WPL 2024 Points Table: The Women's Premier League 2024 commenced on February 23 with an intense match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

WPL 2024 Points Table: The Women's Premier League 2024 commenced on February 23 with an intense match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host the WPL 2024 Final on March 17 at 07:30 pm IST. So far, all five teams have played their opening matches in the second season for WPL and given thrilling performances. Fans can catch the matches live on Sports18 and JioCinema. WPL 2024 Points Table: Updated Here's the updated points table for Women's Premier League 2024. Teams Played Won Lost Points Mumbai Indians 4 2 1 6 Delhi Capitals 3 2 1 4 UP Warriorz 4 2 2 4 Royal Challengers Bangalore 4 2 2 4 Gujarat Giants 3 0 3 0 WPL 2024 Teams And Squads Delhi Capitals Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen, Laura Harris, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Minnu Mani, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Titas Sadhu, Annabel Sutherland, Aparna Mondal (wk), Ashwani Kumari Mumbai Indians Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong, Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Pooja Vastrakar, Priyanka Bala, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail, S Sajana, Amandeep Kaur, Fatima Jaffer, SB Keerthana Gujarat Giants Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam MD, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Trisha Poojitha, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Lea Tahuhu Royal Challengers Bangalore Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Indrani Roy, Shradda Pokharkar, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux, Nadine de Klerk UP Warriorz Alyssa Healy, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, S Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Danni Wyatt, Vrinda Dinesh, Poonam Khemnar, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana, Chamari Athapaththu WPL 2024 Full Schedule Here's the full schedule for Women's Premier League 2024: February 23- Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru February 24- Royal Challengers Bangalore vs UP Warriors in Bengaluru February 25- Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru February 26 – UP Warriors vs Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru February 27 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Giants in Bengaluru February 28 – Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriors in Bengaluru February 29 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru March 1 – UP Warriors vs Gujarat Giants in Bengaluru March 2 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru March 3 – Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru March 4 – UP Warriors vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru March 5 – Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi March 6 – Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Delhi March 7 – UP Warriors vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi March 8 – Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriors in Delhi March 9 – Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants in Delhi March 10 – Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Delhi March 11 – Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriors in Delhi March 12 – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Delhi March 13 – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants in Delhi March 15 – Eliminator in Delhi March 17 – Final in Delhi (With inputs from agencies)

WPL 2024 Points Table: MI on top with six points; Check latest team standings and schedule for WPL 2024

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

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

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

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

Virat Kohli is on a break from international cricket and has not featured in India's ongoing five-match Test series versus England, at home. Kohli left the squad prior to the first Test, in Hyderabad, citing personal reasons and still not much is known regarding his absence and possible return for the final three Tests. Amidst all this, former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star AB de Villiers was asked about Kohli's absence.

On his YouTube channel, De Villiers said that Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child.&nbsp; "All I know is he is fine. He is spending a bit of time with his family, that is the reason he is missing the first two Test matches. I am not going to confirm anything else. I cannot wait to see him back. He is fine, he is happy," revealed De Villiers on his YouTube channel.

He opined, "Let me just see what he said. I just want to at least give you a little bit of love. So I wrote to him 'Been wanting to check in with you for a while now biscuits. How are you?'. He said 'Just need to be with my family right now'. Then I said I am doing well."

"Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it's family time and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people's priority is family. You can't judge Virat for that. Yes, we miss him, but he has made the right decision," ABD added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-propelled-them-to-learn-and-get-better-philander-on-indian-pacers-rise-thrilled-for-bumrahs-success-688249">Kohli propelled them to learn and get better: Philander on rise of Indian pacers</a>

<h2>'That information was wrong and not true at all'</h2>

However, the South African has now retracted from his statement on Kohli's absence. Talking to Dainik Bhaskar, De Villiers said, "Family comes first and then Cricket. I had made a big mistake on my YouTube channel. That information was wrong and not true at all. I think whatever's best for Virat's family comes first. No one knows what's happening there, all i can do is wish him well. Whatever the reason for his break, I hope he can comeback stronger, better and fresh from this."

Nothing is known regarding Kohli's absence. Fans might get a clear picture when BCCI selectors announce India's squad for the final three Tests versus England. As per reports, Kohli is expected to miss the third and fourth Test and, thus, one wishes that everything is fine at his end.&nbsp;

The squad is expected to be out soon with the third Test starting on Feb 15 in Rajkot.

Virat Kohli is on a break from international cricket and has not featured in India's ongoing five-match Test series versus England, at home. Kohli left the squad prior to the first Test, in Hyderabad, citing personal reasons and still not much is known regarding his absence and possible return for the final three Tests.

Virat Kohli is on a break from international cricket and has not featured in India's ongoing five-match Test series versus England, at home. Kohli left the squad prior to the first Test, in Hyderabad, citing personal reasons and still not much is known regarding his absence and possible return for the final three Tests. Amidst all this, former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star AB de Villiers was asked about Kohli's absence. On his YouTube channel, De Villiers said that Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child. "All I know is he is fine. He is spending a bit of time with his family, that is the reason he is missing the first two Test matches. I am not going to confirm anything else. I cannot wait to see him back. He is fine, he is happy," revealed De Villiers on his YouTube channel. He opined, "Let me just see what he said. I just want to at least give you a little bit of love. So I wrote to him 'Been wanting to check in with you for a while now biscuits. How are you?'. He said 'Just need to be with my family right now'. Then I said I am doing well." "Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it's family time and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people's priority is family. You can't judge Virat for that. Yes, we miss him, but he has made the right decision," ABD added. Also read: Kohli propelled them to learn and get better: Philander on rise of Indian pacers 'That information was wrong and not true at all' However, the South African has now retracted from his statement on Kohli's absence. Talking to Dainik Bhaskar, De Villiers said, "Family comes first and then Cricket. I had made a big mistake on my YouTube channel. That information was wrong and not true at all. I think whatever's best for Virat's family comes first. No one knows what's happening there, all i can do is wish him well. Whatever the reason for his break, I hope he can comeback stronger, better and fresh from this." Nothing is known regarding Kohli's absence. Fans might get a clear picture when BCCI selectors announce India's squad for the final three Tests versus England. As per reports, Kohli is expected to miss the third and fourth Test and, thus, one wishes that everything is fine at his end. The squad is expected to be out soon with the third Test starting on Feb 15 in Rajkot.

'Not True...': AB De Villiers makes U-turn from statement on Virat Kohli's absence

In a stunning display of maritime security prowess, the Indian Navy's INS Sumitra executed back-to-back anti-piracy operations off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing crew members from the clutches of armed Somali pirates.

However, it wasn't just the heroic rescue that caught the internet's attention but it also the unexpected appearance of an RCB (Bengaluru-based cricket franchise in India) jersey on one of the captured pirates that set social media ablaze.

The picture released by the Indian Navy Spokesperson showcased the pirates kneeling after their capture, with one of them, on the extreme right, sporting the distinctive black and red jersey of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the popular IPL team.

This unexpected cricket connection led to a flood of memes and humorous comments across various social media platforms. "RCB fan following is global," one user said, highlighting the widespread popularity of the IPL team.

Another person chimed in, "RCB going global," emphasising the unexpected international reach of the RCB fandom.

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"Even the Somalian pirates are RCB fans," quipped another comment, capturing the surreal nature of the situation. The incident underscored how RCB transcended boundaries and even reached unexpected corners of the world.

Amidst the memes and laughter, it's crucial to acknowledge the remarkable work of INS Sumitra.

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Responding swiftly to distress calls, the Indian Navy ship conducted daring missions, liberating crew members from two hijacked fishing vessels within a span of less than 36 hours.

The first operation involved the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi, while the second focused on the hijacked Iranian-flagged fishing vessel FV Iman.

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INS Sumitra, an indigenous offshore patrol vessel strategically deployed in the volatile regions of East Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, showcased the Indian Navy's commitment to maritime security. The rescue efforts resulted in the liberation of 36 crew members, including 17 Iranian nationals and 19 Pakistani nationals.

In the end, the unexpected cameo of an RCB jersey in the midst of a serious international rescue operation added a touch of humour that showed both the global appeal of cricket and the dedication of the Indian Navy to ensuring maritime safety.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

In a stunning display of maritime security prowess, the Indian Navy's INS Sumitra executed back-to-back anti-piracy operations off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing crew members from the clutches of armed Somali pirates.

In a stunning display of maritime security prowess, the Indian Navy's INS Sumitra executed back-to-back anti-piracy operations off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing crew members from the clutches of armed Somali pirates. However, it wasn't just the heroic rescue that caught the internet's attention but it also the unexpected appearance of an RCB (Bengaluru-based cricket franchise in India) jersey on one of the captured pirates that set social media ablaze. The picture released by the Indian Navy Spokesperson showcased the pirates kneeling after their capture, with one of them, on the extreme right, sporting the distinctive black and red jersey of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the popular IPL team. This unexpected cricket connection led to a flood of memes and humorous comments across various social media platforms. "RCB fan following is global," one user said, highlighting the widespread popularity of the IPL team. Another person chimed in, "RCB going global," emphasising the unexpected international reach of the RCB fandom. Also Read | Who is Boris Nadezhdin, Putin challenger who has submitted presidential bid in Russia? "Even the Somalian pirates are RCB fans," quipped another comment, capturing the surreal nature of the situation. The incident underscored how RCB transcended boundaries and even reached unexpected corners of the world. Amidst the memes and laughter, it's crucial to acknowledge the remarkable work of INS Sumitra. Also Read | BBC releases 3,000 emails around Princess Diana's interview scandal Responding swiftly to distress calls, the Indian Navy ship conducted daring missions, liberating crew members from two hijacked fishing vessels within a span of less than 36 hours. The first operation involved the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi, while the second focused on the hijacked Iranian-flagged fishing vessel FV Iman. Watch | Maldives Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem attacked in Male × INS Sumitra, an indigenous offshore patrol vessel strategically deployed in the volatile regions of East Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, showcased the Indian Navy's commitment to maritime security. The rescue efforts resulted in the liberation of 36 crew members, including 17 Iranian nationals and 19 Pakistani nationals. In the end, the unexpected cameo of an RCB jersey in the midst of a serious international rescue operation added a touch of humour that showed both the global appeal of cricket and the dedication of the Indian Navy to ensuring maritime safety. (With inputs from agencies)

RCB fever goes global: Somali pirates captured by Indian Navy sport cricket franchise jersey

On Monday (Jan 22), Virat Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests between India and England, which gets underway on Jan 25 (Thursday). The former Indian captain opted out due to personal reasons and will supposedly be back in the Indian squad for the final three games. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Rajat Patidar, Kohli's IPL teammate, as the star batter's replacement.

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Patidar, who plays for Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has been in sublime&nbsp;form of late. He scored&nbsp;151 in the unofficial Test against England Lions, in Ahmedabad, last week and&nbsp;also ended with an impressive 111 in the two-day warm-up fixture versus the Lions. During India's tour of South Africa in December 2023, he made his ODI debut as well. While he opened the innings on his ODI debut, he will bat in the middle-order if he gets a chance in the England Tests.
</section>

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Patidar's selection further solidifies the fact that the BCCI selection committee has moved past senior pros Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan's wait to make it to the national team continues.&nbsp;

The first Test between India and England will kick off on Thursday at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Ben Stokes-led England have a herculean task to stop the Rohit Sharma-led hosts, who have not lost a home Test series since their 2-1 loss to the English side in 2012/13.&nbsp;

On Monday (Jan 22), Virat Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests between India and England, which gets underway on Jan 25 (Thursday). The former Indian captain opted out due to personal reasons and will supposedly be back in the Indian squad for the final three games.

