With the situation surrounding the deadly COVID-19 continuing to deteriorate with each passing day, the fate of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 hands in the balance. The dreaded virus has left the entire sporting calendar in pieces with almost all the major tournaments and events getting cancelled or postponed. While IPL 2020, which was earlier set to start from March 29, was postponed till April 15 amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, there has been no official confirmation whether the cash-rich tournament will even take place this season or not.<o:p></o:p>

The former Mental Conditioning and Strategic Leadership Coach of the Indian cricket team, Paddy Upton is of the view that the athletes are bound to witness a range of experiences during the ongoing lockdown. Upton said while it will be a welcome break for some of the players, many will feel a sense of anxiety and insecurity, both professionally and financially. <o:p></o:p>

“For athletes, there would be a range of experiences, from welcome relief for the established to anxiety and insecurity, both professionally and financially, for possibly a greater number,” Upton told a leading daily.

<o:p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-virat-kohli-pv-sindhu-to-mc-mary-kom-sports-fraternity-lights-diyas-candles-to-show-solidarity-in-fight-against-covid-19-290821" hreflang="en">From Virat Kohli, PV Sindhu to MC Mary Kom: Sports fraternity lights diyas, candles to show solidarity in fight against COVID-19</a>

“Fringe players and those at the early stages of their career, especially those who have very recently broken through to the next level, would naturally be feeling this break very disruptive,” he further added.<o:p></o:p>

Upton termed IPL as a cash cow while adding that anxiety and depression arise within normal people when they tend to focus too much on themselves and the problems they are having. He further advised them to focus on other people and care for them while looking for opportunities that are available during this unprecedented scenario.

<h2 class="MsoNormal">"IPL a cash cow"</h2>

“Naturally IPL is a huge highlight on the calendar for many cricketers, and a cash cow. Anxiety and depression arise within healthy and normal people, when they spend too much time focusing firstly on themselves, and secondly on the problems that they are having. I would really caution not only athletes but everyone, to use their awareness to guard against this very normal threat. The way to overcome it is to focus on other people, caring for them, and at the same time to look for opportunities that are available due to this additional time,” he said.

<o:p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijender-singh-hopes-for-pro-career-to-resume-in-second-half-of-2020-290808" hreflang="en">Vijender Singh hopes for pro career to resume in second half of 2020</a>

“What’s important is to ensure we maintain a bigger perspective of our lives, specifically taking care of all the facets that make up who we are as humans, which include looking after the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspect of our lives,” Upton added.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, as per reports, the BCCI is looking for an alternate window during August-September while evaluating the options to conduct IPL 2020 later in the year.<o:p></o:p>

With the situation surrounding the deadly COVID-19 continuing to deteriorate with each passing day, the fate of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 hands in the balance.

With the situation surrounding the deadly COVID-19 continuing to deteriorate with each passing day, the fate of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 hands in the balance. The dreaded virus has left the entire sporting calendar in pieces with almost all the major tournaments and events getting cancelled or postponed. While IPL 2020, which was earlier set to start from March 29, was postponed till April 15 amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, there has been no official confirmation whether the cash-rich tournament will even take place this season or not. The former Mental Conditioning and Strategic Leadership Coach of the Indian cricket team, Paddy Upton is of the view that the athletes are bound to witness a range of experiences during the ongoing lockdown. Upton said while it will be a welcome break for some of the players, many will feel a sense of anxiety and insecurity, both professionally and financially. “For athletes, there would be a range of experiences, from welcome relief for the established to anxiety and insecurity, both professionally and financially, for possibly a greater number,” Upton told a leading daily. ALSO READ: From Virat Kohli, PV Sindhu to MC Mary Kom: Sports fraternity lights diyas, candles to show solidarity in fight against COVID-19 “Fringe players and those at the early stages of their career, especially those who have very recently broken through to the next level, would naturally be feeling this break very disruptive,” he further added. Upton termed IPL as a cash cow while adding that anxiety and depression arise within normal people when they tend to focus too much on themselves and the problems they are having. He further advised them to focus on other people and care for them while looking for opportunities that are available during this unprecedented scenario. "IPL a cash cow" “Naturally IPL is a huge highlight on the calendar for many cricketers, and a cash cow. Anxiety and depression arise within healthy and normal people, when they spend too much time focusing firstly on themselves, and secondly on the problems that they are having. I would really caution not only athletes but everyone, to use their awareness to guard against this very normal threat. The way to overcome it is to focus on other people, caring for them, and at the same time to look for opportunities that are available due to this additional time,” he said. ALSO READ: Vijender Singh hopes for pro career to resume in second half of 2020 “What’s important is to ensure we maintain a bigger perspective of our lives, specifically taking care of all the facets that make up who we are as humans, which include looking after the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspect of our lives,” Upton added. Meanwhile, as per reports, the BCCI is looking for an alternate window during August-September while evaluating the options to conduct IPL 2020 later in the year.

‘IPL a cash cow, break will lead to anxiety and insecurity for few players’: Paddy Upton

Veteran Indian batsman Suresh Raina reckons Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 can wait till the situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic completely settles down. The stylish southpaw, who has already done his bit to help the Indian government combat the dreaded virus, said ‘life is most important at this point of time’.<o:p></o:p>

Raina, who has been one of the faces of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, said that the top-most priority, right now, has to be saving the lives of people who are suffering and dying from the deadly COVID-19 virus while adding that everyone needs to adhere to Indian government’s guidelines on lockdown or else there will be severe consequences.<o:p></o:p>

"Life is most important at this point in time. IPL can surely wait. We all need to follow the government guidelines on lockdown else we all face the consequences. When life gets better, we can think about IPL. So many people are dying at the moment, we need to save lives," Raina told PTI.

<o:p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-enjoy-batting-with-those-who-can-virat-kohli-names-2-batsmen-he-loves-batting-with-during-instagram-live-with-kevin-pietersen-290378" hreflang="en">'I enjoy batting with those who can...' - Virat Kohli names 2 batsmen he loves batting with during Instagram Live with Kevin Pietersen</a>

Raina has been extremely active on social media platforms in a bid to spread awareness on the importance of self-isolation and social distancing during the 21-day lockdown period in India. The southpaw has been trying to be the perfect homemaker as his wife, Priyanka Chaudhary Raina, continues to recover from the birth of their second child, Rio, last week. <o:p></o:p>

"I am relaxing in the lockdown, cooking and spending time with the kids. There is so much more to life than cricket, moments like these make you realise that. With this lockdown, people should realise the importance of being down to earth.<o:p></o:p>

"At this time, three meals-a-day matter much more than the size of your house and car, what you wear doesn't matter. What you and your workers in the house are doing is the same. You are eating and feeding them at the same time.

<o:p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-when-boss-anushka-sharma-hijacked-instagram-live-session-between-kevin-pietersen-and-virat-kohli-290344" hreflang="en">WATCH: When 'Boss' Anushka Sharma hijacked Instagram Live session between Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli</a>

"I am used to cooking since my hostel days, so I enjoy doing that. Wife (who gave birth to a boy last week) and kid are still recovering, so happy to contribute with the household work,” Raina said. <o:p></o:p>

Raina, who was gearing for his comeback to competitive cricket since playing his last match in the final of IPL 2019, said that the preparatory camp conducted by CSK was ‘nice’ while adding that MS Dhoni was looking really good in the nets and had the hunger of a youngster.<o:p></o:p>

"It was a nice camp. I was there for two months but then this happened. Got to spend some time with Dhoni. He was batting so well in the nets, he had the hunger of a youngster. In one session, he batted for three hours at a stretch," recalled Raina.<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Veteran Indian batsman Suresh Raina reckons Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 can wait till the situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic completely settles down. The stylish southpaw, who has already done his bit to help the Indian government combat the dreaded virus, said ‘life is most important at this point of time’.

Veteran Indian batsman Suresh Raina reckons Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 can wait till the situation surrounding COVID-19 pandemic completely settles down. The stylish southpaw, who has already done his bit to help the Indian government combat the dreaded virus, said ‘life is most important at this point of time’. Raina, who has been one of the faces of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, said that the top-most priority, right now, has to be saving the lives of people who are suffering and dying from the deadly COVID-19 virus while adding that everyone needs to adhere to Indian government’s guidelines on lockdown or else there will be severe consequences. "Life is most important at this point in time. IPL can surely wait. We all need to follow the government guidelines on lockdown else we all face the consequences. When life gets better, we can think about IPL. So many people are dying at the moment, we need to save lives," Raina told PTI. ALSO READ: 'I enjoy batting with those who can...' - Virat Kohli names 2 batsmen he loves batting with during Instagram Live with Kevin Pietersen Raina has been extremely active on social media platforms in a bid to spread awareness on the importance of self-isolation and social distancing during the 21-day lockdown period in India. The southpaw has been trying to be the perfect homemaker as his wife, Priyanka Chaudhary Raina, continues to recover from the birth of their second child, Rio, last week. "I am relaxing in the lockdown, cooking and spending time with the kids. There is so much more to life than cricket, moments like these make you realise that. With this lockdown, people should realise the importance of being down to earth. "At this time, three meals-a-day matter much more than the size of your house and car, what you wear doesn't matter. What you and your workers in the house are doing is the same. You are eating and feeding them at the same time. ALSO READ: WATCH: When 'Boss' Anushka Sharma hijacked Instagram Live session between Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli "I am used to cooking since my hostel days, so I enjoy doing that. Wife (who gave birth to a boy last week) and kid are still recovering, so happy to contribute with the household work,” Raina said. Raina, who was gearing for his comeback to competitive cricket since playing his last match in the final of IPL 2019, said that the preparatory camp conducted by CSK was ‘nice’ while adding that MS Dhoni was looking really good in the nets and had the hunger of a youngster. "It was a nice camp. I was there for two months but then this happened. Got to spend some time with Dhoni. He was batting so well in the nets, he had the hunger of a youngster. In one session, he batted for three hours at a stretch," recalled Raina.

