The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 edition has become a big hit. It has gained mileage as it proceeds towards the business end of the tournament. So far, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians (MI) have been on a roll, very much like their men's counterpart in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and remain at the top of the points table with as many as five wins on the trot.&nbsp;

On Tuesday (March 14), MI defeated Gujarat Giants (GG) by 55 runs to confirm&nbsp;a spot in the playoffs. Thus, they became the first side to do so in WPL history. Apart from them, Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals (DC) have also performed well with four wins from five games. UP Warriorz Women (UPW) have two victories and an equal number of losses whereas GG have managed only a solitary triumph from five encounters. Nonetheless, the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remain at the bottom and are the only winless side.

After five games, Mandhana &amp; Co. have failed to get off the mark in the points table. To add to their woes, they have suffered&nbsp;big defeats in as many as four fixtures. Thus, their Net Run Rate (NRR) is also a dismal&nbsp;-2.109. Given their current form, they are very much likely to miss the playoffs race but are not out of contention just yet. RCB remain alive mathematically but need a quick turnaround to progress ahead.

WPL 2023 Updated Points Table after MI vs GG clash on March 14 -

<img alt="WPL 2023 Updates Points Table" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ef82ed1b-e677-43a3-a233-656768b220b4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WPL%20PT.jpg" />

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-points-table-check-updated-points-table-and-live-streaming-details-for-womens-premier-league-2023-571863">WPL 2023 Points Table: Check updated points table and live streaming details for Women's Premier League 2023</a>

EXPLAINED: How RCB can still end up in the top 3

To the surprise of many, RCB still has a slim chance. While they cannot finish in the top two, they still have a chance to enter the knockouts as the third-best side.&nbsp;

Mandhana &amp; Co. need to topple their opposition&nbsp;in their remaining&nbsp;three games. Not only this, but RCB also need some favour from other teams. The Bengaluru franchise needs to hope&nbsp;UPW lose all of its remaining games. In addition, they need to pray that GG does not&nbsp;emerge on top in more than one&nbsp;game solely&nbsp;due to RCB's poor NRR.

As of now, it looks highly likely that MI and DC will end at the top two with UPW holding onto the third spot. However, anything can still happen if RCB and GG come to the party. It is to be noted that the team who finishes at the top will directly enter the final. Meanwhile, an Eliminator will be held between the second-ranked and third-positioned sides.

RCB's last outing and the road ahead

RCB face UPW in their next outing, on Wednesday evening (March 15) at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. The last time both sides faced each other saw the UP franchise demolish RCB by ten wickets. Mandhana &amp; Co. batted first and only managed 138 all-out, which was chased down by UP with ten wickets and seven overs in hand.

RCB go into this match after a last-over loss&nbsp;versus the DC unit, on Monday (March 13), where the latter won by&nbsp;six wickets while chasing 151.

A confident DC unit won the toss and opted to bowl first at the&nbsp;Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Mandhana fell early for RCB as her poor form continued. She has only managed scores of 35, 23, 18, 4, and 8 so far in the five-team competition. Ellyse Perry's 67 and Richa Ghosh's 16-ball 37 not out propelled the team to 150 for 4. However, it was just a par score.

Meanwhile, DC&nbsp;were&nbsp;made to work hard in their run-chase. Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen (15-ball 29 not out) stood tall to take their side home. Jonassen returned as the Player-of-the-Match for her rapid knock and whereas her teammate Shikha Pandey (3 for 239) also played a vital role in the victory.

At the post-match presentation, Smriti said, "Really good effort by our bowlers to take it till the 20th over. Definitely a lot of improvements but a lot of things to work on still. The partnership got us into the game, they both batted brilliantly. They used their experience to get us to a defendable total. Not the best of the starts, including my batting. The first 14 overs really hurt us, even 10-15 runs more would have helped. Towards the fag-end of the tournament, the wickets are going to get slower. Even in the last game, spinners got the ball to turn and pace-off and slower balls were working."

After the game versus UPW, RCB will face two more games to play; against GG and MI respectively.

Will Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and the likes fire on all cylinders with time running for RCB? Only time will tell...

Complete RCB squad for WPL 2023

Smriti Mandhana 
Sophie Devine&nbsp; 
Ellyse Perry 
Renuka Singh&nbsp; 
Richa Ghosh&nbsp; 
Erin Burns 
Asha Shobhana&nbsp; 
Heather Knight&nbsp; 
Heather Knight&nbsp; 
Dane van Niekerk 
Preeti Bose,&nbsp; 
Poonam Khemnar 
Komal Janjad 
Megan Schutt 
Sahana Pawar 
Disha Kasat&nbsp; 
Indrani Roy 
Shreyanka Patil&nbsp; 
Kanika Ahuja&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 edition has become a big hit. It has gained mileage as it proceeds towards the business end of the tournament. So far, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians (MI) have been on a roll, very much like their men's counterpart in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and remain at the top of the points table with as many as five wins on the trot.

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 edition has become a big hit. It has gained mileage as it proceeds towards the business end of the tournament. So far, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians (MI) have been on a roll, very much like their men's counterpart in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and remain at the top of the points table with as many as five wins on the trot. On Tuesday (March 14), MI defeated Gujarat Giants (GG) by 55 runs to confirm a spot in the playoffs. Thus, they became the first side to do so in WPL history. Apart from them, Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals (DC) have also performed well with four wins from five games. UP Warriorz Women (UPW) have two victories and an equal number of losses whereas GG have managed only a solitary triumph from five encounters. Nonetheless, the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remain at the bottom and are the only winless side. After five games, Mandhana & Co. have failed to get off the mark in the points table. To add to their woes, they have suffered big defeats in as many as four fixtures. Thus, their Net Run Rate (NRR) is also a dismal -2.109. Given their current form, they are very much likely to miss the playoffs race but are not out of contention just yet. RCB remain alive mathematically but need a quick turnaround to progress ahead. WPL 2023 Updated Points Table after MI vs GG clash on March 14 - Also read: WPL 2023 Points Table: Check updated points table and live streaming details for Women's Premier League 2023 EXPLAINED: How RCB can still end up in the top 3 To the surprise of many, RCB still has a slim chance. While they cannot finish in the top two, they still have a chance to enter the knockouts as the third-best side. Mandhana & Co. need to topple their opposition in their remaining three games. Not only this, but RCB also need some favour from other teams. The Bengaluru franchise needs to hope UPW lose all of its remaining games. In addition, they need to pray that GG does not emerge on top in more than one game solely due to RCB's poor NRR. As of now, it looks highly likely that MI and DC will end at the top two with UPW holding onto the third spot. However, anything can still happen if RCB and GG come to the party. It is to be noted that the team who finishes at the top will directly enter the final. Meanwhile, an Eliminator will be held between the second-ranked and third-positioned sides. RCB's last outing and the road ahead RCB face UPW in their next outing, on Wednesday evening (March 15) at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. The last time both sides faced each other saw the UP franchise demolish RCB by ten wickets. Mandhana & Co. batted first and only managed 138 all-out, which was chased down by UP with ten wickets and seven overs in hand. RCB go into this match after a last-over loss versus the DC unit, on Monday (March 13), where the latter won by six wickets while chasing 151. A confident DC unit won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Mandhana fell early for RCB as her poor form continued. She has only managed scores of 35, 23, 18, 4, and 8 so far in the five-team competition. Ellyse Perry's 67 and Richa Ghosh's 16-ball 37 not out propelled the team to 150 for 4. However, it was just a par score. Meanwhile, DC were made to work hard in their run-chase. Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen (15-ball 29 not out) stood tall to take their side home. Jonassen returned as the Player-of-the-Match for her rapid knock and whereas her teammate Shikha Pandey (3 for 239) also played a vital role in the victory. At the post-match presentation, Smriti said, "Really good effort by our bowlers to take it till the 20th over. Definitely a lot of improvements but a lot of things to work on still. The partnership got us into the game, they both batted brilliantly. They used their experience to get us to a defendable total. Not the best of the starts, including my batting. The first 14 overs really hurt us, even 10-15 runs more would have helped. Towards the fag-end of the tournament, the wickets are going to get slower. Even in the last game, spinners got the ball to turn and pace-off and slower balls were working." After the game versus UPW, RCB will face two more games to play; against GG and MI respectively. Will Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and the likes fire on all cylinders with time running for RCB? Only time will tell... Complete RCB squad for WPL 2023 Smriti Mandhana Sophie Devine Ellyse Perry Renuka Singh Richa Ghosh Erin Burns Asha Shobhana Heather Knight Heather Knight Dane van Niekerk Preeti Bose, Poonam Khemnar Komal Janjad Megan Schutt Sahana Pawar Disha Kasat Indrani Roy Shreyanka Patil Kanika Ahuja ×

WPL 2023: EXPLAINED! How Smriti Mandhana's RCB can still qualify for playoffs after five successive defeats

Be it in the Indian Premier League or in the Women’s Premier League, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have found it hard to get going from the word go. Smriti Mandhana, bought for a whopping INR 3.4 crores at the WPL auction, has failed to guide&nbsp;her side to a win so far in the maiden edition of this tournament. Following RCB's fourth straight loss the other night in Mumbai, Smriti has found herself in hot waters but has backing from her teammate Ellyse Perry.

Perry, another star all-rounder in the team full of big names, has come out in support of Smriti saying the way she has led so far, it appears she is great at it,&nbsp;but she puts too much pressure on herself for doing well for the team – which certainly isn’t going her way.

Speaking after yet another humiliating loss in WPL – this time going down against UP Warriorz by ten wickets, Perry addressed the media and said it’s not easy for someone to manage a team full of new faces.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-alyssa-healys-unbeaten-96-run-knock-propels-more-misery-on-rcb-with-4th-consecutive-defeat-570730">WPL 2023: Alyssa Healy's unbeaten 96-run knock propels more misery on RCB with 4th consecutive defeat</a>

“Knowing Smriti and how proud and responsible she is for her own game, there’s probably no more pressure on her than what she is putting on herself. It’s a ginormous task to come into a brand-new competition and play with a group of players that she has never played with before and try and make that all gel in a matter of a couple of days since she joined the group,” Perry said.&nbsp;

From playing against her to playing under her, Perry knows a thing or two about Smriti and feels Smriti still has a long way to go in the tournament. She added saying&nbsp;it’s about time before Mandhana&nbsp;finds her Mojo and let herself loose. The recently-crowned T20 World Cup winner with Australia, Perry adds that looking at the bigger picture, she knows Smriti is going to make it big in WPL.

“I think she’s a great captain too. She just needs a chance to find her feet in the tournament and she will no doubt. But the bigger picture (is), it's just going to mean we are going to see an even better version of Smriti after this. There’s so much that she has learned from this competition already, both as a captain and as a batter, to make her even better in the future. She’s only a youngster right,” the Aussie all-rounder added.

With four losses in four games now RCB’s chances of reaching the playoffs look bleak. However, for RCB to revive its confidence, they must beat Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 13th.

Be it in the Indian Premier League or in the Women’s Premier League, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have found it hard to get going from the word go. Smriti Mandhana, bought for a whopping INR 3.

Be it in the Indian Premier League or in the Women’s Premier League, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have found it hard to get going from the word go. Smriti Mandhana, bought for a whopping INR 3.4 crores at the WPL auction, has failed to guide her side to a win so far in the maiden edition of this tournament. Following RCB's fourth straight loss the other night in Mumbai, Smriti has found herself in hot waters but has backing from her teammate Ellyse Perry. Perry, another star all-rounder in the team full of big names, has come out in support of Smriti saying the way she has led so far, it appears she is great at it, but she puts too much pressure on herself for doing well for the team – which certainly isn’t going her way. Speaking after yet another humiliating loss in WPL – this time going down against UP Warriorz by ten wickets, Perry addressed the media and said it’s not easy for someone to manage a team full of new faces. ALSO READ: WPL 2023: Alyssa Healy's unbeaten 96-run knock propels more misery on RCB with 4th consecutive defeat “Knowing Smriti and how proud and responsible she is for her own game, there’s probably no more pressure on her than what she is putting on herself. It’s a ginormous task to come into a brand-new competition and play with a group of players that she has never played with before and try and make that all gel in a matter of a couple of days since she joined the group,” Perry said. From playing against her to playing under her, Perry knows a thing or two about Smriti and feels Smriti still has a long way to go in the tournament. She added saying it’s about time before Mandhana finds her Mojo and let herself loose. The recently-crowned T20 World Cup winner with Australia, Perry adds that looking at the bigger picture, she knows Smriti is going to make it big in WPL. “I think she’s a great captain too. She just needs a chance to find her feet in the tournament and she will no doubt. But the bigger picture (is), it's just going to mean we are going to see an even better version of Smriti after this. There’s so much that she has learned from this competition already, both as a captain and as a batter, to make her even better in the future. She’s only a youngster right,” the Aussie all-rounder added. With four losses in four games now RCB’s chances of reaching the playoffs look bleak. However, for RCB to revive its confidence, they must beat Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 13th.

WPL 2023: Smriti Mandhana is a great captain but she's putting too much pressure on herself: Ellyse Perry

Glenn Maxwell has been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the 2013 edition. He has represented the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) -- now known as Punjab Kings (PBKS) -- Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- now renamed as Delhi Capitals (DC) -- before moving to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise in IPL 2021. While Maxwell had a disastrous run for PBKS in IPL 2020, he was roped in by the RCB franchise ahead of IPL 2021. The Australian star all-rounder repaid the faith shown by the RCB team management with a stellar season.

In IPL 2021, Maxwell&nbsp;scored 513 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of&nbsp;144.10; one of the reasons for RCB reaching the playoffs. After such an impressive run, there were little doubts in anyone's mind that he won't be retained by the franchise. However, there were limited slots and abundance of talents in RCB's ranks ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction. Nonetheless, he was one of the three players retained -- along with Virat Kohli and Md Siraj -- before the auction. The all-rounder recently recalled his reaction on being retained by the RCB setup.

"You never know what’s gonna happen because it’s a big auction. And like, with how many people they were going to retain and we had, obviously, a couple of bowlers — Siraj, Harshal, Yuzi (Chahal), then AB, Virat, and those young Indian players, and all could have been retained at some stage. So to retain an overseas batter, sometimes isn’t the smartest move," Maxwell said on the RCB Podcast.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-pm-modi-and-his-australian-counterpart-anthony-albanese-meet-ind-aus-players-before-4th-test-570105">WATCH: PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese meet Ind-Aus players before 4th Test</a>

Maxwell added, "It seems straightforward, but in my head, there was obviously a lot more I had to go through. When I got the phone call that I was gonna be retained, I was pumped and couldn’t wait to stick around."

Having been bought by the franchise for INR 14.25 crore, in 2021,&nbsp;Maxwell has now become a vital part of RCB. In the previous edition, he returned with 301 runs in 13 games as RCB once again made it to the playoffs. He will aim for another memorable run in IPL 2023, starting on March 31.

RCB Complete Squad for IPL 2023

Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Faf Du Plessis (c), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahemad, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Karn Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, David Willey, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Will Jacks, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav

Glenn Maxwell has been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the 2013 edition. He has represented the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) -- now known as Punjab Kings (PBKS) -- Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- now renamed as Delhi Capitals (DC) -- before moving to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise in IPL 2021.

Glenn Maxwell has been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the 2013 edition. He has represented the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) -- now known as Punjab Kings (PBKS) -- Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- now renamed as Delhi Capitals (DC) -- before moving to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise in IPL 2021. While Maxwell had a disastrous run for PBKS in IPL 2020, he was roped in by the RCB franchise ahead of IPL 2021. The Australian star all-rounder repaid the faith shown by the RCB team management with a stellar season. In IPL 2021, Maxwell scored 513 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 144.10; one of the reasons for RCB reaching the playoffs. After such an impressive run, there were little doubts in anyone's mind that he won't be retained by the franchise. However, there were limited slots and abundance of talents in RCB's ranks ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction. Nonetheless, he was one of the three players retained -- along with Virat Kohli and Md Siraj -- before the auction. The all-rounder recently recalled his reaction on being retained by the RCB setup. "You never know what’s gonna happen because it’s a big auction. And like, with how many people they were going to retain and we had, obviously, a couple of bowlers — Siraj, Harshal, Yuzi (Chahal), then AB, Virat, and those young Indian players, and all could have been retained at some stage. So to retain an overseas batter, sometimes isn’t the smartest move," Maxwell said on the RCB Podcast. Also read: WATCH: PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese meet Ind-Aus players before 4th Test Maxwell added, "It seems straightforward, but in my head, there was obviously a lot more I had to go through. When I got the phone call that I was gonna be retained, I was pumped and couldn’t wait to stick around." Having been bought by the franchise for INR 14.25 crore, in 2021, Maxwell has now become a vital part of RCB. In the previous edition, he returned with 301 runs in 13 games as RCB once again made it to the playoffs. He will aim for another memorable run in IPL 2023, starting on March 31. RCB Complete Squad for IPL 2023 Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Faf Du Plessis (c), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahemad, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Karn Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, David Willey, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Will Jacks, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav

'It isn't...' Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell recalls being retained by RCB ahead of IPL 2022 auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star all-rounder Ellyse Perry gave an epic reply when asked to choose her opening partner between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Both Kohli and Dhoni have been superstars of Indian cricket. Perry, who is currently involved in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 edition, gave a witty response to the question in a recent interaction.

