Former South African skipper AB de Villiers on Wednesday announced retirement from all form of cricket with immediate effect.&nbsp;

He announced the decision on his official Twitter handle.&nbsp;

The right-handed batsman said he is 'tired'&nbsp;and is the right time for him to hang his boots.

Minutes after the decision, his Twitter was flooded with people expressing their surprise over the news.

While some praised his way of playing cricket during crucial stages, some termed him an all time entertainer.&nbsp;

His IPL team Bangalore also raised a question over his sudden decision but wished him luck for his future endeavours.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Sudden but we're confident there was immense thought and contemplation behind the decision. You have to come back to Bengaluru in 2019 ❤️? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mr360?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mr360</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/dWNlH5Ygoo">https://t.co/dWNlH5Ygoo</a>
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/999252303650541573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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AB de Villiers retires from International cricket, one of the two extreme allrounders in cricket along with TM Dilshan. Both batted and bowled in all positions, kept wickets, captained and brilliant fielders. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a>
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/daniel86cricket/status/999249144555425792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The man who showed the world that batting 360° is an easy task. All the best for your future endeavours <a href="https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABdeVilliers17</a>, thank you for all the unforgettable memories! <a href="https://t.co/9r4AAQDKfj">pic.twitter.com/9r4AAQDKfj</a>
— R P Singh (@rpsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rpsingh/status/999255309519544323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Breaking?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Breaking</a> AB de Villiers announces retirement from all forms of international cricket. 
Thank you for all the entertainment, champ <a href="https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABdeVilliers17</a>
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhaleraosarang/status/999250017914257409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In my opinion, <a href="https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABdeVilliers17</a> was world's best batsman across formats in past 7-8 years. Wish he had played more Tests! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/deVilliersRetires?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#deVilliersRetires</a>
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketwallah/status/999251812657090560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The 34-year-old is one of the greatest players of South Africa, having played 114 Tests, 228 One-Day Internationals (ODI) and 78 T20 Internationals.&nbsp;

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His IPL team Bangalore was quick to respond on the news

Former South African skipper AB de Villiers on Wednesday announced retirement from all form of cricket with immediate effect. He announced the decision on his official Twitter handle. The right-handed batsman said he is 'tired' and is the right time for him to hang his boots. Minutes after the decision, his Twitter was flooded with people expressing their surprise over the news. While some praised his way of playing cricket during crucial stages, some termed him an all time entertainer. His IPL team Bangalore also raised a question over his sudden decision but wished him luck for his future endeavours. Sudden but we're confident there was immense thought and contemplation behind the decision. You have to come back to Bengaluru in 2019 ❤️? #Mr360 #PlayBold #RCB https://t.co/dWNlH5Ygoo — Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) May 23, 2018 × AB de Villiers retires from International cricket, one of the two extreme allrounders in cricket along with TM Dilshan. Both batted and bowled in all positions, kept wickets, captained and brilliant fielders. #Cricket — Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) May 23, 2018 × The man who showed the world that batting 360° is an easy task. All the best for your future endeavours @ABdeVilliers17, thank you for all the unforgettable memories! pic.twitter.com/9r4AAQDKfj — R P Singh (@rpsingh) May 23, 2018 × #Breaking AB de Villiers announces retirement from all forms of international cricket. Thank you for all the entertainment, champ @ABdeVilliers17 — Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) May 23, 2018 × In my opinion, @ABdeVilliers17 was world's best batsman across formats in past 7-8 years. Wish he had played more Tests! #deVilliersRetires — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 23, 2018 × The 34-year-old is one of the greatest players of South Africa, having played 114 Tests, 228 One-Day Internationals (ODI) and 78 T20 Internationals. ×

Twitterati raise concern over AB de Villiers' retirement decision

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers or famously known as AB de Villiers, is South Africa's gem batsman with enviable wicketkeeping skills.&nbsp;

The cricketing legend debuted in late 2004 against a visiting England, partnering Graeme Smith as an opener.&nbsp;

In his second Test in the same series, he was given the responsibility of wicket-keeping as a stand-in for the injured Mark Boucher.&nbsp;

The duties led to a demotion in his batting line to the lower order. However, the experiment worked well, yielding a fifty on debut, in the second innings of the Test.&nbsp;

De Villiers announced his arrival with scores of 92 and 109 while opening the innings, in the last of the 5-Test series

In ODIs though, it took a while for him to find his footing, recording his first half-century in his 15th attempt, against Australia.&nbsp;

He was one of South Africa's most consistent performers in all formats. He was one of those players, who had no qualms in being deployed as an opener, middle or lower order batsman, depending on the situation.

The ability to offer dead bats, drives, flicks and pulls and his instinctive nature to innovate in manners, turned de Villiers into one of the most dangerous cricketers.

He has played 228 &nbsp;games and has smashed 9577 runs at an average of 53.5. His highest individual score is 176 runs.

As an accomplished gloveman, he was often called to deputize for Boucher, and with time he was even being touted as his eventual successor.

De Villiers' presence in the batting line up was important in South Africa's return to the pinnacle of cricket, registering historic wins in Australia and going on a 3-year unbeaten run since 2007.&nbsp;

He helped South Africa to a semi-final berth in the 2007 ICC Cricket World World Cup, restoring respectability after a poor showing in the tournament's previous edition.&nbsp;

If we see the T20I format, then the cricket legend has 1672 runs in his kitty of just 78 game played.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ab-de-villiers-retires-from-all-forms-of-cricket-with-immediate-effect-says-i-am-tired-139205">AB de Villiers retires from all forms of cricket with immediate effect, says 'I am tired'</a>

Consistent performances over the years gave the Proteas a new ODI captain in de Villiers, when he replaced Graeme Smith in 2011, post the ICC Cricket World Cup.&nbsp;

After proving his class in the Test arena, he was the number one batsman in ODIs as well as in Tests on a number of occasions.

De Villiers has played 114 Tests and has scored 8765 runs at an average of &nbsp;50.66, with unbeaten 278 being his highest score.

De Villiers was a hot-buy in the Indian T20 League and he started off representing Delhi until he moved to Bangalore for the later seasons.&nbsp;

AB was also one of the players to have been retained by Bangalore in 2014.&nbsp;

In 141 games in the Indian Premier League, since its inception in 2008, De Villiers has made 3953 runs in 141 matches. He has smashed three centuries and 28 half-centuries.&nbsp;

In 2018, he played 12 games for the Virat kohli-led side and scored 480 runs which include six half-centuries. &nbsp;

Though Bangalore failed to make it to the play-offs, De Villiers left an impression that there is still a lot of cricket left in him.&nbsp;

But, the South African star today announced retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect.&nbsp;

While some fans raised serious doubts over his retirement decision many wished him luck for his future plans.&nbsp;

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The cricketing legend debuted in late 2004 against a visiting England.

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers or famously known as AB de Villiers, is South Africa's gem batsman with enviable wicketkeeping skills. The cricketing legend debuted in late 2004 against a visiting England, partnering Graeme Smith as an opener. In his second Test in the same series, he was given the responsibility of wicket-keeping as a stand-in for the injured Mark Boucher. The duties led to a demotion in his batting line to the lower order. However, the experiment worked well, yielding a fifty on debut, in the second innings of the Test. De Villiers announced his arrival with scores of 92 and 109 while opening the innings, in the last of the 5-Test series In ODIs though, it took a while for him to find his footing, recording his first half-century in his 15th attempt, against Australia. He was one of South Africa's most consistent performers in all formats. He was one of those players, who had no qualms in being deployed as an opener, middle or lower order batsman, depending on the situation. The ability to offer dead bats, drives, flicks and pulls and his instinctive nature to innovate in manners, turned de Villiers into one of the most dangerous cricketers. He has played 228 games and has smashed 9577 runs at an average of 53.5. His highest individual score is 176 runs. As an accomplished gloveman, he was often called to deputize for Boucher, and with time he was even being touted as his eventual successor. De Villiers' presence in the batting line up was important in South Africa's return to the pinnacle of cricket, registering historic wins in Australia and going on a 3-year unbeaten run since 2007. He helped South Africa to a semi-final berth in the 2007 ICC Cricket World World Cup, restoring respectability after a poor showing in the tournament's previous edition. If we see the T20I format, then the cricket legend has 1672 runs in his kitty of just 78 game played. Also read: AB de Villiers retires from all forms of cricket with immediate effect, says 'I am tired' Consistent performances over the years gave the Proteas a new ODI captain in de Villiers, when he replaced Graeme Smith in 2011, post the ICC Cricket World Cup. After proving his class in the Test arena, he was the number one batsman in ODIs as well as in Tests on a number of occasions. De Villiers has played 114 Tests and has scored 8765 runs at an average of 50.66, with unbeaten 278 being his highest score. De Villiers was a hot-buy in the Indian T20 League and he started off representing Delhi until he moved to Bangalore for the later seasons. AB was also one of the players to have been retained by Bangalore in 2014. In 141 games in the Indian Premier League, since its inception in 2008, De Villiers has made 3953 runs in 141 matches. He has smashed three centuries and 28 half-centuries. In 2018, he played 12 games for the Virat kohli-led side and scored 480 runs which include six half-centuries. Though Bangalore failed to make it to the play-offs, De Villiers left an impression that there is still a lot of cricket left in him. But, the South African star today announced retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. While some fans raised serious doubts over his retirement decision many wished him luck for his future plans. ×

AB de Villiers: Mr 360 degree and his cricketing career

Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl against Kolkata in the Eliminator match of Indian Premier League 2018 at &nbspEden Gardens stadium on Wednesday.

After winning the toss, Rahane mentioned the characteristics of Eden's pitch which is a bit damp and the team which bats in the second innings has been successful in most of the occasions.

On the other hand, Kolkata's skipper Dinesh Karthik said there is no scope of errors in tonight's match.&nbsp

Both the teams have entered with the same squad and there is no change in the playing XI.&nbsp

Playing XI:

Kolkata: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

Rajasthan: Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Krishnappa Gowtham, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Ish Sodhi, Jaydev Unadkat, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin

Eden's pitch which is a bit damp and the team which bats in the second innings has been successful in most of the occasions

Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl against Kolkata in the Eliminator match of Indian Premier League 2018 at &nbspEden Gardens stadium on Wednesday. After winning the toss, Rahane mentioned the characteristics of Eden's pitch which is a bit damp and the team which bats in the second innings has been successful in most of the occasions. On the other hand, Kolkata's skipper Dinesh Karthik said there is no scope of errors in tonight's match. Both the teams have entered with the same squad and there is no change in the playing XI. Playing XI: Kolkata: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav Rajasthan: Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Krishnappa Gowtham, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Ish Sodhi, Jaydev Unadkat, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin

IPL 2018: Ajinkya Rahane opts to bowl against Kolkata in Eliminator match

There are more bad moments than good in a cricket match but what differentiates the two is how well and soon you make a comeback.

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) enters its last week, the first qualifier will be played between the two best teams of the seasons, Hyderabad and Chennai. &nbsp; 
Both are the top two teams on points table following the conclusion of the league stage and it grants them two shots to make it to the final.

The winner today will stay in Mumbai while the loser goes to Kolkata, with the hope of making it back to Wankhede.

The intriguing fact of the game today are the skippers - Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kane Williamson. The qualifier 1 is not just limited to these two names, it is more than that.

It is ‘best defenders vs best chasers’. &nbsp;

However, the chasers have been inconsistent in comparison to the defenders, and this is exactly what makes them a week team today.&nbsp; And the worst part, Hyderabad know it.

Dhoni-led Chennai which returned to the fray after serving out a two-year suspension, started its campaign by registering one-wicket win against defending champions Mumbai.

However, the credit goes to a single player - Dwayne Bravo. His 30-ball 68 was the only reason why the 'Yellow Brigade' won. &nbsp;

With openers falling cheaply the middle and lower order failed to provide any momentum and gave away their wickets. And this problem still exists when they enter the qualifiers today.

Whenever Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu have fallen cheaply, Chennai’s middle-order hasn’t shown the ability to withstand the pressure and in the end has left too much for Dhoni to do on his own.

Though Suresh Raina has done well in patches, his strike rate hasn’t been great.&nbsp; Sam Billings, too, barring a match-winning knock against Kolkata, hasn’t had much of an impact.

Another problem which adds to Dhoni's woes is absence of a death-over specialist.

Dhoni is worried with his bowlers leaking too many runs in the last few overs. Lack of options has seen Dhoni handing over the ball to different bowlers. But as the tournament progressed Bravo came out to be better while others completely struggled.

Chennai’s worry list also includes senior players - Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja. Though both have done well in containing the opposition but haven’t impressed with the wickets.