IPL 2020 can wait as life is most important now, says Suresh Raina

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading like a wildfire, the fate of the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 has been left hanging in balance. While the BCCI did postpone the cash-rich tournament till April 15, there has been no confirmation on whether IPL 2020 will take place after it as India continues to remain in a 21-day lockdown period to combat the deadly virus.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals CEO Ranjit Barthakur on Wednesday revealed that any final call on IPL 2020 is unlikely to be taken before April 15 while adding that they are open to the idea of a shortened league with only Indian players.&nbsp;

"We are open to a shortened tournament with only Indian players, at the end of the day it is the Indian Premier League," Barthakur told PTI.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tried-my-best-in-this-ipl-ahmed-shehzad-goofs-up-in-furious-live-chat-with-kevin-pieterson-289828" hreflang="en">'Tried my best in this IPL', Ahmed Shehzad goofs up in furious live chat with Kevin Pietersen</a>

Given the number of positive cases of coronavirus are rapidly rising, IPL 2020 seems unlikely to go ahead unless the BCCI compromises on a few bilateral series later in 2020, freeing up window for the event.

"These are extraordinary times and the BCCI will do the best it can when things improve," the RR executive said.

"Earlier we could not think of an Indians-only IPL but now there is enough quality to choose from. It is better to have an Indians-only IPL than not at all.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/didnt-have-that-kind-of-support-from-mahi-and-virat-yuvraj-singh-praises-ganguly-289817" hreflang="en">'Didn’t have that kind of support from Mahi and Virat': Yuvraj Singh praises Ganguly</a>

"When can we have it? That BCCI decides. And I think that call be taken only post 15th April," Barthakur added.

Earlier, RR's majority owner Manoj Badale had admitted that the IPL "pales into insignificance in terms of things we should be really be thinking about right now".

With no final call likely before April 15, the waiting game surrounding the fate of IPL 2020 continues.

 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading like a wildfire, the fate of the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 has been left hanging in balance. While the BCCI did postpone the cash-rich tournament till April 15, there has been no confirmation on whether IPL 2020 will take place after it as India continues to remain in a 21-day lockdown period to combat the deadly virus.

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading like a wildfire, the fate of the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 has been left hanging in balance. While the BCCI did postpone the cash-rich tournament till April 15, there has been no confirmation on whether IPL 2020 will take place after it as India continues to remain in a 21-day lockdown period to combat the deadly virus. Rajasthan Royals CEO Ranjit Barthakur on Wednesday revealed that any final call on IPL 2020 is unlikely to be taken before April 15 while adding that they are open to the idea of a shortened league with only Indian players. "We are open to a shortened tournament with only Indian players, at the end of the day it is the Indian Premier League," Barthakur told PTI. ALSO READ: 'Tried my best in this IPL', Ahmed Shehzad goofs up in furious live chat with Kevin Pietersen Given the number of positive cases of coronavirus are rapidly rising, IPL 2020 seems unlikely to go ahead unless the BCCI compromises on a few bilateral series later in 2020, freeing up window for the event. "These are extraordinary times and the BCCI will do the best it can when things improve," the RR executive said. "Earlier we could not think of an Indians-only IPL but now there is enough quality to choose from. It is better to have an Indians-only IPL than not at all. ALSO READ: 'Didn’t have that kind of support from Mahi and Virat': Yuvraj Singh praises Ganguly "When can we have it? That BCCI decides. And I think that call be taken only post 15th April," Barthakur added. Earlier, RR's majority owner Manoj Badale had admitted that the IPL "pales into insignificance in terms of things we should be really be thinking about right now". With no final call likely before April 15, the waiting game surrounding the fate of IPL 2020 continues.

Rajasthan Royals ready to play shortened IPL 2020 with Indian players only: CEO Ranjit Barthakur

No play, no pay. This could well be the fate of players, who have signed up for this year's IPL, which has been postponed and seems unlikely to go ahead unless BCCI figures an alternate window later in the year, compromising a few bilateral commitments.

"The system of IPL payments is that 15 per cent is paid a week before the tournament starts. 65 per cent more is paid during the tournament. The remaining 20 percent is paid within a stipulated time after the tournament ends," a senior official of an IPL franchise told PTI.

"The BCCI has specific guidelines. Obviously, no player will be paid as of now," he added.

In fact, the economic implications of a season without IPL could be huge, admitted BCCI Players' body -- the Indian Cricketers' Association -- president Ashok Malhotra.

He feels that even domestic players may have to accept pay cuts if losses run into thousands of crores amid the ongoing lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Right now, BCCI is looking at an alternate window as chances of a curtailed IPL in May look dim but nothing concrete has come out.

The country is currently under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 while IPL has been postponed till April 15. The pandemic has caused mayhem worldwide, killing over 37,000 people so far.

The economic upheaval caused by it has led to players of England and Australia to admit that they are bracing up for pay cuts.

Another franchise official clarified that the salaries of the players are not insured for a pandemic.

"We will not get any money from insurance company as pandemic is not covered in the clause. Each franchise has salary overheads ranging between Rs 75 to 85 crore. How can we pay if there's no action," he asked.

"From English Premier League, La Liga to Bundesliga, players are taking pay cuts. Also there is no certainty anywhere as to when things will get normal," the official, who has been part of at least IPL 10 editions, added.

Both of them said in unison that BCCI needs to see what can be done even though they understand that the parent body stands to lose close to Rs 3000 crore.

"It's not just the Dhonis and the Kohlis who will be affected. Surely they would feel the pinch but for many first-timers, the Rs 20, 40 or 60 lakh is serious life-changing money after all the hard work. Hope the BCCI has a plan in place," he said.

BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, however, said that at present, there hasn't been any discussion about pay cuts.

"There has been no discussion at all on pay cuts. IPL obviously is BCCI's biggest tournament. But at this point, it is very difficult to do calculations and estimate losses. The calculations are complex and till office-bearers get together, we can't say anything," Dhumal told PTI.

However, former India Test player Malhotra feels that one needs to be practical in understanding the situation. In case of domestic players, it might not be a pay cut but probably the much-awaited pay hike could be put on hold for some time.

"The BCCI earns its money from cricket. If cricket is not happening, where will the money come from? We have to be sensible here.

"So, it's not just international cricketers but domestic players will also be affected. It's not the board's fault. This is an unavoidable situation," Malhotra said.

No play, no pay. This could well be the fate of players, who have signed up for this year's IPL, which has been postponed and seems unlikely to go ahead unless BCCI figures an alternate window later in the year, compromising a few bilateral commitments.

No play, no pay. This could well be the fate of players, who have signed up for this year's IPL, which has been postponed and seems unlikely to go ahead unless BCCI figures an alternate window later in the year, compromising a few bilateral commitments. "The system of IPL payments is that 15 per cent is paid a week before the tournament starts. 65 per cent more is paid during the tournament. The remaining 20 percent is paid within a stipulated time after the tournament ends," a senior official of an IPL franchise told PTI. "The BCCI has specific guidelines. Obviously, no player will be paid as of now," he added. In fact, the economic implications of a season without IPL could be huge, admitted BCCI Players' body -- the Indian Cricketers' Association -- president Ashok Malhotra. He feels that even domestic players may have to accept pay cuts if losses run into thousands of crores amid the ongoing lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, BCCI is looking at an alternate window as chances of a curtailed IPL in May look dim but nothing concrete has come out. The country is currently under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 while IPL has been postponed till April 15. The pandemic has caused mayhem worldwide, killing over 37,000 people so far. The economic upheaval caused by it has led to players of England and Australia to admit that they are bracing up for pay cuts. Another franchise official clarified that the salaries of the players are not insured for a pandemic. "We will not get any money from insurance company as pandemic is not covered in the clause. Each franchise has salary overheads ranging between Rs 75 to 85 crore. How can we pay if there's no action," he asked. "From English Premier League, La Liga to Bundesliga, players are taking pay cuts. Also there is no certainty anywhere as to when things will get normal," the official, who has been part of at least IPL 10 editions, added. Both of them said in unison that BCCI needs to see what can be done even though they understand that the parent body stands to lose close to Rs 3000 crore. "It's not just the Dhonis and the Kohlis who will be affected. Surely they would feel the pinch but for many first-timers, the Rs 20, 40 or 60 lakh is serious life-changing money after all the hard work. Hope the BCCI has a plan in place," he said. BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, however, said that at present, there hasn't been any discussion about pay cuts. "There has been no discussion at all on pay cuts. IPL obviously is BCCI's biggest tournament. But at this point, it is very difficult to do calculations and estimate losses. The calculations are complex and till office-bearers get together, we can't say anything," Dhumal told PTI. However, former India Test player Malhotra feels that one needs to be practical in understanding the situation. In case of domestic players, it might not be a pay cut but probably the much-awaited pay hike could be put on hold for some time. "The BCCI earns its money from cricket. If cricket is not happening, where will the money come from? We have to be sensible here. "So, it's not just international cricketers but domestic players will also be affected. It's not the board's fault. This is an unavoidable situation," Malhotra said.

No IPL, no salary concerns for franchises; domestic players will also be affected, says ICA chief

With India currently under a 21-day lockdown period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country has been left in a stand-still. While there was massive anticipation surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, the novel coronavirus has come as a damp squib shattering the entire sporting calendar.&nbsp;

While the COVID-19 continues to spread like a wildfire, the 13th edition of Indian Premier League is likely to be cancelled with the next season to be played in 2021. The main reason behind the cancellation of IPL 2020 is the current health advisory by the Indian government which asks everyone to remain indoors and maintain social distancing. Furthermore, no mega auction will take place next season and the likelihood is that the scrapped season will continue in the year 2021, as per a latest report.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/scrap-season-if-it-cant-be-finished-by-end-of-june-says-harry-kane-289407">Scrap season if it can't be finished by end of June says, Harry Kane</a>

<h2>“IPL will not happen this year"</h2>

“IPL will not happen this year. It will now happen next year. We all know how the situation is at the moment in the country and no one will take any risk. One can’t have social distancing in the stadium. It’s better to play IPL next year. Also, no mega auction will take place. We will inform the franchises once we get final confirmation from the Indian government, the same season can continue next season,” a source in the IPL administration informed a leading daily.

