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<keyword id="6354884" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Daredevils">Delhi Daredevils</keyword> (DD) playing their first match in <keyword id="215177" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vivo">Vivo</keyword> <keyword id="3790674" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2017">IPL 2017</keyword> has only one thing to worry about. And same is the case with <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> (RCB). And it’s injury. 
 In the opening match, <keyword id="77602" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="AB-de-Villiers">AB de Villiers</keyword> and <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword>’s RCB couldn’t stand a chance against <keyword id="1494441" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword>. And that’s one of strength for <keyword id="229350" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zahir-Khan">Zahir Khan</keyword>’s DD to keep <keyword id="6362899" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gayle">Gayle</keyword> and <keyword id="6411673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Watson">Watson</keyword> under pressure. Moreover, Delhi Daredevils has recently been under fire from former Indian captain <keyword id="6359039" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sourav-Ganguly">Sourav Ganguly</keyword> who had recently tagged Delhi Daredevils as one of the weaker teams. In reply to it, <keyword id="3115268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amit-misra">Amit Misra</keyword> told the press, “I feel very motivated when someone says something like this. He was a great player, so I don’t want to say anything about him, but I feel the team has been doing really well since I joined in 2015.” 
 While <keyword id="6377546" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mishra">Mishra</keyword> may be motivated, it’s not easy for mentor <keyword id="2727" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Dravid">Rahul Dravid</keyword> to do the needful. Delhi isn’t getting ace batsman <keyword id="1528090" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quinton-de-Kock">Quinton de Kock</keyword> for the full season. For personal reasons, <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword> is out of the squad. All rounder <keyword id="982208" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shreyas-Iyer">Shreyas Iyer</keyword> is unable to play because of a sudden chicken pox. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s father’s sudden demise has left people guessing whether he would be playing today. While Pant is back with the team after his father’s last rites, this may serve as booster for the team. <keyword id="4394386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="angela-matthews">Angela Matthews</keyword> and <keyword id="967087" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mohammed-Shami">Mohammed Shami</keyword> are also unable to play because of injury. Currently Delhi has to depend on pacer Zahir Khan and Pat Cummins.

Vivo IPL 2017: Injury is the main concern for today's Delhi
Daredevils

In terms of ambition, the Champions League T20 was to be the perfect tool to showcase, and popularise, franchise cricket. It was modelled on the UEFA Champions League, with clubs from cricketing nations teaming up for a short T20 event. But into its sixth edition, it hasn't delivered on the promise front. The <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> in India is still the benchmark, and the involvement of international teams somehow fails to pique interest among fans who get behind their local franchises (a reason to include a fourth Indian team). From September 13, however, up until October 4, the disappointments of the England tour will be forgotten, and cricket's shortest format will once again drum up the entertainment before the home season in India gets under way. 
 
In many ways, the timeframe set apart for the Champions League is about perfect for a T20 competition. The IPL lasts two months; back-to-back games in the middle of the Indian summer making it an annual TV soap opera. The expectancy of home advantage is less; teams from South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand make it a more global event, and the chance to see several international players, who could soon be seen being snapped up by several franchises in next year's IPL. The Champions League then is the IPL's poorer cousin, but the unpredictable nature of the competition could make it for interesting viewing. 
 
Chhattisgarh's Raipur International Cricket Stadium will host the six qualifiers featuring Lahore Lions (Pakistan), Mumbai Indians (India), Northern Knights (New Zealand) and Southern Express (Sri Lanka), before the main league kicks off with games scheduled in Hyderabad, Mohali and Bangalore. Gocricket.com takes a look at the teams making up the competition: 
 
Kolkata Knight Riders: The IPL champions gained direct entry into the league stages by virtue of their title triumph a few months ago, but have been hampered by injuries to Morne Morkel and <keyword id="258312" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chris-Lynn">Chris Lynn</keyword>, who have been ruled out of the tournament, as was Shakib Al Hasan, serving a disciplinary sanction by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The Indian domestic season was over before the IPL meaning several Indian players will be without practice, a situation that forced <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/yusuf-pathan/30001/4096">Yusuf Pathan</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/piyush-chawla/30001/4089">Piyush Chawla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/manvinder-bisla/30001/27013">Manvinder Bisla</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kuldeep-yadav/30001/4133">Kuldeep Yadav</a> to undergo a boot camp in South Africa. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gautam-gambhir/30001/4043">Gautam Gambhir</a>, the inspirational two-time IPL-winning captain, however, is back playing franchise cricket after a nightmarish return to the Indian team on the England tour. Gambhir would have to brush aside that traumatic experience to lead his troops. 
 
