Former India coach Ravi Shastri predicted that Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill might surpass Virat Kohli's mark of 973 runs scored in a single Indian Premier League season.

Kohli achieved the milestone in IPL 2016, where he slammed 973 runs at an average of 81.08. Gill completed 2,000 runs in IPL on Sunday. He accomplished this milestone during his side's match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In the match, Shubman played a handy knock of 39 runs in 31 balls. His knock consisted of five boundaries. His runs came at a strike rate of 125.81. In his 77 matches in IPL career, which has seen him represent Gujarat and formerly Kolkata Knight Riders, Gill has scored 2,016 runs at an average of 32.52. He has scored his runs at a strike rate of 126.24. Fifteen half-centuries have come out of his bat in IPL with the best score of 96.

Gill's best season came last year when he played a key role in Gujarat Titans' triumph in their maiden IPL 2022 season. Last season, he scored 483 runs in 16 innings at an average of 34.50. He scored four half-centuries last season, with the best score of 96.

"If we look at what's happened till now, then the two left-handers, Tilak Varma and Sudharshan, one is 20 years old, the other is 21, they have been a lot of fun to watch. Because they seem to have a future, their temperament and maturity which we can see shows the potential they have to be good players," Shastri told Star Sports.

Tilak Varma was the find of the season for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022. He scored 397 runs in 14 matches at an average of over 36 and SR of over 131 with two fifties and the best score of 61. In the first game of IPL 2023, he scored an unbeaten 84* off 46 balls against RCB in a losing cause, carrying the entire MI batting line-up on his back.

In 37 T20s, he has scored 1,159 runs at an average of 38.63 with a strike rate of over 139.30. His best score in the format is 84*. He has 10 half-centuries in the format.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fact-check-truth-behind-csk-bowler-tushar-deshpandes-rohit-sharmas-wicket-is-easy-remark-581275">FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark</a>

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also gave his opinion on who has impressed him the most in the IPL 2023.

"One is definitely Tilak Varma, he has impressed us a lot. He batted well last year and has performed this year as well. Even his attitude is very good. He looks like he can be a leader in the future. And the second is Jurel, the way Jurel has batted from his first innings, I couldn't even imagine the quality of his shots under pressure. So that is one boy who has impressed, even though it's still in the early stages, but these are promising signs."

Shastri was asked what was special about Vijay Shankar that got him selected for the 2019 ICC Men's ODI World Cup.

He said the player was picked up both for his bowling and batting abilities.

"In my opinion, the selectors thinking was such that, just like his innings that we have seen in this year's IPL, that kind of innings plus his bowling is a big factor in his getting selected. When he got injured during the 2019 World Cup, he got a fracture on his toe and was out for a long time. He has the talent, he has worked hard to get back to his best, and you know, at that time even Hardik was facing a lot of injury issues, so India was looking for a player who could replace Hardik and give at least two or three overs to the team and bat well, so it was always to keep Shankar ready in case Hardik got injured so that there was a quality replacement."

Shastri also spoke on who may break Virat Kohli's record for the most runs in a single season.

Shastri said it has to be an opening batsman, because only then will he get many opportunities to score runs.

"I feel it is Subhman Gill because he is in good form and also because he plays top of the order. So he will get a good number of opportunities to score runs. The pitches are good, so if he can score 80-100 runs consecutively in two or three innings, then at that point in time only he will already have 300-400 runs. According to me, it is very difficult to break the record, because 900 plus runs is huge but one thing is opening batsmen will get two extra matches and two extra innings, so opening batsmen can only break this record if it is possible."

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Former India coach Ravi Shastri predicted that Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill might surpass Virat Kohli's mark of 973 runs scored in a single Indian Premier League season.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri predicted that Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill might surpass Virat Kohli's mark of 973 runs scored in a single Indian Premier League season. Kohli achieved the milestone in IPL 2016, where he slammed 973 runs at an average of 81.08. Gill completed 2,000 runs in IPL on Sunday. He accomplished this milestone during his side's match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In the match, Shubman played a handy knock of 39 runs in 31 balls. His knock consisted of five boundaries. His runs came at a strike rate of 125.81. In his 77 matches in IPL career, which has seen him represent Gujarat and formerly Kolkata Knight Riders, Gill has scored 2,016 runs at an average of 32.52. He has scored his runs at a strike rate of 126.24. Fifteen half-centuries have come out of his bat in IPL with the best score of 96. Gill's best season came last year when he played a key role in Gujarat Titans' triumph in their maiden IPL 2022 season. Last season, he scored 483 runs in 16 innings at an average of 34.50. He scored four half-centuries last season, with the best score of 96. "If we look at what's happened till now, then the two left-handers, Tilak Varma and Sudharshan, one is 20 years old, the other is 21, they have been a lot of fun to watch. Because they seem to have a future, their temperament and maturity which we can see shows the potential they have to be good players," Shastri told Star Sports. Tilak Varma was the find of the season for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022. He scored 397 runs in 14 matches at an average of over 36 and SR of over 131 with two fifties and the best score of 61. In the first game of IPL 2023, he scored an unbeaten 84* off 46 balls against RCB in a losing cause, carrying the entire MI batting line-up on his back. In 37 T20s, he has scored 1,159 runs at an average of 38.63 with a strike rate of over 139.30. His best score in the format is 84*. He has 10 half-centuries in the format. ALSO READ | FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also gave his opinion on who has impressed him the most in the IPL 2023. "One is definitely Tilak Varma, he has impressed us a lot. He batted well last year and has performed this year as well. Even his attitude is very good. He looks like he can be a leader in the future. And the second is Jurel, the way Jurel has batted from his first innings, I couldn't even imagine the quality of his shots under pressure. So that is one boy who has impressed, even though it's still in the early stages, but these are promising signs." Shastri was asked what was special about Vijay Shankar that got him selected for the 2019 ICC Men's ODI World Cup. He said the player was picked up both for his bowling and batting abilities. "In my opinion, the selectors thinking was such that, just like his innings that we have seen in this year's IPL, that kind of innings plus his bowling is a big factor in his getting selected. When he got injured during the 2019 World Cup, he got a fracture on his toe and was out for a long time. He has the talent, he has worked hard to get back to his best, and you know, at that time even Hardik was facing a lot of injury issues, so India was looking for a player who could replace Hardik and give at least two or three overs to the team and bat well, so it was always to keep Shankar ready in case Hardik got injured so that there was a quality replacement." Shastri also spoke on who may break Virat Kohli's record for the most runs in a single season. Shastri said it has to be an opening batsman, because only then will he get many opportunities to score runs. "I feel it is Subhman Gill because he is in good form and also because he plays top of the order. So he will get a good number of opportunities to score runs. The pitches are good, so if he can score 80-100 runs consecutively in two or three innings, then at that point in time only he will already have 300-400 runs. According to me, it is very difficult to break the record, because 900 plus runs is huge but one thing is opening batsmen will get two extra matches and two extra innings, so opening batsmen can only break this record if it is possible." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Ravi Shastri picks THIS batter to break Virat's long-standing run record, says 'he is in good form'

Virat Kohli has so far scored two fifties in three games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2023. The three-time runners-up will rely on Kohli throughout the season as they look to end their IPL-trophy drought this time around in IPL 2023. In 2016 edition, the then RCB skipper Kohli was in sublime form as he ended with a whopping 973 runs in 16 games -- including four centuries - as he took his franchise to the final, where they lost to the eventual champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Kohli's 973 runs remains the most scored by a batter in any IPL season. Recently, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri named India's young star Shubman Gill, who represents the one-time winners Gujarat Titans (GT), to break Kohli's massive IPL record.&nbsp;

Speaking during a Q/A session on&nbsp;Star Sports, Shastri said, "He has to be an opening batsman, because only then will he get many opportunities to score runs. I feel it is Shubman Gill because he is in good form and also because he plays at the top of the order. So he will get a good number of opportunities to score runs."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-42-to-50-after-babar-doull-slams-virat-kohli-for-being-concerned-about-personal-milestone-581298">'From 42 to 50...' - After Babar, Doull slams Virat Kohli for being 'concerned about personal milestone'</a>

Shastri further opined, "The pitches are good, so if he can score 80-100 runs consecutively in two or three innings, then at that point only he will already have 300-400 runs.

"According to me, it is very difficult to break the record, because 900-plus runs is huge. But one thing is opening batsmen will get two extra matches and two extra innings, so they can only break this record if it is possible", he&nbsp;added.

Gill has so far scored 116 runs, including a fifty, at a strike rate of 145. Meanwhile, Gill-starrer GT have won twice and lost a game after three encounters as they occupy the fourth spot in the points table.&nbsp;

Will in-form Gill break Kohli's record in IPL 2023 or the upcoming seasons? Only time will tell...

Virat Kohli has so far scored two fifties in three games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2023. The three-time runners-up will rely on Kohli throughout the season as they look to end their IPL-trophy drought this time around in IPL 2023.

Virat Kohli has so far scored two fifties in three games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2023. The three-time runners-up will rely on Kohli throughout the season as they look to end their IPL-trophy drought this time around in IPL 2023. In 2016 edition, the then RCB skipper Kohli was in sublime form as he ended with a whopping 973 runs in 16 games -- including four centuries - as he took his franchise to the final, where they lost to the eventual champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Kohli's 973 runs remains the most scored by a batter in any IPL season. Recently, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri named India's young star Shubman Gill, who represents the one-time winners Gujarat Titans (GT), to break Kohli's massive IPL record. Speaking during a Q/A session on Star Sports, Shastri said, "He has to be an opening batsman, because only then will he get many opportunities to score runs. I feel it is Shubman Gill because he is in good form and also because he plays at the top of the order. So he will get a good number of opportunities to score runs." Also Read: 'From 42 to 50...' - After Babar, Doull slams Virat Kohli for being 'concerned about personal milestone' Shastri further opined, "The pitches are good, so if he can score 80-100 runs consecutively in two or three innings, then at that point only he will already have 300-400 runs. "According to me, it is very difficult to break the record, because 900-plus runs is huge. But one thing is opening batsmen will get two extra matches and two extra innings, so they can only break this record if it is possible", he added. Gill has so far scored 116 runs, including a fifty, at a strike rate of 145. Meanwhile, Gill-starrer GT have won twice and lost a game after three encounters as they occupy the fourth spot in the points table. Will in-form Gill break Kohli's record in IPL 2023 or the upcoming seasons? Only time will tell...

Not Dhawan or Buttler! Shastri names THIS Indian youngster who can break Kohli's 973-run IPL record

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Amit Mishra could be caught in a controversy after he was seen using saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy happened in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) contest on Monday, April 10 after the latter beat the hosts by one wicket on the final ball of the match.

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Is saliva allowed in ipl?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iplinhindi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iplinhindi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2023</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ipl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ipl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rcb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rcb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uh7hiR7D2G">pic.twitter.com/Uh7hiR7D2G</a>
— ROHIT RAJ (@RohitRajSinhaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/RohitRajSinhaa/status/1645440168554528768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>What was the controversy?</h2>

In the 11th over of the RCB innings, Mishra took over the initiative as LSG struggled for wickets as the hosts were 96/0. While Virat and Faf du Plessis looked nailed on for a 100-run stand, the former India skipper was dismissed by Mishra on 61 runs. However, in a video that has surfaced on the internet, Mishra was seen making use of the saliva on the ball in the same over.

According to the latest rules, with effect from October 1, 2022, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to permanently ban the use of saliva to polish the ball. The prohibition has been in place in international cricket for over two years as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19. While announcing several changes to its Playing Conditions, the ICC considered it "appropriate for the ban to be made permanent.”

So if Amit Mishra is found to have made use of saliva to gain an unfair advantage, the IPL disciplinary committee could take action against him. However, at this point, there is no complaint to the match referee and the officials and Mishra could escape punishment.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fact-check-truth-behind-csk-bowler-tushar-deshpandes-rohit-sharmas-wicket-is-easy-remark-581275">FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark</a>

<h2>Other offenses in the contest</h2>

In the same contest, RCB were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate while LSG pacer Avesh Khan was reprimanded for breaching the league's code of conduct in the match between the two sides at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday.

Powerful half-centuries by Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni's quickfire 30 guided LSG to a one-wicket win in the last ball thriller against RCB in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match. "The Royal Challengers Bangalore have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match 15 against the Lucknow Super Giants at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Monday," said a statement from the league.

As it was the team's first offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, captain Faf du Plessis was fined Rs 12 lakhs.

"Lucknow Super Giants' Avesh Khan has been reprimanded for breaching the Code of Conduct. Avesh admitted to level 1 offence 2.2 of IPL's Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction," added the statement.

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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Amit Mishra could be caught in a controversy after he was seen using saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy happened in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) contest on Monday, April 10 after the latter beat the hosts by one wicket on the final ball of the match.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Amit Mishra could be caught in a controversy after he was seen using saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy happened in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) contest on Monday, April 10 after the latter beat the hosts by one wicket on the final ball of the match. Is saliva allowed in ipl?? #iplinhindi #IPL2023 #ipl #rcb #JioCinema pic.twitter.com/Uh7hiR7D2G — ROHIT RAJ (@RohitRajSinhaa) April 10, 2023 × What was the controversy? In the 11th over of the RCB innings, Mishra took over the initiative as LSG struggled for wickets as the hosts were 96/0. While Virat and Faf du Plessis looked nailed on for a 100-run stand, the former India skipper was dismissed by Mishra on 61 runs. However, in a video that has surfaced on the internet, Mishra was seen making use of the saliva on the ball in the same over. According to the latest rules, with effect from October 1, 2022, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to permanently ban the use of saliva to polish the ball. The prohibition has been in place in international cricket for over two years as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19. While announcing several changes to its Playing Conditions, the ICC considered it "appropriate for the ban to be made permanent.” So if Amit Mishra is found to have made use of saliva to gain an unfair advantage, the IPL disciplinary committee could take action against him. However, at this point, there is no complaint to the match referee and the officials and Mishra could escape punishment. ALSO READ | FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark Other offenses in the contest In the same contest, RCB were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate while LSG pacer Avesh Khan was reprimanded for breaching the league's code of conduct in the match between the two sides at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday. Powerful half-centuries by Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni's quickfire 30 guided LSG to a one-wicket win in the last ball thriller against RCB in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match. "The Royal Challengers Bangalore have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match 15 against the Lucknow Super Giants at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Monday," said a statement from the league. As it was the team's first offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, captain Faf du Plessis was fined Rs 12 lakhs. "Lucknow Super Giants' Avesh Khan has been reprimanded for breaching the Code of Conduct. Avesh admitted to level 1 offence 2.2 of IPL's Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction," added the statement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Amit Mishra caught using saliva on ball in RCB vs LSG contest; dismisses Virat Kohli 2 balls later

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) hosted the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition on Monday evening (April 10). In a high-scoring thriller, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Faf du Plessis-led RCB posted a mammoth 212 for 2, riding on fifties from Virat Kohli (61), Faf (79*) and Glenn maxwell (59), but Nicholas Pooran's 62 (19) and Marcus Stoinis' 65 (30) paved the way for Lucknow's one-wicket win&nbsp;on the final ball of the contest.