On Monday (Jan 22), Virat Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests between India and England, which gets underway on Jan 25 (Thursday). The former Indian captain opted out due to personal reasons and will supposedly be back in the Indian squad for the final three games. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Rajat Patidar, Kohli's IPL teammate, as the star batter's replacement. Patidar, who plays for Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has been in sublime form of late. He scored 151 in the unofficial Test against England Lions, in Ahmedabad, last week and also ended with an impressive 111 in the two-day warm-up fixture versus the Lions. During India's tour of South Africa in December 2023, he made his ODI debut as well. While he opened the innings on his ODI debut, he will bat in the middle-order if he gets a chance in the England Tests. Also read: ICC ODI Team of the Year revealed: 6 Indians make the cut despite World Cup loss × Patidar's selection further solidifies the fact that the BCCI selection committee has moved past senior pros Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan's wait to make it to the national team continues. The first Test between India and England will kick off on Thursday at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Ben Stokes-led England have a herculean task to stop the Rohit Sharma-led hosts, who have not lost a home Test series since their 2-1 loss to the English side in 2012/13.

India vs England: Virat Kohli's RCB teammate Rajat Patidar replaces him for first two Tests

Tom Curran, who was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2024 auction, has been dealt with a four-match ban in the ongoing Big Bash League 2023/24 edition in Australia. The Sydney Sixers all-rounder was involved in an incident with an umpire when he was attempting to perform his pre-match practice run-ups on the pitch. Following this,&nbsp;it led to a charge of intimidation against the umpire. Notably, it is a serious level 3 offence under Cricket Australia's code of conduct.

CA said in a statement, "The umpire took position next to the stumps, blocking Curran from approaching the pitch and gestured to Curran to move away from the pitch. Curran was seen in the footage gesturing to the umpire to move away from the pitch.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-auction-former-nz-player-baffled-by-multimillion-dollar-man-pat-cummins-inclusion-in-srh-672051">IPL 2024 auction: Former NZ player baffled by multimillion-dollar man Pat Cummins' inclusion in SRH</a>

The statement added, "Curran then attempted to perform a practice run-up and run at pace straight towards the umpire who stood in the bowling crease facing Curran. The umpire stepped to his right to avoid the risk of collision."

Despite Curran's argument, the 28-year-old was found guilty and handed a four-match suspension. As a result, the English all-rounder will now miss his club's upcoming four games --&nbsp;against the Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder, and Brisbane Heat. The dates of these matches span from Dec&nbsp;26 to Jan&nbsp;1.&nbsp;

The Sydney Sixers, however, have decided to appeal the sanction. The club's&nbsp;head Rachael Haynes&nbsp;said in a statement, "Tom and the club maintain that Tom did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official, and on legal advice, we will exercise our right to appeal the decision. We will support Tom during this period and look forward to him returning to the field."

Curran was recently picked by the Virat Kohli-starrer RCB franchise in the IPL 2024 mini-auction, held in Dubai on Dec 19. He was bought by the Faf du Plessis-led franchise for INR 1.5 crore (15 million).&nbsp;

Tom Curran, who was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2024 auction, has been dealt with a four-match ban in the ongoing Big Bash League 2023/24 edition in Australia.

Tom Curran, who was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2024 auction, has been dealt with a four-match ban in the ongoing Big Bash League 2023/24 edition in Australia. The Sydney Sixers all-rounder was involved in an incident with an umpire when he was attempting to perform his pre-match practice run-ups on the pitch. Following this, it led to a charge of intimidation against the umpire. Notably, it is a serious level 3 offence under Cricket Australia's code of conduct. CA said in a statement, "The umpire took position next to the stumps, blocking Curran from approaching the pitch and gestured to Curran to move away from the pitch. Curran was seen in the footage gesturing to the umpire to move away from the pitch. Also read: IPL 2024 auction: Former NZ player baffled by multimillion-dollar man Pat Cummins' inclusion in SRH The statement added, "Curran then attempted to perform a practice run-up and run at pace straight towards the umpire who stood in the bowling crease facing Curran. The umpire stepped to his right to avoid the risk of collision." Despite Curran's argument, the 28-year-old was found guilty and handed a four-match suspension. As a result, the English all-rounder will now miss his club's upcoming four games -- against the Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder, and Brisbane Heat. The dates of these matches span from Dec 26 to Jan 1. The Sydney Sixers, however, have decided to appeal the sanction. The club's head Rachael Haynes said in a statement, "Tom and the club maintain that Tom did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official, and on legal advice, we will exercise our right to appeal the decision. We will support Tom during this period and look forward to him returning to the field." Curran was recently picked by the Virat Kohli-starrer RCB franchise in the IPL 2024 mini-auction, held in Dubai on Dec 19. He was bought by the Faf du Plessis-led franchise for INR 1.5 crore (15 million).

BBL: Sydney Sixers' Tom Curran faces four-match ban for umpire intimidation, club to lodge appeal

IPL Auction 2024 Retained Players, Remaining Purse and Available Slots: The ten franchises participating in the Indian Premier League 2024 have retained 173 players ahead of the IPL mini-auction 2024, scheduled on December 19 in Dubai.

IPL Auction 2024 Retained Players, Remaining Purse and Available Slots: The ten franchises participating in the Indian Premier League 2024 have retained 173 players ahead of the IPL mini-auction 2024, scheduled on December 19 in Dubai. Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained 19 players each. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders have retained 13 players. The total money spent to hold the 173 players was ₹737.05 crores. However, there has been an increase in the purse limit of the IPL franchises for the 2024 season, making their total purse value ₹100 crore (US $12 million). Here's all you need to know about the retained players, remaining purses, and available slots for Indian and overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: Players Retained By CSK, GT, LSG, RR, PBKS, DC, MI, KKR, RCB and SRH Chennai Super Kings: Ajay Mandal, Ajinkya Rahane, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Shivam Dube, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande Delhi Capitals: Abhishek Porel, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Lungisani Ngidi, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhul Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, R. Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma. Kolkata Knight Riders: Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer Lucknow Super Giants: Amit Mishra, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal (T), K. Gowtham, KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Naveen Ul Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Prerak Mankad, Quinton De Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Charak Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, N. Tilak Verma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Hardik Pandya (Traded), Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd. Punjab Kings: Arshdeep Singh, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Brar, Harpreet Bhatia, Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Nathan Ellis, Prabhsimran Singh, Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Shikhar Dhawan, Shivam Singh, Sikandar Raza, Vidwath Kaverappa Rajasthan Royals: Adam Zampa, Avesh Khan (T), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Jos Buttler, Kuldeep Sen, Kunal Rathore, Navdeep Saini, Prasidh Krishna, R. Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Trent Boult, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal Royal Challengers Bangalore: Akash Deep, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Faf Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Himanshu Sharma, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar (T), Mohammed Siraj, Rajan Kumar, Rajat Patidar, Reece Topley, Suyash Prabhudessai, Virat Kohli, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Will Jacks Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Anmolpreet Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Glenn Phillips, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Mayank Agarwal, Mayank Markande, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Sanvir Singh, Shahbaz Ahamad (T), T. Natarajan, Umran Malik, Upendra Singh Yadav, Washington Sundar IPL Auction 2024: Remaining Purse for CSK, GT, LSG, RR, PBKS, DC, MI, KKR, RCB and SRH What is the purse limit for teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Auction? The purse limit for each team in the Indian Premier League 2023 is ₹100 crore. Each IPL team has to spend at least 75 per cent of the remaining purse limit. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Chennai Super Kings? The purse value remaining for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹31.40 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Royal Challengers Bangalore? The purse value remaining for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹23.25 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Mumbai Indians? The purse value remaining for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹15.25 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Gujarat Titans? The purse value remaining for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹23.15 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Rajasthan Royals? The purse value remaining for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹14.50 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Sunrisers Hyderabad? The purse value remaining for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹34.00 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Lucknow Super Giants? The purse value remaining for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹13.15 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Kolkata Knight Riders? The purse value remaining for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is ₹32.70 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Delhi Capitals? The purse value remaining for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹28.95 crore. IPL Auction 2024: What is the remaining purse value for Punjab Kings? The purse value remaining for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2024 Auction is ₹29.10 crore. IPL Auction 2024: Available Slots for CSK, GT, LSG, RR, PBKS, DC, MI, KKR, RCB and SRH How many players can a team buy in the IPL 2024 auction? According to the IPL committee rules, each team can have a maximum of 25 players, while each squad should have a minimum of 18 players. IPL Auction 2024: How many overseas players can be there in one IPL team? One IPL team can have a maximum of eight overseas players. In playing 11, each team can have a maximum of four overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Chennai Super Kings? CSK has six available slots, including three reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Delhi Capitals? DC has nine available slots, including four reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Gujarat Titans? GT has seven slots available, including two reserved for overseas players. How many slots are available in Kolkata Knight Riders? KKR has 12 slots available, including four for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Lucknow Super Giants? LSG has six slots available, including two reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Mumbai Indians? MI has eight slots available, including three reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Punjab Kings? PBKS has eight slots available, including two reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Royal Challengers Bangalore? RCB has seven slots available, including four reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Rajasthan Royals? RR has eight slots available, including three reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many slots are available in Sunrisers Hyderabad? SRH has six slots available, including three reserved for overseas players. IPL Auction 2024: How many total slots are available for the IPL 2024 auction? The ten franchises have to fill 77 slots, including 30 reserved for overseas players. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024 Auction: CSK, GT, LSG, RR, PBKS, DC, MI, KKR, RCB, SRH remaining purse, retained players and slots

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) found the right balance with their well thought out acquisitions at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 player Auction held in Mumbai on Saturday. RCB’s seven bids to fill the vacant spots and form a bold squad for the upcoming season were the result of extensive planning and strategy by the proficient backroom staff — which includes head coach Luke Williams, assistant head coach and head of scouting Malolan Rangarajan — with some crucial tactical inputs from skipper Smriti Mandhana.

Mandhana expressed her delight over auction picks and said the planning for the auction began after the first season only and they were keen to focus more on experienced bowlers who have bowled in Indian conditions.

The team secured one of the country’s most experienced spinners and Khel Ratna awardee Ekta Bisht (₹60 lakh), who is the first Indian woman to take a hat-trick in the T20 Internationals. They further added pace to their attack by picking England’s Kate Cross (₹30 lakh) and young Indian all-rounder Simran Bahadur (₹30 lakh).

As part of RCB’s commitment to provide a platform for local young talents, they picked a promising domestic all-rounder Shubha Satheesh (₹10 lakh) from Bengaluru before adding 2016 Women’s Asia Cup-winner S Meghana (₹30 lakh) into the squad. Australian spin all-rounders Georgia Wareham (₹40 lakh) and Sophie Molineux (₹30 lakh) were the other two foreign acquisitions of the franchise to complete a strong 18-member squad.

Talking about the auction and the selection of players, Rajesh V Menon, VP and Head of RCB, said: “There are no shortcuts to building a team. You make the foundation brick by brick every season. We had lots of learnings from last year, and our main objective was to take those learnings into the auction, plug those gaps, and build a squad that would give us outstanding balance and flexibility to play in any conditions”

RCB, known for its Play Bold philosophy, not only snatched players who are good with the ball but also those who are skillful with the bat as well.