In 14 games played, Jadeja clinched only 9 wickets and made just 86 runs, while Singh has 7 wickets to his name in 12 games and only 27 runs contribution. The best part about Chennai is they have never been dependent on a single batsman or bowler, but the inconsistency factor will be major trouble for the team. &nbsp;

But, no matter what happens today, the loser gets another opportunity in qualifier-2 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on May 25.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Today's game is ‘best defenders vs best chasers’

There are more bad moments than good in a cricket match but what differentiates the two is how well and soon you make a comeback. As the Indian Premier League (IPL) enters its last week, the first qualifier will be played between the two best teams of the seasons, Hyderabad and Chennai. Both are the top two teams on points table following the conclusion of the league stage and it grants them two shots to make it to the final. The winner today will stay in Mumbai while the loser goes to Kolkata, with the hope of making it back to Wankhede. The intriguing fact of the game today are the skippers - Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kane Williamson. The qualifier 1 is not just limited to these two names, it is more than that. It is ‘best defenders vs best chasers’. However, the chasers have been inconsistent in comparison to the defenders, and this is exactly what makes them a week team today. And the worst part, Hyderabad know it. Dhoni-led Chennai which returned to the fray after serving out a two-year suspension, started its campaign by registering one-wicket win against defending champions Mumbai. However, the credit goes to a single player - Dwayne Bravo. His 30-ball 68 was the only reason why the 'Yellow Brigade' won. With openers falling cheaply the middle and lower order failed to provide any momentum and gave away their wickets. And this problem still exists when they enter the qualifiers today. Whenever Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu have fallen cheaply, Chennai’s middle-order hasn’t shown the ability to withstand the pressure and in the end has left too much for Dhoni to do on his own. Though Suresh Raina has done well in patches, his strike rate hasn’t been great. Sam Billings, too, barring a match-winning knock against Kolkata, hasn’t had much of an impact. Another problem which adds to Dhoni's woes is absence of a death-over specialist. Dhoni is worried with his bowlers leaking too many runs in the last few overs. Lack of options has seen Dhoni handing over the ball to different bowlers. But as the tournament progressed Bravo came out to be better while others completely struggled. Chennai’s worry list also includes senior players - Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja. Though both have done well in containing the opposition but haven’t impressed with the wickets. In 14 games played, Jadeja clinched only 9 wickets and made just 86 runs, while Singh has 7 wickets to his name in 12 games and only 27 runs contribution. The best part about Chennai is they have never been dependent on a single batsman or bowler, but the inconsistency factor will be major trouble for the team. But, no matter what happens today, the loser gets another opportunity in qualifier-2 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on May 25. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why MS Dhoni-led Chennai will lose against Hyderabad in IPL Qualifier 1

Chennai entered the finals of Indian Premier League's (IPL) 11th edition after beating Hyderabad by two wickets.&nbsp;

While Chennai wait for the second finalist to be announced, Hyderabad is waiting desperately to face the team who win the eliminator to reach the qualifier 2.

Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata and Ajinkya Rahane's Rajasthan were the other two teams who booked a place in play-offs.

The two teams will lock horns today at Eden Gardens to decide which team will face Hyderabad, who are eager to return to winning ways. &nbsp;

There could not have been a better stadium for the Kolkata to play the eliminator. They have a fantastic record at the venue over the years and have made the stadium their den.

Kuldeep Yadav, Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla know the pitch and its conditions and the trio will be the toughest acid test for the Rajasthan batting, which has already shown signs of weakness in the group stages.

The batting line has shared their duties throughout the season. Unlike their rivals, no single batsman has been a stand out performer.

Every batsman has chipped in with significant contributions as six of them have scored more than 250 runs during this tournament.

The likes of Nitish Rana, Russell, and Karthik have all chipped in during the group stages to take the team past the finish line.

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On the other hand, Rajasthan has a dismal record at this venue having last won a tie here during the inaugural edition of the IPL and followed it with five straight defeats.

With Rajasthan's hope to reverse the result of their previous outing at the venue, they will enter the ground without their best batsman Jos Buttler and best bowler Ben Stokes.

The move to send Buttler at the top of the order paid rich dividends as he slammed five consecutive fifties - a feat earlier recorded only by Virender Sehwag in 2012 - to send his team to the playoffs.

They are now overly dependent on Sanju Samson, 391 runs, Ajinkya Rahane 328 runs and Rahul Tripathi 206 runs.

The win for any team today would not be a piece of cake but Kolkata will surely look to turn the things in their favour, being the advantage of their home ground.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Chennai entered the finals of Indian Premier League's (IPL) 11th edition after beating Hyderabad by two wickets. While Chennai wait for the second finalist to be announced, Hyderabad is waiting desperately to face the team who win the eliminator to reach the qualifier 2. Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata and Ajinkya Rahane's Rajasthan were the other two teams who booked a place in play-offs. The two teams will lock horns today at Eden Gardens to decide which team will face Hyderabad, who are eager to return to winning ways. There could not have been a better stadium for the Kolkata to play the eliminator. They have a fantastic record at the venue over the years and have made the stadium their den. Kuldeep Yadav, Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla know the pitch and its conditions and the trio will be the toughest acid test for the Rajasthan batting, which has already shown signs of weakness in the group stages. The batting line has shared their duties throughout the season. Unlike their rivals, no single batsman has been a stand out performer. Every batsman has chipped in with significant contributions as six of them have scored more than 250 runs during this tournament. The likes of Nitish Rana, Russell, and Karthik have all chipped in during the group stages to take the team past the finish line. × On the other hand, Rajasthan has a dismal record at this venue having last won a tie here during the inaugural edition of the IPL and followed it with five straight defeats. With Rajasthan's hope to reverse the result of their previous outing at the venue, they will enter the ground without their best batsman Jos Buttler and best bowler Ben Stokes. The move to send Buttler at the top of the order paid rich dividends as he slammed five consecutive fifties - a feat earlier recorded only by Virender Sehwag in 2012 - to send his team to the playoffs. They are now overly dependent on Sanju Samson, 391 runs, Ajinkya Rahane 328 runs and Rahul Tripathi 206 runs. The win for any team today would not be a piece of cake but Kolkata will surely look to turn the things in their favour, being the advantage of their home ground.

IPL 2018: Kolkata, Rajasthan battle to cross eliminator hurdle

MS Dhoni-led Chennai has reached the finals of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League as batsman Faf du Plessis' unbeaten 67-run knock helped Chennai team to defeat Hyderabad by two wickets in the first Qualifier match on Tuesday at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

There was a moment when Chennai was 62-6 but South African star batsman Faf du Plessis played a responsible innings and snatched the match from the hands of Hyderabad.&nbsp;

For his splendid batting at a crucial time, Faf was given "Player of the Match" award.

"It's nice to make a contribution tonight. I reflected on the games I've played here in Mumbai. It's a stadium I've enjoyed playing," said South African batsman Faf du Plessis.

He also added that he shocked that how the team "win that game."

He praised the bowling attack of Hyderabad's team with a special mention to spinner Rashid Khan.

Although, du Plessis' 67-run knock was the sole reason for Chennai's victory but Shardul Thakur's 15-run knock off 5 balls did the icing on the cake and confirmed the victory. Earlier in the match, MS Dhoni had won the toss and opted to bowl.

Faf du Plessis' unbeaten 67-run knock helped Chennai team to defeat Hyderabad by two wickets in the first Qualifier match

MS Dhoni-led Chennai has reached the finals of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League as batsman Faf du Plessis' unbeaten 67-run knock helped Chennai team to defeat Hyderabad by two wickets in the first Qualifier match on Tuesday at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. There was a moment when Chennai was 62-6 but South African star batsman Faf du Plessis played a responsible innings and snatched the match from the hands of Hyderabad. For his splendid batting at a crucial time, Faf was given "Player of the Match" award. "It's nice to make a contribution tonight. I reflected on the games I've played here in Mumbai. It's a stadium I've enjoyed playing," said South African batsman Faf du Plessis. He also added that he shocked that how the team "win that game." He praised the bowling attack of Hyderabad's team with a special mention to spinner Rashid Khan. Although, du Plessis' 67-run knock was the sole reason for Chennai's victory but Shardul Thakur's 15-run knock off 5 balls did the icing on the cake and confirmed the victory. Earlier in the match, MS Dhoni had won the toss and opted to bowl.

Don't know how we 'win that game', says Faf du Plessis after Chennai reach IPL final

Hyderabad set a 140-run target for Chennai team in the first Qualifier of Indian Premier League 2018.&nbsp;

The score is a bit less than what it was expected in such crucial matches and that too for a team whose batting unit is massive.

Hyderabad team suffered an early jolt in the form of Shikhar Dhawan's wicket on the first ball of the innings but thanks to Windies player Carlos Brathwaite, who played a 43-run knock to help Hyderabad team to set a decent target for MS Dhoni-led Chennai.

On the other hand, Deepak Chahar who dismissed Dhawan played an important role in restricting the Hyderabad team. He gave 31 runs in his 4-over spell and took the most impost wicket also of Shikhar Dhawan.

Shreevats Goswami and Manish Pandey scored 12 and 8 runs respectively before losing their wickets to Lungi Ngidi and Ravindra Jadeja.

Skipper Kane Williamson tried to push the run rate but lost his wicket to Shardul Thakur after scoring 24 runs.

Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan scored 12 and 24 runs for the team but Dwayne Bravo out bowled both of batsmen.

Carlos Brathwaite salvaged the team as he scored 43 runs off just 29 balls in a very crucial time.

Hyderabad team suffered an early jolt in the form of Shikhar Dhawan's wicket on the first ball of the innings but thanks to Windies player Carlos Brathwaite, who played a 43-run knock to help Hyderabad team to set a decent target for MS Dhoni-led Chennai

Hyderabad set a 140-run target for Chennai team in the first Qualifier of Indian Premier League 2018. The score is a bit less than what it was expected in such crucial matches and that too for a team whose batting unit is massive. Hyderabad team suffered an early jolt in the form of Shikhar Dhawan's wicket on the first ball of the innings but thanks to Windies player Carlos Brathwaite, who played a 43-run knock to help Hyderabad team to set a decent target for MS Dhoni-led Chennai. On the other hand, Deepak Chahar who dismissed Dhawan played an important role in restricting the Hyderabad team. He gave 31 runs in his 4-over spell and took the most impost wicket also of Shikhar Dhawan. Shreevats Goswami and Manish Pandey scored 12 and 8 runs respectively before losing their wickets to Lungi Ngidi and Ravindra Jadeja. Skipper Kane Williamson tried to push the run rate but lost his wicket to Shardul Thakur after scoring 24 runs. Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan scored 12 and 24 runs for the team but Dwayne Bravo out bowled both of batsmen. Carlos Brathwaite salvaged the team as he scored 43 runs off just 29 balls in a very crucial time.

IPL 2018: MS Dhoni-led Chennai restricts Hyderabad to 139 runs in 1st Qualifier

Australian batsman David Warner has wished the Hyderabad team ahead of the first Qualifier of Indian Premier League 2018 which is against Chennai.

In the previous seasons, David Warner has played the skipper's role of Hyderabad but due to his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, he was subsequently banned from the IPL by the BCCI.

Even though he is not the part of Hyderabad team still, he has always given his support throughout the season.

Just before the first Qualifier, Warner has tweeted, "Good luck to @SunRisers tonight, keep playing well gentlemen. Been simply outstanding and being well lead by The great man himself Kane."

In the absence of David Warner, Kane Williamson&nbsp;is leading the squad and has proved his calibre&nbsp;and leadership skills.

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Good luck to <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunRisers</a> tonight, keep playing well gentlemen. Been simply outstanding and being well lead by The great man himself Kane ??
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Warner was replaced by an explosive opener Alex Hales of England.&nbsp;

Just before the first Qualifier, Warner has praised Kane Williamson's leadership qualities

Australian batsman David Warner has wished the Hyderabad team ahead of the first Qualifier of Indian Premier League 2018 which is against Chennai. In the previous seasons, David Warner has played the skipper's role of Hyderabad but due to his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, he was subsequently banned from the IPL by the BCCI. Even though he is not the part of Hyderabad team still, he has always given his support throughout the season. Just before the first Qualifier, Warner has tweeted, "Good luck to @SunRisers tonight, keep playing well gentlemen. Been simply outstanding and being well lead by The great man himself Kane." In the absence of David Warner, Kane Williamson is leading the squad and has proved his calibre and leadership skills. Good luck to @SunRisers tonight, keep playing well gentlemen. Been simply outstanding and being well lead by The great man himself Kane ?? — David Warner (@davidwarner31) May 22, 2018 × Warner was replaced by an explosive opener Alex Hales of England.

IPL 2018: David Warner wishes Hyderabad team 'good luck' ahead of first Qualifier

Chennai won the toss and opted to bowl&nbspin the first Qualifier of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League 2018 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.

After winning the toss, MS Dhoni said, "We have chased well in the tournament." He also mentioned that chasing is a bit easier in the second innings.

There is only one change in the Chennai's squad, Shane Watson has been included at the place of Sam Billings.

On the other hand, Kane Williamson said that the Hyderabad team is trying their best to adapt the conditions of Wankhede Stadium.

A few hours back, it was found that there were some wear and tear in the good length area of the pitch, which means spinners will have an upper hand in the match, especially in the second innings.

Pressure is definitely on both the sides as the winner will book a finale berth.

Hyderabad has entered the field with the same squad.

Playing XI:

Chennai: Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi

Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Carlos Brathwaite, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

There is only one change in the Chennai's squad, Shane Watson has been included at the place of Sam Billings

Chennai won the toss and opted to bowl&nbspin the first Qualifier of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League 2018 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday. After winning the toss, MS Dhoni said, "We have chased well in the tournament." He also mentioned that chasing is a bit easier in the second innings. There is only one change in the Chennai's squad, Shane Watson has been included at the place of Sam Billings. On the other hand, Kane Williamson said that the Hyderabad team is trying their best to adapt the conditions of Wankhede Stadium. A few hours back, it was found that there were some wear and tear in the good length area of the pitch, which means spinners will have an upper hand in the match, especially in the second innings. Pressure is definitely on both the sides as the winner will book a finale berth. Hyderabad has entered the field with the same squad. Playing XI: Chennai: Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Carlos Brathwaite, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

IPL 2018: MS Dhoni opts to field in Qualifier 1 against Hyderabad

The first Qualifiers of&nbsp;IPL 2018 will be played on Tuesday between the two best teams, Chennai and Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

In previous meetings of the ongoing edition, MS Dhoni-led Chennai defeated the Kane Williamson's side.