While IPL 2020 was initially scheduled to start on March 29 only to postpone it till April 15, the current situation surrounding COVID-19 has not made things any easier for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/coronavirus-may-prove-virtual-sports-game-changer-289404">Coronavirus may prove virtual sports game changer</a>

The flight restrictions, the proposal of matches played behind closed doors and logistical challenges in the current scenario have come has a nightmare for the board and organizers and hence, the IPL is likely to be cancelled with an official confirmation from BCCI expected around April 15.

Furthermore, the BCCI is likely to suspend the National Cricket Academy zonal camp that was supposed to be held across India during the summer season. 
&nbsp;

With India currently under a 21-day lockdown period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country has been left in a stand-still. While there was massive anticipation surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, the novel coronavirus has come as a damp squib shattering the entire sporting calendar.

With India currently under a 21-day lockdown period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country has been left in a stand-still. While there was massive anticipation surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, the novel coronavirus has come as a damp squib shattering the entire sporting calendar. While the COVID-19 continues to spread like a wildfire, the 13th edition of Indian Premier League is likely to be cancelled with the next season to be played in 2021. The main reason behind the cancellation of IPL 2020 is the current health advisory by the Indian government which asks everyone to remain indoors and maintain social distancing. Furthermore, no mega auction will take place next season and the likelihood is that the scrapped season will continue in the year 2021, as per a latest report. ALSO READ: Scrap season if it can't be finished by end of June says, Harry Kane “IPL will not happen this year" “IPL will not happen this year. It will now happen next year. We all know how the situation is at the moment in the country and no one will take any risk. One can’t have social distancing in the stadium. It’s better to play IPL next year. Also, no mega auction will take place. We will inform the franchises once we get final confirmation from the Indian government, the same season can continue next season,” a source in the IPL administration informed a leading daily. While IPL 2020 was initially scheduled to start on March 29 only to postpone it till April 15, the current situation surrounding COVID-19 has not made things any easier for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). ALSO READ: Coronavirus may prove virtual sports game changer The flight restrictions, the proposal of matches played behind closed doors and logistical challenges in the current scenario have come has a nightmare for the board and organizers and hence, the IPL is likely to be cancelled with an official confirmation from BCCI expected around April 15. Furthermore, the BCCI is likely to suspend the National Cricket Academy zonal camp that was supposed to be held across India during the summer season.

IPL 2020 expected to be cancelled with no mega auction next season: Report

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is hoping for at least a curtailed IPL this season, aware that it would be difficult to conduct the "massive tournament" in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

The league was originally scheduled to start on March 29 in Mumbai but it was postponed to April 15 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 21,000 lives across the globe.

"No news at the moment. We saw, initially, that it was going to be postponed. It's very hard to see this changing in the immediate future, so I don't see that as a possibility at the moment," Buttler said in a skysports podcast.

"Obviously, it's such a massive tournament for world cricket, so hopefully some of it can go ahead - perhaps a shortened tournament."

Buttler also spoke about the duel between Jofra Archer and Steve Smith during the Ashes. Smith was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the side of the head by a Archer bouncer during the second Ashes Test at Lord's last year.

The Australian batsman was ruled out of the third Test after suffering concussion.

"That was Jofra's first Test - he came with a lot of expectations [on him] but for a guy to produce a spell on debut like he did was quite incredible," said Buttler.

"Any time we see some of the best Test cricket, it's always with great fast bowling; Jofra - a new kid on the block bowling extremely fast to the world's best batsman at Lord's in an Ashes Test."

"You could just feel that sense of anticipation every time that he ran in and you could see the speedgun getting quicker and quicker. There was that sense of something happening - incredible theatre and incredible drama," Buttler said.

"It was scary because [Smith] got hit on his neck or just beneath. People are very aware of what happened to Phillip Hughes, so there was huge worry for everyone."

Asked with whom he would least like to self-isolate with, Buttler quipped: "Ravi Ashwin, probably. It's actually a year ago since I got 'mankaded' because I keep getting tweeted about it, saying 'stay safe, don't go outside' with those pictures of me."

Ashwin on Wednesday had cited the 2019 IPL's Mankading incident involving Buttler to urge people to stay indoor during coronavirus lockdown in the country.

UK too has put its population under a lockdown and Buttler said the break has given him an opportunity to spend time with his daughter and he tries to do some exercise to keep himself fit.

"Obviously, very strange circumstances, but it's actually quite nice to spend some time at home, be with our little girl and actually just be a dad for a bit. I've also been doing some Pilates with my Mrs, in my cricket gear," he said.

"The calendar is always so busy, so you're trying to find times when you can get a bit of a break, so I'm trying to use the time as a positive - although, of course, it's really unfortunate circumstances and very tough for everyone."

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is hoping for at least a curtailed IPL this season, aware that it would be difficult to conduct the "massive tournament" in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is hoping for at least a curtailed IPL this season, aware that it would be difficult to conduct the "massive tournament" in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The league was originally scheduled to start on March 29 in Mumbai but it was postponed to April 15 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 21,000 lives across the globe. "No news at the moment. We saw, initially, that it was going to be postponed. It's very hard to see this changing in the immediate future, so I don't see that as a possibility at the moment," Buttler said in a skysports podcast. "Obviously, it's such a massive tournament for world cricket, so hopefully some of it can go ahead - perhaps a shortened tournament." Buttler also spoke about the duel between Jofra Archer and Steve Smith during the Ashes. Smith was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the side of the head by a Archer bouncer during the second Ashes Test at Lord's last year. The Australian batsman was ruled out of the third Test after suffering concussion. "That was Jofra's first Test - he came with a lot of expectations [on him] but for a guy to produce a spell on debut like he did was quite incredible," said Buttler. "Any time we see some of the best Test cricket, it's always with great fast bowling; Jofra - a new kid on the block bowling extremely fast to the world's best batsman at Lord's in an Ashes Test." "You could just feel that sense of anticipation every time that he ran in and you could see the speedgun getting quicker and quicker. There was that sense of something happening - incredible theatre and incredible drama," Buttler said. "It was scary because [Smith] got hit on his neck or just beneath. People are very aware of what happened to Phillip Hughes, so there was huge worry for everyone." Asked with whom he would least like to self-isolate with, Buttler quipped: "Ravi Ashwin, probably. It's actually a year ago since I got 'mankaded' because I keep getting tweeted about it, saying 'stay safe, don't go outside' with those pictures of me." Ashwin on Wednesday had cited the 2019 IPL's Mankading incident involving Buttler to urge people to stay indoor during coronavirus lockdown in the country. UK too has put its population under a lockdown and Buttler said the break has given him an opportunity to spend time with his daughter and he tries to do some exercise to keep himself fit. "Obviously, very strange circumstances, but it's actually quite nice to spend some time at home, be with our little girl and actually just be a dad for a bit. I've also been doing some Pilates with my Mrs, in my cricket gear," he said. "The calendar is always so busy, so you're trying to find times when you can get a bit of a break, so I'm trying to use the time as a positive - although, of course, it's really unfortunate circumstances and very tough for everyone."

Jos Buttler hoping for shortened IPL in wake of COVID-19 pandemic

After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was postponed by a year, all eyes have shifted to the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. The onus lies on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to deal with the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and take a final call on the cash-rich tournament which was earlier scheduled to start from March 29 but was suspended until April 15 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;

However, the IPL franchises and stakeholders aren’t even discussing the IPL 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are not even discussing IPL right now. It will be premature to say anything but hosting the IPL this year looks a bit difficult,” a top franchise official told a leading daily.

While the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly looked pessimistic about conducting IPL 2020 later in the year due to the FTP being in place. A Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official has now said that all IPL related work was stopped in mid-march as the employees were forced to go on a work-from-home routine due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-opens-up-on-fate-of-ipl-2020-says-cant-say-anything-at-the-moment-288269">BCCI president Sourav Ganguly opens up on fate of IPL 2020, says 'can't say anything at the moment'</a>

“All IPL related work was stopped in mid-March. Only the construction of VIP boxes was underway when this coronavirus pandemic forced us to go on a work-from-home. We were already told not to hold IPL-related work till April 15,” said a Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official privy to the development.

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia was the first to announce a ban on IPL and that meant all IPL-related work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium – home ground of Delhi Capitals – including pitch preparation was halted mid-way.&nbsp;

<h2>"IMGR looked less hopeful of the IPL taking place this year"</h2>

“The IMGR (Delhi Capitals) guys came here last week and they were told about the developments. Even they looked less hopeful of the IPL taking place this year. Generally, it takes about two weeks for the pitch and construction work to complete before every IPL that means till the end of April it is highly unlikely,” the official added.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/covid-19-hits-olympics-what-could-2020-tokyo-games-postponement-cost-japan-288403">COVID-19 hits Olympics: What could 2020 Tokyo Games postponement cost Japan?</a>

Earlier, Ganguly had said that he doesn’t have an answer to whether IPL 2020 will take place at all while citing the Future Tours Programme (FTP).&nbsp;

“Nothing has changed in the last 10 days. So, I don’t have an answer to it. You can’t plan anything. The FTP is scheduled. It’s there and you can’t change the FTP. All around the world, cricket and more so sports has stopped,” Ganguly had told PTI.