While RCB batters gave their bowlers a big score to defend, former cricketers and experts believe they still fell short of a winning score. Iconic commentator Harsha Bhogle shared a tweet where he wrote, "This game confirms everything we have been talking about strike rates. Kohli 61(44), eventual SR of 139 but got 16(15) at the end. Du Plessis 79(46) eventual SR of 172 but was 33(30). Those balls don't come back. And #RCB were short in the end. It is not about the eventual SR."&nbsp;

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This game confirms everything we have been talking about strike rates. Kohli 61(44), eventual SR of 139 but got 16(15) at the end. Du Plessis 79(46) eventual SR of 172 but was 33(30). Those balls don't come back. And <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCB</a> were short in the end. It is not about the eventual SR.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhogleharsha/status/1645489374447140865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Simon Doull, former New Zealand cricketer-turned-commentator, also took a jibe at Kohli during the RCB innings. Doull said on-air, "Virat Kohli started off like a train. He was hammering shots. But from 42 to 40 the took 10 balls. He's concerned about his personal milestone. I don’t think there’s room for that in this game anymore. You’ve just got to keep going especially with wickets in hand at that stage. You’ve got to keep going."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fact-check-truth-behind-csk-bowler-tushar-deshpandes-rohit-sharmas-wicket-is-easy-remark-581275">FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark</a>

“Rather than putting the team first... the last little while, that's all that been happening. Rather than looking for boundaries, still so much firepower to come. Hundreds are brilliant, stats are great, but it has to be team first,” Doull added.

In the recent past, Doull has also slammed Pakistan captain and batting sensation Babar Azam for his slow and sluggish knocks. It will be interesting to see if Kohli responds to Doull's criticism or let's his bat doing the talking in RCB's next game, versus Delhi Capitals (DC) at home on Saturday (April 15).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) hosted the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition on Monday evening (April 10).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) hosted the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition on Monday evening (April 10). In a high-scoring thriller, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Faf du Plessis-led RCB posted a mammoth 212 for 2, riding on fifties from Virat Kohli (61), Faf (79*) and Glenn maxwell (59), but Nicholas Pooran's 62 (19) and Marcus Stoinis' 65 (30) paved the way for Lucknow's one-wicket win on the final ball of the contest. While RCB batters gave their bowlers a big score to defend, former cricketers and experts believe they still fell short of a winning score. Iconic commentator Harsha Bhogle shared a tweet where he wrote, "This game confirms everything we have been talking about strike rates. Kohli 61(44), eventual SR of 139 but got 16(15) at the end. Du Plessis 79(46) eventual SR of 172 but was 33(30). Those balls don't come back. And #RCB were short in the end. It is not about the eventual SR." This game confirms everything we have been talking about strike rates. Kohli 61(44), eventual SR of 139 but got 16(15) at the end. Du Plessis 79(46) eventual SR of 172 but was 33(30). Those balls don't come back. And #RCB were short in the end. It is not about the eventual SR. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 10, 2023 × Simon Doull, former New Zealand cricketer-turned-commentator, also took a jibe at Kohli during the RCB innings. Doull said on-air, "Virat Kohli started off like a train. He was hammering shots. But from 42 to 40 the took 10 balls. He's concerned about his personal milestone. I don’t think there’s room for that in this game anymore. You’ve just got to keep going especially with wickets in hand at that stage. You’ve got to keep going." Also Read: FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark “Rather than putting the team first... the last little while, that's all that been happening. Rather than looking for boundaries, still so much firepower to come. Hundreds are brilliant, stats are great, but it has to be team first,” Doull added. In the recent past, Doull has also slammed Pakistan captain and batting sensation Babar Azam for his slow and sluggish knocks. It will be interesting to see if Kohli responds to Doull's criticism or let's his bat doing the talking in RCB's next game, versus Delhi Capitals (DC) at home on Saturday (April 15).

'From 42 to 50...' - After Babar, Doull slams Virat Kohli for being 'concerned about personal milestone'

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got the better of arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in their first meeting in IPL 2023, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 08 (Saturday). The MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army opted to bowl first and rode on Ravindra Jadeja's 3 for 20, Mitchell Santner's 2 for 28 and Tushar Deshpande's 2 for 31 restricted the MI line-up for 157 for 8. Ajinkya Rahane led the charge for CSK with a fine 27-ball 61, laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes at 225.93, as CSK chased down the total with seven wickets to spare.

After the match, Dhoni would have been a satisfied captain as CSK's inexperienced bowling attack looked very good in contrast to their previous two outings. After Dhoni had cheekily warned the bowlers of bowling fewer extra deliveries post their home game versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) , where they leaked 18 extras (13 wides, three no-balls), they were very economical and disciplined and ended with only eight extras (five&nbsp;wides, zero no-ball). Tushar Deshpande, who returned with 2 for 45 vs LSG, ended with 2 for 31 (3) in the MI game. He dismissed Rohit with a peach off delivery and also removed Tim David later.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/most-hideous-innings-in-ipl-ex-india-pacer-rips-apart-rahul-for-his-snail-paced-knock-in-lsg-rcb-tie-581237">'Most HIDEOUS innings in IPL' - Ex-India pacer RIPS APART Rahul for his snail-paced knock in LSG-RCB tie</a>

He rattled Rohit's stumps with a delivery that angled in on a back of a length and cleaned up Hitman's timber as he showed no foot movement and fell for his tentativeness. A&nbsp; day after the game, Deshpande was severely trolled for his alleged 'getting Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy. He is not someone like Virat Kohli or AB de Villiers' comment as per multiple reports. The pacer's statement demeaning the Indian captain went viral in no time and led to his criticism from all quarters. But, did Deshpande really make such a comment on Rohit?

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Tushar Deshpande's Instagram story on misquotes happening on his name. <a href="https://t.co/AbWUfqpHNl">pic.twitter.com/AbWUfqpHNl</a>
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1645276831480971264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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HERE's THE TRUTH

Two days post his criticism, Deshpande has cleared the air on his rumoured statement. Taking to Instagram, the CSK pacer wrote in his Instagram story, "I have absolute respect for all the legends mentioned above. I did not, would not, make any such demeaning statements. Stop spreading fake news."

Deshpande has so far picked up four wickets in three games for the Dhoni-led franchise. CSK have won two out of three encounters so far and occupy the sixth position in the points table. On Wednesday (April 12), CSK will host Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got the better of arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in their first meeting in IPL 2023, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 08 (Saturday).

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got the better of arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in their first meeting in IPL 2023, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 08 (Saturday). The MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army opted to bowl first and rode on Ravindra Jadeja's 3 for 20, Mitchell Santner's 2 for 28 and Tushar Deshpande's 2 for 31 restricted the MI line-up for 157 for 8. Ajinkya Rahane led the charge for CSK with a fine 27-ball 61, laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes at 225.93, as CSK chased down the total with seven wickets to spare. After the match, Dhoni would have been a satisfied captain as CSK's inexperienced bowling attack looked very good in contrast to their previous two outings. After Dhoni had cheekily warned the bowlers of bowling fewer extra deliveries post their home game versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) , where they leaked 18 extras (13 wides, three no-balls), they were very economical and disciplined and ended with only eight extras (five wides, zero no-ball). Tushar Deshpande, who returned with 2 for 45 vs LSG, ended with 2 for 31 (3) in the MI game. He dismissed Rohit with a peach off delivery and also removed Tim David later. Also Read: 'Most HIDEOUS innings in IPL' - Ex-India pacer RIPS APART Rahul for his snail-paced knock in LSG-RCB tie He rattled Rohit's stumps with a delivery that angled in on a back of a length and cleaned up Hitman's timber as he showed no foot movement and fell for his tentativeness. A day after the game, Deshpande was severely trolled for his alleged 'getting Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy. He is not someone like Virat Kohli or AB de Villiers' comment as per multiple reports. The pacer's statement demeaning the Indian captain went viral in no time and led to his criticism from all quarters. But, did Deshpande really make such a comment on Rohit? Tushar Deshpande's Instagram story on misquotes happening on his name. pic.twitter.com/AbWUfqpHNl — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 10, 2023 × HERE's THE TRUTH Two days post his criticism, Deshpande has cleared the air on his rumoured statement. Taking to Instagram, the CSK pacer wrote in his Instagram story, "I have absolute respect for all the legends mentioned above. I did not, would not, make any such demeaning statements. Stop spreading fake news." Deshpande has so far picked up four wickets in three games for the Dhoni-led franchise. CSK have won two out of three encounters so far and occupy the sixth position in the points table. On Wednesday (April 12), CSK will host Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

FACT-CHECK: Truth behind CSK bowler Tushar Deshpande's 'Rohit Sharma's wicket is easy' remark

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will host the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, on Monday evening (April 10). The match will be held at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru as the home crowd will hope for the Virat Kohli-starrer to return to winning ways after a hammering received at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in their previous game.

RCB opened their campaign in IPL 2023 with an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at home. On the road, they faced KKR who dismissed them for 123 in pursuit of 205. With the heavy loss, RCB are now languishing at the seventh spot -- with a poor Net Run Rate (NRR) of&nbsp;-1.256, and needs to stage a comeback at the earliest.&nbsp;

LSG, on the other hand, started with a 50-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in Lucknow and lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 12 runs in Chennai. Returning to home conditions, they hammered SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by five wickets. They occupy the third spot at present.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-from-living-in-lpg-quarters-to-becoming-kkrs-new-star-all-you-need-to-know-about-rinku-singh-580864">IPL 2023: From living in LPG quarters to becoming KKR's new star! All you need to know about Rinku Singh</a>

The pitch is expected to assist the swing bowlers for the early overs and will have enough pace throughout the match. RCB's death-bowling woes and LSG's main batters' dry run -- especially KL Rahul -- will be closely monioted as it could well define the outcome of the match.&nbsp;

Result Prediction –

Going by the current form, LSG have their noise ahead but expect RCB to bounce back at home. Overall, a competitive game surely on the cards. In head-to-head, RCB lead LSG 2-0.&nbsp;

Probable XIs

RCB:&nbsp;Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik, Michael Bracewell, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Mohammad Siraj

LSG:&nbsp;KL Rahul, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis/Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham/Amit Mishra, Yash Thakur, Avesh Khan/Jaydev Unadkat, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will host the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, on Monday evening (April 10).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will host the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, on Monday evening (April 10). The match will be held at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru as the home crowd will hope for the Virat Kohli-starrer to return to winning ways after a hammering received at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in their previous game. RCB opened their campaign in IPL 2023 with an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at home. On the road, they faced KKR who dismissed them for 123 in pursuit of 205. With the heavy loss, RCB are now languishing at the seventh spot -- with a poor Net Run Rate (NRR) of -1.256, and needs to stage a comeback at the earliest. LSG, on the other hand, started with a 50-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in Lucknow and lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 12 runs in Chennai. Returning to home conditions, they hammered SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by five wickets. They occupy the third spot at present. Also Read: IPL 2023: From living in LPG quarters to becoming KKR's new star! All you need to know about Rinku Singh The pitch is expected to assist the swing bowlers for the early overs and will have enough pace throughout the match. RCB's death-bowling woes and LSG's main batters' dry run -- especially KL Rahul -- will be closely monioted as it could well define the outcome of the match. Result Prediction – Going by the current form, LSG have their noise ahead but expect RCB to bounce back at home. Overall, a competitive game surely on the cards. In head-to-head, RCB lead LSG 2-0. Probable XIs RCB: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik, Michael Bracewell, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Mohammad Siraj LSG: KL Rahul, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis/Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham/Amit Mishra, Yash Thakur, Avesh Khan/Jaydev Unadkat, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi

IPL 2023, Match 14, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants - Match preview and result prediction

Delhi Capitals skipper and opening batsman David Warner became only the third player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to score 6000 runs. Warner achieved the feat during the match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rrs-samson-takes-scremaer-to-dismiss-dcs-shaw-as-boult-bowls-double-wicket-maiden-again-watch-580452">RR's Samson takes SCREMAER to dismiss DC's Shaw as Boult bowls double-wicket maiden again</a>

Apart from Warner, RCB's Virat Kohli and Punjab Kings' Shikhar Dhawan are the only two players in the list. Warner, however, reached milestone fastest among three, having scored his 6000th runs in 165th inning only. Kohli and Dhawan, on the other hand, reached the same milestone in 188 and 199 innings, respectively.

DC's twitter handle also congratulated their skipper in style with a post. Have a look at the post here:

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This 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋 gives you runs 😉 
 
Just 1️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ matches to reach this extraordinary milestone 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YehHaiNayiDilli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YehHaiNayiDilli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2023</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RRvDC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRvDC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/davidwarner31?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@davidwarner31</a> <a href="https://t.co/eStFiyNsNc">pic.twitter.com/eStFiyNsNc</a>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1644682729672388611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Coming to the chase part, Rajasthan Royals bowler Trent Boult once again delivered a double-wicket maiden as he dismissed Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw and Manish Pandey off successive balls. Delhi&nbsp;are in dire situation in the IPL 2023, having lost both their matches so far and thus no points yet.

The game against Rajasthan Royals also started against DC with Royals openers making Warner pay for his decision to let them bat first.&nbsp;The decision from Warner proved to be wrong instantly as Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ripped apart DC's Khaleel Ahmed for five fours in the first over itself.

Jaiswal's opening partner Buttler too joined the party in the second over as he smashed Capitals' South African pacer Anrich Nortje for three fours in the over, taking Rajasthan to 32 in two overs with all runs coming in boundaries - eight to be precise. Both Jaiswal and Buttler scored a fifty each - 60 off 31 and 79 off 51, respectively.

Apart from the openers, Shimron Hetmyer played a nice cameo of 39 not out off 21 as Rajasthan finished 199/4 in their 20 overs. For DC, Mukesh Kumar took wickets while Rovman Powell and spinner Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with one each.

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Delhi Capitals skipper and opening batsman David Warner became only the third player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to score 6000 runs. Warner achieved the feat during the match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

Delhi Capitals skipper and opening batsman David Warner became only the third player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to score 6000 runs. Warner achieved the feat during the match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Also Watch: RR's Samson takes SCREMAER to dismiss DC's Shaw as Boult bowls double-wicket maiden again Apart from Warner, RCB's Virat Kohli and Punjab Kings' Shikhar Dhawan are the only two players in the list. Warner, however, reached milestone fastest among three, having scored his 6000th runs in 165th inning only. Kohli and Dhawan, on the other hand, reached the same milestone in 188 and 199 innings, respectively. DC's twitter handle also congratulated their skipper in style with a post. Have a look at the post here: This 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋 gives you runs 😉 Just 1️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ matches to reach this extraordinary milestone 🤯#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2023 #RRvDC @davidwarner31 pic.twitter.com/eStFiyNsNc — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 8, 2023 × Coming to the chase part, Rajasthan Royals bowler Trent Boult once again delivered a double-wicket maiden as he dismissed Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw and Manish Pandey off successive balls. Delhi are in dire situation in the IPL 2023, having lost both their matches so far and thus no points yet. The game against Rajasthan Royals also started against DC with Royals openers making Warner pay for his decision to let them bat first. The decision from Warner proved to be wrong instantly as Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ripped apart DC's Khaleel Ahmed for five fours in the first over itself. Jaiswal's opening partner Buttler too joined the party in the second over as he smashed Capitals' South African pacer Anrich Nortje for three fours in the over, taking Rajasthan to 32 in two overs with all runs coming in boundaries - eight to be precise. Both Jaiswal and Buttler scored a fifty each - 60 off 31 and 79 off 51, respectively. Apart from the openers, Shimron Hetmyer played a nice cameo of 39 not out off 21 as Rajasthan finished 199/4 in their 20 overs. For DC, Mukesh Kumar took wickets while Rovman Powell and spinner Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with one each. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: DC's David Warner creates HISTORY, joins Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan in EXCLUSIVE list

In India, over the years, Cricket and Bollywood have worked in tandem, and the public has loved every bit of it. On Thursday night at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the IPL 2023, two of the greatest superstars in their respective fields – Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli met following the match that Kolkata Knight Riders won by 81 runs.