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“Bowling is definitely very important in T20s and a good bowling side wins you competition and this year we were looking to strengthen our spin unit and also look for overseas pacers who can complement Renuka [Singh] well. We have Kate Cross now and I think she will complement Renuka well in the power play with both swinging the other way. And with Molineux and Wareham, the bowling looks very experienced. Plus we have the likes of Shreyanka [Patil] and also [Sophie] Devine and [Ellyse] Perry,” Mandhana said.

Further explaining RCB’s approach and strategy behind the auction, the assistant head coach and head of scouting, Malolan said: “One of the things RCB did really well is to have strong Indian domestic core in Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh, Kanika Ahuja and Shreyanka Patil, who form potentially your top five starters in the playing eleven, we have of a very good Indian core. Now, you add to that Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry and Heather Knight, you have one half of the puzzle already sorted. We had a very focused approach to our auction as to how we can better this team with the options available out there. Our focus was to get a well-balanced bowling unit that can perform under any conditions we may encounter.”

<h2>RCB Full Squad for WPL 2024:</h2>

Retained Players: Smriti Mandhana, Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine.

New Buys: Georgia Wareham (₹40 lakh), Kate Cross (₹30 lakh), Ekta Bisht (₹60 lakh), Shubha Satheesh (₹10 lakh), S Meghana (₹30 lakh), Simran Bahadur (₹30 lakh), Sophie Molineux (₹30 lakh)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) found the right balance with their well thought out acquisitions at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 player Auction held in Mumbai on Saturday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) found the right balance with their well thought out acquisitions at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 player Auction held in Mumbai on Saturday. RCB’s seven bids to fill the vacant spots and form a bold squad for the upcoming season were the result of extensive planning and strategy by the proficient backroom staff — which includes head coach Luke Williams, assistant head coach and head of scouting Malolan Rangarajan — with some crucial tactical inputs from skipper Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana expressed her delight over auction picks and said the planning for the auction began after the first season only and they were keen to focus more on experienced bowlers who have bowled in Indian conditions. The team secured one of the country’s most experienced spinners and Khel Ratna awardee Ekta Bisht (₹60 lakh), who is the first Indian woman to take a hat-trick in the T20 Internationals. They further added pace to their attack by picking England’s Kate Cross (₹30 lakh) and young Indian all-rounder Simran Bahadur (₹30 lakh). As part of RCB’s commitment to provide a platform for local young talents, they picked a promising domestic all-rounder Shubha Satheesh (₹10 lakh) from Bengaluru before adding 2016 Women’s Asia Cup-winner S Meghana (₹30 lakh) into the squad. Australian spin all-rounders Georgia Wareham (₹40 lakh) and Sophie Molineux (₹30 lakh) were the other two foreign acquisitions of the franchise to complete a strong 18-member squad. Talking about the auction and the selection of players, Rajesh V Menon, VP and Head of RCB, said: “There are no shortcuts to building a team. You make the foundation brick by brick every season. We had lots of learnings from last year, and our main objective was to take those learnings into the auction, plug those gaps, and build a squad that would give us outstanding balance and flexibility to play in any conditions” RCB, known for its Play Bold philosophy, not only snatched players who are good with the ball but also those who are skillful with the bat as well. ALSO READ | Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana Pacers in maiden in-season tournament final “Bowling is definitely very important in T20s and a good bowling side wins you competition and this year we were looking to strengthen our spin unit and also look for overseas pacers who can complement Renuka [Singh] well. We have Kate Cross now and I think she will complement Renuka well in the power play with both swinging the other way. And with Molineux and Wareham, the bowling looks very experienced. Plus we have the likes of Shreyanka [Patil] and also [Sophie] Devine and [Ellyse] Perry,” Mandhana said. Further explaining RCB’s approach and strategy behind the auction, the assistant head coach and head of scouting, Malolan said: “One of the things RCB did really well is to have strong Indian domestic core in Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh, Kanika Ahuja and Shreyanka Patil, who form potentially your top five starters in the playing eleven, we have of a very good Indian core. Now, you add to that Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry and Heather Knight, you have one half of the puzzle already sorted. We had a very focused approach to our auction as to how we can better this team with the options available out there. Our focus was to get a well-balanced bowling unit that can perform under any conditions we may encounter.” RCB Full Squad for WPL 2024: Retained Players: Smriti Mandhana, Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine. New Buys: Georgia Wareham (₹40 lakh), Kate Cross (₹30 lakh), Ekta Bisht (₹60 lakh), Shubha Satheesh (₹10 lakh), S Meghana (₹30 lakh), Simran Bahadur (₹30 lakh), Sophie Molineux (₹30 lakh)

Good bowling side wins you competition, says skipper Smriti Mandhana as RCB tick all boxes

RCB WPL Auction 2024 Live Updates: The TATA Women's Premier League (WPL) mini-auction began on Saturday (Dec 9) in Mumbai. The WPL 2024 tournament will start in February or March next year.

RCB WPL Auction 2024 Live Updates: The TATA Women's Premier League (WPL) mini-auction began on Saturday (Dec 9) in Mumbai. The WPL 2024 tournament will start in February or March next year. Last year, Royal Challengers Bangalore was out of the WPL in the knockout stage. The team lost their knockout match against Mumbai Indians by four wickets at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai. Here is everything you need to know about Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the WPL auction 2024. Royal Challengers Bangalore WPL Auction 2024 Live Updates Here's the list of players bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for WPL 2024: Player Nationality Type Price Paid Georgia Wareham Australia All-Rounder ₹40,00,000 Ekta Bisht India Bowler ₹60,00,000 Kate Cross England Bowler ₹30,00,000 Shubha Satheesh India All-Rounder ₹10,00,000 Sabbineni Meghana India All-Rounder ₹30,00,000 Simran Bahadur India Bowler ₹30,00,000 Sophie Molineux Australia All-Rounder ₹30,00,000 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Full Squad Retained Players: Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine Captain: Smriti Mandhana Batters: Disha Kasat, Smriti Mandhana All-rounders: Asha Shobana, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine Wicket-keepers: Indrani Roy, Richa Ghosh Bowlers: Renuka Singh Overseas players: Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight Released Players: Dané Van Niekerk, Erin Burns, Komal Zanzad, Megan Schutt, Poonam Khemnar, Preeti Bose, Sahana Pawar (With inputs from agencies)

RCB WPL Auction 2024 Live Updates: Check full squad, captain, batters, bowlers, wicketkeeper & remaining purse

The IPL 2024 mini-auction is set to be held in Dubai on Dec 19. Ahead of the auction proceedings, many former cricketers and experts of the game are busy making bold predictions. All eyes are on the marquee players -- such as Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Starc, etc. -- as it will be interesting to see which franchise will end with a formidable line-up after the mini-auction. Amid all the auction hype, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan made a bold claim. He feels Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc will return to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2024.

While talking to Star Sports, Irfan opined, "I really think you might see Mitchell Starc playing for RCB because he was there before. They would want him there as well because being a left-armer, bowling 140-plus, having that extra pace in those types of pitches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will be of utmost importance for RCB."

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It is to be noted that Starc was part of the Virat Kohli-led RCB line-up from 2014 to 2015. He was in top form for the Bengaluru-based franchise, ending with 34 scalps in two seasons. However, he has not featured in the IPL since the 2015 edition. With the T20 World Cup 2024 edition set to be held soon after next year's IPL, starting early June in West Indies and USA, Starc is keen to get as many T20s under his belt and, hence, is set to return to the IPL this time around. It will be interesting to see if RCB manages to acquire his services once again, having already released Josh Hazlewood on the retention deadline day.&nbsp;

Starc was last seen in action during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where he ended with 16 scalps -- eighth-most overall -- and was part of the Cummins-led Australia's victorious squad.&nbsp;

RCB squad ahead of mini-auction

Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar (from SRH), Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green (from MI).

The IPL 2024 mini-auction is set to be held in Dubai on Dec 19. Ahead of the auction proceedings, many former cricketers and experts of the game are busy making bold predictions.

The IPL 2024 mini-auction is set to be held in Dubai on Dec 19. Ahead of the auction proceedings, many former cricketers and experts of the game are busy making bold predictions. All eyes are on the marquee players -- such as Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Starc, etc. -- as it will be interesting to see which franchise will end with a formidable line-up after the mini-auction. Amid all the auction hype, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan made a bold claim. He feels Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc will return to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2024. While talking to Star Sports, Irfan opined, "I really think you might see Mitchell Starc playing for RCB because he was there before. They would want him there as well because being a left-armer, bowling 140-plus, having that extra pace in those types of pitches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will be of utmost importance for RCB." Also read: Former Indian opener predicts next Test captain after Rohit Sharma It is to be noted that Starc was part of the Virat Kohli-led RCB line-up from 2014 to 2015. He was in top form for the Bengaluru-based franchise, ending with 34 scalps in two seasons. However, he has not featured in the IPL since the 2015 edition. With the T20 World Cup 2024 edition set to be held soon after next year's IPL, starting early June in West Indies and USA, Starc is keen to get as many T20s under his belt and, hence, is set to return to the IPL this time around. It will be interesting to see if RCB manages to acquire his services once again, having already released Josh Hazlewood on the retention deadline day. Starc was last seen in action during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where he ended with 16 scalps -- eighth-most overall -- and was part of the Cummins-led Australia's victorious squad. RCB squad ahead of mini-auction Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar (from SRH), Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green (from MI).

IPL 2024: Might see Mitchell Starc playing at RCB - Former India pacer Irfan Pathan's BOLD claim

RCB women’s team captain and Indian women's cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shared her perspective&nbsp;on the potential impact of a multi-city format for the Women's Premier League (WPL) while speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru last week. While reflecting on the success of the WPL, Smriti Mandhana expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of adopting a multi-city format at the first-of-its-kind summit that brought together influential leaders from various industries to delve into the future of sports.

"It would be great to have WPL in the multi-city format. I think that might be the next step and I am sure the people right here would look into it and make it happen. As an RCB fan, I would love to play in Chinnaswamy where people are chanting ‘RCB RCB’ and just to be in that environment. That is something which is one step ahead for us that it (multi-city format) can reach to places where women's cricket hasn't reached and to get new audience going into women's cricket,” Mandhana commented.

The 27-year-old believes that the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India was a much-needed platform to understand how different business people look at sports as a platform to generate digital numbers and feels the event should happen more often to interact with other sports icons and business top brass. 
&nbsp; 
Ahead of the WPL auction and the second season of the tournament, RCB&nbsp;captain Mandhana revealed the importance of a conducive environment that the franchise has prepared and she will prioritise the time she spends with the team. “A lot of thoughts have gone into what kind of combinations we need in terms of releases or retention. So we are looking forward to the WPL auctions and hopefully, we get the players who we are looking forward to getting,” added Mandhana.

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Speaking on the growth of women's sports in India, Mandhana highlighted the remarkable achievements of women athletes in recent years. She emphasised the cultural shift, saying, “Women in India are doing amazing stuff in the last five to 10 years not only in women's cricket but in women's sport in general. If you see the last Olympics or Commonwealth or Asian Games, the kind of medals women's athletes have gone and got for the country is a big inspiration for a lot of smaller city girls out there to pursue their passion. I think women's sports in general should be treated separately and by doing that they can definitely sell a lot of things in terms of the ticketing or the digital rights.”

