in Chennai.

Explained – How BCCI’s new ‘incentive scheme’ initiative will change cricket dynamics in India

Despite being an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), all-rounder Moeen Ali is unaware of captain MS Dhoni's plans for him in the upcoming season.&nbsp;

The 17th edition of IPL gets underway on March 22 with Chennai Super Kings squaring up against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Moeen will be playing his fourth season with the successful franchise.&nbsp;

“I have played three seasons but I don’t know what he is going to come up with. His strategic persona is really good. It is exciting as a player – what role he has for you,” Moeen told Espncricinfo.

With CSK opener Devon Conway ruled out of the first half of the tournament due to a thumb injury sustained during the T20I series against Australia, Moeen might be shifted to top of the order once again.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Moeen might be filling big shoes as the New Zealander was CSK's most prolific run-getter last season - 672 runs in 16 matches with six fifties at a strike rate of 139.70.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-csk-opener-devon-conway-out-for-eight-weeks-with-thumb-injury-696440">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: CSK opener Devon Conway out for eight weeks with thumb injury</a>

<h2>Dhoni is a special player: Moeen&nbsp;</h2>

Regarding speculations that it might be Dhoni's last season in the IPL wearing the canary yellow of CSK, Moeen said the team was focused on defending its title.&nbsp;

“Dhoni is a special player and a special captain. When you are playing for CSK with Dhoni as the captain, whether the team is weak or strong on paper, you always have a chance of winning,” said Moeen.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-rcb-captain-faf-du-plessis-recalls-how-he-connected-instantly-with-virat-kohli-698060">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: RCB captain Faf du Plessis recalls how he connected instantly with Virat Kohli</a>

CSK won the title with Dhoni leading the charge and utilising Moeen up the order to unleash his free-flowing batting prowess. Despite nursing a painful knee injury throughout the season, Dhoni persevered&nbsp;and helped CSK win a fifth title, equaling Mumbai Indians' tally.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The CSK captain joined the pre-season training camp last week in order to get himself match-ready for the opener. His involvement is expected to be a big crowd-puller yet again.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2024

MS Dhoni (c), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly.

Despite being an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), all-rounder Moeen Ali is unaware of captain MS Dhoni's plans for him in the upcoming season.

Despite being an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), all-rounder Moeen Ali is unaware of captain MS Dhoni's plans for him in the upcoming season. The 17th edition of IPL gets underway on March 22 with Chennai Super Kings squaring up against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Moeen will be playing his fourth season with the successful franchise. “I have played three seasons but I don’t know what he is going to come up with. His strategic persona is really good. It is exciting as a player – what role he has for you,” Moeen told Espncricinfo. With CSK opener Devon Conway ruled out of the first half of the tournament due to a thumb injury sustained during the T20I series against Australia, Moeen might be shifted to top of the order once again. Moeen might be filling big shoes as the New Zealander was CSK's most prolific run-getter last season - 672 runs in 16 matches with six fifties at a strike rate of 139.70. Also read | IPL 2024: CSK opener Devon Conway out for eight weeks with thumb injury Dhoni is a special player: Moeen Regarding speculations that it might be Dhoni's last season in the IPL wearing the canary yellow of CSK, Moeen said the team was focused on defending its title. “Dhoni is a special player and a special captain. When you are playing for CSK with Dhoni as the captain, whether the team is weak or strong on paper, you always have a chance of winning,” said Moeen. Also read | IPL 2024: RCB captain Faf du Plessis recalls how he connected instantly with Virat Kohli CSK won the title with Dhoni leading the charge and utilising Moeen up the order to unleash his free-flowing batting prowess. Despite nursing a painful knee injury throughout the season, Dhoni persevered and helped CSK win a fifth title, equaling Mumbai Indians' tally. The CSK captain joined the pre-season training camp last week in order to get himself match-ready for the opener. His involvement is expected to be a big crowd-puller yet again. Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2024 MS Dhoni (c), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly.

'Don't know what he'll come up with': CSK all-rounder Moeen Ali on MS Dhoni's plans

Dinesh Karthik Retirement:&nbsp;Veteran India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will call time on his illustrious Indian Premier League (IPL) career after the upcoming season. According to a report on Thursday (Mar 7), Karthik will end his 17-year association as a player with the IPL as he is in the twilight of his career. Serving for the likes of Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in the last 16 years, the player will end his IPL stint at RCB as they search for their maiden title.

<h2>Karthik to call time on IPL stint</h2>

Karthik, who will turn 39 in June has been doing commentary stints during India’s international matches having been down the pecking order. However, he had forged a role of a pitch-hitter and a finisher in the IPL where he was one of the best in the business. However, according to a report published by Espncricinfo, Karthik’s upcoming season with RCB will be his last as a player, while he is expected to take a commentary role in the future.