Both the teams have scored 18 points, but Hyderabad stand&nbsp;atop&nbsp;league's table with a better Net Run Rate (NRR) than Chennai.

So, let us take a look at the players expected to perform in today's big clash.

1. Kane Williamson -&nbsp;The backbone of Hyderabad team and one of the most successful skippers in the ongoing league,&nbsp;Williamson&nbsp;has&nbsp;proved his calibre&nbsp;in the leadership skills. With his team being the table-toppers, he definitely fulfilled his duties as a captain. In 14 matches, he&nbsp;scored total 661 runs&nbsp;including eight half-centuries. Today, it is expected that he will cross Rishabh Pant in the race of 'Orange Cap' and also will outplay Chennai to book a finale berth.&nbsp;

2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar -&nbsp;Although, Hyderabad have the best bowling unit in the IPL 2018 and Bhuvi is one of the best options for 'Orange Army' to damage Chennai's batting line-up. In such crucial&nbsp;matches, experience&nbsp;matters a lot and&nbsp;Bhuvneshwar has such potential. So far in nine matches, he has taken eight wickets with an economy of 8.14. He is definitely a player to watch out for in tonight's clash.

3. Lungi Ngidi - South African star pacer has impressed everyone with his economical bowling. His brilliant haul of 4 wickets&nbsp;including prized wickets of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle against&nbsp;Punjab was a reason&nbsp;Punjab's ouster from the tournament. Overall, he has played five matches and took nine wickets. He is definitely a player to watch out for in today's game.

4. Ambati Rayudu -&nbsp;He is an outstanding batsman and has been&nbsp;a consistent run scorer for Chennai in IPL 2018. His presence&nbsp;in today's&nbsp;crucial match will&nbsp;be an&nbsp;advantage for Chennai. He scored 586 runs in 14 games so far. His experience and ability to deplete any bowling attack makes him a player to watch out for in today's game.&nbsp;

5. Shane Watson - Chennai's opener&nbsp;Watson has scored 438 runs in his 13 games so far. He has smashed a century this season and has the potential to give a required start to the team. Watson has also made an important contribution with the bowl by taking important wickets in different occasions. Although he scored just 14 runs off 23 balls in the&nbsp;match against Delhi, still it is expected that he will&nbsp;survive the&nbsp;massive bowling attack&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hyderabad.

As the winner of today's match will directly enter finals, the match promises to be quite a contest.&nbsp;

The MS Dhoni-led team has beaten the Kane Williamson side on both occasions that they have previously met this year in the ongoing league

The first Qualifiers of IPL 2018 will be played on Tuesday between the two best teams, Chennai and Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. In previous meetings of the ongoing edition, MS Dhoni-led Chennai defeated the Kane Williamson's side. Both the teams have scored 18 points, but Hyderabad stand atop league's table with a better Net Run Rate (NRR) than Chennai. So, let us take a look at the players expected to perform in today's big clash. 1. Kane Williamson - The backbone of Hyderabad team and one of the most successful skippers in the ongoing league, Williamson has proved his calibre in the leadership skills. With his team being the table-toppers, he definitely fulfilled his duties as a captain. In 14 matches, he scored total 661 runs including eight half-centuries. Today, it is expected that he will cross Rishabh Pant in the race of 'Orange Cap' and also will outplay Chennai to book a finale berth. 2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar - Although, Hyderabad have the best bowling unit in the IPL 2018 and Bhuvi is one of the best options for 'Orange Army' to damage Chennai's batting line-up. In such crucial matches, experience matters a lot and Bhuvneshwar has such potential. So far in nine matches, he has taken eight wickets with an economy of 8.14. He is definitely a player to watch out for in tonight's clash. 3. Lungi Ngidi - South African star pacer has impressed everyone with his economical bowling. His brilliant haul of 4 wickets including prized wickets of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle against Punjab was a reason Punjab's ouster from the tournament. Overall, he has played five matches and took nine wickets. He is definitely a player to watch out for in today's game. 4. Ambati Rayudu - He is an outstanding batsman and has been a consistent run scorer for Chennai in IPL 2018. His presence in today's crucial match will be an advantage for Chennai. He scored 586 runs in 14 games so far. His experience and ability to deplete any bowling attack makes him a player to watch out for in today's game. 5. Shane Watson - Chennai's opener Watson has scored 438 runs in his 13 games so far. He has smashed a century this season and has the potential to give a required start to the team. Watson has also made an important contribution with the bowl by taking important wickets in different occasions. Although he scored just 14 runs off 23 balls in the match against Delhi, still it is expected that he will survive the massive bowling attack of Hyderabad. As the winner of today's match will directly enter finals, the match promises to be quite a contest.

IPL 2018: Players to watch out for in Chennai vs Hyderabad clash

<h2>WION's pick of the week</h2>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-marcelos-son-enzo-vieira-stuns-real-madrid-players-with-impressive-head-tennis-show-137516">Watch: Marcelo's son Enzo Vieira stuns Real Madrid players with impressive head tennis show</a>

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BizrITqABnM/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">Orgulho do papai!! ? @enzoalvesv Isso aqui é uma familia!!! @realmadrid ❤️⚽️</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px margin-bottom:0 margin-top:8px overflow:hidden padding:8px 0 7px text-align:center text-overflow:ellipsis white-space:nowrap">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marcelotwelve/" style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px" target="_blank"> Marcelo Vieira Jr.</a> (@marcelotwelve) on <time datetime="2018-05-15T18:04:53+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px">May 15, 2018 at 11:04am PDT</time>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-do-you-know-that-first-fifa-trophy-was-stolen-and-never-recovered-137912">FIFA 2018: Do you know that first FIFA trophy was stolen and never recovered</a>

In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered

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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-kl-rahul--a-rejuvenated-and-repackaged-batting-power-house-137938">Opinion: KL Rahul – A rejuvenated and repackaged batting power house</a>

KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game

<h5 title="Watch: AB de Villiers' Spiderman-like stunt to dismiss Alex Hales"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-after-nadal--federer-who-will-be-the-next-atp-superstar-137606">Opinion: After Nadal & Federer, who will be the next ATP superstar?</a></h5>

It has been a decade now that men's Tennis is waiting for its next superstar

<h5 title="Shivangi Pathak becomes youngest woman to scale Mt Everest"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/shivangi-pathak-becomes-youngest-woman-to-scale-mt-everest-137997">Shivangi Pathak becomes youngest woman to scale Mt Everest</a></h5>

Shivangi said that she inspired by Arunima Sinha, who was the first Indian amputee to scale the nearly 29,000 ft peak

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<h5 title="Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018 "><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/meet-the-top-four-teams-of-ipl-2018--138479">Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018</a></h5>

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<h5 title="'It is a difficult day,' says teary-eyed Andres Iniesta during farewell ceremony"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/'it-is-a-difficult-day,'-says-teary-eyed-andres-iniesta-during-farewell-ceremony-138614">'It is a difficult day,' says teary-eyed Andres Iniesta during farewell ceremony</a></h5>

Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his boyhood club FC Barcelona. He has spent all of his senior career at Camp Nou & has lifted 32 trophies

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<h2>FIFA 2018</h2>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-world-cup-fever-inspires-panini-stickers-craze-138377">FIFA 2018: World Cup fever inspires Panini stickers craze</a>

Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970

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Luis Suarez took a nibble from Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shoulder and was suspended for four months from all football-related activities

<h5 title="FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italy-not-going-to-world-cup-but-world-cup-comes-to-italy-136933">FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy</a></h5>

The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine

<h5 title="England defender Mawson ruled out of FIFA World Cup
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The 24-year-old was yet to make his England debut but was called up by manager Gareth Southgate for friendlies in March

<h5 title="Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mario-gotze-ruled-out-of-germanys-squad-for-fifa-2018-137132">Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018</a></h5>

Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup

<h5 title="He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-from-world-cup-winning-goal-scorer-to-world-cup-squad-absentee-lets-relive-mario-gotze-dream-goal-of-fifa-2014-137366">He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014</a></h5>

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<a href="https://twitter.com/DFB_Team_EN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DFB_Team_EN</a> won the <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a> with this extra time beauty by Mario Gotze! What's everyones predictions for the winning team this year? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldcup2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#worldcup2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupAtTheRegency?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupAtTheRegency</a> tickets here >> <a href="https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV">https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupAtTheAmbler?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupAtTheAmbler</a> tickets here >> <a href="https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc">https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/0qdcyGUNae">pic.twitter.com/0qdcyGUNae</a>
— Sedulo Manchester (@SeduloMCR) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeduloMCR/status/994540143683031040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-england-fans-warned-over-flag-waving-at-world-cup-in-russia-137434">FIFA 2018: England fans warned over flag-waving at World Cup in Russia</a>

Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year

<h5 title="Neymar's foot injury worries him, as he prepares to return"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/neymars-foot-injury-worries-him-as-he-prepares-to-return-137618">Neymar's foot injury worries him, as he prepares to return</a></h5>

He has been out of action since spraining his ankle and fracturing his fifth metatarsal on Feb. 25, which led him to undergo surgery in Brazil

<h5 title="FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-argentina-apologises-for-manual-on-seducing-russian-women-137639">FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women</a></h5>

More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14

<h2>Football</h2>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/chelsea-players-celebrate-fa-cup-victory-against-manchester-united-138430">Chelsea players celebrate FA Cup victory against Manchester United</a>

Antonio Conte's team held on for a 1-0 win over United at Wembley as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty was followed by a determined defensive display from the Blues after the interval

<h5 title="Michael Carrick makes immediate switch to coaching role at Manchester United"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-carrick-makes-immediate-switch-to-coaching-role-at-manchester-united-137029">Michael Carrick makes immediate switch to coaching role at Manchester United</a></h5>

Michael Carrick is making an immediate switch from Manchester United's playing squad to the coaching team in time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea

<h2>Cricket</h2>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/cameron-bancroft-been-cleared-to-play-club-cricket--137063">Cameron Bancroft been cleared to play club cricket</a>

Cameron Bancroft has been cleared to play club cricket in Western Australia

<h5 title="'Proper big dog' coming to County, Moeen Ali on Virat Kohli"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/proper-big-dog-coming-to-county-moeen-ali-on-virat-kohli-137462">'Proper big dog' coming to County, Moeen Ali on Virat Kohli</a></h5>

Moeen and his compatriot Chris Woakes are playing under Kohli for the Bangalore in IPL

<h5 title="ICC may consider scrapping toss in Test cricket"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-may-consider-scrapping-toss-in-test-cricket-137768">ICC may consider scrapping toss in Test cricket</a></h5>

Latest reports suggest that the ICC committee is ready to re-enter the topic

<h2>Tennis</h2>

<h5 title="Italian Open: Elina Svitolina outplays Simona Halep to defend title"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italian-open-elina-svitolina-outplays-simona-halep-to-defend-title-138443">Italian Open: Elina Svitolina outplays Simona Halep to defend title</a></h5>

Elina Svitolina successfully defended her&nbsp;Italian&nbsp;Open&nbsp;title on Sunday with a dominant 6-0 6-4 victory over an out-of-sorts Simona Halep

<h5 title="Italian Open: Rafael Nadal wins eighth Rome Masters title after stunning comeback"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italian-open-rafael-nadal-wins-eighth-rome-masters-title-after-stunning-comeback-138468">Italian Open: Rafael Nadal wins eighth Rome Masters title after stunning comeback</a></h5>

Rafael Nadal won the Rome Masters for the eighth time as he defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev

<h5 title="Watch: Czech tennis player Pliskova 'smashes' umpire's chair"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-karolina-pliskova-smashes-umpires-chair-after-losing-to-maria-sakkari-at-italian-open-137500">Watch: Czech tennis player Pliskova 'smashes' umpire's chair</a></h5>

Pliskova was furious when 42nd-ranked Sakkari was given the advantage and also a breakpoint at a crucial stage of the match

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Holy moly Pliskova is the real MVP! Well done, she was right about that call! it was 10km in! <a href="https://t.co/YgJ5MHgmYo">pic.twitter.com/YgJ5MHgmYo</a>
— LorenaPopa? ??‍♀️ (@popalorena) <a href="https://twitter.com/popalorena/status/996735228394835969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italys-elia-viviani-wins-giro-ditalia-13th-stage-138029">Italy's Elia Viviani wins Giro d'Italia 13th stage</a>

Italy's Elia Viviani of the Quick Step team dominated a sprint finish for the Giro d'Italia 13th stage

Weekly compilation of sports and other related news (May 14 to May 20)