However, with all major tournaments and sporting events getting cancelled or postponed, the pressure is mounting on the BCCI to take a final call on the future of IPL 2020. 
&nbsp;

After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was postponed by a year, all eyes have shifted to the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. The onus lies on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to deal with the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and take a final call on the cash-rich tournament which was earlier scheduled to start from March 29 but was suspended until April 15 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was postponed by a year, all eyes have shifted to the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. The onus lies on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to deal with the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and take a final call on the cash-rich tournament which was earlier scheduled to start from March 29 but was suspended until April 15 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. However, the IPL franchises and stakeholders aren’t even discussing the IPL 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are not even discussing IPL right now. It will be premature to say anything but hosting the IPL this year looks a bit difficult,” a top franchise official told a leading daily. While the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly looked pessimistic about conducting IPL 2020 later in the year due to the FTP being in place. A Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official has now said that all IPL related work was stopped in mid-march as the employees were forced to go on a work-from-home routine due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. ALSO READ: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly opens up on fate of IPL 2020, says 'can't say anything at the moment' “All IPL related work was stopped in mid-March. Only the construction of VIP boxes was underway when this coronavirus pandemic forced us to go on a work-from-home. We were already told not to hold IPL-related work till April 15,” said a Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official privy to the development. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia was the first to announce a ban on IPL and that meant all IPL-related work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium – home ground of Delhi Capitals – including pitch preparation was halted mid-way. "IMGR looked less hopeful of the IPL taking place this year" “The IMGR (Delhi Capitals) guys came here last week and they were told about the developments. Even they looked less hopeful of the IPL taking place this year. Generally, it takes about two weeks for the pitch and construction work to complete before every IPL that means till the end of April it is highly unlikely,” the official added. ALSO READ: COVID-19 hits Olympics: What could 2020 Tokyo Games postponement cost Japan? Earlier, Ganguly had said that he doesn’t have an answer to whether IPL 2020 will take place at all while citing the Future Tours Programme (FTP). “Nothing has changed in the last 10 days. So, I don’t have an answer to it. You can’t plan anything. The FTP is scheduled. It’s there and you can’t change the FTP. All around the world, cricket and more so sports has stopped,” Ganguly had told PTI. However, with all major tournaments and sporting events getting cancelled or postponed, the pressure is mounting on the BCCI to take a final call on the future of IPL 2020.

The fate of IPL 2020 hangs by thin thread with no preparations and talks

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to schedule the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in July and September. While IPL 2020 was earlier set to kickstart from March 29, the novel coronavirus pandemic has left the sporting calendar in tatters, forcing the authorities to suspend the cash-rich tournament until April 15.

There have been talks of a truncated IPL 2020 with a shortened playing window and it looked like the authorities had a proper 'Plan B' on cards. However, as per a leading daily, as things have been developing, it seems the Indian cricket board is looking for a complete tournament consisting as many as 60 matches, if not now then on a later window, if not in India then overseas, if not with the complete pool of foreign players then some.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/where-will-ms-dhoni-fit-in-virender-sehwag-wants-team-india-to-continue-with-kl-rahul-and-rishabh-pant-287132">'Where will MS Dhoni fit in?' - Virender Sehwag wants Team India to continue with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant</a>

The Future Tours Programme (FTP), which is cricket's annual calendar, for the year 2020 has not many significant tournaments or bilateral series between July and September barring the Asia Cup T20, scheduled to be played in September. Pakistan versus England, and Ireland versus England, in the limited-overs circuit, are two bilateral series falling in the July-September bracket.

However, the likes of Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, don't have a packed window barring the last three's participation in the Asia Cup T20.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/coronavirus-effects-cricket-ipl-2020-franchises-up-for-quarantining-foreign-players-if-needed-287023">Coronavirus effects cricket: IPL 2020 franchises up for quarantining foreign players if needed</a>

Going by Team India's calendar, the Virat Kohli-led outfit is scheduled to play just three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka in June/July.

It will be interesting to see what decision BCCI takes given how the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus pans out in the coming weeks.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to schedule the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in July and September. While IPL 2020 was earlier set to kickstart from March 29, the novel coronavirus pandemic has left the sporting calendar in tatters, forcing the authorities to suspend the cash-rich tournament until April 15.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to schedule the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in July and September. While IPL 2020 was earlier set to kickstart from March 29, the novel coronavirus pandemic has left the sporting calendar in tatters, forcing the authorities to suspend the cash-rich tournament until April 15. There have been talks of a truncated IPL 2020 with a shortened playing window and it looked like the authorities had a proper 'Plan B' on cards. However, as per a leading daily, as things have been developing, it seems the Indian cricket board is looking for a complete tournament consisting as many as 60 matches, if not now then on a later window, if not in India then overseas, if not with the complete pool of foreign players then some. ALSO READ: 'Where will MS Dhoni fit in?' - Virender Sehwag wants Team India to continue with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant The Future Tours Programme (FTP), which is cricket's annual calendar, for the year 2020 has not many significant tournaments or bilateral series between July and September barring the Asia Cup T20, scheduled to be played in September. Pakistan versus England, and Ireland versus England, in the limited-overs circuit, are two bilateral series falling in the July-September bracket. However, the likes of Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, don't have a packed window barring the last three's participation in the Asia Cup T20. ALSO READ: Coronavirus effects cricket: IPL 2020 franchises up for quarantining foreign players if needed Going by Team India's calendar, the Virat Kohli-led outfit is scheduled to play just three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka in June/July. It will be interesting to see what decision BCCI takes given how the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus pans out in the coming weeks.

Coronavirus pandemic: BCCI looking to conduct IPL 2020 in July-September window

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 getting suspended until April 15 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the cricket fans have been left with nothing to feast their eyes on. Even all eight IPL franchises have suspended their pre-tournament training camps keeping the health of players, support staff and fans in mind.&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were one of the first franchises to have cancelled their pre-IPL camp with players returning back home with the situation surrounding COVID-19 deteriorating with each passing day. MS Dhoni, who was supposed to make his return to the cricket field in IPL 2020, had started his preparation for the cash-rich tournament only to see it getting postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Having returned to his home town Ranchi, from Chennai, Dhoni was seen continuing his fitness regime as the former Indian skipper was spotted sweating it out on a badminton court in the JSCA International Stadium Complex.

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No day off for fitness freak MS Dhoni, as he resumes badminton session in Ranchi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FitnessFreak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FitnessFreak</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSDhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/z1ZDVHRkCa">pic.twitter.com/z1ZDVHRkCa</a>
— MS Dhoni Fans Official (@msdfansofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/msdfansofficial/status/1239412455840702465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Dhoni was last seen playing for India in the ICC World Cup 2019 where the Men in Blue had crashed out in the semi-final after a heart-breaking defeat to New Zealand. Since then, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has been on a sabattical from the gentlemen's game and a lot was riding on his performances in IPL 2020 relating to his return to the Indian team.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India recorded its third death due to coronavirus as a 64-year-old patient died in Mumbai's Kasturba hospital on Tuesday. Furthermore, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 has risen to 125 in India.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 getting suspended until April 15 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the cricket fans have been left with nothing to feast their eyes on.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 getting suspended until April 15 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the cricket fans have been left with nothing to feast their eyes on. Even all eight IPL franchises have suspended their pre-tournament training camps keeping the health of players, support staff and fans in mind. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were one of the first franchises to have cancelled their pre-IPL camp with players returning back home with the situation surrounding COVID-19 deteriorating with each passing day. MS Dhoni, who was supposed to make his return to the cricket field in IPL 2020, had started his preparation for the cash-rich tournament only to see it getting postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak. Having returned to his home town Ranchi, from Chennai, Dhoni was seen continuing his fitness regime as the former Indian skipper was spotted sweating it out on a badminton court in the JSCA International Stadium Complex. No day off for fitness freak MS Dhoni, as he resumes badminton session in Ranchi. #FitnessFreak #MSDhoni #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/z1ZDVHRkCa — MS Dhoni Fans Official (@msdfansofficial) March 16, 2020 × Dhoni was last seen playing for India in the ICC World Cup 2019 where the Men in Blue had crashed out in the semi-final after a heart-breaking defeat to New Zealand. Since then, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has been on a sabattical from the gentlemen's game and a lot was riding on his performances in IPL 2020 relating to his return to the Indian team. Meanwhile, India recorded its third death due to coronavirus as a 64-year-old patient died in Mumbai's Kasturba hospital on Tuesday. Furthermore, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 has risen to 125 in India.

WATCH: MS Dhoni sweats it out on badminton court after Chennai Super Kings call off IPL camp amid coronavirus pandemic

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni gets a grand reception at Chennai ahead of Indian Premier League.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-mahendra-singh-dhoni-trains-with-csk-for-clash-against-mumbai-indians-on-march-2-282699">IPL 2020: Mahendra Singh Dhoni trains with CSK for clash against Mumbai Indians on March 2</a>

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni landed in Chennai to train for the upcoming IPL 2020. CSK's official twitter handle tweeted about this:&nbsp;

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Every goose shall bump with First Day First Show feels! Just <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StartTheWhistles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StartTheWhistles</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HomeSweetDen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HomeSweetDen</a> 🦁💛 <a href="https://t.co/DpQBIqahZe">pic.twitter.com/DpQBIqahZe</a>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1234247590016737281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to the reports, CEO Kashi Vishwanath has said that CSK training camps will begin after March 19.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl/ipl-2020-chennai-super-kings-csk-squad-schedule-and-players-to-watch-out-for-283228">IPL 2020: Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) squad, schedule and players to watch out for!</a>

MS Dhoni will finally return t the ground after a long gap, the last time MS Dhoni played a match was against New Zealand in the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup.&nbsp;

Dhoni was criticised for his slow batting during the tournament. Earlier this year, Dhoni was not enlisted in the BCCI's central contract players' list.&nbsp;

The 38-year-old will lead the Super Kings this year, the first match will be between previous edition's finalists, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;

Dhoni had commenced training with the Jharkhand team some time back, and would also look to get into the groove as he has been away from the game for a while now.&nbsp;

Practice sessions of the Super Kings’ team never failed to attract crowds in thousands in the past, and with Dhoni set for early arrival for preparation similar numbers can be expected this time around as well. 
&nbsp;

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni gets a grand reception at Chennai ahead of Indian Premier League. Also read: IPL 2020: Mahendra Singh Dhoni trains with CSK for clash against Mumbai Indians on March 2 Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni landed in Chennai to train for the upcoming IPL 2020.

