MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India, Dhoni opened up on his fascination for jersey number 7 and revealed why he sports the same&nbsp;number&nbsp;since his early days in international cricket.

For the unversed, Dhoni sports the No. 7 jersey since he made his debut for Team India. Even in the IPL, the superstar cricketer has donned the same&nbsp;number -- for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Thus, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed why he likes to retain&nbsp;the exact&nbsp;jersey number.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/success-is-theirs-failure-is-mine-captain-hardik-pandya-shares-his-philosophy-ahead-of-ipl-2022-463170">Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Speaking at a CSK&nbsp;event on Wednesday (March 16), the ex-Team India captain Dhoni revealed the "simple reason" behind choosing the specific shirt number.

"A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So it's the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason. Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number," Dhoni said.

"A lot of people said 7 is a neutral number and even if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't really go against you. That also I added to my answer. I am not very superstitious about it, but it's one number that is close to my heart and I have kept it over the years with me," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/morris-one-ball-was-more-expensive-than-aakash-chopra-responds-to-ramiz-rajas-claims-on-ipl-vs-psl-463158">'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL</a>

After leading CSK to their fourth title in the IPL 2021 edition, the defending champions Dhoni-led Chennai side will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus last year's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Yellow Army have revamped and brought back several of their regular members for the forthcoming season and, thus, will aim to retain their title in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league.

Complete squad of CSK for IPL 2022

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India, Dhoni opened up on his fascination for jersey number 7 and revealed why he sports the same number since his early days in international cricket. For the unversed, Dhoni sports the No. 7 jersey since he made his debut for Team India. Even in the IPL, the superstar cricketer has donned the same number -- for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Thus, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed why he likes to retain the exact jersey number. ALSO READ | Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022 Speaking at a CSK event on Wednesday (March 16), the ex-Team India captain Dhoni revealed the "simple reason" behind choosing the specific shirt number. "A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So it's the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason. Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number," Dhoni said. "A lot of people said 7 is a neutral number and even if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't really go against you. That also I added to my answer. I am not very superstitious about it, but it's one number that is close to my heart and I have kept it over the years with me," he added. ALSO READ | 'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL After leading CSK to their fourth title in the IPL 2021 edition, the defending champions Dhoni-led Chennai side will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus last year's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Yellow Army have revamped and brought back several of their regular members for the forthcoming season and, thus, will aim to retain their title in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league. Complete squad of CSK for IPL 2022 Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

Why does MS Dhoni don No. 7 jersey? CSK veteran answers the big question ahead of IPL 2022

Just ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition's season-opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a big blow as Englishman Alex Hales has withdrawn from the ten-team tournament citing bio-bubble fatigue. Earlier, Gujarat Titans' (GT) Jason Roy had also pulled out of the upcoming season of the cash-rich league, due to bubble fatigue.&nbsp;

With Hales not participating in the IPL 15 season, he was been replaced by Australia's white-ball captain Aaron Finch. It is to be noted that Finch had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February, after he wasn't part of the previous edition. Prior to the last year's season, he had also failed to draw a single bid in the IPL 2021 auction. By joining KKR, Finch is all set to play for his 9th IPL franchise. He is joining the two-time winners for INR 15 million (INR 1.5 crore); the same price for which Hales was roped in during the mega auction.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/kolkata-knight-riders-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-shreyas-iyer-joins-galaxy-of-knights-cummins-returns-453041">Kolkata Knight Riders complete squad for IPL 2022: Shreyas Iyer joins Galaxy of Knights, Cummins returns</a>

Finch's IPL career has been a rollercoaster ride. He has so far represented&nbsp;Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gujarat Lions (GL), Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI). In T20s, he has over 10,000 runs with an average of over 30 and a strike rate close to 140.

The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR unit will play the opening game of the season, versus four-time champions and defenders MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-set-to-earn-a-whopping-rs-8-billion-from-ipl-2022-sponsorship-and-other-deals-report-461341">BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report</a>

Complete squad of KKR for IPL 2022:&nbsp;

Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer, Sheldon Jackson, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Baba Indrajith, Abhijit Tomar,&nbsp;Sam Billings, Aaron Finch, Rasikh Dar, Ashok Sharma, Tim Southee,&nbsp;Pat Cummins, Nitish Rana,&nbsp;Shivam Mavi, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Pratham Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Md Nabi

Just ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition's season-opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a big blow as Englishman Alex Hales has withdrawn from the ten-team tournament citing bio-bubble fatigue.

Just ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition's season-opener, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a big blow as Englishman Alex Hales has withdrawn from the ten-team tournament citing bio-bubble fatigue. Earlier, Gujarat Titans' (GT) Jason Roy had also pulled out of the upcoming season of the cash-rich league, due to bubble fatigue. With Hales not participating in the IPL 15 season, he was been replaced by Australia's white-ball captain Aaron Finch. It is to be noted that Finch had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February, after he wasn't part of the previous edition. Prior to the last year's season, he had also failed to draw a single bid in the IPL 2021 auction. By joining KKR, Finch is all set to play for his 9th IPL franchise. He is joining the two-time winners for INR 15 million (INR 1.5 crore); the same price for which Hales was roped in during the mega auction. ALSO READ | Kolkata Knight Riders complete squad for IPL 2022: Shreyas Iyer joins Galaxy of Knights, Cummins returns Finch's IPL career has been a rollercoaster ride. He has so far represented Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gujarat Lions (GL), Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI). In T20s, he has over 10,000 runs with an average of over 30 and a strike rate close to 140. The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR unit will play the opening game of the season, versus four-time champions and defenders MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. ALSO READ | BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report Complete squad of KKR for IPL 2022: Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer, Sheldon Jackson, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Baba Indrajith, Abhijit Tomar, Sam Billings, Aaron Finch, Rasikh Dar, Ashok Sharma, Tim Southee, Pat Cummins, Nitish Rana, Shivam Mavi, Anukul Roy, Chamika Karunaratne, Pratham Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Md Nabi

IPL 2022: Aaron Finch replaces Alex Hales in Shreyas Iyer-led KKR squad after Englishman's withdrawal

The Indian Premier League (IPL) led to being a huge booster for T20 cricket worldwide. It led to the expansion of the shortest format and the formation of various T20 leagues across the globe. While IPL remains miles ahead of other competitors, Pakistan Cricket Board's President (PCB) made heads turn with his recent claims of making the Pakistan Super League (PSL) the biggest league of all, making it every player's top priority even ahead of IPL.

"When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is PSL. If we take PSL to an auction model, increase the purse, then I'll put it in IPL bracket. Then we'll see who goes to play IPL over the PSL," the PCB chief had said.

To this, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has reacted and schooled Ramiz. Chopra made an entire video, comparing PSL and IPL, on his Youtube channel and responded to Ramiz's claims by saying, "Even if you do an auction instead of drafts, it is not going to happen, you will not see a player playing for 16 crores in the PSL. It cannot happen at all, market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen, it's as simple as that."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bowlers-shouldnt-have-any-r-ashwin-reacts-as-mankading-moved-from-unfair-play-section-to-run-out-463118">'Bowlers shouldn't have any....: R Ashwin reacts as 'Mankading' moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'</a>

Chopra was brutal in his assessment and further asserted, "To be very honest, Chris Morris' one ball, when he played last time, was more expensive than the players' salary in other leagues. Is it even possible to compete or compare yourself with the IPL, whether it is PSL, BBL, The Hundred or the CPL? Is it a slightly misplaced judgment?"

<section>
"The price is decided based on how much money you get from the rights, at what price the teams are sold and then there is a total purse according to which you play. All these are interlinked, they are not separate. If someone sees them separately, he is going to get defeated," opined the former India player.

"The story starts with the broadcaster on what value it puts on a property. The biggest thing India has is the people who watch, they are the ones who pay a lot of money, our 130 crores public. That is the asset we have that nobody else has," added Chopra.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-sigh-of-relief-for-csk-ruturaj-gaikwad-joins-ms-dhoni-co-before-ipl-2022-opener-see-post-462869">Huge sigh of relief for CSK! Ruturaj Gaikwad joins MS Dhoni &amp; Co. before IPL 2022 opener - see post</a>

Talking about the IPL, the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is set to get underway on March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This time around, the competition will comprise two more teams (i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans) and the tournament is set to be played in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad (likely venue for playoffs and final).
</section>

The Indian Premier League (IPL) led to being a huge booster for T20 cricket worldwide. It led to the expansion of the shortest format and the formation of various T20 leagues across the globe.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) led to being a huge booster for T20 cricket worldwide. It led to the expansion of the shortest format and the formation of various T20 leagues across the globe. While IPL remains miles ahead of other competitors, Pakistan Cricket Board's President (PCB) made heads turn with his recent claims of making the Pakistan Super League (PSL) the biggest league of all, making it every player's top priority even ahead of IPL. "When the cricket economy grows in Pakistan, our respect will rise. The main driver of that financial economy is PSL. If we take PSL to an auction model, increase the purse, then I'll put it in IPL bracket. Then we'll see who goes to play IPL over the PSL," the PCB chief had said. To this, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has reacted and schooled Ramiz. Chopra made an entire video, comparing PSL and IPL, on his Youtube channel and responded to Ramiz's claims by saying, "Even if you do an auction instead of drafts, it is not going to happen, you will not see a player playing for 16 crores in the PSL. It cannot happen at all, market dynamics are not going to allow that to happen, it's as simple as that." ALSO READ | 'Bowlers shouldn't have any....: R Ashwin reacts as 'Mankading' moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out' Chopra was brutal in his assessment and further asserted, "To be very honest, Chris Morris' one ball, when he played last time, was more expensive than the players' salary in other leagues. Is it even possible to compete or compare yourself with the IPL, whether it is PSL, BBL, The Hundred or the CPL? Is it a slightly misplaced judgment?" "The price is decided based on how much money you get from the rights, at what price the teams are sold and then there is a total purse according to which you play. All these are interlinked, they are not separate. If someone sees them separately, he is going to get defeated," opined the former India player. "The story starts with the broadcaster on what value it puts on a property. The biggest thing India has is the people who watch, they are the ones who pay a lot of money, our 130 crores public. That is the asset we have that nobody else has," added Chopra. ALSO READ | Huge sigh of relief for CSK! Ruturaj Gaikwad joins MS Dhoni & Co. before IPL 2022 opener - see post Talking about the IPL, the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is set to get underway on March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This time around, the competition will comprise two more teams (i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans) and the tournament is set to be played in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad (likely venue for playoffs and final).

'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL

Recently, the&nbsp;New Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new code of Laws for 2022, which will come into force from October 1. Among the new code of laws introduced, one significant change that is set to come into play is that the controversial mode of dismissal, i.e. Mankading has been&nbsp;moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'.

One of the advocates of the controversial dismissal, R Ashwin has now finally opened up on the significant change brought forward by the MCC. For the unversed, the 35-year-old wily off-spinner had mankaded Jos Buttler during IPL 2019 edition, leading to a huge debate on the controversial mode of dismissal. Now, Ashwin has shared his reaction and also has an important message for the bowlers.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mankad-use-of-saliva-dogs-running-on-field-crickets-new-code-of-laws-for-2022-460436">Cricket is changing: New code covers 'Mankad', use of saliva, dogs invading pitch</a>

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "Non-striker leaving the crease early is the actual unfair play in this whole scenario. Not the bowler running them out."

“Earlier, it was termed a Mankad. But it has been changed now to run out. They (MCC) have destigmatized the entire concept and have termed it run-out law. The bowler was earlier expected to give a warning when the batsman leaves the crease at the non-striker's end. Now they have announced that what the non-striker is doing is wrong and, therefore, bowlers can actually run them out if the non-striker tries to leave the crease before the ball is delivered by the bowler. Bowlers used to feel bad about doing this, wondering how our team batsman would feel and what the cricketing world would think if we did it. Thinking about these consequences, they used to not run them out," he further pointed out.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/listing-mccs-fresh-changes-to-the-laws-of-cricket-461023">Listing MCC's fresh changes to the laws of cricket</a>

Ashwin asserted, "the extra step the non-striker is taking might end up destroying your entire career. If the non-striker ends up on strike because of that extra step he is taking, he might smash a six, whereas the current striker might have gotten out. So, if you take a wicket, your career will advance, whereas if you are smashed for a six, your career may suffer. The impact is huge. So, the bowlers should not have any second thoughts on running the non-striker out, in my opinion," he added.

It is to be noted that Ashwin is gearing up for the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, where he will team up with Buttler -- whom he had mankaded -- in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp.&nbsp;

Recently, the New Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new code of Laws for 2022, which will come into force from October 1. Among the new code of laws introduced, one significant change that is set to come into play is that the controversial mode of dismissal, i.

Recently, the New Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new code of Laws for 2022, which will come into force from October 1. Among the new code of laws introduced, one significant change that is set to come into play is that the controversial mode of dismissal, i.e. Mankading has been moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'. One of the advocates of the controversial dismissal, R Ashwin has now finally opened up on the significant change brought forward by the MCC. For the unversed, the 35-year-old wily off-spinner had mankaded Jos Buttler during IPL 2019 edition, leading to a huge debate on the controversial mode of dismissal. Now, Ashwin has shared his reaction and also has an important message for the bowlers. ALSO READ | Cricket is changing: New code covers 'Mankad', use of saliva, dogs invading pitch Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "Non-striker leaving the crease early is the actual unfair play in this whole scenario. Not the bowler running them out." “Earlier, it was termed a Mankad. But it has been changed now to run out. They (MCC) have destigmatized the entire concept and have termed it run-out law. The bowler was earlier expected to give a warning when the batsman leaves the crease at the non-striker's end. Now they have announced that what the non-striker is doing is wrong and, therefore, bowlers can actually run them out if the non-striker tries to leave the crease before the ball is delivered by the bowler. Bowlers used to feel bad about doing this, wondering how our team batsman would feel and what the cricketing world would think if we did it. Thinking about these consequences, they used to not run them out," he further pointed out. ALSO READ | Listing MCC's fresh changes to the laws of cricket Ashwin asserted, "the extra step the non-striker is taking might end up destroying your entire career. If the non-striker ends up on strike because of that extra step he is taking, he might smash a six, whereas the current striker might have gotten out. So, if you take a wicket, your career will advance, whereas if you are smashed for a six, your career may suffer. The impact is huge. So, the bowlers should not have any second thoughts on running the non-striker out, in my opinion," he added. It is to be noted that Ashwin is gearing up for the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, where he will team up with Buttler -- whom he had mankaded -- in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp.