WION's pick of the week Watch: Marcelo's son Enzo Vieira stuns Real Madrid players with impressive head tennis show Orgulho do papai!! ? @enzoalvesv Isso aqui é uma familia!!! @realmadrid ❤️⚽️ A post shared by Marcelo Vieira Jr. (@marcelotwelve) on May 15, 2018 at 11:04am PDT × FIFA 2018: Do you know that first FIFA trophy was stolen and never recovered In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered × × Opinion: KL Rahul – A rejuvenated and repackaged batting power house KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game Opinion: After Nadal & Federer, who will be the next ATP superstar? It has been a decade now that men's Tennis is waiting for its next superstar Shivangi Pathak becomes youngest woman to scale Mt Everest Shivangi said that she inspired by Arunima Sinha, who was the first Indian amputee to scale the nearly 29,000 ft peak Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018 'It is a difficult day,' says teary-eyed Andres Iniesta during farewell ceremony Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his boyhood club FC Barcelona. He has spent all of his senior career at Camp Nou & has lifted 32 trophies × FIFA 2018 FIFA 2018: World Cup fever inspires Panini stickers craze Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970 Throwback to Luis Suarez's biting Chiellini in FIFA 2014: 'Anyone got a toothpick, Chiellini stuck in my teeth' Luis Suarez took a nibble from Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shoulder and was suspended for four months from all football-related activities FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine England defender Mawson ruled out of FIFA World Cup The 24-year-old was yet to make his England debut but was called up by manager Gareth Southgate for friendlies in March Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018 Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014 @DFB_Team_EN won the @FIFAWorldCup with this extra time beauty by Mario Gotze! What's everyones predictions for the winning team this year? #worldcup2018 #WorldCupAtTheRegency tickets here >> https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV #WorldCupAtTheAmbler tickets here >> https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc pic.twitter.com/0qdcyGUNae — Sedulo Manchester (@SeduloMCR) May 10, 2018 × FIFA 2018: England fans warned over flag-waving at World Cup in Russia Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year Neymar's foot injury worries him, as he prepares to return He has been out of action since spraining his ankle and fracturing his fifth metatarsal on Feb. 25, which led him to undergo surgery in Brazil FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14 Football Chelsea players celebrate FA Cup victory against Manchester United Antonio Conte's team held on for a 1-0 win over United at Wembley as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty was followed by a determined defensive display from the Blues after the interval Michael Carrick makes immediate switch to coaching role at Manchester United Michael Carrick is making an immediate switch from Manchester United's playing squad to the coaching team in time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea Cricket Cameron Bancroft been cleared to play club cricket Cameron Bancroft has been cleared to play club cricket in Western Australia 'Proper big dog' coming to County, Moeen Ali on Virat Kohli Moeen and his compatriot Chris Woakes are playing under Kohli for the Bangalore in IPL ICC may consider scrapping toss in Test cricket Latest reports suggest that the ICC committee is ready to re-enter the topic Tennis Italian Open: Elina Svitolina outplays Simona Halep to defend title Elina Svitolina successfully defended her Italian Open title on Sunday with a dominant 6-0 6-4 victory over an out-of-sorts Simona Halep Italian Open: Rafael Nadal wins eighth Rome Masters title after stunning comeback Rafael Nadal won the Rome Masters for the eighth time as he defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev Watch: Czech tennis player Pliskova 'smashes' umpire's chair Pliskova was furious when 42nd-ranked Sakkari was given the advantage and also a breakpoint at a crucial stage of the match Holy moly Pliskova is the real MVP! Well done, she was right about that call! it was 10km in! pic.twitter.com/YgJ5MHgmYo — LorenaPopa? ??‍♀️ (@popalorena) May 16, 2018 × Italy's Elia Viviani wins Giro d'Italia 13th stage Italy's Elia Viviani of the Quick Step team dominated a sprint finish for the Giro d'Italia 13th stage

WION Sports News: Top sports results this week

Suresh Raina smashed 61 runs as Chennai eliminated Punjab from the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a five-wicket win.

The win sealed Rajasthan’s place in the play-offs.

When Punjab batsmen needed to play like a team, only Karun Nair showed some fight with his 26-ball-54, which was laced with three fours and five sixes.

Nair's half-century helped Punjab recover from a poor start and post 153 in 19.4 overs but they needed to win by at least 53 runs to qualify for the Play-offs.

It was South African paceman Ngidi who triggered a top-order collapse as he swung the ball both ways to confound the Punjab batsmen. He conceded only 10 runs in his four-over quota and scalped key players.

Chennai needed to win in 17.3 overs to snatch the top spot but they had to be content with a second-place finish behind Hyderabad as they could overhaul the target only in 19.1 overs.

Deepak Chahar (39 from 20) shared a crucial 56-run stand with Suresh Raina (68 not out) in Chennai's win.

Skipper MS Dhoni, who batted down the order, scored 16 off seven balls and finished the match in his signature style, with a six.

Chennai and Hyderabad will now clash in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday while Rajasthan and Kolkata will lock horn in eliminator on Wednesday.

Earlier, David Miller and Karun Nair scored 24 runs and 54 runs respectively to help the team in setting up a target of 154 runs for Chennai at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday.

The clash is important for Punjab as they need to mark a +53- run victory in order to qualify for the play-offs as their net run-rate reads a poor as compared to Rajasthan.

&nbsp;Chennai had won the toss and opted to bowl in the last league match of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League at their ground.

Apart from Miller and Nair, batsman Manoj Tiwary also contributed with the bat and scored 35 crucial runs for the team.

A lot was expected from the openers, KL Rahul and Cris Gayle but both batsmen failed to perform in the do-or-die encounter.&nbsp;

Rahul scored just seven runs and Gayle did even open his account as pacer Lungi Ngidi sent both of them back to pavilion.

Aaron Finch too lost his wicket early after scoring just four runs.

Punjab could not even bat for full 20 overs and were bowled out in 19.4 overs.

Skipper MS Dhoni, who batted down the order, scored 16 off seven balls and finished the match in his signature style, with a six.

Suresh Raina smashed 61 runs as Chennai eliminated Punjab from the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a five-wicket win. The win sealed Rajasthan’s place in the play-offs. When Punjab batsmen needed to play like a team, only Karun Nair showed some fight with his 26-ball-54, which was laced with three fours and five sixes. Nair's half-century helped Punjab recover from a poor start and post 153 in 19.4 overs but they needed to win by at least 53 runs to qualify for the Play-offs. It was South African paceman Ngidi who triggered a top-order collapse as he swung the ball both ways to confound the Punjab batsmen. He conceded only 10 runs in his four-over quota and scalped key players. Chennai needed to win in 17.3 overs to snatch the top spot but they had to be content with a second-place finish behind Hyderabad as they could overhaul the target only in 19.1 overs. Deepak Chahar (39 from 20) shared a crucial 56-run stand with Suresh Raina (68 not out) in Chennai's win. Skipper MS Dhoni, who batted down the order, scored 16 off seven balls and finished the match in his signature style, with a six. Chennai and Hyderabad will now clash in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday while Rajasthan and Kolkata will lock horn in eliminator on Wednesday. Earlier, David Miller and Karun Nair scored 24 runs and 54 runs respectively to help the team in setting up a target of 154 runs for Chennai at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday. The clash is important for Punjab as they need to mark a +53- run victory in order to qualify for the play-offs as their net run-rate reads a poor as compared to Rajasthan. Chennai had won the toss and opted to bowl in the last league match of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League at their ground. Apart from Miller and Nair, batsman Manoj Tiwary also contributed with the bat and scored 35 crucial runs for the team. A lot was expected from the openers, KL Rahul and Cris Gayle but both batsmen failed to perform in the do-or-die encounter. Rahul scored just seven runs and Gayle did even open his account as pacer Lungi Ngidi sent both of them back to pavilion. Aaron Finch too lost his wicket early after scoring just four runs. Punjab could not even bat for full 20 overs and were bowled out in 19.4 overs.

IPL 2018: Chennai’s 5-wicket win eliminates Punjab, sends Rajasthan into play-offs

MS Dhoni sent a warning before the knock-out matches of Indian Premier League when he displayed a magnificent batting show against Punjab in the last league match.

He scored 16 runs off seven balls and finished the match in his signature style, with a six.

Chennai not only won the game by five wickets but also ended Punjab's hope to qualify for the play-offs.

The clash was important for Punjab as they needed a victory of +53-run margin but it seemed impossible against the massive batting line-up of Chennai.

After winning the game, MS Dhoni enjoyed the victory by playing with his daughter Ziva.&nbsp

In the recent viral video, a beautiful father-daughter moment was captured and daddy Dhoni looked happy when Ziva was playing with his cap.

Watch the video here:

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MS Dhoni playing with daughter <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ziva?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ziva</a> during post match presentation ? ?, Wish <a href="https://twitter.com/bhogleharsha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bhogleharsha</a> could have asked Dhoni to bring her daughter to have a fun chat ?<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SaakshiSRawat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaakshiSRawat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvKXIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvKXIP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yellove?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yellove</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/JjrX3yW7PS">pic.twitter.com/JjrX3yW7PS</a>
— Sushant Kumar Nahak (@sushantkoko) <a href="https://twitter.com/sushantkoko/status/998288683575865345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The top two teams of IPL 2018, i.e. Chennai and Hyderabad, will meet each other in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.

The winner of the match will go directly to the IPL 2018 final while the loser will get one more chance.

The team placed third and fourth in IPL 2018 points table will meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 23.

After winning the game, MS Dhoni enjoyed the victory by playing with his daughter Ziva

MS Dhoni sent a warning before the knock-out matches of Indian Premier League when he displayed a magnificent batting show against Punjab in the last league match. He scored 16 runs off seven balls and finished the match in his signature style, with a six. Chennai not only won the game by five wickets but also ended Punjab's hope to qualify for the play-offs. The clash was important for Punjab as they needed a victory of +53-run margin but it seemed impossible against the massive batting line-up of Chennai. After winning the game, MS Dhoni enjoyed the victory by playing with his daughter Ziva. In the recent viral video, a beautiful father-daughter moment was captured and daddy Dhoni looked happy when Ziva was playing with his cap. Watch the video here: MS Dhoni playing with daughter #Ziva during post match presentation ? ?, Wish @bhogleharsha could have asked Dhoni to bring her daughter to have a fun chat ?@msdhoni @SaakshiSRawat #IPL2018 #CSKvKXIP @IPL #WhistlePodu #Yellove @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/JjrX3yW7PS — Sushant Kumar Nahak (@sushantkoko) May 20, 2018 × The top two teams of IPL 2018, i.e. Chennai and Hyderabad, will meet each other in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The winner of the match will go directly to the IPL 2018 final while the loser will get one more chance. The team placed third and fourth in IPL 2018 points table will meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 23.

Watch: Little Ziva dances with MS Dhoni to celebrate Chennai's win against Punjab

The eleventh edition of India Premier League has entered its last week and the franchise is all set for the knockout stage.

The top four teams - Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Rajasthan- have made it to the tournament’s play-offs.

After the grueling and deciding week, Mumbai and Punjab have been eliminated by Delhi and Chennai respectively.

Although, Punjab did not qualify in the tournament's play-off but its co-owner Preity Zinta was caught on camera saying that she is 'happy.'

In a viral video, Preity Zinta said, "I am just very happy that Mumbai is not going to the finals … really happy."

The reason for her happiness was the elimination of&nbsp;the rival team Mumbai

Defending Champions Mumbai lost the last chance to book a play-off berth as they were kicked out of the tournament by Delhi team that gave a joyous moment to Bollywood's actress Preity Zinta.

Here is the video:

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Did <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PreityZinta?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PreityZinta</a> just say “I am just very happy that Mumbai is not going to the finals..Really happy” ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvKXIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvKXIP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIvsDD?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIvsDD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/KWaxSUZYZh">pic.twitter.com/KWaxSUZYZh</a>
— Jo (@jogtweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/jogtweets/status/998233626092457984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Preity Zinta : "I'm just very happy that Mumbai is knocked out...very happy" ...??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cskvkxip?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cskvkxip</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KXIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KXIP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://t.co/jCKywZ4vep">pic.twitter.com/jCKywZ4vep</a>
— LinksInd (@LinksInd1) <a href="https://twitter.com/LinksInd1/status/998277392731799552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The top two teams of IPL 2018, i.e. Chennai and Hyderabad, will meet each other in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.

The winner of the match will go directly to the IPL 2018 final while the loser will get one more chance.

The team placed third and fourth in IPL 2018 points table will meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 23.

The winner of the match will enter the Qualifier 2, where they will clash with the losing side of Qualifier 1. That match will take place on Friday, May 25.

The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 will clash for the IPL 2018 trophy on Sunday, May 27.

Although, Punjab did not qualify in the tournament's play-off but franchise co-owner Preity Zinta was caught on camera saying that she is 'happy.'

The eleventh edition of India Premier League has entered its last week and the franchise is all set for the knockout stage. The top four teams - Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Rajasthan- have made it to the tournament’s play-offs. After the grueling and deciding week, Mumbai and Punjab have been eliminated by Delhi and Chennai respectively. Although, Punjab did not qualify in the tournament's play-off but its co-owner Preity Zinta was caught on camera saying that she is 'happy.' In a viral video, Preity Zinta said, "I am just very happy that Mumbai is not going to the finals … really happy." The reason for her happiness was the elimination of the rival team Mumbai Defending Champions Mumbai lost the last chance to book a play-off berth as they were kicked out of the tournament by Delhi team that gave a joyous moment to Bollywood's actress Preity Zinta. Here is the video: Did #PreityZinta just say “I am just very happy that Mumbai is not going to the finals..Really happy” ? #CSKvKXIP #MIvsDD #IPL #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/KWaxSUZYZh — Jo (@jogtweets) May 20, 2018 × Preity Zinta : "I'm just very happy that Mumbai is knocked out...very happy" ...??#cskvkxip #KXIP #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/jCKywZ4vep — LinksInd (@LinksInd1) May 20, 2018 × The top two teams of IPL 2018, i.e. Chennai and Hyderabad, will meet each other in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The winner of the match will go directly to the IPL 2018 final while the loser will get one more chance. The team placed third and fourth in IPL 2018 points table will meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 23. The winner of the match will enter the Qualifier 2, where they will clash with the losing side of Qualifier 1. That match will take place on Friday, May 25. The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 will clash for the IPL 2018 trophy on Sunday, May 27.