“I’d pick them to open the batting and I can watch rather than me being a part of it,” Perry was quoted as saying in an interview that got uploaded on RCB’s official Twitter handle. RCB captioned the post, "We caught up with the ever so popular Aussie star Ellyse Perry during the team photoshoot. Find out what&nbsp;she&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;say."&nbsp;

Here's the clip:

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We caught up with the ever so popular Aussie star Ellyse Perry during the team photoshoot. Find out what she had to say.<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/hashtag/SheIsBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SheIsBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPL2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WPL2023</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EllysePerry?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EllysePerry</a> <a href="https://t.co/kiOSRDV0UY">pic.twitter.com/kiOSRDV0UY</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1633324663735566336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unmissable-rohit-sharma-leads-the-charge-as-team-india-celebrate-holi-in-ahmedabad-watch-569894">UNMISSABLE! Rohit Sharma leads the charge as Team India celebrate Holi in Ahmedabad - Watch</a>

Kohli has been part of the RCB setup since IPL 2008. He is involved in India-Australia home Tests at present whereas Dhoni is gearing up for IPL 2023, having already joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp.

Perry, on the other hand, was part of Meg Lanning-led Australia's recent T20 World Cup triumph in South Africa. She is now part of the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB squad in the first-ever WPL. After two games, Bengaluru remain winless and will face Gujarat Giants (GGT) -- who are also without a victory after equal number of encounters --&nbsp;on Wednesday evening (March 09). The two teams will lock horns&nbsp;at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Perry, who has scored 44 runs in two games (with a best of 31) but has been wicketless so far, will be desperate to get her side off the mark in the points table versus Sneh Rana-led Gujarat.&nbsp;

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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star all-rounder Ellyse Perry gave an epic reply when asked to choose her opening partner between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Both Kohli and Dhoni have been superstars of Indian cricket.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star all-rounder Ellyse Perry gave an epic reply when asked to choose her opening partner between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Both Kohli and Dhoni have been superstars of Indian cricket. Perry, who is currently involved in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 edition, gave a witty response to the question in a recent interaction. “I’d pick them to open the batting and I can watch rather than me being a part of it,” Perry was quoted as saying in an interview that got uploaded on RCB’s official Twitter handle. RCB captioned the post, "We caught up with the ever so popular Aussie star Ellyse Perry during the team photoshoot. Find out what she had to say." Here's the clip: We caught up with the ever so popular Aussie star Ellyse Perry during the team photoshoot. Find out what she had to say.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SheIsBold #WPL2023 @EllysePerry pic.twitter.com/kiOSRDV0UY — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 8, 2023 × Also read: UNMISSABLE! Rohit Sharma leads the charge as Team India celebrate Holi in Ahmedabad - Watch Kohli has been part of the RCB setup since IPL 2008. He is involved in India-Australia home Tests at present whereas Dhoni is gearing up for IPL 2023, having already joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp. Perry, on the other hand, was part of Meg Lanning-led Australia's recent T20 World Cup triumph in South Africa. She is now part of the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB squad in the first-ever WPL. After two games, Bengaluru remain winless and will face Gujarat Giants (GGT) -- who are also without a victory after equal number of encounters -- on Wednesday evening (March 09). The two teams will lock horns at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. Perry, who has scored 44 runs in two games (with a best of 31) but has been wicketless so far, will be desperate to get her side off the mark in the points table versus Sneh Rana-led Gujarat. ×

WPL 2023: Kohli or Dhoni? RCB's Ellyse Perry gives epic reply when asked to choose her opening partner - Watch

To commemorate&nbsp;Women's Day on Wednesday, March 8, all fans will be given free entry for the match between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, tweeted Women's Premier League (WPL)

The information was first first displayed on the digital scoreboard during the last night's match between Royals Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The WPL&nbsp;later shared the info on its official twitter handle.

"𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚 𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲! #TATAWPL celebrates Women's Day with 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝘼𝙇𝙇 for the #GGvRCB match on March 8, 2023!" read the tweet.

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𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚 𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲! 👏👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAWPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAWPL</a> celebrates Women's Day with 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝘼𝙇𝙇 for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GGvRCB</a> match on March 8, 2023! 🙌 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/AxwTsGI3vA">pic.twitter.com/AxwTsGI3vA</a>
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) <a href="https://twitter.com/wplt20/status/1632788177810333697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The decision comes on the back of BCCI's announcement to give free entry to women and girls in all WPL matches to promote women's cricket in India.&nbsp;

Coming to&nbsp;Monday's match, MI-W beat RCB-W by nine-wickets, picking up their second consecutive win and handing Smriti Mandhana-led RCB their second straight loss.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-mi-w-vs-rcb-w-hayley-matthews-stars-in-mumbai-indians-successive-win-569317">MI-W vs RCB-W - Hayley Matthews stars in Mumbai Indians' successive win</a>

MI's all-rounder Hayley Matthews starred with both bat and all as she score 77 unbeaten off 38 balls after picking up three wickets in the first innings of the match. She was awarded Player-of-the-Match for her performance.

Matthews, along with Nat Sciver-Brunt - who also scored unbeaten 55 off 29 balls, put up a 100-run partnership for the second wicket while chasing 156. Thanks to these two, Mumbai chased down the target in just 14.2 overs.

&nbsp;Earlier, Bangalore won the toss and elected to bat first. RCB were off to a flyer as Mandhana and Sophie Devine added 39 runs in 4.1 overs for the first wicket. The proceedings for RCB soon hit the break as the lost four wickets in eight balls to be left four down inside the powerplay.

Small cameos from Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil and Megan Schutt though, helped RCB post a competitive total of 155. The Challengers, however, could not play their quota of overs as they folded in 18.4 overs with Hayley Matthews being pick of the bowlers.&nbsp;

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To commemorate Women's Day on Wednesday, March 8, all fans will be given free entry for the match between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, tweeted Women's Premier League (WPL) The information was first first displayed on the digital scoreboard during the last night's match between Royals Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI).

To commemorate Women's Day on Wednesday, March 8, all fans will be given free entry for the match between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, tweeted Women's Premier League (WPL) The information was first first displayed on the digital scoreboard during the last night's match between Royals Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The WPL later shared the info on its official twitter handle. "𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚 𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲! #TATAWPL celebrates Women's Day with 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝘼𝙇𝙇 for the #GGvRCB match on March 8, 2023!" read the tweet. 𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚 𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲! 👏👏#TATAWPL celebrates Women's Day with 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝘼𝙇𝙇 for the #GGvRCB match on March 8, 2023! 🙌 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AxwTsGI3vA — Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 6, 2023 × The decision comes on the back of BCCI's announcement to give free entry to women and girls in all WPL matches to promote women's cricket in India. Coming to Monday's match, MI-W beat RCB-W by nine-wickets, picking up their second consecutive win and handing Smriti Mandhana-led RCB their second straight loss. Also Read: MI-W vs RCB-W - Hayley Matthews stars in Mumbai Indians' successive win MI's all-rounder Hayley Matthews starred with both bat and all as she score 77 unbeaten off 38 balls after picking up three wickets in the first innings of the match. She was awarded Player-of-the-Match for her performance. Matthews, along with Nat Sciver-Brunt - who also scored unbeaten 55 off 29 balls, put up a 100-run partnership for the second wicket while chasing 156. Thanks to these two, Mumbai chased down the target in just 14.2 overs. Earlier, Bangalore won the toss and elected to bat first. RCB were off to a flyer as Mandhana and Sophie Devine added 39 runs in 4.1 overs for the first wicket. The proceedings for RCB soon hit the break as the lost four wickets in eight balls to be left four down inside the powerplay. Small cameos from Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil and Megan Schutt though, helped RCB post a competitive total of 155. The Challengers, however, could not play their quota of overs as they folded in 18.4 overs with Hayley Matthews being pick of the bowlers. 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.

WPL 2023: Free entry for all fans during RCB vs GG match on Women's Day

Star Indian women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana has become the first female player to be sold in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai on Monday. Registered in the marquee list, Mandhana is bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a record fee of INR 3.4 crores. RCB and Mumbai-based franchise (MI) started the bidding for the stylish left-hander. Priced at INR 50 lacs, Mandhana’s bid crossed INR 3 crores in no time. Soon after, Bangalore bagged her services for a price mentioned above.

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Scenes from South Africa 🕺 
 
Auction celebrations as Smriti Mandhana became the first ever pick in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WPL</a> history! 
 
(via <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JioCinema</a>)<a href="https://t.co/zKxWuenlBZ">pic.twitter.com/zKxWuenlBZ</a>
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1625070153670197248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Having made her T20I debut a decade back against Bangladesh in April 2013, Mandhana has come a long way her in career in this format since. Not only has she achieved&nbsp;several personal accolades, she had plied her trade in different T20-based leagues across the world too, coming across a dynamite opener in white-ball cricket.

The left-handed batter is currently in South Africa for the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup but missed her side's first game against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday due to a finger injury;&nbsp;India won the match by seven wickets.

Mandhana has some sun-shining records to her name - in 112 T20I matches played so far, Smriti has scored 2651 runs at a strike rate of 122. She has 20 fifties to her name including her personal best of 86.

Devine, Perry also join RCB

Other than Mandhana, RCB also purchased New Zealand's star all-rounder&nbsp;Sophie Devine for a price worth INR 50 lacs. Devine is a stalwart figure for New Zealand across formats and her numbers in T20Is are incredible too. In 114 matches, she has 2921 runs with one hundred and 17 fifties to her name.

Besides, Australia's multi-time T20 World Cup winning all-rounder Ellyse Perry was also picked by RCB for a whopping INR 1.7 crores. The right-handed all-rounder has played 130 T20I matches and amassed 1486 runs in addition to picking 17 wickets with the career-best of four for 12.

Star Indian women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana has become the first female player to be sold in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai on Monday. Registered in the marquee list, Mandhana is bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a record fee of INR 3.

Star Indian women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana has become the first female player to be sold in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai on Monday. Registered in the marquee list, Mandhana is bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a record fee of INR 3.4 crores. RCB and Mumbai-based franchise (MI) started the bidding for the stylish left-hander. Priced at INR 50 lacs, Mandhana’s bid crossed INR 3 crores in no time. Soon after, Bangalore bagged her services for a price mentioned above. Scenes from South Africa 🕺 Auction celebrations as Smriti Mandhana became the first ever pick in #WPL history! (via @JioCinema)pic.twitter.com/zKxWuenlBZ — ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2023 × Having made her T20I debut a decade back against Bangladesh in April 2013, Mandhana has come a long way her in career in this format since. Not only has she achieved several personal accolades, she had plied her trade in different T20-based leagues across the world too, coming across a dynamite opener in white-ball cricket. The left-handed batter is currently in South Africa for the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup but missed her side's first game against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday due to a finger injury; India won the match by seven wickets. Mandhana has some sun-shining records to her name - in 112 T20I matches played so far, Smriti has scored 2651 runs at a strike rate of 122. She has 20 fifties to her name including her personal best of 86. Devine, Perry also join RCB Other than Mandhana, RCB also purchased New Zealand's star all-rounder Sophie Devine for a price worth INR 50 lacs. Devine is a stalwart figure for New Zealand across formats and her numbers in T20Is are incredible too. In 114 matches, she has 2921 runs with one hundred and 17 fifties to her name. Besides, Australia's multi-time T20 World Cup winning all-rounder Ellyse Perry was also picked by RCB for a whopping INR 1.7 crores. The right-handed all-rounder has played 130 T20I matches and amassed 1486 runs in addition to picking 17 wickets with the career-best of four for 12.

WPL 2023 Auction: Smriti Mandhana becomes first female player to be sold, goes to RCB for INR 3.4 crores

On Friday (December 23), lives of many cricketers changed for the good during the IPL 2023 mini-auction, held in Kochi. While some superstar cricketers were expected to fetch big deals, many uncapped players also made a mark and were bought in the auction. Talking about the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the three-time runners-up did some smart shopping and added some handy players.

RCB had a quiet auction and began slowly. They had a steady progress and added the likes of&nbsp;Will Jacks (Rs 3.20&nbsp;crore), Himanshu Sharma, and Reece Topley (Rs 1.9 crore), etc. -- all coming into their line-up with decent deals. They didn't spend handsomely on any player and, hence, ended the auction proceedings with a remaining purse of Rs 1.75 crore (INR 17.5 million).&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-auction-2023-full-list-of-sold-players-with-price-546039">IPL auction 2023: Full list of sold players with price</a>

Full squad of RCB for IPL 2023

Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk),&nbsp;Faf du Plessis (c), Finn Allen, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Will Jacks, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Reece Topley, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh

Remaining purse:&nbsp;

Having finished IPL 2022 at the third spot, the Faf du Plessis-led RCB will like to go the distance this time around with their core group intact along with some value additions in the form of Reece Topley and Jacks (who can be a backup for Glenn Maxwell).

On Friday (December 23), lives of many cricketers changed for the good during the IPL 2023 mini-auction, held in Kochi. While some superstar cricketers were expected to fetch big deals, many uncapped players also made a mark and were bought in the auction.

On Friday (December 23), lives of many cricketers changed for the good during the IPL 2023 mini-auction, held in Kochi. While some superstar cricketers were expected to fetch big deals, many uncapped players also made a mark and were bought in the auction. Talking about the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the three-time runners-up did some smart shopping and added some handy players. RCB had a quiet auction and began slowly. They had a steady progress and added the likes of Will Jacks (Rs 3.20 crore), Himanshu Sharma, and Reece Topley (Rs 1.9 crore), etc. -- all coming into their line-up with decent deals. They didn't spend handsomely on any player and, hence, ended the auction proceedings with a remaining purse of Rs 1.75 crore (INR 17.5 million). Also read: IPL auction 2023: Full list of sold players with price Full squad of RCB for IPL 2023 Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), Finn Allen, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Will Jacks, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Reece Topley, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh Remaining purse: Having finished IPL 2022 at the third spot, the Faf du Plessis-led RCB will like to go the distance this time around with their core group intact along with some value additions in the form of Reece Topley and Jacks (who can be a backup for Glenn Maxwell).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL Auction 2023 complete players’ list, full RCB Squad

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have kept it simple while sharing their list of retained and released players ahead of the IPL 2023 mini auction, to be held later this year. The Faf du Plessis-led RCB line-up have released only one big name in the form of Jason&nbsp;Behrendorff, traded to the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI), whereas they have managed to retain their core players who guided the side to the IPL 2022 playoffs.&nbsp;

The current squad comprises of skipper Faf, Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik whereas they have retained young and exciting talents in the form of Rajat Patidar (who scored a hundred in the IPL 2022 Eliminator), Shahbaz Ahmed, Finn Allen, Mahipal Lomror along with some experienced bowling options in Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Md Siraj.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-led-csk-retain-ravindra-jadeja-release-dwayne-bravo-chris-jordan-534439">IPL 2023: MS Dhoni-led CSK retain Ravindra Jadeja, release Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan</a>

Players released:&nbsp;Jason Behrendorff, Aneeshwar Gautam, Chama Milind, Luvnith Sisodia, Sherfane Rutherford

Purse remaining: INR 87.5 million (INR&nbsp;8.75 crore)

Players acquired via trades: NA

Current squad:&nbsp;Faf du Plessis (capt), Virat Kohli, Suyash Prabhudessai, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul, Akash Deep

Overseas slots remaining:&nbsp;2

With not wholesome changes to their squad ahead of the mini auction, it will be interesting to see who all are included in the RCB line-up before the start of the next year's edition.&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have kept it simple while sharing their list of retained and released players ahead of the IPL 2023 mini auction, to be held later this year.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have kept it simple while sharing their list of retained and released players ahead of the IPL 2023 mini auction, to be held later this year. The Faf du Plessis-led RCB line-up have released only one big name in the form of Jason Behrendorff, traded to the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI), whereas they have managed to retain their core players who guided the side to the IPL 2022 playoffs. The current squad comprises of skipper Faf, Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik whereas they have retained young and exciting talents in the form of Rajat Patidar (who scored a hundred in the IPL 2022 Eliminator), Shahbaz Ahmed, Finn Allen, Mahipal Lomror along with some experienced bowling options in Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Md Siraj. Also read: IPL 2023: MS Dhoni-led CSK retain Ravindra Jadeja, release Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan Players released: Jason Behrendorff, Aneeshwar Gautam, Chama Milind, Luvnith Sisodia, Sherfane Rutherford Purse remaining: INR 87.5 million (INR 8.75 crore) Players acquired via trades: NA Current squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Virat Kohli, Suyash Prabhudessai, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul, Akash Deep Overseas slots remaining: 2 With not wholesome changes to their squad ahead of the mini auction, it will be interesting to see who all are included in the RCB line-up before the start of the next year's edition.