'Bowlers shouldn't have any....: R Ashwin reacts as 'Mankading' moved from 'unfair play' section to 'run out'

Injury-ravaged India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has got the all-clear to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL after a general assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he bowled and also passed the 'Yo-Yo' Test comfortably.

The BCCI is checking on all its centrally contracted players -- injured or otherwise -- before the IPL and Pandya's performance, during his two days at the NCA, can also be seen as a good sign for Indian cricket.

"Let's make it clear. Fitness test clearance is only for those who are coming back from injury. In case of Hardik, it was about getting a general fitness assessment going into the gruelling IPL season," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-led-delhi-capitals-parked-team-bus-allegedly-attacked-in-mumbai-before-ipl-2022-opener-462843">Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener</a>

"He is an asset and one needed to check his current fitness standards," he added.

In fact, in his fitness assessment module, the NCA team didn't even mandate him to bowl but the all-rounder apparently "insisted" on it to show that he is on track to make a comeback into the Indian team.

"He didn't need to bowl at NCA but he has bowled for considerable time and in the range of 135 kmph. On the second day, he crossed the Yo-Yo test with flying colours with a 17-plus score which is much above the cut-off level," the source said. 
 
Prithvi Shaw fails 'Yo-Yo' test 
 
However, as per information received one player, who would be slightly disappointed with his current fitness status is out-of-favour opener Prithvi Shaw.

The former U-19 World Cup winning captain, who is not a part of the central contract was also at the NCA to provide an update on his fitness status and the result wasn't exactly satisfactory.

The current Yo-Yo test qualification score is 16.5 for men and it has been learnt that the Mumbai opener has scored less than 15.

"These are just fitness updates. Obviously, it doesn't stop Prithvi from playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL. It's just a fitness parameter and not the be all and end all," the source said.

"Look, he has played three Ranji matches back-to-back. Once you play three first-class games on the bounce, the fatigue can also affect your Yo-Yo score," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-blow-for-mumbai-indians-suryakumar-yadav-unlikely-to-feature-in-ipl-opener-against-delhi-capitals-462615">Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals</a>

Shaw, of late, hasn't been among the fittest of Indian players and perhaps that is one of the reasons that of late, he has not been considered in any of the current senior teams across formats.

Even as a replacement, the team management, in the white-ball format, has preferred Mayank Agarwal as a reserve opener despite some underwhelming performances by the Karnataka man.

"If Prithvi is not being repeatedly considered, then perhaps his fitness standards aren't up to the mark, as in what is expected of a Team India player," the source said.

Injury-ravaged India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has got the all-clear to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL after a general assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he bowled and also passed the 'Yo-Yo' Test comfortably.

Injury-ravaged India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has got the all-clear to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL after a general assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where he bowled and also passed the 'Yo-Yo' Test comfortably. The BCCI is checking on all its centrally contracted players -- injured or otherwise -- before the IPL and Pandya's performance, during his two days at the NCA, can also be seen as a good sign for Indian cricket. "Let's make it clear. Fitness test clearance is only for those who are coming back from injury. In case of Hardik, it was about getting a general fitness assessment going into the gruelling IPL season," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener "He is an asset and one needed to check his current fitness standards," he added. In fact, in his fitness assessment module, the NCA team didn't even mandate him to bowl but the all-rounder apparently "insisted" on it to show that he is on track to make a comeback into the Indian team. "He didn't need to bowl at NCA but he has bowled for considerable time and in the range of 135 kmph. On the second day, he crossed the Yo-Yo test with flying colours with a 17-plus score which is much above the cut-off level," the source said. Prithvi Shaw fails 'Yo-Yo' test However, as per information received one player, who would be slightly disappointed with his current fitness status is out-of-favour opener Prithvi Shaw. The former U-19 World Cup winning captain, who is not a part of the central contract was also at the NCA to provide an update on his fitness status and the result wasn't exactly satisfactory. The current Yo-Yo test qualification score is 16.5 for men and it has been learnt that the Mumbai opener has scored less than 15. "These are just fitness updates. Obviously, it doesn't stop Prithvi from playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL. It's just a fitness parameter and not the be all and end all," the source said. "Look, he has played three Ranji matches back-to-back. Once you play three first-class games on the bounce, the fatigue can also affect your Yo-Yo score," he added. ALSO READ: Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals Shaw, of late, hasn't been among the fittest of Indian players and perhaps that is one of the reasons that of late, he has not been considered in any of the current senior teams across formats. Even as a replacement, the team management, in the white-ball format, has preferred Mayank Agarwal as a reserve opener despite some underwhelming performances by the Karnataka man. "If Prithvi is not being repeatedly considered, then perhaps his fitness standards aren't up to the mark, as in what is expected of a Team India player," the source said.

IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya fit to play, Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw fails Yo-Yo Test

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can rejoice as their superstar opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the squad in Surat on Wednesday (March 16). Ahead of the season-opener, where CSK face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, there were doubts about&nbsp;Ruturaj's fitness. For the unversed, the 25-year-old had sustained a&nbsp;wrist injury before the home series against Sri Lanka. Thus, he was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has recovered just in time before CSK's first game (at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai).

The official Twitter handle of the CSK franchise shared an update after Ruturaj reached Surat and joined the squad before their departure to Mumbai. Here's the post:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-led-delhi-capitals-parked-team-bus-allegedly-attacked-in-mumbai-before-ipl-2022-opener-462843">Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener</a>

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Hi <a href="https://twitter.com/Ruutu1331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ruutu1331</a>! 👋🏼😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SingamsInSurat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SingamsInSurat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> 💛🦁 <a href="https://t.co/gbiSG2rfYP">pic.twitter.com/gbiSG2rfYP</a>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-blow-for-mumbai-indians-suryakumar-yadav-unlikely-to-feature-in-ipl-opener-against-delhi-capitals-462615">Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals</a>

Ruturaj was retained by the four-time winners CSK before the mega auction, held in Bengaluru in mid-February. He has become one of the mainstays of the Yellow Army post his resounding success in the latter half of IPL 2020 and dream run in IPL 2021, where he amassed 635 runs and ended with the Orange Cap in Dhoni &amp; Co.'s title-winning campaign.

With a T20 World Cup round the corner, to be held in Australia later this year, Ruturaj will hope for another memorable season with CSK. Another good season will not only grow his stature as a Chennai player and help them retain the title, but it will also help him get more chances in Rohit Sharma-led India's T20I squad before the World Cup, in October-November.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can rejoice as their superstar opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the squad in Surat on Wednesday (March 16). Ahead of the season-opener, where CSK face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, there were doubts about Ruturaj's fitness.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can rejoice as their superstar opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the squad in Surat on Wednesday (March 16). Ahead of the season-opener, where CSK face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, there were doubts about Ruturaj's fitness. For the unversed, the 25-year-old had sustained a wrist injury before the home series against Sri Lanka. Thus, he was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has recovered just in time before CSK's first game (at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai). The official Twitter handle of the CSK franchise shared an update after Ruturaj reached Surat and joined the squad before their departure to Mumbai. Here's the post: ALSO READ | Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener Hi @Ruutu1331! 👋🏼😍#SingamsInSurat #WhistlePodu 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/gbiSG2rfYP — Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) March 16, 2022 × ALSO READ | Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals Ruturaj was retained by the four-time winners CSK before the mega auction, held in Bengaluru in mid-February. He has become one of the mainstays of the Yellow Army post his resounding success in the latter half of IPL 2020 and dream run in IPL 2021, where he amassed 635 runs and ended with the Orange Cap in Dhoni & Co.'s title-winning campaign. With a T20 World Cup round the corner, to be held in Australia later this year, Ruturaj will hope for another memorable season with CSK. Another good season will not only grow his stature as a Chennai player and help them retain the title, but it will also help him get more chances in Rohit Sharma-led India's T20I squad before the World Cup, in October-November.

Huge sigh of relief for CSK! Ruturaj Gaikwad joins MS Dhoni & Co. before IPL 2022 opener - see post

Ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise have been&nbsp;dealt with a big blow. Mumbai Police, on Wednesday (March 16), have registered an FIR against miscreants after an alleged&nbsp;attack on&nbsp;the parked Delhi-based team's bus.

"An FIR has been registered against 5-6 unknown persons under sections 143,147,149,427 of IPC for allegedly attacking the Delhi Capital IPL team parked bus, police said," ANI tweeted.

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Mumbai | An FIR has been registered against 5-6 unknown persons under sections 143,147,149,427 of IPC for allegedly attacking the Delhi Capital IPL team parked bus, police said <a href="https://t.co/aED8Z1Hd5G">pic.twitter.com/aED8Z1Hd5G</a>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/want-him-to-come-back-to-academy-virat-kohlis-childhood-coach-urges-indias-batting-star-to-work-on-basics-462795">Want him to come back to academy: Virat Kohli's childhood coach urges India's batting star to work on basics</a>

As per a report in Zee News, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena&nbsp;Vahatuk Sena (Transport Wing) sneaked near the bus, pasted posters of their demands on the bus' front, raised slogans, and&nbsp;smashed&nbsp;the windows of the four-wheeler. Hence, the Colaba Police Station rushed a team&nbsp;and arrested as many as five persons in connection with the mishap. Thus, security has also been beefed up around the DC camp following the incident.&nbsp;

For the unversed, Pant-led DC will open their campaign versus five-time champions Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) on Day 2 of the IPL 2022 edition, i.e. on March 27 at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. The tournament will get underway with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-to-hardik-pandya-top-5-cricketing-superstars-with-most-instagram-followers-460635">From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers</a>

DC IPL 2022 squad

Rishabh Pant (R), Prithvi Shaw (R), Anrich Nortje (R), Axar Patel (R), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin Hebbar, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Tim Seifert, Vicky Ostwal

Ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise have been dealt with a big blow. Mumbai Police, on Wednesday (March 16), have registered an FIR against miscreants after an alleged attack on the parked Delhi-based team's bus.

Ahead of the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise have been dealt with a big blow. Mumbai Police, on Wednesday (March 16), have registered an FIR against miscreants after an alleged attack on the parked Delhi-based team's bus. "An FIR has been registered against 5-6 unknown persons under sections 143,147,149,427 of IPC for allegedly attacking the Delhi Capital IPL team parked bus, police said," ANI tweeted. Mumbai | An FIR has been registered against 5-6 unknown persons under sections 143,147,149,427 of IPC for allegedly attacking the Delhi Capital IPL team parked bus, police said pic.twitter.com/aED8Z1Hd5G — ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2022 × ALSO READ | Want him to come back to academy: Virat Kohli's childhood coach urges India's batting star to work on basics As per a report in Zee News, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Vahatuk Sena (Transport Wing) sneaked near the bus, pasted posters of their demands on the bus' front, raised slogans, and smashed the windows of the four-wheeler. Hence, the Colaba Police Station rushed a team and arrested as many as five persons in connection with the mishap. Thus, security has also been beefed up around the DC camp following the incident. For the unversed, Pant-led DC will open their campaign versus five-time champions Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) on Day 2 of the IPL 2022 edition, i.e. on March 27 at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. The tournament will get underway with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. ALSO READ | From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers DC IPL 2022 squad Rishabh Pant (R), Prithvi Shaw (R), Anrich Nortje (R), Axar Patel (R), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin Hebbar, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Tim Seifert, Vicky Ostwal

Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals' parked team bus allegedly attacked in Mumbai before IPL 2022 opener

Virat Kohli's indifferent run with the bat continued in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka Test series. In the two-match Test series at home, the 33-year-old former Indian captain managed only 81 runs -- at an average of 27 -- without a single fifty-plus score as his century drought continues at the highest level.&nbsp;

Kohli's last hundred at the international level came in late 2019. Since then, he has scored plenty of fifties but a big score continues to evade him. With another below-par series, the right-hander's ardent fans' wait for his 71st international ton has extended. Amid all this, Kohli's childhoood coach Rajkumar Sharma has a message for his pupil. Raj wants his student to return to his cricket academy, in Delhi, and rework on his basics in order to deliver at his usual best.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-world-test-championship-points-table-after-indias-2-0-clean-sweep-over-sri-lanka-462550">Updated World Test Championship points table after India's 2-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka</a>

"Virat will need to come back to his basics. I would definitely want him to come back to the academy. I was thinking about this from yesterday and I am going to talk to him. The kind of confidence that he gets batting in the academy, he needs it," said&nbsp;Rajumkar&nbsp;to the&nbsp;Khelneeti&nbsp;podcast.

"He is batting really well but unfortunately, he is batting too cautiously. If starts to bat a bit more freely, like he has his entire career then soon he will be back to his best. On such wickets, you need to take more chances like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer did," concluded Rajkumar.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-thrash-sri-lanka-by-238-runs-to-register-2-0-clean-sweep-record-15th-striaght-test-series-win-at-home-462203">India thrash Sri Lanka by 238 runs to register 2-0 clean sweep, record 15th straight Test series win at home</a>

At present, Kohli is now shifting focus to the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, to commence on March 26. The superstar cricketer will be desperate to play freely in the upcoming IPL season, with no additional captaincy responsibility this time around, and regain his form by the end of the 15th edition and before he turns up for Team India.

With a T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, Kohli's form is crucial for India's chances in the showpiece event.&nbsp;
</section>

Virat Kohli's indifferent run with the bat continued in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka Test series. In the two-match Test series at home, the 33-year-old former Indian captain managed only 81 runs -- at an average of 27 -- without a single fifty-plus score as his century drought continues at the highest level.