In India, over the years, Cricket and Bollywood have worked in tandem, and the public has loved every bit of it. On Thursday night at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the IPL 2023, two of the greatest superstars in their respective fields – Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli met following the match that Kolkata Knight Riders won by 81 runs. Two of the generational superstars first hugged, and then Shah Rukh was seen dancing or rather teaching the steps of the title song of his latest blockbuster ‘Pathaan’ to Virat. Both seemed to have a great time out there as fellow crew members and players also laughed about it. Both then walked across the ground too much to cheer from the crowd. Watch the video here – Moment of the Match❤️#viratkohli #shahrukhkhan #kkrvsrcb pic.twitter.com/2qeiJbS0rm — the.virat.stuffs (@Imlakshay_18) April 7, 2023 × This happened after the Clash Of The Titans 💪🏻 a 🫂 is a must after such high-voltage matches 🫶🏻 How endearing it is to see King Khan @iamsrk teaching the steps of #JhoomeJoPathaan to King Kohli @imVkohli 📸 🕺🏻🕺🏻#KKRvsRCB #ShahRukhKhan #KKR #AmiKKR #RCB #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/DiHCgb5nbU — Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) April 6, 2023 × The match, however, went in favour of Shah Rukh Khan’s KKR, who turned the tables around after a shaky start in the first innings. Deciding to bowl first after winning the toss, Bangalore had Kolkata on the mat as they got reduced to 89 for five in 12 overs, with hard-hitter Andre Russell back in the hut on a first-ball duck. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: Big Boost for Punjab Kings as Liam Livingstone set to join squad by April 10th With the situation looking gloomy, an unlikely pair of Rinku Singh and bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur bailed the team out of trouble with an incredible 103-run stand for the sixth wicket. While the designated batter, Rinku played an anchor role, Shardul, who was not known for his batting until last night, broke the ice and slammed a brilliant 29-ball 68, hitting nine fours and three sixes. That inning, in all likeliness, turned the equation for the hosts, who hit a whopping 204 for seven in 20 overs. The chase was daunting even for a star-studded RCB. After a decent start, Sunil Narine broke the 44-run stand for the first wicket by dismissing Virat Kohli clean bowled on 21 off 18 balls. It was about time before India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy tore into RCB’s middle-order, picking up four wickets for 15 runs. Besides, Suyash Sharma – an unknown entity for most cricket fans and pundits, impressed on his debut as he also returned with figures of three for 30. After dismissing RCB on 123, KKR registered a stunning 81-run win and most importantly bagged two points. They will now face the defending champions Gujarat Titans on Sunday, April 9th.

IPL 2023, KKR vs RCB: When 'King Khan' met 'King Kohli' - WATCH VIDEO

Virat Kohli started his international career in 2008. To date, he is Indian cricket's poster boy due to his plethora of achievements and contributions to the game. Kohli debuted under MS Dhoni in the Team India camp and played under him for many years before taking over as the Test captain, in 2015, and went on to captain the latter till the 2019 ODI World Cup. Kohli served as Dhoni's deputy before taking over as the full-time captain and maintains a strong bond with him to date.

Apart from his heroics for Team India, Kohli is the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL as well -- his only franchise to date since the tournament's inception in 2008. He has scored a mammoth 6,727 runs for the franchise -- most in IPL history -- and even led them to the final in the 2016 edition. Over the years, he has forged an excellent relationship with AB de Villiers -- the former South African captain -- who also represented RCB for ten years (2011-2021). The duo stitched innumerable partnerships and formed a healthy camaraderie both on and off the field.

Thus, superstar Kohli enjoys a strong equation with both Dhoni and De Villiers. Amid his IPL 2023 commitment for RCB, the 34-year-old was asked to pick his favourite cricketer between Dhoni and ABD in a 'This or That' session with Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-for-him-to-hit-it-that-far-was-wood-in-awe-of-ms-dhonis-six-hitting-prowess-in-csk-lsg-tie-579798">IPL 2023: 'For him to hit it that far was...' - Wood in awe of MS Dhoni's six-hitting prowess in CSK-LSG tie</a>

In the video was uploaded by the broadcaster on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, Virat was&nbsp;asked, "MSD or ABD, your favourite cricketer?" To this, he first gave a wide smile and then said, "Both".

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You're watching <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImVkohli</a> pick his faves as quickly as he'll be rattling <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kolkata?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kolkata</a>. 
 
Catch the legend in action in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLOnStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLOnStar</a>!🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShorOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShorOn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GameOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GameOn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BetterTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BetterTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/kBQLG1DI3B">pic.twitter.com/kBQLG1DI3B</a>
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1643946627697369090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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At present, ABD is donning the commentary hat for the ongoing IPL season. While Kohli remains part of the Faf du Plessis-led RCB camp, Dhoni is leading the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in what is expected to be his final season in the cash-rich league.

Both Dhoni and ABD retired from international cricket long back but remain big names in world cricket.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli started his international career in 2008. To date, he is Indian cricket's poster boy due to his plethora of achievements and contributions to the game.

Virat Kohli started his international career in 2008. To date, he is Indian cricket's poster boy due to his plethora of achievements and contributions to the game. Kohli debuted under MS Dhoni in the Team India camp and played under him for many years before taking over as the Test captain, in 2015, and went on to captain the latter till the 2019 ODI World Cup. Kohli served as Dhoni's deputy before taking over as the full-time captain and maintains a strong bond with him to date. Apart from his heroics for Team India, Kohli is the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL as well -- his only franchise to date since the tournament's inception in 2008. He has scored a mammoth 6,727 runs for the franchise -- most in IPL history -- and even led them to the final in the 2016 edition. Over the years, he has forged an excellent relationship with AB de Villiers -- the former South African captain -- who also represented RCB for ten years (2011-2021). The duo stitched innumerable partnerships and formed a healthy camaraderie both on and off the field. Thus, superstar Kohli enjoys a strong equation with both Dhoni and De Villiers. Amid his IPL 2023 commitment for RCB, the 34-year-old was asked to pick his favourite cricketer between Dhoni and ABD in a 'This or That' session with Star Sports. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'For him to hit it that far was...' - Wood in awe of MS Dhoni's six-hitting prowess in CSK-LSG tie In the video was uploaded by the broadcaster on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, Virat was asked, "MSD or ABD, your favourite cricketer?" To this, he first gave a wide smile and then said, "Both". You're watching @ImVkohli pick his faves as quickly as he'll be rattling #Kolkata. Catch the legend in action in #IPLOnStar!🎉#ShorOn #GameOn #BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/kBQLG1DI3B — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 6, 2023 × At present, ABD is donning the commentary hat for the ongoing IPL season. While Kohli remains part of the Faf du Plessis-led RCB camp, Dhoni is leading the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in what is expected to be his final season in the cash-rich league. Both Dhoni and ABD retired from international cricket long back but remain big names in world cricket.

IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH

Virat Kohli opened his campaign in IPL 2023 with a superb 49-ball 82 not out in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) season-opener, versus the Mumbai Indians (MI) at home. However, the former Indian and RCB skipper fell for a 21-ball 18 in his side's 81-run loss at the hands of two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 9 on Thursday evening (April 06).

After RCB had reduced Nitish Rana-led KKR for 89 for 5, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Shardul Thakur's 29-ball 68 and Rinku Singh's 33-ball 46 propelled Kolkata to 204 for 7. Many expected RCB's in-form openers Kohli and Faf du Plessis to score the bulk of runs, the duo stitched 44-run opening stand but once the duo were removed, everything went downhill for Bengaluru.

With KKR spinners, Varun Chakravarthy (4 for 15), Sunil Narine (2 for 16) and Suyash Sharma (3 for 30) shining with the ball, RCB folded for 123 in 17.4 overs to lose by 81 runs. After the clash, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif spoke about Kohli's failure and shared an unheard tale.

Kohli and Kaif had shared the RCB dressing room in the initial IPL seasons. Thus, Kaif recalled an episode when Kohli lost his cool after getting out cheaply. "There was this one time when Virat Kohli got out the same way he was dismissed today (vs KKR on Thursday). I was sitting right beside him, and I thought he will definitely throw his bat in anger. And yes, when he came, he threw his bat straightaway, removed his pad. I was sitting beside him, and he said, ‘I’m going to score big the next time',” Kaif recalled during his commentary stint on&nbsp;Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-what-was-that-completely-avoidable-shot-gavaskar-blasts-kkr-skipper-nitish-rana-in-rcb-tie-580139">IPL 2023: 'What was that, completely avoidable shot' - Gavaskar BLASTS KKR skipper Nitish Rana in RCB tie</a>

"In the next innings, he scored an unbeaten 72. Imagine. He had gone out, and he was upset. But he forgot that before coming to bat in the next match, scored 72. Then, I realised that this player is special,” Kaif further added.

Kohli -- who is the leading run-getter in the IPL (6,727) -- will hope to come back strongly in RCB's next clash, versus the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Bengaluru, and help his franchise return to winning ways.

Virat Kohli opened his campaign in IPL 2023 with a superb 49-ball 82 not out in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) season-opener, versus the Mumbai Indians (MI) at home.

Virat Kohli opened his campaign in IPL 2023 with a superb 49-ball 82 not out in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) season-opener, versus the Mumbai Indians (MI) at home. However, the former Indian and RCB skipper fell for a 21-ball 18 in his side's 81-run loss at the hands of two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 9 on Thursday evening (April 06). After RCB had reduced Nitish Rana-led KKR for 89 for 5, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Shardul Thakur's 29-ball 68 and Rinku Singh's 33-ball 46 propelled Kolkata to 204 for 7. Many expected RCB's in-form openers Kohli and Faf du Plessis to score the bulk of runs, the duo stitched 44-run opening stand but once the duo were removed, everything went downhill for Bengaluru. With KKR spinners, Varun Chakravarthy (4 for 15), Sunil Narine (2 for 16) and Suyash Sharma (3 for 30) shining with the ball, RCB folded for 123 in 17.4 overs to lose by 81 runs. After the clash, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif spoke about Kohli's failure and shared an unheard tale. Kohli and Kaif had shared the RCB dressing room in the initial IPL seasons. Thus, Kaif recalled an episode when Kohli lost his cool after getting out cheaply. "There was this one time when Virat Kohli got out the same way he was dismissed today (vs KKR on Thursday). I was sitting right beside him, and I thought he will definitely throw his bat in anger. And yes, when he came, he threw his bat straightaway, removed his pad. I was sitting beside him, and he said, ‘I’m going to score big the next time',” Kaif recalled during his commentary stint on Star Sports. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'What was that, completely avoidable shot' - Gavaskar BLASTS KKR skipper Nitish Rana in RCB tie "In the next innings, he scored an unbeaten 72. Imagine. He had gone out, and he was upset. But he forgot that before coming to bat in the next match, scored 72. Then, I realised that this player is special,” Kaif further added. Kohli -- who is the leading run-getter in the IPL (6,727) -- will hope to come back strongly in RCB's next clash, versus the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Bengaluru, and help his franchise return to winning ways.

'I’m going to...': Md Kaif recalls when RCB star Virat Kohli threw his bat in anger after getting out cheaply

Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) are off to a flying start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. PBKS have started off on a winning note, emerging on top in their first two games of the new season under the new captain. Dhawan led the charge with the bat in his side's last outing, versus the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Wednesday (April 05), with a fine 56-ball 86* as Punjab beat Sanju Samson &amp; Co. by five runs in a high-scoring thriller.

The 16th edition of the IPL is a vital season for Dhawan. The senior Indian player has been dropped from the ODI side, having lost his T20I place back in late 2021, and needs a memorable run with the bat in IPL 2023 to have any chance of featuring in the Indian squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. After his splendid knock versus RR, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh backed Dhawan and questioned 'why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team'.

'You gave Rohit, Kohli and KL&nbsp;plenty of chances but there is no place for&nbsp;Dhawan'

"Shikhar has also led the Indian side in many tours but suddenly we saw that after the role of Shikhar was over he was sidelined as if he is not needed anymore. I felt bad on seeing this because the treatment for everyone should be the same. He is a big player and has given too much to Indian cricket," Harbhajan&nbsp;shared his views on YouTube.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-dhoni-or-de-villiers-name-your-favourite-cricketer-kohli-wins-hearts-with-epic-reply-watch-580021">IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH</a>

"You can not treat him like this. He played a good knock of 86 in 56 balls. I will not name anyone here. For instance, let's take Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, or KL Rahul who are big names. You gave them plenty of chances but on the other hand, there is no place for Shikhar Dhawan in the team now. He has always contributed for the team. Then why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team? Talking about fitness, he is as fit as Virat Kohli," Harbhajan further added.

The senior Indian batter has been replaced by Shubman Gill who has had a remarkable run across formats. Dhawan will still hope for a good IPL season with the bat and pray for a return to the national side for the ODI WC.

Dhawan-led PBKS will now face the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on Sunday evening (April 09) and hope to keep their winning run going in IPL 2023.

Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) are off to a flying start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. PBKS have started off on a winning note, emerging on top in their first two games of the new season under the new captain.

Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) are off to a flying start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. PBKS have started off on a winning note, emerging on top in their first two games of the new season under the new captain. Dhawan led the charge with the bat in his side's last outing, versus the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Wednesday (April 05), with a fine 56-ball 86* as Punjab beat Sanju Samson & Co. by five runs in a high-scoring thriller. The 16th edition of the IPL is a vital season for Dhawan. The senior Indian player has been dropped from the ODI side, having lost his T20I place back in late 2021, and needs a memorable run with the bat in IPL 2023 to have any chance of featuring in the Indian squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. After his splendid knock versus RR, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh backed Dhawan and questioned 'why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team'. 'You gave Rohit, Kohli and KL plenty of chances but there is no place for Dhawan' "Shikhar has also led the Indian side in many tours but suddenly we saw that after the role of Shikhar was over he was sidelined as if he is not needed anymore. I felt bad on seeing this because the treatment for everyone should be the same. He is a big player and has given too much to Indian cricket," Harbhajan shared his views on YouTube. Also Read: IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH "You can not treat him like this. He played a good knock of 86 in 56 balls. I will not name anyone here. For instance, let's take Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, or KL Rahul who are big names. You gave them plenty of chances but on the other hand, there is no place for Shikhar Dhawan in the team now. He has always contributed for the team. Then why he is not getting a chance in the Indian team? Talking about fitness, he is as fit as Virat Kohli," Harbhajan further added. The senior Indian batter has been replaced by Shubman Gill who has had a remarkable run across formats. Dhawan will still hope for a good IPL season with the bat and pray for a return to the national side for the ODI WC. Dhawan-led PBKS will now face the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on Sunday evening (April 09) and hope to keep their winning run going in IPL 2023.

'You gave Rohit, Virat & Rahul plenty of chances': Harbhajan Singh questions Indian star player's omission

Match 8 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) get the better of last year's runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) by five runs in Guwahati. During the clash, Dhawan top-scored with a fine 86* and achieved a historic feat.&nbsp;

It was Dhawan's 48th half-century in the IPL and he became only the third cricketer -- after Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) Virat Kohli and Delhi Capitals' (DC) David Warner -- to score fifty of fifty-plus scores in the tournament history. Dhawan has 48 fifties and two centuries. Meanwhile, Kohli is at the second spot with a total of 45 fifties and five tons in the showpiece event. It is to be noted that Kohli got to his 50th fifty during RCB's season-opener, where they hosted Mumbai Indians (MI) and he returned with a sublime 82* in his side's eight-wicket win.