Watch: After Mumbai's exit from IPL, Punjab's Preity Zinta says, 'She is very happy'

"Size does matter" – It is a well-versed quote. But as the group stage of IPL-2018 is over and you take a glance at the outcome, you would strongly disagree with this quote.

IPL-2018 endorses once again that in sports what actually matters is that how you gel with each other in a team composition and how you deliver on the ground. The stature and big players won't really help if this basic idea is missing.

Look at the qualifiers for the playoffs. Chennai is back in the league after suspension of two years and played well right from the beginning. Dhoni is back with his old mojo, both as a captain and player. He stood and delivered.

Hyderabad team has been the unexpected table topper. They are the only team in the tournament which is led by an overseas player, Kane Williamson. Before the start of IPL, Hyderabad got a jolt when their coveted skipper David Warner was ruled out of the tournament. But Williamson has been leading the side from the front and using whatever resources he has with clinical efficiency.

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<h5>Rajasthan and Kolkata are led by Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik and both of them are not even India's regular for One Day International and T-20</h5>
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Other two qualifiers Rajasthan and Kolkata are led by Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik and both of them are not even India's regular for One Day International and T-20.&nbsp;

Rajasthan also received a setback like Hyderabad when the big name and their nominated skipper Steve Smith was ruled out. Ajinkya was the last minute pick for the side and not much was expected from Rajasthan team.

Rajasthan, however, made to the next stage albeit with difficulty. Shahrukh's franchise did not pick their regular skipper Gautam Gambhir this time and Karthik was leading any IPL side for the first time. Kolkata had few anxious moments at the group stage but Dinesh Karthik led his troop well and with the support of competent guidance of Jacques Kallis.

On contrary to above, all the big name bit the dust. Mumbai Indians, arguably the most coveted team as it is owned by the richest man in India and mentored by none other than the legend Sachin Tendulkar has been knocked out. Mumbai team has been supported and coached by a legion of players like Mahela Jayawardene, Robin Singh and Malinga but nothing helped.

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<h5>Virat Kohli could not sail his side through, despite having names like AB deVilliers (ABD), Chahal, Brendon McCullum and Umesh Yadav in the line-up of his side</h5>
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Unarguably the most decorated player in the recent time Virat Kohli could not sail his side through, despite having names like AB deVilliers (ABD), Chahal, Brendon McCullum and Umesh Yadav in the line-up of his side.

Kohli and ABD are the two most destructive batsmen in the shorter version of the game. They batted well as such but the team failed to deliver the final punch.

Delhi’s poor run in IPL continued in 2018 as well. The team coached and mentored by the legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting. Gautam Gambhir, who in past lifted trophy twice as Kolkata's skipper was Delhi's skipper to start with but failed miserably.&nbsp;

The destructive Glen Maxwell, playing for Delhi was a big-time failure. Though Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer batted well but the failure of Gambhir and Maxwell was proved to be costly for the side.

Ashwin-led Punjab team has been knocked out despite having players like Gayle, KL Rahul and Yuvraj Singh in the line-up. The great Virender Sehwag also could not turn things around for the side. The failure of Gayle and Yuvraj (two of the biggest name in the history of T-20) hit the team hard.

The message is clear. You need to deliver on the ground to get success. The great Australian coach John Buchanan once said that “You may have limitations, but may not have the limit. Just go and apply yourself”. This quote of Buchanan is so much a truth here.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

IPL-2018 endorses once again that in sports what actually matters is that how you gel with each other in a team composition and how you deliver on the ground

"Size does matter" – It is a well-versed quote. But as the group stage of IPL-2018 is over and you take a glance at the outcome, you would strongly disagree with this quote. IPL-2018 endorses once again that in sports what actually matters is that how you gel with each other in a team composition and how you deliver on the ground. The stature and big players won't really help if this basic idea is missing. Look at the qualifiers for the playoffs. Chennai is back in the league after suspension of two years and played well right from the beginning. Dhoni is back with his old mojo, both as a captain and player. He stood and delivered. Hyderabad team has been the unexpected table topper. They are the only team in the tournament which is led by an overseas player, Kane Williamson. Before the start of IPL, Hyderabad got a jolt when their coveted skipper David Warner was ruled out of the tournament. But Williamson has been leading the side from the front and using whatever resources he has with clinical efficiency. Rajasthan and Kolkata are led by Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik and both of them are not even India's regular for One Day International and T-20 × Other two qualifiers Rajasthan and Kolkata are led by Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik and both of them are not even India's regular for One Day International and T-20. Rajasthan also received a setback like Hyderabad when the big name and their nominated skipper Steve Smith was ruled out. Ajinkya was the last minute pick for the side and not much was expected from Rajasthan team. Rajasthan, however, made to the next stage albeit with difficulty. Shahrukh's franchise did not pick their regular skipper Gautam Gambhir this time and Karthik was leading any IPL side for the first time. Kolkata had few anxious moments at the group stage but Dinesh Karthik led his troop well and with the support of competent guidance of Jacques Kallis. On contrary to above, all the big name bit the dust. Mumbai Indians, arguably the most coveted team as it is owned by the richest man in India and mentored by none other than the legend Sachin Tendulkar has been knocked out. Mumbai team has been supported and coached by a legion of players like Mahela Jayawardene, Robin Singh and Malinga but nothing helped. Virat Kohli could not sail his side through, despite having names like AB deVilliers (ABD), Chahal, Brendon McCullum and Umesh Yadav in the line-up of his side × Unarguably the most decorated player in the recent time Virat Kohli could not sail his side through, despite having names like AB deVilliers (ABD), Chahal, Brendon McCullum and Umesh Yadav in the line-up of his side. Kohli and ABD are the two most destructive batsmen in the shorter version of the game. They batted well as such but the team failed to deliver the final punch. Delhi’s poor run in IPL continued in 2018 as well. The team coached and mentored by the legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting. Gautam Gambhir, who in past lifted trophy twice as Kolkata's skipper was Delhi's skipper to start with but failed miserably. The destructive Glen Maxwell, playing for Delhi was a big-time failure. Though Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer batted well but the failure of Gambhir and Maxwell was proved to be costly for the side. Ashwin-led Punjab team has been knocked out despite having players like Gayle, KL Rahul and Yuvraj Singh in the line-up. The great Virender Sehwag also could not turn things around for the side. The failure of Gayle and Yuvraj (two of the biggest name in the history of T-20) hit the team hard. The message is clear. You need to deliver on the ground to get success. The great Australian coach John Buchanan once said that “You may have limitations, but may not have the limit. Just go and apply yourself”. This quote of Buchanan is so much a truth here. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Takeaways from IPL 2018 - Size doesn't really matter

Indian Premier League 2018 has entered it's last week and the franchise is all set for the knockout stage. 

The top four teams - Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Rajasthan- have made it to the the tournament’s play-offs. 

Hyderabad became the first team to qualify, with nine wins out of 14 games played. They are placed at number 1 in the league table with 18 points.

Chennai became the second team with same 18 points. They garnered two points after defeating Punjab by five wickets at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday.

Punjab’s defeat brought Rajasthan in the contention. They became the fourth team to qualify in the top four. 

Meanwhile, Kolkata defeated table-toppers Hyderabad by five wickets to occupy third place in the table.

With Monday being a break day to catch our breaths, the action will resume on Tuesday, May 22. 

The top two teams of IPL 2018, i.e. Chennai and Hyderabad, will meet each other in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. 

The winner of the match will go directly to the IPL 2018 final while the loser will get one more chance. 

The team placed third and fourth in IPL 2018 points table will meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 23. 

The winner of the match will enter the Qualifier 2, where they will clash with the losing side of Qualifier 1. That match will take place on Friday, May 25.

The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 will clash for the IPL 2018 trophy on Sunday, May 27.

The playoff games and final will begin at 7 pm.

The knockout stage will be played in Mumbai and Kolkata. While Qualifier 1 and The IPL final will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

Meanwhile, the eliminator and Qualifier 2 will be held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The playoff games and final will also begin at 7 pm.

Hyderabad became the first team to qualify, with nine wins out of 14 games played

Indian Premier League 2018 has entered it's last week and the franchise is all set for the knockout stage. The top four teams - Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Rajasthan- have made it to the the tournament’s play-offs. Hyderabad became the first team to qualify, with nine wins out of 14 games played. They are placed at number 1 in the league table with 18 points. Chennai became the second team with same 18 points. They garnered two points after defeating Punjab by five wickets at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday. Punjab’s defeat brought Rajasthan in the contention. They became the fourth team to qualify in the top four. Meanwhile, Kolkata defeated table-toppers Hyderabad by five wickets to occupy third place in the table. With Monday being a break day to catch our breaths, the action will resume on Tuesday, May 22. The top two teams of IPL 2018, i.e. Chennai and Hyderabad, will meet each other in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The winner of the match will go directly to the IPL 2018 final while the loser will get one more chance. The team placed third and fourth in IPL 2018 points table will meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 23. The winner of the match will enter the Qualifier 2, where they will clash with the losing side of Qualifier 1. That match will take place on Friday, May 25. The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 will clash for the IPL 2018 trophy on Sunday, May 27. The playoff games and final will begin at 7 pm. The knockout stage will be played in Mumbai and Kolkata. While Qualifier 1 and The IPL final will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Meanwhile, the eliminator and Qualifier 2 will be held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The playoff games and final will also begin at 7 pm.

Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018

The Indian Premier League got its third team which managed to book its berth in the play-offs race in form of Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata.

The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise defeated table-toppers Hyderabad by five wickets at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday.

Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa played a perfect innings to save Kolkata in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. 
&nbsp 
Lynn smashed 55 runs in just 43 balls before giving away his wicket to S Kaul.

It was after that, Uthappa continued the momentum and took Kolkata a step near to victory.&nbsp

Meanwhile, Hyderabad bowlers have had another lacklustre game after they failed to swing wickets in their favour.&nbsp

Death-overs specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar failed to take any wickets and gave away 33 runs in four overs bowled.&nbsp

Despite getting a flying start, table-toppers Hyderabad were restricted for mere 172 runs by the Kolkata bowlers&nbsp

Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami opened for Hyderabad and established 79 runs partnership before Kuldeep Yadav broke the bond.&nbsp

Goswami was sent back to the pavilion after making 35 runs off 26 balls. 
&nbsp 
Dhawan continued the attack to reach his half-century, before being LBW.

Skipper Kane Williamson also smashed 36 runs off 16 balls. His inning included one boundary and three sixes.&nbsp

Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna came out as a trump card for Kolkata as he took four crucial wickets to restrict Hyderabad from setting a massive total.

In four overs bowled, Prasidh gave 30 runs which included two wides also.

Russell, &nbspNarine, Yadav and Searles took one wicket apiece.

Yadav today turned out to be the costliest player for Kolkata as he gave 35 runs in four overs at an economy of 8.75.

Lynn smashed 55 runs in just 43 balls before giving away his wicket to S Kaul.

The Indian Premier League got its third team which managed to book its berth in the play-offs race in form of Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata. The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise defeated table-toppers Hyderabad by five wickets at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday. Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa played a perfect innings to save Kolkata in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. Lynn smashed 55 runs in just 43 balls before giving away his wicket to S Kaul. It was after that, Uthappa continued the momentum and took Kolkata a step near to victory. Meanwhile, Hyderabad bowlers have had another lacklustre game after they failed to swing wickets in their favour. Death-overs specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar failed to take any wickets and gave away 33 runs in four overs bowled. Despite getting a flying start, table-toppers Hyderabad were restricted for mere 172 runs by the Kolkata bowlers Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami opened for Hyderabad and established 79 runs partnership before Kuldeep Yadav broke the bond. Goswami was sent back to the pavilion after making 35 runs off 26 balls. Dhawan continued the attack to reach his half-century, before being LBW. Skipper Kane Williamson also smashed 36 runs off 16 balls. His inning included one boundary and three sixes. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna came out as a trump card for Kolkata as he took four crucial wickets to restrict Hyderabad from setting a massive total. In four overs bowled, Prasidh gave 30 runs which included two wides also. Russell, &nbspNarine, Yadav and Searles took one wicket apiece. Yadav today turned out to be the costliest player for Kolkata as he gave 35 runs in four overs at an economy of 8.75.

IPL 2018: Kolkata make it to play-offs, beat Hyderabad by 5 wickets

Whenever I see KL Rahul, I recall India-Australia Test match on Boxing Day, 26th December 2014. KL Rahul, then 22 years old made his Test debut and he was literally nervous. Rahul got succumbed to the grandeur of the occasion after all, it is not easy to make your international debut against Australia, in Australia, and at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

KL Rahul played an inexplicable shot right in the beginning of the inning and threw his wicket. I remember headlines in a newspaper next day saying "Tell us Rahul, What were you actually trying to do?" It explains that how bizarre Rahul's shot was.

But then these adverse situations only distinguish a champion from others. KL Rahul did an immediate course correction after the debacle at Melbourne and came back strongly in the very next Test at Sydney as he slammed a century there.

KL Rahul has been impressive in all format of international ever since that century at Sydney. He is one of those rare batsmen, who have scored centuries in all three formats of international Cricket.