RCB keep it simple! Jason Behrendorff only big name released by Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2023 mini auction

South African cricket legend AB De Villiers sent a special wish to Indian cricket team superstar Virat Kohli on his 34th birthday. Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batters of the present era, was De Villiers' teammate at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kohli and De Villiers shared a great rapport on the field when the duo represented RCB and their friendship has continued to blossom off the field. The South African great, who is currently in Bangalore, spoke about his bond with Kohli while sending him a special message in a video posted by RCB.

"Hello V, my biscuit. I hope you are doing well. I am currently in Bangalore. It’s quite ironic because I am sitting here and sending this message just to wish you a happy birthday on the fifth of November. I hope you have a fantastic day. You are one hell of a cricket player. But you are a much better human being," De Villiers said in the video.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-president-roger-binny-hits-out-at-shahid-afridi-after-his-icc-is-inclined-towards-india-comment-531411">BCCI president Roger Binny hits out at Shahid Afridi after his 'ICC is inclined towards India' comment</a>

"Thank you very much for your friendship. Thanks for being a great teammate and just a great man overall. Happy birthday, my bud, and all the very best with the World Cup to you and the whole Indian team. I really hope you go all the way and have fun. Maybe you find South Africa in the final. It will be very entertaining. But happy birthday, Virri, have a great day, and I am thinking of you. Cheers," he went on.

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Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a>, 
 
Here is a very special wish from a very special friend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayViratKohli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abdevilliers17</a> <a href="https://t.co/UT7wEdnde2">pic.twitter.com/UT7wEdnde2</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1588720254301003776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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A modern-day great himself, De Villiers spent eleven seasons at RCB, amassing 4,491 runs in 156 matches. He was the mainstay in the franchise's batting line-up along with Kohli before retiring from all formats of the game in November last year.

Kohli, on the other hand, has been in terrific form for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 having already scored three half-centuries in four matches. Kohli is&nbsp;the highest run-getter in the tournament with 220 runs from four matches and will be hoping to continue his purple patch when India take on Bangladesh in their final Super 12 clash on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-you-perform-in-australia-you-get-that-respect-virat-kohli-on-his-impressive-numbers-down-under-531400">When you perform in Australia, you get that respect: Virat Kohli on his impressive numbers Down Under</a>

Kohli had headed into the tournament after dealing with a prolonged lean patch with the bat and was constantly criticised by fans and former cricketers. However, he bounced back in style and has proven why he remains an integral part of the Indian batting line-up across all three formats.

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&nbsp;

South African cricket legend AB De Villiers sent a special wish to Indian cricket team superstar Virat Kohli on his 34th birthday. Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batters of the present era, was De Villiers' teammate at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

South African cricket legend AB De Villiers sent a special wish to Indian cricket team superstar Virat Kohli on his 34th birthday. Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batters of the present era, was De Villiers' teammate at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli and De Villiers shared a great rapport on the field when the duo represented RCB and their friendship has continued to blossom off the field. The South African great, who is currently in Bangalore, spoke about his bond with Kohli while sending him a special message in a video posted by RCB. "Hello V, my biscuit. I hope you are doing well. I am currently in Bangalore. It’s quite ironic because I am sitting here and sending this message just to wish you a happy birthday on the fifth of November. I hope you have a fantastic day. You are one hell of a cricket player. But you are a much better human being," De Villiers said in the video. Also Read: BCCI president Roger Binny hits out at Shahid Afridi after his 'ICC is inclined towards India' comment "Thank you very much for your friendship. Thanks for being a great teammate and just a great man overall. Happy birthday, my bud, and all the very best with the World Cup to you and the whole Indian team. I really hope you go all the way and have fun. Maybe you find South Africa in the final. It will be very entertaining. But happy birthday, Virri, have a great day, and I am thinking of you. Cheers," he went on. Dear @imVkohli, Here is a very special wish from a very special friend. #PlayBold #HappyBirthdayViratKohli @abdevilliers17 pic.twitter.com/UT7wEdnde2 — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) November 5, 2022 × A modern-day great himself, De Villiers spent eleven seasons at RCB, amassing 4,491 runs in 156 matches. He was the mainstay in the franchise's batting line-up along with Kohli before retiring from all formats of the game in November last year. Kohli, on the other hand, has been in terrific form for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 having already scored three half-centuries in four matches. Kohli is the highest run-getter in the tournament with 220 runs from four matches and will be hoping to continue his purple patch when India take on Bangladesh in their final Super 12 clash on Sunday. Also Read: When you perform in Australia, you get that respect: Virat Kohli on his impressive numbers Down Under Kohli had headed into the tournament after dealing with a prolonged lean patch with the bat and was constantly criticised by fans and former cricketers. However, he bounced back in style and has proven why he remains an integral part of the Indian batting line-up across all three formats. ×

You are one hell of a cricket player: AB de Villiers shares heartfelt wish for Virat Kohli on 34th birthday

Veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has managed to spark an incredible turnaround in his international career this year as he finds himself in India's final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia next month. It was not too long back when Karthik had taken up commentary but never gave up on his dream of representing India in the T20 World Cup 2022.

Karthik took the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by storm with his brilliant performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) earlier this year before making his stunning comeback for the Indian team after almost three years. Karthik has since cemented his spot in the team as a finisher in T20Is and is set to play a key role at the World Cup next month.

He has made it to India's squad for the World Cup as a specialist finisher after his impressive performances this year and took to Twitter to thank his IPL franchise for the support. Karthik thanked RCB fans and the support staff for helping him in his redemption journey.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sourav-ganguly-jay-shah-set-for-extension-as-sc-accepts-bccis-proposal-to-amend-cooling-off-period-516134">Sourav Ganguly, Jay Shah set for extension as SC accepts BCCI's proposal to amend cooling-off period</a>

"Thanks @RCBTweets for being an integral part of the journey and helping me achieve my dream. Most importantly to all the RCB fans who chant RCB, RCB even when am in my blues representing team INDIA, I LOVE YOU GUYS," he wrote on Twitter.

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Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCBTweets</a> for bein an integral part of the journey and helping me achieve my dream 
 
Most importantly to all the RCB fans who chant RCB,RCB even when am in my blues representing team INDIA , I LOVE YOU GUYS. 
 
THANKS <a href="https://twitter.com/malolanr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@malolanr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachHesson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHesson</a> SANJAY BANGAR <a href="https://twitter.com/basu2013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basu2013</a> S SRIRAM <a href="https://t.co/eAmSK08SeA">https://t.co/eAmSK08SeA</a>
— DK (@DineshKarthik) <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshKarthik/status/1569974636783484928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Karthik was in sensational form throughout IPL 2022 where he notched up 330 runs for RCB in 16 matches at a brilliant strike rate of 183.33 while batting in the lower-middle order. He played a few match-winning finishing cameos for the franchise to help them make it to the playoffs under skipper Faf du Plessis.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/some-retire-only-once-amit-mishra-takes-a-dig-at-shahid-afiridi-over-his-retirement-advice-to-virat-kohli-516085">'Some retire only once': Amit Mishra takes a dig at Shahid Afiridi over his retirement advice to Virat Kohli</a>

Karthik was rewarded with an India call-up after his stunning performances in the IPL and has since never looked back. He has played 18 T20Is for India this year since making his comeback and has 193 runs at an average of 21.44. While his place in the playing XI is still not certain at the T20 World Cup, Karthik can be utilised to play impactful cameos in the lower-middle order.

Veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has managed to spark an incredible turnaround in his international career this year as he finds himself in India's final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia next month.

Veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has managed to spark an incredible turnaround in his international career this year as he finds himself in India's final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia next month. It was not too long back when Karthik had taken up commentary but never gave up on his dream of representing India in the T20 World Cup 2022. Karthik took the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by storm with his brilliant performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) earlier this year before making his stunning comeback for the Indian team after almost three years. Karthik has since cemented his spot in the team as a finisher in T20Is and is set to play a key role at the World Cup next month. He has made it to India's squad for the World Cup as a specialist finisher after his impressive performances this year and took to Twitter to thank his IPL franchise for the support. Karthik thanked RCB fans and the support staff for helping him in his redemption journey. Also Read: Sourav Ganguly, Jay Shah set for extension as SC accepts BCCI's proposal to amend cooling-off period "Thanks @RCBTweets for being an integral part of the journey and helping me achieve my dream. Most importantly to all the RCB fans who chant RCB, RCB even when am in my blues representing team INDIA, I LOVE YOU GUYS," he wrote on Twitter. Thanks @RCBTweets for bein an integral part of the journey and helping me achieve my dream Most importantly to all the RCB fans who chant RCB,RCB even when am in my blues representing team INDIA , I LOVE YOU GUYS. THANKS @malolanr @CoachHesson SANJAY BANGAR @basu2013 S SRIRAM https://t.co/eAmSK08SeA — DK (@DineshKarthik) September 14, 2022 × Karthik was in sensational form throughout IPL 2022 where he notched up 330 runs for RCB in 16 matches at a brilliant strike rate of 183.33 while batting in the lower-middle order. He played a few match-winning finishing cameos for the franchise to help them make it to the playoffs under skipper Faf du Plessis. Also Read: 'Some retire only once': Amit Mishra takes a dig at Shahid Afiridi over his retirement advice to Virat Kohli Karthik was rewarded with an India call-up after his stunning performances in the IPL and has since never looked back. He has played 18 T20Is for India this year since making his comeback and has 193 runs at an average of 21.44. While his place in the playing XI is still not certain at the T20 World Cup, Karthik can be utilised to play impactful cameos in the lower-middle order.

Thank you for helping me achieve my dream: Dinesh Karthik tells RCB fans after T20 World Cup selection

A lot of former and active cricketers continue to opine on Virat Kohli. Kohli remains the topic of discussion despite last playing an international game on July 17. After India's tour of England, the 33-year-old star Indian batter had been given rest for the national side's white-ball tour of West Indies and will now return in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, from August 27-September 11.

Talking about Kohli's form, the right-hander's last international century came in the pre-Covid era. He had a forgettable&nbsp;2020 tour of New Zealand before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and shocked the whole world. Following that, he scored a lot of half-centuries but a century continues to evade him. Even in India's 2022 tour of England, Kohli ended without a single half-century across formats whereas he had an ordinary run in IPL 2022, for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Many expect Kohli to start afresh in the forthcoming Asia Cup and regain his form before the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia, in October-November. Before the tournament, his good friend and former RCB teammate AB de Villiers lavished praise on him. "Virat [Kohli] is one of the greatest cricketers ever to play the game. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Virat remains world-class. Virat and I remain in regular contact. We are friends, and he certainly does not need me to tell him the importance of working hard during a bad patch," said De Villers in interaction with NDTV.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-former-indian-batting-coach-explains-why-jasprit-bumrah-wont-be-missed-much-by-team-india-509210">Asia Cup: Former Indian batting coach explains why Jasprit Bumrah won't be missed much by Team India</a>

Recently, India's ex-all-rounder Irfan Pathan explained why the Asian championship -- to be held in the shortest format -- will be extremely vital for Kohli.

Speaking on Star Sports' show 'Gameplan', Pathan mentioned, "As far as the mind is concerned, what Virat Kohli will be thinking, what kind of mindset he will be coming in with and playing the matches, I think yes, Asia Cup is very, very important but when I look forward to the World Cup, where the pitches will be very, very good in Australia, which he likes, he thrives on Australian pitches, he's done really well.

"So Indian team needs Virat Kohli in top form. He comes back from Asia Cup in top form, I think it's a win-win situation for Virat Kohli and the Indian team," added the former pacer.

A lot of former and active cricketers continue to opine on Virat Kohli. Kohli remains the topic of discussion despite last playing an international game on July 17.

A lot of former and active cricketers continue to opine on Virat Kohli. Kohli remains the topic of discussion despite last playing an international game on July 17. After India's tour of England, the 33-year-old star Indian batter had been given rest for the national side's white-ball tour of West Indies and will now return in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, from August 27-September 11. Talking about Kohli's form, the right-hander's last international century came in the pre-Covid era. He had a forgettable 2020 tour of New Zealand before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and shocked the whole world. Following that, he scored a lot of half-centuries but a century continues to evade him. Even in India's 2022 tour of England, Kohli ended without a single half-century across formats whereas he had an ordinary run in IPL 2022, for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Many expect Kohli to start afresh in the forthcoming Asia Cup and regain his form before the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia, in October-November. Before the tournament, his good friend and former RCB teammate AB de Villiers lavished praise on him. "Virat [Kohli] is one of the greatest cricketers ever to play the game. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Virat remains world-class. Virat and I remain in regular contact. We are friends, and he certainly does not need me to tell him the importance of working hard during a bad patch," said De Villers in interaction with NDTV. ALSO READ | Asia Cup: Former Indian batting coach explains why Jasprit Bumrah won't be missed much by Team India Recently, India's ex-all-rounder Irfan Pathan explained why the Asian championship -- to be held in the shortest format -- will be extremely vital for Kohli. Speaking on Star Sports' show 'Gameplan', Pathan mentioned, "As far as the mind is concerned, what Virat Kohli will be thinking, what kind of mindset he will be coming in with and playing the matches, I think yes, Asia Cup is very, very important but when I look forward to the World Cup, where the pitches will be very, very good in Australia, which he likes, he thrives on Australian pitches, he's done really well. "So Indian team needs Virat Kohli in top form. He comes back from Asia Cup in top form, I think it's a win-win situation for Virat Kohli and the Indian team," added the former pacer.

'Virat Kohli is one of the greatest cricketers ever' - AB De Villliers lauds under-fire Indian star batter

Dinesh Karthik has managed to spark an incredible turnaround in his international career as he has emerged as India's favourite finisher ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022. After missing out on a spot in the T20 World Cup squad last year, Karthik has ensured he has let his bat do the talking this time around with the next edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia just four months away.

Karthik was one of the best finishers in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 as he shone throughout for his side Royal Challengers Bangalore, With 330 runs in 16 matches and some brilliant finishing cameos, Karthik managed to impress the BCCI selectors as he made his comeback in the Indian team after three years.

He continued his sensational run with the willow in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series against South Africa at home to earn praise from all corners. While he didn't get many chances to bat, he slammed a brilliant 55 runs off just 27 balls to help India win the 4th T2OI against South Africa by 82 runs.

Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has lavished praise on the veteran wicket-keeper batter for his incredible comeback and said he looks well set to be part of India's T20 World Cup 2022 squad this time around after missing out last year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-pakistan-pacer-md-amir-responds-to-rohit-sharmas-he-is-just-a-normal-bowler-comment-from-2016-490253">Ex-Pakistan pacer Md. Amir responds to Rohit Sharma's 'he is just a normal bowler' comment from 2016</a>

“When we (him and Dinesh Karthik) went for the World Test Championship we were pretty much having lunch, breakfast, dinner together. And over there he was telling me about his ambition to come back in the India team for the T20 World Cup,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

“He wasn't in line for the one in UAE but this time around he looks very well to be part of the flight that takes to Melbourne,” he added.

Gavaskar was part of the commentary team during the World Test Championship final last year when Karthik had decided to enjoy a stint in the commentary box away from the action. Many had thought his career was all but over after his commentary debut but the senior keeper-batter has managed to prove his critics wrong with his current performances.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-or-dinesh-karthik-irfan-pathan-names-his-choice-while-picking-rohit-cos-ideal-t20-wc-xi-489844">Pant or Karthik? Irfan Pathan names his choice while picking Rohit &amp; Co.'s ideal T20 WC XI</a>

Gavaskar gave an insight into the hard work put in by Karthik behind the scene which made it possible for him to make his comeback into the Indian team. The batting legend revealed how Karthik had enrolled for a club in England to do some special training after he found that the gym at the hotel was not good enough.

“He was telling me, how he was creating situation in his mind and practicing according to them. So it was not just mindless practice, it was thoughtful practice. It was practice according to what the situation might be when he's out there,” said Gavaskar.

“Because if you're batting at 6 and 7, you're not going to get 20 overs, not 18 overs. You're gonna get 5-6, maybe if the wickets fall nine overs to bat but in those nine, how to go about it is what he was practicing. He was also training so he got out from the hotel gym because it wasn't good enough. He wanted to do some special training. He went and got himself enrolled in a club.

“That tells you about the dedication and keenness to comeback into the Indian team. And the way he's playing now that'll only make you admire. You've put in the hard yards and it's the reward,” he added.

Dinesh Karthik has managed to spark an incredible turnaround in his international career as he has emerged as India's favourite finisher ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022.