Perth Scorchers: Like KKR, Perth Scorchers triumphed at the Big Bash League, but like the Indian franchise, they too come into the tournament with a depleted squad. Simon Katich was their leading run-getter but is not available, nor is Shaun Marsh, who was injured. The franchise will rely heavily on <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mitchell-marsh/1001/27022">Mitchell Marsh</a>, who is coming off a successful trip with the Australian team in Zimbabwe. 
 
Dolphins: Winners of South Africa's domestic T20 competition, Dolphins make their Champions League bow under former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk, who has previously turned out for KKR. With <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/david-miller/8001/8076">David Miller</a> opting to play for Kings XI Punjab, the Dolphins squad will miss the services of their explosive batsman, but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kyle-abbott/8001/29036">Kyle Abbott</a>'s presence in the bowling line-up gives them some international quality. 
 
Barbados Tridents: The 2014 Caribbean Premier League champions will be without <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dwayne-smith/26001/10043">Dwayne Smith</a>, Shoaib Malik and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kieron-pollard/31001/10060">Kieron Pollard</a> but still have enough quality to surprise bigger teams. Zimbabwe's hard-hitting ODI captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/elton-chigumbura/11001/11033">Elton Chigumbura</a>, James Franklin and <keyword id="1319274" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dilshan-Munaweera">Dilshan Munaweera</keyword> will bolster the batting, while Ravi Rampaul will lead the bowling attack. 
 
Kings XI Punjab: KXIP turned out to be the surprise package of the IPL and despite falling short of a maiden title, turned heads with their all-round performances. Despite an injury to Sandeep Sharma, who was a revelation with the new ball, the KXIP line-up screams quality under the astute leadership of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/george-bailey/29001/26015">George Bailey</a>. Add to that the explosive batting order comprising <keyword id="7567" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Virender-Sehwag">Virender Sehwag</keyword>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/glenn-maxwell/29001/36006">Glenn Maxwell</a>, David Miller and Thisara Perera. 
 
Hobart Hurricanes: Bailey's absence from the Hurricanes has given discarded Australian wicketkeeper-batsman <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tim-paine/1001/1088">Tim Paine</a> a chance to step up. Former Pakistan captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shoaib-malik/7001/7011">Shoaib Malik</a> will give the side important advice about playing on subcontinent surfaces, while Chennai Super Kings' pace bowling duo – Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus – would know a thing or two about their former team. Aiden Blizzard and Ben Dunk add muscle to their batting order. 
 
Cape Cobras: After falling two runs short of the Ram Slam T20 title, Cape Cobras will be out to go one better at the Champions League with a team full of South Africa's top players. Justin Ontong has at his service the class of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/hashim-amla/8001/8034">Hashim Amla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jp-duminy/8001/8053">JP Duminy</a> and Vernon Philander, and their most successful domestic spinner, Dane Piedt. Veterans Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson are sure to lift the team with their all-round skills. 
 
Chennai Super Kings: CSK are out to emulate Mumbai Indians by attempting a second title. Free from international duty, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/26001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> will look to his franchise to give his much-criticised captaincy a boost. Their all-round T20 skill under the Indian captain makes them one of the most feared sides in the competition. 
 
Besides the sure-shot contenders, four teams will contest the qualifying stages with two of them set to go through: 
 
Mumbai Indians: The defending CLT20 champions had to endure a difficult IPL but emerged late to snatch fourth place to earn a shot at a title defence. For majority of the competition, MI suffered by failing to field the right combinations and captain Rohit Sharma's absence means fellow seniors like Kieron Pollard, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/harbhajan-singh/31001/4008">Harbhajan Singh</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/lasith-malinga/31001/9036">Lasith Malinga</a> will have to step up. Star signing Corey Anderson's lack of form was a subject of great debate during the competition, but his game-changing 94 against Rajasthan Royals proved how dangerous the side could be with the big players firing. 
 