Karthik’s retirement will also serve as a landmark moment in IPL with him being one of the seven players to have played in all seasons of the premier tournament. MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Manish Pandey, are the only other players to have played in every season of the IPL. With MS Dhoni also likely to retire after the upcoming season, the tally could be down to five players.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/wpl-2024-gujarat-giants-openers-wolvaardt-mooney-break-multiple-records-with-140-run-partnership-vs-rcb-697345">WPL 2024: Gujarat Giants openers Wolvaardt, Mooney break multiple records with 140-run partnership vs RCB</a>

In his 16 seasons in the IPL so far he played for Daredevils (2008-11), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings - 2011), Mumbai Indians (2012-13), Gujarat Lions (2016-17), Knight Riders (2018-21) and Royal Challengers (2015, 2022-present). During this period Karthik scored 4516 runs in 240 matches with an average of 26 while scoring 20 half centuries. With 133 dismissals as a wicketkeeper, he is only second to MS Dhoni on the list while also scalping 36 stumpings.

The Chennai-born player had a remarkable 2022 IPL season which saw him return to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. During the IPL 2022, he scored 330 runs and was the best finisher in the entire league and kept out Rishabh Pant from the Playing XI during the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Dinesh Karthik Retirement: Veteran India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will call time on his illustrious Indian Premier League (IPL) career after the upcoming season.

Dinesh Karthik Retirement: Veteran India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will call time on his illustrious Indian Premier League (IPL) career after the upcoming season. According to a report on Thursday (Mar 7), Karthik will end his 17-year association as a player with the IPL as he is in the twilight of his career. Serving for the likes of Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in the last 16 years, the player will end his IPL stint at RCB as they search for their maiden title. Karthik to call time on IPL stint Karthik, who will turn 39 in June has been doing commentary stints during India’s international matches having been down the pecking order. However, he had forged a role of a pitch-hitter and a finisher in the IPL where he was one of the best in the business. However, according to a report published by Espncricinfo, Karthik’s upcoming season with RCB will be his last as a player, while he is expected to take a commentary role in the future. Karthik’s retirement will also serve as a landmark moment in IPL with him being one of the seven players to have played in all seasons of the premier tournament. MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Manish Pandey, are the only other players to have played in every season of the IPL. With MS Dhoni also likely to retire after the upcoming season, the tally could be down to five players. ALSO READ | WPL 2024: Gujarat Giants openers Wolvaardt, Mooney break multiple records with 140-run partnership vs RCB In his 16 seasons in the IPL so far he played for Daredevils (2008-11), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings - 2011), Mumbai Indians (2012-13), Gujarat Lions (2016-17), Knight Riders (2018-21) and Royal Challengers (2015, 2022-present). During this period Karthik scored 4516 runs in 240 matches with an average of 26 while scoring 20 half centuries. With 133 dismissals as a wicketkeeper, he is only second to MS Dhoni on the list while also scalping 36 stumpings. The Chennai-born player had a remarkable 2022 IPL season which saw him return to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. During the IPL 2022, he scored 330 runs and was the best finisher in the entire league and kept out Rishabh Pant from the Playing XI during the T20 World Cup in Australia.

IPL 2024: Veteran RCB batter Dinesh Karthik to retire after upcoming season, calls time after 17 seasons

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is just around the corner as 10 teams will battle it out to win the biggest prize in franchise cricket. Considered the biggest tournament in the world in terms of financial power, the IPL has well and truly captured the imagination of the global audience. For many, it is the equivalent version of the English Premier League, which has a worldwide audience and attracts a fan base from different corners of the world. So is the IPL really an equivalent version of the Premier League as we decode several aspects?

<h2>Financial model</h2>

Both the Premier League and the IPL have a huge financial pool and generate the highest income in their respective sports. The Premier League's increasing popularity has seen its stocks rise through broadcasting rights while the same is seen with the IPL. Currently, Sky Sports in England pays more than $4 billion to broadcast the Premier League while TNT Sports and Amazon Prime also have match broadcasting rights.

For the IPL, its TV deal sold in 2023 saw them bag more than $100 million. While it is comparatively low considering the Premier League, it is still the highest for any franchise cricket league in the world. IPL generates the majority of its income through its TV and digital rights sales which are currently held by Star Sports (TV) and Jio Cinema (Digital). According to a report, one IPL match is currently valued at more than $15 million.

<h2>Player attractions</h2>

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe may have never played in the Premier League, but that did not stop it from being the biggest football model. The Premier League is currently home to some of the finest talents in the world including Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and others. No other league in Europe currently has a star-studded line-up of players than the Premier League. While Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A have good potential talents, it is still miles away from the Premier League.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fastest-ball-mumbai-indians-shabnim-ismail-sets-new-record-in-womens-cricket-during-wpl-2024-contest-697058">WPL 2024: Mumbai Indians' Shabnim Ismail throws fastest ball in women's cricket vs Delhi Capitals</a>

In comparison, there are franchise cricket leagues in South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh and other countries. However, these leagues are no competition to the IPL as star names (mostly from India) don’t compete in the league. Indian stars like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma do not compete in other franchise leagues which has seen their stocks go down. Indian cricket players have a huge fan following on social media sites and them not competing in such leagues hampers the stocks of the leagues.