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni gets a grand reception at Chennai ahead of Indian Premier League. Also read: IPL 2020: Mahendra Singh Dhoni trains with CSK for clash against Mumbai Indians on March 2 Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni landed in Chennai to train for the upcoming IPL 2020. CSK's official twitter handle tweeted about this: Every goose shall bump with First Day First Show feels! Just #StartTheWhistles! #HomeSweetDen 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/DpQBIqahZe — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 1, 2020 × According to the reports, CEO Kashi Vishwanath has said that CSK training camps will begin after March 19. Also read: IPL 2020: Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) squad, schedule and players to watch out for! MS Dhoni will finally return t the ground after a long gap, the last time MS Dhoni played a match was against New Zealand in the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup. Dhoni was criticised for his slow batting during the tournament. Earlier this year, Dhoni was not enlisted in the BCCI's central contract players' list. The 38-year-old will lead the Super Kings this year, the first match will be between previous edition's finalists, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Dhoni had commenced training with the Jharkhand team some time back, and would also look to get into the groove as he has been away from the game for a while now. Practice sessions of the Super Kings’ team never failed to attract crowds in thousands in the past, and with Dhoni set for early arrival for preparation similar numbers can be expected this time around as well.

IPL 2020: Dhoni receives grand welcome at Chennai ahead of practice session

The Delhi government's refusal to allow any IPL matches in the city owing to the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the BCCI's woes with the board now looking for alternate venues in "willing" states to conduct a closed-door edition.

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that the national capital will not have any sporting events for a month to contain the spread of the deadly infection that has sent the world into turmoil with close to 5,000 deaths so far.

The IPL is due to start on March 29 in Mumbai and Delhi's first game was to be on March 30. "All sports gatherings will be banned, including the IPL, in wake of the coronavirus threat," Sisodia said. &nbsp;

The BCCI responded by listing the alternate venues that could play host. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capital IPL franchise. "Lucknow has been wanting to host IPL matches for a while now. If it's a closed-door tournament, it really doesn't matter where it is played," a BCCI source said.

Before Delhi, Karnataka has also expressed its unwillingness to host IPL matches, while Maharashtra have banned the sale of tickets.

The Delhi government's refusal to allow any IPL matches in the city owing to the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the BCCI's woes with the board now looking for alternate venues in "willing" states to conduct a closed-door edition.

The Delhi government's refusal to allow any IPL matches in the city owing to the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the BCCI's woes with the board now looking for alternate venues in "willing" states to conduct a closed-door edition. Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that the national capital will not have any sporting events for a month to contain the spread of the deadly infection that has sent the world into turmoil with close to 5,000 deaths so far. The IPL is due to start on March 29 in Mumbai and Delhi's first game was to be on March 30. "All sports gatherings will be banned, including the IPL, in wake of the coronavirus threat," Sisodia said. The BCCI responded by listing the alternate venues that could play host. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capital IPL franchise. "Lucknow has been wanting to host IPL matches for a while now. If it's a closed-door tournament, it really doesn't matter where it is played," a BCCI source said. Before Delhi, Karnataka has also expressed its unwillingness to host IPL matches, while Maharashtra have banned the sale of tickets.

BCCI explores alternate venues after Delhi shuts doors on IPL matches due to coronavirus

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

POINTS TABLE, SQUAD LIST, ANALYSIS, VENUE

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

Indian Premier League 2018

MS Dhoni-led Chennai team faces Rajasthan on Friday at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. It is going to be an interesting clash as both the teams have marked a return after serving a two-year ban and for the first time they both will face each other in IPL 2018.

It's also going to be a treat for Pune's audience as most of the players of Pune's team have landed in Rajasthan's squad like Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes and Jayadev Unadkat. The team will be clashing with Dhoni-Chennai but in the 2016 and 2017, Dhoni too was a part of Pune's squad.

Rajasthan have won two matches out of four and Chennai have won two matches out of three.

Probable XI (TBC):

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Heinrich Klaasen, Jos Buttler (wk), Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni

Ajinkya Rahane might include Jofra Archer if he has recovered and fit to play.

Probable XI (TBC):

Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni (c and wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Mark Wood, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar

Team Rajasthan has been lacking in the bowling department, on the other hand, Team Chennai has been the best in the death overs. The winning probability is slightly more towards Chennai.

Watch the detailed preview of Chennai vs Rajasthan:

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&nbsp;

Both the teams have marked a return after serving a two-year ban and for the first time they both will face each other in IPL 2018.

MS Dhoni-led Chennai team faces Rajasthan on Friday at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. It is going to be an interesting clash as both the teams have marked a return after serving a two-year ban and for the first time they both will face each other in IPL 2018. It's also going to be a treat for Pune's audience as most of the players of Pune's team have landed in Rajasthan's squad like Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes and Jayadev Unadkat. The team will be clashing with Dhoni-Chennai but in the 2016 and 2017, Dhoni too was a part of Pune's squad. Rajasthan have won two matches out of four and Chennai have won two matches out of three. Probable XI (TBC): Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Heinrich Klaasen, Jos Buttler (wk), Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni Ajinkya Rahane might include Jofra Archer if he has recovered and fit to play. Probable XI (TBC): Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni (c and wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Mark Wood, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar Team Rajasthan has been lacking in the bowling department, on the other hand, Team Chennai has been the best in the death overs. The winning probability is slightly more towards Chennai. Watch the detailed preview of Chennai vs Rajasthan: ×

IPL 2018: Match preview of Chennai vs Rajasthan

Chris Gayle smashed the first century of IPL 2018 on Thursday against Hyderabad. He scored an unbeaten 104 runs off 63 balls at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium.

'King' Gayle dedicated his outstanding innings to his daughter Krisallyna, he said, "A lot of people thought that I am old. Nothing to prove though. Wherever I go across the globe, just want to earn some respect. This one is dedicated to my daughter Krisallyna though it's her birthday tomorrow. So, yeah, this is for her. Tomorrow she will turn two and it's her second time in India. We're hoping to have a nice time. I am glad to score my century in just my second game at home, feels really good."

Gayle played at a strike rate of 165.08 and his knock included one four and eleven sixes. For his splendid knock, he was awarded 'Man of the Match' and while receiving the award he said, "I think Virender Sehwag saved the IPL by picking me."

After the match, Sehwag tweeted, "I saved the IPL by picking - @henrygayle" and Gayle retweet it with a "yes".

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I saved the IPL by picking - <a href="https://twitter.com/henrygayle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@henrygayle</a> ??.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag/status/987041522825691137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Yes! <a href="https://t.co/avqfCTHfEY">https://t.co/avqfCTHfEY</a>
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) <a href="https://twitter.com/henrygayle/status/987070097675005952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Not to forget, Chris Gayle was purchased in the concluding minutes of the second day of IPL 2018 auction which happened in January. He was ignored on the first and second day but in the third round when some of the franchises asked to bid again for few of the names and Chris Gayle was one of them. Then Virendra Sehwag -- owner of Punjab franchise -- bought his at his base price, INR 2 Cr.

Universal Boss dedicated his century to his daughter Krisallyna for her birthday and today he tweeted to wish her beautiful baby girl.

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Happy birthday my love krisallyna333 - 2nd birthday in India ?? ????Daddy wish you many more ❤️?❣️ <a href="https://t.co/AZgzFahc2l">https://t.co/AZgzFahc2l</a>
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) <a href="https://twitter.com/henrygayle/status/987234651868712960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

While receiving the Man of the Match award, Chris Gayle said, "I think Virender Sehwag saved the IPL by picking me."

Chris Gayle smashed the first century of IPL 2018 on Thursday against Hyderabad. He scored an unbeaten 104 runs off 63 balls at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium. 'King' Gayle dedicated his outstanding innings to his daughter Krisallyna, he said, "A lot of people thought that I am old. Nothing to prove though. Wherever I go across the globe, just want to earn some respect. This one is dedicated to my daughter Krisallyna though it's her birthday tomorrow. So, yeah, this is for her. Tomorrow she will turn two and it's her second time in India. We're hoping to have a nice time. I am glad to score my century in just my second game at home, feels really good." Gayle played at a strike rate of 165.08 and his knock included one four and eleven sixes. For his splendid knock, he was awarded 'Man of the Match' and while receiving the award he said, "I think Virender Sehwag saved the IPL by picking me." After the match, Sehwag tweeted, "I saved the IPL by picking - @henrygayle" and Gayle retweet it with a "yes". I saved the IPL by picking - @henrygayle ??. — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 19, 2018 × Yes! https://t.co/avqfCTHfEY — Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) April 19, 2018 × Not to forget, Chris Gayle was purchased in the concluding minutes of the second day of IPL 2018 auction which happened in January. He was ignored on the first and second day but in the third round when some of the franchises asked to bid again for few of the names and Chris Gayle was one of them. Then Virendra Sehwag -- owner of Punjab franchise -- bought his at his base price, INR 2 Cr. Universal Boss dedicated his century to his daughter Krisallyna for her birthday and today he tweeted to wish her beautiful baby girl. Happy birthday my love krisallyna333 - 2nd birthday in India ?? ????Daddy wish you many more ❤️?❣️ https://t.co/AZgzFahc2l — Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) April 20, 2018 ×

Virender Sehwag saved the IPL by picking me: Chris Gayle

Delhi Daredevils is high on hopes of winning the Indian Premier Leagues' trophy with the arrival of Gautam Gambhir in 'Dilli' after six years.

Gautam Gambhir&nbsp;was available during the auction with a base price of INR 2 Cr as&nbsp;he was not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. DD made the smartest buy and pooled in Gautam Gambir with an intent of solidifying the position of a captain. As he had displayed his captaincy skills when he led KKR's side to win two IPL titles.

Though DD has never won the IPL title but&nbsp;with the current squad list, the team has the best possible chances of winning.

When we talk about the team, Delhi has invested to build a well-balanced team. The batting order is very settled as they have Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Under-19 stars Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra.