Virat Kohli's indifferent run with the bat continued in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka Test series. In the two-match Test series at home, the 33-year-old former Indian captain managed only 81 runs -- at an average of 27 -- without a single fifty-plus score as his century drought continues at the highest level. Kohli's last hundred at the international level came in late 2019. Since then, he has scored plenty of fifties but a big score continues to evade him. With another below-par series, the right-hander's ardent fans' wait for his 71st international ton has extended. Amid all this, Kohli's childhoood coach Rajkumar Sharma has a message for his pupil. Raj wants his student to return to his cricket academy, in Delhi, and rework on his basics in order to deliver at his usual best. ALSO READ | Updated World Test Championship points table after India's 2-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka "Virat will need to come back to his basics. I would definitely want him to come back to the academy. I was thinking about this from yesterday and I am going to talk to him. The kind of confidence that he gets batting in the academy, he needs it," said Rajumkar to the Khelneeti podcast. "He is batting really well but unfortunately, he is batting too cautiously. If starts to bat a bit more freely, like he has his entire career then soon he will be back to his best. On such wickets, you need to take more chances like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer did," concluded Rajkumar. ALSO READ | India thrash Sri Lanka by 238 runs to register 2-0 clean sweep, record 15th straight Test series win at home At present, Kohli is now shifting focus to the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, to commence on March 26. The superstar cricketer will be desperate to play freely in the upcoming IPL season, with no additional captaincy responsibility this time around, and regain his form by the end of the 15th edition and before he turns up for Team India. With a T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, Kohli's form is crucial for India's chances in the showpiece event.

Want him to come back to academy: Virat Kohli's childhood coach urges India's batting star to work on basics

England pacer Jofra Archer was roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month for a big sum of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million). Despite the BCCI having confirmed already that the fast bowler will not be available to play in the upcoming season, a number of teams expressed interest in acquiring his services at the auction.

Archer, who had initially pulled out of the IPL 2022 mega auction, enlisted himself later. Archer had undergone a second elbow operation in December last year and is currently recovering after his surgery. The injury setback was the reason behind his decision to not enter the IPL 2022 auction. However, he later put his name in the auction pool after the franchises were informed that he will be available to play from IPL 2023 and not the upcoming season this year.

While it is all but confirmed that he will not feature in IPL 2022, recent videos of the pacer have shown he has returned to training and has been bowling in full swing again. His on-track recovery has sparked speculations about whether Archer can make his comeback in IPL 2022 itself and pair up with the lethal Jasprit Bumrah for Mumbai Indians.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-was-completely-opposite-of-what-i-thought-captaincy-would-have-looked-like-faf-du-plessis-461867">MS Dhoni was completely opposite of what I thought captaincy would have looked like: Faf du Plessis</a>

Archer himself responded to the question recently in an interview with Mumbai Indians. The England pacer said the fans should not get their hopes too high as he is not looking to play in the IPL this year as he would not like to rush his recovery despite having progressed faster than many had expected.

"As it stands, it was always going to be next year. I think I have progressed a bit faster than we all thought I would've. Which is still good, but it's still gonna be next year. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up too high. I don't wanna disappoint anyone. So, I am going to say next year," said Archer.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-set-to-earn-a-whopping-rs-8-billion-from-ipl-2022-sponsorship-and-other-deals-report-461341">BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report</a>

Archer's move to Mumbai Indians was one of the major talking points after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 mega auction as the England pacer is set to form a deadly duo with Bumrah, who is also one of the best fast bowlers in the world at present. The duo can together terrorise the best of batters in the league and make Mumbai Indians a dominant force as far as the bowling department is considered.

Archer has so far played 35 matches in his IPL career and has 46 wickets to his name. He made his IPL debut in 2018 for Rajasthan Royals and has since gone strength to strength in the league and his international career.

England pacer Jofra Archer was roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month for a big sum of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million).

England pacer Jofra Archer was roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month for a big sum of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million). Despite the BCCI having confirmed already that the fast bowler will not be available to play in the upcoming season, a number of teams expressed interest in acquiring his services at the auction. Archer, who had initially pulled out of the IPL 2022 mega auction, enlisted himself later. Archer had undergone a second elbow operation in December last year and is currently recovering after his surgery. The injury setback was the reason behind his decision to not enter the IPL 2022 auction. However, he later put his name in the auction pool after the franchises were informed that he will be available to play from IPL 2023 and not the upcoming season this year. While it is all but confirmed that he will not feature in IPL 2022, recent videos of the pacer have shown he has returned to training and has been bowling in full swing again. His on-track recovery has sparked speculations about whether Archer can make his comeback in IPL 2022 itself and pair up with the lethal Jasprit Bumrah for Mumbai Indians. Also Read: MS Dhoni was completely opposite of what I thought captaincy would have looked like: Faf du Plessis Archer himself responded to the question recently in an interview with Mumbai Indians. The England pacer said the fans should not get their hopes too high as he is not looking to play in the IPL this year as he would not like to rush his recovery despite having progressed faster than many had expected. "As it stands, it was always going to be next year. I think I have progressed a bit faster than we all thought I would've. Which is still good, but it's still gonna be next year. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up too high. I don't wanna disappoint anyone. So, I am going to say next year," said Archer. Also Read: BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report Archer's move to Mumbai Indians was one of the major talking points after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 mega auction as the England pacer is set to form a deadly duo with Bumrah, who is also one of the best fast bowlers in the world at present. The duo can together terrorise the best of batters in the league and make Mumbai Indians a dominant force as far as the bowling department is considered. Archer has so far played 35 matches in his IPL career and has 46 wickets to his name. He made his IPL debut in 2018 for Rajasthan Royals and has since gone strength to strength in the league and his international career.

Will Jofra Archer play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022? England pacer responds

Mumbai Indians on Tuesday began their preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign.

Earlier, captain Rohit Sharma accompanied by speedster Jasprit Bumrah moved from the bubble to join the squad late last night, while Ishan Kishan flew from Bengaluru separately after securing a full-fitness certificate from BCCI's NCA.

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🔙 home. 💫💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneFamily?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneFamily</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImRo45</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Jaspritbumrah93?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jaspritbumrah93</a> MI TV <a href="https://t.co/r9qmwfky3E">pic.twitter.com/r9qmwfky3E</a>
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The 12-day strength and conditioning pre-season camp, ahead of Mumbai Indians'&nbsp;first match, is being held at their in-house training facility at the Reliance Jio Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

Mumbai Indians will also play a couple of inter-squad practice matches towards the second week of the camp.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-delhi-capitals-appoints-australian-all-rounder-shane-watson-as-assistant-coach-462441">IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals appoint former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as assistant coach</a>

The first-day training session was preceded with player assessment analysis by the coaching staff led by the director of cricket Zaheer Khan and coach Mahela Jayawardene.

Over the next 11-weeks, Mumbai Indians coaching staff will look at upskilling the young domestic and international recruits through individual sessions, game situations, mental aspects and physical fitness.

Joining Zaheer and Mahela in this task will be the likes of Shane Bond, Robin Singh, Kiran More, Rahul Sanghvi, Vinay Kumar, TA Sekar, Paul Chapman and data analyst CKM Dhananjai - who have a proven record of nurturing the likes of Suryakumar, Bumrah, Ishan, Pandya brothers and many more in the past.

Mumbai Indians on Tuesday began their preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign. Earlier, captain Rohit Sharma accompanied by speedster Jasprit Bumrah moved from the bubble to join the squad late last night, while Ishan Kishan flew from Bengaluru separately after securing a full-fitness certificate from BCCI's NCA.

Mumbai Indians on Tuesday began their preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign. Earlier, captain Rohit Sharma accompanied by speedster Jasprit Bumrah moved from the bubble to join the squad late last night, while Ishan Kishan flew from Bengaluru separately after securing a full-fitness certificate from BCCI's NCA. 🔙 home. 💫💙#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @ImRo45 @Jaspritbumrah93 MI TV pic.twitter.com/r9qmwfky3E — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 15, 2022 × The 12-day strength and conditioning pre-season camp, ahead of Mumbai Indians' first match, is being held at their in-house training facility at the Reliance Jio Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Mumbai Indians will also play a couple of inter-squad practice matches towards the second week of the camp. ALSO READ: IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals appoint former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as assistant coach The first-day training session was preceded with player assessment analysis by the coaching staff led by the director of cricket Zaheer Khan and coach Mahela Jayawardene. Over the next 11-weeks, Mumbai Indians coaching staff will look at upskilling the young domestic and international recruits through individual sessions, game situations, mental aspects and physical fitness. Joining Zaheer and Mahela in this task will be the likes of Shane Bond, Robin Singh, Kiran More, Rahul Sanghvi, Vinay Kumar, TA Sekar, Paul Chapman and data analyst CKM Dhananjai - who have a proven record of nurturing the likes of Suryakumar, Bumrah, Ishan, Pandya brothers and many more in the past.

Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah enter camp as Mumbai Indian begin preparations for IPL 2022

Mumbai Indians (MI) have been handed a huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as star batter Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to be available for their tournament opener against Delhi Capitals (DC). Mumbai Indians will take on Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals in their first game of the season on March 27.

Suryakumar had suffered a hairline fracture on his thumb while playing for India during the&nbsp;T20I series against West Indies. He is unlikely to recover from it fully to feature in Mumbai Indians' first game against Delhi Capitals and will have to sit out for the clash.

Suryakumar is one of the vital cogs in the Mumbai Indians batting line-up and had been retained by the five-time champions ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. He is one of the most important batters for the franchise along with skipper Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Kieron Pollard.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/well-see-who-goes-to-play-ipl-over-psl-pcb-chief-ramiz-raja-makes-bold-claim-as-hints-at-changes-in-psl-462443">'We'll see who goes to play IPL': PCB chief Ramiz Raja makes bold claim as hints at changes in PSL</a>

Suryakumar is yet to join the Mumbai Indians squad which has started training in Mumbai and is currently undergoing his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru.

"Surya is currently at the NCA doing his rehabilitation. He is well on his way to recovery but there is a possibility that his participation in the opening game will be a real touch and go affair," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI.

"So there could be a possibility that he might be advised by the board's medical team to not risk playing the opener," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-indian-players-who-can-replace-deepak-chahar-for-csk-if-he-is-ruled-out-of-ipl-2022-461048">5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022</a>

After their opening game against Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians will have a five-day gap before their second game against Rajasthan Royals on April 2nd. The gap between the two games is likely to be enough for Suryakumar to become match fit and return to the playing XI in the second game.

Mumbai Indians (MI) have been handed a huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as star batter Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to be available for their tournament opener against Delhi Capitals (DC).

Mumbai Indians (MI) have been handed a huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as star batter Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to be available for their tournament opener against Delhi Capitals (DC). Mumbai Indians will take on Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals in their first game of the season on March 27. Suryakumar had suffered a hairline fracture on his thumb while playing for India during the T20I series against West Indies. He is unlikely to recover from it fully to feature in Mumbai Indians' first game against Delhi Capitals and will have to sit out for the clash. Suryakumar is one of the vital cogs in the Mumbai Indians batting line-up and had been retained by the five-time champions ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. He is one of the most important batters for the franchise along with skipper Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Kieron Pollard. Also Read: 'We'll see who goes to play IPL': PCB chief Ramiz Raja makes bold claim as hints at changes in PSL Suryakumar is yet to join the Mumbai Indians squad which has started training in Mumbai and is currently undergoing his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru. "Surya is currently at the NCA doing his rehabilitation. He is well on his way to recovery but there is a possibility that his participation in the opening game will be a real touch and go affair," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI. "So there could be a possibility that he might be advised by the board's medical team to not risk playing the opener," he added. Also Read: 5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022 After their opening game against Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians will have a five-day gap before their second game against Rajasthan Royals on April 2nd. The gap between the two games is likely to be enough for Suryakumar to become match fit and return to the playing XI in the second game.

Huge blow for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav unlikely to feature in IPL 2022 opener against Delhi Capitals

IPL franchise Delhi Capitals on Tuesday appointed former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as an assistant coach for the upcoming season of the league.

The 40-year-old joins the DC coaching staff comprising Ricky Ponting (Head Coach), Pravin Amre (Assistant Coach), Ajit Agarkar (Assistant Coach) and James Hopes (Bowling Coach).

"The IPL, the best T20 tournament in the world. I've got incredible memories as a player, first of all with Rajasthan Royals winning it in 2008, led by the incredible man Shane Warne, RCB and then CSK," Watson said in a statement issued by DC.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-world-cup-ellyse-perry-ashleigh-gardner-stars-as-australia-beat-west-indies-by-7-wickets-462432">Women's World Cup: Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner stars as Australia beat West Indies by 7 wickets</a>

"I've got incredible memories as a player, and now coaching opportunities. It's come to be able to work under the great Ricky Ponting. He was an amazing leader as a captain, and now to be able to coach under him."

"He is one of the best coaches in the world now. So, for me to be able to learn the ropes under Ricky, I am really excited," he added.

Considered one of the best all-rounders in white ball cricket, Watson has been a part of Australia's two World Cup-winning campaigns in the 50-over format -- in 2007 and 2015.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-hails-game-changer-rishabh-pant-says-his-keeping-in-sri-lanka-series-was-best-he-has-seen-462427">Rohit Sharma hails game-changer Rishabh Pant, says his keeping in Sri Lanka series was best he has seen</a>

At the 2012 T20 World Cup, he was named Player of the Tournament.

Watson has over 7000 runs, and more than 200 wickets to his name in limited overs cricket, having represented Australia in 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is.

In the Indian Premier League, he has played for Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings and won the title twice -- with RR in 2008 and with CSK in 2018.

IPL franchise Delhi Capitals on Tuesday appointed former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as an assistant coach for the upcoming season of the league. The 40-year-old joins the DC coaching staff comprising Ricky Ponting (Head Coach), Pravin Amre (Assistant Coach), Ajit Agarkar (Assistant Coach) and James Hopes (Bowling Coach).