When asked about the areas women’s cricket needs in terms of further investment or further focus to keep propelling forward, Mandhana suggested focusing on the grassroots level. “The only thing that we could invest in is the grassroots level of women's sport in general because a lot of interest is developed with the Indian Women's team or the WPL tournament. Invest more so that we get a lot more cricketers women cricketers,” she remarked.

Drawing inspiration from women athletes in international sports, Mandhana revealed her admiration for Alex Morgan in women's FIFA and acknowledged Serena Williams' monumental achievements in tennis as her source of motivation.

RCB women’s team captain and Indian women's cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shared her perspective on the potential impact of a multi-city format for the Women's Premier League (WPL) while speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru last week.

RCB women’s team captain and Indian women's cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shared her perspective on the potential impact of a multi-city format for the Women's Premier League (WPL) while speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru last week. While reflecting on the success of the WPL, Smriti Mandhana expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of adopting a multi-city format at the first-of-its-kind summit that brought together influential leaders from various industries to delve into the future of sports. "It would be great to have WPL in the multi-city format. I think that might be the next step and I am sure the people right here would look into it and make it happen. As an RCB fan, I would love to play in Chinnaswamy where people are chanting ‘RCB RCB’ and just to be in that environment. That is something which is one step ahead for us that it (multi-city format) can reach to places where women's cricket hasn't reached and to get new audience going into women's cricket,” Mandhana commented. The 27-year-old believes that the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India was a much-needed platform to understand how different business people look at sports as a platform to generate digital numbers and feels the event should happen more often to interact with other sports icons and business top brass. Ahead of the WPL auction and the second season of the tournament, RCB captain Mandhana revealed the importance of a conducive environment that the franchise has prepared and she will prioritise the time she spends with the team. “A lot of thoughts have gone into what kind of combinations we need in terms of releases or retention. So we are looking forward to the WPL auctions and hopefully, we get the players who we are looking forward to getting,” added Mandhana. Also read: 'Can't keep going...': Alastair Cook lashes out at England after 1st ODI loss vs West Indies Speaking on the growth of women's sports in India, Mandhana highlighted the remarkable achievements of women athletes in recent years. She emphasised the cultural shift, saying, “Women in India are doing amazing stuff in the last five to 10 years not only in women's cricket but in women's sport in general. If you see the last Olympics or Commonwealth or Asian Games, the kind of medals women's athletes have gone and got for the country is a big inspiration for a lot of smaller city girls out there to pursue their passion. I think women's sports in general should be treated separately and by doing that they can definitely sell a lot of things in terms of the ticketing or the digital rights.” When asked about the areas women’s cricket needs in terms of further investment or further focus to keep propelling forward, Mandhana suggested focusing on the grassroots level. “The only thing that we could invest in is the grassroots level of women's sport in general because a lot of interest is developed with the Indian Women's team or the WPL tournament. Invest more so that we get a lot more cricketers women cricketers,” she remarked. Drawing inspiration from women athletes in international sports, Mandhana revealed her admiration for Alex Morgan in women's FIFA and acknowledged Serena Williams' monumental achievements in tennis as her source of motivation.

RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana bats for multi-city format in WPL ahead of second edition's auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with its innovation arm—RCB innovation lab, have partnered with Leaders in Sport, the premier global sports events and media organisation, to bring the first-ever Leaders Meet to India, scheduled in Bengaluru on November 29 and 30. RCB Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking intersection between sports and business that aims to generate insights, ideas, methodologies, and products to shape the future of sports. Leaders Meet: India aligns seamlessly with RCB Innovation Lab’s mission to further grow the sports ecosystem.

The first-of-its-kind summit is set to host a stellar line-up of global sporting leaders who will collectively delve into the convergence of sports, business, technology, and social impact. They will address critical themes and share insights on multi-faceted topics that are not only shaping the sports industry but are also poised to drive the expansion of India’s future sports market.

The event will mark a historic occasion and witness insightful discussions in the presence of prominent figures from the sports world such as BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah, Will Brass (Chief Commercial Officer of the English Premier League), Ellie Norman (Chief Communications Officer of Manchester United), and Charlotte Burr (Director of Strategy, Corporate Development &amp; Digital, FIFA).

Notably, the summit will also feature the Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, Brendon McCullum (former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England’s Test team), and Olympic Gold Medal Winner and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Italian International Football icon &amp; World Cup Winner 2006 Alessandro Del Piero, G20 Sherpa - India &amp; Ex - CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India Amitabh Kant among many other notable dignitaries.

Commenting on RCB Innovation Lab bringing Leaders Meet to India for the first time, Rajesh V Menon, Vice President and head of Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, "Growth requires a catalyst; we want to create the perfect conditions for sport and business to thrive – sowing seeds of change through new connections, relationships, opportunities, ideas, and perspectives.

We want to make it happen faster by creating optimal conditions – bringing together the very best in the sports industry, both on and off the field. We want to accelerate the process by connecting members of the business &amp; sporting community to the best conversations, the best connections, the best insights, the best solutions, and the best opportunities.

“I am confident that this confluence of industry stalwarts will help bring out valuable insights and build &amp; engage stakeholders contributing to India in the journey of creating more participants in sports than just spectators.”

Leaders in Sport has been in existence for 15 years and has served as a catalyst for bringing together the most prominent figures and groundbreaking ideas in the world of sports. With past editions hosted in key cities like New York, Abu Dhabi, London, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Shanghai, Leaders in Sport has been instrumental in facilitating dialogues and propelling the sports industry towards progress. It continues to lead the way in providing the latest sports business intelligence and delivering exclusive perspectives from global industry leaders at the forefront.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-2023-kane-williamson-shuts-down-pitch-controversy-while-gavaskar-terms-critics-morons-659184">World Cup 2023: Kane Williamson shuts down pitch controversy while Gavaskar terms critics 'morons'</a>

Laura McQueen, Managing Director, Leaders in Sport, said “We stand on the verge of an exciting new chapter in the world of sports. Leaders Meet is not just an event; it's a convergence of some of the world’s most influential leaders and a platform to usher in a new era for the sports industry in India and Southeast Asia. At the summit, we will witness catalytic discussions, innovative ideas, and a global perspective on how to shape the future of sports.

We are thrilled to partner with RCB to host this event in India for the first time, and it serves as a testament to our shared vision of unlocking India's potential as a thriving hub for sports and all verticals in sports, related to business, technology, and social impact. The summit promises to bridge the gap between opportunity and execution, propelling India to the forefront of the global sports landscape.”

India will also see the participation of distinguished government administrators including Amitabh Kant, who served as the G20 Sherpa and previously held the role of CEO at Niti Aayog, and R Vineel Krishna, an IAS officer and Special Secretary to Odisha CM &amp; Secretary of Sports and Youth Services in the Odisha Government. These esteemed individuals will engage in discussions and brainstorming sessions covering innovations in sports technology, business, performance, and social impact during the two-day conference.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with its innovation arm—RCB innovation lab, have partnered with Leaders in Sport, the premier global sports events and media organisation, to bring the first-ever Leaders Meet to India, scheduled in Bengaluru on November 29 and 30.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with its innovation arm—RCB innovation lab, have partnered with Leaders in Sport, the premier global sports events and media organisation, to bring the first-ever Leaders Meet to India, scheduled in Bengaluru on November 29 and 30. RCB Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking intersection between sports and business that aims to generate insights, ideas, methodologies, and products to shape the future of sports. Leaders Meet: India aligns seamlessly with RCB Innovation Lab’s mission to further grow the sports ecosystem. The first-of-its-kind summit is set to host a stellar line-up of global sporting leaders who will collectively delve into the convergence of sports, business, technology, and social impact. They will address critical themes and share insights on multi-faceted topics that are not only shaping the sports industry but are also poised to drive the expansion of India’s future sports market. The event will mark a historic occasion and witness insightful discussions in the presence of prominent figures from the sports world such as BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah, Will Brass (Chief Commercial Officer of the English Premier League), Ellie Norman (Chief Communications Officer of Manchester United), and Charlotte Burr (Director of Strategy, Corporate Development & Digital, FIFA). Notably, the summit will also feature the Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, Brendon McCullum (former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England’s Test team), and Olympic Gold Medal Winner and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Italian International Football icon & World Cup Winner 2006 Alessandro Del Piero, G20 Sherpa - India & Ex - CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India Amitabh Kant among many other notable dignitaries. Commenting on RCB Innovation Lab bringing Leaders Meet to India for the first time, Rajesh V Menon, Vice President and head of Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, "Growth requires a catalyst; we want to create the perfect conditions for sport and business to thrive – sowing seeds of change through new connections, relationships, opportunities, ideas, and perspectives. We want to make it happen faster by creating optimal conditions – bringing together the very best in the sports industry, both on and off the field. We want to accelerate the process by connecting members of the business & sporting community to the best conversations, the best connections, the best insights, the best solutions, and the best opportunities. “I am confident that this confluence of industry stalwarts will help bring out valuable insights and build & engage stakeholders contributing to India in the journey of creating more participants in sports than just spectators.” Leaders in Sport has been in existence for 15 years and has served as a catalyst for bringing together the most prominent figures and groundbreaking ideas in the world of sports. With past editions hosted in key cities like New York, Abu Dhabi, London, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Shanghai, Leaders in Sport has been instrumental in facilitating dialogues and propelling the sports industry towards progress. It continues to lead the way in providing the latest sports business intelligence and delivering exclusive perspectives from global industry leaders at the forefront. ALSO READ | World Cup 2023: Kane Williamson shuts down pitch controversy while Gavaskar terms critics 'morons' Laura McQueen, Managing Director, Leaders in Sport, said “We stand on the verge of an exciting new chapter in the world of sports. Leaders Meet is not just an event; it's a convergence of some of the world’s most influential leaders and a platform to usher in a new era for the sports industry in India and Southeast Asia. At the summit, we will witness catalytic discussions, innovative ideas, and a global perspective on how to shape the future of sports. We are thrilled to partner with RCB to host this event in India for the first time, and it serves as a testament to our shared vision of unlocking India's potential as a thriving hub for sports and all verticals in sports, related to business, technology, and social impact. The summit promises to bridge the gap between opportunity and execution, propelling India to the forefront of the global sports landscape.” India will also see the participation of distinguished government administrators including Amitabh Kant, who served as the G20 Sherpa and previously held the role of CEO at Niti Aayog, and R Vineel Krishna, an IAS officer and Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary of Sports and Youth Services in the Odisha Government. These esteemed individuals will engage in discussions and brainstorming sessions covering innovations in sports technology, business, performance, and social impact during the two-day conference.

Neeraj Chopra to attend RCB's flagship sports conference in Bengaluru

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have roped in Mo Bobat as their new director of cricket. The 40-year-old is currently with England Cricket Board as their Men's team performance director. Bobat has been associated with the ECB since last 12 years and has a good relationship with new RCB coach Andy Flower from their overlapping time with England.

During Bobat's tenure at performance director, England won both 50-over and 20-over World Cup titles while seeing a change of fortune in Tests with Brendon McCullum as coach and Ben Stokes as the skipper. Bobat joined the ECB at 2011, looking after Under-19 program initially before being named as the board's first Player Identification Lead in 2016.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-speaking-about-thing-of-utmost-importance-in-his-possibly-last-odi-world-cup-641203">Ravi Ashwin talks about 'thing of utmost importance' in his possibly 'last ODI world cup'</a>

"I'll be forever grateful for all of the opportunities and support that I received over the years and will carry with me many special memories, shared achievements and friendships," Bobat said in a press release by the team&nbsp;about his time with the ECB.