The batting department lacks middle order depth but the presence of&nbsp;Jason Roy, Colin Munro can fix it to some extent. Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra can give required support to the middle order when given a chance to play.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2018-squad-analysis-of-mumbai-indians---paltan-dependent-on-all-rounders-amid-weak-spin--127511">IPL 2018: Squad analysis of Mumbai Indians - 'Paltan' dependent on all-rounders amid weak spin</a>

The choice of retaining Rishabh Pant was good but the amount spent on him seems useless, instead of that, DD could have opted for another middle order batsman to solidify number 5 and 6 positions.

The strength of the squad is definitely the bowlers, from spinners to pacers, Delhi has every weapon to tear down any opponent.

They retained experienced South African seamer Chris Morris who is one of the best options for death overs and will provide judicious advice to other bowlers.

Trent Boult too will add the required pace strength.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2018:-all-teams-and-their-squad-list-113383#photo-110281">IPL 2018: All teams and their squad list</a>

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami recently been through a lot of controversies as his wife had leveled serious allegations including adultery, match-fixing and even attempt to murder on him.

Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administration (CoA) has given clean chit to Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami over match-fixing allegations.

Now, Shami will add more power to Delhi Daredevils' bowling department.

Apart from that, Jayant Yadav, Shabaz Nadeem and experienced Amit Mishra will provide a skilled set of spin-bowling options who can trouble a strong batting.

Also, Sandeep Lamichhane, the first cricketer from Nepal had grabbed an IPL contract when he was picked by Delhi Daredevils.

DD will play their first match on April 8, 2018, against the Kings XI Punjab. Rabada had the potential to add fire to the bowling squad but he has been ruled out fue to injury.

With their home ground in Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Gautam-led devils are one of the best contenders for IPL 2018 title. Better watch out!

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Here is the squad list: 
Retained: 
Rishabh Pant (15 cr) 
Chris Morris (11 cr) 
Shreyas Iyer (7 cr)

Purchased: 
Glenn Maxwell (9 cr), Gautam Gambhir (2.8 cr), Jason Roy (1.5 cr), Colin Munro (1.9 cr), Mohammed Shami (3 cr),&nbsp;Amit Mishra (4 cr), Prithvi Shaw (1.2 cr), Rahul Tewatia (3 cr), Vijay Shankar (3.2 cr), Harshal Patel (20 L), Avesh Khan (70 L), Shabaz Nadeem (3.2 cr), Dan Christian (1.5 cr), Jayant Yadav (50L), Gurkeerat Singh (75 L), Trent Boult (2.2 cr), Manjot Kalra (20L), Abhishek Sharma (55L), Sandeep Lamichanne (20L), Naman Ojha (1.4 cr), Sayan Ghosh (20L)

Delhi Daredevils has never won the IPL title but with the current squad list, the team has the best possible chances of winning

Delhi Daredevils is high on hopes of winning the Indian Premier Leagues' trophy with the arrival of Gautam Gambhir in 'Dilli' after six years. Gautam Gambhir was available during the auction with a base price of INR 2 Cr as he was not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. DD made the smartest buy and pooled in Gautam Gambir with an intent of solidifying the position of a captain. As he had displayed his captaincy skills when he led KKR's side to win two IPL titles. Though DD has never won the IPL title but with the current squad list, the team has the best possible chances of winning. When we talk about the team, Delhi has invested to build a well-balanced team. The batting order is very settled as they have Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Under-19 stars Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra. The batting department lacks middle order depth but the presence of Jason Roy, Colin Munro can fix it to some extent. Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra can give required support to the middle order when given a chance to play. IPL 2018: Squad analysis of Mumbai Indians - 'Paltan' dependent on all-rounders amid weak spin The choice of retaining Rishabh Pant was good but the amount spent on him seems useless, instead of that, DD could have opted for another middle order batsman to solidify number 5 and 6 positions. The strength of the squad is definitely the bowlers, from spinners to pacers, Delhi has every weapon to tear down any opponent. They retained experienced South African seamer Chris Morris who is one of the best options for death overs and will provide judicious advice to other bowlers. Trent Boult too will add the required pace strength. IPL 2018: All teams and their squad list Indian pacer Mohammed Shami recently been through a lot of controversies as his wife had leveled serious allegations including adultery, match-fixing and even attempt to murder on him. Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administration (CoA) has given clean chit to Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami over match-fixing allegations. Now, Shami will add more power to Delhi Daredevils' bowling department. Apart from that, Jayant Yadav, Shabaz Nadeem and experienced Amit Mishra will provide a skilled set of spin-bowling options who can trouble a strong batting. Also, Sandeep Lamichhane, the first cricketer from Nepal had grabbed an IPL contract when he was picked by Delhi Daredevils. DD will play their first match on April 8, 2018, against the Kings XI Punjab. Rabada had the potential to add fire to the bowling squad but he has been ruled out fue to injury. With their home ground in Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Gautam-led devils are one of the best contenders for IPL 2018 title. Better watch out! × Here is the squad list: Retained: Rishabh Pant (15 cr) Chris Morris (11 cr) Shreyas Iyer (7 cr) Purchased: Glenn Maxwell (9 cr), Gautam Gambhir (2.8 cr), Jason Roy (1.5 cr), Colin Munro (1.9 cr), Mohammed Shami (3 cr), Amit Mishra (4 cr), Prithvi Shaw (1.2 cr), Rahul Tewatia (3 cr), Vijay Shankar (3.2 cr), Harshal Patel (20 L), Avesh Khan (70 L), Shabaz Nadeem (3.2 cr), Dan Christian (1.5 cr), Jayant Yadav (50L), Gurkeerat Singh (75 L), Trent Boult (2.2 cr), Manjot Kalra (20L), Abhishek Sharma (55L), Sandeep Lamichanne (20L), Naman Ojha (1.4 cr), Sayan Ghosh (20L)

IPL 2018 squad analysis: Dark Knight 'Gautam' returns winning hope to Delhi Daredevils

Virender Sehwag, the head coach of Kings XI Punjab pranked the fans and followers by announcing his comeback in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League. On April 1, the official handle of Kings XI Punjab tweeted, "BREAKING NEWS: You're in for a real treat. @virendersehwag will take the field in Vivo @IPL once again, replacing @AaronFinch5 for the season opener. It's deja vu all over again."

As per rumors, the retired Indian Opener was supposed to open the Punjab innings against Delhi Daredevils in the absence of Aaron Finch.

See the&nbsp;tweet here:

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BREAKING NEWS: 
You're in for a real treat. <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virendersehwag</a> will take the field in Vivo <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> once again, replacing <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronFinch5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AaronFinch5</a> for the season opener. It's deja vu all over again ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KXIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KXIP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIVOIPL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIVOIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/0fKHF24Tuv">https://t.co/0fKHF24Tuv</a>
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) <a href="https://twitter.com/lionsdenkxip/status/980338876446371840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In a Twitter&nbsp;live session, Sehwag revealed about his 1st April's prank:

Watch his reaction here:

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Lol! A perfect prank by <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virendersehwag</a> ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AprilFoolsDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AprilFoolsDay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KXIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KXIP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KingsXIPunjab?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KingsXIPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VivoIPL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VivoIPL</a> 
 
Keep supporting the Kings at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISBindraStadium?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISBindraStadium</a> & book your tickets ➡ <a href="https://t.co/hMidVMPMwg">https://t.co/hMidVMPMwg</a> <a href="https://t.co/RhKxW9BRY5">pic.twitter.com/RhKxW9BRY5</a>
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) <a href="https://twitter.com/lionsdenkxip/status/980491372066103297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It was definitely appearing as a prank as a player, who is not registered cannot play in the IPL. April 1 is known as April Fool’s Day and Twitter 'devta' who is known for his witty tweets prepared the best prank for his fans.

The tweet mentioned about "treat" for the fans but it later came out as trick, Viru himself overturned the announcement and said, "Guys I hope you enjoyed my batting, that was the perfect April fool."

Sehwag was last seen batting at the recent Ice Cricket matches in St Moritz. He scored 62 off 31 in the first match and 46 off 22 balls in the second match there.

&nbsp;

The retired Indian opener was supposed to open the Punjab innings against Delhi Daredevils in the absence of Aaron Finch

Virender Sehwag, the head coach of Kings XI Punjab pranked the fans and followers by announcing his comeback in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League. On April 1, the official handle of Kings XI Punjab tweeted, "BREAKING NEWS: You're in for a real treat. @virendersehwag will take the field in Vivo @IPL once again, replacing @AaronFinch5 for the season opener. It's deja vu all over again." As per rumors, the retired Indian Opener was supposed to open the Punjab innings against Delhi Daredevils in the absence of Aaron Finch. See the tweet here: BREAKING NEWS: You're in for a real treat. @virendersehwag will take the field in Vivo @IPL once again, replacing @AaronFinch5 for the season opener. It's deja vu all over again ?#LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KXIP #VIVOIPL https://t.co/0fKHF24Tuv — Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) April 1, 2018 × In a Twitter live session, Sehwag revealed about his 1st April's prank: Watch his reaction here: Lol! A perfect prank by @virendersehwag ? #AprilFoolsDay #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KXIP #KingsXIPunjab #VivoIPL Keep supporting the Kings at the #ISBindraStadium & book your tickets ➡ https://t.co/hMidVMPMwg pic.twitter.com/RhKxW9BRY5 — Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) April 1, 2018 × It was definitely appearing as a prank as a player, who is not registered cannot play in the IPL. April 1 is known as April Fool’s Day and Twitter 'devta' who is known for his witty tweets prepared the best prank for his fans. The tweet mentioned about "treat" for the fans but it later came out as trick, Viru himself overturned the announcement and said, "Guys I hope you enjoyed my batting, that was the perfect April fool." Sehwag was last seen batting at the recent Ice Cricket matches in St Moritz. He scored 62 off 31 in the first match and 46 off 22 balls in the second match there.

Watch: How Virender Sehwag reacts on his comeback as batsman for Kings XI Punjab

South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen has been added in the place of Steve Smith.