Lahore Lions: Pakistan's T20 champions had to endure a difficult passage into India with a visa delay, but on match day, their quality is set to leave an impact on the competition. The absence of Pakistani players from the IPL means the Lions will lend additional charm to the event, and the team is full of quality with six Pakistan internationals – <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ahmed-shehzad/7001/7070">Ahmed Shehzad</a>, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz and captain Mohammad Hafeez. 
 
Nothern Knights: <keyword id="13837" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daniel-Vettori">Daniel Vettori</keyword>'s withdrawal from the competition wouldn't affect the side that already boasts of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kane-williamson/6001/6071">Kane Williamson</a>, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi, the fulcrum of the revival in New Zealand cricket. Scott Styris brings in years of experience, most importantly of having played in India on several occasions. 
 
Southern Express: Without Lasith Malinga and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tillakaratne-dilshan/9001/9034">Tillakaratne Dilshan</a>, the Sri Lankan side does look weak but expect them to fight tooth and nail. The familiarity with conditions in the subcontinent will make them a force to reckon with.

CLT20: Another Shot At Winning Over The IPL Faithful

High on confidence after win in the first Test at Galle, <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword> will look to create history by sealing their first series win in <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> in 21 years as the Proteas take on the hosts in the second match, starting Thursday at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. Traditionally, the SSC pitch can easily be regarded as a sleeping beauty. However, with the series on the line and a Test required to win, Sri Lanka will hope for a surface that offers a lot of turn. They would need all the help from the pitch as the South African pacer <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dale-steyn/8001/8051">Dale Steyn</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/morne-morkel/8001/8057">Morne Morkel</a> have showed that no matter what the surface is, disciplined bowling can help in taking wickets. 
 
Sri Lanka have not lost a Test here in more than 10 years. However, on a happy hunting ground for the hosts, only four out of the last 10 Tests have produced a result in their favour, rest have been draws. Once again they will be banking heavily on their stalwarts <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kumar-sangakkara/9001/9011">Kumar Sangakkara</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahela-jayawardene/9001/9003">Mahela Jayawardene</a>. The famed duo carved the South African attack to all parts of the SSC the last time the two teams met here when the world-record stand of 624 saw Sangakkara miss out on a triple ton and Jayawardene miss out on a 400. 
 For South Africa though, only two current players from their 2006 squad will be having the horrid memories - AB de Villiers and <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword>. With a settled and hungry middle order comprising Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and De Villiers plus form of the Galle centurions Dean Elgar and <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword>, the Proteas go into the final Test as a slightly better batting force. Their bowling, however lethal in the first Test, will be tested to the limit on a deck full of runs. 
 
Team News: 
 
Sri Lanka: The hosts have made two changes in their squad. One has been form-based call of Dinesh Chandimal being dropped and uncapped wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella nearly set for debut. The other forced decision is that Shaminda Eranga misses out due to injury and Dhammika Prasad is favourite to take his spot in the playing XI. Spinners Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera will have to raise their game in order to trouble the South African batsmen. 
 
Probable XI: 1.Kaushal Silva 2. Upul Tharanga 3. <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword> 4. Mahela Jayawardene 5. Lahiru Thirimanne 6. Angelo Mathews 7. Niroshan Dickwella 8. Dilruwan Perera 9. Dammika Prasad 10. Rangana Herath 11. Suranga Lakmal 
 
Watch out for 
 
Local boy Jayawardene has some appetite for runs at this venue. With 2698 runs at an average of 77 and 10 hundreds to boot here, the former skipper has more runs than any other player on a single venue. He will be more than eager to once again make an impact as he plays his penultimate game on his choicest venue. If he scores big, Sri Lanka will garner enough wherewithal to challenge their opposition. 
 
South Africa: 
 
Their potent bowling makes them one of the biggest challenges that hosts would have faced of late, on what has usually been a placid track. At Galle, Steyn and Morkel took a total of 16 wickets with a deadly combination of pace, seam and reverse swing. They are likely to make the ball talk if and when the surface becomes abrasive. The only possible change in their ranks could be Wayne Parnell replacing Vernon Philander, who went wicketless in the first Test. With the bat, new captain Amla will have to impress upon as a leader, while opener Alviro Petersen is due a big score. 
 