IPL franchise Delhi Capitals on Tuesday appointed former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as an assistant coach for the upcoming season of the league. The 40-year-old joins the DC coaching staff comprising Ricky Ponting (Head Coach), Pravin Amre (Assistant Coach), Ajit Agarkar (Assistant Coach) and James Hopes (Bowling Coach). "The IPL, the best T20 tournament in the world. I've got incredible memories as a player, first of all with Rajasthan Royals winning it in 2008, led by the incredible man Shane Warne, RCB and then CSK," Watson said in a statement issued by DC. ALSO READ: Women's World Cup: Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner stars as Australia beat West Indies by 7 wickets "I've got incredible memories as a player, and now coaching opportunities. It's come to be able to work under the great Ricky Ponting. He was an amazing leader as a captain, and now to be able to coach under him." "He is one of the best coaches in the world now. So, for me to be able to learn the ropes under Ricky, I am really excited," he added. Considered one of the best all-rounders in white ball cricket, Watson has been a part of Australia's two World Cup-winning campaigns in the 50-over format -- in 2007 and 2015. ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma hails game-changer Rishabh Pant, says his keeping in Sri Lanka series was best he has seen At the 2012 T20 World Cup, he was named Player of the Tournament. Watson has over 7000 runs, and more than 200 wickets to his name in limited overs cricket, having represented Australia in 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is. In the Indian Premier League, he has played for Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings and won the title twice -- with RR in 2008 and with CSK in 2018.

IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals appoint former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as assistant coach

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday (March 13) confirmed the appointment of Faf du Plessis as their new captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Du Plessis will replace Virat Kohli, who had stepped down from captaincy following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. While there were speculations Kohli could return to captaincy or Glenn Maxwell can take charge, RCB's announcement put to rest all such rumours.

Du Plessis was signed by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month and ever since then, he had become one of the frontrunners to become the new RCB skipper. However, the likes of Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, who have led IPL teams in the past, were also in contention to replace Kohli as the new captain.

RCB's Director of Cricket Mike Hesson explained why the franchise decided to go with Du Plessis as captain over the likes of Maxwell and Karthik. When asked if the franchise had bid for Du Plessis at the mega auction keeping the captaincy decision in mind, Hesson admitted the franchise saw the former South Africa skipper as part of their leadership group.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/faf-du-plessis-replaces-virat-kohli-as-rcb-captain-ahead-of-ipl-2022-461649">Faf du Plessis replaces Virat Kohli as RCB captain ahead of IPL 2022</a>

"It was a little bit of both. We obviously had Maxwell and Virat to have huge captaincy experience that we retained. We felt within our leadership group we wanted to expand on that and also Harshal Patel as well. Who we wanted to buy back. So it was more about growing our leadership group and carrying on from that," said Hesson.

"Obviously, Faf was right up the top of that list in terms of whom we were wanting to get. It was little bit of both. I know how well respected he is. I know tactically sound he is. We have the likes of Virat, Maxi (Maxwell), DK who is new to the group," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/couldnt-be-happier-to-pass-on-baton-says-virat-kohli-on-faf-du-plessis-appointment-as-rcb-captain-461728">Couldn't be happier to pass on baton, says Virat Kohli on Faf du Plessis' appointment as RCB captain</a>

With many of the opinion that having an overseas captain might act as a limitation going forward as only four overseas players are allowed in the playing XI, Hesson said he had no doubts that Du Plessis will play all games for the franchise. Hesson also called Du Plessis the most suitable candidate for the captaincy role.

"When you look to decide who's the most suitable candidate for the role, you don't necessarily decide whether they're an Indian player or an overseas player. Sure the seven Indians and there's four overseas -- we know the maths," said Hesson.

"The reality is that Faf is good enough to play every single game anyway. So that's not a question. Therefore you just look at who's the guy you gonna work with the leaders in the group and get the best out of the younger guys, build relationships and help develop that RCB culture that we want. We just want the best candidate for the job. And there's no doubt in our mind that Faf is the guy for that," he added.

RCB, who are yet to win their maiden IPL title, will hope for a change in fortunes this season after appointing Du Plessis as the new leader of the side.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday (March 13) confirmed the appointment of Faf du Plessis as their new captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday (March 13) confirmed the appointment of Faf du Plessis as their new captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Du Plessis will replace Virat Kohli, who had stepped down from captaincy following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. While there were speculations Kohli could return to captaincy or Glenn Maxwell can take charge, RCB's announcement put to rest all such rumours. Du Plessis was signed by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month and ever since then, he had become one of the frontrunners to become the new RCB skipper. However, the likes of Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, who have led IPL teams in the past, were also in contention to replace Kohli as the new captain. RCB's Director of Cricket Mike Hesson explained why the franchise decided to go with Du Plessis as captain over the likes of Maxwell and Karthik. When asked if the franchise had bid for Du Plessis at the mega auction keeping the captaincy decision in mind, Hesson admitted the franchise saw the former South Africa skipper as part of their leadership group. Also Read: Faf du Plessis replaces Virat Kohli as RCB captain ahead of IPL 2022 "It was a little bit of both. We obviously had Maxwell and Virat to have huge captaincy experience that we retained. We felt within our leadership group we wanted to expand on that and also Harshal Patel as well. Who we wanted to buy back. So it was more about growing our leadership group and carrying on from that," said Hesson. "Obviously, Faf was right up the top of that list in terms of whom we were wanting to get. It was little bit of both. I know how well respected he is. I know tactically sound he is. We have the likes of Virat, Maxi (Maxwell), DK who is new to the group," he added. Also Read: Couldn't be happier to pass on baton, says Virat Kohli on Faf du Plessis' appointment as RCB captain With many of the opinion that having an overseas captain might act as a limitation going forward as only four overseas players are allowed in the playing XI, Hesson said he had no doubts that Du Plessis will play all games for the franchise. Hesson also called Du Plessis the most suitable candidate for the captaincy role. "When you look to decide who's the most suitable candidate for the role, you don't necessarily decide whether they're an Indian player or an overseas player. Sure the seven Indians and there's four overseas -- we know the maths," said Hesson. "The reality is that Faf is good enough to play every single game anyway. So that's not a question. Therefore you just look at who's the guy you gonna work with the leaders in the group and get the best out of the younger guys, build relationships and help develop that RCB culture that we want. We just want the best candidate for the job. And there's no doubt in our mind that Faf is the guy for that," he added. RCB, who are yet to win their maiden IPL title, will hope for a change in fortunes this season after appointing Du Plessis as the new leader of the side.

Mike Hesson explains why RCB picked Faf du Plessis over Maxwell and Karthik to lead the side in IPL 2022

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli is happy and excited to pass on the baton to Faf du Plessis after the former South Africa skipper was named as the new captain of the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League 2022.

"First and foremost the most important news is that Faf is going to be the captain of RCB and I couldn't be happier to pass on the baton to a good friend. Someone that I have known well over the years. We have been in touch for many years now and he is one of the few guys I have known apart from cricket and we get along really well. So, absolutely excited for him to lead RCB. To lead this amazing franchise and to play under him," said Kohli on Twitter.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/faf-du-plessis-replaces-virat-kohli-as-rcb-captain-ahead-of-ipl-2022-461649">Faf du Plessis replaces Virat Kohli as RCB captain ahead of IPL 2022</a>

In IPL 2022 mega auction, he was bought by the Bangalore franchise for Rs 7 crore.

The South African has the opportunity to be the first captain to win an IPL trophy for RCB as they have made it to the finals thrice in 2009, 2011 and 2016 editions but have failed to win the title.

"The partnership with Faf is going to be an exciting one for RCB fans along with Maxi (Maxwell) as well and the core group that we retained and also the squad that we put together this year I think is pretty amazing. The team looks balanced and pretty strong and I can't wait to get started and to catch up with Faf and the rest of the boys as well and really looking forward to this season. I am very excited and as I said renewed energy and it is going to be an amazing season to be a part of. Cheers and see you soon," said Kohli.

With the change in leadership, all are waiting for a change of fortunes for RCB.

The South African has scored 2935 runs in the IPL during his time with Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiants.

"We are going to start our season pretty soon. Something which I am very excited about. As I said renewed energy. Really looking forward to this season," Kohli added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-share-stump-cam-video-of-ms-dhoni-and-robin-uthappas-batting-session-ahead-of-ipl-2022-watch-461527">CSK share stump cam video of MS Dhoni and Robin Uthappa's batting session ahead of IPL 2022 - WATCH</a>

The right-handed batter had stepped down from the top job after the end of the second phase of IPL 2021.

He had made the announcement a few days after stepping down as the T20I captain.

Under him, RCB struggled in a few seasons and registered 64 wins in 140 matches.

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli is happy and excited to pass on the baton to Faf du Plessis after the former South Africa skipper was named as the new captain of the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League 2022.

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli is happy and excited to pass on the baton to Faf du Plessis after the former South Africa skipper was named as the new captain of the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League 2022. "First and foremost the most important news is that Faf is going to be the captain of RCB and I couldn't be happier to pass on the baton to a good friend. Someone that I have known well over the years. We have been in touch for many years now and he is one of the few guys I have known apart from cricket and we get along really well. So, absolutely excited for him to lead RCB. To lead this amazing franchise and to play under him," said Kohli on Twitter. ALSO READ: Faf du Plessis replaces Virat Kohli as RCB captain ahead of IPL 2022 In IPL 2022 mega auction, he was bought by the Bangalore franchise for Rs 7 crore. The South African has the opportunity to be the first captain to win an IPL trophy for RCB as they have made it to the finals thrice in 2009, 2011 and 2016 editions but have failed to win the title. "The partnership with Faf is going to be an exciting one for RCB fans along with Maxi (Maxwell) as well and the core group that we retained and also the squad that we put together this year I think is pretty amazing. The team looks balanced and pretty strong and I can't wait to get started and to catch up with Faf and the rest of the boys as well and really looking forward to this season. I am very excited and as I said renewed energy and it is going to be an amazing season to be a part of. Cheers and see you soon," said Kohli. With the change in leadership, all are waiting for a change of fortunes for RCB. The South African has scored 2935 runs in the IPL during his time with Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiants. "We are going to start our season pretty soon. Something which I am very excited about. As I said renewed energy. Really looking forward to this season," Kohli added. ALSO READ: CSK share stump cam video of MS Dhoni and Robin Uthappa's batting session ahead of IPL 2022 - WATCH The right-handed batter had stepped down from the top job after the end of the second phase of IPL 2021. He had made the announcement a few days after stepping down as the T20I captain. Under him, RCB struggled in a few seasons and registered 64 wins in 140 matches.

Couldn't be happier to pass on baton, says Virat Kohli on Faf du Plessis' appointment as RCB captain

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday named Faf du Plessis as their new captain ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. RCB had roped in the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. Du Plessis will replace Virat Kohli as the new skipper of the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Kohli had stepped down as the captain of the side after the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. However, there were speculations that RCB are yet to accept his resignation as captain of the side and might convince him to take the leadership role again for the franchise. However, Du Plessis' appointment has put to rest the speculations surrounding Kohli's return as captain. 
&nbsp;

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The Leader of the Pride is here! 
 
Captain of RCB, <a href="https://twitter.com/faf1307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@faf1307</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBCaptain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBCaptain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBUnbox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBUnbox</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForOur12thMan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForOur12thMan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnboxTheBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnboxTheBold</a> <a href="https://t.co/UfmrHBrZcb">pic.twitter.com/UfmrHBrZcb</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1502603973848494087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Du Plessis pipped the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik in the race to become the new captain of the franchise after Kohli's decision to leave the post. Du Plessis will be leading a side for the first time in the Indian Premier League despite having been part of the league for several years now.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-group-b-schedule-a-look-at-complete-fixtures-of-csk-srh-rcb-pbks-and-gujarat-titans-459631">&nbsp;IPL 2022 Group B schedule: A look at complete fixtures of CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS and Gujarat Titans</a>

The former South Africa skipper, however, has significant captaincy experience in international cricket. He led the country in 115 international matches bagging 81 wins. He had stepped down as South Africa's captain in February 2020 before retiring from international cricket.

Du Plessis has won the IPL thrice with CSK and his experience will come in handy for RCB, who are still hunting for their maiden IPL title. RCB will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27. They are part of Group B along with CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. 
&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday named Faf du Plessis as their new captain ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. RCB had roped in the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday named Faf du Plessis as their new captain ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. RCB had roped in the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. Du Plessis will replace Virat Kohli as the new skipper of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kohli had stepped down as the captain of the side after the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. However, there were speculations that RCB are yet to accept his resignation as captain of the side and might convince him to take the leadership role again for the franchise. However, Du Plessis' appointment has put to rest the speculations surrounding Kohli's return as captain. The Leader of the Pride is here! Captain of RCB, @faf1307! #PlayBold #RCBCaptain #RCBUnbox #ForOur12thMan #UnboxTheBold pic.twitter.com/UfmrHBrZcb — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 12, 2022 × Du Plessis pipped the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik in the race to become the new captain of the franchise after Kohli's decision to leave the post. Du Plessis will be leading a side for the first time in the Indian Premier League despite having been part of the league for several years now. Also Read: IPL 2022 Group B schedule: A look at complete fixtures of CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS and Gujarat Titans The former South Africa skipper, however, has significant captaincy experience in international cricket. He led the country in 115 international matches bagging 81 wins. He had stepped down as South Africa's captain in February 2020 before retiring from international cricket. Du Plessis has won the IPL thrice with CSK and his experience will come in handy for RCB, who are still hunting for their maiden IPL title. RCB will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27. They are part of Group B along with CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.

Faf du Plessis replaces Virat Kohli as RCB captain ahead of IPL 2022

JSW-GMR co-owned IPL franchise Delhi Capitals today unveiled the official jersey for the 2022 season.

With an equal dash of red and blue, the new jersey exudes youthful and vibrant energy.

While the red symbolises the team’s on-field courage, the blue stands for balance and composure.

The tiger, an intrinsic part of the DC logo, is bigger and bolder, as the team gears up to roar again!

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-aaron-finch-replaces-alex-hales-in-shreyas-iyer-led-kkr-squad-after-englishmans-withdrawal-461425">IPL 2022: Aaron Finch replaces Alex Hales in Shreyas Iyer-led KKR squad after Englishman's withdrawal</a>

Staying with its ‘Fans First’ approach, the first jerseys were given to select DC fans at the team’s home ground – the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Additionally, select children from the city, the DC Cubs, were given official jerseys too, as part of a surprise activity curated specially for them.