Due to the recent ball-tampering scandal which happened in the third Test match of a four-match series between Australia and South Africa. The Board of Control for Cricket in India removed Steve Smith from the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League which is scheduled to start from April 7.

Klaasen had impressed the spectators during South Africa's recent series against India. He was named man of the match in the second ODI.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Klaasen, who made his one-day and T20 debut against India in February, was signed from the available player pool for INR&nbsp50 lakh deal, the IPL said.

Cricket Australian gave a 12-months ban to Smith, David Warner for 12 and a 9-month ban to Cameron Bancroft as they were found guilty of altering&nbspthe condition of the ball.

Steve Smith was supposed to lead the Royals' squad but after his ouster, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the squad.

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NEWS: South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen to replace Steve Smith in <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rajasthanroyals</a>' squad for VIVO IPL 2018. 
 
More details here - <a href="https://t.co/pw3YmNuQrh">https://t.co/pw3YmNuQrh</a> <a href="https://t.co/qbDiOOptn6">pic.twitter.com/qbDiOOptn6</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/980717850384936960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp

&nbsp

South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen has been added in the place of Steve Smith in Rajasthan Royals' squad

South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen has been added in the place of Steve Smith. Due to the recent ball-tampering scandal which happened in the third Test match of a four-match series between Australia and South Africa. The Board of Control for Cricket in India removed Steve Smith from the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League which is scheduled to start from April 7. Klaasen had impressed the spectators during South Africa's recent series against India. He was named man of the match in the second ODI. Wicketkeeper-batsman Klaasen, who made his one-day and T20 debut against India in February, was signed from the available player pool for INR&nbsp50 lakh deal, the IPL said. Cricket Australian gave a 12-months ban to Smith, David Warner for 12 and a 9-month ban to Cameron Bancroft as they were found guilty of altering&nbspthe condition of the ball. Steve Smith was supposed to lead the Royals' squad but after his ouster, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the squad. NEWS: South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen to replace Steve Smith in @rajasthanroyals' squad for VIVO IPL 2018. More details here - https://t.co/pw3YmNuQrh pic.twitter.com/qbDiOOptn6 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2018 ×

IPL 2018: Heinrich Klaasen replaces Steve Smith in Rajasthan Royals' squad

The most star-studded franchise of all seasons, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), this time will look to win the IPL title and break the jinx of losing despite having the top players of the world in previous seasons, can say universe!

RCB believed in decking up power hitters, this time also they have pooled in Brendon McCullum, Quinton de Kock, all-rounders like Chris Woakes, Colin de Grandhomme and Corey Anderson.

Wonder kid of IPL, Sarfraz Khan has already impressed the spectators by his batting capabilities, though he needs to shed some pounds to prove himself as a fielder.

Before entering the auction RCB had retained Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Sarfraz Khan.

They had legendary Chris Gayle but for some unknown reason, he was snubbed during the auctions. RCB had to take such strict decision as they have been compromising with the variety of seamers and suffered when it comes to defend a mammoth total, so they had to make adjustments to prevail over the problem.

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Just can't get enough of the man, can we? ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KingInTheNets?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KingInTheNets</a> <a href="https://t.co/fsaRil21yz">pic.twitter.com/fsaRil21yz</a>
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/980311127434215425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 April 2018</a></blockquote>
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Now, they have experienced pacers like Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Tim Southee, Mohammad Siraj and the spin department will be powered by Yuzvendra Chahal, Moeen Ali and Washington Sundar.

Bowling department is very balanced with different variety but the bench is very weak as IPL deals with injuries and if any bowlers fall through then chances of replacement are very less.

The batting department looks very settled, with the arrival of Brendon McCullum, resolving the opener problem.

McCullum will open with South African star AB de Villiers and at number three skipper Virat is in-charge.

Chris Woakes or Colin de Grandhomme at number four and Quinton de Kock at number five.&nbsp

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Practice done right in the glorious Chinnaswamy ?️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://t.co/k1uF61ehY3">pic.twitter.com/k1uF61ehY3</a>
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/979722130886574080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">30 March 2018</a></blockquote>
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Manan Vohra has played some magnificent knocks for Kings XI Punjab in the previous season, he can provide required support if given chance to play.

They have an option of two wicketkeepers, Quinton de Kock and Parthiv Patel with the restriction of using overseas players the choice of buying two renowned glovesmen is good.

When it comes to investment, &nbspKulwant Khejroliya and Navdeep Saini, who have displayed stellar performance in the domestic tournament are capable of fulfilling adequate roles as a batsman.

Virat-led RCB boys have the best chance to win and salvage the Bangalorean pride and sing together the famous cricket song, Mauka Mauka, Mauka Mauka...

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Here is the squad list:

Retained: 
Virat Kohli (17 cr) 
AB de Villiers (11 cr) 
Sarfraz Khan (3 cr)

Purchased: 
Brendon McCullum (3.6 cr), Chris Woakes (7.4 cr), Colin de Grandhomme (2.2 cr), Moeen Ali (1.7 cr), Quinton de Kock (2.8 cr), Umesh Yadav (4.2 cr), Yuzvendra Chahal (6 cr), Manan Vohra (1.1 cr), Kulwant Kejroliya (85 L), Aniket Choudhary (30 L), Navdeep Saini (3 cr), Murugan Ashwin (2.2 cr), Mandeep Singh (1.4 cr), Washington Sundar (3.2 cr), Pawan Negi (1 cr), Mohammad Siraj (2.6 cr), Nathan Coulter-Nile (2.2 cr), Anirudha Joshi (20L), Parthiv Patel (1.7 cr), Tim Southee (1 cr), Pavan Deshpande (20 L)

The most star-studded franchise of all seasons, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), this time will look to win the IPL title and break the jinx of losing despite having the top players of the world in previous seasons

The most star-studded franchise of all seasons, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), this time will look to win the IPL title and break the jinx of losing despite having the top players of the world in previous seasons, can say universe! RCB believed in decking up power hitters, this time also they have pooled in Brendon McCullum, Quinton de Kock, all-rounders like Chris Woakes, Colin de Grandhomme and Corey Anderson. Wonder kid of IPL, Sarfraz Khan has already impressed the spectators by his batting capabilities, though he needs to shed some pounds to prove himself as a fielder. Before entering the auction RCB had retained Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Sarfraz Khan. They had legendary Chris Gayle but for some unknown reason, he was snubbed during the auctions. RCB had to take such strict decision as they have been compromising with the variety of seamers and suffered when it comes to defend a mammoth total, so they had to make adjustments to prevail over the problem. Just can't get enough of the man, can we? ? #PlayBold #KingInTheNets pic.twitter.com/fsaRil21yz — Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) 1 April 2018 × Now, they have experienced pacers like Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Tim Southee, Mohammad Siraj and the spin department will be powered by Yuzvendra Chahal, Moeen Ali and Washington Sundar. Bowling department is very balanced with different variety but the bench is very weak as IPL deals with injuries and if any bowlers fall through then chances of replacement are very less. The batting department looks very settled, with the arrival of Brendon McCullum, resolving the opener problem. McCullum will open with South African star AB de Villiers and at number three skipper Virat is in-charge. Chris Woakes or Colin de Grandhomme at number four and Quinton de Kock at number five. Practice done right in the glorious Chinnaswamy ?️ #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/k1uF61ehY3 — Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) 30 March 2018 × Manan Vohra has played some magnificent knocks for Kings XI Punjab in the previous season, he can provide required support if given chance to play. They have an option of two wicketkeepers, Quinton de Kock and Parthiv Patel with the restriction of using overseas players the choice of buying two renowned glovesmen is good. When it comes to investment, &nbspKulwant Khejroliya and Navdeep Saini, who have displayed stellar performance in the domestic tournament are capable of fulfilling adequate roles as a batsman. Virat-led RCB boys have the best chance to win and salvage the Bangalorean pride and sing together the famous cricket song, Mauka Mauka, Mauka Mauka... × Here is the squad list: Retained: Virat Kohli (17 cr) AB de Villiers (11 cr) Sarfraz Khan (3 cr) Purchased: Brendon McCullum (3.6 cr), Chris Woakes (7.4 cr), Colin de Grandhomme (2.2 cr), Moeen Ali (1.7 cr), Quinton de Kock (2.8 cr), Umesh Yadav (4.2 cr), Yuzvendra Chahal (6 cr), Manan Vohra (1.1 cr), Kulwant Kejroliya (85 L), Aniket Choudhary (30 L), Navdeep Saini (3 cr), Murugan Ashwin (2.2 cr), Mandeep Singh (1.4 cr), Washington Sundar (3.2 cr), Pawan Negi (1 cr), Mohammad Siraj (2.6 cr), Nathan Coulter-Nile (2.2 cr), Anirudha Joshi (20L), Parthiv Patel (1.7 cr), Tim Southee (1 cr), Pavan Deshpande (20 L)

IPL 2018 squad analysis: RCB's strong batting line-up gives Virat 'mauka mauka' to end losing jinx

Rohit Sharma will&nbsp;lead&nbsp;the Mumbai Indian's squad in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League but before that, he took another challenge which is -- "dance with the alien."

Apart from preparing for the first match against Chennai Super Kings, Rohit has impressed the fans already with his magnificent dance moves.

"Hitman" Rohit&nbsp;Sharma uploaded a video on Twitter captioning, "Tried my hand at the #DanceWithAlien challenge #DameTuCoSita."

Watch the video here:

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Tried my hand at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DanceWithAlien?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DanceWithAlien</a> challenge <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DameTuCoSita?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DameTuCoSita</a> on the <a href="https://t.co/OoDFtW37JX">https://t.co/OoDFtW37JX</a> app! Download the <a href="https://t.co/OoDFtW37JX">https://t.co/OoDFtW37JX</a> app to try the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DanceWithAlien?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DanceWithAlien</a> challenge <a href="https://twitter.com/musicallyapp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@musicallyapp</a> <a href="https://t.co/fhmwSMHSau">pic.twitter.com/fhmwSMHSau</a>
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45/status/980045033935024128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2018-squad-analysis-of-mumbai-indians---paltan-dependent-on-all-rounders-amid-weak-spin--127511">IPL 2018: Squad analysis of Mumbai Indians - 'Paltan' dependent on all-rounders amid weak spin</a>

This unique and unusual dance challenge is powered by an online karaoke app and recently many celebrities were seen taking up the challenge and showing off some groovy dance steps.