Probable XI: 1. Alviro Petersen 2. Dean Elgar 3. Faf du Plessis 4. Hashim Amla 5. AB de Villiers 6. JP Duminy 7. Quinton de Kock 8. Dale Steyn 9. Vernon Philander/Wayne Parnell 10. Imran Tahir 11. Morne Morkel. 
 
Watch out for 
 
Steyn - world's best Test bowler and by some distance, is in rollicking form and by the looks of his showings this year (21 wickets in 4 games), he is on course to better his best figures in Sri Lanka, 9/99, which he took in Galle. Steyn's skill as a pacer is unparalleled and each batsmen will have to be at the top of his game to counter his penetrative style of attack. SSC will test him, but if any fast bowler one would want to bank upon to make an impact here, it would be Steyn.

2nd Test: SL Aim To Square Series On Batting-Friendly SSC

<keyword id="12340" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Hashim-Amla">Hashim Amla</keyword> may have been named <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword>'s new <keyword id="220013" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Test-skipper">Test skipper</keyword>, but another member of the South African squad has his sights set on perhaps one day captaining the country he so loves to play for. The player is <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jp-duminy/8001/8053">JP Duminy</a>, who apparently was another contender for the post that was left vacant after former skipper <keyword id="104267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Grame-Smith">Grame Smith</keyword>'s retirement. 
 
"I saw my name there. I didn't particularly throw my name in the hat but it's definitely something I have thought about - not necessarily only in Test cricket but also in different formats, maybe even for Delhi [Daredevils] sometime. Definitely in the future, I would like to step into that role," Duminy said, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo. "I've played enough cricket to know what it's about and so it's about testing myself - whether I can do the job. I am looking forward to the challenge if it comes." 
 
Duminy admitted that the departure Smith has left a huge void, but at the same point is aware of the fact that South Africa comprises many senior players in the squad - who will have a huge role to play in the coming years. 
 
"Graeme was a guy that led from the front in terms of his aura about himself and the way he conducted himself," Duminy said. "I don't think we (the current players) could fit into that role so we've got to stick together in terms of what we are trying to achieve as a senior's group. We've got a good understanding between us. We've got to focus on what we are trying to do - play good cricket and dominate the international circuit." 
 Duminy also spoke about the successive retirements of Smith and <keyword id="61954" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jacques-Kallis">Jacques Kallis</keyword> - who combine for a whopping 283 Tests. "It's a big loss for us in terms of Graeme and Jacques but the game does go on and we have an opportunity as the new breed of players to step in and fulfill that role as seniors."

Duminy Expresses His Desire Of Captaining SA In Future

For the umpteenth time, when asked about <keyword id="6354884" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Delhi-Daredevils">Delhi Daredevils</keyword>' wretched season, Kevin Pietersen replied with his most sobering assessment of the worst team in the league. "We've tried a lot of things, nothing has gone according to plan. It's about executing your skills, which we haven't done well enough. No one's here to blame anyone. If you're good enough, you'll turn it around." 

	Had he replied in Gaelic, or spoken about the merits of the Bernoulli Equation, it would have had a similarly hollow tone. Those were the words of a beaten man, left to crinkle his nose at the stench of a rotting corpse of a side.
 

	Everything about Daredevils is in shambles. Their campaign began with Pietersen - acquired for Rs 9 crore - miss the initial few games due to injury. The player to get a look-in, Ross Taylor, struggled to dominate with the bat. In the midst of a poor start, Daredevils lost fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile to injury early in the season. Then went Saurabh Tiwary with a shoulder injury. Around this time, Daredevils released three uncapped players, one of which was batsman Milind Kumar, the distant but only local connect the franchise had. Whatever changes were made, results were not forthcoming. They have been poor with the bat, ball, in the field and in their thinking.
 Much has been written about the management holding back <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword> and Kedar Jadhav, the two batsmen with the highest averages and strike-rates this season, and how denying them more deliveries to face has resulted in sub-standard totals. Daredevils' problems are deeper than that. They just aren't ticking. Thursday's match in Ahmedabad against Rajasthan Royals cannot be termed a contest. It was an embarrassment. Pietersen's decision to field came a cropper as RR piled up their highest total this season, 201 for 6, to which Daredevils replied with 139 for 9, losing half their wickets inside ten overs. With qualification for the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> 7 play-offs out of the question, you could have expected DD to make a statement, play with some freedom and express themselves. It didn't happen. What panned out was a yawn-inducing mismatch. <keyword id="172496" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Shukla">Rahul Shukla</keyword>, after going for 41 in the previous match, conceded 44 from his four. Siddarth Kaul went for 34 in three. Manoj Tiwary, who rarely bowls, conceded 28 in his two overs, one of which was the 19th of RR's innings that cost 17. On the same track on which Ajinkya Rahane cruised, Kevon Cooper teased, Sanju Samson belted 40 off 25 and James Faulkner finished with 23 off eight balls, Daredevils made 139 for 9. Only one batsman crossed 17; six made single-digit scores. Daredevils' entire season has been a colossal waste of batting talent, with <keyword id="6355316" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dinesh-Karthik">Dinesh Karthik</keyword> (the second most expensive purchase of the IPL auction at Rs 12.5 crores) repeatedly falling to leg-side heaves regardless of the match situation, an IPL pro in <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword> failing to make an impact, Pietersen not playing a single convincing innings and the domestic pool not stepping up, barring Jadhav. 