The 2007 launched Indian Cricket League (ICL) also suffered from a lack of star names competing in the league. The ICL was later abandoned with the rise of the IPL in India where players also got big salaries.

<h2>The fan base and rivalries</h2>

The English Premier League’s popularity is mostly derived from the history of the teams competing in it. Clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and others have been part of the English sports culture since the late 19th century. The loyal fan base has contributed to the rise of popularity in the nation. The old division football was transformed into the Premier League in the 1992-93 season under a new brand. Rivalries like Manchester United vs Liverpool and Tottenham vs Arsenal have been the feature of the Premier League which has contributed to the popularity of the league.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ranji-trophy-202324-vidarbha-beat-mp-by-62-runs-to-lock-horns-with-mumbai-in-mega-final-697121">Ranji Trophy 2023/24: Vidarbha beat MP by 62 runs, to lock horns with Mumbai in mega final</a>

On the other side, IPL does not have a rich history as clubs only came into existence in 2008 under the regime of star owners. However, like the Premier League, the IPL has delivered rivalries that have again attracted the fan base. The rivalry between Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians is considered equivalent to Manchester United vs Liverpool as the former two are the most successful clubs in the history of the tournament.&nbsp; The majority of the IPL teams like Premier League sides have a loyal fan base including club shops and a good social media presence.

<h2>Earnings</h2>

Star players in the Premier League on average earn $250,000 per week while some big names like Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are on even bigger wages. Comparing that to the earnings of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, there isn’t too much difference. Virat Kohli reportedly earns $2 million for the eight weeks of IPL. Breaking it down, he earns, approximately $250,000 per week during the IPL season, which is the same in the Premier League.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is just around the corner as 10 teams will battle it out to win the biggest prize in franchise cricket. Considered the biggest tournament in the world in terms of financial power, the IPL has well and truly captured the imagination of the global audience.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is just around the corner as 10 teams will battle it out to win the biggest prize in franchise cricket. Considered the biggest tournament in the world in terms of financial power, the IPL has well and truly captured the imagination of the global audience. For many, it is the equivalent version of the English Premier League, which has a worldwide audience and attracts a fan base from different corners of the world. So is the IPL really an equivalent version of the Premier League as we decode several aspects? Financial model Both the Premier League and the IPL have a huge financial pool and generate the highest income in their respective sports. The Premier League's increasing popularity has seen its stocks rise through broadcasting rights while the same is seen with the IPL. Currently, Sky Sports in England pays more than $4 billion to broadcast the Premier League while TNT Sports and Amazon Prime also have match broadcasting rights. For the IPL, its TV deal sold in 2023 saw them bag more than $100 million. While it is comparatively low considering the Premier League, it is still the highest for any franchise cricket league in the world. IPL generates the majority of its income through its TV and digital rights sales which are currently held by Star Sports (TV) and Jio Cinema (Digital). According to a report, one IPL match is currently valued at more than $15 million. Player attractions Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe may have never played in the Premier League, but that did not stop it from being the biggest football model. The Premier League is currently home to some of the finest talents in the world including Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and others. No other league in Europe currently has a star-studded line-up of players than the Premier League. While Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A have good potential talents, it is still miles away from the Premier League. ALSO READ | WPL 2024: Mumbai Indians' Shabnim Ismail throws fastest ball in women's cricket vs Delhi Capitals In comparison, there are franchise cricket leagues in South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh and other countries. However, these leagues are no competition to the IPL as star names (mostly from India) don’t compete in the league. Indian stars like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma do not compete in other franchise leagues which has seen their stocks go down. Indian cricket players have a huge fan following on social media sites and them not competing in such leagues hampers the stocks of the leagues. The 2007 launched Indian Cricket League (ICL) also suffered from a lack of star names competing in the league. The ICL was later abandoned with the rise of the IPL in India where players also got big salaries. The fan base and rivalries The English Premier League’s popularity is mostly derived from the history of the teams competing in it. Clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and others have been part of the English sports culture since the late 19th century. The loyal fan base has contributed to the rise of popularity in the nation. The old division football was transformed into the Premier League in the 1992-93 season under a new brand. Rivalries like Manchester United vs Liverpool and Tottenham vs Arsenal have been the feature of the Premier League which has contributed to the popularity of the league. ALSO READ | Ranji Trophy 2023/24: Vidarbha beat MP by 62 runs, to lock horns with Mumbai in mega final On the other side, IPL does not have a rich history as clubs only came into existence in 2008 under the regime of star owners. However, like the Premier League, the IPL has delivered rivalries that have again attracted the fan base. The rivalry between Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians is considered equivalent to Manchester United vs Liverpool as the former two are the most successful clubs in the history of the tournament. The majority of the IPL teams like Premier League sides have a loyal fan base including club shops and a good social media presence. Earnings Star players in the Premier League on average earn $250,000 per week while some big names like Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are on even bigger wages. Comparing that to the earnings of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, there isn’t too much difference. Virat Kohli reportedly earns $2 million for the eight weeks of IPL. Breaking it down, he earns, approximately $250,000 per week during the IPL season, which is the same in the Premier League.