Moreover, Warner leads the chart with&nbsp;a total of 60 fifty-plus scores in the IPL. The current Delhi captain has 56 half-centuries and four tons under his belt.&nbsp;

Most fifty-plus scores in the IPL:&nbsp;

1) David Warner - 60

2) Virat Kohli - 50

3) Shikhar Dhawan - 50

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-updated-points-table-gt-remain-atop-after-pbks-edge-past-rr-in-a-thriller-579770">IPL 2023 Updated points table: GT remain atop after PBKS edge past RR in a thriller</a>

Only Kohli -- the leading run-getter in the IPL (6,706) -- and Dhawan (6,380) have breached the 6,000-run mark in the IPL. Warner is at the third spot with 5,974 runs.&nbsp;

Courtesy of Dhawan's 86 not out, off 56 balls, Punjab posted 197-4 in match 8 of IPL 2023 on Wednesday (April 05). In reply, RR managed 192-7 to lose by five runs as Dhawan &amp; Co. picked up their second win on the trot in the new season.&nbsp;

Match 8 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) get the better of last year's runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) by five runs in Guwahati.

Match 8 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) get the better of last year's runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) by five runs in Guwahati. During the clash, Dhawan top-scored with a fine 86* and achieved a historic feat. It was Dhawan's 48th half-century in the IPL and he became only the third cricketer -- after Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) Virat Kohli and Delhi Capitals' (DC) David Warner -- to score fifty of fifty-plus scores in the tournament history. Dhawan has 48 fifties and two centuries. Meanwhile, Kohli is at the second spot with a total of 45 fifties and five tons in the showpiece event. It is to be noted that Kohli got to his 50th fifty during RCB's season-opener, where they hosted Mumbai Indians (MI) and he returned with a sublime 82* in his side's eight-wicket win. Moreover, Warner leads the chart with a total of 60 fifty-plus scores in the IPL. The current Delhi captain has 56 half-centuries and four tons under his belt. Most fifty-plus scores in the IPL: 1) David Warner - 60 2) Virat Kohli - 50 3) Shikhar Dhawan - 50 Also Read: IPL 2023 Updated points table: GT remain atop after PBKS edge past RR in a thriller Only Kohli -- the leading run-getter in the IPL (6,706) -- and Dhawan (6,380) have breached the 6,000-run mark in the IPL. Warner is at the third spot with 5,974 runs. Courtesy of Dhawan's 86 not out, off 56 balls, Punjab posted 197-4 in match 8 of IPL 2023 on Wednesday (April 05). In reply, RR managed 192-7 to lose by five runs as Dhawan & Co. picked up their second win on the trot in the new season.

IPL 2023: HATS OFF! Dhawan joins Kohli and Warner in elite list with splendid 86* in RR-PBKS tie

Star Indian batters Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli have made gains in ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings released on Wednesday. While Shubman climbed one spot to reach a career-best fourth position in the rankings, Virat also rose by one spot to gain the sixth position in the rankings. Gill is India's highest-ranked batter in ODIs currently. Another top-10 batter from India in the ranking is skipper Rohit Sharma, who has managed to hold on to his eighth spot in the rankings.

The three leading players of the team have displayed excellent form in ODIs this year so far. In nine ODIs this year, Gill has scored 624 runs at an average of 78. He has scored three centuries and one fifty this year, with the best score of 208 against New Zealand. His performances in the most recent series against Australia were ordinary, as he scored only 20, zero and thirty seven in three innings. He is the highest run-scorer in ODIs this year.

Virat has scored 427 runs at an average of 53.37. He has scored two centuries and one fifty this year in nine innings, with the best score of 166. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in ODIs this year. His most recent ODI outings against Australia saw him score 4, 31 and 54 in three innings.

Rohit has scored 371 runs in eight innings at an average of 46.37. He has scored one century and two fifties this year with the best score of 101. His recent outings in Australia saw him register scores of 13 and 30 in two innings.

Pacer Mohammed Siraj is the only Indian bowler in ODI rankings, as he managed to hold onto his third position.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's strong white-ball form against Sri Lanka has been rewarded with a host of their key performers making significant gains in the latest ICC Men's Player Rankings.

The Black Caps registered an impressive 2-0 victory over the Asian side during the recent ODI component of their series and key pacer Matt Henry was one of their strongest performers with an eye-catching haul of 3/14 in the final game in Hamilton.

Henry's solid showing helped him rise five places to fifth overall on the list for ODI bowlers, with the 31-year-old now just 29 rating points behind Australia's Pat Cummins as the No.1 ranked 50-over bowler in the world.

Teammate Daryl Mitchell made a five-spot gain to equal 21st on the T20I batter rankings following his quickfire knock of 66 in the first match of the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has been more competitive in the T20I matches in New Zealand and even pinched a dramatic Super Over victory over the Black Caps in the opening match of that series and a pair of their players have been rewarded.

Attacking middle-order dasher Charith Asalanka has moved up 12 places to 23rd on the list for T20I batters. He had scored a quickfire 67 of 41 balls, with two fours and six sixes in the first T20I. Also, pacer Maheesh Theekshana jumped three places to 10th on the bowler charts after an economical showing of 1/22 from four overs during that first match of the series in Auckland.

There were some new career bests in the ODI batter rankings following the latest update, with Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus moving up 10 places to 26th overall after an excellent effort with the bat during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier Play-off on home soil.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unbeliveable-david-warner-survives-snorter-from-shami-in-dc-vs-gt-579258">IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! David Warner survives snorter from Shami in DC vs GT - WATCH</a>

Erasmus collected 279 runs from five matches to help Namibia to three victories, but his efforts proved in vain as the emerging cricketing nation fell just short of progressing through to the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe in the middle of the year.

Consistent South Africa right-hander Aiden Markram also brought up a new career-high rating in the ODI batter rankings jumping 13 places to 41st overall following his brilliant 175 in the third and final game of the Proteas' three-match series against the Netherlands in Johannesburg.

Quinton de Kock dropped four places to seventh inside the top 10 for ODI batters, with Pakistan captain Babar Azam maintaining his healthy lead at the top of the category from Rassie van der Dussen and teammate Imam-ul-Haq.

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Star Indian batters Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli have made gains in ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings released on Wednesday. While Shubman climbed one spot to reach a career-best fourth position in the rankings, Virat also rose by one spot to gain the sixth position in the rankings.

Star Indian batters Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli have made gains in ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings released on Wednesday. While Shubman climbed one spot to reach a career-best fourth position in the rankings, Virat also rose by one spot to gain the sixth position in the rankings. Gill is India's highest-ranked batter in ODIs currently. Another top-10 batter from India in the ranking is skipper Rohit Sharma, who has managed to hold on to his eighth spot in the rankings. The three leading players of the team have displayed excellent form in ODIs this year so far. In nine ODIs this year, Gill has scored 624 runs at an average of 78. He has scored three centuries and one fifty this year, with the best score of 208 against New Zealand. His performances in the most recent series against Australia were ordinary, as he scored only 20, zero and thirty seven in three innings. He is the highest run-scorer in ODIs this year. Virat has scored 427 runs at an average of 53.37. He has scored two centuries and one fifty this year in nine innings, with the best score of 166. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in ODIs this year. His most recent ODI outings against Australia saw him score 4, 31 and 54 in three innings. Rohit has scored 371 runs in eight innings at an average of 46.37. He has scored one century and two fifties this year with the best score of 101. His recent outings in Australia saw him register scores of 13 and 30 in two innings. Pacer Mohammed Siraj is the only Indian bowler in ODI rankings, as he managed to hold onto his third position. Meanwhile, New Zealand's strong white-ball form against Sri Lanka has been rewarded with a host of their key performers making significant gains in the latest ICC Men's Player Rankings. The Black Caps registered an impressive 2-0 victory over the Asian side during the recent ODI component of their series and key pacer Matt Henry was one of their strongest performers with an eye-catching haul of 3/14 in the final game in Hamilton. Henry's solid showing helped him rise five places to fifth overall on the list for ODI bowlers, with the 31-year-old now just 29 rating points behind Australia's Pat Cummins as the No.1 ranked 50-over bowler in the world. Teammate Daryl Mitchell made a five-spot gain to equal 21st on the T20I batter rankings following his quickfire knock of 66 in the first match of the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has been more competitive in the T20I matches in New Zealand and even pinched a dramatic Super Over victory over the Black Caps in the opening match of that series and a pair of their players have been rewarded. Attacking middle-order dasher Charith Asalanka has moved up 12 places to 23rd on the list for T20I batters. He had scored a quickfire 67 of 41 balls, with two fours and six sixes in the first T20I. Also, pacer Maheesh Theekshana jumped three places to 10th on the bowler charts after an economical showing of 1/22 from four overs during that first match of the series in Auckland. There were some new career bests in the ODI batter rankings following the latest update, with Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus moving up 10 places to 26th overall after an excellent effort with the bat during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier Play-off on home soil. ALSO READ | IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! David Warner survives snorter from Shami in DC vs GT - WATCH Erasmus collected 279 runs from five matches to help Namibia to three victories, but his efforts proved in vain as the emerging cricketing nation fell just short of progressing through to the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe in the middle of the year. Consistent South Africa right-hander Aiden Markram also brought up a new career-high rating in the ODI batter rankings jumping 13 places to 41st overall following his brilliant 175 in the third and final game of the Proteas' three-match series against the Netherlands in Johannesburg. Quinton de Kock dropped four places to seventh inside the top 10 for ODI batters, with Pakistan captain Babar Azam maintaining his healthy lead at the top of the category from Rassie van der Dussen and teammate Imam-ul-Haq. 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.

ICC Rankings: Shubman Gill achieves career-best fourth spot; Virat Kohli also in top 10

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have lit up the atmosphere in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. After losing an intensly-fought season-opener to defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), on March 31, the four-time champions Yellow Army locked horns with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai -- their first game at the Chepauk after 1,426 days (following IPL 2019).

The crowd at the Chepauk gave a rousing reception to the Dhoni-led CSK brigade in their memorable homecoming after 2019. Asked to bat first, Chennai rode on Ruturaj Gaikwad's 57, Devon Conway's 47, Shivam Dube's 16-ball 27, Moeen Ali's 13-ball 19, Ambati Rayudu's 14-ball 27* and Dhoni's 3-ball 12 to post 217 for 7. While CSK bowlers were erratic, they managed to defend the total as Lucknow were restricted for 205 for 7. Thus, it was a memorable return to Chepauk for CSK.&nbsp;

Dhoni gave plenty to cheer for the fans as well. The crowd waited patiently for him to come out to bat. There was a sigh of relief for many when Ravindra Jadeja got out in the final over with five balls to spare. Dhoni played only three deliveries but blasted two back-to-back sixes and returned with 12 (3). Even in the opening game, CSK skipper made 14* off seven balls, striking at 200.&nbsp;

After the clash, former Pakistan captain and keeper-batter Rashid Latif hailed Dhoni. Latif was asked to share his views on the '41-year-old youngster' by Nauman Niaz. To this, the former cricketer said on the Youtube channel Caught Behind, "He has scored 5000 runs in IPL alone. Dhoni has always had a golden template. His history has been written with gold - for India, for world cricket. You and I can say whatever we like but it won't make a difference. He is easily the greatest ever Indian captain, and also a wicketkeeper batter. There is no doubt there."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-cricket-legends-ms-dhoni-yuvraj-mithali-jhulan-goswami-raina-bag-mcc-life-membership-579460">Indian cricket legends MS Dhoni, Yuvraj, Mithali, Jhulan Goswami, Raina bag MCC life membership</a>

"Look at the way he batted. He faced just 2-3 balls and showed what he has always been capable of. He is the most famous player. We have seen Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, even Virat Kohli. But Dhoni, and the way he conducts himself on the field and the following that he has, there is a different vibe and intensity to it altogether. Outstanding," added Latif.

CSK are at the sixth position in the points table with one win and a loss. They will next face arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 08 (Saturday).

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have lit up the atmosphere in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. After losing an intensly-fought season-opener to defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), on March 31, the four-time champions Yellow Army locked horns with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai -- their first game at the Chepauk after 1,426 days (following IPL 2019).

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have lit up the atmosphere in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. After losing an intensly-fought season-opener to defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), on March 31, the four-time champions Yellow Army locked horns with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai -- their first game at the Chepauk after 1,426 days (following IPL 2019). The crowd at the Chepauk gave a rousing reception to the Dhoni-led CSK brigade in their memorable homecoming after 2019. Asked to bat first, Chennai rode on Ruturaj Gaikwad's 57, Devon Conway's 47, Shivam Dube's 16-ball 27, Moeen Ali's 13-ball 19, Ambati Rayudu's 14-ball 27* and Dhoni's 3-ball 12 to post 217 for 7. While CSK bowlers were erratic, they managed to defend the total as Lucknow were restricted for 205 for 7. Thus, it was a memorable return to Chepauk for CSK. Dhoni gave plenty to cheer for the fans as well. The crowd waited patiently for him to come out to bat. There was a sigh of relief for many when Ravindra Jadeja got out in the final over with five balls to spare. Dhoni played only three deliveries but blasted two back-to-back sixes and returned with 12 (3). Even in the opening game, CSK skipper made 14* off seven balls, striking at 200. After the clash, former Pakistan captain and keeper-batter Rashid Latif hailed Dhoni. Latif was asked to share his views on the '41-year-old youngster' by Nauman Niaz. To this, the former cricketer said on the Youtube channel Caught Behind, "He has scored 5000 runs in IPL alone. Dhoni has always had a golden template. His history has been written with gold - for India, for world cricket. You and I can say whatever we like but it won't make a difference. He is easily the greatest ever Indian captain, and also a wicketkeeper batter. There is no doubt there." Also Read: Indian cricket legends MS Dhoni, Yuvraj, Mithali, Jhulan Goswami, Raina bag MCC life membership "Look at the way he batted. He faced just 2-3 balls and showed what he has always been capable of. He is the most famous player. We have seen Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, even Virat Kohli. But Dhoni, and the way he conducts himself on the field and the following that he has, there is a different vibe and intensity to it altogether. Outstanding," added Latif. CSK are at the sixth position in the points table with one win and a loss. They will next face arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 08 (Saturday).

'We've seen SRT, Gavaskar, Kohli, but Dhoni is...': Ex-Pak captain hails CSK skipper for his IPL 2023 heroics

India and RCB star batter Virat Kohli is a force to reckon with not only in every format of the game but in fitness as well. During the RCB's opening fixture in IPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians, Kohli was in full flow as he smashed unbeaten 82 off 49 balls.

Kohli, however, stated slow and his opening partner Faf du Plessis took the early charge but once Virat got into the flow, there was no stopping him. Kohli's match-winning knock impressed everyone but for former India batter Mohammad Kaif, it was Kohli's running between the wicket which impressed him.

"Virat's running between the wickets is a lesson for new players. When a 34-year-old player runs like this in between the wickets, it proves how hard he works on his fitness," said Kaif during while on Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-sunil-gavaskar-makes-absurd-suggestion-to-curb-wide-and-no-balls-read-578835">IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar makes ABSURD suggestion to curb wide and no-balls | READ</a>

Among others who were impressed by Kohli, former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis also showered praise on Virat Kohli.