	Compare this to RR's success. Rahane has 316 runs this season, which is more than Pietersen, Taylor and Mayank Agarwal have managed. When you consider that Karun Nair, a rookie domestic batsman playing his first IPL, has scored significantly more than Pietersen, you get a sense of why Daredevils are languishing at the bottom of the table.
 

	This is not to take away from how well Royals bowled. Dhawal Kulkarni was accurate and probing, Faulkner struck in the only over he bowled early on, Pravin Tambe dismissed the dangerous Duminy and Rajat Bhatia prised out two important wickets with his canny dibbly-dobblers. The sucker ball to get Taylor caught and bowled was a wicket Bhatia will cherish.
 With seven wins from 11 matches, Rajasthan remain at third on the points table and look poised to make it to the play-offs, which leaves <keyword id="6354467" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kolkata-Knight-Riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</keyword>, Sunrisers Hyderabad and <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> in a three-way fight to take the last spot in the top four. Daredevils, like Mumbai Indians, have only pride to play for. But if they keep playing like they did against Royals, even that might be too much to expect.

IPL: Delhi Daredevils' Wretched Downward Spiral Continues

The third week of IPL 7 in India was probably more exciting than the previous two weeks in the UAE thanks to some great individual performances and a big run-in between <keyword id="61632" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kieron-Pollard">Kieron Pollard</keyword> and Mitchell Starc. Here, gocricket.com chronicles the eye-catching events that unfolded over the course of last week. 
 
Tambe spins magic with first hat-trick this season 
 At the age of 42, <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> legspinner Tambe is having the time of his life. Look at his performances in the tournament from day one, he has been nothing short of brilliant. However, this week Tambe took his game to another level and helped RR register a win from an unlikely position against Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad on May 5. Chasing 171 to win, the Gautam Gambhir-led KKR were cruising at one time at 121 for 0 in 14 overs before RR captain <keyword id="6378477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shane-Watson">Shane Watson</keyword> took three wickets in an over to provide a big opening for his team. However, it was Tambe's hat-trick in the next over that actually put the nail in KKR's coffin. The wickets of Manish Pandey, <keyword id="18938" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yusuf-Pathan">Yusuf Pathan</keyword> and Ryan ten Doeschate broke KKR's back badly and they ended up losing the match by 10 runs. Tambe's performance this season has proved that age has little significance nowadays in cricket and that it's fitness and willingness to do well that shapes a player's career. 
 
de Villiers breaks run-drought in style 
 It was long coming. AB de Villiers had an ordinary season prior to <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword>'s game against <keyword id="1494441" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> on May 4 and when Virat Kohli's men were reduced to 59 for 4 in 10.1 overs chasing 159 to win, it appeared the match was as good as gone for RCB. Against all odds, de Villiers launched a rearguard action and smashed 89* off 41 balls with the help of six fours and eight sixes to see his side home in the last over. While de Villiers punished all SRH bowlers, his face-off with fellow South African and arguably the greatest bowler in the world at present, <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword>, will be remembered for many years to come. In the penultimate over of the innings, de Viliers took 24 runs off Steyn, hitting three sixes and a four to turn the match on its head. 
 