Explained: Why IPL is cricket's equivalent version to English Premier League

After a lengthy spell away from the cricketing field, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is gearing up for a comeback in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of his return to the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise, Pandya made surprising remarks about his personal batting milestones.&nbsp;

Pandya said during a show that he does not believe in scoring 50s or 100s and that statistics were a waste of time for him. During the show, Pandya was quizzed about the number of&nbsp;half-centuries he had scored in the tournament.&nbsp;

When someone from crowd shouted the answer, which was 10, Pandya was surprised&nbsp;and said:&nbsp;"I have that many? Wow."

Upon being asked to pick his favourite half-century, Hardik replied to one of the audience member:&nbsp;"I don't like the innings where we lost."

After this, another person&nbsp;mentioned his 21-ball 60-run knock against Rajasthan Royals from IPL 2020, but it was also rejected by Pandya.

"We lost that too. I don't believe in 50s or 100s. Stats are just numbers; it's a waste of time," said Hardik.

Pandya's statement divided the internet akin to the way his national teammate KL Rahul did when he said strike rate was an overrated metric to assess a player's performance.&nbsp;

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)&nbsp;skipper last year said the obsession with strike rate should be taken into perspective by looking at the context of the game.&nbsp;

“I think the strike rate is overrated. But it depends upon the demand, like if you chase 140 – you don’t need to go with 200 strike rate – it depends upon the current situation,” said Rahul.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-returns-to-competitive-cricket-for-first-time-since-suffering-ankle-injury-694038">Also read |&nbsp;Hardik Pandya returns to competitive cricket for first time since suffering ankle injury</a>

<h2>Pandya's return&nbsp;</h2>

Pandya was last seen in action on the international stage during the ODI World Cup last year where he played a key part in India's title hunt before being ruled out due to an ankle injury.&nbsp;

After a lengthy time away from the game, Pandya appeared in a few domestic games last month and will be featuring for MI as IPL gets underway later this month. His surprise return to MI will be the talking point as he replaces&nbsp;Rohit Sharma as the captain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After a lengthy spell away from the cricketing field, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is gearing up for a comeback in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After a lengthy spell away from the cricketing field, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is gearing up for a comeback in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of his return to the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise, Pandya made surprising remarks about his personal batting milestones. Pandya said during a show that he does not believe in scoring 50s or 100s and that statistics were a waste of time for him. During the show, Pandya was quizzed about the number of half-centuries he had scored in the tournament. When someone from crowd shouted the answer, which was 10, Pandya was surprised and said: "I have that many? Wow." Upon being asked to pick his favourite half-century, Hardik replied to one of the audience member: "I don't like the innings where we lost." After this, another person mentioned his 21-ball 60-run knock against Rajasthan Royals from IPL 2020, but it was also rejected by Pandya. "We lost that too. I don't believe in 50s or 100s. Stats are just numbers; it's a waste of time," said Hardik. Pandya's statement divided the internet akin to the way his national teammate KL Rahul did when he said strike rate was an overrated metric to assess a player's performance. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper last year said the obsession with strike rate should be taken into perspective by looking at the context of the game. “I think the strike rate is overrated. But it depends upon the demand, like if you chase 140 – you don’t need to go with 200 strike rate – it depends upon the current situation,” said Rahul. Also read | Hardik Pandya returns to competitive cricket for first time since suffering ankle injury Pandya's return Pandya was last seen in action on the international stage during the ODI World Cup last year where he played a key part in India's title hunt before being ruled out due to an ankle injury. After a lengthy time away from the game, Pandya appeared in a few domestic games last month and will be featuring for MI as IPL gets underway later this month. His surprise return to MI will be the talking point as he replaces Rohit Sharma as the captain. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Don’t believe in 50s or 100s,’ says Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL return to MI

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is all set to kick off on March 22 as franchises flex their muscle to conquer the crown in the country’s biggest franchise league. One of the prime candidates to win the IPL 2024 title will be five-time champions Mumbai Indians who will be under new leadership from the upcoming campaign. Hardik Pandya, who will resume his second stint with the Mumbai-based side, reflected on his journey and called the 2015 season as his best having won the title that year.