“I’m both excited and proud to be joining RCB as Director of Cricket. RCB is one of the most recognisable franchises in the world, with a renowned fan base. To serve them will be a huge honour. It’s important to acknowledge the work of both Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, for the stability and consistency they provided over recent years.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
“I’m really looking forward to working closely with Andy Flower, somebody I know well, to take on the baton and deliver the success that RCB craves," Bobat added.

The IPL team have also announced Luke Williams as their women's team coach as well for the next edition of Women's Premier League (WPL). The former Australian cricketer had guided Adelaide Strikes to their maiden title in Women's Big Bash League in 2022-23 season after couple of runners-up finishes.
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“I am thrilled to have been provided this opportunity with RCB and can’t wait to get started with the team’s preparations for the second season of the WPL. I look forward to working with a playing group that will host a number of the most exciting players in Indian and world cricket as we look to bring a bold and exciting style of play and success to our huge and passionate fan base,” said Williams in a statement released by the team.

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Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have roped in Mo Bobat as their new director of cricket. The 40-year-old is currently with England Cricket Board as their Men's team performance director.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have roped in Mo Bobat as their new director of cricket. The 40-year-old is currently with England Cricket Board as their Men's team performance director. Bobat has been associated with the ECB since last 12 years and has a good relationship with new RCB coach Andy Flower from their overlapping time with England. During Bobat's tenure at performance director, England won both 50-over and 20-over World Cup titles while seeing a change of fortune in Tests with Brendon McCullum as coach and Ben Stokes as the skipper. Bobat joined the ECB at 2011, looking after Under-19 program initially before being named as the board's first Player Identification Lead in 2016. Also Read: Ravi Ashwin talks about 'thing of utmost importance' in his possibly 'last ODI world cup' "I'll be forever grateful for all of the opportunities and support that I received over the years and will carry with me many special memories, shared achievements and friendships," Bobat said in a press release by the team about his time with the ECB. “I’m both excited and proud to be joining RCB as Director of Cricket. RCB is one of the most recognisable franchises in the world, with a renowned fan base. To serve them will be a huge honour. It’s important to acknowledge the work of both Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, for the stability and consistency they provided over recent years. “I’m really looking forward to working closely with Andy Flower, somebody I know well, to take on the baton and deliver the success that RCB craves," Bobat added. The IPL team have also announced Luke Williams as their women's team coach as well for the next edition of Women's Premier League (WPL). The former Australian cricketer had guided Adelaide Strikes to their maiden title in Women's Big Bash League in 2022-23 season after couple of runners-up finishes. “I am thrilled to have been provided this opportunity with RCB and can’t wait to get started with the team’s preparations for the second season of the WPL. I look forward to working with a playing group that will host a number of the most exciting players in Indian and world cricket as we look to bring a bold and exciting style of play and success to our huge and passionate fan base,” said Williams in a statement released by the team. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

RCB rope in ECB performance director Mo Bobat as Director of Cricket; appoint Luke Williams as new RCB-W coach

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Mitchell Starc has intended to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after an eight-year exile. Starc, who was last seen in IPL action in 2015, confirmed his plans for the 2024 edition on Thursday, September 7. Starc was named in Australia’s ODI World Cup squad on Wednesday as they bid for their sixth title in the 50-over format. Starc was also on the cards of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the past but never played a single game.

<h2>Starc open to IPL return</h2>

"I'm definitely going back in (next) year," Starc told the Willow Talk cricket podcast.

"Amongst other things, it's a great lead up to the T20 World Cup.

"So a good opportunity to see if anyone's interested in the IPL, then lead into the T20 World Cup.

"And it's somewhat of a quiet winter next year … in comparison to this winter, so I think a perfect opportunity to put my name in,” Starc said on his stance on the IPL.

If Starc does make his comeback to the most lucrative cricket league in the world, it will be his first appearance at the marquee tournament since 2015. He last appeared for RCB in the 2015 edition where he scalped 20 wickets having also enjoyed a stellar ODI World Cup that year. He was named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup. In 27 IPL appearances, Starc has scalped 34 wickets with a best of 15/4 while also scoring 96 runs in that period.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2023-aryna-sabalenka-beats-chinas-zheng-qinwen-to-reach-semi-finals-633071">US Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats China's Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals</a>

<h2>Starc’s row with KKR</h2>

Over the years, Starc has been skipping the mega-rich IPL format for several reasons including injuries, COVID-19, and national team duties. His engagement with KKR in 2018 sparked a big brawl as he did not play for the franchise despite them splashing A$1.8 million. He had a legal battle with an insurance firm that was settled in 2020.

The veteran pacer is one of the seven players from the 2015 ODI World Cup winning squad that will board the flight for India. Australia will have eyes on their sixth ODI World Cup having won the tournament in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015. The contingent will be led by Pat Cummins along with experienced players like Steve Smith, David Warner, and Josh Hazlewood among others.

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Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Mitchell Starc has intended to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after an eight-year exile. Starc, who was last seen in IPL action in 2015, confirmed his plans for the 2024 edition on Thursday, September 7.

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Mitchell Starc has intended to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after an eight-year exile. Starc, who was last seen in IPL action in 2015, confirmed his plans for the 2024 edition on Thursday, September 7. Starc was named in Australia’s ODI World Cup squad on Wednesday as they bid for their sixth title in the 50-over format. Starc was also on the cards of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the past but never played a single game. Starc open to IPL return "I'm definitely going back in (next) year," Starc told the Willow Talk cricket podcast. "Amongst other things, it's a great lead up to the T20 World Cup. "So a good opportunity to see if anyone's interested in the IPL, then lead into the T20 World Cup. "And it's somewhat of a quiet winter next year … in comparison to this winter, so I think a perfect opportunity to put my name in,” Starc said on his stance on the IPL. If Starc does make his comeback to the most lucrative cricket league in the world, it will be his first appearance at the marquee tournament since 2015. He last appeared for RCB in the 2015 edition where he scalped 20 wickets having also enjoyed a stellar ODI World Cup that year. He was named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup. In 27 IPL appearances, Starc has scalped 34 wickets with a best of 15/4 while also scoring 96 runs in that period. ALSO READ | US Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats China's Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals Starc’s row with KKR Over the years, Starc has been skipping the mega-rich IPL format for several reasons including injuries, COVID-19, and national team duties. His engagement with KKR in 2018 sparked a big brawl as he did not play for the franchise despite them splashing A$1.8 million. He had a legal battle with an insurance firm that was settled in 2020. The veteran pacer is one of the seven players from the 2015 ODI World Cup winning squad that will board the flight for India. Australia will have eyes on their sixth ODI World Cup having won the tournament in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015. The contingent will be led by Pat Cummins along with experienced players like Steve Smith, David Warner, and Josh Hazlewood among others. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former RCB pacer Mitchell Starc to end IPL exile, confirms return plans for 2024 edition

Ace Sri Lanka spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga called time on his brief Test career on Tuesday, August 15. Still 26, the all-rounder retires with just four Test matches for the national side in the red-ball format as he focuses on pro-longing his limited-overs career. He represents Indian Premier League (IPL) side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the cash-rich event and missed out on the Purple Cap in 2022.

<h2>Hasaranga calls time</h2>

“We will accept his decision and are confident that Hasaranga will be a vital part of our white-ball program going forward," a statement from Ashley De Silva, CEO of SLC read on Tuesday.

In a very brief career, he scalped four wickets in seven innings for the nation and scored 196 runs with a best of 59. His Test career lasted around five months, having debuted in December 2020 and last representing the nation in the red-ball format in April 2021 against Bangladesh in Pallekele.

Since 2016, in first-class cricket, he has scalped 102 wickets but has been more focused on white-ball cricket which has earned him the&nbsp;reputation of being one of the best all-rounders in the world. In 48 ODI matches for the national side, he has scalped 67 wickets with 832 runs. Interestingly, in T20Is he has more efficiency with 91 wickets and 533 runs.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-test-series-loss-in-sa-to-disappointment-in-wi-t20is-team-indias-shocking-lows-in-rahul-dravids-tenure-625379">From colossal failure in SA to WI T20I series loss: Team India's shocking LOWS in Rahul Dravid's tenure</a>

<h2>Hasaranga’s reputation in T20 format</h2>

He is currently ranked third in the T20I rankings for bowlers by the ICC and is one of the greatest bowlers in the format for Sri Lanka. Only Lasith Malinga has scalped more wickets than him in T20I matches for Sri Lanka with 107. However, with age on his side, Hasaranga will be expected to leapfrog the former great.

He was last seen in international action during the ODI World Cup qualifiers where Sri Lanka finished top of the chart and secured qualification ahead of Zimbabwe and Netherlands.&nbsp; In the IPL, representing RCB he has scalped 35 wickets from 24 matches and narrowly missed out on the Purple Cap in 2022. His tally of 26 wickets was bettered by Rajasthan Royals’ Yuzvendra Chahal who has 27 wickets to his name.

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Ace Sri Lanka spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga called time on his brief Test career on Tuesday, August 15. Still 26, the all-rounder retires with just four Test matches for the national side in the red-ball format as he focuses on pro-longing his limited-overs career.

Ace Sri Lanka spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga called time on his brief Test career on Tuesday, August 15. Still 26, the all-rounder retires with just four Test matches for the national side in the red-ball format as he focuses on pro-longing his limited-overs career. He represents Indian Premier League (IPL) side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the cash-rich event and missed out on the Purple Cap in 2022. Hasaranga calls time “We will accept his decision and are confident that Hasaranga will be a vital part of our white-ball program going forward," a statement from Ashley De Silva, CEO of SLC read on Tuesday. In a very brief career, he scalped four wickets in seven innings for the nation and scored 196 runs with a best of 59. His Test career lasted around five months, having debuted in December 2020 and last representing the nation in the red-ball format in April 2021 against Bangladesh in Pallekele. Since 2016, in first-class cricket, he has scalped 102 wickets but has been more focused on white-ball cricket which has earned him the reputation of being one of the best all-rounders in the world. In 48 ODI matches for the national side, he has scalped 67 wickets with 832 runs. Interestingly, in T20Is he has more efficiency with 91 wickets and 533 runs. ALSO READ | From colossal failure in SA to WI T20I series loss: Team India's shocking LOWS in Rahul Dravid's tenure Hasaranga’s reputation in T20 format He is currently ranked third in the T20I rankings for bowlers by the ICC and is one of the greatest bowlers in the format for Sri Lanka. Only Lasith Malinga has scalped more wickets than him in T20I matches for Sri Lanka with 107. However, with age on his side, Hasaranga will be expected to leapfrog the former great. He was last seen in international action during the ODI World Cup qualifiers where Sri Lanka finished top of the chart and secured qualification ahead of Zimbabwe and Netherlands. In the IPL, representing RCB he has scalped 35 wickets from 24 matches and narrowly missed out on the Purple Cap in 2022. His tally of 26 wickets was bettered by Rajasthan Royals’ Yuzvendra Chahal who has 27 wickets to his name. . WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga calls time on brief Test career, to focus on limited-overs format

Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore has appointed Zimbabwe cricket legend Andy Flower as the new head coach after the franchise decided against renewing the contracts of Mike Hesson (director of cricket operations) and Sanjay Bangar (head coach) following a sixth-place finish in IPL 2023.