Having missed IPL 2017 due to injury, IPL 2018 has been a turning point of Rahul's career and it has certainly catapulted him into an even upper league. KL Rahul has been one of the most impactful players this IPL. The way KL Rahul almost single-handedly pulled match for his side against team Mumbai on 16th May was actually a mark of a true champion.

In the opening game of Punjab against Delhi at IPL 2018 itself, Rahul made a solid statement by smashing a fifty in just 14 balls and he has been among runs consistently and he alone is taking whole batting burden for his side.

It clearly endorses one thing that KL Rahul is set to play a major role for Team India in all formats in days to come. He, per se in the league of Virat Kohli in a sense that he can excel all formats of the games and this is where he scores well over the likes of Ajinkya Rahane (who is more suited for Test) and Rohit Sharma (who is more suited in T-20 and ODI).

KL is somewhat is on Virender Sehwag's template. He is free flowing and is a natural hitter of the ball. At the top of the order, his brisk batting can make a huge difference even the Test. Remember how one short but quick-fire innings from Sehwag set the tone for the historic chase against England in 2008 at Chennai Test. Over the years, Sehwag did one job for India with perfection and that was putting the pressure back on bowling attack by his attacking play. Now Rahul fits in that role.

KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game. It is not an hyperbole but in my opinion, after watching Rahul's show so far in IPL 2018, overall KL Rahul is only second to Virat Kohli in Indian batting line-up, if we consider potential impact which Rahul can make in the all three formats put together.

He can be a key player when India will tour England this summer for the forthcoming series down under in Australia and World Cup next year as well. Let's wait and watch.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game

Whenever I see KL Rahul, I recall India-Australia Test match on Boxing Day, 26th December 2014. KL Rahul, then 22 years old made his Test debut and he was literally nervous. Rahul got succumbed to the grandeur of the occasion after all, it is not easy to make your international debut against Australia, in Australia, and at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. KL Rahul played an inexplicable shot right in the beginning of the inning and threw his wicket. I remember headlines in a newspaper next day saying "Tell us Rahul, What were you actually trying to do?" It explains that how bizarre Rahul's shot was. But then these adverse situations only distinguish a champion from others. KL Rahul did an immediate course correction after the debacle at Melbourne and came back strongly in the very next Test at Sydney as he slammed a century there. KL Rahul has been impressive in all format of international ever since that century at Sydney. He is one of those rare batsmen, who have scored centuries in all three formats of international Cricket. Having missed IPL 2017 due to injury, IPL 2018 has been a turning point of Rahul's career and it has certainly catapulted him into an even upper league. KL Rahul has been one of the most impactful players this IPL. The way KL Rahul almost single-handedly pulled match for his side against team Mumbai on 16th May was actually a mark of a true champion. In the opening game of Punjab against Delhi at IPL 2018 itself, Rahul made a solid statement by smashing a fifty in just 14 balls and he has been among runs consistently and he alone is taking whole batting burden for his side. It clearly endorses one thing that KL Rahul is set to play a major role for Team India in all formats in days to come. He, per se in the league of Virat Kohli in a sense that he can excel all formats of the games and this is where he scores well over the likes of Ajinkya Rahane (who is more suited for Test) and Rohit Sharma (who is more suited in T-20 and ODI). KL is somewhat is on Virender Sehwag's template. He is free flowing and is a natural hitter of the ball. At the top of the order, his brisk batting can make a huge difference even the Test. Remember how one short but quick-fire innings from Sehwag set the tone for the historic chase against England in 2008 at Chennai Test. Over the years, Sehwag did one job for India with perfection and that was putting the pressure back on bowling attack by his attacking play. Now Rahul fits in that role. KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game. It is not an hyperbole but in my opinion, after watching Rahul's show so far in IPL 2018, overall KL Rahul is only second to Virat Kohli in Indian batting line-up, if we consider potential impact which Rahul can make in the all three formats put together. He can be a key player when India will tour England this summer for the forthcoming series down under in Australia and World Cup next year as well. Let's wait and watch. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: KL Rahul – A rejuvenated and repackaged batting power house

Defending Champions Mumbai lost the&nbsp;last chance to book a play-off berth in the ongoing edition of Indian Premier League as they have been kicked out of the tournament by Delhi team at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday.

Earlier, the host Delhi had won the toss and opted to bat in order to take the advantage of a dry pitch and put up a 175-run target for&nbsp;Mumbai.

While chasing, team Mumbai lost all the wickets in 19.3 overs and failed to reach the target eventually losing the match by 11 runs.

The opener Evin Lewis scored 48 runs to give a required start to the team but another opener Suryakumar Yadav did not contribute much as he scored just 12 runs before losing his wicket to star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

Ishan Kishan and Keiron Pollard too were ineffective in today's game as they scored just five and seven runs respectively.

Rohit Sharma, who suffered an injury in the first inning while fielding, scored just 13 runs off 11 balls. Also, allrounder Krunal Pandya scored just four runs.

Hardik Pandya and Ben Cutting tried to push the run rate but that was not enough to take the team through to the play-offs.

Hardik Pandya scored 27 runs before losing the wicket to Amit Mishra on the other hand bowler Harshal Patel outbowled Ben Cutting at the score of 37 runs. Ben's short inning included two 4's and three 6's. In the death overs, Mayank Markande (3) and Jasprit Bumrah (0) lost their wickets.

For Delhi, spinners were very economical as Sandeep Lamichhane and Amit Mishra took three wickets each to restrict the defending champions. Also, pacer Harshal Patel made a very crucial contribution in his 2.3-over spell by taking three wickets by giving 28 runs.

For a magnificent spell, Amit Mishra was awarded 'Player of the Match.'

Earlier, after losing first three wickets, Delhi's Rishab Pant rose to the occasion to help its team set a decent score of 174 runs on board.

The wicket-keeper batsman slammed 64 runs in 44 balls which included four boundaries and four huge sixes.

It is Pant's fifth half-century in this year's tournament.&nbsp;

Supporting him at the other end was Vijay Shankar, who smashed 43 runs in 30 balls. His unbeaten inning included three fours and two sixes.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer and opener Prithvi Shaw once again failed to contribute any big score and departed after making six and 12 runs, respectively.

While chasing, team Mumbai lost all the wickets in 19.3 overs and failed to reach the target and lost the match by 11 runs

Defending Champions Mumbai lost the last chance to book a play-off berth in the ongoing edition of Indian Premier League as they have been kicked out of the tournament by Delhi team at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday. Earlier, the host Delhi had won the toss and opted to bat in order to take the advantage of a dry pitch and put up a 175-run target for Mumbai. While chasing, team Mumbai lost all the wickets in 19.3 overs and failed to reach the target eventually losing the match by 11 runs. The opener Evin Lewis scored 48 runs to give a required start to the team but another opener Suryakumar Yadav did not contribute much as he scored just 12 runs before losing his wicket to star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. Ishan Kishan and Keiron Pollard too were ineffective in today's game as they scored just five and seven runs respectively. Rohit Sharma, who suffered an injury in the first inning while fielding, scored just 13 runs off 11 balls. Also, allrounder Krunal Pandya scored just four runs. Hardik Pandya and Ben Cutting tried to push the run rate but that was not enough to take the team through to the play-offs. Hardik Pandya scored 27 runs before losing the wicket to Amit Mishra on the other hand bowler Harshal Patel outbowled Ben Cutting at the score of 37 runs. Ben's short inning included two 4's and three 6's. In the death overs, Mayank Markande (3) and Jasprit Bumrah (0) lost their wickets. For Delhi, spinners were very economical as Sandeep Lamichhane and Amit Mishra took three wickets each to restrict the defending champions. Also, pacer Harshal Patel made a very crucial contribution in his 2.3-over spell by taking three wickets by giving 28 runs. For a magnificent spell, Amit Mishra was awarded 'Player of the Match.' Earlier, after losing first three wickets, Delhi's Rishab Pant rose to the occasion to help its team set a decent score of 174 runs on board. The wicket-keeper batsman slammed 64 runs in 44 balls which included four boundaries and four huge sixes. It is Pant's fifth half-century in this year's tournament. Supporting him at the other end was Vijay Shankar, who smashed 43 runs in 30 balls. His unbeaten inning included three fours and two sixes. Skipper Shreyas Iyer and opener Prithvi Shaw once again failed to contribute any big score and departed after making six and 12 runs, respectively.

IPL 2018: Delhi ends Mumbai's play-off race, beat defenders by 11 runs

David Miller and Karun Nair scored 24 runs and 54 runs respectively to help the team in setting up a target of 154 runs for Chennai at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday.

The clash is important for Punjab as they need to mark a +53- run victory in order to qualify for the play-offs as their net run-rate reads a poor as compared to Rajasthan.

Earlier, Chennai had won the toss and opted to bowl in the last league match of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League at their ground.

Apart from Miller and Nair, batsman Manoj Tiwary also contributed with the bat and scored 35 crucial runs for the team.

A lot was expected from the openers, KL Rahul and Cris Gayle but both batsmen failed to perform in the do-or-die encounter.&nbsp

Rahul scored just seven runs and Gayle did even open his account as pacer Lungi Ngidi sent both of them back to pavilion.

Aaron Finch too lost his wicket early after scoring just four runs.

Punjab need to win with a margin of +53 runs to qualify for the play-offs

David Miller and Karun Nair scored 24 runs and 54 runs respectively to help the team in setting up a target of 154 runs for Chennai at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday. The clash is important for Punjab as they need to mark a +53- run victory in order to qualify for the play-offs as their net run-rate reads a poor as compared to Rajasthan. Earlier, Chennai had won the toss and opted to bowl in the last league match of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League at their ground. Apart from Miller and Nair, batsman Manoj Tiwary also contributed with the bat and scored 35 crucial runs for the team. A lot was expected from the openers, KL Rahul and Cris Gayle but both batsmen failed to perform in the do-or-die encounter. Rahul scored just seven runs and Gayle did even open his account as pacer Lungi Ngidi sent both of them back to pavilion. Aaron Finch too lost his wicket early after scoring just four runs.

IPL 2018: Punjab set 154-run target against Chennai

Rajasthan defeated Bangalore by 30 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday.

With this win, the Virat Kohli-led side is out of the play-offs race and the tournament. Chasing a target of 165 runs, Bangalore folded up for 134 runs in 19.2 overs.

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal led the host's charge, sponging up almost the entire top and middle-order to return impressive figures of 4/16 in his four overs.

Pacers Ben Laughlin and Jaydev Unadkat picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, Tripathi registered his first half-century of the season to help Rajasthan set 164 runs on the scoreboard during their clash against Bangalore at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Saturday.

Tripathi made 80 runs off 58 balls which included five boundaries and three huge sixes.&nbsp; The opener remained unbeaten and played till the last ball to set a more decent target for the opponents.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also contributed 33 runs before being LBW by Umesh Yadav. Sanju Samson, who is considered one of the most consistent performers of the franchise, was sent back to the pavilion without opening his account.

Meanwhile, Heinrich Klaasen played a perfect cameo and made 32 runs off 21 balls.

Earlier, Rajasthan won the toss and opted to bat against the Virat Kohli-led side.&nbsp;

After winning the toss, Ajinkya Rahane mentioned that the pitch is dry and also the host Rajhasthan are very familiar with the wickets. On the exit of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, Ajinkya said that the team is missing them.

Virat Kohli also highlighted the fact that Jos And Ben are not in the Playing XI. Kolhi also mentioned that the team has done decently well in the previous three matches and also it is important to find the right balance in today's game.

There was no change for Bangalore team, on the other hand, Ben Laughlin, Heinrich Klaasen and Shreyas Gopal were included in the playing XI of Rajasthan.

Shreyas Gopal's impressive figure of 4/16 helped beat Kohli's side.