<h2>Hardik on 2015 IPL</h2>

“The first title holds a special place in my memory as it (2015) was the best year of my career. My two best performances came in the knockout stage of the season’s IPL, so It goes down as a memorable moment for me,” Hardik said while speaking in a programme in Mumbai.

Pandya, who returned to Mumbai on the deadline day of the trade window in November, will take over from Rohit Sharma, who successfully led the franchise to five IPL titles during his stint as the skipper of the side. He now joins the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Ricky Ponting to lead the record IPL champions.

The announcement on December 15 came as a big surprise for the cricket fraternity after Rohit decided to step down from his role as captain.&nbsp;Pandya, having led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the previous two seasons, will now look to help his new team, Mumbai Indians, clinch the title.

Interestingly, Pandya's first year with GT saw him lead them to glory after beating Rajasthan Royals in the final of the 2022 tournament. Pandya also acts as deputy to Rohit in the Indian cricket team but is currently nursing an injury.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/psl-franchise-owner-calls-out-pakistan-cricket-over-humiliating-pacer-haris-rauf-696295">PSL franchise owner calls out Pakistan Cricket over 'humiliating' pacer Haris Rauf</a>

<h2>Rohit’s stint as captain</h2>

Rohit took over the captaincy&nbsp;in 2013 from Ricky Ponting in the middle of the season and led the team to their first IPL title.&nbsp; He then led Mumbai to victories in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 during which Pandya was part of the side. Rohit went on to become the most successful captain in the history of the tournament. Later, MS Dhoni in 2023 helped his team Chennai Super Kings bag the title for the fifth time and joined Rohit Sharma to achieve the feat of most titles.&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is all set to kick off on March 22 as franchises flex their muscle to conquer the crown in the country’s biggest franchise league.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is all set to kick off on March 22 as franchises flex their muscle to conquer the crown in the country’s biggest franchise league. One of the prime candidates to win the IPL 2024 title will be five-time champions Mumbai Indians who will be under new leadership from the upcoming campaign. Hardik Pandya, who will resume his second stint with the Mumbai-based side, reflected on his journey and called the 2015 season as his best having won the title that year. Hardik on 2015 IPL “The first title holds a special place in my memory as it (2015) was the best year of my career. My two best performances came in the knockout stage of the season’s IPL, so It goes down as a memorable moment for me,” Hardik said while speaking in a programme in Mumbai. Pandya, who returned to Mumbai on the deadline day of the trade window in November, will take over from Rohit Sharma, who successfully led the franchise to five IPL titles during his stint as the skipper of the side. He now joins the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Ricky Ponting to lead the record IPL champions. The announcement on December 15 came as a big surprise for the cricket fraternity after Rohit decided to step down from his role as captain. Pandya, having led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the previous two seasons, will now look to help his new team, Mumbai Indians, clinch the title. Interestingly, Pandya's first year with GT saw him lead them to glory after beating Rajasthan Royals in the final of the 2022 tournament. Pandya also acts as deputy to Rohit in the Indian cricket team but is currently nursing an injury. ALSO READ | PSL franchise owner calls out Pakistan Cricket over 'humiliating' pacer Haris Rauf Rohit’s stint as captain Rohit took over the captaincy in 2013 from Ricky Ponting in the middle of the season and led the team to their first IPL title. He then led Mumbai to victories in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 during which Pandya was part of the side. Rohit went on to become the most successful captain in the history of the tournament. Later, MS Dhoni in 2023 helped his team Chennai Super Kings bag the title for the fifth time and joined Rohit Sharma to achieve the feat of most titles.

IPL 2024: The maiden title holds a special place in memory - Hardik Pandya reflects on first stint with MI

Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, Sourav Ganguly, has revealed when the National Cricket Academy will give the fitness clearance certificate to Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2024. As per Ganguly, the NCA in Bengaluru will clear Pant to participate in the IPL on March 5.

Pant, who was appointed DC’s captain after the franchise didn’t retain their previous skipper, Shreyas Iyer, met with a road accident on New Year's Eve in 2022, suffering several serious injuries. Although the locals saved him and succeeded in pulling him out of the burning car, Pant had to undergo several surgeries on his knees and other joints to stand tall.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-cummins-to-captain-sunrisers-hyderabad-as-steyn-part-ways-as-bowling-coach-for-this-season-reports-695903">IPL 2024: Cummins to captain SunRisers Hyderabad as Steyn part ways as bowling coach for this season - Reports</a>

With the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League approaching (starting on March 22 in Chennai), Ganguly responded to queries related to Pant in an exclusive chat with the Times of India (TOI). 
 