“It’s a new cycle of the IPL, and we can’t wait to see our players in this brand new jersey,” said Vinod Bisht, Interim CEO, Delhi Capitals.

“Supporting this team in its quest for glory is our fan army, so it’s only fitting for us to make them a part of our journey in every step.”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rajasthan-royals-rope-in-sri-lankan-legend-lasith-malinga-as-fast-bowling-coach-461328">IPL 2022: Rajasthan Royals rope in Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga as fast bowling coach</a>

Delhi Capitals will kickstart their season on the 27th of March against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium.

Please find attached photos of the Official Delhi Capitals 2022 Jersey.&nbsp;

<img alt="Delhi Capitals fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (Photo- Delhi Capitals)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e1816589-e96c-442f-8e84-ed4b4ca11720" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Delhi%20Capitals%20fans%20at%20the%20Arun%20Jaitley%20Stadium%20in%20New%20Delhi%20%282%29.png" /><img alt="Delhi Capitals fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (Photo- Delhi Capitals)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f3ea8409-8b84-4d4d-a1e7-a59585cfead4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Delhi%20Capitals%20fans%20at%20the%20Arun%20Jaitley%20Stadium%20in%20New%20Delhi%20%281%29.png" /><img alt="Delhi Capitals fan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (Photo- Delhi Capitals)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a810c51b-9f84-428d-8e7a-b0aa06aec646" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Delhi%20Capitals%20fan%20at%20the%20Arun%20Jaitley%20Stadium%20in%20New%20Delhi%20%283%29.png" />

Delhi Capitals fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi (Photos- Delhi Capitals)

JSW-GMR co-owned IPL franchise Delhi Capitals today unveiled the official jersey for the 2022 season. With an equal dash of red and blue, the new jersey exudes youthful and vibrant energy.

JSW-GMR co-owned IPL franchise Delhi Capitals today unveiled the official jersey for the 2022 season. With an equal dash of red and blue, the new jersey exudes youthful and vibrant energy. While the red symbolises the team’s on-field courage, the blue stands for balance and composure. The tiger, an intrinsic part of the DC logo, is bigger and bolder, as the team gears up to roar again! ALSO READ: IPL 2022: Aaron Finch replaces Alex Hales in Shreyas Iyer-led KKR squad after Englishman's withdrawal Staying with its ‘Fans First’ approach, the first jerseys were given to select DC fans at the team’s home ground – the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Additionally, select children from the city, the DC Cubs, were given official jerseys too, as part of a surprise activity curated specially for them. “It’s a new cycle of the IPL, and we can’t wait to see our players in this brand new jersey,” said Vinod Bisht, Interim CEO, Delhi Capitals. “Supporting this team in its quest for glory is our fan army, so it’s only fitting for us to make them a part of our journey in every step.” ALSO READ: IPL 2022: Rajasthan Royals rope in Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga as fast bowling coach Delhi Capitals will kickstart their season on the 27th of March against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium. Please find attached photos of the Official Delhi Capitals 2022 Jersey. Delhi Capitals fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi (Photos- Delhi Capitals)

Delhi Capitals unveil their official jersey for IPL 2022 season

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side gears up to defend their title. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the final last year to lift their fourth IPL trophy, completing a remarkable comeback having missed out on a spot in the playoffs in IPL 2020.

While not the entire squad has joined CSK's ongoing camp in Ahmedabad, several stars including the likes of captain MS Dhoni, veteran batter Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu and others have started training with the rest of their teammates ahead of the new season. The others are expected to join soon as the start of the season gets closer.

Chennai Super Kings have been sharing several videos and photos of their players training in the camp ahead of the new season. On Friday, CSK shared a video clip of a stump-cam recording of Dhoni and Uthappa's batting session. In the video, the likes of Dhoni, Uthappa and C Hari Nishanth can be seen batting.

The glorious video of the CSK tri playing some brilliant shots in the nets went viral on social media. Check out the video:

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GRUND ZER- The best view ever! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/aoBB9TUoKO">pic.twitter.com/aoBB9TUoKO</a>
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1502293441958789123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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CSK will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The entire league stage of IPL 2022 is all set to be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune while the playoffs will be held in Ahmedabad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-indian-players-who-can-replace-deepak-chahar-for-csk-if-he-is-ruled-out-of-ipl-2022-461048">5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022</a>

CSK will be looking to successfully defend their title after roping in some quality players at the IPL 2022 mega auction. While Dhoni &amp; Co. managed to get back some of their old players like Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Ambati Rayudu among others, CSK have also added a number of talented youngsters to their ranks.

However, CSK have been dealt with a huge blow ahead of the new season as their most expensive buy at the mega auction - pacer Deepak Chahar is likely to miss the first couple of weeks of IPL 2022 due to an injury. In his absence, CSK will hope for a good show from the likes of Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube and Rajvardhan Hangargekar among others.

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side gears up to defend their title.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side gears up to defend their title. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the final last year to lift their fourth IPL trophy, completing a remarkable comeback having missed out on a spot in the playoffs in IPL 2020. While not the entire squad has joined CSK's ongoing camp in Ahmedabad, several stars including the likes of captain MS Dhoni, veteran batter Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu and others have started training with the rest of their teammates ahead of the new season. The others are expected to join soon as the start of the season gets closer. Chennai Super Kings have been sharing several videos and photos of their players training in the camp ahead of the new season. On Friday, CSK shared a video clip of a stump-cam recording of Dhoni and Uthappa's batting session. In the video, the likes of Dhoni, Uthappa and C Hari Nishanth can be seen batting. The glorious video of the CSK tri playing some brilliant shots in the nets went viral on social media. Check out the video: GRUND ZER- The best view ever! #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/aoBB9TUoKO — Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) March 11, 2022 × CSK will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The entire league stage of IPL 2022 is all set to be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune while the playoffs will be held in Ahmedabad. Also Read: 5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022 CSK will be looking to successfully defend their title after roping in some quality players at the IPL 2022 mega auction. While Dhoni & Co. managed to get back some of their old players like Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Ambati Rayudu among others, CSK have also added a number of talented youngsters to their ranks. However, CSK have been dealt with a huge blow ahead of the new season as their most expensive buy at the mega auction - pacer Deepak Chahar is likely to miss the first couple of weeks of IPL 2022 due to an injury. In his absence, CSK will hope for a good show from the likes of Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube and Rajvardhan Hangargekar among others.

CSK share stump cam video of MS Dhoni and Robin Uthappa's batting session ahead of IPL 2022 - WATCH

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. Despite his retirement from the highest level, on August 15 2020, the 40-year-old remains an extremely popular for his overall contribution to Indian cricket. Dhoni signed off from international cricket, with 17,266 runs, 108 fifties, 16 centuries, 634 catches, 195 stumpings, 359 sixes and also leading India to all major ICC titles.

Dhoni became a household name soon after he broke into the scene at the highest level in 2004. In his early years, he was a fearless striker of the ball who also played some audacious and unorthodox shots from time to time. During the 2006 Champions Trophy, Dhoni made a vital 23-ball 28 in Rahul Dravid &amp; Co.'s face-off versus Ricky Ponting's Australia, in Mohali, but made heads turn with a stunning reverse sweep off Nathan Bracken in India's final over.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-to-hardik-pandya-top-5-cricketing-superstars-with-most-instagram-followers-460635">From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers</a>

With wickets tumbling and&nbsp;India&nbsp;aiming for over a 260-run score, Dhoni was on strike in the final over and&nbsp;targetted some big shots. While he fell on the last ball of the Indian innings, with the score 249-8, he played a eye-catching reverse sweep (or pulled off an AB de Villiers). Here's the video:

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ABD who? Hold Dhoni's Beer <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketTwitter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketTwitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qbz7Cy6nOK">pic.twitter.com/Qbz7Cy6nOK</a>
— SHIVAM (@SMUDGE4549) <a href="https://twitter.com/SMUDGE4549/status/1501974503248711691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While it can be termed as an AB de Villiers-esque stroke in the current era, back then the South African had just announced his arrival in international circuit. He hadn't even scored an ODI century when Dhoni pulled off a miraculous stroke against Bracken.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-have-to-be-special-maybe-i-would-have-never-played-for-india-if-i-was-an-indian-ab-de-villiers-451562">You have to be special, maybe I would have never played for India if I was an Indian: AB de Villiers</a>

Talking about the India-Aus face-off, Dravid-led side's 249/8 was not much of a challenge for the Aussies as the Men in Yellow chased down the score with six wickets and 26 balls to spare. Australia later faced West Indies in the summit clash and won the title without dropping much sweat in the finale (by 8 wickets).

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. Despite his retirement from the highest level, on August 15 2020, the 40-year-old remains an extremely popular for his overall contribution to Indian cricket.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. Despite his retirement from the highest level, on August 15 2020, the 40-year-old remains an extremely popular for his overall contribution to Indian cricket. Dhoni signed off from international cricket, with 17,266 runs, 108 fifties, 16 centuries, 634 catches, 195 stumpings, 359 sixes and also leading India to all major ICC titles. Dhoni became a household name soon after he broke into the scene at the highest level in 2004. In his early years, he was a fearless striker of the ball who also played some audacious and unorthodox shots from time to time. During the 2006 Champions Trophy, Dhoni made a vital 23-ball 28 in Rahul Dravid & Co.'s face-off versus Ricky Ponting's Australia, in Mohali, but made heads turn with a stunning reverse sweep off Nathan Bracken in India's final over. ALSO READ | From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers With wickets tumbling and India aiming for over a 260-run score, Dhoni was on strike in the final over and targetted some big shots. While he fell on the last ball of the Indian innings, with the score 249-8, he played a eye-catching reverse sweep (or pulled off an AB de Villiers). Here's the video: ABD who? Hold Dhoni's Beer #CricketTwitter #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/Qbz7Cy6nOK — SHIVAM (@SMUDGE4549) March 10, 2022 × While it can be termed as an AB de Villiers-esque stroke in the current era, back then the South African had just announced his arrival in international circuit. He hadn't even scored an ODI century when Dhoni pulled off a miraculous stroke against Bracken. ALSO READ | You have to be special, maybe I would have never played for India if I was an Indian: AB de Villiers Talking about the India-Aus face-off, Dravid-led side's 249/8 was not much of a challenge for the Aussies as the Men in Yellow chased down the score with six wickets and 26 balls to spare. Australia later faced West Indies in the summit clash and won the title without dropping much sweat in the finale (by 8 wickets).

WATCH: When Dhoni pulled off an AB de Villiers-esque reverse sweep during India's 2006 CT tie vs AUS

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to earn a whopping sum of a little over Rs 800 crore (INR 8 billion) from the sponsorship and other deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The new season of IPL is all set to get underway from March 26 with TATA as the new primary sponsor of the league.

Apart from Tata, BCCI has also secured deals with RuPay and Swiggy Instamart as new central sponsors for IPL. As per a report in Insidesport.in, the board has signed a deal worth Rs 42 crore (INR 420 million) with RuPay and of Rs 44 crore (INR 440 million) per anum with Swiggy Instamart.

The report further stated that the Indian cricket board is set to earn a little over Rs 800 crore from IPL sponsorship revenue this year, which will be a record-breaking amount generated by the BCCI to date since the inception of the tournament in 2008. The revenue has increased as the number of sponsors have increased this year for the IPL and TATA is set to pay a huge fee for title sponsorship.

Though Tata will be paying less than what VIVO was supposed to pay the BCCI as title sponsors, however, as per the report, the title-sponsorship deal from VIVO has been transferred to TATA in such a way that all deficit will be borne by the Chinese phone makers.

BCCI had a deal with VIVO till 2023 earning them Rs 440 crore (INR 4.4 billion) per season, however, TATA will be paying the Indian board only Rs 335 (INR 3.35 billion) per season. The deficit amount of Rs 105 crore (INR 1.05 billion) will be borne by VIVO.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-indian-players-who-can-replace-deepak-chahar-for-csk-if-he-is-ruled-out-of-ipl-2022-461048">5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022</a>

As per the report in Insidesport.in, BCCI will not only get the deficit amount from VIVO but also get pro-rata payments for the increased amount of matches in the upcoming two seasons. VIVO had agreed to pay BCCI Rs 484 crore and Rs 512 crore from IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons.

IPL 2022 will consist of a total of 74 matches as the tournament is now set to be a ten-team affair with the introduction of two new franchises - Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.

&nbsp;

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to earn a whopping sum of a little over Rs 800 crore (INR 8 billion) from the sponsorship and other deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to earn a whopping sum of a little over Rs 800 crore (INR 8 billion) from the sponsorship and other deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The new season of IPL is all set to get underway from March 26 with TATA as the new primary sponsor of the league. Apart from Tata, BCCI has also secured deals with RuPay and Swiggy Instamart as new central sponsors for IPL. As per a report in Insidesport.in, the board has signed a deal worth Rs 42 crore (INR 420 million) with RuPay and of Rs 44 crore (INR 440 million) per anum with Swiggy Instamart. The report further stated that the Indian cricket board is set to earn a little over Rs 800 crore from IPL sponsorship revenue this year, which will be a record-breaking amount generated by the BCCI to date since the inception of the tournament in 2008. The revenue has increased as the number of sponsors have increased this year for the IPL and TATA is set to pay a huge fee for title sponsorship. Though Tata will be paying less than what VIVO was supposed to pay the BCCI as title sponsors, however, as per the report, the title-sponsorship deal from VIVO has been transferred to TATA in such a way that all deficit will be borne by the Chinese phone makers. BCCI had a deal with VIVO till 2023 earning them Rs 440 crore (INR 4.4 billion) per season, however, TATA will be paying the Indian board only Rs 335 (INR 3.35 billion) per season. The deficit amount of Rs 105 crore (INR 1.05 billion) will be borne by VIVO. Also Read: 5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022 As per the report in Insidesport.in, BCCI will not only get the deficit amount from VIVO but also get pro-rata payments for the increased amount of matches in the upcoming two seasons. VIVO had agreed to pay BCCI Rs 484 crore and Rs 512 crore from IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons. IPL 2022 will consist of a total of 74 matches as the tournament is now set to be a ten-team affair with the introduction of two new franchises - Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.