Rajasthan defeated Bangalore by 30 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday. With this win, the Virat Kohli-led side is out of the play-offs race and the tournament. Chasing a target of 165 runs, Bangalore folded up for 134 runs in 19.2 overs. Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal led the host's charge, sponging up almost the entire top and middle-order to return impressive figures of 4/16 in his four overs. Pacers Ben Laughlin and Jaydev Unadkat picked up two wickets each. Earlier, Tripathi registered his first half-century of the season to help Rajasthan set 164 runs on the scoreboard during their clash against Bangalore at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Saturday. Tripathi made 80 runs off 58 balls which included five boundaries and three huge sixes. The opener remained unbeaten and played till the last ball to set a more decent target for the opponents. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also contributed 33 runs before being LBW by Umesh Yadav. Sanju Samson, who is considered one of the most consistent performers of the franchise, was sent back to the pavilion without opening his account. Meanwhile, Heinrich Klaasen played a perfect cameo and made 32 runs off 21 balls. Earlier, Rajasthan won the toss and opted to bat against the Virat Kohli-led side. After winning the toss, Ajinkya Rahane mentioned that the pitch is dry and also the host Rajhasthan are very familiar with the wickets. On the exit of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, Ajinkya said that the team is missing them. Virat Kohli also highlighted the fact that Jos And Ben are not in the Playing XI. Kolhi also mentioned that the team has done decently well in the previous three matches and also it is important to find the right balance in today's game. There was no change for Bangalore team, on the other hand, Ben Laughlin, Heinrich Klaasen and Shreyas Gopal were included in the playing XI of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan's 30-run win knocks Virat Kohli's Bangalore out of IPL 2018

<h2>List of matches in April:</h2>

7 April (Saturday)&nbsp; 
Mumbai &nbsp;vs Chennai: 8 pm

8 April (Sunday) 
Delhi vs Punjab: 4 pm 
Kolkata vs Bangalore: 8 pm

9 April (Monday) 
Hyderabad vs Rajasthan: 8 pm

10 April (Tuesday) 
Chennai vs Kolkata: 8 pm

11 April (Wednesday) 
Rajasthan vs Delhi: 8 pm

12 April (Thursday) 
Hyderabad vs Mumbai: 8 pm

13 April (Friday) 
Bangalore vs Punjab: 8 pm

14 April (Saturday) 
Mumbai vs Delhi: 4 pm 
Kolkata vs Hyderabad: 8 pm

15 April (Sunday) 
Bangalore v Rajasthan: 4 pm 
Punjab v Chennai: 8 pm

16 April (Monday) 
Kolkata vs Delhi: 8 pm

17 April (Tuesday) 
Mumbai vs Bangalore: 8 pm

18 April (Wednesday) 
Rajasthan vs Kolkata: 8 pm

19 April (Thursday) 
Punjab vs Hyderabad: 8 pm

20 April (Friday) 
Chennai vs Rajasthan: 8 pm

21 April (Saturday) 
Kolkata vs Punjab: 4 pm 
Delhi vs Bangalore: 8 pm

22 April (Sunday) 
Hyderabad vs Chennai: 4 pm 
Rajasthan vs Mumbai: 8 pm

23 April (Monday) 
Kings vs Delhi: 8 pm

24 April (Tuesday) 
Mumbai vs Hyderabad: 8 pm

25 April (Wednesday) 
Bangalore vs Chennai: 8 pm

26 April (Thursday) 
Hyderabad vs Punjab: 8 pm

27 April (Friday) 
Delhi vs Kolkata: 8 pm

28 April (Saturday) 
Chennai vs Mumbai: 8 pm

29 April (Sunday) 
Rajasthan vs Hyderabad: 4 pm 
Bangalore vs Kolkata: 8 pm

30 April (Monday) 
Chennai vs Delhi: 8 pm

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

POINTS TABLE, SQUAD LIST, ANALYSIS, VENUE

List of matches in April: 7 April (Saturday) Mumbai vs Chennai: 8 pm 8 April (Sunday) Delhi vs Punjab: 4 pm Kolkata vs Bangalore: 8 pm 9 April (Monday) Hyderabad vs Rajasthan: 8 pm 10 April (Tuesday) Chennai vs Kolkata: 8 pm 11 April (Wednesday) Rajasthan vs Delhi: 8 pm 12 April (Thursday) Hyderabad vs Mumbai: 8 pm 13 April (Friday) Bangalore vs Punjab: 8 pm 14 April (Saturday) Mumbai vs Delhi: 4 pm Kolkata vs Hyderabad: 8 pm 15 April (Sunday) Bangalore v Rajasthan: 4 pm Punjab v Chennai: 8 pm 16 April (Monday) Kolkata vs Delhi: 8 pm 17 April (Tuesday) Mumbai vs Bangalore: 8 pm 18 April (Wednesday) Rajasthan vs Kolkata: 8 pm 19 April (Thursday) Punjab vs Hyderabad: 8 pm 20 April (Friday) Chennai vs Rajasthan: 8 pm 21 April (Saturday) Kolkata vs Punjab: 4 pm Delhi vs Bangalore: 8 pm 22 April (Sunday) Hyderabad vs Chennai: 4 pm Rajasthan vs Mumbai: 8 pm 23 April (Monday) Kings vs Delhi: 8 pm 24 April (Tuesday) Mumbai vs Hyderabad: 8 pm 25 April (Wednesday) Bangalore vs Chennai: 8 pm 26 April (Thursday) Hyderabad vs Punjab: 8 pm 27 April (Friday) Delhi vs Kolkata: 8 pm 28 April (Saturday) Chennai vs Mumbai: 8 pm 29 April (Sunday) Rajasthan vs Hyderabad: 4 pm Bangalore vs Kolkata: 8 pm 30 April (Monday) Chennai vs Delhi: 8 pm

Indian Premier League 2018

Chennai won the toss and opted to bowl in the last league match of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League at their ground - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune - against Punjab on Sunday.

The clash is important for Punjab as they will have to register a win with a huge margin as their net run-rate reads a poor -0.490.

Punjab kicked-off the 2018 season with five wins out of their first six games but faltered in the business end of the league.

Now, Mumbai team has been kicked out of the play-off race by Delhi, Punjab's fight is with Rajasthan, hence, MS Dhoni-led team Chennai has nothing to lose, while Punjab will be out of the tournament if defeated.&nbsp;

Playing XI:

Punjab: Lokesh Rahul(w), Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, David Miller, Karun Nair, Manoj Tiwary, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Andrew Tye, Mohit Sharma, Ankit Rajpoot

Chennai: Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Sam Billings, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi

Chennai have nothing to lose, while Punjab will be out of the tournament if defeated

Chennai won the toss and opted to bowl in the last league match of the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League at their ground - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune - against Punjab on Sunday. The clash is important for Punjab as they will have to register a win with a huge margin as their net run-rate reads a poor -0.490. Punjab kicked-off the 2018 season with five wins out of their first six games but faltered in the business end of the league. Now, Mumbai team has been kicked out of the play-off race by Delhi, Punjab's fight is with Rajasthan, hence, MS Dhoni-led team Chennai has nothing to lose, while Punjab will be out of the tournament if defeated. Playing XI: Punjab: Lokesh Rahul(w), Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, David Miller, Karun Nair, Manoj Tiwary, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Andrew Tye, Mohit Sharma, Ankit Rajpoot Chennai: Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Sam Billings, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi

IPL 2018: MS Dhoni opts to field against Punjab

After Delhi lost its first three wickets, Rishab Pant rose to the occasion to help its team set a decent score of 174 runs on board.

The wicket-keeper batsman slammed 64 runs in 44 balls which included four boundaries and four huge sixes.

It is Pant's fifth half-century in this year's tournament.&nbsp

Supporting him at the other end was Vijay Shankar, who smashed 43 runs in 30 balls.His unbeaten inning included three fours and two sixes.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer and opener Prithvi Shaw once again failed to contribute any big score and departed after making six and 12 runs, respectively. &nbsp

Iyer won the toss and opted to bat against Mumbai during their clash at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking after the toss, Iyer said,"Going to have a bat. No grass on the wicket, seems dry, so we will look to put a big score on the board. We have been batting first in the last few games as well so we are confident of putting up a good score."

"With regards to preparation and practice we have been spot-on and we will play this game like this is our last game and put everything into it. Liam Plunkett comes in place of Avesh Khan," he added.

Talking about their strategy for today, Rohit Sharma said," Nothing changes for us, we need to restrict them to as little as possible. We are aware of these conditions, so we just have to play good cricket for 40 overs now that we know that we are bowling first and we need to restrict them to as little as possible."

"Mitch McClenaghan has a shoulder niggle, so Mustafizur replaces him."

The defending champions will be on toes today to beat the hosts and book a berth in the play-off.&nbsp

The Rohit-Sharma led team is used to miracles, if seen in the previous editions, and this year also they would be expecting another fairytale entry into the top four teams.&nbsp

 0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1">Teams:

 0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1">Mumbai&nbsp(Playing XI): Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman

 0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1">Delhi&nbsp(Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Liam Plunkett, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult

It is Pant's fifth half-century in this year's tournament.

After Delhi lost its first three wickets, Rishab Pant rose to the occasion to help its team set a decent score of 174 runs on board. The wicket-keeper batsman slammed 64 runs in 44 balls which included four boundaries and four huge sixes. It is Pant's fifth half-century in this year's tournament. Supporting him at the other end was Vijay Shankar, who smashed 43 runs in 30 balls.His unbeaten inning included three fours and two sixes. Skipper Shreyas Iyer and opener Prithvi Shaw once again failed to contribute any big score and departed after making six and 12 runs, respectively. Iyer won the toss and opted to bat against Mumbai during their clash at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Sunday. Speaking after the toss, Iyer said,"Going to have a bat. No grass on the wicket, seems dry, so we will look to put a big score on the board. We have been batting first in the last few games as well so we are confident of putting up a good score." "With regards to preparation and practice we have been spot-on and we will play this game like this is our last game and put everything into it. Liam Plunkett comes in place of Avesh Khan," he added. Talking about their strategy for today, Rohit Sharma said," Nothing changes for us, we need to restrict them to as little as possible. We are aware of these conditions, so we just have to play good cricket for 40 overs now that we know that we are bowling first and we need to restrict them to as little as possible." "Mitch McClenaghan has a shoulder niggle, so Mustafizur replaces him." The defending champions will be on toes today to beat the hosts and book a berth in the play-off. The Rohit-Sharma led team is used to miracles, if seen in the previous editions, and this year also they would be expecting another fairytale entry into the top four teams. Teams: Mumbai (Playing XI): Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman Delhi (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Liam Plunkett, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult

IPL 2018: Pant, Shankar take Delhi to 174

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said that India should transform itself from 'sports-loving nation' to 'sports-playing nation'.

"I always mention that India should become a sports-playing nation. We are a sports-loving nation but we need that transformation where we start playing. Healthy competition is always good, Tendulkar said.&nbsp

"Physical fitness and mental fitness combined together, makes a healthy man. I remember when I was a kid, my grandmother telling me health is wealth, the master blaster added.

The legendary batsman also appealed the countrymen to adopt a sport and play it on a regular basis.

"To lead an active lifestyle is really important. I just want to tell you that adopt some or the other sport and play regularly. It is going to keep you fit and healthy. Fit and healthy India will have more reasons to smile," Tendulkar signed off.&nbsp

The legendary batsman also appealed the countrymen to adopt a sport and play it on a regular basis.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said that India should transform itself from 'sports-loving nation' to 'sports-playing nation'. "I always mention that India should become a sports-playing nation. We are a sports-loving nation but we need that transformation where we start playing. Healthy competition is always good, Tendulkar said. "Physical fitness and mental fitness combined together, makes a healthy man. I remember when I was a kid, my grandmother telling me health is wealth, the master blaster added. The legendary batsman also appealed the countrymen to adopt a sport and play it on a regular basis. "To lead an active lifestyle is really important. I just want to tell you that adopt some or the other sport and play regularly. It is going to keep you fit and healthy. Fit and healthy India will have more reasons to smile," Tendulkar signed off.

India should transform itself from sports-loving to sports-playing nation: Sachin Tendulkar

Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an expressionless man on the ground. Be it a bowler giving away big runs in an over to a fielder giving boundaries for singles, Dhoni always keeps it calm and cool.&nbsp

However, he also manages to lighten up the entire mood of the crowd in one go.&nbsp

The former Indian cricket team captain has attempted to fake a nap during a match and scared Ravindra Jadeja by a dummy throw, to leave the audience in splits.&nbsp 
&nbsp 
But this time it was different for spectators as Dhoni started laughing the moment Delhi skipper Shyeras Iyer flipped the coin at the toss ceremony.

It was a funny scenario as when flipped, the coin landed several feet away from where the two captains and the match officials were present.&nbsp

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> Captain <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> wins the toss and elects to bowl first against <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiDaredevils?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiDaredevils</a> at the Kotla.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DDvCSK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DDvCSK</a> <a href="https://t.co/UR5PA5pRH5">pic.twitter.com/UR5PA5pRH5</a>
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Match referee Manu Nayyar, however, walked up to the spot and stated that Dhoni had won the toss.&nbsp

But, watching Dhoni laugh, even Iyer couldn’t control himself.

However, the match was finally clinched by Iyer-led team by 34 runs, ending the winning momentum of the 'Yellow Brigade'.&nbsp

Dhoni, too departed after scoring a sluggish 23-ball 17, which made him the fifth batsman after Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir to notch up 6,000 runs in the shortest format of the game.

Watching Dhoni laugh, even Iyer couldn’t control himself.

Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an expressionless man on the ground. Be it a bowler giving away big runs in an over to a fielder giving boundaries for singles, Dhoni always keeps it calm and cool. However, he also manages to lighten up the entire mood of the crowd in one go. The former Indian cricket team captain has attempted to fake a nap during a match and scared Ravindra Jadeja by a dummy throw, to leave the audience in splits. But this time it was different for spectators as Dhoni started laughing the moment Delhi skipper Shyeras Iyer flipped the coin at the toss ceremony. It was a funny scenario as when flipped, the coin landed several feet away from where the two captains and the match officials were present. .@ChennaiIPL Captain @msdhoni wins the toss and elects to bowl first against @DelhiDaredevils at the Kotla.#DDvCSK pic.twitter.com/UR5PA5pRH5 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2018 × Match referee Manu Nayyar, however, walked up to the spot and stated that Dhoni had won the toss. But, watching Dhoni laugh, even Iyer couldn’t control himself. However, the match was finally clinched by Iyer-led team by 34 runs, ending the winning momentum of the 'Yellow Brigade'. Dhoni, too departed after scoring a sluggish 23-ball 17, which made him the fifth batsman after Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir to notch up 6,000 runs in the shortest format of the game.

Watch: Shyeras Iyer's act leaves MS Dhoni in splits on ground

Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat against Mumbai during their clash at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking after the toss, Iyer said,"Going to have a bat. No grass on the wicket, seems dry, so we will look to put a big score on the board. We have been batting first in the last few games as well so we are confident of putting up a good score."

"With regards to preparation and practice we have been spot-on and we will play this game like this is our last game and put everything into it. Liam Plunkett comes in place of Avesh Khan," he added.