Recently, Rohit had displayed a stellar performance in the tri-nation Nidahas series in Sri Lanka, by clinching the trophy in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli.

Apart from preparing for the first match against Chennai Super Kings, Rohit has impressed the fans already with his dance moves

Rohit Sharma will lead the Mumbai Indian's squad in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League but before that, he took another challenge which is -- "dance with the alien." Apart from preparing for the first match against Chennai Super Kings, Rohit has impressed the fans already with his magnificent dance moves. "Hitman" Rohit Sharma uploaded a video on Twitter captioning, "Tried my hand at the #DanceWithAlien challenge #DameTuCoSita." Watch the video here: Tried my hand at the #DanceWithAlien challenge #DameTuCoSita on the https://t.co/OoDFtW37JX app! Download the https://t.co/OoDFtW37JX app to try the #DanceWithAlien challenge @musicallyapp pic.twitter.com/fhmwSMHSau — Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) March 31, 2018 × IPL 2018: Squad analysis of Mumbai Indians - 'Paltan' dependent on all-rounders amid weak spin This unique and unusual dance challenge is powered by an online karaoke app and recently many celebrities were seen taking up the challenge and showing off some groovy dance steps. Recently, Rohit had displayed a stellar performance in the tri-nation Nidahas series in Sri Lanka, by clinching the trophy in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli.

Watch: Rohit Sharma's alien avatar ahead of IPL 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad, popularly known as "The Orange Army," came into the existence in 2012 when they replaced former Hyderabad-based franchise Deccan Chargers after they were controversially terminated in the Indian Premier League.

The franchise is owned by Kalanithi Maran of &nbsp;Sun TV channel Network and has Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, as its home ground.

They have a glorious record when they made it to the playoffs in the first season and claimed the IPL trophy in 2016.

Hyderabad always believed in having a power-pack bowling but it has been compromising with its batting side.&nbsp;

Now, the exit of David Warner from the IPL 2018 has given the squad a major set back. In the wake of the recent ball-tampering scandal that happened in the third Test match between Australia and South Africa at Cape Town, Warner has been suspended from the upcoming edition of IPL.

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Cricket Australia has given a 12-month ban to Steve Smith and David Warner and a 9-month ban to Cameron Bancroft for altering the condition of the ball.

Now, Hyderabad's dependency on bowlers has increased to a larger extent until and unless the franchise gets a replacement for David Warner to solidify the vacancy of a batsman.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2018-after-smith-warner-ban-unsold-ishant-klaasen-can-comeback-127361">IPL 2018: After Smith, Warner ban, unsold Ishant, Klaasen can comeback</a>

If we talk about this year's squad of Sunrisers Hyderabad, then again Hyderabad has decked-up talented bowlers as their "trump cards", who will be guided by Lankan legend, Muttiah Muralitharan as their bowling coach.

Hyderabad had retained Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Rs 8.5 crore. The Indian pacer displayed his brilliance in India's recent tour to South Africa.

The spin department is quite strong as the Orange Army has invested well in Afghanistan's spin-star Rashid Khan who has a terrific record of 135 wickets in 91 T20 matches, averaging 15.14 at under 6 runs an over.

The in-form Ranji bowler Thangarasu Natarajan who played for Karnataka can also be a valuable wicket-taker. England bowler Chris Jordan might give a boost to the squad with his pace and swing.

Mehdi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh will provide variation in bowling, which is necessary for IPL that deals with injuries on a regular basis due to a hectic schedule.&nbsp;

When it comes to batting, the top order has shaken up a bit after David Warner's ouster from the IPL 2018.

Shikhar Dhawan, the power hitter will probably open for the team but he needs a determined ally to give a good start.

Apart from that, they have New Zealand's skipper Kane Williamson, who will provide stability at the crucial No-3 position. Also, Williamson will lead the team.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/kane-williamson-to-lead-sunrisers-hyderabad-after-david-warners-ouster-127051">Kane Williamson to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad after David Warner's ouster</a>

The middle order is quite settled with Carlos Brathwaite, Wriddhiman Saha, and the experienced Shakib-Al-Hasan.

Yusuf Pathan (IPL career batting strike rate of 145.49) will add value to the team with his destructive batting.

They are most likely to mourn the release of some known players like Yuvraj Singh, Ben Cutting, Mustafizur Rahman, Ben Laughlin, Moises Henriques.

Now, the squad lacks balance also they have invested quite a lot in Manish Pandey, in that place they could have opted for some another batsman.

Under the guidance of coach Tom Moody, VVS Laxman and leadership of Kane Williamson, the Orange Army is set to start the IPL campaign.

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Here is the squad list of Sunrisers Hyderabad:

Retained: 
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8.5 cr)

Purchased: 
Shikhar Dhawan (5.2 cr), Shakib Al Hasan (2 cr), Kane Williamson (3 cr), Manish Pandey (11 cr), Carlos Brathwaite (2 cr), Yusuf Pathan (1.9 cr), Wriddhiman Saha (5 cr), Rashid Khan (9 cr), Ricky Bhui (20 L), Deepak Hooda (3.6 cr), Siddarth Kaul (3.8 cr), T Natarajan (40 L), Basil Thampi (95 L), Khaleel Ahmed (3 cr), Mohammad Nabi (1 cr), Sandeep Sharma (3 cr), Sachin Baby (20 L), Chris Jordan (1 cr), Billy Stanlake (50 L), Tanmay Agarwal (20 L), Shreevats Goswami (1 cr), Bipul Sharma (20 L), Mehdi Hasan (20 L)

The exit of David Warner from the IPL 2018 has given the squad a major set back and increases dependency on bowlers

Sunrisers Hyderabad, popularly known as "The Orange Army," came into the existence in 2012 when they replaced former Hyderabad-based franchise Deccan Chargers after they were controversially terminated in the Indian Premier League. The franchise is owned by Kalanithi Maran of Sun TV channel Network and has Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, as its home ground. They have a glorious record when they made it to the playoffs in the first season and claimed the IPL trophy in 2016. Hyderabad always believed in having a power-pack bowling but it has been compromising with its batting side. Now, the exit of David Warner from the IPL 2018 has given the squad a major set back. In the wake of the recent ball-tampering scandal that happened in the third Test match between Australia and South Africa at Cape Town, Warner has been suspended from the upcoming edition of IPL. × Cricket Australia has given a 12-month ban to Steve Smith and David Warner and a 9-month ban to Cameron Bancroft for altering the condition of the ball. Now, Hyderabad's dependency on bowlers has increased to a larger extent until and unless the franchise gets a replacement for David Warner to solidify the vacancy of a batsman. IPL 2018: After Smith, Warner ban, unsold Ishant, Klaasen can comeback If we talk about this year's squad of Sunrisers Hyderabad, then again Hyderabad has decked-up talented bowlers as their "trump cards", who will be guided by Lankan legend, Muttiah Muralitharan as their bowling coach. Hyderabad had retained Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Rs 8.5 crore. The Indian pacer displayed his brilliance in India's recent tour to South Africa. The spin department is quite strong as the Orange Army has invested well in Afghanistan's spin-star Rashid Khan who has a terrific record of 135 wickets in 91 T20 matches, averaging 15.14 at under 6 runs an over. The in-form Ranji bowler Thangarasu Natarajan who played for Karnataka can also be a valuable wicket-taker. England bowler Chris Jordan might give a boost to the squad with his pace and swing. Mehdi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh will provide variation in bowling, which is necessary for IPL that deals with injuries on a regular basis due to a hectic schedule. When it comes to batting, the top order has shaken up a bit after David Warner's ouster from the IPL 2018. Shikhar Dhawan, the power hitter will probably open for the team but he needs a determined ally to give a good start. Apart from that, they have New Zealand's skipper Kane Williamson, who will provide stability at the crucial No-3 position. Also, Williamson will lead the team. Kane Williamson to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad after David Warner's ouster The middle order is quite settled with Carlos Brathwaite, Wriddhiman Saha, and the experienced Shakib-Al-Hasan. Yusuf Pathan (IPL career batting strike rate of 145.49) will add value to the team with his destructive batting. They are most likely to mourn the release of some known players like Yuvraj Singh, Ben Cutting, Mustafizur Rahman, Ben Laughlin, Moises Henriques. Now, the squad lacks balance also they have invested quite a lot in Manish Pandey, in that place they could have opted for some another batsman. Under the guidance of coach Tom Moody, VVS Laxman and leadership of Kane Williamson, the Orange Army is set to start the IPL campaign. × Here is the squad list of Sunrisers Hyderabad: Retained: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8.5 cr) Purchased: Shikhar Dhawan (5.2 cr), Shakib Al Hasan (2 cr), Kane Williamson (3 cr), Manish Pandey (11 cr), Carlos Brathwaite (2 cr), Yusuf Pathan (1.9 cr), Wriddhiman Saha (5 cr), Rashid Khan (9 cr), Ricky Bhui (20 L), Deepak Hooda (3.6 cr), Siddarth Kaul (3.8 cr), T Natarajan (40 L), Basil Thampi (95 L), Khaleel Ahmed (3 cr), Mohammad Nabi (1 cr), Sandeep Sharma (3 cr), Sachin Baby (20 L), Chris Jordan (1 cr), Billy Stanlake (50 L), Tanmay Agarwal (20 L), Shreevats Goswami (1 cr), Bipul Sharma (20 L), Mehdi Hasan (20 L)

IPL 2018 squad analysis of SRH- 'Sun to rise' on bowlers' shoulders after Warner's exit

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