Flower was the head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants franchise for two seasons and was replaced by former Australia coach Justin Langer in the second week of July. Per previous reports, the contracts of both Hesson and Bangar were up for renewal following IPL 2023, but the franchise decided to overhaul the coaching staff instead.

Flower, a renowned cricketer and a coach, had previously held top posts in world cricket, including as England’s Team Director and head coach for an extended period. Upon joining hands with the RCB, Flower said he can't wait to experience the atmosphere at the Chinnaswamy next season.

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We are beyond thrilled to welcome 𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿 and 𝗧𝟮𝟬 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 winning coach 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 as the 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 of RCB Men’s team. 🤩🙌 
 
Andy’s experience of coaching IPL &amp; T20 teams around the world, and leading his teams to titles… <a href="https://t.co/WsMYGCkcYT">pic.twitter.com/WsMYGCkcYT</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1687317766469263360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"RCB have an unrivalled fan following, and I can't wait to fully experience the atmosphere in the Chinnaswamy next season. I recognise the work put in by Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, who are two coaches I respect, and I look forward to the challenge of taking RCB to new heights,” Flower said in a statement.

The former left-handed batter added he is excited to reunite with captain Faf du Plessis and looking forward to building newer partnerships.&nbsp;

"I'm particularly excited to be reunited with Faf [du Plessis, the captain]. We have worked very well together in the past, and I look forward to forging our partnership and relationship into something bigger and better.

"We have an exciting roster of players to work with, and I recognise and will relish both the amazing opportunity with RCB but also the responsibility that comes with the role.

It is a great challenge, and I can't wait to get started," Flower added.

<h2>RCB thanks Hesson, Bangar</h2>

Mike Hesson fared well in his role during his stay at the RCB. While Hesson joined RCB in 2019, Bangar got roped in 2022 after Aussie Simon Katich parted ways with the franchise.&nbsp;

Under Hesson, RCB reached the knockouts in IPL 2020 and 2021, getting eliminated by SunRisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively, in the Eliminator on both occasions. Next season they overcame the Eliminator curse but fell shy of reaching another IPL Final after losing to Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.

Their performance in the recently-concluded season wasn’t at par, as despite close wins and some dominant outings, they remained at number six.

RCB, in their social media post, thanked both for their services.

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We thank 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 and 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫 for their commendable work during the stints as 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 and 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 of RCB. 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachHesson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHesson</a> <a href="https://t.co/Np2fLuRdC0">pic.twitter.com/Np2fLuRdC0</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1687308114025177088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore has appointed Zimbabwe cricket legend Andy Flower as the new head coach after the franchise decided against renewing the contracts of Mike Hesson (director of cricket operations) and Sanjay Bangar (head coach) following a sixth-place finish in IPL 2023.

Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore has appointed Zimbabwe cricket legend Andy Flower as the new head coach after the franchise decided against renewing the contracts of Mike Hesson (director of cricket operations) and Sanjay Bangar (head coach) following a sixth-place finish in IPL 2023. Flower was the head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants franchise for two seasons and was replaced by former Australia coach Justin Langer in the second week of July. Per previous reports, the contracts of both Hesson and Bangar were up for renewal following IPL 2023, but the franchise decided to overhaul the coaching staff instead. Flower, a renowned cricketer and a coach, had previously held top posts in world cricket, including as England’s Team Director and head coach for an extended period. Upon joining hands with the RCB, Flower said he can't wait to experience the atmosphere at the Chinnaswamy next season. We are beyond thrilled to welcome 𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿 and 𝗧𝟮𝟬 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 winning coach 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 as the 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 of RCB Men’s team. 🤩🙌 Andy’s experience of coaching IPL & T20 teams around the world, and leading his teams to titles… pic.twitter.com/WsMYGCkcYT — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) August 4, 2023 × "RCB have an unrivalled fan following, and I can't wait to fully experience the atmosphere in the Chinnaswamy next season. I recognise the work put in by Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, who are two coaches I respect, and I look forward to the challenge of taking RCB to new heights,” Flower said in a statement. The former left-handed batter added he is excited to reunite with captain Faf du Plessis and looking forward to building newer partnerships. "I'm particularly excited to be reunited with Faf [du Plessis, the captain]. We have worked very well together in the past, and I look forward to forging our partnership and relationship into something bigger and better. "We have an exciting roster of players to work with, and I recognise and will relish both the amazing opportunity with RCB but also the responsibility that comes with the role. It is a great challenge, and I can't wait to get started," Flower added. RCB thanks Hesson, Bangar Mike Hesson fared well in his role during his stay at the RCB. While Hesson joined RCB in 2019, Bangar got roped in 2022 after Aussie Simon Katich parted ways with the franchise. Under Hesson, RCB reached the knockouts in IPL 2020 and 2021, getting eliminated by SunRisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively, in the Eliminator on both occasions. Next season they overcame the Eliminator curse but fell shy of reaching another IPL Final after losing to Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Their performance in the recently-concluded season wasn’t at par, as despite close wins and some dominant outings, they remained at number six. RCB, in their social media post, thanked both for their services. We thank 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 and 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫 for their commendable work during the stints as 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 and 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 of RCB. 🙌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB @CoachHesson pic.twitter.com/Np2fLuRdC0 — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) August 4, 2023 × WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

IPL: RCB appoints Andy Flower as new head coach, ends partnership with Mike Hesson, Sanjay Bangar

India's leading spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has finally opened up on how he felt when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) didn't bid for him despite promising to go all out during the 2022 IPL auction. In a recent chat with Ranveer Allahbadia on his YouTube channel, Chahal detailed what happened behind the scenes and how he reacted to everything that unfolded.&nbsp;

After making his IPL debut in 2011&nbsp;for Mumbai Indians, RCB brought him on board during the 2014 mega auction. The leg-spinner played eight seasons for them, ending as their highest wicket-taker, but the Bangalore-based franchise decided against retaining him in the 2022 auction&nbsp;where Rajasthan Royals bagged his services for a whopping INR 6.5 crore, with Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and SunRisers Hyderabad also bidding for him.

Elaborating on the same, Chahal revealed he was angry and disappointed at the same time and didn't even speak with the coaches or with anyone. The leg-spinner added he got his chance in the Indian team on the back of stunning performances in the IPL, and even captain Virat Kohli used to show a lot of trust in him.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-during-2023-asia-cup-seamer-jasprit-bumrah-could-return-sooner-than-expected-reports-616213">Not during 2023 Asia Cup, seamer Jasprit Bumrah could return sooner than expected - Reports</a>

"When I put my name up for the auction, they (RCB) promised me that they will go all out for me," Chahal told Ranveer Allahbadia's YouTube channel. "I said okay, but then I was very angry. I think I did not speak to the coaches for two-three days. Even when I played my first match for RR against RCB, I did not speak to anyone."

"Definitely, I felt very bad. My main journey started in 2014. I also felt very weird because I played for the franchise for eight years. I would also say that I got the India cap because of my performances for RCB because they gave me a chance to perform. From the very first match, Virat bhai showed trust in me," Chahal added.

<h2>Switch to RR actually benefited me, says Chahal</h2>

As they say, what happens, happens for good. Chahal too felt the same after spending two seasons with Rajasthan Royals, wherein he picked 48 wickets and also won the Purple Cap during the Royals' run to their second IPL final in 2022.

"Anything can happen in the auction, and then I realised that it's okay, whatever happens, happens for good. The one plus point is that after coming to Rajasthan, I became a death bowler. At RCB, my overs were finished by the 16th or 17th over. Here, my cricket growth has improved 5-10 per cent. That attachment is definitely there for RCB, but coming to Rajasthan has helped my cricket a lot," Chahal added.

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India's leading spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has finally opened up on how he felt when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) didn't bid for him despite promising to go all out during the 2022 IPL auction.

India's leading spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has finally opened up on how he felt when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) didn't bid for him despite promising to go all out during the 2022 IPL auction. In a recent chat with Ranveer Allahbadia on his YouTube channel, Chahal detailed what happened behind the scenes and how he reacted to everything that unfolded. After making his IPL debut in 2011 for Mumbai Indians, RCB brought him on board during the 2014 mega auction. The leg-spinner played eight seasons for them, ending as their highest wicket-taker, but the Bangalore-based franchise decided against retaining him in the 2022 auction where Rajasthan Royals bagged his services for a whopping INR 6.5 crore, with Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and SunRisers Hyderabad also bidding for him. Elaborating on the same, Chahal revealed he was angry and disappointed at the same time and didn't even speak with the coaches or with anyone. The leg-spinner added he got his chance in the Indian team on the back of stunning performances in the IPL, and even captain Virat Kohli used to show a lot of trust in him. ALSO READ: Not during 2023 Asia Cup, seamer Jasprit Bumrah could return sooner than expected - Reports "When I put my name up for the auction, they (RCB) promised me that they will go all out for me," Chahal told Ranveer Allahbadia's YouTube channel. "I said okay, but then I was very angry. I think I did not speak to the coaches for two-three days. Even when I played my first match for RR against RCB, I did not speak to anyone." "Definitely, I felt very bad. My main journey started in 2014. I also felt very weird because I played for the franchise for eight years. I would also say that I got the India cap because of my performances for RCB because they gave me a chance to perform. From the very first match, Virat bhai showed trust in me," Chahal added. Switch to RR actually benefited me, says Chahal As they say, what happens, happens for good. Chahal too felt the same after spending two seasons with Rajasthan Royals, wherein he picked 48 wickets and also won the Purple Cap during the Royals' run to their second IPL final in 2022. "Anything can happen in the auction, and then I realised that it's okay, whatever happens, happens for good. The one plus point is that after coming to Rajasthan, I became a death bowler. At RCB, my overs were finished by the 16th or 17th over. Here, my cricket growth has improved 5-10 per cent. That attachment is definitely there for RCB, but coming to Rajasthan has helped my cricket a lot," Chahal added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'At 2022 IPL auction, they promised me...': Heartbroken Yuzvendra Chahal on not getting picked by RCB

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition got over in the early hours of Tuesday (May 30) with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) edging past defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in an emphatic run-chase of 171, in 15 overs, after rain halted proceedings at the start of the second innings. Earlier, MS Dhoni won the toss and CSK invited GT to bat first. Gujarat rode on Shubman Gill's 20-ball 39, Wriddhiman Saha's 39-ball 54 and Sai Sudharsan's 47-ball 96 to post 214/4 before the Yellow Army got a revised target thanks to the rain break.

CSK rode on quickfire knocks from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu and unbeaten innings from Shivam Dube (21-ball 32*) and Ravindra Jadeja (6-ball 15 not out) to chase down the score on the last ball as GT were prevented from lifting their second title on the trot in as many seasons. Despite them finishing second, Gujarat had plenty of positives. Gill ended with 890 runs in 17 matches, including three tons and four fifties, to win the Orange Cap. Recently, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra lauded Gill and compared his season with Virat Kohli's unreal run in IPL 2016.&nbsp;

In IPL 2016, the then-Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Kohli scored 973 runs with four centuries and seven fifties at an average of&nbsp;81.08. His tally remains the most runs scored by any batter in an IPL. However, Gill came close to Kohli's tally (second-most in a season)&nbsp;-- still falling short by 83 runs -- and Chopra lauded the youngster.