BCCI set to earn a whopping Rs 8 billion from IPL 2022 sponsorship and other deals - Report

Rajasthan Royals have announced two additions to their coaching staff ahead of the much anticipated IPL 2022 season.

The franchise has welcomed Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga as their new fast bowling coach and has also onboarded Paddy Upton in a new role of Team Catalyst.

The 38-year-old T20 World Cup-winning captain Malinga, who led his country to the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup trophy, will be working during the upcoming season with the talented group of pacers present within the Royals'&nbsp;set-up.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharmas-team-india-look-to-seal-series-in-pink-ball-test-against-injury-hit-sri-lanka-461235">Rohit Sharma's Team India look to seal series in pink-ball Test against injury-hit Sri Lanka</a>

Renowned as one of the best limited-overs bowlers ever, Malinga will oversee the preparation of bowling strategies in the build-up and during the season, while also accelerating the development of the young bowlers by imparting his knowledge and expertise of T20 cricket.

During a career that spanned over 17 years, the right-arm fast bowler represented Sri Lanka in 340 matches across the three formats and picked up 546 wickets.

In the Indian Premier League, he only represented one team - Mumbai Indians - for whom he grabbed 170 scalps in 122 matches.

Most recently in February 2022, he served as Sri Lanka's Bowling Strategy Coach for their T20I series against Australia.

Speaking on his appointment, Malinga said, "It's a wonderful feeling for me to return to the IPL and an absolute honour to join Rajasthan Royals, a franchise that has always promoted and developed young talent. I am excited by the pace bowling unit we have going into the tournament and looking forward to supporting all the fast bowlers with the execution of their game plans and their overall development. I've made some very special memories in the IPL with Mumbai Indians and now with Royals, looking forward to new experiences and creating great memories in this journey."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indvssl-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-test-match-ist-time-and-streaming-details-461301">INDvsSL: When and where to watch India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test match - IST time and streaming details</a>

On the other hand, the appointment of Paddy Upton marks a return to the Royals for the South African, who has previously worked as the Head Coach of the franchise from 2013-15 and then in 2019, having led the team to top-four finishes in 2013 and 2015, along with a place in the Champions League in 2013.

Being the Team Catalyst, Upton will play a crucial role in establishing team integration by bringing them together as a cohesive and mutually supporting unit and looking after their mental well-being with the use of various mental conditioning processes and activities that aid in maintaining a healthy culture and environment, especially within the restrictions of being in a bio-bubble.

Upton will himself be a part of the bubble for the initial four weeks of the tournament while supporting virtually post the completion of this period.

The South African has previously also worked as the Mental Conditioning Coach for India Men's Team during the successful 2011 ICC World Cup, and as the Performance Director of South Africa Cricket from 2011-2014, guiding South Africa to become the first cricket team to hold the World No.1 ranking in all three formats of the game in 2012.

Meanwhile, like last season, Kumar Sangakkara will be assuming the role of Head Coach during the upcoming season, while being the Director of Cricket at the Royals outside of the season.

He welcomed the two new additions, "Lasith is arguably one of the greatest T20 fast bowlers of all time, and to have a personality like his around the training ground, and the expertise he brings to the table is certainly something we feel the team can benefit from. We have some of the best fast bowlers in our squad and we are delighted that they will have the chance to work with Lasith and get to learn and develop further."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-rcb-drop-special-video-featuring-ex-captain-virat-kohli-before-major-announcements-on-march-12-460989">WATCH: RCB drop special video featuring ex-captain Virat Kohli before major announcements on March 12</a>

"It's the same with Paddy, who has been a great servant for the Royals and has done an exceptional job in building that cohesion between players and also conditioning them mentally. We believe he will act as a great addition to our coaching staff. I am also excited to keep working with this new team in my dual role as Head Coach during the season and Director of Cricket round the year, and hope that all our efforts can contribute towards achieving our objective of winning the IPL," Kumar added.

Trevor Penney (Assistant Coach), Zubin Bharucha (Strategy, Development and Performance Director) and Dishant Yagnik (Fielding Coach) will continue to serve in their respective roles.

Rajasthan Royals have announced two additions to their coaching staff ahead of the much anticipated IPL 2022 season. The franchise has welcomed Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga as their new fast bowling coach and has also onboarded Paddy Upton in a new role of Team Catalyst.

Rajasthan Royals have announced two additions to their coaching staff ahead of the much anticipated IPL 2022 season. The franchise has welcomed Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga as their new fast bowling coach and has also onboarded Paddy Upton in a new role of Team Catalyst. The 38-year-old T20 World Cup-winning captain Malinga, who led his country to the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup trophy, will be working during the upcoming season with the talented group of pacers present within the Royals' set-up. ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma's Team India look to seal series in pink-ball Test against injury-hit Sri Lanka Renowned as one of the best limited-overs bowlers ever, Malinga will oversee the preparation of bowling strategies in the build-up and during the season, while also accelerating the development of the young bowlers by imparting his knowledge and expertise of T20 cricket. During a career that spanned over 17 years, the right-arm fast bowler represented Sri Lanka in 340 matches across the three formats and picked up 546 wickets. In the Indian Premier League, he only represented one team - Mumbai Indians - for whom he grabbed 170 scalps in 122 matches. Most recently in February 2022, he served as Sri Lanka's Bowling Strategy Coach for their T20I series against Australia. Speaking on his appointment, Malinga said, "It's a wonderful feeling for me to return to the IPL and an absolute honour to join Rajasthan Royals, a franchise that has always promoted and developed young talent. I am excited by the pace bowling unit we have going into the tournament and looking forward to supporting all the fast bowlers with the execution of their game plans and their overall development. I've made some very special memories in the IPL with Mumbai Indians and now with Royals, looking forward to new experiences and creating great memories in this journey." ALSO READ: INDvsSL: When and where to watch India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test match - IST time and streaming details On the other hand, the appointment of Paddy Upton marks a return to the Royals for the South African, who has previously worked as the Head Coach of the franchise from 2013-15 and then in 2019, having led the team to top-four finishes in 2013 and 2015, along with a place in the Champions League in 2013. Being the Team Catalyst, Upton will play a crucial role in establishing team integration by bringing them together as a cohesive and mutually supporting unit and looking after their mental well-being with the use of various mental conditioning processes and activities that aid in maintaining a healthy culture and environment, especially within the restrictions of being in a bio-bubble. Upton will himself be a part of the bubble for the initial four weeks of the tournament while supporting virtually post the completion of this period. The South African has previously also worked as the Mental Conditioning Coach for India Men's Team during the successful 2011 ICC World Cup, and as the Performance Director of South Africa Cricket from 2011-2014, guiding South Africa to become the first cricket team to hold the World No.1 ranking in all three formats of the game in 2012. Meanwhile, like last season, Kumar Sangakkara will be assuming the role of Head Coach during the upcoming season, while being the Director of Cricket at the Royals outside of the season. He welcomed the two new additions, "Lasith is arguably one of the greatest T20 fast bowlers of all time, and to have a personality like his around the training ground, and the expertise he brings to the table is certainly something we feel the team can benefit from. We have some of the best fast bowlers in our squad and we are delighted that they will have the chance to work with Lasith and get to learn and develop further." ALSO READ: WATCH: RCB drop special video featuring ex-captain Virat Kohli before major announcements on March 12 "It's the same with Paddy, who has been a great servant for the Royals and has done an exceptional job in building that cohesion between players and also conditioning them mentally. We believe he will act as a great addition to our coaching staff. I am also excited to keep working with this new team in my dual role as Head Coach during the season and Director of Cricket round the year, and hope that all our efforts can contribute towards achieving our objective of winning the IPL," Kumar added. Trevor Penney (Assistant Coach), Zubin Bharucha (Strategy, Development and Performance Director) and Dishant Yagnik (Fielding Coach) will continue to serve in their respective roles.

IPL 2022: Rajasthan Royals rope in Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga as fast bowling coach

Gujarat Titans have announced that they will host their inaugural event at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

As it is the world's largest cricket stadium and the team's home ground, the event will echo the spirit of the Gujarat Titans and the legacy of the state they represent.

The event will be graced by the players, partners and other dignitaries.

Gujarat Titans will set another benchmark with the launch of the team jersey during this event, designed to elicit active fan engagement.

Building on its logo launch, the jersey launch will also be a trendsetter for India's sporting community.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-a-text-message-i-will-never-delete-adam-gilchrist-reveals-his-last-chat-with-shane-warne-461052">It's a text message I will never delete: Adam Gilchrist reveals his last chat with Shane Warne</a>

As one of the latest entrants into the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gujarat Titans have been creating a lot of buzz with their team building and the pioneering efforts they have taken in terms of fan engagement.

Signing up of Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan in January 2022 followed by the selection of a host of international and domestic stars at the auction, has created a well-balanced squad with a mixture of youth and experience.

The team is all set for its debut season which will be preceded by a pre-season camp at its iconic home stadium at Ahmedabad.

Gujarat Titans have announced that they will host their inaugural event at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. As it is the world's largest cricket stadium and the team's home ground, the event will echo the spirit of the Gujarat Titans and the legacy of the state they represent.

Gujarat Titans have announced that they will host their inaugural event at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. As it is the world's largest cricket stadium and the team's home ground, the event will echo the spirit of the Gujarat Titans and the legacy of the state they represent. The event will be graced by the players, partners and other dignitaries. Gujarat Titans will set another benchmark with the launch of the team jersey during this event, designed to elicit active fan engagement. Building on its logo launch, the jersey launch will also be a trendsetter for India's sporting community. ALSO READ: It's a text message I will never delete: Adam Gilchrist reveals his last chat with Shane Warne As one of the latest entrants into the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gujarat Titans have been creating a lot of buzz with their team building and the pioneering efforts they have taken in terms of fan engagement. Signing up of Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan in January 2022 followed by the selection of a host of international and domestic stars at the auction, has created a well-balanced squad with a mixture of youth and experience. The team is all set for its debut season which will be preceded by a pre-season camp at its iconic home stadium at Ahmedabad.

IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans to host its inaugural event at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad

5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022

Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, there is only one franchise who is&nbsp;yet to announce its captain. The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have not yet announced their skipper for the forthcoming season, which is set to get underway on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

For the unversed, the Bengaluru-based franchise are set to make some major announcements -- regarding their new captain and jersey. Prior to it, the popular team dropped a special video, on Twitter,&nbsp;featuring ex-skipper Virat Kohli.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-on-cusp-of-surpassing-mark-waugh-gary-sobers-in-elite-list-as-india-take-on-sri-lanka-in-2nd-test-460878">Virat Kohli on cusp of surpassing Mark Waugh, Gary Sobers in elite list as India take on Sri Lanka in 2nd Test</a>

"Hi guys, a few updates for you guys. As you know, we are going to start our season pretty soon. [It’s] something I am really excited for. As I said, renewed energy. Really looking forward to this season. First and foremost, the most important news is that...." Kohli said in the video.

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“Renewed Energy. Excited for the IPL season. There’s an important news...” - Virat Kohli has a message for all of you RCB fans! 🗣 
 
Location: Museum Cross Road, Church Street, Bengaluru 
Date: 12.03.2022 
Time: 12pm to 8pm<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreChallengers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreChallengers</a> <a href="https://t.co/o26eA2bOq3">pic.twitter.com/o26eA2bOq3</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1501842959586979841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The RCB camp is set to share some major updates, in the run-up to the ten-team tournament, at an event that they have been promoting as 'RCB unbox',&nbsp;in Bengaluru. Despite being in the garden city, Kohli won't be able to attend the event as he will be involved in the second and final Test between India and Sri Lanka, which gets underway on March 12 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Glenn Maxwell -- whom the franchise retained for INR 110 million (INR 11 crore) -- Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik are being touted as the frontrunners to take over as the RCB captain. While many former cricketers still want Kohli to reclaim the top post, despite his resignation following the last season, the 33-year-old won't return as&nbsp;captain.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-to-hardik-pandya-top-5-cricketing-superstars-with-most-instagram-followers-460635">From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers</a>

"I’m not someone who holds onto things more than I should. Even if I know I can do a lot more, if I’m not going to enjoy the process, I’m not going to do it," Kohli has recently said on "The RCB Podcast".

"Because it’s very difficult for people to understand your decisions unless they are in your situation. From the outside, people have their own expectations ‘Oh! How did that happen? We are so shocked'. There's nothing to be shocked about. I explain to people, I wanted some space and I wanted to manage my workload and the story ends there," he added.

RCB will open their campaign in IPL 2022 on March 27 against Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, there is only one franchise who is yet to announce its captain. The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have not yet announced their skipper for the forthcoming season, which is set to get underway on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, there is only one franchise who is yet to announce its captain. The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have not yet announced their skipper for the forthcoming season, which is set to get underway on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. For the unversed, the Bengaluru-based franchise are set to make some major announcements -- regarding their new captain and jersey. Prior to it, the popular team dropped a special video, on Twitter, featuring ex-skipper Virat Kohli. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli on cusp of surpassing Mark Waugh, Gary Sobers in elite list as India take on Sri Lanka in 2nd Test "Hi guys, a few updates for you guys. As you know, we are going to start our season pretty soon. [It’s] something I am really excited for. As I said, renewed energy. Really looking forward to this season. First and foremost, the most important news is that...." Kohli said in the video. “Renewed Energy. Excited for the IPL season. There’s an important news...” - Virat Kohli has a message for all of you RCB fans! 🗣 Location: Museum Cross Road, Church Street, Bengaluru Date: 12.03.2022 Time: 12pm to 8pm#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/o26eA2bOq3 — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 10, 2022 × The RCB camp is set to share some major updates, in the run-up to the ten-team tournament, at an event that they have been promoting as 'RCB unbox', in Bengaluru. Despite being in the garden city, Kohli won't be able to attend the event as he will be involved in the second and final Test between India and Sri Lanka, which gets underway on March 12 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Glenn Maxwell -- whom the franchise retained for INR 110 million (INR 11 crore) -- Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik are being touted as the frontrunners to take over as the RCB captain. While many former cricketers still want Kohli to reclaim the top post, despite his resignation following the last season, the 33-year-old won't return as captain. ALSO READ | From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers "I’m not someone who holds onto things more than I should. Even if I know I can do a lot more, if I’m not going to enjoy the process, I’m not going to do it," Kohli has recently said on "The RCB Podcast". "Because it’s very difficult for people to understand your decisions unless they are in your situation. From the outside, people have their own expectations ‘Oh! How did that happen? We are so shocked'. There's nothing to be shocked about. I explain to people, I wanted some space and I wanted to manage my workload and the story ends there," he added. RCB will open their campaign in IPL 2022 on March 27 against Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

WATCH: RCB drop special video featuring ex-captain Virat Kohli before major announcements on March 12

MS Dhoni remains the darling of the masses. Despite retiring from international cricket on August 15 2020 -- after a year-long sabbatical -- the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket and his fan following hasn't died down by any means.