Pollard-Starc altercation 
 The game between <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword> and <keyword id="12643" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers">Royal Challengers</keyword> Bangalore on May 6 will long be remembered for an ugly altercation between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc. The run-in - towards the end of MI's innings - that saw the West Indian and the Australian almost come to blows, influenced the outcome of the match a great deal as MI took 54 runs off last 20 balls, thanks largely to captain <keyword id="13937" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma">Rohit Sharma</keyword>'s 59 off 35 balls, to post a mammoth 187 for 5. 
 
The drama began in the 17th over when Starc used some pretty choice language against Pollard after beating him with a bouncer. The West Indian disdainfully signed to Starc to go away, and off the next ball backed away from the crease at the last minute. Starc, instead of stopping himself, followed the West Indian on the legside and almost hit him, leaving a seething Pollard to throw his bat towards the bowler in a menacing way. 
 
However, the West Indian had the last laugh when he took a simple catch at extra cover to send Starc (5) back to the pavilion off the bowling of Lasith Malinga. Not just that, earlier in the match he had also accounted for the dangerous Yuvraj Singh's run out (6) using his footballing skills to great effect. 
 
The IPL Governing Council later on Wednesday fined both Pollard and Starc for breaching its code of conduct. 
 
Maxwell at it once again 
 Orange Cap holder Glenn Maxwell (435 runs in seven matches) fuelled his legend further smashing 90 off 38 balls in Kings XI Punjab's 44-run win over <keyword id="13886" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword> on May 7. The Australian put on view the switch-hit several times hitting eight sixes and six fours and it surely was his innings that made the difference. His approach against R Ashwin was particularly impressive. The India offspinner is normally very effective bowling around the wicket, but not against Maxwell on Wednesday evening. The Big Show smashed back-to-back sixes in the 11th over against the India offspinner who looked befuddled not knowing where he should land the ball, bowling two wides to boot. Things changed drastically after Ashwin's over, with KXIP scoring 162 in the last 10 overs to finish on 231 for 4. With the win against MS Dhoni's men, KXIP made it back to the top of the table with six wins in seven matches, while CSK go down to second after their second defeat in eight matches. 
 
Delhi Daredevils' sorry state 
 Delhi Daredevils took the wooden spoon last season and looking at their performance so far it seems another is on their way. The team under Kevin Pietersen looks absolutely spineless, especially in the bowling department. DD's defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on May 7 was their sixth in eight matches and the way Pietersen ran himself out tells a great deal about his current state of mind. The former England batsman tapped a Shakib-al-Hasan delivery to offside and ran away for a single straight away, head down and without looking at non-striker batsman <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword>. Wicketkeeper <keyword id="2231057" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Robin-Uthapa">Robin Uthapa</keyword> charged towards the ball, picked it up and ran Pietersen out in a flash with Vijay shaking his head in disbelief at the other end. 
 Pietersen's captaincy is also under the scanner for repeatedly not bringing the in-form duo of <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword> and Kedar Jadhav up the batting order. Fast bowler Mohammad Shami is another big concern for DD. He is one of the promising bowlers in the country but his performance so far in the tournament is worrying. Four wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 8.34 don't justify his talent. At present, it's hard to imagine how DD are going to turn their fortunes around.

IPL Week 3 Review: Tambe, De Villiers, Maxwell Steal The Show

Despite Delhi Daredevils' forgettable performance in <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> 7, one man who stands tall amidst the rubble is JP Duminy. Duminy, who is DD's leading run scorer with 357 runs in 12 matches, has accepted that in spite of having some very good players in the team, it was their failure to perform as a unit which hurt them the most. 
 
With lot of talk centred on Duminy's own batting position, the South African allrounder revealed that the team always showed faith in his capabilities and he was enjoying the responsibility. "I have enjoyed it all. I have enjoyed finishing games here as it is not something I have done too often at the international level. It was nice for me to get that role and do well to justify it. I do take a lot of confidence out of it," Duminy was quoted as saying by iplt20.com. Duminy's comments came after being probed about <keyword id="12706" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Gary-Kirsten">Gary Kirsten</keyword>'s insistence on the batsman coming down the order to finish games. 
 DD succumbed to their seventh successive defeat on Monday evening, losing to <keyword id="13883" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kings-XI-Punjab">Kings XI Punjab</keyword> by four wickets at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi. Duminy, however, chose to talk about the positives from the last night game when he said, "Today seeing <keyword id="6355316" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dinesh-Karthik">Dinesh Karthik</keyword> and <keyword id="9231" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kevin-Pietersen">Kevin Pietersen</keyword> do as well as they did, was great. We will be the first ones to admit that we haven't performed to the best of our abilities." 
 