When asked if Delhi is looking at alternative options in case Pant fails to get a fitness clearance from the NCA, Ganguly said, “He has done everything to get fit, and that’s the reason NCA will clear him.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pushing the limits 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RP17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RP17</a> <a href="https://t.co/XyDmSWic3H">pic.twitter.com/XyDmSWic3H</a>
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishabhPant17/status/1762429192879079516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Let Rishabh get cleared on March 5, only then we’ll talk about captaincy backups. We are taking a cautious approach with him because he has a very long career ahead of him.”&nbsp;

“We don’t want to push him in excitement. We will see how Rishabh reacts. He will be joining the camp once NCA gives him the clearance. We will see match by match. We can’t predict,” the former India captain added.

<h2>Will Pant keep wickets? Ganguly answers</h2>

While Pant is almost sure to return to the playing XI for the upcoming season of the IPL, Ganguly revealed he might not take up the wicketkeeping duties.

"As for wicketkeeping options, there’s Kumar Kushagra. Ricky Bhui has had a very good season. There is Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs," Ganguly said.

"Rishabh coming back fit is a huge addition for us. We hope he plays the full season because he is a very special player. We have worked on some domestic players who have done well in all formats, but Rishabh is very important,” BCCI’s former president noted.

Meanwhile, the Indian Cricket Board has so far announced fixtures only until April 7 and will list out the remaining ones after the Indian government announces the date of the general elections.&nbsp;

Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, Sourav Ganguly, has revealed when the National Cricket Academy will give the fitness clearance certificate to Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2024.

Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, Sourav Ganguly, has revealed when the National Cricket Academy will give the fitness clearance certificate to Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2024. As per Ganguly, the NCA in Bengaluru will clear Pant to participate in the IPL on March 5. Pant, who was appointed DC’s captain after the franchise didn’t retain their previous skipper, Shreyas Iyer, met with a road accident on New Year's Eve in 2022, suffering several serious injuries. Although the locals saved him and succeeded in pulling him out of the burning car, Pant had to undergo several surgeries on his knees and other joints to stand tall. ALSO READ: IPL 2024: Cummins to captain SunRisers Hyderabad as Steyn part ways as bowling coach for this season - Reports With the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League approaching (starting on March 22 in Chennai), Ganguly responded to queries related to Pant in an exclusive chat with the Times of India (TOI). When asked if Delhi is looking at alternative options in case Pant fails to get a fitness clearance from the NCA, Ganguly said, “He has done everything to get fit, and that’s the reason NCA will clear him.” Pushing the limits 💪#RP17 pic.twitter.com/XyDmSWic3H — Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) February 27, 2024 × “Let Rishabh get cleared on March 5, only then we’ll talk about captaincy backups. We are taking a cautious approach with him because he has a very long career ahead of him.” “We don’t want to push him in excitement. We will see how Rishabh reacts. He will be joining the camp once NCA gives him the clearance. We will see match by match. We can’t predict,” the former India captain added. Will Pant keep wickets? Ganguly answers While Pant is almost sure to return to the playing XI for the upcoming season of the IPL, Ganguly revealed he might not take up the wicketkeeping duties. "As for wicketkeeping options, there’s Kumar Kushagra. Ricky Bhui has had a very good season. There is Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs," Ganguly said. "Rishabh coming back fit is a huge addition for us. We hope he plays the full season because he is a very special player. We have worked on some domestic players who have done well in all formats, but Rishabh is very important,” BCCI’s former president noted. Meanwhile, the Indian Cricket Board has so far announced fixtures only until April 7 and will list out the remaining ones after the Indian government announces the date of the general elections.

Sourav Ganguly on when will NCA clear Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2024

Australia captain Pat Cummins is the frontrunner to replace Aiden Markram as SunRisers Hyderabad’s new captain, as per the latest reports. The Orange Army bought the Aussie speedster for a record fee of INR 20.75 crore at last year’s IPL auction, making him the second-most expensive player in the tournament history.

Cummins led Australia to their sixth world title in November last year, beating home team India in the World Cup final at Ahmedabad. Cummins also helped Australia win their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title, against India.

Considering SRH’s head coach, Daniel Vettori, has worked closely with Cummins on the national team, it could influence SRH’s decision to name Pat the new skipper.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-rejected-bccis-offer-to-play-in-england-tests-reports-695866">Ishan Kishan rejected BCCI’s offer to play in England Tests – Reports</a>

Although Markram has led the team in the past two seasons, he couldn’t help SRH taste success. On the other hand, Markram is a proven leader in South Africa’s SA20 League, having led SunRisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back titles.

<h2>Steyn to take a break from coaching duties</h2>

Dale Steyn, SRH’s bowling coach, will take a break from his coaching duties for the upcoming season, requesting permission for the same. As per Cricbuzz, Steyn has informed the team management and the franchise owners about his decision.&nbsp;

The right-arm seamer is expected to return next season, pending all necessary arrangements and requirements.

With Steyn leaving, the SRH is bound to look out for a new bowling coach for the upcoming season, the decision of which will revolve around Vettori.