<h2>'This was a proper king-type season, similar to Virat Kohli's 2016&nbsp;run'</h2>

"Gill is absolutely thrilling. The last season was good but this was a wow season. He used to be called prince earlier, but he is no longer a prince, this was a proper king-type season. The domination we saw from Virat Kohli in 2016, this was that kind of a season," said Chopra on his Youtube channel.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-ricky-ponting-names-two-indian-batters-who-would-be-major-threat-to-australia-599127">WTC Final | Ricky Ponting names two Indian batters who would be major threat to Australia</a>

"He just kept growing. In fact, that innings against Mumbai (129 off 60 balls in Qualifier 2), it was like a man possessed, that he cannot do anything wrong now. He was telling people where to bowl. The Narendra Modi Stadium is a huge stadium and the guy hit sixes there," Chopra added.

Gill has now shifted his focus to India's upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they take on Australia on June 07&nbsp;at The Oval, London. He will hope to replicate his fine form in the marquee clash. In 2023, the 23-year-old has already scored a double ton in ODIs, a century in Tests and T20Is along with three in IPL 2023.

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition got over in the early hours of Tuesday (May 30) with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) edging past defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in an emphatic run-chase of 171, in 15 overs, after rain halted proceedings at the start of the second innings.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition got over in the early hours of Tuesday (May 30) with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) edging past defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in an emphatic run-chase of 171, in 15 overs, after rain halted proceedings at the start of the second innings. Earlier, MS Dhoni won the toss and CSK invited GT to bat first. Gujarat rode on Shubman Gill's 20-ball 39, Wriddhiman Saha's 39-ball 54 and Sai Sudharsan's 47-ball 96 to post 214/4 before the Yellow Army got a revised target thanks to the rain break. CSK rode on quickfire knocks from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu and unbeaten innings from Shivam Dube (21-ball 32*) and Ravindra Jadeja (6-ball 15 not out) to chase down the score on the last ball as GT were prevented from lifting their second title on the trot in as many seasons. Despite them finishing second, Gujarat had plenty of positives. Gill ended with 890 runs in 17 matches, including three tons and four fifties, to win the Orange Cap. Recently, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra lauded Gill and compared his season with Virat Kohli's unreal run in IPL 2016. In IPL 2016, the then-Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Kohli scored 973 runs with four centuries and seven fifties at an average of 81.08. His tally remains the most runs scored by any batter in an IPL. However, Gill came close to Kohli's tally (second-most in a season) -- still falling short by 83 runs -- and Chopra lauded the youngster. 'This was a proper king-type season, similar to Virat Kohli's 2016 run' "Gill is absolutely thrilling. The last season was good but this was a wow season. He used to be called prince earlier, but he is no longer a prince, this was a proper king-type season. The domination we saw from Virat Kohli in 2016, this was that kind of a season," said Chopra on his Youtube channel. Also Read: WTC Final | Ricky Ponting names two Indian batters who would be major threat to Australia "He just kept growing. In fact, that innings against Mumbai (129 off 60 balls in Qualifier 2), it was like a man possessed, that he cannot do anything wrong now. He was telling people where to bowl. The Narendra Modi Stadium is a huge stadium and the guy hit sixes there," Chopra added. Gill has now shifted his focus to India's upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they take on Australia on June 07 at The Oval, London. He will hope to replicate his fine form in the marquee clash. In 2023, the 23-year-old has already scored a double ton in ODIs, a century in Tests and T20Is along with three in IPL 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Shubman Gill's IPL 2023 was similar to Virat Kohli's 2016 run: Aakash Chopra heaps praise on GT opener

Gujarat Titans opening batsman Shubman Gill had a brilliant season in Indian Premier League (IPL) as he scored 890 runs in 16 matches he played in 2023 at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80. His performance was 160-run best than Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis, who was a distant second in the season with 730 runs in 14 matches.

Even if Faf (14) had played as many matches as Gill (16) played, he wouldn't have surpassed the GT opener. The reasoning behind this is - Faf averaged 56 in the season and had he played two more matches to equal Gill's tally, he would have ended up with 842 runs or 850 - 40 less than what Gill scored this season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-vows-return-for-another-season-after-winning-fifth-title-598147">CSK skipper MS Dhoni 'vows' return for another season after winning fifth title</a>

The GT batter crossed 50 seven times in 2023 and converted three of them into hundreds. He also crossed Rajasthan Royals batter Jos Buttler's record of 863 runs which the Englishman had set in the 2022 season. One might say that Gill got such numbers as he opens the batting, thus getting the best chance to play as many overs as possible from the available 20. And this is true and it isn't unfair or anything but just how the games work that openers get the best chance to score runs.

Now let's talk about Virat Kohli.&nbsp;

The RCB batter has been in the IPL since its inception in 2008. He has scored the most runs, most fifties and most hundreds in a season, apart from a plethora of other records. And his best season came in 2016 when he eclipsed everyone like the Sun and no player since 2016 has been able to come out of the shadow cast by him that season.

Kohli played 16 matches that season and scored 973 runs at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 152. Kohli went past fifty in 11 matches and converted four of them into a century - the most in a single IPL season. His team, however, couldn't win the trophy and the wait still continues. In fact, only twice has been the Orange Cap holder from the title-winning team - in 2014 when Robin Uthappa scored the most runs for eventual winner KKR and in 2021 when Ruturaj Gaikwad did the same for Chennai Super Kings.

The Kohli of 2016 was the best IPL has seen ever and Shubman Gill's monster season just reiterated the fact again.&nbsp;

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Gujarat Titans opening batsman Shubman Gill had a brilliant season in Indian Premier League (IPL) as he scored 890 runs in 16 matches he played in 2023 at an average of 59.

Gujarat Titans opening batsman Shubman Gill had a brilliant season in Indian Premier League (IPL) as he scored 890 runs in 16 matches he played in 2023 at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80. His performance was 160-run best than Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis, who was a distant second in the season with 730 runs in 14 matches. Even if Faf (14) had played as many matches as Gill (16) played, he wouldn't have surpassed the GT opener. The reasoning behind this is - Faf averaged 56 in the season and had he played two more matches to equal Gill's tally, he would have ended up with 842 runs or 850 - 40 less than what Gill scored this season. Also Read: CSK skipper MS Dhoni 'vows' return for another season after winning fifth title The GT batter crossed 50 seven times in 2023 and converted three of them into hundreds. He also crossed Rajasthan Royals batter Jos Buttler's record of 863 runs which the Englishman had set in the 2022 season. One might say that Gill got such numbers as he opens the batting, thus getting the best chance to play as many overs as possible from the available 20. And this is true and it isn't unfair or anything but just how the games work that openers get the best chance to score runs. Now let's talk about Virat Kohli. The RCB batter has been in the IPL since its inception in 2008. He has scored the most runs, most fifties and most hundreds in a season, apart from a plethora of other records. And his best season came in 2016 when he eclipsed everyone like the Sun and no player since 2016 has been able to come out of the shadow cast by him that season. Kohli played 16 matches that season and scored 973 runs at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 152. Kohli went past fifty in 11 matches and converted four of them into a century - the most in a single IPL season. His team, however, couldn't win the trophy and the wait still continues. In fact, only twice has been the Orange Cap holder from the title-winning team - in 2014 when Robin Uthappa scored the most runs for eventual winner KKR and in 2021 when Ruturaj Gaikwad did the same for Chennai Super Kings. The Kohli of 2016 was the best IPL has seen ever and Shubman Gill's monster season just reiterated the fact again. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Shubman Gill's breakout season with GT shows how good Virat Kohli was in 2016

Ever since India were eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2022, in the semi-finals, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, etc. have not featured in India's T20I scheme of things with Hardik Pandya serving as the captain. Many believe it is the end of the road for Kohli and Rohit in the shortest format with a plethora of young Indian batters showcasing their skills in the IPL.

Nonetheless, nothing official has come out from the BCCI selectors on Kohli and Rohit's T20I future. Recently, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar was asked about Kohli's T20I future and the veteran believes his form in IPL 2024 'should be observed' before taking a call on his selection.

Gavaskar told Sports Tak: "The next T20 World Cup will be played in 2024. There will be another IPL before that in March-April. He asserted, "Kohli's form should be observed at that point. There is no point talking about it now. If we are talking about an upcoming T20 international, say India are playing a match in June, then he definitely fits into the team, the kind of form that he has shown.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unlike-dhoni-rohit-doesnt-get-enough-credit-for-captaincy-sunil-gavaskar-lauds-mi-skipper-596522">IPL 2023: 'Unlike Dhoni, Rohit doesn't get enough credit for captaincy' - Sunil Gavaskar lauds MI skipper</a>

<h2>'If I was a selector and India were playing a T20I in June, I would pick him'</h2>

"But, speaking about the 2024 World Cup, which will be held in West Indies and America, the form of players needs to be observed in the IPL before that and then we can talk about selection for the World Cup squad. Virat would definitely be in my T20I team on current form for India’s upcoming matches in the format. He has scored two hundreds [in IPL 2023]. Hitting two hundreds&nbsp;in T20 cricket, even scoring 50 is difficult.

"This great batter has notched up two hundreds. If I was a selector and India were playing a T20 in June this year, I would, without doubt, pick him in the squad."

Kohli ended IPL 2023 with 639&nbsp;runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), including six fifties and two back-to-back hundreds.&nbsp;

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Ever since India were eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2022, in the semi-finals, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, etc. have not featured in India's T20I scheme of things with Hardik Pandya serving as the captain.

Ever since India were eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2022, in the semi-finals, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, etc. have not featured in India's T20I scheme of things with Hardik Pandya serving as the captain. Many believe it is the end of the road for Kohli and Rohit in the shortest format with a plethora of young Indian batters showcasing their skills in the IPL. Nonetheless, nothing official has come out from the BCCI selectors on Kohli and Rohit's T20I future. Recently, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar was asked about Kohli's T20I future and the veteran believes his form in IPL 2024 'should be observed' before taking a call on his selection. Gavaskar told Sports Tak: "The next T20 World Cup will be played in 2024. There will be another IPL before that in March-April. He asserted, "Kohli's form should be observed at that point. There is no point talking about it now. If we are talking about an upcoming T20 international, say India are playing a match in June, then he definitely fits into the team, the kind of form that he has shown. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'Unlike Dhoni, Rohit doesn't get enough credit for captaincy' - Sunil Gavaskar lauds MI skipper 'If I was a selector and India were playing a T20I in June, I would pick him' "But, speaking about the 2024 World Cup, which will be held in West Indies and America, the form of players needs to be observed in the IPL before that and then we can talk about selection for the World Cup squad. Virat would definitely be in my T20I team on current form for India’s upcoming matches in the format. He has scored two hundreds [in IPL 2023]. Hitting two hundreds in T20 cricket, even scoring 50 is difficult. "This great batter has notched up two hundreds. If I was a selector and India were playing a T20 in June this year, I would, without doubt, pick him in the squad." Kohli ended IPL 2023 with 639 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), including six fifties and two back-to-back hundreds. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'His form should be observed': Gavaskar not in favour of ruling out Kohli from India's T20 WC plans

In pics: Reliving Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL 2023 campaign

Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Virat Kohli had a record-breaking night against Gujarat Titans in the last league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as he scored his seventh ton in IPL - most by any batsman in the league history.

This was Virat's second consecutive hundred in IPL 2023 but it could not help his team from getting eliminated from the league. Kohli, meanwhile, has hit back as the critics after the match for being questioned on his strike rate - which has hovered around 130s throughout the season.

<h2>What did Virat Kohli say?</h2>

“I felt great. Lot of people think that my T20 cricket is declining, I don't feel like that at all. I think I am playing my best T20 cricket again,” said the former India skipper on his game.