Dinesh Karthik has managed to spark an incredible turnaround in his international career as he has emerged as India's favourite finisher ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022. After missing out on a spot in the T20 World Cup squad last year, Karthik has ensured he has let his bat do the talking this time around with the next edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia just four months away. Karthik was one of the best finishers in the recently-concluded IPL 2022 as he shone throughout for his side Royal Challengers Bangalore, With 330 runs in 16 matches and some brilliant finishing cameos, Karthik managed to impress the BCCI selectors as he made his comeback in the Indian team after three years. He continued his sensational run with the willow in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series against South Africa at home to earn praise from all corners. While he didn't get many chances to bat, he slammed a brilliant 55 runs off just 27 balls to help India win the 4th T2OI against South Africa by 82 runs. Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has lavished praise on the veteran wicket-keeper batter for his incredible comeback and said he looks well set to be part of India's T20 World Cup 2022 squad this time around after missing out last year. Also Read: Ex-Pakistan pacer Md. Amir responds to Rohit Sharma's 'he is just a normal bowler' comment from 2016 “When we (him and Dinesh Karthik) went for the World Test Championship we were pretty much having lunch, breakfast, dinner together. And over there he was telling me about his ambition to come back in the India team for the T20 World Cup,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “He wasn't in line for the one in UAE but this time around he looks very well to be part of the flight that takes to Melbourne,” he added. Gavaskar was part of the commentary team during the World Test Championship final last year when Karthik had decided to enjoy a stint in the commentary box away from the action. Many had thought his career was all but over after his commentary debut but the senior keeper-batter has managed to prove his critics wrong with his current performances. Also Read: Pant or Karthik? Irfan Pathan names his choice while picking Rohit & Co.'s ideal T20 WC XI Gavaskar gave an insight into the hard work put in by Karthik behind the scene which made it possible for him to make his comeback into the Indian team. The batting legend revealed how Karthik had enrolled for a club in England to do some special training after he found that the gym at the hotel was not good enough. “He was telling me, how he was creating situation in his mind and practicing according to them. So it was not just mindless practice, it was thoughtful practice. It was practice according to what the situation might be when he's out there,” said Gavaskar. “Because if you're batting at 6 and 7, you're not going to get 20 overs, not 18 overs. You're gonna get 5-6, maybe if the wickets fall nine overs to bat but in those nine, how to go about it is what he was practicing. He was also training so he got out from the hotel gym because it wasn't good enough. He wanted to do some special training. He went and got himself enrolled in a club. “That tells you about the dedication and keenness to comeback into the Indian team. And the way he's playing now that'll only make you admire. You've put in the hard yards and it's the reward,” he added.

'It was not mindless practice': Gavaskar reveals how Karthik worked hard behind the scene for India comeback

Virat Kohli had a dreadful run in IPL 2022 edition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former skipper was expected to go bonkers with the bat in the 15th season after having relinquished captaincy duty for the franchise, in last year, but the 33-year-old fell flat and was nowhere close to his own high standards.

Kohli returned with 341 runs in 16 games, at an average of&nbsp;22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.98. The right-hander scored two half-centuries, against eventual winners Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), but wasn't anywhere near his best in majority of the outings. Even his 53-ball 58 in RCB's first face-off versus GT wasn't very impressive.

Analysing Kohli's season for RCB, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said, "The main points were that the top three batters just failed to perform. If you see Virat Kohli's year, Virat Kohli was not Virat Kohli. 16 matches, 341 runs at a strike rate of 115. You might have said it is fine even with 341 runs if the strike rate had been around 140."

"Only two half-centuries, that too against just one side. Other than that, he hasn't scored any runs. He reached 48 once and scored an unbeaten 40-odd in the first match but very ordinary season by his standards and by any standards," he said in a video posted on&nbsp;YouTube.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

Further, Chopra shifted focus on Glenn Maxwell and skipper Faf du Plessis and said, "Glenn Maxwell, on whom you placed a huge bet, 301 runs in 13 matches, it is slightly underperforming but the strike rate is very high, more than 160. He picked up wickets in bowling as well, takes catches as well. But one thing is that if Virat Kohli is not having a gun season, Maxi needs to have an extremely gun season, which didn't happen."

"Faf du Plessis - 468 runs in 16 matches. He has the runs, 468 runs are great but this is a team without a single 500-plus score. You might say Gujarat also do not have that but there were three players above 400 there and their main thing was the bowling," added the cricketer-turned-pundit.

RCB finished the league stage at the fourth spot and won the Eliminator, beating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), before bowing out after defeat to eventual runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

Virat Kohli had a dreadful run in IPL 2022 edition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former skipper was expected to go bonkers with the bat in the 15th season after having relinquished captaincy duty for the franchise, in last year, but the 33-year-old fell flat and was nowhere close to his own high standards.

Virat Kohli had a dreadful run in IPL 2022 edition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former skipper was expected to go bonkers with the bat in the 15th season after having relinquished captaincy duty for the franchise, in last year, but the 33-year-old fell flat and was nowhere close to his own high standards. Kohli returned with 341 runs in 16 games, at an average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.98. The right-hander scored two half-centuries, against eventual winners Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), but wasn't anywhere near his best in majority of the outings. Even his 53-ball 58 in RCB's first face-off versus GT wasn't very impressive. Analysing Kohli's season for RCB, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said, "The main points were that the top three batters just failed to perform. If you see Virat Kohli's year, Virat Kohli was not Virat Kohli. 16 matches, 341 runs at a strike rate of 115. You might have said it is fine even with 341 runs if the strike rate had been around 140." "Only two half-centuries, that too against just one side. Other than that, he hasn't scored any runs. He reached 48 once and scored an unbeaten 40-odd in the first match but very ordinary season by his standards and by any standards," he said in a video posted on YouTube. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph Further, Chopra shifted focus on Glenn Maxwell and skipper Faf du Plessis and said, "Glenn Maxwell, on whom you placed a huge bet, 301 runs in 13 matches, it is slightly underperforming but the strike rate is very high, more than 160. He picked up wickets in bowling as well, takes catches as well. But one thing is that if Virat Kohli is not having a gun season, Maxi needs to have an extremely gun season, which didn't happen." "Faf du Plessis - 468 runs in 16 matches. He has the runs, 468 runs are great but this is a team without a single 500-plus score. You might say Gujarat also do not have that but there were three players above 400 there and their main thing was the bowling," added the cricketer-turned-pundit. RCB finished the league stage at the fourth spot and won the Eliminator, beating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), before bowing out after defeat to eventual runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

Virat Kohli was not Virat Kohli: Aakash Chopra analyses RCB star's ordinary run in IPL 2022

IPL 2022 edition is in its business end as there are only a handful of games left in the league stage before the 15th season heads into the playoffs. As of now, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed a spot in the playoffs whereas Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are already out of the race to finish in the top four.

Thus, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remain in the fray for the remaining three spots. Here's how each one of them have a chance to make it to the playoffs:

LSG: KL Rahul-led franchise already have one foot in the playoffs with 16 points. They just need a win in their remaining two fixtures but can also progress ahead without a win. Nonetheless, they will have to depend on&nbsp;other franchises' results to remain in their favour.

RR: Sanju Samson &amp; Co. have 14 points, i.e. seven wins from 12 games. A win would be enough for them to enter the playoffs but the one-time winners will be eager to win both games and ensure a top-two finish. In case they lose both, they will have an eye on the NRR of other teams who can end up with 14 points.

RCB:&nbsp;The three-time runners-up have two games in hand and have 14 points under their belt. A win will also do the trick for them but they will also hope to emerge on top in both the remaining fixtures.&nbsp;

DC: Rishabh Pant-led Delhi franchise have 12 points from an equal number of encounters. They need to win both and if a single defeat can lead to their exit.

SRH: The 2016 champions started with two defeats and then won five in a row before derailing their campaign by losing as many as four matches in succession at a crucial time of the league stage. If they win all their remaining three fixtures, they will go through but a single defeat can hurt them.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-mumbai-indians-thrash-chennai-super-kings-by-5-wickets-478464">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Mumbai Indians thrash Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets</a>

KKR:&nbsp;The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR outfit are very much out of the race with only 5 victories in 12 games. Even if they win their remaining matches, they would need to do it handsomely. Also then, they might find&nbsp;two to five teams competing for the last spot at 14 points. Tough!

PBKS:&nbsp;Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab also need to win all their remaining fixtures. They currently have 10 points from 11 games. Even if they emerge on top in all their fixtures, it might boil down to NRR. At present, Punjab have a negative NRR (-0.231).

IPL 2022 edition is in its business end as there are only a handful of games left in the league stage before the 15th season heads into the playoffs. As of now, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed a spot in the playoffs whereas Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are already out of the race to finish in the top four.

IPL 2022 edition is in its business end as there are only a handful of games left in the league stage before the 15th season heads into the playoffs. As of now, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed a spot in the playoffs whereas Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are already out of the race to finish in the top four. Thus, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remain in the fray for the remaining three spots. Here's how each one of them have a chance to make it to the playoffs: LSG: KL Rahul-led franchise already have one foot in the playoffs with 16 points. They just need a win in their remaining two fixtures but can also progress ahead without a win. Nonetheless, they will have to depend on other franchises' results to remain in their favour. RR: Sanju Samson & Co. have 14 points, i.e. seven wins from 12 games. A win would be enough for them to enter the playoffs but the one-time winners will be eager to win both games and ensure a top-two finish. In case they lose both, they will have an eye on the NRR of other teams who can end up with 14 points. RCB: The three-time runners-up have two games in hand and have 14 points under their belt. A win will also do the trick for them but they will also hope to emerge on top in both the remaining fixtures. DC: Rishabh Pant-led Delhi franchise have 12 points from an equal number of encounters. They need to win both and if a single defeat can lead to their exit. SRH: The 2016 champions started with two defeats and then won five in a row before derailing their campaign by losing as many as four matches in succession at a crucial time of the league stage. If they win all their remaining three fixtures, they will go through but a single defeat can hurt them. ALSO READ | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Mumbai Indians thrash Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets KKR: The Shreyas Iyer-led KKR outfit are very much out of the race with only 5 victories in 12 games. Even if they win their remaining matches, they would need to do it handsomely. Also then, they might find two to five teams competing for the last spot at 14 points. Tough! PBKS: Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab also need to win all their remaining fixtures. They currently have 10 points from 11 games. Even if they emerge on top in all their fixtures, it might boil down to NRR. At present, Punjab have a negative NRR (-0.231).

IPL 2022 playoffs qualification scenario: EXPLAINED! Here's how 7 teams remain in fray for 3 spots

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw a number of youngsters once again rise to prominence with their impactful performances for their teams throughout the tournament. While the likes of Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan turned out to be the finds of the tournament, several other young guns like Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Ayush Badoni also impressed with their talent and skills. Some of the youngsters turned out to be the most valuable players of the season considering their low buying price and brilliant show on the field.

While the youngsters rose to the occasion yet again, a number of superstars failed to deliver in the recently-concluded season. It was a forgetful season for the 'Big 3' - MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Dhoni still managed to dazzle with the bat in patches despite being past his prime at 40, a lot was expected from Kohli and Rohit, who struggled to deliver throughout the season.

As per an analysis by the Times of India, Rohit, Dhoni and Kohli were among the least value money buys in IPL 2022. In a report, TOI analysed players' data and statistics based on their performance and the price they were bought for by their respective teams in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. The players were given points per million INR spent on them and were rated accordingly.

Punjab Kings' wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma turned out to be the most valuable player with 241.8 points. He was bought for a sum of just Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million) and scored 234 runs for his franchise at a strike rate of 163.63. Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mohsin Khan finished at the second spot for his 14 wickets in 9 games at a stunning economy of 5.96. Mohsin was bought by LSG for Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million)

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-announces-whopping-cash-prize-for-unsung-heroes-groundsmen-and-curators-for-ipl-2022s-success-483573">BCCI announces whopping cash prize for 'unsung heroes' groundsmen &amp; curators after IPL 2022's success</a>

On the other hand, Kohli, who struggled to get going with the willow throughout the season, was placed at the 157th spot in the overall rankings having managed only 2.6 points per million. The RCB star scored 341 runs in 16 matches and failed to power his team to the final. Dhoni finished at the 161st spot with 232 runs in 14 games while Rohit managed to earn only 1 point per million and got the 178th spot.

Most valuable players in IPL 2022 based on their price:

Rank&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Player&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Team&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Price (INR)&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Points per mn (INR) 
1&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Jitesh Sharma&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; PBKS&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;20 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;241.8 
2&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mohsin Khan&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;LSG&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 21 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;234.2 
3&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rajat Pat dar&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RCB&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 22 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;208.4 
4&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mukesh Choudhary&nbsp; CSK&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 23 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 198.8 
5&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ayush Badoni&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; LSG&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;24 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 154.3 
6&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;J Suchith&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;SRH&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;25 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 106.8 
7&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ramandeep Singh&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ml&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;26 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 104.8 
8&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kuldeep 5en&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RR&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;27 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 103.5 
9&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;B Sai Sudharsan&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;GT&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 28 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 73.3 
10&nbsp;&nbsp; K Kartikeya&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ml&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 29 lakh&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 67.5

157&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Virat Kohli&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RCB&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;15 crore&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2.6 
161&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;MSDhoni&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CSK&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12 crore&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2.5 
178&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rohit Shanna&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ml&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16 crore&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1.0

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/surpassing-dhoni-to-joining-rohit-in-elite-list-list-of-records-created-by-hardik-pandya-in-gts-ipl-triumph-483518">Surpassing Dhoni to joining Rohit in elite list: List of records created by Hardik Pandya in GT's IPL triumph</a>

Mumbai Indians had spent a whoopping Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million) to retain Rohit as their first-choice player ahead of the season while Kohli and Dhoni were retained for a sum of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) and Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) respectively.

Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, two of the most successfull teams in IPL history, endured a horrific campaign this season as they failed to make it to the playoffs. CSK and MI finished at the bottom of the table while RCB managed to reach the playoffs but failed to go all the way.

&nbsp;

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw a number of youngsters once again rise to prominence with their impactful performances for their teams throughout the tournament.

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw a number of youngsters once again rise to prominence with their impactful performances for their teams throughout the tournament. While the likes of Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan turned out to be the finds of the tournament, several other young guns like Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Ayush Badoni also impressed with their talent and skills. Some of the youngsters turned out to be the most valuable players of the season considering their low buying price and brilliant show on the field. While the youngsters rose to the occasion yet again, a number of superstars failed to deliver in the recently-concluded season. It was a forgetful season for the 'Big 3' - MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Dhoni still managed to dazzle with the bat in patches despite being past his prime at 40, a lot was expected from Kohli and Rohit, who struggled to deliver throughout the season. As per an analysis by the Times of India, Rohit, Dhoni and Kohli were among the least value money buys in IPL 2022. In a report, TOI analysed players' data and statistics based on their performance and the price they were bought for by their respective teams in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. The players were given points per million INR spent on them and were rated accordingly. Punjab Kings' wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma turned out to be the most valuable player with 241.8 points. He was bought for a sum of just Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million) and scored 234 runs for his franchise at a strike rate of 163.63. Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mohsin Khan finished at the second spot for his 14 wickets in 9 games at a stunning economy of 5.96. Mohsin was bought by LSG for Rs 20 lakh (INR 2 million) Also Read: BCCI announces whopping cash prize for 'unsung heroes' groundsmen & curators after IPL 2022's success On the other hand, Kohli, who struggled to get going with the willow throughout the season, was placed at the 157th spot in the overall rankings having managed only 2.6 points per million. The RCB star scored 341 runs in 16 matches and failed to power his team to the final. Dhoni finished at the 161st spot with 232 runs in 14 games while Rohit managed to earn only 1 point per million and got the 178th spot. Most valuable players in IPL 2022 based on their price: Rank Player Team Price (INR) Points per mn (INR) 1 Jitesh Sharma PBKS 20 lakh 241.8 2 Mohsin Khan LSG 21 lakh 234.2 3 Rajat Pat dar RCB 22 lakh 208.4 4 Mukesh Choudhary CSK 23 lakh 198.8 5 Ayush Badoni LSG 24 lakh 154.3 6 J Suchith SRH 25 lakh 106.8 7 Ramandeep Singh Ml 26 lakh 104.8 8 Kuldeep 5en RR 27 lakh 103.5 9 B Sai Sudharsan GT 28 lakh 73.3 10 K Kartikeya Ml 29 lakh 67.5 157 Virat Kohli RCB 15 crore 2.6 161 MSDhoni CSK 12 crore 2.5 178 Rohit Shanna Ml 16 crore 1.0 Also Read: Surpassing Dhoni to joining Rohit in elite list: List of records created by Hardik Pandya in GT's IPL triumph Mumbai Indians had spent a whoopping Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million) to retain Rohit as their first-choice player ahead of the season while Kohli and Dhoni were retained for a sum of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) and Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) respectively. Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, two of the most successfull teams in IPL history, endured a horrific campaign this season as they failed to make it to the playoffs. CSK and MI finished at the bottom of the table while RCB managed to reach the playoffs but failed to go all the way.

Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli among least valuable players for their franchises in IPL 2022 - Report

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s campaign in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 came to an end on Friday (May 23) after a 7-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2nd Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. On a wicket that was helping pace bowlers, RR fast bowlers did well to restrict RCB on 157 runs&nbsp;before Jos Buttler's stunning ton powered them to a comprehensive victory to help them secure a spot in the final.

RCB bowlers had a forgetful outing in the game as they were taken to the cleaners by Buttler, who single-handedly helped RR chase down the 158-run target and storm into the final. RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj was expected to get his team off to a good start with the ball on a track that had pace and bounce. However, he ended up bowling a nightmarish spell.

Siraj managed to bowl only two overs against Rajasthan Royals before being taken off as he ended up conceding 31 runs off the two overs. With the bashing, Siraj also ended up creating an unwanted record as he became the bowler to have been hit for the most number of sixes in a single IPL season.

Siraj conceded as many as 31 sixes in IPL 2022 for RCB and now holds the unwanted record. The Indian pacer had been retained by RCB ahead of the mega auction this year and was expected to play a key role for the franchise, however, he had a season to forget as the pacer finished with just 9 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of over 10.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jos-buttler-slams-4th-ton-of-ipl-2022-as-rr-beat-rcb-by-7-wickets-in-qualifier-2-to-enter-final-482730">Jos Buttler slams 4th ton of IPL 2022 as RR beat RCB by 7 wickets in Qualifier 2 to enter final</a>

One of the key members of the Indian pace attack across formats at present, Siraj was dropped by RCB in their last league game before being bought back in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. While he conceded 31 sixes this season, his RCB teammate Wanindu Hasaranga ended up giving away 30 sixes in IPL 2022.

Most sixes conceded by a bowler in a single IPL season:

Mohammed Siraj - 31 (in 2022) 
Wanindu Hasranga - 30 (in 2022) 
Dwane Bravo - 29 (in 2018) 
Yuzvendra Chahal - 28 (in 2015) 
Yuzvendra Chahal - 27 (in 2022)

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rcb-vs-rr-rajat-patidar-joins-suresh-raina-in-unique-list-with-blistering-58-in-qualifier-2-482719">Rajat Patidar joins Suresh Raina in unique list with blistering 58 in Qualifier 2</a>

Talking about the 2nd Qualifier between RCB and RR at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, it was Buttler show as the RR opener dominated the proceedings during his side's run chase and took them over the line without breaking a sweat. RR will now take on Gujarat Titans in the final of the tournament at the same venue on May 29 (Sunday).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s campaign in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 came to an end on Friday (May 23) after a 7-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2nd Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s campaign in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 came to an end on Friday (May 23) after a 7-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2nd Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. On a wicket that was helping pace bowlers, RR fast bowlers did well to restrict RCB on 157 runs before Jos Buttler's stunning ton powered them to a comprehensive victory to help them secure a spot in the final. RCB bowlers had a forgetful outing in the game as they were taken to the cleaners by Buttler, who single-handedly helped RR chase down the 158-run target and storm into the final. RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj was expected to get his team off to a good start with the ball on a track that had pace and bounce. However, he ended up bowling a nightmarish spell. Siraj managed to bowl only two overs against Rajasthan Royals before being taken off as he ended up conceding 31 runs off the two overs. With the bashing, Siraj also ended up creating an unwanted record as he became the bowler to have been hit for the most number of sixes in a single IPL season. Siraj conceded as many as 31 sixes in IPL 2022 for RCB and now holds the unwanted record. The Indian pacer had been retained by RCB ahead of the mega auction this year and was expected to play a key role for the franchise, however, he had a season to forget as the pacer finished with just 9 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of over 10. Also Read: Jos Buttler slams 4th ton of IPL 2022 as RR beat RCB by 7 wickets in Qualifier 2 to enter final One of the key members of the Indian pace attack across formats at present, Siraj was dropped by RCB in their last league game before being bought back in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. While he conceded 31 sixes this season, his RCB teammate Wanindu Hasaranga ended up giving away 30 sixes in IPL 2022. Most sixes conceded by a bowler in a single IPL season: Mohammed Siraj - 31 (in 2022) Wanindu Hasranga - 30 (in 2022) Dwane Bravo - 29 (in 2018) Yuzvendra Chahal - 28 (in 2015) Yuzvendra Chahal - 27 (in 2022) Also Read: Rajat Patidar joins Suresh Raina in unique list with blistering 58 in Qualifier 2 Talking about the 2nd Qualifier between RCB and RR at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, it was Buttler show as the RR opener dominated the proceedings during his side's run chase and took them over the line without breaking a sweat. RR will now take on Gujarat Titans in the final of the tournament at the same venue on May 29 (Sunday).

Mohammed Siraj creates unwanted record as Rajasthan Royals end RCB's campaign in IPL 2022

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 to bowl out of the tournament on Friday (May 27). RCB failed to defend a total of 157 runs after an average performance from their bowlers as Jos Buttler slammed a destructive century to take RR into the final of the tournament.

RCB bowlers were taken to the cleaners by Buttler, who slammed an unbeaten 106 off just 60 balls laced with 10 fours and 6 sixes in the game. The RR opener looked unstoppable right from the start of the run-chase and continued his stellar run in the tournament as he notched up his fourth hundred this season.

With the seven-wicket defeat, RCB's campaign in the tournament came to an end. While several RCB players, including the like of Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli&nbsp;were trolled by a section of fans on social media, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was also targeted for his poor show against Rajasthan Royals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/faf-du-plessis-looked-a-better-leader-than-virat-kohli-they-should-have-won-ipl-2022-sanjay-manjrekar-482978">Faf du Plessis looked a better leader than Virat Kohli, they should have won IPL 2022: Sanjay Manjrekar</a>

Siraj had an off day with the ball as he gave away 31 runs off his 2 overs and was not allowed to complete his quota of 4 overs. Siraj also created the unwanted record of conceding the most sixes in a single IPL season after being hit for 31 sixes this season. He was brutally trolled by fans, with some also targeting him over his religion.&nbsp;

However, the pacer has now found support from others on social media who have called out the trollers and expressed their solidarity with the RCB star. Check out some of the tweets -&nbsp;

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A guy under Mohammad siraj's post just said, it's good that your father died??? man, get a life. If you wanna criticise, criticise him constructively. STOP BRINGING HIS FATHER AND RELIGION WHILE BLAMING HIM, cause it shows how you were raised.
— siddhi (@_sectumsempra18) <a href="https://twitter.com/_sectumsempra18/status/1530394251065892864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Siraj don't deserve this type of hate 
 
We always with you <a href="https://twitter.com/mdsirajofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mdsirajofficial</a> Come back strong <a href="https://t.co/UNzePOrJbR">pic.twitter.com/UNzePOrJbR</a>
— Shamsi (MSH) (@Shamsihaidri1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shamsihaidri1/status/1530236143890968585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Retaining Siraj was right. 
Releasing him next year would be wrong. 
These things happen, he had a season to forget.
— Prithvi (@Puneite_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Puneite_/status/1530269989990608896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Siraj Miyaan, danda uda de Birmingham mein. And shut some faceless farcical trolls for good. You're a champ
— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sooryasesha7/status/1530439894543110144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Toxic RCB fans! 
 
Siraj's Instagram handle is a sorry sight to see. Fans have even made fun of his father's death, his religion and poverty. Trolled Daniel Christian last year mercilessly and now Siraj. PATHETIC...
— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) <a href="https://twitter.com/vlp1994/status/1530423541920718848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-should-just-pack-his-bat-into-his-bag-michael-vaughan-has-an-interesting-advice-for-virat-kohli-482967">'He should just pack his bat into his bag': Michael Vaughan has an interesting advice for Virat Kohli</a>

RCB qualified for the playoffs for the third time in a row this season, however, their wait for the elsuive IPL trophy was extended after a defeat against Royals. They have now failed to reach the final in their last three seasons despite having made it to the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals will now take on Gujarat Titans in the final of the season on Sunday (May 29).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 to bowl out of the tournament on Friday (May 27).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 to bowl out of the tournament on Friday (May 27). RCB failed to defend a total of 157 runs after an average performance from their bowlers as Jos Buttler slammed a destructive century to take RR into the final of the tournament. RCB bowlers were taken to the cleaners by Buttler, who slammed an unbeaten 106 off just 60 balls laced with 10 fours and 6 sixes in the game. The RR opener looked unstoppable right from the start of the run-chase and continued his stellar run in the tournament as he notched up his fourth hundred this season. With the seven-wicket defeat, RCB's campaign in the tournament came to an end. While several RCB players, including the like of Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli were trolled by a section of fans on social media, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was also targeted for his poor show against Rajasthan Royals. Also Read: Faf du Plessis looked a better leader than Virat Kohli, they should have won IPL 2022: Sanjay Manjrekar Siraj had an off day with the ball as he gave away 31 runs off his 2 overs and was not allowed to complete his quota of 4 overs. Siraj also created the unwanted record of conceding the most sixes in a single IPL season after being hit for 31 sixes this season. He was brutally trolled by fans, with some also targeting him over his religion. However, the pacer has now found support from others on social media who have called out the trollers and expressed their solidarity with the RCB star. Check out some of the tweets - A guy under Mohammad siraj's post just said, it's good that your father died??? man, get a life. If you wanna criticise, criticise him constructively. STOP BRINGING HIS FATHER AND RELIGION WHILE BLAMING HIM, cause it shows how you were raised. — siddhi (@_sectumsempra18) May 28, 2022 × Siraj don't deserve this type of hate We always with you @mdsirajofficial Come back strong pic.twitter.com/UNzePOrJbR — Shamsi (MSH) (@Shamsihaidri1) May 27, 2022 × Retaining Siraj was right. Releasing him next year would be wrong. These things happen, he had a season to forget. — Prithvi (@Puneite_) May 27, 2022 × Siraj Miyaan, danda uda de Birmingham mein. And shut some faceless farcical trolls for good. You're a champ — Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) May 28, 2022 × Toxic RCB fans! Siraj's Instagram handle is a sorry sight to see. Fans have even made fun of his father's death, his religion and poverty. Trolled Daniel Christian last year mercilessly and now Siraj. PATHETIC... — Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) May 28, 2022 × Also Read: 'He should just pack his bat into his bag': Michael Vaughan has an interesting advice for Virat Kohli RCB qualified for the playoffs for the third time in a row this season, however, their wait for the elsuive IPL trophy was extended after a defeat against Royals. They have now failed to reach the final in their last three seasons despite having made it to the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals will now take on Gujarat Titans in the final of the season on Sunday (May 29).

Fans extend support to Mohammed Siraj after pacer faces abuse on social media following RCB's exit

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (May 27) after facing a seven-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB made it to the playoffs for the third time in a row this season but failed to qualify for the final once again as they lost in the second Qualifier against the Royals.

Jos Buttler was the hero with the bat for the Royals as he slammed a stunning century to power his side to a comprehensive win over RCB. Faf du Plessis &amp; Co. had posted a total of 157 runs on the board batting first in the second Qualifier but lost the must-win encounter after failing to defend the total.

While RCB's wait for their maiden IPL title has been extended after their loss against the Royals, it was still a great season for the Du Plessis-led side as they made it to the playoffs for the third straight season and played some phenomenal cricket. RCB were also not dependent heavily on their top three of Faf, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell as some of the youngsters impressed for the side as well.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-should-just-pack-his-bat-into-his-bag-michael-vaughan-has-an-interesting-advice-for-virat-kohli-482967">'He should just pack his bat into his bag': Michael Vaughan has an interesting advice for Virat Kohli</a>

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar gave his verdict on RCB's campaign in IPL 2022 and called Du Plessis a better leader than Kohli, who stepped down from captaincy last season. Manjrekar also felt RCB should have gone on to win the title this year but believes the loss will help them fill the gaping holes in their squad.

"RCB have had a slightly better season. Some good things have happened. Faf du Plessis has looked like a better leader than Virat Kohli. But more is expected of them.&nbsp;Having come this far, they should have won. They’ll know exactly what has gone wrong and what has prevented them from going on to win gold instead of bronze," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.

"A lot of credit around the bowling unit has to go to Faf. That’s where we see the captaincy at its best. More often than not, he got it right. He started the season well with the bat, but, like a lot of other players, he too had a split season. Still, he’s the right option to continue as captain, according to me," he added.

&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (May 27) after facing a seven-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (May 27) after facing a seven-wicket defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB made it to the playoffs for the third time in a row this season but failed to qualify for the final once again as they lost in the second Qualifier against the Royals. Jos Buttler was the hero with the bat for the Royals as he slammed a stunning century to power his side to a comprehensive win over RCB. Faf du Plessis & Co. had posted a total of 157 runs on the board batting first in the second Qualifier but lost the must-win encounter after failing to defend the total. While RCB's wait for their maiden IPL title has been extended after their loss against the Royals, it was still a great season for the Du Plessis-led side as they made it to the playoffs for the third straight season and played some phenomenal cricket. RCB were also not dependent heavily on their top three of Faf, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell as some of the youngsters impressed for the side as well. Also Read: 'He should just pack his bat into his bag': Michael Vaughan has an interesting advice for Virat Kohli Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar gave his verdict on RCB's campaign in IPL 2022 and called Du Plessis a better leader than Kohli, who stepped down from captaincy last season. Manjrekar also felt RCB should have gone on to win the title this year but believes the loss will help them fill the gaping holes in their squad. "RCB have had a slightly better season. Some good things have happened. Faf du Plessis has looked like a better leader than Virat Kohli. But more is expected of them. Having come this far, they should have won. They’ll know exactly what has gone wrong and what has prevented them from going on to win gold instead of bronze," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo. "A lot of credit around the bowling unit has to go to Faf. That’s where we see the captaincy at its best. More often than not, he got it right. He started the season well with the bat, but, like a lot of other players, he too had a split season. Still, he’s the right option to continue as captain, according to me," he added.

Faf du Plessis looked a better leader than Virat Kohli, they should have won IPL 2022: Sanjay Manjrekar

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of IPL 2022 on Friday (May 27) after suffering a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB failed to defend a total of 157 runs as Jos Buttler's magnificent century powered Rajasthan Royals into the final with a dominant victory. RCB's retentions have been questioned after the franchise's yet another unsuccessful attempt in lifting their maiden IPL trophy.

RCB had decided to retain three players ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year. They kept hold of former captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj heading into the auction. Neither of the three retained players managed to impress for the Faf du Plessis-led side this season.

While Kohli's struggles with the bat continued throughout the season, Siraj was taken to the cleaners by the batters and failed to bag wickets regularly. Maxwell, on the other hand, failed to make an impact with the bat or the ball. Former RCB star Parthiv Patel recently questioned the franchise's decision to retain Maxwell on the basis of just one good season.

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Patel said he was surprised to see RCB retain Maxwell as the Australian all-rounder has rarely managed to perform consistently for two consecutive seasons in the IPL. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter said Maxwell performs once every five years and RCB expected him to perform as he did last year.

"I was surprised to see RCB retain Glenn Maxwell on the basis of one good season. He has been inconsistent with his performances. He scores big runs after every five seasons. He has been consistent with his inconsistency. RCB expected him to perform like he did last year, but that didn't happen," Patel said on Cricbuzz.

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Maxwell was roped in by RCB ahead of IPL 2021 last year and went on to have a great season. He scored 513 runs in 15 matches for RCB last season at an average of over 42 and a strike rate of 144.01. However, this season, his performance dropped once again as he could only manage 301 runs in 13 matches for the team.

Patel believes both Siraj and Maxwell, who had a season to forget in IPL 2022, will fetch lesser money than what they are earning at RCB if they were released by the franchise before next season.

"Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj are two players who have had a terrible season. The franchise chose to retain them as they thought they would have gone for a lot of money at the auction. But even if they release them now, they will still fetch lesser amounts than what RCB are paying them currently," said the former RCB star.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of IPL 2022 on Friday (May 27) after suffering a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were knocked out of IPL 2022 on Friday (May 27) after suffering a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB failed to defend a total of 157 runs as Jos Buttler's magnificent century powered Rajasthan Royals into the final with a dominant victory. RCB's retentions have been questioned after the franchise's yet another unsuccessful attempt in lifting their maiden IPL trophy. RCB had decided to retain three players ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year. They kept hold of former captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj heading into the auction. Neither of the three retained players managed to impress for the Faf du Plessis-led side this season. While Kohli's struggles with the bat continued throughout the season, Siraj was taken to the cleaners by the batters and failed to bag wickets regularly. Maxwell, on the other hand, failed to make an impact with the bat or the ball. Former RCB star Parthiv Patel recently questioned the franchise's decision to retain Maxwell on the basis of just one good season. Also Read: He is looking down with a lot of pride: Buttler pays tribute to Shane Warne as RR reach IPL 2022 final Patel said he was surprised to see RCB retain Maxwell as the Australian all-rounder has rarely managed to perform consistently for two consecutive seasons in the IPL. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter said Maxwell performs once every five years and RCB expected him to perform as he did last year. "I was surprised to see RCB retain Glenn Maxwell on the basis of one good season. He has been inconsistent with his performances. He scores big runs after every five seasons. He has been consistent with his inconsistency. RCB expected him to perform like he did last year, but that didn't happen," Patel said on Cricbuzz. Also Read: Mohammed Siraj creates unwanted record as Rajasthan Royals end RCB's campaign in IPL 2022 Maxwell was roped in by RCB ahead of IPL 2021 last year and went on to have a great season. He scored 513 runs in 15 matches for RCB last season at an average of over 42 and a strike rate of 144.01. However, this season, his performance dropped once again as he could only manage 301 runs in 13 matches for the team. Patel believes both Siraj and Maxwell, who had a season to forget in IPL 2022, will fetch lesser money than what they are earning at RCB if they were released by the franchise before next season. "Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj are two players who have had a terrible season. The franchise chose to retain them as they thought they would have gone for a lot of money at the auction. But even if they release them now, they will still fetch lesser amounts than what RCB are paying them currently," said the former RCB star.

'Maxwell scores big runs after 5 seasons': Ex-RCB star questions team's decision to retain Aussie all-rounder

Virat Kohli has not had a lot of success in the IPL 2022 edition, being held in India. After the end of the league stage, the 33-year-old has managed only 309 runs with two half-centuries, striking at less than 120. Nonetheless, the right-hander remains an integral part of the Faf du Plessis-led RCB line-up and is also part of the leadership group.

Ahead of RCB's clash versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator of IPL 15, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the three-time runners-up's Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson has lavished huge praise on Kohli's man-management skills, where he has brought the seniors together and has looked after the younger lot with aplomb.

"Virat is obviously a key part of that, being our Ex-Captain, and such an influential character, but he also brought a whole lot of senior players for the ride that he can engage with. All the young guys love him because he cares, actually genuinely talks and sit to have breakfast with them, gets to know them, sits them by the pool, whatever it is to actually build that group and he does that organically, it's not fake, it's quite a natural way with how he deals with people," Hesson said while speaking on RCB Bold Diaries.

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RCB qualified for the playoffs for the third successive season, since IPL 2020, and will look to end their title drought with a win in the final. Ahead of the knockouts, Hesson shared details about the work gone behind in building a franchise.

In this regard, the New Zealander added, "I think it is more about having some real consistency of how we go about our work; you try to limit those ups and downs that happen in any IPL. It is all about being calm under pressure, in terms of, what your response is when you are under the pump, do you panic, do you make horrible changes, or do you believe in what you're trying to do? A lot of work goes behind the scenes in terms of making sure we are clear on how we want to play our cricket, and then about who are the people that can fulfill those roles."

Virat Kohli has not had a lot of success in the IPL 2022 edition, being held in India. After the end of the league stage, the 33-year-old has managed only 309 runs with two half-centuries, striking at less than 120.

Virat Kohli has not had a lot of success in the IPL 2022 edition, being held in India. After the end of the league stage, the 33-year-old has managed only 309 runs with two half-centuries, striking at less than 120. Nonetheless, the right-hander remains an integral part of the Faf du Plessis-led RCB line-up and is also part of the leadership group. Ahead of RCB's clash versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator of IPL 15, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the three-time runners-up's Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson has lavished huge praise on Kohli's man-management skills, where he has brought the seniors together and has looked after the younger lot with aplomb. "Virat is obviously a key part of that, being our Ex-Captain, and such an influential character, but he also brought a whole lot of senior players for the ride that he can engage with. All the young guys love him because he cares, actually genuinely talks and sit to have breakfast with them, gets to know them, sits them by the pool, whatever it is to actually build that group and he does that organically, it's not fake, it's quite a natural way with how he deals with people," Hesson said while speaking on RCB Bold Diaries. ALSO READ | RCB vs LSG Weather Forecast: What if rain entirely plays spoilsport in IPL 2022 Eliminator at Kolkata? RCB qualified for the playoffs for the third successive season, since IPL 2020, and will look to end their title drought with a win in the final. Ahead of the knockouts, Hesson shared details about the work gone behind in building a franchise. In this regard, the New Zealander added, "I think it is more about having some real consistency of how we go about our work; you try to limit those ups and downs that happen in any IPL. It is all about being calm under pressure, in terms of, what your response is when you are under the pump, do you panic, do you make horrible changes, or do you believe in what you're trying to do? A lot of work goes behind the scenes in terms of making sure we are clear on how we want to play our cricket, and then about who are the people that can fulfill those roles."

'He brought senior leaders together, young guys love him' - RCB coach Mike Hesson hails Virat Kohli

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to the playoff of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after a huge favour from Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI). It was MI's win over Delhi Capitals in their final league game of the season that confirmed RCB's spot in the playoffs. The Faf du Plessis-led side would have failed to finish in the top four had MI not beaten DC in their last game. With 16 points from 14 matches, RCB finished at the fourth spot and were the last team to enter the playoffs in IPL 2022.

RCB will now lock horns with KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday (May 24). RCB, who are yet to win their maiden IPL title, have faced defeats in Eliminator in the last two seasons and will be hoping to set the record straight this time around.

Speaking about their poor show in the knockout stages in the past two seasons, former India opener Virender Sehwag aimed a brutal dig at RCB. Sehwag said RCB do not play badly in Eliminator but the confidence of the opposition team increases once they know they are up against RCB.

"RCB don't play badly in the Eliminator. They try their best but the opposition's self-confidence increases immensely when they come to know that they are playing them," Sehwag said speaking on Cricbuzz.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-feature-in-ipl-2022-final-former-england-spinner-makes-his-pick-among-rr-lsg-gt-and-rcb-481842">Who will feature in IPL 2022 final? Former England spinner makes his pick among RR, LSG, GT and RCB</a>

RCB, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings are the only three&nbsp;teams to have not won a single IPL trophy despite being part of the tournament since its inception in 2008. RCB came close to winning their maiden title thrice by reaching the final of the 2009, 2011 and 2016 editions of the tournament but failed to go the distance.

While he took a hilarious dig at RCB for losing the Eliminator twice in a row, Sehwag also went on to claim that his former India teammate Parthiv Patel didn't want his former team RCB to qualify for the playoffs. Sehwag said Patel would not have attended Mumbai Indians' game against DC last week but had to do so due to his professional commitments.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/never-going-to-be-another-ms-dhoni-r-ashwin-lauds-csk-skipper-for-his-incredible-finishing-ability-481836">'Never going to be another MS Dhoni': R Ashwin lauds CSK skipper for his incredible finishing ability</a>

"If it had been in his (Patel's) hands, he wouldn't have gone to the stadium. Because he didn't want RCB to qualify! (laughs). He just went there because there were orders sent to him that they want to question him about something," said Sehwag.

Patel is currently working as a talent scout with Mumbai Indians. The former wicket-keeper batter played for RCB from 2018 to 2020 before retiring from all forms of cricket.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to the playoff of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after a huge favour from Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to the playoff of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after a huge favour from Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI). It was MI's win over Delhi Capitals in their final league game of the season that confirmed RCB's spot in the playoffs. The Faf du Plessis-led side would have failed to finish in the top four had MI not beaten DC in their last game. With 16 points from 14 matches, RCB finished at the fourth spot and were the last team to enter the playoffs in IPL 2022. RCB will now lock horns with KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday (May 24). RCB, who are yet to win their maiden IPL title, have faced defeats in Eliminator in the last two seasons and will be hoping to set the record straight this time around. Speaking about their poor show in the knockout stages in the past two seasons, former India opener Virender Sehwag aimed a brutal dig at RCB. Sehwag said RCB do not play badly in Eliminator but the confidence of the opposition team increases once they know they are up against RCB. "RCB don't play badly in the Eliminator. They try their best but the opposition's self-confidence increases immensely when they come to know that they are playing them," Sehwag said speaking on Cricbuzz. Also Read: Who will feature in IPL 2022 final? Former England spinner makes his pick among RR, LSG, GT and RCB RCB, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings are the only three teams to have not won a single IPL trophy despite being part of the tournament since its inception in 2008. RCB came close to winning their maiden title thrice by reaching the final of the 2009, 2011 and 2016 editions of the tournament but failed to go the distance. While he took a hilarious dig at RCB for losing the Eliminator twice in a row, Sehwag also went on to claim that his former India teammate Parthiv Patel didn't want his former team RCB to qualify for the playoffs. Sehwag said Patel would not have attended Mumbai Indians' game against DC last week but had to do so due to his professional commitments. Also Read: 'Never going to be another MS Dhoni': R Ashwin lauds CSK skipper for his incredible finishing ability "If it had been in his (Patel's) hands, he wouldn't have gone to the stadium. Because he didn't want RCB to qualify! (laughs). He just went there because there were orders sent to him that they want to question him about something," said Sehwag. Patel is currently working as a talent scout with Mumbai Indians. The former wicket-keeper batter played for RCB from 2018 to 2020 before retiring from all forms of cricket.

Virender Sehwag takes a brutal dig at RCB: Opposition's confidence increases on knowing they will face RCB

Virat Kohli entered IPL 2022 after being free from captaincy responsibilities altogether. While he had relinquished Team India's captaincy in the shortest format and also stepped down as Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) skipper post last year's season, he was sacked as India's ODI skipper and he also resigned as the Test captain.

Thus, many thought he would go all-out in the 15th season of the IPL, being held in India. Nonetheless, he ended the league stage with only 309 runs at a strike rate of 117.93 along with two fifties. While he can still turn the tides in the playoffs, after having played his best knock in RCB's last league stage outing, many are concerned about Kohli's form in a T20 World Cup year for the Men in Blue.

However, former Indian spinner-turned-commentator Murali Karthik has backed Kohli to remain in India's T20I scheme of things as he can deliver at any time.

"You can't keep such players out of the squad for tournaments like the T20 World Cup because they have earned the right to be there for what they are and what they can do at the end moment," Kartik said on 'CricChat Season 2' on ShareChat Audio Chatrooms.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/even-rohit-virat-havent-scored-runs-former-pak-captain-defends-ishan-kishans-selection-for-sa-t20is-481740">Even Rohit, Virat haven't scored runs: Former Pak captain defends Ishan Kishan's selection for SA T20Is</a>

After returning with a match-winning 54-ball 73 in RCB's eight-wicket win over table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) in their final group stage fixture, Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru will now play the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator and hope for some consistency from Kohli in the fag end of the IPL 2022 edition.

Kohli has been rested for India's upcoming five T20Is versus South Africa, at home, from starting June. Thus, he will take some time off before going all-out for India in an important calendar year, comprising the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November.

Virat Kohli entered IPL 2022 after being free from captaincy responsibilities altogether. While he had relinquished Team India's captaincy in the shortest format and also stepped down as Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) skipper post last year's season, he was sacked as India's ODI skipper and he also resigned as the Test captain.

Virat Kohli entered IPL 2022 after being free from captaincy responsibilities altogether. While he had relinquished Team India's captaincy in the shortest format and also stepped down as Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) skipper post last year's season, he was sacked as India's ODI skipper and he also resigned as the Test captain. Thus, many thought he would go all-out in the 15th season of the IPL, being held in India. Nonetheless, he ended the league stage with only 309 runs at a strike rate of 117.93 along with two fifties. While he can still turn the tides in the playoffs, after having played his best knock in RCB's last league stage outing, many are concerned about Kohli's form in a T20 World Cup year for the Men in Blue. However, former Indian spinner-turned-commentator Murali Karthik has backed Kohli to remain in India's T20I scheme of things as he can deliver at any time. "You can't keep such players out of the squad for tournaments like the T20 World Cup because they have earned the right to be there for what they are and what they can do at the end moment," Kartik said on 'CricChat Season 2' on ShareChat Audio Chatrooms. ALSO READ | Even Rohit, Virat haven't scored runs: Former Pak captain defends Ishan Kishan's selection for SA T20Is After returning with a match-winning 54-ball 73 in RCB's eight-wicket win over table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) in their final group stage fixture, Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru will now play the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator and hope for some consistency from Kohli in the fag end of the IPL 2022 edition. Kohli has been rested for India's upcoming five T20Is versus South Africa, at home, from starting June. Thus, he will take some time off before going all-out for India in an important calendar year, comprising the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November.

'You can't keep such players....' - Former India spinner backs Virat Kohli amid batting concerns

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting from June 09. While the big guns such as regular captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, KL Rahul will lead the line-up, which also sees the comeback of Dinesh Karthik.

Karthik, who had donned the commentator's hat last year, has seen his career getting revived in IPL 2022, where he is representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Karthik got a new lease of life at the RCB, where he has made heads turn being a fantastic finisher for the three-time runners-up and rescuing them from several precarious situations. In 14 games, Karthik has amassed 287 runs&nbsp;at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 191.

Thus, Karthik's IPL 15 knocks have helped him make a comeback in Team India setup. In a video shared by RCB, the veteran keeper-batter thanked Bengaluru's top brass&nbsp;Sanjay Bangar, Mike Hesson and Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for instilling faith on him.

"Very happy. Very very very satisfying. I must say this has been my most memorable comeback because a lot of people had given up on me and for me to do what I did, practice with the way I did with my coach Nayar. So many special things in the lead to the auction and how I practiced post that. I lot of credit also to Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson. The clarity that they gave me to execute the role that I wanted to, in many ways I am indebted to RCB for picking me and believing in me," said Karthik who was roped in by the francse&nbsp;for 5.50 crore at IPL mega auction.

"A lot of credit must go to the selectors, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid because these days with so many young boys putting their names for selection, to see the skillset that is there and then to believe that this is the guy we need for the World Cup, it is a very very humbling feeling. I know the journey is still there to the World Cup but to be a part of the scheme of things and giving me an opportunity to showcase my skills and I am very proud of it," Karthik added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-rested-as-india-announce-squad-for-t20i-series-against-south-africa-481249">Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma rested as India announce squad for T20I series against South Africa</a>

"I started believing but people around me gave me a feeling saying I should not dream too much. I took up the role of a commentator and that made it look like I am no more interested in trying to come back to the Indian team but I have always said that for me, playing for the Indian team is the priority, because I had time I did it. I am very excited overall," he signed off.

India's T20I squad for South Africa series -&nbsp;KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting from June 09.

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting from June 09. While the big guns such as regular captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, KL Rahul will lead the line-up, which also sees the comeback of Dinesh Karthik. Karthik, who had donned the commentator's hat last year, has seen his career getting revived in IPL 2022, where he is representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Karthik got a new lease of life at the RCB, where he has made heads turn being a fantastic finisher for the three-time runners-up and rescuing them from several precarious situations. In 14 games, Karthik has amassed 287 runs at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 191. Thus, Karthik's IPL 15 knocks have helped him make a comeback in Team India setup. In a video shared by RCB, the veteran keeper-batter thanked Bengaluru's top brass Sanjay Bangar, Mike Hesson and Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for instilling faith on him. "Very happy. Very very very satisfying. I must say this has been my most memorable comeback because a lot of people had given up on me and for me to do what I did, practice with the way I did with my coach Nayar. So many special things in the lead to the auction and how I practiced post that. I lot of credit also to Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson. The clarity that they gave me to execute the role that I wanted to, in many ways I am indebted to RCB for picking me and believing in me," said Karthik who was roped in by the francse for 5.50 crore at IPL mega auction. "A lot of credit must go to the selectors, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid because these days with so many young boys putting their names for selection, to see the skillset that is there and then to believe that this is the guy we need for the World Cup, it is a very very humbling feeling. I know the journey is still there to the World Cup but to be a part of the scheme of things and giving me an opportunity to showcase my skills and I am very proud of it," Karthik added. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma rested as India announce squad for T20I series against South Africa "I started believing but people around me gave me a feeling saying I should not dream too much. I took up the role of a commentator and that made it look like I am no more interested in trying to come back to the Indian team but I have always said that for me, playing for the Indian team is the priority, because I had time I did it. I am very excited overall," he signed off. India's T20I squad for South Africa series - KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

'A lot of people had given up on me' - Dinesh Karthik reacts after his memorable Team India comeback

Royal Challengers Bangalore sneeked into the play-offs after Mumbai Indians broke Delhi Capitals' heart with a five-wicket win in their last IPL match here on Saturday.

Already out of contention, MI played partypoopers as they first restricted DC to 159 for 7 with Jasprit Bumrah snapping three wickets and then returned to overhaul the target in 19.1 overs to knock the 2020 finalists out of the tournament.

While Ishan Kishan (48) and Dewald Brevis (37) kept MI in the hunt, it was Tim David's 11-ball 34-run cameo that brought the five-time champions back into the chase. Tilak&nbsp;Varma also chipped in with a crucial 17-ball 21.