“Virat Kohli brings a lot of positive energy into the team. He feeds off the energy of the spectators. His consistency with the bat at the top will help RCB go a long way in this competition. And the way he stamped his authority over Jofra Archer was incredible," said the Protea legend.

The right-handed batter slammed an impressive fifty (82*) alongside captain Faf du Plessis, who also scored 73 as openers piled up 148 for the first wicket in a chase of 172.&nbsp;

In the process, Kohli also created history by becoming the first Indian player to cross fifty-plus totals 50 times, including 45 fifties and five centuries. Virat is second to David Warner, who has 60 fifty-plus scores in this league. Third on the list is Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan, who has 49 fifty-plus scores in IPL. Thanks to his innings, RCB chased the trager with 22 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.

India and RCB star batter Virat Kohli is a force to reckon with not only in every format of the game but in fitness as well. During the RCB's opening fixture in IPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians, Kohli was in full flow as he smashed unbeaten 82 off 49 balls.

India and RCB star batter Virat Kohli is a force to reckon with not only in every format of the game but in fitness as well. During the RCB's opening fixture in IPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians, Kohli was in full flow as he smashed unbeaten 82 off 49 balls. Kohli, however, stated slow and his opening partner Faf du Plessis took the early charge but once Virat got into the flow, there was no stopping him. Kohli's match-winning knock impressed everyone but for former India batter Mohammad Kaif, it was Kohli's running between the wicket which impressed him. "Virat's running between the wickets is a lesson for new players. When a 34-year-old player runs like this in between the wickets, it proves how hard he works on his fitness," said Kaif during while on Star Sports. Also Read: IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar makes ABSURD suggestion to curb wide and no-balls | READ Among others who were impressed by Kohli, former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis also showered praise on Virat Kohli. “Virat Kohli brings a lot of positive energy into the team. He feeds off the energy of the spectators. His consistency with the bat at the top will help RCB go a long way in this competition. And the way he stamped his authority over Jofra Archer was incredible," said the Protea legend. The right-handed batter slammed an impressive fifty (82*) alongside captain Faf du Plessis, who also scored 73 as openers piled up 148 for the first wicket in a chase of 172. In the process, Kohli also created history by becoming the first Indian player to cross fifty-plus totals 50 times, including 45 fifties and five centuries. Virat is second to David Warner, who has 60 fifty-plus scores in this league. Third on the list is Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan, who has 49 fifty-plus scores in IPL. Thanks to his innings, RCB chased the trager with 22 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.

IPL 2023: 'Lesson for new players,' Mohammad Kaif impressed by RCB star's fitness

RCB’s star batter and former captain Virat Kohli produced a stunning inning to help his team draw first blood against Mumbai Indians on Sunday night in IPL 2023. The right-handed batter slammed an impressive fifty (82*) alongside captain Faf du Plessis, who also scored 73 as openers piled up 148 for the first wicket in a chase of 172.&nbsp;

In the process, Kohli also created history by becoming the first Indian player to cross fifty-plus totals 50 times, including 45 fifties and five centuries. Virat is second to David Warner, who has 60 fifty-plus scores in this league. Third on the list is Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan, who has 49 fifty-plus scores in IPL.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rcbs-faf-du-plessis-takes-a-screamer-to-dismiss-mis-hrithik-shokeen-watch-578362">IPL 2023: RCB's Faf du Plessis takes a SCREAMER to dismiss MI's Hrithik Shokeen - WATCH</a>

Meanwhile, Virat looked in great touch from the word go, smashing two left-arm pacers early on to all parts of the ground. After a while, Faf took the onus and slammed a quick fifty, but it was Virat’s fireworks against Mumbai’s Jofra Archer that impressed everyone.&nbsp;Debuting for the five-time champions Mumbai, Archer, who hasn’t played too much cricket in the build-up to IPL 2023, looked a bit out of touch though there was no shortage of pace. Hitting him dominantly on the leg side, Virat made the crowd go crazy.&nbsp;

With 22 balls to spare in eight wickets in hand, RCB chased down the target.

Earlier, after asking Mumbai to bat first, Bangalore got off to a great start, removing MI’s top four in no time. Tilak Verma, the left-handed batter, bailed his team out with an incredible&nbsp;show from the bat as he remained unbeaten on 84 off 46 balls, which included nine fours and four massive sixes.

Karn Sharma, the out-of-favour India's leg-spinner returned with the best figures from RCB with two for 32, whereas each of the five designated bowlers picked a wicket apiece.

RCB’s next match is against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 6th at Eden Gardens.

RCB’s star batter and former captain Virat Kohli produced a stunning inning to help his team draw first blood against Mumbai Indians on Sunday night in IPL 2023.

RCB’s star batter and former captain Virat Kohli produced a stunning inning to help his team draw first blood against Mumbai Indians on Sunday night in IPL 2023. The right-handed batter slammed an impressive fifty (82*) alongside captain Faf du Plessis, who also scored 73 as openers piled up 148 for the first wicket in a chase of 172. In the process, Kohli also created history by becoming the first Indian player to cross fifty-plus totals 50 times, including 45 fifties and five centuries. Virat is second to David Warner, who has 60 fifty-plus scores in this league. Third on the list is Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan, who has 49 fifty-plus scores in IPL. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: RCB's Faf du Plessis takes a SCREAMER to dismiss MI's Hrithik Shokeen - WATCH Meanwhile, Virat looked in great touch from the word go, smashing two left-arm pacers early on to all parts of the ground. After a while, Faf took the onus and slammed a quick fifty, but it was Virat’s fireworks against Mumbai’s Jofra Archer that impressed everyone. Debuting for the five-time champions Mumbai, Archer, who hasn’t played too much cricket in the build-up to IPL 2023, looked a bit out of touch though there was no shortage of pace. Hitting him dominantly on the leg side, Virat made the crowd go crazy. With 22 balls to spare in eight wickets in hand, RCB chased down the target. Earlier, after asking Mumbai to bat first, Bangalore got off to a great start, removing MI’s top four in no time. Tilak Verma, the left-handed batter, bailed his team out with an incredible show from the bat as he remained unbeaten on 84 off 46 balls, which included nine fours and four massive sixes. Karn Sharma, the out-of-favour India's leg-spinner returned with the best figures from RCB with two for 32, whereas each of the five designated bowlers picked a wicket apiece. RCB’s next match is against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 6th at Eden Gardens.

IPL 2023: Virat Kohli unlocks another MASSIVE achievement with unbeaten 82 against Mumbai Indians

On Monday (April 03), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returned to their home ground, i.e. the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, after 1,426 days (following IPL 2019).&nbsp;Thala MS Dhoni made the occasion more special courtesy of his 3-ball 12 in the Yellow Army's IPL 2023 clash versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). As KL Rahul-led LSG opted to bowl first, CSK posted a mammoth 217 for 7 and Dhoni's two big sixes in the last over made him the seventh batter to enter the 5,000-run club in the mega event.

After Ruturaj Gaikwad (57) and Devon Conway (47) got CSK off to a flyer, Chennai continued to pile runs with vital contributions from Shivam Dube (16-ball 27), Moeen Ali's 13-ball 19 and Ambati Rayudu's 14-ball 27*. Dhoni came on to bat in the final over, with five balls left, and set the stage on fire by taking on the Purple Cap holder Mark Wood. The right-hander struck two big sixes to enter the 5,000-run club in tournament history. Here are&nbsp;his big shots:

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A treat for the Chennai crowd! 😍<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> is BACK in Chennai &amp; how 💥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvLSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvLSG</a> 
 
WATCH his incredible two sixes 🔽 <a href="https://t.co/YFkOGqsFVT">pic.twitter.com/YFkOGqsFVT</a>
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In addition, Dhoni&nbsp;became the second-fastest Indian to enter the 5k-run club in the IPL.

1) Suresh Raina - 3,619 balls 
2) MS Dhoni - 3,692 balls 
3) Rohit Sharma - 3,817 
4) Virat Kohli - 3,827

Overall, Dhoni's run-tally in the IPL stood at 4,992 when he came on to bat and his stroke-filled cameo made him join the 5k-run club, comprising Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, and AB de Villiers.

He is the seventh-highest run-getter in the IPL. Top-ten&nbsp;run-getters&nbsp;in IPL:

1) Virat Kohli - 6,706

2) Shikhar Dhawan - 6,284

3) David Warner - 5,937

4) Rohit Sharma - 5,880

5) Suresh Raina - 5,528

6) AB de Villiers - 5,162

7) MS Dhoni - 5,004*

8) Chris Gayle - 4,965

9) Robin Uthappa - &nbsp;4,952

10) Dinesh Karthik - 4,376&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. After ending his international career with 17,266 runs, 359 sixes, 634 catches, and 195 stumpings, he is most likely playing&nbsp;his last IPL in the 2023 edition. He has not only led India to all three ICC titles but also guided CSK to four IPL and two Champions League (CLT20 trophies). Will the Yellow Army get their first win in IPL 2023 on&nbsp;Monday and go on to lift their fifth title? Only time will tell...

On Monday (April 03), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returned to their home ground, i.e. the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, after 1,426 days (following IPL 2019).

On Monday (April 03), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returned to their home ground, i.e. the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, after 1,426 days (following IPL 2019). Thala MS Dhoni made the occasion more special courtesy of his 3-ball 12 in the Yellow Army's IPL 2023 clash versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). As KL Rahul-led LSG opted to bowl first, CSK posted a mammoth 217 for 7 and Dhoni's two big sixes in the last over made him the seventh batter to enter the 5,000-run club in the mega event. After Ruturaj Gaikwad (57) and Devon Conway (47) got CSK off to a flyer, Chennai continued to pile runs with vital contributions from Shivam Dube (16-ball 27), Moeen Ali's 13-ball 19 and Ambati Rayudu's 14-ball 27*. Dhoni came on to bat in the final over, with five balls left, and set the stage on fire by taking on the Purple Cap holder Mark Wood. The right-hander struck two big sixes to enter the 5,000-run club in tournament history. Here are his big shots: A treat for the Chennai crowd! 😍@msdhoni is BACK in Chennai & how 💥#TATAIPL | #CSKvLSG WATCH his incredible two sixes 🔽 pic.twitter.com/YFkOGqsFVT — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 3, 2023 × In addition, Dhoni became the second-fastest Indian to enter the 5k-run club in the IPL. 1) Suresh Raina - 3,619 balls 2) MS Dhoni - 3,692 balls 3) Rohit Sharma - 3,817 4) Virat Kohli - 3,827 Overall, Dhoni's run-tally in the IPL stood at 4,992 when he came on to bat and his stroke-filled cameo made him join the 5k-run club, comprising Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, and AB de Villiers. He is the seventh-highest run-getter in the IPL. Top-ten run-getters in IPL: 1) Virat Kohli - 6,706 2) Shikhar Dhawan - 6,284 3) David Warner - 5,937 4) Rohit Sharma - 5,880 5) Suresh Raina - 5,528 6) AB de Villiers - 5,162 7) MS Dhoni - 5,004* 8) Chris Gayle - 4,965 9) Robin Uthappa - 4,952 10) Dinesh Karthik - 4,376 Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. After ending his international career with 17,266 runs, 359 sixes, 634 catches, and 195 stumpings, he is most likely playing his last IPL in the 2023 edition. He has not only led India to all three ICC titles but also guided CSK to four IPL and two Champions League (CLT20 trophies). Will the Yellow Army get their first win in IPL 2023 on Monday and go on to lift their fifth title? Only time will tell...

IPL 2023: HISTORIC FEAT! MS Dhoni becomes seventh player to enter 5k-run club in mega event - Watch

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis hit a fifty each as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Mumbai Indians by nine&nbsp;wickets in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Chasing a target of 172, RCB got off to a flyer with openers Kohli and skipper du Plessis adding 53 runs in just six overs. du Plessis reached his fifty on 29 balls, hitting four sixes and four fours each till the time. Any hopes of Mumbai's comeback were crushed soon as the opening pair reached 100 in just 10.3 overs.

Virat Kohli also scored his fifty soon, albeit on 38 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes as the partnership reached 129 in just 13 overs. du Plessis was the first wicket to fall after scoring 73 off 43, hitting five fours and six sixes. Dinesh Karthik then came on to bat but lasted just two balls as Cam Green got him caught for a duck.

Aussie Glenn Maxwell then hit two sixes and Kohli finished off the match in 17th over, hitting a four and six to take his team home. Kohli scored unbeaten 82 off 49, hitting six fours and five sixes.

Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rcbs-faf-du-plessis-takes-a-screamer-to-dismiss-mis-hrithik-shokeen-watch-578362">RCB's Faf du Plessis takes a SCREAMER to dismiss MI's Hrithik Shokeen</a>

Earlier, RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision was proven right by RCB bowlers who brought MI down to 29/3 at the end of powerplay. The situation became worse after fearsome Suryakumar Yadav departed shortly for 15 with the team at 48. Nehal Wadhera (21 off 13) then joined the forces with Tilak Verma and the duo added 50 runs for the fifth wicket.

Three quick wickets of Wadhera, Tim David and Hrithik Shokeen then put brakes on MI's recovery but Verma had different plans. The 20-year-old southpaw took the charge as Mumbai added 48 runs in the last 17 balls to reach 171/7 in 20 overs. Verma remained unbeaten on 84 off 46, hitting nine fours and four sixes.

For RCB, every bowler chipped in but spinner Karn Sharma took two wickets for 32 in four overs while Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Akash Deep, Harshal Patel, and Michael Bracewell took one wicket each.

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Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis hit a fifty each as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Mumbai Indians by nine wickets in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis hit a fifty each as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Mumbai Indians by nine wickets in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Chasing a target of 172, RCB got off to a flyer with openers Kohli and skipper du Plessis adding 53 runs in just six overs. du Plessis reached his fifty on 29 balls, hitting four sixes and four fours each till the time. Any hopes of Mumbai's comeback were crushed soon as the opening pair reached 100 in just 10.3 overs. Virat Kohli also scored his fifty soon, albeit on 38 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes as the partnership reached 129 in just 13 overs. du Plessis was the first wicket to fall after scoring 73 off 43, hitting five fours and six sixes. Dinesh Karthik then came on to bat but lasted just two balls as Cam Green got him caught for a duck. Aussie Glenn Maxwell then hit two sixes and Kohli finished off the match in 17th over, hitting a four and six to take his team home. Kohli scored unbeaten 82 off 49, hitting six fours and five sixes. Also Watch: RCB's Faf du Plessis takes a SCREAMER to dismiss MI's Hrithik Shokeen Earlier, RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision was proven right by RCB bowlers who brought MI down to 29/3 at the end of powerplay. The situation became worse after fearsome Suryakumar Yadav departed shortly for 15 with the team at 48. Nehal Wadhera (21 off 13) then joined the forces with Tilak Verma and the duo added 50 runs for the fifth wicket. Three quick wickets of Wadhera, Tim David and Hrithik Shokeen then put brakes on MI's recovery but Verma had different plans. The 20-year-old southpaw took the charge as Mumbai added 48 runs in the last 17 balls to reach 171/7 in 20 overs. Verma remained unbeaten on 84 off 46, hitting nine fours and four sixes. For RCB, every bowler chipped in but spinner Karn Sharma took two wickets for 32 in four overs while Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Akash Deep, Harshal Patel, and Michael Bracewell took one wicket each. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Kohli, du Plessis run riot as RCB beat MI by eight wickets after Tilak Verma's 84

Virat Kohli stunned the cricket world with his majestic match-winning innings against Pakistan during last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Chasing 160 on a tricky track against a potent attack, India got reduced to 31 for four at one stage. Virat Kohli, who had come off a brilliant 2023 Asia Cup where&nbsp;he ended his century drought in the international with a hundred against Afghanistan, joined hands with Hardik Pandya&nbsp;as the pair bailed the team out.&nbsp;

While both ensured India stay afloat in this&nbsp;high-octane clash, Kohli was the one who&nbsp;changed gears and took the attack to the opposition. After taking down Shaheen Afridi for a couple of boundaries, Kohli launched two massive sixes against&nbsp;perhaps Pakistan’s best death bowler – Haris Rauf, one of which made headlines for obvious reasons.