“I'm just enjoying myself. This is how I play T20 cricket, I look to hit gaps, hit a lot of boundaries and then the big ones towards the end if the situation allows me to. You have to read situations and rise up to the occasion when the situation demands. I feel really good with my game at the moment and how I'm batting,” he added further.

Explained:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-virat-kohli-and-ipl-strike-rate-a-historically-slow-affair-590395">Virat Kohli and IPL strike rate - A historically slow affair</a>

<h2>Virat's season in numbers</h2>

Kohli played in all 14 matches for RCB and batted in all of them as an opener. The batsman scored third most runs in the league - 639, behind only Orange cap holder and his skipper Faf du Plessis - 730 run and Shubman Gill - 680 runs. Kohli's strike rate - 139.82, however, is the slowest among top three.&nbsp;

<h2>Curious case of Virat's strike rate</h2>

Kohli's best season was in 2016 when the batsman scored at a whopping strike rate of 150+, the only time in his IPL career as well. While he has had two decent seasons after 2016, that is in 2018 and 2019, Kohli hasn't been in the best of form since 2022, with his best strike rate being 121.35 in 2020. The batsman albeit scored 400+ runs two times out of three.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Virat Kohli had a record-breaking night against Gujarat Titans in the last league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as he scored his seventh ton in IPL - most by any batsman in the league history.

Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Virat Kohli had a record-breaking night against Gujarat Titans in the last league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as he scored his seventh ton in IPL - most by any batsman in the league history. This was Virat's second consecutive hundred in IPL 2023 but it could not help his team from getting eliminated from the league. Kohli, meanwhile, has hit back as the critics after the match for being questioned on his strike rate - which has hovered around 130s throughout the season. What did Virat Kohli say? “I felt great. Lot of people think that my T20 cricket is declining, I don't feel like that at all. I think I am playing my best T20 cricket again,” said the former India skipper on his game. “I'm just enjoying myself. This is how I play T20 cricket, I look to hit gaps, hit a lot of boundaries and then the big ones towards the end if the situation allows me to. You have to read situations and rise up to the occasion when the situation demands. I feel really good with my game at the moment and how I'm batting,” he added further. Explained: Virat Kohli and IPL strike rate - A historically slow affair Virat's season in numbers Kohli played in all 14 matches for RCB and batted in all of them as an opener. The batsman scored third most runs in the league - 639, behind only Orange cap holder and his skipper Faf du Plessis - 730 run and Shubman Gill - 680 runs. Kohli's strike rate - 139.82, however, is the slowest among top three. Curious case of Virat's strike rate Kohli's best season was in 2016 when the batsman scored at a whopping strike rate of 150+, the only time in his IPL career as well. While he has had two decent seasons after 2016, that is in 2018 and 2019, Kohli hasn't been in the best of form since 2022, with his best strike rate being 121.35 in 2020. The batsman albeit scored 400+ runs two times out of three. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: 'I am playing my best:' Virat Kohli hits back after criticism over strike rate

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) dream of lifting their maiden IPL title ended on Sunday evening (May 21) as the Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru franchise bowed out of the 2023 edition with a loss in their last league stage game. Hosting the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), in Bengaluru, RCB posted 197 for 5 riding on Virat Kohli's 61-ball 101* but failed to defend the score courtesy of Gujarat opener Shubman Gill's unbeaten 104. Hardik Pandya &amp; Co. won by six wickets with five balls to spare.

While there were a lot of positives for RCB, Dinesh Karthik had a miserable season. The veteran keeper-batter, who returned to the Team India setup after his memorable run for the RCB franchise in IPL 2022, fell flat and ended with only 140 runs in 13 matches at an average of&nbsp;11.67 with a best of 30. After his disastrous run in IPL 2023, former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody made a big statement on his IPL future.

"Dinesh Karthik had a very average tournament and you just wonder whether this is possibly his last tournament,” said Moody while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-for-kevin-pietersen-suggests-virat-kohli-to-join-this-franchise-after-rcbs-ipl-2023-ouster-595054">'Time for...': Kevin Pietersen suggests Virat Kohli to join THIS franchise after RCB's IPL 2023 ouster</a>

Further, Moody backed Anuj Rawat -- the youngster who replaced Karthik behind the stumps with the latter used as an Impact Player towards the business end -- but feels he needs more to improve as a wicketkeeper.&nbsp;

<h2>End of the road for DK?</h2>

"What is still very obvious is this it seems to still be a gaping hole between No. 4 and No. 7. Rawat showed promise, but I think you need to spend some time with him behind the stumps,” Moody added.

Talking about Rawat, he scored&nbsp;91 runs at an average of 30.33 and a strike rate of 128.71 in IPL 2023. Meanwhile, Karthik ended with four ducks in the season; also topping the unwanted list of most ducks in IPL history (17).&nbsp;

Karthik was part of Team India T20I squad till the 2022 World Cup in Australia. Returning with a below-par run in the showpiece event Down Under, he was sidelined from the national setup and given his poor run in IPL 2023, his national comeback certainly seems out of the picture.

Karthik may have also played his last IPL season given RCB are set to back youngsters after another disappointing run in the ongoing edition. Only time will tell whether DK will retain his place in the RCB franchise or if he will be completely sidelined in the upcoming seasons.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) dream of lifting their maiden IPL title ended on Sunday evening (May 21) as the Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru franchise bowed out of the 2023 edition with a loss in their last league stage game.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) dream of lifting their maiden IPL title ended on Sunday evening (May 21) as the Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru franchise bowed out of the 2023 edition with a loss in their last league stage game. Hosting the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), in Bengaluru, RCB posted 197 for 5 riding on Virat Kohli's 61-ball 101* but failed to defend the score courtesy of Gujarat opener Shubman Gill's unbeaten 104. Hardik Pandya & Co. won by six wickets with five balls to spare. While there were a lot of positives for RCB, Dinesh Karthik had a miserable season. The veteran keeper-batter, who returned to the Team India setup after his memorable run for the RCB franchise in IPL 2022, fell flat and ended with only 140 runs in 13 matches at an average of 11.67 with a best of 30. After his disastrous run in IPL 2023, former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody made a big statement on his IPL future. "Dinesh Karthik had a very average tournament and you just wonder whether this is possibly his last tournament,” said Moody while speaking to ESPNcricinfo. Also Read: 'Time for...': Kevin Pietersen suggests Virat Kohli to join THIS franchise after RCB's IPL 2023 ouster Further, Moody backed Anuj Rawat -- the youngster who replaced Karthik behind the stumps with the latter used as an Impact Player towards the business end -- but feels he needs more to improve as a wicketkeeper. End of the road for DK? "What is still very obvious is this it seems to still be a gaping hole between No. 4 and No. 7. Rawat showed promise, but I think you need to spend some time with him behind the stumps,” Moody added. Talking about Rawat, he scored 91 runs at an average of 30.33 and a strike rate of 128.71 in IPL 2023. Meanwhile, Karthik ended with four ducks in the season; also topping the unwanted list of most ducks in IPL history (17). Karthik was part of Team India T20I squad till the 2022 World Cup in Australia. Returning with a below-par run in the showpiece event Down Under, he was sidelined from the national setup and given his poor run in IPL 2023, his national comeback certainly seems out of the picture. Karthik may have also played his last IPL season given RCB are set to back youngsters after another disappointing run in the ongoing edition. Only time will tell whether DK will retain his place in the RCB franchise or if he will be completely sidelined in the upcoming seasons. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Wonder whether...' - Former SRH coach opines on RCB star Dinesh Karthik's future after IPL 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had to win their face-off versus defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the last league stage game of IPL 2023&nbsp;on Sunday evening (May 21)&nbsp;to book the vacant fourth spot in the playoffs. Despite a sublime 61-ball 101 not out from Kohli,&nbsp;three-time runners-up RCB failed to defend 198 in the must-win game. Riding on the back of Shubman Gill's 104 not out, GT beat RCB&nbsp;by six wickets&nbsp;in Bengaluru.

Thus, RCB faltered once again in an IPL season. In 16 editions, the Bengaluru-based franchise has played the final thrice (in 2009, 2011 and 2016) and featured in the top four in&nbsp;eight seasons. They remain one of the three franchises -- part of the IPL since its inception in 2008 -- to have not won the elusive trophy. Kohli, who has been part of the RCB franchise since 2008, has time and again revealed that he has no intentions of leaving the Bengaluru camp, but former England captain Kevin Pietersen shared a bold suggestion for the ex-Indian captain. He wants Kohli to play for his home franchise, i.e. the Delhi Capitals (DC).

"Time for VIRAT to make the move to the capital city! #IPL," Pietersen tweeted.

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Time for VIRAT to make the move to the capital city…! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a>
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In the past, Kohli has always maintained that he will feature for the RCB camp till the time he plays the IPL. During an Instagram live with AB de Villiers in 2020, the 34-year-old stated, "It has been such an amazing journey. It is always going to be our dream, winning the IPL together. There is no scenario where I could think of leaving the team ever."

"You can feel emotional about the season not going well but till the time I am playing IPL, I am never leaving this team. The fans, their loyalty has been amazing," added Kohli.

Talking about the DC franchise, they ended in the ninth position with only five wins from 14 games. Along with RCB and Punjab Kings, the Delhi franchise are also without an IPL trophy despite featuring in the cash-rich league since 2008.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had to win their face-off versus defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the last league stage game of IPL 2023 on Sunday evening (May 21) to book the vacant fourth spot in the playoffs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had to win their face-off versus defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the last league stage game of IPL 2023 on Sunday evening (May 21) to book the vacant fourth spot in the playoffs. Despite a sublime 61-ball 101 not out from Kohli, three-time runners-up RCB failed to defend 198 in the must-win game. Riding on the back of Shubman Gill's 104 not out, GT beat RCB by six wickets in Bengaluru. Thus, RCB faltered once again in an IPL season. In 16 editions, the Bengaluru-based franchise has played the final thrice (in 2009, 2011 and 2016) and featured in the top four in eight seasons. They remain one of the three franchises -- part of the IPL since its inception in 2008 -- to have not won the elusive trophy. Kohli, who has been part of the RCB franchise since 2008, has time and again revealed that he has no intentions of leaving the Bengaluru camp, but former England captain Kevin Pietersen shared a bold suggestion for the ex-Indian captain. He wants Kohli to play for his home franchise, i.e. the Delhi Capitals (DC). "Time for VIRAT to make the move to the capital city! #IPL," Pietersen tweeted. Time for VIRAT to make the move to the capital city…! #IPL — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 22, 2023 × Also Read: IPL 2023: RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar provides injury update for Virat Kohli ahead of WTC final In the past, Kohli has always maintained that he will feature for the RCB camp till the time he plays the IPL. During an Instagram live with AB de Villiers in 2020, the 34-year-old stated, "It has been such an amazing journey. It is always going to be our dream, winning the IPL together. There is no scenario where I could think of leaving the team ever." "You can feel emotional about the season not going well but till the time I am playing IPL, I am never leaving this team. The fans, their loyalty has been amazing," added Kohli. Talking about the DC franchise, they ended in the ninth position with only five wins from 14 games. Along with RCB and Punjab Kings, the Delhi franchise are also without an IPL trophy despite featuring in the cash-rich league since 2008.

'Time for...': Kevin Pietersen suggests Virat Kohli to join THIS franchise after RCB's IPL 2023 ouster

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