With MI at 95 for 3 in 14.3 overs, DC skipper Rishabh Pant made a strategic blunder as he refused to go for DRS after David nicked the first ball of his innings but the onfield umpire didn't give him out.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-playoffs-qualifiers-eliminator-schedule-dates-and-venues-481108" hreflang="en">IPL 2022 playoffs: Qualifiers, Eliminator - Schedule, dates, and venues</a>

It came back to haunt DC as David slammed fours and sixes at will to bring down the equation to 15 off 14 balls. Ramandeep then provided the finishing touch with a six-ball 13.

DC finished with 14 points to remain in the fifth spot, while RCB joined Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants into the play-offs with 16 points.

Defending the total, left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed looked in good rhythm as he bowled a sensational first two overs, conceding just 2. He bowled full outside off-stump to trouble the openers, mainly Rohit Sharma (2).

Anrich Nortje finally put an end to Rohit's struggle with the MI skipper chipping one to mid-on.

Ishan and Brevis then added 51 runs off 37 balls but Kuldeep Yadav (1/33) broke the partnership with David Warner taking a fine catch to get rid of the former.

Brevis took on the attack to the opposition and smashed two sixes and a four off Kuldeep, who could have had him but skipper Pant dropped a sitter in the 12th over to add to the agony of the bowler.

However, Brevis dragged one on to his stumps as MI slipped to 95 for 3 in the 15th over.

After that it was a David show as hit a six over deep mid-wicket off Shardul Thakur.

David and Varma hit a four a six to accumulate 13 runs off the 16th over. Khaleel then conceded 17 with David smashing a four and a six.

Needing 29 from 18 balls, David clobbered Shardul for two maximums and also completed the fifty run stand to reduce the equation to 15 off 13 balls.

Thakur finally removed David, who hit a full toss to Prithvi Shaw at extra cover but by then it was too late. 
Earlier, opting to field, MI bowlers, led by Bumrah (3/25) left DC tottering at 50 for 4 in 8.4 overs but

Rovman Powell and skipper Pant (39 off 33 balls) shared 75 off 44 balls to ressurect the innings and take them to a decent total.

Daniel Sams (1/30) and Riley Mereditch (0/9 in 2 overs) bowled well as did the spin duo of Mayank Markande (1/26) and Hrithik Shooken (0/34).

Ramandeep Singh (2/29 in 2 overs) also managed to scalp two wickets.

Back after recovering from a bout of typhoid, Shaw (24) looked in good touch but Sams produced the first breakthrough when he had Warner caught by Bumrah at short third man.

Bumrah then turned the heat as he first found the outside edge of Mitchell Marsh with Rohit taking a low catch and then returned to sent back Shaw with an unplayable bouncer.

It was time for Markande to shine next as Sarfaraz Khan nicked one outside the off-stump to see DC slump to 50 for four in ninth over.

With Shokeen and Markande bowling in tandum, DC scored their lowest total at the halfway mark this season -- 55 for four.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/excellent-potential-former-india-cricketer-picks-two-favourites-to-win-ipl-2022-title-481093" hreflang="en">'Excellent potential': Former India cricketer picks two favourites to win IPL 2022 title</a>

While Pant dropped anchor, Powell exploded in the 12th over, smashing Shokeen for two maximums and a four to pick up 20 runs.

Markande was next in line as Powell deposited him over long-off, before MI conceded a bye four. 
Meredith bowled a tight over, conceding just two.

Ramandeep then bowled three wides and conceded a six and a four before taking Pant's wicket in his final ball.

Powell then pulled Bumrah over deep square leg, while Axar Patel (19 not out) produced a timely six off Sams.

However, Bumrah produced his trademark toe-crushing yorker to disturb the timbers of Powell and nearly had another wicket, only if Brevis could have held on to a one-handed catch.

Ramandeep took a wicket in the final over which yielded 11 runs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore sneeked into the play-offs after Mumbai Indians broke Delhi Capitals' heart with a five-wicket win in their last IPL match here on Saturday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore sneeked into the play-offs after Mumbai Indians broke Delhi Capitals' heart with a five-wicket win in their last IPL match here on Saturday. Already out of contention, MI played partypoopers as they first restricted DC to 159 for 7 with Jasprit Bumrah snapping three wickets and then returned to overhaul the target in 19.1 overs to knock the 2020 finalists out of the tournament. While Ishan Kishan (48) and Dewald Brevis (37) kept MI in the hunt, it was Tim David's 11-ball 34-run cameo that brought the five-time champions back into the chase. Tilak Varma also chipped in with a crucial 17-ball 21. With MI at 95 for 3 in 14.3 overs, DC skipper Rishabh Pant made a strategic blunder as he refused to go for DRS after David nicked the first ball of his innings but the onfield umpire didn't give him out. Also read | IPL 2022 playoffs: Qualifiers, Eliminator - Schedule, dates, and venues It came back to haunt DC as David slammed fours and sixes at will to bring down the equation to 15 off 14 balls. Ramandeep then provided the finishing touch with a six-ball 13. DC finished with 14 points to remain in the fifth spot, while RCB joined Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants into the play-offs with 16 points. Defending the total, left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed looked in good rhythm as he bowled a sensational first two overs, conceding just 2. He bowled full outside off-stump to trouble the openers, mainly Rohit Sharma (2). Anrich Nortje finally put an end to Rohit's struggle with the MI skipper chipping one to mid-on. Ishan and Brevis then added 51 runs off 37 balls but Kuldeep Yadav (1/33) broke the partnership with David Warner taking a fine catch to get rid of the former. Brevis took on the attack to the opposition and smashed two sixes and a four off Kuldeep, who could have had him but skipper Pant dropped a sitter in the 12th over to add to the agony of the bowler. However, Brevis dragged one on to his stumps as MI slipped to 95 for 3 in the 15th over. After that it was a David show as hit a six over deep mid-wicket off Shardul Thakur. David and Varma hit a four a six to accumulate 13 runs off the 16th over. Khaleel then conceded 17 with David smashing a four and a six. Needing 29 from 18 balls, David clobbered Shardul for two maximums and also completed the fifty run stand to reduce the equation to 15 off 13 balls. Thakur finally removed David, who hit a full toss to Prithvi Shaw at extra cover but by then it was too late. Earlier, opting to field, MI bowlers, led by Bumrah (3/25) left DC tottering at 50 for 4 in 8.4 overs but Rovman Powell and skipper Pant (39 off 33 balls) shared 75 off 44 balls to ressurect the innings and take them to a decent total. Daniel Sams (1/30) and Riley Mereditch (0/9 in 2 overs) bowled well as did the spin duo of Mayank Markande (1/26) and Hrithik Shooken (0/34). Ramandeep Singh (2/29 in 2 overs) also managed to scalp two wickets. Back after recovering from a bout of typhoid, Shaw (24) looked in good touch but Sams produced the first breakthrough when he had Warner caught by Bumrah at short third man. Bumrah then turned the heat as he first found the outside edge of Mitchell Marsh with Rohit taking a low catch and then returned to sent back Shaw with an unplayable bouncer. It was time for Markande to shine next as Sarfaraz Khan nicked one outside the off-stump to see DC slump to 50 for four in ninth over. With Shokeen and Markande bowling in tandum, DC scored their lowest total at the halfway mark this season -- 55 for four. Also read | 'Excellent potential': Former India cricketer picks two favourites to win IPL 2022 title While Pant dropped anchor, Powell exploded in the 12th over, smashing Shokeen for two maximums and a four to pick up 20 runs. Markande was next in line as Powell deposited him over long-off, before MI conceded a bye four. Meredith bowled a tight over, conceding just two. Ramandeep then bowled three wides and conceded a six and a four before taking Pant's wicket in his final ball. Powell then pulled Bumrah over deep square leg, while Axar Patel (19 not out) produced a timely six off Sams. However, Bumrah produced his trademark toe-crushing yorker to disturb the timbers of Powell and nearly had another wicket, only if Brevis could have held on to a one-handed catch. Ramandeep took a wicket in the final over which yielded 11 runs.

IPL 2022: RCB clinch final playoff berth after MI beat DC by five wickets

Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 5 wickets in their final league game of the season on Saturday (May 22) to end their disappointing season on a high and help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) qualify for the playoffs. DC had their fate in their own hands and a win would have seen them leave RCB behind to qualify for the playoffs.

However, Rishabh Pant &amp; Co. went down fighting against MI as RCB finished at the 4th spot with 16 points from 14 matches. RCB players were seen cheering for Mumbai Indians throughout the crucial encounter on Saturday. The likes of captain Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and the other members of the squad were all glued to the TV screens as MI locked horns with DC at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

After Mumbai Indians' victory against Delhi Capitals, RCB players and staff members went berserk in their team hotel and were seen celebrating wildly in a video shared by the franchise on social media. "Thank you Mumbai," Kohli can be heard saying in the video as he expressed his gratitude for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

Watch video:

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RCB qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive year. We bring to you raw emotions, absolute joy and post-match celebrations, as the team watched <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIvDC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIvDC</a>. This is how much it meant to the boys last night.<a href="https://twitter.com/kreditbee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kreditbee</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mission2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mission2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCB</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://t.co/5lCbEky8Xy">pic.twitter.com/5lCbEky8Xy</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1528217789630394369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rcb-clinch-final-playoff-berth-after-mi-beat-dc-by-five-wickets-481110">RCB clinch final playoff berth after MI beat DC by five wickets</a>

Earlier, ahead of the start of the game between MI and DC, RCB had changed their display picture on social media and used their logo in a&nbsp;blue background to express their support for Mumbai Indians. RCB were in desperate need of a favour from MI as DC's win would have sent them packing from the tournament.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-playoffs-qualifiers-eliminator-schedule-dates-and-venues-481108">IPL 2022 playoffs: Qualifiers, Eliminator - Schedule, dates, and venues</a>

Asked to bat first in the game, DC rode on Rovman Powell's 43 and captain Rishabh Pant's 39 off 33 balls t post a fighting total of 159 runs on the board. DC bowlers got their team off to a good start with the ball during MI's run chase but Tim David's sensational cameo of 11-ball 34 saw Mumbai get over the line with 5 balls to spare.

With the help of MI, RCB have now qualified for the playoffs for the third season in a row in the IPL and will be hoping to go the distance under skipper Du Plessis this season.

Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 5 wickets in their final league game of the season on Saturday (May 22) to end their disappointing season on a high and help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) qualify for the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 5 wickets in their final league game of the season on Saturday (May 22) to end their disappointing season on a high and help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) qualify for the playoffs. DC had their fate in their own hands and a win would have seen them leave RCB behind to qualify for the playoffs. However, Rishabh Pant & Co. went down fighting against MI as RCB finished at the 4th spot with 16 points from 14 matches. RCB players were seen cheering for Mumbai Indians throughout the crucial encounter on Saturday. The likes of captain Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and the other members of the squad were all glued to the TV screens as MI locked horns with DC at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After Mumbai Indians' victory against Delhi Capitals, RCB players and staff members went berserk in their team hotel and were seen celebrating wildly in a video shared by the franchise on social media. "Thank you Mumbai," Kohli can be heard saying in the video as he expressed his gratitude for the Rohit Sharma-led side. Watch video: RCB qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive year. We bring to you raw emotions, absolute joy and post-match celebrations, as the team watched #MIvDC. This is how much it meant to the boys last night.@kreditbee#PlayBold #IPL2022 #Mission2022 #RCB #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/5lCbEky8Xy — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) May 22, 2022 × Also Read: RCB clinch final playoff berth after MI beat DC by five wickets Earlier, ahead of the start of the game between MI and DC, RCB had changed their display picture on social media and used their logo in a blue background to express their support for Mumbai Indians. RCB were in desperate need of a favour from MI as DC's win would have sent them packing from the tournament. Also Read: IPL 2022 playoffs: Qualifiers, Eliminator - Schedule, dates, and venues Asked to bat first in the game, DC rode on Rovman Powell's 43 and captain Rishabh Pant's 39 off 33 balls t post a fighting total of 159 runs on the board. DC bowlers got their team off to a good start with the ball during MI's run chase but Tim David's sensational cameo of 11-ball 34 saw Mumbai get over the line with 5 balls to spare. With the help of MI, RCB have now qualified for the playoffs for the third season in a row in the IPL and will be hoping to go the distance under skipper Du Plessis this season.

'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis & others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for IPL 2022 playoffs - WATCH

Mumbai Indians (MI) thrashed Delhi Capitals (DC) by five wickets to do Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) a favour by helping them qualify for the playoffs of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. DC had headed into the clash with their fate resting in their own hands as they needed a win against MI to make it to the playoffs.

However, the Rishabh Pant-led side failed to defend the total of 159 runs which saw RCB pip them to finish in the top four with the help of MI's victory. Australian all-rounder Tim David was the hero of MI's victory as he played a sensational cameo of 11-ball 34 to help Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. end their season with a win.

Mumbai Indians were reeling at 95/3 inside 15 overs when David walked in to bat against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. He wasted little time in settling down and launched an all-out attack against the DC bowlers. The explosive right-handed smashed 4 sixes and 2 fours en route to his 34-run knock and took the game away from Delhi Capitals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-blunder-rishabh-pant-decides-not-to-review-after-tim-david-edges-delivery-from-shardul-thakur-watch-481135">Huge blunder! Rishabh Pant decides not to review after Tim David edges delivery from Shardul Thakur - WATCH</a>

RCB took to social media to pay tribute to David after his brilliant knock set up MI's win over DC and helped them qualify for the playoffs. "We love you&nbsp;@timdavid8 You’re doing great. More power to you," RCB wrote in a tweet with a picture of David in an RCB jersey.

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We love you <a href="https://twitter.com/timdavid8?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@timdavid8</a>! 
You’re doing great. More power to you. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreChallengers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreChallengers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mission2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mission2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCB</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://t.co/uKV5zqFUqu">pic.twitter.com/uKV5zqFUqu</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1528139638858055681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thank-you-mumbai-kohli-du-plessis-others-go-berserk-as-mi-help-rcb-qualify-for-ipl-2022-playoffs-watch-481132">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thank-you-mumbai-kohli-du-plessis-others-go-berserk-as-mi-help-rcb-qualify-for-ipl-2022-playoffs-watch-481132">'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis &amp; others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for playoffs - WATCH</a>

David was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in the IPL before being roped in by Mumbai Indians this season. The all-rounder showcased his skills and talent with the bat after failing to cement his spot in the side following a few failures at the start of the season.

David scored 186 runs in 8 matches for MI in IPL 2022 striking at an impressive 216.27 and averaging over 37. Mumbai Indians brought an end to their disappointing campaign with a win but will hope to improve their performances next season.

Mumbai Indians (MI) thrashed Delhi Capitals (DC) by five wickets to do Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) a favour by helping them qualify for the playoffs of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Mumbai Indians (MI) thrashed Delhi Capitals (DC) by five wickets to do Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) a favour by helping them qualify for the playoffs of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. DC had headed into the clash with their fate resting in their own hands as they needed a win against MI to make it to the playoffs. However, the Rishabh Pant-led side failed to defend the total of 159 runs which saw RCB pip them to finish in the top four with the help of MI's victory. Australian all-rounder Tim David was the hero of MI's victory as he played a sensational cameo of 11-ball 34 to help Rohit Sharma & Co. end their season with a win. Mumbai Indians were reeling at 95/3 inside 15 overs when David walked in to bat against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. He wasted little time in settling down and launched an all-out attack against the DC bowlers. The explosive right-handed smashed 4 sixes and 2 fours en route to his 34-run knock and took the game away from Delhi Capitals. Also Read: Huge blunder! Rishabh Pant decides not to review after Tim David edges delivery from Shardul Thakur - WATCH RCB took to social media to pay tribute to David after his brilliant knock set up MI's win over DC and helped them qualify for the playoffs. "We love you @timdavid8 You’re doing great. More power to you," RCB wrote in a tweet with a picture of David in an RCB jersey. We love you @timdavid8! You’re doing great. More power to you. #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 #RCB #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/uKV5zqFUqu — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) May 21, 2022 × Also Read: 'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis & others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for playoffs - WATCH David was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in the IPL before being roped in by Mumbai Indians this season. The all-rounder showcased his skills and talent with the bat after failing to cement his spot in the side following a few failures at the start of the season. David scored 186 runs in 8 matches for MI in IPL 2022 striking at an impressive 216.27 and averaging over 37. Mumbai Indians brought an end to their disappointing campaign with a win but will hope to improve their performances next season.

RCB pay tribute to MI all-rounder Tim David after his blazing knock helps them qualify for IPL 2022 playoffs

Royal Challengers Bangalore became the final team to book their spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as Mumbai Indians defeat Delhi Capitals by five wickets on Saturday. Thanks to this result, DC remain in 14 points while RCB finished fourth with 16 points from 14 matches. RCB had the worse net run rate but their win over Gujarat Titans in their final game was enough to grab the spot.