Thanks to his calculative chase, India went on to win the match by four wickets, and Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls – an inning he claimed to be his best across formats.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-poor-execution-sloppy-fielding-cost-us-the-match-laments-delhi-capitals-coach-ricky-ponting-578207">IPL 2023: Poor execution, sloppy fielding cost us the match, laments Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting</a>

Several months later, during an event organised by Sporting brand PUMA, Kohli was asked what went behind the scenes and how he managed to pull that off? The former Indian captain didn’t shy away from accepting that he didn’t have an idea about what happened that night and even went on to claim that anything of that sort is unlikely to happen ever again.

“I was trying to do it before as well but it wasn’t working. The lesson for me was stop using your mind so much because it actually pushes you away from real magic. What happened that night, I can never explain it and it won’t happen ever again,” Kohli said as quoted by India Today.

“I still can’t make any sense of it. That’s a very honest admission. And a lot of people have tried to ask me what were you thinking, how did you plan and I have no answers. The fact of the matter is that I was so much under pressure that my mind had shut off completely by the 12th or 13th over,” he further added.

While Kohli is no new when it comes to chasing huge totals, that too in a crunch game, he said he went blank and doesn’t even remember what coach Rahul Dravid had told him during the middle overs.

“I was going through what I was going through, then I came back in the Asia Cup and I was playing well and I felt like ‘Wow I’m ready to play in this World Cup’. At the 10th over mark, we were 31 for 4 and I had just ran Axar out. I was 12 off 25 balls or something. I remember in the break, Rahul bhai came to me and I don’t remember what he said. I swear and I even told him this as well. I told him, ‘I have no idea what you told me in that break because I was zoned out’,” revealed Kohli.

Virat Kohli stunned the cricket world with his majestic match-winning innings against Pakistan during last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Chasing 160 on a tricky track against a potent attack, India got reduced to 31 for four at one stage.

Virat Kohli stunned the cricket world with his majestic match-winning innings against Pakistan during last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Chasing 160 on a tricky track against a potent attack, India got reduced to 31 for four at one stage. Virat Kohli, who had come off a brilliant 2023 Asia Cup where he ended his century drought in the international with a hundred against Afghanistan, joined hands with Hardik Pandya as the pair bailed the team out. While both ensured India stay afloat in this high-octane clash, Kohli was the one who changed gears and took the attack to the opposition. After taking down Shaheen Afridi for a couple of boundaries, Kohli launched two massive sixes against perhaps Pakistan’s best death bowler – Haris Rauf, one of which made headlines for obvious reasons. Thanks to his calculative chase, India went on to win the match by four wickets, and Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls – an inning he claimed to be his best across formats. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: Poor execution, sloppy fielding cost us the match, laments Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting Several months later, during an event organised by Sporting brand PUMA, Kohli was asked what went behind the scenes and how he managed to pull that off? The former Indian captain didn’t shy away from accepting that he didn’t have an idea about what happened that night and even went on to claim that anything of that sort is unlikely to happen ever again. “I was trying to do it before as well but it wasn’t working. The lesson for me was stop using your mind so much because it actually pushes you away from real magic. What happened that night, I can never explain it and it won’t happen ever again,” Kohli said as quoted by India Today. “I still can’t make any sense of it. That’s a very honest admission. And a lot of people have tried to ask me what were you thinking, how did you plan and I have no answers. The fact of the matter is that I was so much under pressure that my mind had shut off completely by the 12th or 13th over,” he further added. While Kohli is no new when it comes to chasing huge totals, that too in a crunch game, he said he went blank and doesn’t even remember what coach Rahul Dravid had told him during the middle overs. “I was going through what I was going through, then I came back in the Asia Cup and I was playing well and I felt like ‘Wow I’m ready to play in this World Cup’. At the 10th over mark, we were 31 for 4 and I had just ran Axar out. I was 12 off 25 balls or something. I remember in the break, Rahul bhai came to me and I don’t remember what he said. I swear and I even told him this as well. I told him, ‘I have no idea what you told me in that break because I was zoned out’,” revealed Kohli.

‘Whatever happened that night will never happen again,’ says Virat Kohli on his iconic MCG knock vs Pakistan

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition will start on Friday (March 31) when the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in&nbsp;Ahmedabad. This will be the&nbsp;cash-rich league's 16th edition. It has become a huge brand globally with the presence of superstar cricketers, playing in front of packed stadiums, with huge money involved.&nbsp;

The IPL kicked off for the first time in 2008. Back then, many yesteryear Indian superstars such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and others were also part of the league. On the other hand, current stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were in the nascent stage of their respective careers, having made a mark in the domestic circuit and at the U-19 level. The Indian cricket fans were thrilled to see their national stars adapt to the shortest format of the game and cheered&nbsp;them on their on-field heroics.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-not-kohli-sky-or-stokes-ex-eng-pacer-says-this-srh-debutant-could-win-player-of-the-tournament-577203">IPL 2023: Not Kohli, SKY or Stokes! Ex-Eng pacer says THIS SRH debutant could win Player of the Tournament</a>

Nonetheless, the Indian fans had to wait for a long time before a national player reached the triple-figure mark in the IPL. Brendon McCullum had slammed the first-ever IPL hundred in the league's maiden encounter while five other batters joined him in the century club in the 2008 edition. AB de Villiers scored a ton in IPL 2009 before Manish Pandey -- an uncapped player back then -- became the first Indian to reach the milestone in the tournament's history. He scored a memorable ton in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s face-off versus eventual winners Deccan Chargers.

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First ipl 100 Manish pandey <a href="https://t.co/tWy9ckwO22">pic.twitter.com/tWy9ckwO22</a>
— Rajeev Mishra (@RajeevM77675925) <a href="https://twitter.com/RajeevM77675925/status/832857525645111296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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It was the 56th game of the IPL 2009 edition, at Cape Town. Opting to bat first, the Kumble-led RCB franchise rode on Pandey's 114, off 73 balls, to post 170 for 4 and restricted Adam Gilchrist &amp; Co. for 158 for 6 to win the clash by 12 runs. Pandey's inning was laced with 10 fours and 4 sixes. He scored at a whopping 156.16 run rate.

In IPL 2023, Pandey will represent the Delhi Capitals (DC) and hope to take his side to their maiden title.&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition will start on Friday (March 31) when the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition will start on Friday (March 31) when the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. This will be the cash-rich league's 16th edition. It has become a huge brand globally with the presence of superstar cricketers, playing in front of packed stadiums, with huge money involved. The IPL kicked off for the first time in 2008. Back then, many yesteryear Indian superstars such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and others were also part of the league. On the other hand, current stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were in the nascent stage of their respective careers, having made a mark in the domestic circuit and at the U-19 level. The Indian cricket fans were thrilled to see their national stars adapt to the shortest format of the game and cheered them on their on-field heroics. Also Read: IPL 2023: Not Kohli, SKY or Stokes! Ex-Eng pacer says THIS SRH debutant could win Player of the Tournament Nonetheless, the Indian fans had to wait for a long time before a national player reached the triple-figure mark in the IPL. Brendon McCullum had slammed the first-ever IPL hundred in the league's maiden encounter while five other batters joined him in the century club in the 2008 edition. AB de Villiers scored a ton in IPL 2009 before Manish Pandey -- an uncapped player back then -- became the first Indian to reach the milestone in the tournament's history. He scored a memorable ton in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s face-off versus eventual winners Deccan Chargers. First ipl 100 Manish pandey pic.twitter.com/tWy9ckwO22 — Rajeev Mishra (@RajeevM77675925) February 18, 2017 × It was the 56th game of the IPL 2009 edition, at Cape Town. Opting to bat first, the Kumble-led RCB franchise rode on Pandey's 114, off 73 balls, to post 170 for 4 and restricted Adam Gilchrist & Co. for 158 for 6 to win the clash by 12 runs. Pandey's inning was laced with 10 fours and 4 sixes. He scored at a whopping 156.16 run rate. In IPL 2023, Pandey will represent the Delhi Capitals (DC) and hope to take his side to their maiden title.

IPL 2023: Not Kohli, Rohit or Tendulkar! THIS batter was India's first centurion in cash-rich league

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to kick off on March 31 (Friday) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The season is keenly awaited as it marks the return of home-and-away format, after a four-year-hiatus, and all eyes are on the big and marquee players in the mega event.

The likes of Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and many other top players are expected to set the stage on fire. On the other hand, many ardent fans are desperate to see how some debutant and young players will perform in the upcoming edition. Amid all this, former England pacer Steve Harmison has predicted that Harry Brook could end up with the Player of the Tournament award in IPL 2023.

Brook has been in sensational form ever since his international debut for England since January&nbsp;2022. He has represented England in six Tests, three ODIs and 20 T20Is and already has four hundreds in whites and strikes at over 135 (137.77) in the shortest format. He has impressed with his ability to hit big as well as remain consistent across formats. Thus, Harmison believes the 24-year-old, who will represent the Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), can win the Player of the Tournament award.

"I think he might start with an orange cap as well. I think Harry Brooke is going to be the best player. I think he could get Player of the Tournament," Steve Harmison was quoted as saying by givemesport.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-dhoni-raina-or-de-villiers-anil-kumble-names-this-superstar-as-undisputed-goat-of-ipl-576951">Not Virat, Dhoni, Raina or De Villiers! Anil Kumble names THIS superstar as undisputed G.O.A.T. of IPL</a>

"When you're on a wave like he's on, things just seem to fall into place. Sometimes they sort of nosedive and dive-bomb, but I don't see it with Harry. For me, I think he might start with an orange cap because he's in an orange kit. I've got a funny feeling if he's around for the whole series. The Sunrisers, I think they've done some decent business. I think they've got some decent business over the line. I think Brooke could be the icing on the cake for them and I think he might just score the runs," Harmison added.

While Brook's Test numbers outshadow his white-ball performances, he has the ability to switch his game as per the situation and is expected to go big with the willow for the Orange Army. The 2016 champions will kick off their campaign versus the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 2 (Sunday) at the&nbsp;Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to kick off on March 31 (Friday) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to kick off on March 31 (Friday) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The season is keenly awaited as it marks the return of home-and-away format, after a four-year-hiatus, and all eyes are on the big and marquee players in the mega event. The likes of Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and many other top players are expected to set the stage on fire. On the other hand, many ardent fans are desperate to see how some debutant and young players will perform in the upcoming edition. Amid all this, former England pacer Steve Harmison has predicted that Harry Brook could end up with the Player of the Tournament award in IPL 2023. Brook has been in sensational form ever since his international debut for England since January 2022. He has represented England in six Tests, three ODIs and 20 T20Is and already has four hundreds in whites and strikes at over 135 (137.77) in the shortest format. He has impressed with his ability to hit big as well as remain consistent across formats. Thus, Harmison believes the 24-year-old, who will represent the Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), can win the Player of the Tournament award. "I think he might start with an orange cap as well. I think Harry Brooke is going to be the best player. I think he could get Player of the Tournament," Steve Harmison was quoted as saying by givemesport. Also Read: Not Virat, Dhoni, Raina or De Villiers! Anil Kumble names THIS superstar as undisputed G.O.A.T. of IPL "When you're on a wave like he's on, things just seem to fall into place. Sometimes they sort of nosedive and dive-bomb, but I don't see it with Harry. For me, I think he might start with an orange cap because he's in an orange kit. I've got a funny feeling if he's around for the whole series. The Sunrisers, I think they've done some decent business. I think they've got some decent business over the line. I think Brooke could be the icing on the cake for them and I think he might just score the runs," Harmison added. While Brook's Test numbers outshadow his white-ball performances, he has the ability to switch his game as per the situation and is expected to go big with the willow for the Orange Army. The 2016 champions will kick off their campaign versus the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 2 (Sunday) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

IPL 2023: Not Kohli, SKY or Stokes! Ex-Eng pacer says THIS SRH debutant could win Player of the Tournament

IPL 2023: 100-WIN CLUB! CSK, MI, RCB and two others feature in the elite list

Virat Kohli Class 10th Marksheet: Virat Kohli was last seen on the cricket field during the India-Australia home ODI series. He will next be seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad. The 34-year-old will once again represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who are yet to win the elusive trophy in the showpiece event.&nbsp;

Ahead of RCB's season-opener, where they host the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the M Chinnaswammgy Stadium on April 02 (Sunday), Kohli shared his Class 10 report card on Koo app and the post has gone viral in no time.

The former Indian captain posted a photo of his Class 10th mark sheet and wrote,&nbsp;"It's funny how the things that add the least to your marksheet, add the most to your character." As soon as the RCB star batter shared the post, it soon became the talk of the town on the internet. Here's the post:

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohlis-dream-of-winning-the-trophy-will-come-true-manjrekars-massive-claim-ahead-of-ipl-2023-577258">Virat Kohli's dream of winning the trophy will come true: Manjrekar's MASSIVE claim ahead of IPL 2023</a>

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Virat Kohli's 10th class marksheet. <a href="https://t.co/FNuCbUPsTB">pic.twitter.com/FNuCbUPsTB</a>
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Irrespective of how he was as a student, Kohli has become a superstar of world cricket. Debuting in 2008, he soon climbed up the ladder to become India's main batter post the retirements of stalwarts such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. To date, he remains one of India's main batter across formats and has scored over 22,000 international runs along with 75 centuries. The right-hander also led India from late 2014 till early 2022 and took the side to the 2019 ODI World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and 2021 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals.

At present, Kohli is gearing up for the IPL 2023 season, where he will once again represent the RCB franchise and hope to take them to their maiden title. He remains the leading run-scorer of the showpiece event &nbsp;6,624 in 223 matches at a strike rate of&nbsp;129.14 along with five hundreds and 44 half-centuries.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli Class 10th Marksheet: Virat Kohli was last seen on the cricket field during the India-Australia home ODI series. He will next be seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

Virat Kohli Class 10th Marksheet: Virat Kohli was last seen on the cricket field during the India-Australia home ODI series. He will next be seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad. The 34-year-old will once again represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who are yet to win the elusive trophy in the showpiece event. Ahead of RCB's season-opener, where they host the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the M Chinnaswammgy Stadium on April 02 (Sunday), Kohli shared his Class 10 report card on Koo app and the post has gone viral in no time. The former Indian captain posted a photo of his Class 10th mark sheet and wrote, "It's funny how the things that add the least to your marksheet, add the most to your character." As soon as the RCB star batter shared the post, it soon became the talk of the town on the internet. Here's the post: Also Read: Virat Kohli's dream of winning the trophy will come true: Manjrekar's MASSIVE claim ahead of IPL 2023 Virat Kohli's 10th class marksheet. pic.twitter.com/FNuCbUPsTB — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 30, 2023 × Irrespective of how he was as a student, Kohli has become a superstar of world cricket. Debuting in 2008, he soon climbed up the ladder to become India's main batter post the retirements of stalwarts such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. To date, he remains one of India's main batter across formats and has scored over 22,000 international runs along with 75 centuries. The right-hander also led India from late 2014 till early 2022 and took the side to the 2019 ODI World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and 2021 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals. At present, Kohli is gearing up for the IPL 2023 season, where he will once again represent the RCB franchise and hope to take them to their maiden title. He remains the leading run-scorer of the showpiece event 6,624 in 223 matches at a strike rate of 129.14 along with five hundreds and 44 half-centuries.