Talking about their strategy for today, Rohit Sharma said," Nothing changes for us, we need to restrict them to as little as possible. We are aware of these conditions, so we just have to play good cricket for 40 overs now that we know that we are bowling first and we need to restrict them to as little as possible."

"Mitch McClenaghan has a shoulder niggle, so Mustafizur replaces him."

The defending champions will be on toes today to beat the hosts and book a berth in the play-off.&nbsp

The Rohit-Sharma led team is used to miracles, if seen in the previous editions, and this year also they would be expecting another fairytale entry into the top four teams.&nbsp

 0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1">Teams:

 0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1">Mumbai&nbsp(Playing XI): Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman

 0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1">Delhi&nbsp(Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Liam Plunkett, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult

The defending champions will be on toes today to beat the hosts and book a berth in the play-off.

Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat against Mumbai during their clash at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Sunday. Speaking after the toss, Iyer said,"Going to have a bat. No grass on the wicket, seems dry, so we will look to put a big score on the board. We have been batting first in the last few games as well so we are confident of putting up a good score." "With regards to preparation and practice we have been spot-on and we will play this game like this is our last game and put everything into it. Liam Plunkett comes in place of Avesh Khan," he added. Talking about their strategy for today, Rohit Sharma said," Nothing changes for us, we need to restrict them to as little as possible. We are aware of these conditions, so we just have to play good cricket for 40 overs now that we know that we are bowling first and we need to restrict them to as little as possible." "Mitch McClenaghan has a shoulder niggle, so Mustafizur replaces him." The defending champions will be on toes today to beat the hosts and book a berth in the play-off. The Rohit-Sharma led team is used to miracles, if seen in the previous editions, and this year also they would be expecting another fairytale entry into the top four teams. Teams: Mumbai (Playing XI): Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman Delhi (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Liam Plunkett, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult

IPL 2018: Delhi win toss, opt to bat against defending champions Mumbai

Defending Champions Mumbai will be on toes today to beat Delhi and book a berth in the play-off, as the two teams clash at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday. &nbsp;

The Rohit-Sharma led team is used to miracles, if seen in the previous editions, and this year also they would be expecting another fairytale entry into the top four teams.&nbsp;

Yesterday, Kolkata defeated table-toppers Hyderabad to become the third team to make it to the play-offs. And now only one place is left with three teams fighting for the position.

Mumbai had a topsy-turvy campaign so far as after a series of defeats early in the tournament, they were able to string in the victories when it mattered the most.

In their last match against Punjab, Mumbai managed to beat the R Ashwin side by three runs.&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma's performance was once again a let down for the team, as he failed any good knock. However, it becomes important for him to shed his poor form if want to qualify.

Jasprit Bumrah's sensational three-wicket haul in the last match will give him a lot of confidence apart from his consistent show in most death over situations.

Hardik, 18 wickets and 233 runs, has been solid without being spectacular while Krunal, 224 runs and 11 wickets, has again been impressive.&nbsp;

Delhi, on the other hand, have once again brought up the rear. They outclassed formidable Chennai by 34 runs to restore some pride.

Vijay Shankar and Harshal Patel helped Delhi post 162 for five and then leg-spinners Amit Mishra (2/20) and young Sandeep Lamichhane (1/21) managed to restrict MS Dhoni-led side to 128 for six.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer would expect a similar effort from his team today also.&nbsp;

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In today's clash, if Mumbai win by a big margin, it would secure them a place in the play-offs due to their high run-rate.&nbsp;

But Mumbai Indians need to win at all costs because loss would be the end of their campaign.

Earlier in the tournament, Delhi had beat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium to claim their first win of the season.

Mumbai's win will put more pressure on Punjab in their match against Chennai in the final match of the group stage later in the day.

As of now, Punjab's chances of making it to the top four are next to impossible.&nbsp;

However, IPL is all about surprises and a superb win against Chennai will make the competition tougher. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The two teams clash at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium today

Defending Champions Mumbai will be on toes today to beat Delhi and book a berth in the play-off, as the two teams clash at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday. The Rohit-Sharma led team is used to miracles, if seen in the previous editions, and this year also they would be expecting another fairytale entry into the top four teams. Yesterday, Kolkata defeated table-toppers Hyderabad to become the third team to make it to the play-offs. And now only one place is left with three teams fighting for the position. Mumbai had a topsy-turvy campaign so far as after a series of defeats early in the tournament, they were able to string in the victories when it mattered the most. In their last match against Punjab, Mumbai managed to beat the R Ashwin side by three runs. Rohit Sharma's performance was once again a let down for the team, as he failed any good knock. However, it becomes important for him to shed his poor form if want to qualify. Jasprit Bumrah's sensational three-wicket haul in the last match will give him a lot of confidence apart from his consistent show in most death over situations. Hardik, 18 wickets and 233 runs, has been solid without being spectacular while Krunal, 224 runs and 11 wickets, has again been impressive. Delhi, on the other hand, have once again brought up the rear. They outclassed formidable Chennai by 34 runs to restore some pride. Vijay Shankar and Harshal Patel helped Delhi post 162 for five and then leg-spinners Amit Mishra (2/20) and young Sandeep Lamichhane (1/21) managed to restrict MS Dhoni-led side to 128 for six. Skipper Shreyas Iyer would expect a similar effort from his team today also. × In today's clash, if Mumbai win by a big margin, it would secure them a place in the play-offs due to their high run-rate. But Mumbai Indians need to win at all costs because loss would be the end of their campaign. Earlier in the tournament, Delhi had beat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium to claim their first win of the season. Mumbai's win will put more pressure on Punjab in their match against Chennai in the final match of the group stage later in the day. As of now, Punjab's chances of making it to the top four are next to impossible. However, IPL is all about surprises and a superb win against Chennai will make the competition tougher.

IPL 2018 match preview: Mumbai eye win against Delhi to seal play-off berth

Punjab face the herculean task of stopping a Chennai to seal a play-off berth when the two sides clash in the last Indian Premier League (IPL) league match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday.&nbsp;

To qualify, Punjab will have to register a win with a huge margin as their net run-rate reads a poor -0.490.&nbsp;

Punjab kicked-off the 2018 season with five wins out of their first six games but faltered in the business end of the league.

Barring opener KL Rahul, who has 652 runs from 13 innings, Punjab have failed as a team.&nbsp;

Chris Gayle smashed three half-centuries and one century in the first half of the season but failed to maintain his form.

Aaron Finch, Karun Nair, Marcus Stonis, Mayank Agarwal and Yuvraj Singh have failed to score so far.

In the bowling department, Andrew Tye has single-handedly led the pace attack with 24 wickets from 13 games and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the league.

Afghan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman (14 wickets) has also been impressive while pacer Ankit Rajpoot (eight wickets), off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (six wickets) and medium-pacer Mohit Sharma (six wickets) need to raise the bar against Chennai.

On the other hand, having already qualified for the play-offs, Chennai will be eager to finish the league stage at the top spot.

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The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side were handed a 34-run defeat by Delhi in their last game on Friday.

In batting, Ambati Rayadu has been brilliant so far, delivering on most occasions. In 13 innings, Rayudu has 585 runs while the Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has gathered 438 runs.

Skipper Dhoni has once again silenced his critics by smashing 430 runs in 13 games played.&nbsp;

Deepak Chahar is back from injury which has also bolstered the yellow brigade's pace attack.

Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi have also emerged with breakthroughs whenever the side needed.&nbsp;

However, Bravo needs to learn from his last game, where he was hammered for 26 runs in the final over.

So overall, Chennai has nothing to lose, while Punjab will be out of the tournament if defeated.&nbsp;

To qualify, Punjab will have to register a win with a huge margin as their net run-rate reads a poor -0.490.

Punjab face the herculean task of stopping a Chennai to seal a play-off berth when the two sides clash in the last Indian Premier League (IPL) league match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday. To qualify, Punjab will have to register a win with a huge margin as their net run-rate reads a poor -0.490. Punjab kicked-off the 2018 season with five wins out of their first six games but faltered in the business end of the league. Barring opener KL Rahul, who has 652 runs from 13 innings, Punjab have failed as a team. Chris Gayle smashed three half-centuries and one century in the first half of the season but failed to maintain his form. Aaron Finch, Karun Nair, Marcus Stonis, Mayank Agarwal and Yuvraj Singh have failed to score so far. In the bowling department, Andrew Tye has single-handedly led the pace attack with 24 wickets from 13 games and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the league. Afghan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman (14 wickets) has also been impressive while pacer Ankit Rajpoot (eight wickets), off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (six wickets) and medium-pacer Mohit Sharma (six wickets) need to raise the bar against Chennai. On the other hand, having already qualified for the play-offs, Chennai will be eager to finish the league stage at the top spot. × The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side were handed a 34-run defeat by Delhi in their last game on Friday. In batting, Ambati Rayadu has been brilliant so far, delivering on most occasions. In 13 innings, Rayudu has 585 runs while the Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has gathered 438 runs. Skipper Dhoni has once again silenced his critics by smashing 430 runs in 13 games played. Deepak Chahar is back from injury which has also bolstered the yellow brigade's pace attack. Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi have also emerged with breakthroughs whenever the side needed. However, Bravo needs to learn from his last game, where he was hammered for 26 runs in the final over. So overall, Chennai has nothing to lose, while Punjab will be out of the tournament if defeated.

IPL 2018 match preview: Chennai take on Punjab

Despite getting a flying start, table-toppers Hyderabad were restricted for mere 172 runs by the Kolkata bowlers at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday.

Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami opened for Hyderabad and established 79 runs partnership before Kuldeep Yadav broke the bond.&nbsp

Goswami was sent back to the pavilion after making 35 runs off 26 balls. 
&nbsp 
Dhawan continued the attack to reach his half-century, before being LBW.

Skipper Kane Williamson also smashed 36 runs off 17 balls. His inning included one boundary and three sixes.&nbsp

Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna came out as a trump card for Kolkata as he took four crucial wickets to restrict Hyderabad from setting a massive total.

In four overs bowled, Prasidh gave 30 runs which included two wides also.

Russell, &nbspNarine, Yadav and Searles took one wicket apiece.

Yadav today turned out to be the costliest player for Kolkata as he gave 35 runs in four overs at an economy of 8.75.&nbsp

Hyderabad won the toss and opted to bat at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday.

After winning the toss Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson highlighted the quality of pitch and said that it has grass and it will stay the same that is an advantage for the Hyderabad team.

As expected, Basil Thampi has been dropped as his performance in the previous game was very poor.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Carlos Brathwaite have been included in the squad for tonight's match at the pace of Alex Hales and Basil Thampi.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that the pitch might turn a bit and there is only change for Kolkata, Piyush Chawla has replaced Shivam Mavi.

Playing XI:

Kolkata:&nbspSunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

Hyderabad:&nbspShikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Carlos Brathwaite, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

Skipper Kane Williamson also smashed 36 runs off 17 balls

Despite getting a flying start, table-toppers Hyderabad were restricted for mere 172 runs by the Kolkata bowlers at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday. Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami opened for Hyderabad and established 79 runs partnership before Kuldeep Yadav broke the bond. Goswami was sent back to the pavilion after making 35 runs off 26 balls. Dhawan continued the attack to reach his half-century, before being LBW. Skipper Kane Williamson also smashed 36 runs off 17 balls. His inning included one boundary and three sixes. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna came out as a trump card for Kolkata as he took four crucial wickets to restrict Hyderabad from setting a massive total. In four overs bowled, Prasidh gave 30 runs which included two wides also. Russell, &nbspNarine, Yadav and Searles took one wicket apiece. Yadav today turned out to be the costliest player for Kolkata as he gave 35 runs in four overs at an economy of 8.75. Hyderabad won the toss and opted to bat at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday. After winning the toss Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson highlighted the quality of pitch and said that it has grass and it will stay the same that is an advantage for the Hyderabad team. As expected, Basil Thampi has been dropped as his performance in the previous game was very poor. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Carlos Brathwaite have been included in the squad for tonight's match at the pace of Alex Hales and Basil Thampi. On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that the pitch might turn a bit and there is only change for Kolkata, Piyush Chawla has replaced Shivam Mavi. Playing XI: Kolkata:&nbspSunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav Hyderabad:&nbspShikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Carlos Brathwaite, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

IPL 2018: After flying start Hyderabad restricted to mere 172

Hyderabad won the toss and opted to bat at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday.

After winning the toss Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson highlighted the quality of pitch and said that it has grass and it will stay the same that is an advantage for the Hyderabad team.

As expected, Basil Thampi has been dropped as his performance in the previous game was very poor.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Carlos Brathwaite have been included in the squad for tonight's match at the pace of Alex Hales and Basil Thampi.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that the pitch might turn a bit and there is only change for Kolkata, Piyush Chawla has replaced Shivam Mavi.

Playing XI:

Kolkata: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Carlos Brathwaite, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Carlos Brathwaite have been included in Hyderabad's squad for tonight's match

Hyderabad won the toss and opted to bat at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday. After winning the toss Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson highlighted the quality of pitch and said that it has grass and it will stay the same that is an advantage for the Hyderabad team. As expected, Basil Thampi has been dropped as his performance in the previous game was very poor. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Carlos Brathwaite have been included in the squad for tonight's match at the pace of Alex Hales and Basil Thampi. On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that the pitch might turn a bit and there is only change for Kolkata, Piyush Chawla has replaced Shivam Mavi. Playing XI: Kolkata: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Carlos Brathwaite, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

IPL 2018: Kane Williamson opts to bat against Kolkata

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