Dhoni became a household name during his illustrious international career, gaining popularity due to his power-hitting, finishing skills and leading India to all major ICC titles during his captaincy tenure. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, in India, the veteran was seen hitting some big shots in the practice camp of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), currently being held in Surat, Gujarat.

The video of Dhoni practicing his big hits have gone viral in no time on social media platforms. Here's the clip:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-flaunts-his-footvolley-skills-in-practice-session-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-watch-460135">CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH</a>

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That last six from Mahi 😍🔥 <a href="https://t.co/j9puE06Lmp">pic.twitter.com/j9puE06Lmp</a>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-complete-schedule-announced-ms-dhonis-csk-to-take-on-kkr-in-season-opener-459595">IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener</a>

In IPL 2021, Dhoni did lead the Yellow Army to their fourth title but had an ordinary run with the bat, amassing 114 runs at a strike-rate of 106.54, barring his match-finishing cameo in Qualifier 1 versus Delhi Capitals (DC). Thus, the former Indian captain will be eager to turn the tides this time around with the willow in hand.

CSK, the defending champions, will commence their campaign by locking horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022's opener on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

Will Dhoni shine with the bat for CSK in the forthcoming IPL season? Will the franchise manage to defend their title? Only time will tell...

MS Dhoni remains the darling of the masses. Despite retiring from international cricket on August 15 2020 -- after a year-long sabbatical -- the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket and his fan following hasn't died down by any means.

MS Dhoni remains the darling of the masses. Despite retiring from international cricket on August 15 2020 -- after a year-long sabbatical -- the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket and his fan following hasn't died down by any means. Dhoni became a household name during his illustrious international career, gaining popularity due to his power-hitting, finishing skills and leading India to all major ICC titles during his captaincy tenure. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, in India, the veteran was seen hitting some big shots in the practice camp of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), currently being held in Surat, Gujarat. The video of Dhoni practicing his big hits have gone viral in no time on social media platforms. Here's the clip: ALSO READ | CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH That last six from Mahi 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/j9puE06Lmp — Sports Hustle (@SportsHustle3) March 8, 2022 × ALSO READ | IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener In IPL 2021, Dhoni did lead the Yellow Army to their fourth title but had an ordinary run with the bat, amassing 114 runs at a strike-rate of 106.54, barring his match-finishing cameo in Qualifier 1 versus Delhi Capitals (DC). Thus, the former Indian captain will be eager to turn the tides this time around with the willow in hand. CSK, the defending champions, will commence their campaign by locking horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022's opener on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Will Dhoni shine with the bat for CSK in the forthcoming IPL season? Will the franchise manage to defend their title? Only time will tell...

Watch: MS Dhoni turns back the clock, goes bonkers and slams big sixes in CSK nets before IPL 2022

Gujarat Titans have signed Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Rahmanullah will be serving as a replacement for the England batter Jason Roy, who had earlier pulled out of the tournament.

"Whilst it is disappointing that Jason will not be a part of our campaign this year, we are mindful of the health and well-being of players in these times. We wish Jason well and look forward to his return to the field. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is one of the promising young batters to emerge from Afghanistan and we believe he is an ideal replacement for Jason," Vikram Solanki, Director of Cricket, Gujarat Titans said in a statement.

"Gurbaz is an attacking batter and fits into our plans for the Gujarat Titans. He has given a good account of his talent in international cricket and a few tournaments around the globe," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-sent-a-bouquet-handwritten-note-ravichandran-ashwin-thanks-kapil-dev-for-sweet-gesture-460615">He sent a bouquet, handwritten note: Ravichandran Ashwin thanks Kapil Dev for 'sweet' gesture</a>

A right-handed batter and a wicketkeeper, Gurbaz had represented Afghanistan in 2018 under-19 World Cup.

Since making his senior international debut in 2019, he has played nine One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 20 T20 Internationals so far.

In 2021, Gurbaz became the first Afghan batter to score a century on ODI debut - a feat he achieved against Ireland at Abu Dhabi.

The 20-year-old joins his countrymen Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed in the Gujarat Titans team.

Gujarat Titans have signed Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahmanullah will be serving as a replacement for the England batter Jason Roy, who had earlier pulled out of the tournament.

Gujarat Titans have signed Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahmanullah will be serving as a replacement for the England batter Jason Roy, who had earlier pulled out of the tournament. "Whilst it is disappointing that Jason will not be a part of our campaign this year, we are mindful of the health and well-being of players in these times. We wish Jason well and look forward to his return to the field. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is one of the promising young batters to emerge from Afghanistan and we believe he is an ideal replacement for Jason," Vikram Solanki, Director of Cricket, Gujarat Titans said in a statement. "Gurbaz is an attacking batter and fits into our plans for the Gujarat Titans. He has given a good account of his talent in international cricket and a few tournaments around the globe," he added. ALSO READ: He sent a bouquet, handwritten note: Ravichandran Ashwin thanks Kapil Dev for 'sweet' gesture A right-handed batter and a wicketkeeper, Gurbaz had represented Afghanistan in 2018 under-19 World Cup. Since making his senior international debut in 2019, he has played nine One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 20 T20 Internationals so far. In 2021, Gurbaz became the first Afghan batter to score a century on ODI debut - a feat he achieved against Ireland at Abu Dhabi. The 20-year-old joins his countrymen Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed in the Gujarat Titans team.

IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans rope in Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz as replacement for Jason Roy

From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is around the corner. The complete schedule was announced by the BCCI on Sunday (March 06) as the excitement is building for the upcoming season. Ahead of the season-opener, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are having their practice session in Surat, Gujarat.

In a recently-released practice session video from the Yellow Army's camp, skipper Dhoni made heads turn by showcasing his footvolley skills. In the clip shared by the official Twitter handle of CSK, the 40-year-old superstar cricketer was seen having fun with his team members as they engaged in a footvolley segment while preparing for the forthcoming season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-complete-schedule-announced-ms-dhonis-csk-to-take-on-kkr-in-season-opener-459595">IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener</a>

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Namma Special 🦁 Footvolley segment is B⚽CK! 🔁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/pXxIe994sG">pic.twitter.com/pXxIe994sG</a>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chennai-super-kings-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-deepak-chahar-most-expensive-in-raina-less-line-up-453033">Chennai Super Kings complete squad for IPL 2022: Deepak Chahar most expensive in Raina-less line-up</a>

For the unversed, the Dhoni-led CSK franchise will begin their title-defence in IPL 2022 opening fixture as they will lock horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic&nbsp;Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26.

Under Dhoni, CSK had won the IPL 2021 season, their fourth-title overall, by beating KKR in the summit clash by 27 runs. This time around, they have strengthened their squad with new additions in the form of Devon Conway, Adam Milne, Chris Jordan, Shivam Dube, etc.

Complete squad for Dhoni-led CSK for IPL 2022:

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is around the corner. The complete schedule was announced by the BCCI on Sunday (March 06) as the excitement is building for the upcoming season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is around the corner. The complete schedule was announced by the BCCI on Sunday (March 06) as the excitement is building for the upcoming season. Ahead of the season-opener, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are having their practice session in Surat, Gujarat. In a recently-released practice session video from the Yellow Army's camp, skipper Dhoni made heads turn by showcasing his footvolley skills. In the clip shared by the official Twitter handle of CSK, the 40-year-old superstar cricketer was seen having fun with his team members as they engaged in a footvolley segment while preparing for the forthcoming season. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener Namma Special 🦁 Footvolley segment is B⚽CK! 🔁#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/pXxIe994sG — Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) March 7, 2022 × ALSO READ | Chennai Super Kings complete squad for IPL 2022: Deepak Chahar most expensive in Raina-less line-up For the unversed, the Dhoni-led CSK franchise will begin their title-defence in IPL 2022 opening fixture as they will lock horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26. Under Dhoni, CSK had won the IPL 2021 season, their fourth-title overall, by beating KKR in the summit clash by 27 runs. This time around, they have strengthened their squad with new additions in the form of Devon Conway, Adam Milne, Chris Jordan, Shivam Dube, etc. Complete squad for Dhoni-led CSK for IPL 2022: Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH

Ireland pacer Josh Little has been roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a net bowler for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

"Congrats to Josh Little who is heading off on a development opportunity with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of the upcoming IPL. The experience as a net bowler for CSK should be fantastic," Cricket Ireland tweeted.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday had announced the schedule for IPL 2022.

A total number of 70 league matches and 4 Playoff games will be played in the duration of 65 days.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-flaunts-his-footvolley-skills-in-practice-session-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-watch-460135">CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH</a>

The 15th season will start on March 26 at the Wankhede stadium with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.

On March 27, the league will stage its first double-header starting off with a Day game at Brabourne where the Delhi Capitals will square off against Mumbai Indians.

The DY Patil Stadium will host the clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at night.

There will be 12 doubleheaders in total with the first match starting at 3:30 PM IST. All evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST.

The final game of the league stage will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22 at the Wankhede Stadium.

The schedule for the Playoffs and the IPL 2022 final to be played on May 29 will be announced later.

&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/daniel-vettori-gives-his-verdict-on-whether-virat-kohli-will-return-to-rcb-captaincy-in-ipl-2022-459951">Daniel Vettori gives his verdict on whether Virat Kohli will return to RCB captaincy in IPL 2022</a>

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad: MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Simarjeet Singh, Devon Conway, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Subhranshu Senapati, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Chris Jordan, K Bhagath Varma.

Ireland pacer Josh Little has been roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a net bowler for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. "Congrats to Josh Little who is heading off on a development opportunity with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of the upcoming IPL.

Ireland pacer Josh Little has been roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a net bowler for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. "Congrats to Josh Little who is heading off on a development opportunity with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of the upcoming IPL. The experience as a net bowler for CSK should be fantastic," Cricket Ireland tweeted. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday had announced the schedule for IPL 2022. A total number of 70 league matches and 4 Playoff games will be played in the duration of 65 days. ALSO READ: CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH The 15th season will start on March 26 at the Wankhede stadium with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. On March 27, the league will stage its first double-header starting off with a Day game at Brabourne where the Delhi Capitals will square off against Mumbai Indians. The DY Patil Stadium will host the clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at night. There will be 12 doubleheaders in total with the first match starting at 3:30 PM IST. All evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST. The final game of the league stage will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22 at the Wankhede Stadium. The schedule for the Playoffs and the IPL 2022 final to be played on May 29 will be announced later. ALSO READ: Daniel Vettori gives his verdict on whether Virat Kohli will return to RCB captaincy in IPL 2022 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad: MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Simarjeet Singh, Devon Conway, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Subhranshu Senapati, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Chris Jordan, K Bhagath Varma.

IPL 2022: MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings rope in Ireland pacer Josh Little as net bowler

Virat Kohli had dropped a bomb by announcing that he will step aside as the Royal Challengers Bangalore&nbsp;(RCB) captain when the second and final leg of IPL 2021 kicked off last year, in the UAE. After RCB lost the Eliminator to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Kohli's captaincy tenure for the three-time runners-up finally came to an end.

Kohli captained the side from 2011&nbsp;-2021 (becoming the full-time skipper since 2013) but couldn't lead them to the coveted title. Under his leadership, the Bengaluru-based franchise&nbsp;won 64 games in 140 matches, losing as many as 69 fixtures. Their best season under Kohli came in 2016 when they lost the season-finale to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).&nbsp;

Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, RCB remain the only team who have not announced their captain yet. After the mega auction, they added some new faces to the squad and have some captaincy contenders in the form of Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Dinesh Karthik whereas some feel Kohli might also return to the top job if he wishes to.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-made-me-look-like-a-fool-when-virat-kohli-recalled-his-face-off-with-shane-warne-during-ipl-2009-459943">'He made me look like a fool': When Virat Kohli recalled his face-off with Shane Warne during IPL 2009</a>

Nonetheless, former RCB skipper -- and Kohli's predecessor -- Daniel Vettori doesn't feel the star player will take up the captaincy post once again. "No [Virat Kohli will not be the RCB captain again]. I think it is as simple as that. I don't think that ever works, let alone in franchise cricket or international cricket. Once the captain is moved on, the right thing is for him to move on," Vettori told&nbsp;ESPNCricinfo.

Vettori further revealed his choice and said, "I think they will look at Kohli, Maxwell and Du Plessis as the leadership group and even Dinesh Karthik. I think Faf will step in for Maxwell. But if they win the first three games, maybe they will continue on with him. I think Maxwell is a shorter long-term. Three years is a long-term time in the IPL. They will look at Maxwell as the three-year cycle and hopefully he continues to play as he did in the last IPL. They will factor that in that he will be the leader for three years."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/royal-challengers-bangalore-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-faf-du-plessis-to-captain-pace-heavy-line-up-453152">Royal Challengers Bangalore complete squad for IPL 2022: Faf du Plessis to captain pace-heavy line-up?</a>

Complete squad of RCB for IPL 2022:

Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Faf du Plessis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahamad, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudessai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma,&nbsp;David Willey.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli had dropped a bomb by announcing that he will step aside as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain when the second and final leg of IPL 2021 kicked off last year, in the UAE.