RCB will be facing Lucknow Super Giants in the eliminator on May 25 with KL Rahul &amp; Co already qualifying for the Top-4 with 18 points from 14 matches. LSG defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in a hard-fought encounter to qualify in the third position because of a worse net run rate than Rajasthan Royals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hope-usd-doesnt-break-my-210-runs-record-pakistan-batter-takes-a-dig-at-economic-situation-of-his-country-481022" hreflang="en">'Hope USD doesn't break my 210 runs record': Pakistan cricketer Fakhar Zaman</a>

Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals will face each other in Qualifier 1 after finishing in the first and second spot respectively. While GT had 20 points from 14 matches in their debut season, RR moved up the table with 18 points from 14 games thanks to their win over Chennai Super Kings.

Here’s a look at the IPL 2022 Qualifier and eliminator fixtures -

Qualifier 1 - May 24 - Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals - Kolkata

Eliminator - May 25 - Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Kolkata

Qualifier 2 - May 27 - Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier 1 - Ahmedabad

The final of IPL 2022 will be played on May 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Royal Challengers Bangalore became the final team to book their spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as Mumbai Indians defeat Delhi Capitals by five wickets on Saturday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore became the final team to book their spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as Mumbai Indians defeat Delhi Capitals by five wickets on Saturday. Thanks to this result, DC remain in 14 points while RCB finished fourth with 16 points from 14 matches. RCB had the worse net run rate but their win over Gujarat Titans in their final game was enough to grab the spot. RCB will be facing Lucknow Super Giants in the eliminator on May 25 with KL Rahul & Co already qualifying for the Top-4 with 18 points from 14 matches. LSG defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in a hard-fought encounter to qualify in the third position because of a worse net run rate than Rajasthan Royals. Also read | 'Hope USD doesn't break my 210 runs record': Pakistan cricketer Fakhar Zaman Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals will face each other in Qualifier 1 after finishing in the first and second spot respectively. While GT had 20 points from 14 matches in their debut season, RR moved up the table with 18 points from 14 games thanks to their win over Chennai Super Kings. Here’s a look at the IPL 2022 Qualifier and eliminator fixtures - Qualifier 1 - May 24 - Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals - Kolkata Eliminator - May 25 - Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Kolkata Qualifier 2 - May 27 - Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier 1 - Ahmedabad The final of IPL 2022 will be played on May 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2022 playoffs: Qualifiers, Eliminator - Schedule, dates, and venues

Harshal Patel was a major buy for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction after a stellar performance last year. Patel was the top wicket-taker in the 2021 edition of the tournament and that fetched him a massive price tag of INR 102.5 million. However, the youngster has been having an average outing this year with 18 wickets from 14 encounters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-gavaskar-mohammed-kaif-picks-premier-player-for-kolkata-knight-riders-in-ipl-2022-478923" hreflang="en">Gavaskar, Kaif pick&nbsp;'premier player' for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022</a>

Patel was in superb form on Friday as he took four wickets against Punjab Kings and that earned him a lot of praise from legendary Indian cricket team batsman Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster called Patel one of the best bowlers in the country at the death and praised him for somewhat restricting PBKS as Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow took the RCB bowlers to the cleaners.

"The only reason Punjab could score 209 and not more was because of Harshal Patel. His bowling is improving day by day and he is able to disguise his variations well. He is one of our leading bowlers in the country at the death. When batters are looking to accelerate, Harshal is a top bet," Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel while discussing the encounter between RCB and PBKS.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-becomes-first-batsman-in-history-to-claim-massive-ipl-milestone-478908" hreflang="en">Virat Kohli becomes first batsman in history to claim massive IPL milestone</a>

RCB were defeated by PBKS despite Patel’s heroics with the ball as Livingstone and Bairstow helped the Mayank Agarwal-led side to a total of 209/9 and in response, Du Plessis &amp; Co fell well short of the target with Kagiso Rabada taking three wickets for the Punjab Kings franchise.

Harshal Patel was a major buy for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction after a stellar performance last year. Patel was the top wicket-taker in the 2021 edition of the tournament and that fetched him a massive price tag of INR 102.

Harshal Patel was a major buy for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction after a stellar performance last year. Patel was the top wicket-taker in the 2021 edition of the tournament and that fetched him a massive price tag of INR 102.5 million. However, the youngster has been having an average outing this year with 18 wickets from 14 encounters. Also read | Gavaskar, Kaif pick 'premier player' for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022 Patel was in superb form on Friday as he took four wickets against Punjab Kings and that earned him a lot of praise from legendary Indian cricket team batsman Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster called Patel one of the best bowlers in the country at the death and praised him for somewhat restricting PBKS as Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow took the RCB bowlers to the cleaners. "The only reason Punjab could score 209 and not more was because of Harshal Patel. His bowling is improving day by day and he is able to disguise his variations well. He is one of our leading bowlers in the country at the death. When batters are looking to accelerate, Harshal is a top bet," Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel while discussing the encounter between RCB and PBKS. Also read | Virat Kohli becomes first batsman in history to claim massive IPL milestone RCB were defeated by PBKS despite Patel’s heroics with the ball as Livingstone and Bairstow helped the Mayank Agarwal-led side to a total of 209/9 and in response, Du Plessis & Co fell well short of the target with Kagiso Rabada taking three wickets for the Punjab Kings franchise.

Sachin Tendulkar hails RCB cricketer as 'one of our leading bowlers at the death’

Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli has not performed well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but he was able to add a unique milestone to his illustrious T20 career. During the match against Punjab Kings on Friday, the former RCB skipper became the first batsman ever to score 6500 runs in the IPL. Kohli reached the milestone in 220 matches. Kohli has played for only RCB in his IPL career and he also captained them for a number of seasons before stepping down in 2022.

Kohli has scored the runs at an average of 36.22 with 43 fifties and five hundreds in the IPL.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-getting-dismissed-every-single-way-that-you-can-possibly-get-out-faf-du-plessis-478831" hreflang="en">Virat Kohli is getting dismissed every single way that you can possibly get out: Faf du Plessis</a>

Punjab Kings batsman Shikhar Dhawan holds the second spot in the list of highest run-scorers in IPL with 6186 runs. Kohli and Dhawan are the only batsmen with more than 6000 runs in the IPL.

It has been a horrible season for Kohli till now with five single-digit scores and third golden ducks as he struggled for form. On Friday, he got a good start but was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada for 20 (14).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ambati-rayudu-not-retiring-from-ipl-says-csk-ceo-after-star-batter-deletes-retirement-tweet-478850" hreflang="en">Ambati Rayudu not retiring from IPL, says CSK CEO after star batter deletes retirement tweet</a>

RCB were also dealt a heavy blow in their pursuit of the IPL 2022 playoff berth as they were beaten by Punjab Kings. Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone scored brilliant hundreds as PBKS posted a solid total of 209/9. Harshal Patel was the pick of the RCB bowlers as he claimed four wickets.

In response, RCB never looked in pole position as Kagiso Rabada took three wickets and the duo of Rishi Dhawan and Rahul Chahar took two each to guide PBKS to a comfortable victory.

Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli has not performed well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but he was able to add a unique milestone to his illustrious T20 career.

Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli has not performed well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but he was able to add a unique milestone to his illustrious T20 career. During the match against Punjab Kings on Friday, the former RCB skipper became the first batsman ever to score 6500 runs in the IPL. Kohli reached the milestone in 220 matches. Kohli has played for only RCB in his IPL career and he also captained them for a number of seasons before stepping down in 2022. Kohli has scored the runs at an average of 36.22 with 43 fifties and five hundreds in the IPL. Also read | Virat Kohli is getting dismissed every single way that you can possibly get out: Faf du Plessis Punjab Kings batsman Shikhar Dhawan holds the second spot in the list of highest run-scorers in IPL with 6186 runs. Kohli and Dhawan are the only batsmen with more than 6000 runs in the IPL. It has been a horrible season for Kohli till now with five single-digit scores and third golden ducks as he struggled for form. On Friday, he got a good start but was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada for 20 (14). Also read | Ambati Rayudu not retiring from IPL, says CSK CEO after star batter deletes retirement tweet RCB were also dealt a heavy blow in their pursuit of the IPL 2022 playoff berth as they were beaten by Punjab Kings. Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone scored brilliant hundreds as PBKS posted a solid total of 209/9. Harshal Patel was the pick of the RCB bowlers as he claimed four wickets. In response, RCB never looked in pole position as Kagiso Rabada took three wickets and the duo of Rishi Dhawan and Rahul Chahar took two each to guide PBKS to a comfortable victory.

Virat Kohli becomes first batsman in history to claim massive IPL milestone

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli has had a forgetful campaign so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli has struggled to churn out runs consistently for his side as RCB lie on the verge of missing out on a spot in the playoffs despite coming close.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) thrashed RCB by 54 runs at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Friday (May 13) as Kohli's shambolic run with the bat continued. It was a crucial game for the Faf du Plessis-led side, who are currently at the fourth spot on the points table with 14 points from 13 matches.

A win against PBKS would have taken them closer to a spot in the playoffs, however, now they stand on the verge of missing out if they lose their last league game. It was yet another disappointing display from the RCB batters, who failed to chase down the target of 210 runs and were bundled out for 155 runs.

Opening the batting with Du Plessis, Kohli managed to get off to a good start as he scored 20 runs with the help of two fours and a solitary six. However, he was sent packing by Kagiso Rabada in the 4th over after being caught by Rahul Chahar. Kohli has failed to fire with the bat so far this season as he has only managed 236 runs in 13 games at a disappointing average of 19.67.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkars-multiverse-of-madness-post-with-cricket-legends-breaks-the-internet-478820">Sachin Tendulkar's 'Multiverse of Madness' post with cricket legends breaks the internet</a>

Speaking about Kohli's horror run in IPL 2022, RCB skipper Du Plessis said the RCB star has now started seeing the funnier side of things as he is getting out in every possible way that one can. Du Plessis said Kohli has been working hard on his game and backed him to bounce back soon.

"He (Kohli) is seeing the lighter side of it, every single way that you can possibly get out, is happening to him. That's how the game works," Du Plessis said after RCB's loss to PBKS.

"All you can do is to keep trying hard, work hard and stay positive. He played some good shots tonight, obviously would want him to carry on. Bad patches happen to all of us, he's taken it in the right note," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-can-come-in-at-no-6-or-7-sunil-gavaskar-picks-dinesh-karthik-as-indias-finisher-for-t20-world-cup-478720">'He can come in at No. 6 or 7' - Sunil Gavaskar picks Dinesh Karthik as India's finisher for T20 World Cup</a>

RCB are now in a must-win situation for their final league game against table-toppers Gujarat Titans. A loss against Hardik Pandya's men can all but end their hopes of making it to the playoffs this season. RCB have so far managed 7 wins and six defeats in the tournament this year.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli has had a forgetful campaign so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli has struggled to churn out runs consistently for his side as RCB lie on the verge of missing out on a spot in the playoffs despite coming close.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli has had a forgetful campaign so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli has struggled to churn out runs consistently for his side as RCB lie on the verge of missing out on a spot in the playoffs despite coming close. Punjab Kings (PBKS) thrashed RCB by 54 runs at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Friday (May 13) as Kohli's shambolic run with the bat continued. It was a crucial game for the Faf du Plessis-led side, who are currently at the fourth spot on the points table with 14 points from 13 matches. A win against PBKS would have taken them closer to a spot in the playoffs, however, now they stand on the verge of missing out if they lose their last league game. It was yet another disappointing display from the RCB batters, who failed to chase down the target of 210 runs and were bundled out for 155 runs. Opening the batting with Du Plessis, Kohli managed to get off to a good start as he scored 20 runs with the help of two fours and a solitary six. However, he was sent packing by Kagiso Rabada in the 4th over after being caught by Rahul Chahar. Kohli has failed to fire with the bat so far this season as he has only managed 236 runs in 13 games at a disappointing average of 19.67. Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar's 'Multiverse of Madness' post with cricket legends breaks the internet Speaking about Kohli's horror run in IPL 2022, RCB skipper Du Plessis said the RCB star has now started seeing the funnier side of things as he is getting out in every possible way that one can. Du Plessis said Kohli has been working hard on his game and backed him to bounce back soon. "He (Kohli) is seeing the lighter side of it, every single way that you can possibly get out, is happening to him. That's how the game works," Du Plessis said after RCB's loss to PBKS. "All you can do is to keep trying hard, work hard and stay positive. He played some good shots tonight, obviously would want him to carry on. Bad patches happen to all of us, he's taken it in the right note," he added. Also Read: 'He can come in at No. 6 or 7' - Sunil Gavaskar picks Dinesh Karthik as India's finisher for T20 World Cup RCB are now in a must-win situation for their final league game against table-toppers Gujarat Titans. A loss against Hardik Pandya's men can all but end their hopes of making it to the playoffs this season. RCB have so far managed 7 wins and six defeats in the tournament this year.

Virat Kohli is getting dismissed every single way that you can possibly get out: Faf du Plessis

The IPL 2022 edition is surely closely being followed by the Indian selection committee with the T20 World Cup set to be held later this year, in Australia. Many veteran, out-of-favour, and young players have a chance to showcase their skills and credentials in order to appear in the Indian squad for the showpiece event.

In this regard, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has been phenomenal in IPL 15. Karthik, who had an ordinary run in the last two IPL seasons, has scored 274 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of&nbsp;200.00 by playing some memorable cameos and match-finishing knocks. Thus, he has surely made heads turn and is now in the reckoning for a Team India comeback for the T20 WC.

Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has backed&nbsp;Karthik to take up the lower-order batter's responsibility for India in the showpiece event. "The way the IPL is going for him at the moment, I do believe he should be very much in the running for the India spot in the October tournament, maybe even earlier for South Africa, for England, I do believe he should be earlier in the team," Gavaskar told Sports Today.

"I would definitely look at him as a batter who can come in at No. 6 or No. 7 like he is doing for RCB and take the game away from the opposition," Gavaskar added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-gavaskar-resorts-to-ms-dhonis-famous-catchphrase-when-asked-about-csk-skippers-ipl-future-478682">Sunil Gavaskar resorts to MS Dhoni's famous catchphrase when asked about CSK skipper's IPL future</a>

Gavaskar revealed that he spent a lot of time with Karthik when the latter turned into a commentator last year, especially during the WTC final and India-England Tests in the United Kingdom. "I spent a lot of time with him last year. We spent about 10-12 days in quarantine in Belgrade, Serbia where we practically sort of spending 12 to 14 hours a day, eating lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Spending time with him, I got to see how keen he was to come back to the Indian team. He was keen to come back to the team that played in the UAE last year. That didn’t quite happen. It was perhaps a little too close. The IPL that year didn’t go all that well for him," Gavaskar concluded.

Will DK make a comeback into the Indian team for the mega event Down Under? Only time will tell...

The IPL 2022 edition is surely closely being followed by the Indian selection committee with the T20 World Cup set to be held later this year, in Australia. Many veteran, out-of-favour, and young players have a chance to showcase their skills and credentials in order to appear in the Indian squad for the showpiece event.

The IPL 2022 edition is surely closely being followed by the Indian selection committee with the T20 World Cup set to be held later this year, in Australia. Many veteran, out-of-favour, and young players have a chance to showcase their skills and credentials in order to appear in the Indian squad for the showpiece event. In this regard, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has been phenomenal in IPL 15. Karthik, who had an ordinary run in the last two IPL seasons, has scored 274 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 200.00 by playing some memorable cameos and match-finishing knocks. Thus, he has surely made heads turn and is now in the reckoning for a Team India comeback for the T20 WC. Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has backed Karthik to take up the lower-order batter's responsibility for India in the showpiece event. "The way the IPL is going for him at the moment, I do believe he should be very much in the running for the India spot in the October tournament, maybe even earlier for South Africa, for England, I do believe he should be earlier in the team," Gavaskar told Sports Today. "I would definitely look at him as a batter who can come in at No. 6 or No. 7 like he is doing for RCB and take the game away from the opposition," Gavaskar added. ALSO READ | Sunil Gavaskar resorts to MS Dhoni's famous catchphrase when asked about CSK skipper's IPL future Gavaskar revealed that he spent a lot of time with Karthik when the latter turned into a commentator last year, especially during the WTC final and India-England Tests in the United Kingdom. "I spent a lot of time with him last year. We spent about 10-12 days in quarantine in Belgrade, Serbia where we practically sort of spending 12 to 14 hours a day, eating lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Spending time with him, I got to see how keen he was to come back to the Indian team. He was keen to come back to the team that played in the UAE last year. That didn’t quite happen. It was perhaps a little too close. The IPL that year didn’t go all that well for him," Gavaskar concluded. Will DK make a comeback into the Indian team for the mega event Down Under? Only time will tell...

'He can come in at No. 6 or 7' - Sunil Gavaskar picks Dinesh Karthik as India's finisher for T20 World Cup

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