He also refused to put blame on any single person or reason, when asked to put on a finger on what went wrong. "It is a very difficult question to answer. It has been very disappointing to have such a dismal season. As you mentioned, we have some very good players, but we haven't fired as a group. Our batting and bowling hasn't quite clicked simultaneously in a game, which has resulted in our downfall," Duminy said. "But tonight, I thought we fought hard and took the game to the last over from a position where they needed only seven runs an over to win. To fight back from there was a good sign, and that's all we ask off ourselves in the last three games. We cannot control the results, but we can give our best in all the remaining games." 
 
After posting 164 for 7 in their 20 overs courtesy Dinesh Karthik's 44-ball 69, DD made KXIP sweat in the chase, but lost the tie in the final over of the match. Duminy insisted that they would like to go on a high and try their best in the remaining games. 
 
"Even though this season has been really bad for us, we can still win the remaining two games and go out on a high. We have, not for a second, taken things for granted. We know we are privileged to be here, playing in this tournament and representing the Delhi Daredevils. And it's our responsibility to put in the good performances," he said.

IPL: It Is A Collective Failure, Says Duminy

<keyword id="351" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yuvraj-Singh">Yuvraj Singh</keyword> smashed a 29-ball 68* with the help of nine sixes as <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> (186 for 4) saw off Delhi Daredevils (170 for 7) by 16 runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday night. With their fourth win in 10 matches, RCB kept their remote play-off hopes alive, while DD suffered their eighth defeat in 10 matches to keep scraping the bottom of the barrel. 

	Ever since the World T20 final defeat against Sri Lanka where Yuvraj scored a 21-ball 11, he has been at the centre of criticism with many questioning his batting credentials. In a quest to restore his good name, the left-hander started his IPL campaign on a great note, scoring a match-winning 29-ball 52 against DD in RCB's first match. Despite a great start to the season, Yuvraj all of a sudden waned and so did the fortunes of the team.
 

	However, in the last game against Rajasthan Royals, the left-hander made 83 off 38 balls and took four wickets to show first real signs of his returning to form. On Tuesday, Yuvraj continued from where he had left off against RR, putting DD bowlers to the sword. Against Shane Watson's men, Yuvraj's efforts had gone up the spout but against DD, the team won, erasing the bitterness of the defeat in the last game.
 

	Yuvraj joined AB de Villiers at 93 for 3 in 12.3 overs and showed positive intent straight away, scoring a four off his third ball. The duo had added 132 against RR and looked set to do another similar act. However, de Villiers failed this time losing his stumps to Kaul for 33.
 An undeterred Yuvraj hit legspinner Imran Tahir for three consecutive sixes in the 17th over to bring plenty of momentum to the RCB innings. Yuvraj continued his assault, sending Mohammad Shami and Siddarth Kaul over the fence in the 18th and 19th overs respectively. In the last over bowled by <keyword id="172496" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Shukla">Rahul Shukla</keyword>, Yuvraj showed his most devastating side, hitting four successive sixes. The over yielded 27 runs in all. 

	Yuvraj also bowled an economical over towards the end - 16th over of the innings - giving away just four runs and hampered DD's momentum a great deal; the visitors needed 68 off 30 balls before Yuvraj's over. He kept the dangerous JP Duminy quiet. Considering the margin of the win and Duminy's 30-ball 48, the over was very important in the context of the game.
 Sri Lanka great <keyword id="26689" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Muttiah-Muralitharan">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword> also showed some glimmers of his past skills and got rid of <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword> whom DD had brought back for this match in place of Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Hadn't wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel dropped Mayank Agarwal in the third over, Murali's second, the Sri Lankan would've had his second victim in as many overs. Murali, along with Mitchell Starc, who cleaned up Quinton de Kock for six in the second over, ensured there weren't even distant hopes of a win for the visitors. However, Mayank Agarwal (31), Kevin Pietersen (33), Kedar Jadhav (37) and Duminy combined to make a match of it but Yuvraj's assault with the bat eventually turned out to be difference. Murali returned with 2 for 25, <keyword id="6355316" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dinesh-Karthik">Dinesh Karthik</keyword> being his second victim. 