Steyn represented a few franchises in the tournament, from now-defunct Deccan Charges to the SunRisers Hyderabad. His brief stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore also adds to the list. Upon returning to the Orange Army as the bowling coach in 2022, Steyn was credited for training and bringing a rookie like Umran Malik on the international scene, who broke the internet with his supreme pace.

The pace bowler recently earned a central contract from the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).&nbsp;

SunRisers Hyderabad will play Kolkata Knight Riders in an away clash on March 23.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is the frontrunner to replace Aiden Markram as SunRisers Hyderabad’s new captain, as per the latest reports. The Orange Army bought the Aussie speedster for a record fee of INR 20.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is the frontrunner to replace Aiden Markram as SunRisers Hyderabad’s new captain, as per the latest reports. The Orange Army bought the Aussie speedster for a record fee of INR 20.75 crore at last year’s IPL auction, making him the second-most expensive player in the tournament history. Cummins led Australia to their sixth world title in November last year, beating home team India in the World Cup final at Ahmedabad. Cummins also helped Australia win their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title, against India. Considering SRH’s head coach, Daniel Vettori, has worked closely with Cummins on the national team, it could influence SRH’s decision to name Pat the new skipper. ALSO READ: Ishan Kishan rejected BCCI’s offer to play in England Tests – Reports Although Markram has led the team in the past two seasons, he couldn’t help SRH taste success. On the other hand, Markram is a proven leader in South Africa’s SA20 League, having led SunRisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back titles. Steyn to take a break from coaching duties Dale Steyn, SRH’s bowling coach, will take a break from his coaching duties for the upcoming season, requesting permission for the same. As per Cricbuzz, Steyn has informed the team management and the franchise owners about his decision. The right-arm seamer is expected to return next season, pending all necessary arrangements and requirements. With Steyn leaving, the SRH is bound to look out for a new bowling coach for the upcoming season, the decision of which will revolve around Vettori. Steyn represented a few franchises in the tournament, from now-defunct Deccan Charges to the SunRisers Hyderabad. His brief stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore also adds to the list. Upon returning to the Orange Army as the bowling coach in 2022, Steyn was credited for training and bringing a rookie like Umran Malik on the international scene, who broke the internet with his supreme pace. The pace bowler recently earned a central contract from the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). SunRisers Hyderabad will play Kolkata Knight Riders in an away clash on March 23.

IPL 2024: Cummins to captain SunRisers Hyderabad as Steyn parts ways as bowling coach this season - Reports

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar opined on Rishabh Pant's much-awaited comeback during the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, which kicks off on March 22. Pant will return to competitive cricket after his horrific car crash in December 2022. Gavaskar feels&nbsp;Pant should only be reinstated as the&nbsp;Delhi Capitals (DC) captain&nbsp;if he is fully fit.

<h2>'Let's not rush him into doing something that there will be a setback'</h2>

Talking to Star Sports, Gavaskar said, "He certainly has the ability to think on his feet. If he gets back to full fitness, the reins of (Delhi Capitals) captaincy should be handed over to him. Let's stay hopeful. This season is the first of him coming back to full fitness. Let's not rush him into doing something that there will be a setback. Knee plays a pivotal role in batting as well as keeping -- which, of course, he may not do initially. Maybe he won't be the usual Rishabh Pant that we are used to seeing."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-star-virat-kohli-deserves-to-lift-the-ipl-trophy-says-suresh-raina-ahead-of-2024-edition-694648">RCB star Virat Kohli deserves to lift the IPL trophy, says Suresh Raina ahead of 2024 edition</a>

He added, "I'm also a big fan of him. For me, the most important thing is he should be healthy like before so that he can come and entertain us. It will be very difficult for him and it will take some time for him to get that batting fluency. But good that he has started training."

DC's co-owner Parth Jindal recently revealed that Pant will lead the DC franchise in the upcoming season, however, he won't keep wickets during the first half of the season.&nbsp;

It will be interesting to see how Pant is used by the DC franchise at the start of the season. Given that he is returning to competitive cricket after a long break, and a major accident, the team management will be eager to take it slowly with him and monitor his workload smartly.

DC squad for IPL 2024:

Rishabh Pant (c), Pravin Dubey, David Warner, Vicky Ostwal, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Abishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Lungi Ngidi, Lalit Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mitchell Marsh, Ishant Sharma, Yash Dhull, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara.

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar opined on Rishabh Pant's much-awaited comeback during the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, which kicks off on March 22.