Ahead of IPL 2023, RCB star Virat Kohli shares his Class 10th Marksheet; post goes viral

Virat Kohli&nbsp;is the only player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to play for the same team -- i.e. the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) -- in all seasons so far starting from 2008, when the cash-rich league came into the picture. He is also one of the few big players to have not won the IPL so far. However, former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels IPL 2023 could be the season where Kohli's trophy-drought might get over.

Ahead of the IPL 2023 opener, where the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad on Friday (March 31), Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo, "Yes, I feel Virat Kohli's dream of winning the trophy will come true this time. They have a wonderful bowling attack. If Faf du Plessis scores runs, they will have a great chance."

Kohli has scored most runs in the IPL (6,624) in 223 matches at a strike rate of&nbsp;129.14 along with five hundreds and 44 half-centuries. The 34-year-old had a dismal run in IPL 2022 where he only managed&nbsp;341 runs in 16 games at an average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.99. Last year, the Faf du Plessis-led RCB franchise reached the playoffs and won the Eliminator, versus the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), before they bowed out with a loss to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2. 
 
Thus, Kohli will be desperate to get going with the bat this time around and guide his side to their maiden title. They have a strong squad at their disposal comprising the likes of Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Kohli, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Rajat Patidar, Md Siraj, David Willey, Reece Topley, Michael Bracewell, etc.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-not-kohli-rohit-or-tendulkar-this-batter-was-indias-first-centurion-in-cash-rich-league-577218">IPL 2023: Not Kohli, Rohit or Tendulkar! THIS batter was India's first centurion in cash-rich league</a> 
&nbsp;

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,&nbsp; Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav, Micheal Bracewell

Virat Kohli is the only player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to play for the same team -- i.e. the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) -- in all seasons so far starting from 2008, when the cash-rich league came into the picture.

Virat Kohli is the only player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to play for the same team -- i.e. the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) -- in all seasons so far starting from 2008, when the cash-rich league came into the picture. He is also one of the few big players to have not won the IPL so far. However, former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels IPL 2023 could be the season where Kohli's trophy-drought might get over. Ahead of the IPL 2023 opener, where the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad on Friday (March 31), Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo, "Yes, I feel Virat Kohli's dream of winning the trophy will come true this time. They have a wonderful bowling attack. If Faf du Plessis scores runs, they will have a great chance." Kohli has scored most runs in the IPL (6,624) in 223 matches at a strike rate of 129.14 along with five hundreds and 44 half-centuries. The 34-year-old had a dismal run in IPL 2022 where he only managed 341 runs in 16 games at an average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.99. Last year, the Faf du Plessis-led RCB franchise reached the playoffs and won the Eliminator, versus the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), before they bowed out with a loss to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2. Thus, Kohli will be desperate to get going with the bat this time around and guide his side to their maiden title. They have a strong squad at their disposal comprising the likes of Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Kohli, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Rajat Patidar, Md Siraj, David Willey, Reece Topley, Michael Bracewell, etc. Also Read: IPL 2023: Not Kohli, Rohit or Tendulkar! THIS batter was India's first centurion in cash-rich league 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, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav, Micheal Bracewell

Virat Kohli's dream of winning the trophy will come true: Manjrekar's MASSIVE claim ahead of IPL 2023

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition will start on March 31 with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT). Over the years, IPL has become a huge brand in the cricketing fraternity and every season is keenly awaited. Since the tournament's inception, players such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, David Warner, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Brendon McCullum, etc. have played a big role in popularising the cash-rich league and making it the best T20 tournament across the globe.

Recently, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who led the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to the IPL 2009 final, named Universe Boss Gayle as IPL's undisputed Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T)

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-ipl-2023-be-ms-dhonis-final-season-mi-skipper-rohit-sharma-shares-his-take-576928">Will IPL 2023 be MS Dhoni's final season? MI skipper Rohit Sharma shares his take</a>

Kumble while speaking on Jio Cinema said, "There are plenty of them; it’s difficult to pick just one. I can certainly look back and say probably a Chris Gayle, someone who is larger than life. The way he came across as a player! What he brought to RCB and the way he sorts of changed the whole powerplay and the power he brought to batting."

Gayle started his IPL career with the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) but his fortunates changed when he was picked by the RCB camp in 2011. He went on to win the Orange Cap -- awarded to a player with most runs in a season -- in the 2011 and 2012 editions and became a regular in their line-up. In 2018, the swashbuckling batter joined the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), now known as the Punjab Kings (PBKS). During his run for the Punjab franchise, Kumble served as the head coach.

The left-handed batter scored a total of 4,965 runs in his IPL career, featuring in as many as 142 matches at a strike rate of 148.96. He remains the eighth-highest run-getter&nbsp;to date and has most centuries (six) under his belt in the tournament as well.

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition will start on March 31 with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition will start on March 31 with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT). Over the years, IPL has become a huge brand in the cricketing fraternity and every season is keenly awaited. Since the tournament's inception, players such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, David Warner, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Brendon McCullum, etc. have played a big role in popularising the cash-rich league and making it the best T20 tournament across the globe. Recently, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who led the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to the IPL 2009 final, named Universe Boss Gayle as IPL's undisputed Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T) Also Read: Will IPL 2023 be MS Dhoni's final season? MI skipper Rohit Sharma shares his take Kumble while speaking on Jio Cinema said, "There are plenty of them; it’s difficult to pick just one. I can certainly look back and say probably a Chris Gayle, someone who is larger than life. The way he came across as a player! What he brought to RCB and the way he sorts of changed the whole powerplay and the power he brought to batting." Gayle started his IPL career with the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) but his fortunates changed when he was picked by the RCB camp in 2011. He went on to win the Orange Cap -- awarded to a player with most runs in a season -- in the 2011 and 2012 editions and became a regular in their line-up. In 2018, the swashbuckling batter joined the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), now known as the Punjab Kings (PBKS). During his run for the Punjab franchise, Kumble served as the head coach. The left-handed batter scored a total of 4,965 runs in his IPL career, featuring in as many as 142 matches at a strike rate of 148.96. He remains the eighth-highest run-getter to date and has most centuries (six) under his belt in the tournament as well. 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. ×

Not Virat, Dhoni, Raina or De Villiers! Anil Kumble names THIS superstar as undisputed G.O.A.T. of IPL

Former Pakistan player Abdul Razzaq is the latest to opine on Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli comparison, saying both are good, however, Kohli is ahead of Babar in terms of fitness.

Speaking to media outlet Times of India, Razzaq said, "We don't need to compare them. It's like asking, who is better - Kapil Dev or Imran Khan? These comparisons are not good. Kohli is a good player in India. Similarly, Babar Azam is a good player in Pakistan. Kohli is a world-class player, Babar is too. But Kohli's fitness is way better than Babar's."

Continuing with the discussion, Razzaq said that both the batters are top players in their countries and that Virat's best part is that he takes his team along.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-kapil-dev-says-he-wants-to-abdul-razzaq-opens-up-on-his-controversial-remark-on-hardik-pandya-576485">Abdul Razzaq opens up on his controversial remark on Hardik Pandya</a>

"Virat is an outstanding and fantastic player. The best part is that he takes his team along. His intent is always positive. He utilises his skills very well. The main thing is that his fitness is world-class. Babar Azam's fitness is not like that of Virat Kohli's. Babar needs to work more on his fitness. Babar is Pakistan's number one player. Babar is in fact the world number 1 batter (ODIs). Be it in any format of the game, Test, ODI, or T20I, he has been consistently performing well. Every country has one player like them (Virat and Babar)," added Razzaq.

Notably, Virat is considered as one of the modern greats of the game with 75 international tons to his name, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 100 centuries. Kohli has 28 tons in Tests, 46 in ODIs and one in T20Is. Kohli is also just three short of equalling Sachin's ODI century record of 49 tons.

Babar, on the other hand, has nine Test tons, 17 ODI hundreds and two in T20Is, totaling to 28 in the international cricket.

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Former Pakistan player Abdul Razzaq is the latest to opine on Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli comparison, saying both are good, however, Kohli is ahead of Babar in terms of fitness.

Former Pakistan player Abdul Razzaq is the latest to opine on Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli comparison, saying both are good, however, Kohli is ahead of Babar in terms of fitness. Speaking to media outlet Times of India, Razzaq said, "We don't need to compare them. It's like asking, who is better - Kapil Dev or Imran Khan? These comparisons are not good. Kohli is a good player in India. Similarly, Babar Azam is a good player in Pakistan. Kohli is a world-class player, Babar is too. But Kohli's fitness is way better than Babar's." Continuing with the discussion, Razzaq said that both the batters are top players in their countries and that Virat's best part is that he takes his team along. Also Read: Abdul Razzaq opens up on his controversial remark on Hardik Pandya "Virat is an outstanding and fantastic player. The best part is that he takes his team along. His intent is always positive. He utilises his skills very well. The main thing is that his fitness is world-class. Babar Azam's fitness is not like that of Virat Kohli's. Babar needs to work more on his fitness. Babar is Pakistan's number one player. Babar is in fact the world number 1 batter (ODIs). Be it in any format of the game, Test, ODI, or T20I, he has been consistently performing well. Every country has one player like them (Virat and Babar)," added Razzaq. Notably, Virat is considered as one of the modern greats of the game with 75 international tons to his name, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 100 centuries. Kohli has 28 tons in Tests, 46 in ODIs and one in T20Is. Kohli is also just three short of equalling Sachin's ODI century record of 49 tons. Babar, on the other hand, has nine Test tons, 17 ODI hundreds and two in T20Is, totaling to 28 in the international cricket. 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.

Ex-Pak player reveals what Babar Azam NEEDS TO WORK on to be as great as Virat Kohli

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remain only one of the three teams, from the initial eight franchises, to have not won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title to date. The RCB franchise have come close to winning the title on three occasions, reaching the final in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but have never tasted success as yet. Over the years, the fan-following has just grown for the RCB camp who have had some big marquee players such as Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, etc.

The trio of Kohli, ABD and Gayle have entertained fans over the years. Recently, the former South African captain De Villiers recalled the first impression he had of Kohli to which Gayle gave an epic reply. During a conversation with Universe Boss Gayle, in the video posted by RCB on their YouTube channel, De Villiers said, "Oh my goodness...I have had this question before and I had given this answer before as well. I think he was quite cocky and arrogant when I met him the first time. With that hairstyle and he had bit of a strut going..."

To this, the West Indies legend Gayle burst out laughing and asked, “Flamboyant, was he?”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-shameful-pakistan-fan-trolls-own-player-on-eating-habits-during-loss-in-afghanistan-t20is-576531">Watch: SHAMEFUL! Pakistan fan trolls own player on eating habits during loss in Afghanistan T20Is</a>

ABD replied, “Yes absolutely. But the minute I got to know him a bit better and watched him play I mean I've got as much respect for him but I got to know him better as a human being. I think he had a barrier around him when I met him the first time and that barrier opened up and I got to know the person. I didn't not like him but you know what I'm saying. He's a top person now but first impression was ufff...he's got to come down to earth a bit.”

Over the years, the camaraderie between Gayle, Kohli and ABD have mesmerised RCB fans. The trio were seen together during an event where the new jersey of the Bengaluru franchise was unveiled for the upcoming IPL 2023 edition. RCB will open their campaign versus five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 02 at their home ground M Chinnaswammy Stadium, Bengaluru.

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The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remain only one of the three teams, from the initial eight franchises, to have not won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title to date.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remain only one of the three teams, from the initial eight franchises, to have not won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title to date. The RCB franchise have come close to winning the title on three occasions, reaching the final in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but have never tasted success as yet. Over the years, the fan-following has just grown for the RCB camp who have had some big marquee players such as Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, etc. The trio of Kohli, ABD and Gayle have entertained fans over the years. Recently, the former South African captain De Villiers recalled the first impression he had of Kohli to which Gayle gave an epic reply. During a conversation with Universe Boss Gayle, in the video posted by RCB on their YouTube channel, De Villiers said, "Oh my goodness...I have had this question before and I had given this answer before as well. I think he was quite cocky and arrogant when I met him the first time. With that hairstyle and he had bit of a strut going..." To this, the West Indies legend Gayle burst out laughing and asked, “Flamboyant, was he?” Also Read: Watch: SHAMEFUL! Pakistan fan trolls own player on eating habits during loss in Afghanistan T20Is ABD replied, “Yes absolutely. But the minute I got to know him a bit better and watched him play I mean I've got as much respect for him but I got to know him better as a human being. I think he had a barrier around him when I met him the first time and that barrier opened up and I got to know the person. I didn't not like him but you know what I'm saying. He's a top person now but first impression was ufff...he's got to come down to earth a bit.” Over the years, the camaraderie between Gayle, Kohli and ABD have mesmerised RCB fans. The trio were seen together during an event where the new jersey of the Bengaluru franchise was unveiled for the upcoming IPL 2023 edition. RCB will open their campaign versus five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 02 at their home ground M Chinnaswammy Stadium, Bengaluru. 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. ×

'He was cocky, arrogant': Ex-RCB star De Villiers shares first impression of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle reacts

Ravindra Jadeja has been promoted to Grade A+ in BCCI's recently-released central contract list. Jadeja has been on a roll ever since he returned to action after a long injury layoff with superlative performances during India's home series versus Australia. Thus, he has joined skipper Rohit Sharma, former captain Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in the top-grade contract (salary of INR 70 million/7 crore).

KL Rahul, who got removed as the white-ball vice-captain and was dropped for the final two Tests versus Australia, has been demoted to Grade B. As many as five players have been included in Grade A (INR 50 million/5 crore) whereas there are six players in Grade B and 11 in Grade C.

Check out the full list:

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-wi-quinton-de-kock-hits-maiden-t20i-hundred-as-proteas-complete-highest-t20i-run-chase-in-centurion-576011">SA vs WI: Quinton de Kock hits maiden T20I hundred as Proteas complete highest T20I run chase in Centurion</a>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>PLAYER</td>
			<td>GRADE</td>
			<td>SALARY (in INR)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
			<td>A+</td>
			<td>70 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Virat Kohli</td>
			<td>A+</td>
			<td>70 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Jasprit Bumrah</td>
			<td>A+</td>
			<td>70 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ravindra Jadeja</td>
			<td>A+</td>
			<td>70 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hardik Pandya</td>
			<td>A</td>
			<td>50 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>R Ashwin</td>
			<td>A</td>
			<td>50 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rishabh Pant</td>
			<td>A</td>
			<td>50 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Axar Patel</td>
			<td>A</td>
			<td>50 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Md Shami</td>
			<td>A</td>
			<td>50 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cheteshwar Pujara</td>
			<td>B</td>
			<td>30 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KL Rahul</td>
			<td>B</td>
			<td>30 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shreyas Iyer</td>
			<td>B</td>
			<td>30 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Md Siraj</td>
			<td>B</td>
			<td>30 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Suryakumar Yadav</td>
			<td>B</td>
			<td>30 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shubman Gill</td>
			<td>B</td>
			<td>30 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shikhar Dhawan</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shardul Thakur</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Yuzvendra Chahal</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Umesh Yadav</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sanju Samson</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ishan Kishan</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Deepak Hooda</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kuldeep Yadav</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KS Bharat</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Washington Sundar</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Arshdeep Singh</td>
			<td>C</td>
			<td>10 million</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Shikhar Dhawan, who has been dropped from the ODI setup, is one of the biggest names in Grade C. He has been replaced by Shubman Gill as Rohit's opening partner in the 50-over setup whereas he was out of the T20I line-up in late 2021 itself. Moreover, star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar's name was missing from the entire list.