Virat Kohli had dropped a bomb by announcing that he will step aside as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain when the second and final leg of IPL 2021 kicked off last year, in the UAE. After RCB lost the Eliminator to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Kohli's captaincy tenure for the three-time runners-up finally came to an end. Kohli captained the side from 2011 -2021 (becoming the full-time skipper since 2013) but couldn't lead them to the coveted title. Under his leadership, the Bengaluru-based franchise won 64 games in 140 matches, losing as many as 69 fixtures. Their best season under Kohli came in 2016 when they lost the season-finale to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, RCB remain the only team who have not announced their captain yet. After the mega auction, they added some new faces to the squad and have some captaincy contenders in the form of Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Dinesh Karthik whereas some feel Kohli might also return to the top job if he wishes to. ALSO READ | 'He made me look like a fool': When Virat Kohli recalled his face-off with Shane Warne during IPL 2009 Nonetheless, former RCB skipper -- and Kohli's predecessor -- Daniel Vettori doesn't feel the star player will take up the captaincy post once again. "No [Virat Kohli will not be the RCB captain again]. I think it is as simple as that. I don't think that ever works, let alone in franchise cricket or international cricket. Once the captain is moved on, the right thing is for him to move on," Vettori told ESPNCricinfo. Vettori further revealed his choice and said, "I think they will look at Kohli, Maxwell and Du Plessis as the leadership group and even Dinesh Karthik. I think Faf will step in for Maxwell. But if they win the first three games, maybe they will continue on with him. I think Maxwell is a shorter long-term. Three years is a long-term time in the IPL. They will look at Maxwell as the three-year cycle and hopefully he continues to play as he did in the last IPL. They will factor that in that he will be the leader for three years." ALSO READ | Royal Challengers Bangalore complete squad for IPL 2022: Faf du Plessis to captain pace-heavy line-up? Complete squad of RCB for IPL 2022: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Faf du Plessis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahamad, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudessai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey.

Daniel Vettori gives his verdict on whether Virat Kohli will return to RCB captaincy in IPL 2022

The complete schedule for the league stage of the&nbsp;Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday (March 06). The season is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener.

While Chennai Super Kings are in Group B, KKR are part of Group A for the IPL 2022 season. The league will be played in a new format this year with the ten teams having been divided in two groups of five each. While CSK are headlining Group B, Mumbai Indians are headlining Group A on the basis of IPL trophies won and finals played.

While Group A constitutes of Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, Group B has CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. Each team will play twice against the four teams in their respective group and, the team in the same row in the other group. They will play once against the rest four teams of the other group.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Group A</td>
			<td>Group B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
			<td>Royal Challengers Bangalore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Delhi Capitals</td>
			<td>Punjab Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lucknow Super Giants</td>
			<td>Gujarat Titans</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-group-b-schedule-a-look-at-complete-fixtures-of-csk-srh-rcb-pbks-and-gujarat-titans-459631">IPL 2022 Group B schedule: A look at complete fixtures of CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS and Gujarat Titans</a>

Here we take a look at the complete schedule of all five teams in Group A for IPL 2022:

Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against&nbsp;Delhi Capitals on March 27 before&nbsp;taking on Rajasthan Royals in their second game on April 2nd. They will play their last game against Delhi Capitals on May 21.

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चला मग सुरू करूया! 
 
Paltan, block your dates as we start our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> campaign from 2⃣7⃣th March against <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiCapitals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneFamily?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneFamily</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiIndians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ishankishan51?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ishankishan51</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Jaspritbumrah93?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jaspritbumrah93</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImRo45</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/surya_14kumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@surya_14kumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KieronPollard55?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KieronPollard55</a> <a href="https://t.co/NynzwK6xg5">pic.twitter.com/NynzwK6xg5</a>
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1500444663102074882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders will open their IPL 2022 campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on March 26. KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore next on March 30. They will plat their last game against Rising Lucknow Super Giants on May 18.

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See you soon, Mumbai! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmiKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmiKKR</a> <a href="https://t.co/JRk92zB9Yc">pic.twitter.com/JRk92zB9Yc</a>
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1500444640977506305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals will take on Sunrisers&nbsp;Hyderabad in their opening game of the season at the MCA Stadium in Pune on March 29. They will play Mumbai Indians in their second game on April 02. RR will play their final league game against CSK on May 20.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-complete-schedule-announced-ms-dhonis-csk-to-take-on-kkr-in-season-opener-459595">IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener</a>

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Phir se hoga Halla. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoyalsFamily?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoyalsFamily</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/BbELnrcgSh">pic.twitter.com/BbELnrcgSh</a>
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1500454174223482885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2022 campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians on March 27 before taking on Gujarat Titans in their second game on April 02. DC will play their last league game against CSK on May 08.

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The One With DC's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> Fixtures 
 
Tell us which league stage fixture are you looking forward to the most <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YehHaiNayiDilli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YehHaiNayiDilli</a> <a href="https://t.co/1hB99Abl3N">pic.twitter.com/1hB99Abl3N</a>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1500457581776900096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Lucknow Super Giants&nbsp;

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Lucknow walo, ready ho jao! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LucknowSuperGiants?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LucknowSuperGiants</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/F1rGXpL7GW">pic.twitter.com/F1rGXpL7GW</a>
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/1500477308745879553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Gujarat Titans on March 28 before locking horns with Chennai Super Kings in their second game on March 31. They will play their last league game against KKR on May 18.

The complete schedule for the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday (March 06).

The complete schedule for the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday (March 06). The season is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener. While Chennai Super Kings are in Group B, KKR are part of Group A for the IPL 2022 season. The league will be played in a new format this year with the ten teams having been divided in two groups of five each. While CSK are headlining Group B, Mumbai Indians are headlining Group A on the basis of IPL trophies won and finals played. While Group A constitutes of Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, Group B has CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. Each team will play twice against the four teams in their respective group and, the team in the same row in the other group. They will play once against the rest four teams of the other group. Group A Group B Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals Punjab Kings Lucknow Super Giants Gujarat Titans Also Read: IPL 2022 Group B schedule: A look at complete fixtures of CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS and Gujarat Titans Here we take a look at the complete schedule of all five teams in Group A for IPL 2022: Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Delhi Capitals on March 27 before taking on Rajasthan Royals in their second game on April 2nd. They will play their last game against Delhi Capitals on May 21. चला मग सुरू करूया! Paltan, block your dates as we start our #TATAIPL campaign from 2⃣7⃣th March against @DelhiCapitals #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @ishankishan51 @Jaspritbumrah93 @ImRo45 @surya_14kumar @KieronPollard55 pic.twitter.com/NynzwK6xg5 — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 6, 2022 × Kolkata Knight Riders Kolkata Knight Riders will open their IPL 2022 campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on March 26. KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore next on March 30. They will plat their last game against Rising Lucknow Super Giants on May 18. See you soon, Mumbai! #TATAIPL #IPL2022 #KKR #AmiKKR pic.twitter.com/JRk92zB9Yc — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 6, 2022 × Rajasthan Royals Rajasthan Royals will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game of the season at the MCA Stadium in Pune on March 29. They will play Mumbai Indians in their second game on April 02. RR will play their final league game against CSK on May 20. Also Read: IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener Phir se hoga Halla. #RoyalsFamily | #TATAIPL2022 pic.twitter.com/BbELnrcgSh — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 6, 2022 × Delhi Capitals Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2022 campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians on March 27 before taking on Gujarat Titans in their second game on April 02. DC will play their last league game against CSK on May 08. The One With DC's #IPL2022 Fixtures Tell us which league stage fixture are you looking forward to the most #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/1hB99Abl3N — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 6, 2022 × Lucknow Super Giants Lucknow walo, ready ho jao! #LucknowSuperGiants #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/F1rGXpL7GW — Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 6, 2022 × Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Gujarat Titans on March 28 before locking horns with Chennai Super Kings in their second game on March 31. They will play their last league game against KKR on May 18.

IPL 2022 Group A schedule: A look at complete fixtures of MI, KKR, RR, DC, Lucknow Super Giants

The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 26 with MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set to lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening game of the season. The two finalists from last year will play the first game of IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

With IPL 2022 set to be played in a new format this year, the ten teams have been divided into two groups ahead of the news season. The teams have been divided on the basis of IPL titles won and finals played. While CSK are headlining Group B with four IPL trophies under their belt, five-time champions Mumbai Indians are headlining Group B.

Each of the ten teams will play 14 games each in the league stage of IPL 2022. Each team will play twice against the four other teams of their group and one team from the other group, who are placed in the same row as them, and once against the other four teams in the other group. Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022 season.

Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Group A</td>
			<td>Group B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mumbai Indians</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
			<td>Royal Challengers Bangalore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Delhi Capitals</td>
			<td>Punjab Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lucknow Super Giants</td>
			<td>Gujarat Titans</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-complete-schedule-announced-ms-dhonis-csk-to-take-on-kkr-in-season-opener-459595">IPL 2022 complete schedule announced - MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener</a>

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings are part of Group B along with the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. Here is a look at the complete schedule of all teams in Group B for IPL 2022.

Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni's CSK will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 before taking on Punjab Kings in their next game. CSK will play their final game against Rajasthan Royals on 20th May.

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Start the Summer Whistles... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverywhereWeGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverywhereWeGo</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TataIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TataIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/YGrRPIQysy">pic.twitter.com/YGrRPIQysy</a>
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1500442333334020098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Sunrisers Hyderabad&nbsp;

Sunrisers Hyderabad will open their campaignagainst Rajasthan Royals at the MCA Stadium in Pune before locking horns with Lucknow Super Giants at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on April 04. Sunrisers will play their last game against Punjab Kings on May 22.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

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Mark the dates <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OrangeArmy</a>, here's your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeCalendar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OrangeCalendar</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLFixtures?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLFixtures</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReadyToRise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReadyToRise</a> <a href="https://t.co/cJfHlPRFwn">pic.twitter.com/cJfHlPRFwn</a>
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers/status/1500437613228224512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27 before playing Kolkata Knight Riders at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on March 30. RCB will play their last game against Gujarat Titans on May 19.

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IPL 2022 Schedule Announced 
 
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2022</a> is here! Mark your calendars. 
 
It’s time to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLAYBOLD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PLAYBOLD</a>, 12th Man Army! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreChallengers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreChallengers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mission2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mission2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/VmMzYIOy20">pic.twitter.com/VmMzYIOy20</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1500446337309229061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first game of the season on March 27. Punjab Kings will then play KKR in their second game of the season in Mumbai. Their last league game will be against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 22nd.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SherSquad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SherSquad</a>, it’s out! 
 
Get ready to cheer for us and tell us which match are you looking forward to the most? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/P0KxebsB5d">pic.twitter.com/P0KxebsB5d</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1500461038185365511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Gujarat Titans

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Some call it a schedule, we call it a Hit List! 
 
Mark your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratTitans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratTitans</a> <a href="https://t.co/FTGifl5qUY">pic.twitter.com/FTGifl5qUY</a>
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans/status/1500476879371120640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28. Both the debutants will play their respective first game of the season against each other. Gujarat Titans will play their last game against RCB on May 19.

&nbsp;

The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 26 with MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set to lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening game of the season.

The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 26 with MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set to lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening game of the season. The two finalists from last year will play the first game of IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With IPL 2022 set to be played in a new format this year, the ten teams have been divided into two groups ahead of the news season. The teams have been divided on the basis of IPL titles won and finals played. While CSK are headlining Group B with four IPL trophies under their belt, five-time champions Mumbai Indians are headlining Group B. Each of the ten teams will play 14 games each in the league stage of IPL 2022. Each team will play twice against the four other teams of their group and one team from the other group, who are placed in the same row as them, and once against the other four teams in the other group. Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022 season. Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022: Group A Group B Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals Punjab Kings Lucknow Super Giants Gujarat Titans Also Read: IPL 2022 complete schedule announced - MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener Defending champions Chennai Super Kings are part of Group B along with the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. Here is a look at the complete schedule of all teams in Group B for IPL 2022. Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni's CSK will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 before taking on Punjab Kings in their next game. CSK will play their final game against Rajasthan Royals on 20th May. Start the Summer Whistles... #EverywhereWeGo! #TataIPL #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/YGrRPIQysy — Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) March 6, 2022 × Sunrisers Hyderabad Sunrisers Hyderabad will open their campaignagainst Rajasthan Royals at the MCA Stadium in Pune before locking horns with Lucknow Super Giants at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on April 04. Sunrisers will play their last game against Punjab Kings on May 22. Also Read: IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Mark the dates #OrangeArmy, here's your #OrangeCalendar for #IPL2022 #IPLFixtures #TATAIPL #ReadyToRise pic.twitter.com/cJfHlPRFwn — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 6, 2022 × Royal Challengers Bangalore Royal Challengers Bangalore will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27 before playing Kolkata Knight Riders at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on March 30. RCB will play their last game against Gujarat Titans on May 19. IPL 2022 Schedule Announced The #TATAIPL2022 is here! Mark your calendars. It’s time to #PLAYBOLD, 12th Man Army! #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 pic.twitter.com/VmMzYIOy20 — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 6, 2022 × Punjab Kings Punjab Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first game of the season on March 27. Punjab Kings will then play KKR in their second game of the season in Mumbai. Their last league game will be against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 22nd. #SherSquad, it’s out! Get ready to cheer for us and tell us which match are you looking forward to the most? #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPL2022 pic.twitter.com/P0KxebsB5d — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 6, 2022 × Gujarat Titans Some call it a schedule, we call it a Hit List! Mark your #GujaratTitans pic.twitter.com/FTGifl5qUY — Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 6, 2022 × Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28. Both the debutants will play their respective first game of the season against each other. Gujarat Titans will play their last game against RCB on May 19.

IPL 2022 Group B schedule: A look at complete fixtures of CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS and Gujarat Titans

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