	Earlier, after the match was delayed for 70 minutes due to rain, DD captain Pietersen won the toss and put the hosts in to bat. RCB struggled in the first half of their innings but Yuvraj's extraordinary power-hitting in the next helped the team fetch 71 runs in the last four overs. Yuvraj and Sachin Rana (15) added an unbeaten 79 for the fifth wicket.
 

	Jharkhand fast bowler Shukla got the sought-after breakthrough in the sixth over when he removed Chris Gayle for 22. The West Indian was looking in great touch, manifested by two big sixes off Shami and Duminy, before chopping the ball onto his stumps as he charged down the track.
 

	RCB captain Virat Kohli's lean patch continued as he succumbed to an unnecessary run-out for 10 off the first ball of the eighth over, Shukla again playing a part. The ball from legspinner Tahir took an inside edge in the direction of fine leg where the sturdy fast bowler was keeping vigil; a rocket throw from Shukla reached wicketkeeper de Kock who removed the bails in a flash and Kohli found himself short of crease.
 

	de Villiers joined a cautious Parthiv Patel and both began the repair work. At the start of their partnership, there were only singles and doubles. Things changed for RCB in the 11th over as Patel picked up two boundaries off Tahir. Buoyed by the over, de Villiers took 18 runs off the next over bowled by medium pacer Kaul with the help of two fours and a six.
 

	The 49-run stand was broken by Shami's slower ball in 13th over. The diminutive left-hander got deceived and gave a simple catch to Karthik at point for 29. Thereafter it was all Yuvraj's show.
 

	Brief score: Royal Challengers Bangalore 186 for 4 in 20 overs (Yuvraj 68*; Shami 1/31) beat Delhi Daredevils 170 for 7 in 20 overs (Duminy 48; Muralitharan 2/25) by 16 runs.

Yuvraj's Sparkle Breaks RCB's Losing Streak

Dubai, The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket (<keyword id="6354756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bcci" source="Orion">BCCI</keyword>) have joined forces to unveil a new campaign ahead of the <keyword id="6974355" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="icc-mens-cricket-world-cup" source="Orion">ICC Men's Cricket World Cup</keyword> in India later this year. The 'It Takes One Day' campaign was launched in Mumbai on Thursday just 77 days out from the first match at this year's World Cup, with the campaign aiming to connect fans across the world to the 'Navarasa' which symbolises the nine emotions fans most commonly experience during a cricket match. A film featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan - along with renowned cricketers JP Duminy, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik, current World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan, <keyword id="26689" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="muttiah-muralitharan" source="Orion">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword>, <keyword id="86138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jonty-rhodes" source="Orion">Jonty Rhodes</keyword> and Jemimah Rodrigues - was released in conjunction with the campaign launch and showcases many decorated moments in the history of the Men's Cricket World Cup. The campaign displays the journey of raw emotions experienced by both players and fans collectively over One Day, with the film connecting the nine 'Navarasa' emotions - anguish, bravery, glory, joy, passion, power, pride, respect and wonder - and explores how it takes one day to experience this rollercoaster. ICC CEO Geoff Allardice was thrilled to launch the campaign and is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5. "This campaign is a true celebration of One Day International cricket and builds a sense of anticipation of what we can expect when the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 returns to India. The emotions, or Navarasa, are felt by fans and players alike during One Day and this campaign brings to life that shared experience," Allardice said in a statement. "Cricket and cinema are at the heart of Indian psyche, and we've infused the two to create appeal far and wide. The involvement of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan together with an exceptional line-up of cricketers will only help us deepen our connect in this country, while captivating the attention worldwide." BCCI secretary Jay Shah echoed Allardice's sentiments. "The ODI format holds an unparalleled significance with its ability to deliver thrilling moments, intense battles, and unpredictable outcomes that will truly captivate fans globally. As we embark on this journey, we are proud to see the launch of the Men's Cricket World Cup campaign and create real excitement for the event across the world," he said. "We are fully committed to creating a world-class event that will witness the birth of a new generation of heroes, providing fans with unforgettable experiences and we believe the campaign does this. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India will be a celebration of cricketing excellence, cultural diversity, and the unifying spirit of the game." --IANS cs

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