All the star Indian cricketers are now gearing up for IPL 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

Ravindra Jadeja has been promoted to Grade A+ in BCCI's recently-released central contract list. Jadeja has been on a roll ever since he returned to action after a long injury layoff with superlative performances during India's home series versus Australia.

Ravindra Jadeja has been promoted to Grade A+ in BCCI's recently-released central contract list. Jadeja has been on a roll ever since he returned to action after a long injury layoff with superlative performances during India's home series versus Australia. Thus, he has joined skipper Rohit Sharma, former captain Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in the top-grade contract (salary of INR 70 million/7 crore). KL Rahul, who got removed as the white-ball vice-captain and was dropped for the final two Tests versus Australia, has been demoted to Grade B. As many as five players have been included in Grade A (INR 50 million/5 crore) whereas there are six players in Grade B and 11 in Grade C. Check out the full list: Also Read: SA vs WI: Quinton de Kock hits maiden T20I hundred as Proteas complete highest T20I run chase in Centurion PLAYER GRADE SALARY (in INR) Rohit Sharma A+ 70 million Virat Kohli A+ 70 million Jasprit Bumrah A+ 70 million Ravindra Jadeja A+ 70 million Hardik Pandya A 50 million R Ashwin A 50 million Rishabh Pant A 50 million Axar Patel A 50 million Md Shami A 50 million Cheteshwar Pujara B 30 million KL Rahul B 30 million Shreyas Iyer B 30 million Md Siraj B 30 million Suryakumar Yadav B 30 million Shubman Gill B 30 million Shikhar Dhawan C 10 million Shardul Thakur C 10 million Yuzvendra Chahal C 10 million Umesh Yadav C 10 million Sanju Samson C 10 million Ishan Kishan C 10 million Deepak Hooda C 10 million Kuldeep Yadav C 10 million KS Bharat C 10 million Washington Sundar C 10 million Arshdeep Singh C 10 million Shikhar Dhawan, who has been dropped from the ODI setup, is one of the biggest names in Grade C. He has been replaced by Shubman Gill as Rohit's opening partner in the 50-over setup whereas he was out of the T20I line-up in late 2021 itself. Moreover, star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar's name was missing from the entire list. All the star Indian cricketers are now gearing up for IPL 2023 edition, which kicks off on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

BCCI central contracts: Ravindra Jadeja gets a PROMOTION, KL Rahul DEMOTED - Check full list

Former India captain Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest chasers in world cricket. Having owned several mind-boggling run-chasing records to his name over the years, Kohli still couldn’t do it on all occasions. Remembering one such instance, the former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali recalled how dropping Kohli at the first slip during the 2017 Champions Trophy final at the Oval sent shivers down his spine.&nbsp;

Chasing a mammoth 339 in the mega final against arch-rivals Pakistan, India had already lost opener Rohit Sharma out on zero to Mohammad Amir. The left-arm seamer looked pumped up and even got Kohli to edge one to the slip cordon, only for Azhar to drop it.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-apart-from-ms-dhoni-chennai-team-is-defined-by-all-rounders-says-aakash-chopra-576328">IPL 2023: Apart from MS Dhoni, Chennai team is defined by all-rounders, says Aakash Chopra</a>

At that moment, Azhar didn’t even look up or around as all the Pakistani players looked stunned and disappointed. Knowing whom he had dropped, and what all was at stake, Azhar was all but terrified.&nbsp;However, as destiny had its way, Amir got Kohli out on the next ball caught at point by Shadab Khan on five. Eventually, following a poor start, India lost the final by a huge margin of 180 runs.&nbsp;

Years later, the culprit during&nbsp;that moment, Azhar Ali opened up about how he felt when he dropped Virat. As quoted by Hindustan Times, Azhar revealed a lot crossed his mind during those two balls, as he felt burdened with weight and pressure. He added he hoped for Kohli to get out because had the Indian great chased down the target, Azhar’s house would have been vandalised.

"I saw it in reality. Between that drop catch and his dismissal, plenty of things flashed before my eyes. It felt as if I have been burdened with weight and pressure, and that the entire world is watching me asking as if 'Look what he's done'. That was my feeling and I thought 'God forbid if he does what he is famous for... of he chases this down - he scores a lot in chases - my house will get vandalised'. Fortunately, I was just thinking about all these scenarios and he got out the next ball," Azhar Ali said on 'Hasna Mana Hai'.

On the flip side, Virat, over the past decade, has chased huge totals with his best coming against Pakistan only during the 2012 Asia Cup. Chasing 330, Kohli scored his career-best 183 and helped India win the match by six wickets.

Former India captain Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest chasers in world cricket. Having owned several mind-boggling run-chasing records to his name over the years, Kohli still couldn’t do it on all occasions.

Former India captain Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest chasers in world cricket. Having owned several mind-boggling run-chasing records to his name over the years, Kohli still couldn’t do it on all occasions. Remembering one such instance, the former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali recalled how dropping Kohli at the first slip during the 2017 Champions Trophy final at the Oval sent shivers down his spine. Chasing a mammoth 339 in the mega final against arch-rivals Pakistan, India had already lost opener Rohit Sharma out on zero to Mohammad Amir. The left-arm seamer looked pumped up and even got Kohli to edge one to the slip cordon, only for Azhar to drop it. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: Apart from MS Dhoni, Chennai team is defined by all-rounders, says Aakash Chopra At that moment, Azhar didn’t even look up or around as all the Pakistani players looked stunned and disappointed. Knowing whom he had dropped, and what all was at stake, Azhar was all but terrified. However, as destiny had its way, Amir got Kohli out on the next ball caught at point by Shadab Khan on five. Eventually, following a poor start, India lost the final by a huge margin of 180 runs. Years later, the culprit during that moment, Azhar Ali opened up about how he felt when he dropped Virat. As quoted by Hindustan Times, Azhar revealed a lot crossed his mind during those two balls, as he felt burdened with weight and pressure. He added he hoped for Kohli to get out because had the Indian great chased down the target, Azhar’s house would have been vandalised. "I saw it in reality. Between that drop catch and his dismissal, plenty of things flashed before my eyes. It felt as if I have been burdened with weight and pressure, and that the entire world is watching me asking as if 'Look what he's done'. That was my feeling and I thought 'God forbid if he does what he is famous for... of he chases this down - he scores a lot in chases - my house will get vandalised'. Fortunately, I was just thinking about all these scenarios and he got out the next ball," Azhar Ali said on 'Hasna Mana Hai'. On the flip side, Virat, over the past decade, has chased huge totals with his best coming against Pakistan only during the 2012 Asia Cup. Chasing 330, Kohli scored his career-best 183 and helped India win the match by six wickets.

‘If HE had chased...my house would’ve been vandalised,’ Azhar Ali recalls 2017 CT final dropped catch horror

Top T20 batter in the world, Chris Gayle, has showered praises on his former IPL teammate Virat Kohli saying he loves his passion for the game but has also claimed that he is better than his Indian counterpart in dancing. Ahead of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League that starts in less than a week, Gayle revealed batting alongside Virat was fantastic and that Kohli needs to get credit for his performances over the years.

"Batting with Virat was just fantastic. I like the passion he has for the game. I like his passion and his work ethic, it's fantastic. You have to give him credit for that, and he wants to show it with his performances," Gayle said as quoted in TOI.

Gayle joined Virat at RCB in 2011, and till the time both played together, they accounted for ten plus century-stand partnerships – an IPL record in itself.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shubman-gill-over-me-on-current-form-says-out-of-favour-india-opener-as-50-over-world-cup-looms-575877">Shubman Gill over me on current form, says out-of-favour India opener as 50-over World Cup looms</a>

Speaking on having a good understanding with the former India captain, Gayle said both complimented each other well. And while he is remembered to be scoring most runs via boundaries during all partnerships, the Windies star player admitted he contributed in those twos and threes and was among the quickest between the wickets.

"We had a good understanding with each other. We complemented each other well. Sometimes people might say 'Chris didn't run between the wickets'. "I bat with Virat, and I ran between the wickets, so I don't want anyone to use this as an alibi to say we don't run between the wickets. We have over nine (ten) 100-run partnerships, check how many times how many twos and threes we took. I was the quickest one between the wickets. Don't get it twisted," Gayle added.

An entertainer on-and-off the field, Gayle is regarded as the live wire. Sharing his dressing room experiences with Virat Kohli, Gayle said while Kohli knew some dance moves, he will still fall second in a competition with Chris irrespective of the dance form being an Indian or Caribbean.

"Sharing a dressing room with Virat and the other guys, once I am there, I am always jovial and having a lot of fun, dancing and everything like that. I'd show them a few moves and realise Virat's got the skills. He can move, you know. But if it's an Indian dance, Chris Gayle will win, if it's a Caribbean dance, Chris Gayle will win," the former Windies captain added.

Meanwhile, Gayle last featured in IPL for Punjab Kings in 2021.

In 142 games, IPL games played since the beginning, Gayle scored 4965 runs at an average of over 39 and a strike-rate of 148.96.

Top T20 batter in the world, Chris Gayle, has showered praises on his former IPL teammate Virat Kohli saying he loves his passion for the game but has also claimed that he is better than his Indian counterpart in dancing.

Top T20 batter in the world, Chris Gayle, has showered praises on his former IPL teammate Virat Kohli saying he loves his passion for the game but has also claimed that he is better than his Indian counterpart in dancing. Ahead of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League that starts in less than a week, Gayle revealed batting alongside Virat was fantastic and that Kohli needs to get credit for his performances over the years. "Batting with Virat was just fantastic. I like the passion he has for the game. I like his passion and his work ethic, it's fantastic. You have to give him credit for that, and he wants to show it with his performances," Gayle said as quoted in TOI. Gayle joined Virat at RCB in 2011, and till the time both played together, they accounted for ten plus century-stand partnerships – an IPL record in itself. ALSO READ: Shubman Gill over me on current form, says out-of-favour India opener as 50-over World Cup looms Speaking on having a good understanding with the former India captain, Gayle said both complimented each other well. And while he is remembered to be scoring most runs via boundaries during all partnerships, the Windies star player admitted he contributed in those twos and threes and was among the quickest between the wickets. "We had a good understanding with each other. We complemented each other well. Sometimes people might say 'Chris didn't run between the wickets'. "I bat with Virat, and I ran between the wickets, so I don't want anyone to use this as an alibi to say we don't run between the wickets. We have over nine (ten) 100-run partnerships, check how many times how many twos and threes we took. I was the quickest one between the wickets. Don't get it twisted," Gayle added. An entertainer on-and-off the field, Gayle is regarded as the live wire. Sharing his dressing room experiences with Virat Kohli, Gayle said while Kohli knew some dance moves, he will still fall second in a competition with Chris irrespective of the dance form being an Indian or Caribbean. "Sharing a dressing room with Virat and the other guys, once I am there, I am always jovial and having a lot of fun, dancing and everything like that. I'd show them a few moves and realise Virat's got the skills. He can move, you know. But if it's an Indian dance, Chris Gayle will win, if it's a Caribbean dance, Chris Gayle will win," the former Windies captain added. Meanwhile, Gayle last featured in IPL for Punjab Kings in 2021. In 142 games, IPL games played since the beginning, Gayle scored 4965 runs at an average of over 39 and a strike-rate of 148.96.

'Virat Kohli has got skills but I am better than him in...,' reveals Chris Gayle ahead of IPL 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli, in a video shared by the RCB twitter handle, has said that he's back to playing the way he does a week before the season gets underway.

The batsman spoke at length about that time he stepped away from the game and rediscovered himself. Kohli also said that staying away from the game helped him to get back without pressure.

"It was just about rediscovering the love for the game. That could happen when I stepped away from what was happening on the field for so long. I was trying to find ways when I was exhausted. I needed to connect with myself as a human first, not judge myself constantly or keep myself under scrutiny all the time. Staying away from the game helped me. That helped me rediscover my excitement and love for the game. When I came back, everything was an opportunity; there was no pressure," said Kohli in the video.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/sports/shubman-gill-over-me-on-current-form-says-out-of-favour-india-opener-as-50-over-world-cup-looms-575877">Shubman Gill over me on current form, says out-of-favour India opener as 50-over World Cup looms</a>

"The results followed. I was able to play well in T20Is, ODIs, and recently in the Test series as well. I’m back to playing the way I do; there’s still a lot of room to get to my best, which hopefully happens in the IPL if I get to the level I really want to play at. That would help the team," he added.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“I think I’m back to playing the way I do, but there’s a lot of room to get to my best, which hopefully happens during the IPL” - Virat Kohli talks about returning to Bengaluru and Chinnaswamy, on Bold Diaries.<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/IPL2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2023</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/IJvTf8W1jt">pic.twitter.com/IJvTf8W1jt</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1638910973611261952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Kohli, who has been associated with the RCB since inception, ended his century drought in the Test matches, scoring his 28 Test hundred in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series. He also scored a fifty in the three-match ODI series as well and scored a century in T20Is last year, indicating that he's fully back in the form.

In IPL, Kohli is the highest run scorer with 6,624 runs to his name in 223 matches at an average of 36.20.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli, in a video shared by the RCB twitter handle, has said that he's back to playing the way he does a week before the season gets underway.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli, in a video shared by the RCB twitter handle, has said that he's back to playing the way he does a week before the season gets underway. The batsman spoke at length about that time he stepped away from the game and rediscovered himself. Kohli also said that staying away from the game helped him to get back without pressure. "It was just about rediscovering the love for the game. That could happen when I stepped away from what was happening on the field for so long. I was trying to find ways when I was exhausted. I needed to connect with myself as a human first, not judge myself constantly or keep myself under scrutiny all the time. Staying away from the game helped me. That helped me rediscover my excitement and love for the game. When I came back, everything was an opportunity; there was no pressure," said Kohli in the video. Also Read: Shubman Gill over me on current form, says out-of-favour India opener as 50-over World Cup looms "The results followed. I was able to play well in T20Is, ODIs, and recently in the Test series as well. I’m back to playing the way I do; there’s still a lot of room to get to my best, which hopefully happens in the IPL if I get to the level I really want to play at. That would help the team," he added. “I think I’m back to playing the way I do, but there’s a lot of room to get to my best, which hopefully happens during the IPL” - Virat Kohli talks about returning to Bengaluru and Chinnaswamy, on Bold Diaries.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/IJvTf8W1jt — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 23, 2023 × Kohli, who has been associated with the RCB since inception, ended his century drought in the Test matches, scoring his 28 Test hundred in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series. He also scored a fifty in the three-match ODI series as well and scored a century in T20Is last year, indicating that he's fully back in the form. In IPL, Kohli is the highest run scorer with 6,624 runs to his name in 223 matches at an average of 36.20. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: I'm back, says Virat Kohli ahead of upcoming season

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