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar opined on Rishabh Pant's much-awaited comeback during the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, which kicks off on March 22. Pant will return to competitive cricket after his horrific car crash in December 2022. Gavaskar feels Pant should only be reinstated as the Delhi Capitals (DC) captain if he is fully fit. 'Let's not rush him into doing something that there will be a setback' Talking to Star Sports, Gavaskar said, "He certainly has the ability to think on his feet. If he gets back to full fitness, the reins of (Delhi Capitals) captaincy should be handed over to him. Let's stay hopeful. This season is the first of him coming back to full fitness. Let's not rush him into doing something that there will be a setback. Knee plays a pivotal role in batting as well as keeping -- which, of course, he may not do initially. Maybe he won't be the usual Rishabh Pant that we are used to seeing." Also read: RCB star Virat Kohli deserves to lift the IPL trophy, says Suresh Raina ahead of 2024 edition He added, "I'm also a big fan of him. For me, the most important thing is he should be healthy like before so that he can come and entertain us. It will be very difficult for him and it will take some time for him to get that batting fluency. But good that he has started training." DC's co-owner Parth Jindal recently revealed that Pant will lead the DC franchise in the upcoming season, however, he won't keep wickets during the first half of the season. It will be interesting to see how Pant is used by the DC franchise at the start of the season. Given that he is returning to competitive cricket after a long break, and a major accident, the team management will be eager to take it slowly with him and monitor his workload smartly. DC squad for IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant (c), Pravin Dubey, David Warner, Vicky Ostwal, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Abishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Lungi Ngidi, Lalit Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mitchell Marsh, Ishant Sharma, Yash Dhull, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara.

'Let's not...': Sunil Gavaskar opines on Rishabh Pant's awaited comeback during IPL 2024

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, which kicks off on March 22, former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina has backed Virat Kohli to get his hand on the coveted trophy for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Raina feels Kohli has been exceptional for the RCB over the years, having played for the franchise since the tournament's inception, and deserves to win the IPL for his loyalty and commitment towards the team.

Speaking to TOI, Raina said, "Virat deserves a trophy. He has done so well for the Indian team and RCB for years. He has had a lot of success at RCB and his fans deserve to hold a trophy for him."&nbsp;

Kohli has been a force to reckon with as part of the RCB franchise since 2008. He has amassed&nbsp;7263&nbsp;runs in 237 IPL games, all for the Bengaluru-based team, at a strike rate of&nbsp;130.02 with seven hundreds. He served as the full-time captain from 2013-2021, leading the side to 66 wins in 140 matches. Under him, RCB came close to winning the title in IPL 2016 but lost the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-the-next-ms-dhoni-suresh-raina-lauds-rohit-sharma-after-indias-test-series-win-over-england-694410">‘He is the next MS Dhoni’ - Suresh Raina lauds Rohit Sharma after India’s Test series win over England</a>

Raina also opined on MS Dhoni, who returns to competitive cricket after a year during IPL 2024. While there are strong rumours of the upcoming edition being Dhoni's last-ever appearance in the tournament, Raina shared his take on Dhoni's IPL future.

"I have no idea about this. But he is working really hard. He is looking really fit. This is up to him. He will be in a yellow jersey and entertain the fans. Fans just love him. He will do really well I am sure. He has given a lot to cricket," Raina added.

Dhoni's&nbsp;Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Faf du Plessis-led&nbsp;RCB in the IPL 2024 opener in Chennai on March 22. Thus, the 17th edition&nbsp;will kick off with a Dhoni vs Kohli face-off.&nbsp;

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, which kicks off on March 22, former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina has backed Virat Kohli to get his hand on the coveted trophy for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, which kicks off on March 22, former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina has backed Virat Kohli to get his hand on the coveted trophy for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Raina feels Kohli has been exceptional for the RCB over the years, having played for the franchise since the tournament's inception, and deserves to win the IPL for his loyalty and commitment towards the team. Speaking to TOI, Raina said, "Virat deserves a trophy. He has done so well for the Indian team and RCB for years. He has had a lot of success at RCB and his fans deserve to hold a trophy for him." Kohli has been a force to reckon with as part of the RCB franchise since 2008. He has amassed 7263 runs in 237 IPL games, all for the Bengaluru-based team, at a strike rate of 130.02 with seven hundreds. He served as the full-time captain from 2013-2021, leading the side to 66 wins in 140 matches. Under him, RCB came close to winning the title in IPL 2016 but lost the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Also read: ‘He is the next MS Dhoni’ - Suresh Raina lauds Rohit Sharma after India’s Test series win over England Raina also opined on MS Dhoni, who returns to competitive cricket after a year during IPL 2024. While there are strong rumours of the upcoming edition being Dhoni's last-ever appearance in the tournament, Raina shared his take on Dhoni's IPL future. "I have no idea about this. But he is working really hard. He is looking really fit. This is up to him. He will be in a yellow jersey and entertain the fans. Fans just love him. He will do really well I am sure. He has given a lot to cricket," Raina added. Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Faf du Plessis-led RCB in the IPL 2024 opener in Chennai on March 22. Thus, the 17th edition will kick off with a Dhoni vs Kohli face-off.

RCB star Virat Kohli deserves to lift the IPL trophy, says Suresh Raina ahead of 2024 edition