BY SUNIT JANGIR

It was a great game of cricket at Kotla where home side came out on top after 4 runs win over Rajasthan Royal on May 2. Daredevils were badly needed this win as they won only two games in their previous eight games.##"It was a very important win for us. This wicket was very good and even 200 was very less. Bowlers kept their nerve and we came out strong. I dropped the catch but we won the match. We should look forward," said Iyer in the presentation ceremony.##Rishabh Pant who played a big role in DD's win, has been sensational throughout this IPL. Prithvi Shaw also has been in good touch. His 47 off 25 balls was just an example.##Iyer added," Start that Shaw is giving is amazing and Pant's role in the middle is pivotal. It is important for us to win all the matches. Ponting is positive guy and no one is thinking negative in the dressing room,"##When he was asked about difficulties while bowling in such conditions##"It is difficult to bowl with ground being small, it is really tough to control when batsman Start hitting,"##On the other hand, Trent Boult has also been excellent with ball for DD. He picked two wickets against RR and become leading wicket-taker in this IPL.##"To get few matches and test my skill set is good fun. It is a learning curve. Obviously, trying to back me and trying to pick brains of some people. We are off to Hyderabad tomorrow. We will see how it goes there. We are taking it game by game. Pant is a quality and fearless cricketer. He goes out there and plays his shots," Boult said while receiving Purple cap.##"It is going great for me. The win is more important for me. No added responsibility for being the retained player. I am using some different tricks to counter the bowlers. We are being positive because we know if we lose one more game we are out of the tournament. The intent is same in every match we play," Pant said while receiving Man of the match.##Delhi Daredevils looking more positive than they were in earlier matches. This might be the effect of Iyer captaincy but DD will take this. With 5 more games to go, DD have to win all five matches to qualify for the playoffs.##For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.##Thanks For Reading.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Delhi Daredevils kept their hopes alive to beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 runs (DLS) at Kotla, Delhi on Wednesday (May 2). It was 18-overs per side clash. Under the pump, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant's cameos gave the hosts a commanding 196 for 6 in 17.1 overs, before rain struck again. Chasing revised target of 151 off 12 overs, Jos Buttler threatened Daredevils to make it two in two but Trent Boult kept his head to defend 15 runs in last over and gave DD only third win of this season.##It was Rajasthan Royals who won the toss and opted Delhi to bat first. DD couldn't start well as Munro gone off first ball he faced. Munro's wicket brought Iyer on crease. Him and Shaw put on a 73-run stand off 40 balls. Before that it was Prithvi Shaw who gave the momentum to DD's innings, hammering quick 47 off 25 (4 fours & 4 sixes). He take on Kulkarni in his second over and scored 16 runs in that over. Jaydev Unadkat was next in firing line, hit for a couple of boundaries and a six in his first over by Shaw. Shaw hit Shreyas Gopal for a six but trying to hit another he handed a catch in next ball. He missed out a well deserved half century.##Daredevils needed to kept the momentum Shaw had launched. And the in-form duo of Pant and Iyer not only kept the momentum but also gave Daredevils a mammoth 196 for 6 in 17.1 overs before the rain stopped the play again. The pair added 92 runs off 43 balls. Pant hammered 67 off 29 balls. He played with 360° angle to get his fastest T20 fifty, that came off 23 balls. Iyer also reached to his fourth fifty in this IPL off 34 balls. The third wicket partnership along with Vijay Shankar cameo, ensured that they had enough on the board. Shankar remained not out on 17 off 6 balls.##To chase this target down, RR needed Jos Buttler to fire. He didn't disappoint and welcomed Avesh Khan, Liam Plunket, and Amit Mishra- with a six each until he hammered 18-ball fifty for himself- his first of the season. He particularly take on Avesh Khan where he hit him for 3 sixes and a four. He scored 67 off 26 balls before he stumped by Pant of Mishra.##However, D'Arcy Short kept RR in chase with flurry of sixes to part-timer Glenn Maxwell. The bowling change almost backfired with Short hammering the first three balls for sixes. But Maxwell had the last laugh as he got him on next ball. Short after slow start, went on to scored 44 off 25 balls.##Trent boult was star with ball for DD. He picked 2 big wickets of Samson and Stokes in a thrilling contest. He successfully defend 15 runs in last over despite Iyer dropped Karishanppa Gowtham and went for four in such crucial stage.##Boult conceded 26 runs in his 3 overs and awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant spell of bowling. Rishabh Pant received Orange Cap (Leading run getter).##For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.##Thanks For Reading.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Royal Challengers Bangalore were there again. But this time, unlike previous games, RCB's bowlers put on a commendable show to give RCB a much-needed win on Tuesday (May 1). They were in the same situation from where everything went dramatically away from them in each of the previous seven games.## "Jeez, we needed that win. Very important win at such important stage of the tournament. In the last couple of games, we were picking up. Tonight was an occasion we need that two points. This is the push we needed. We might have spoken about too many things in the past. To the bowlers, we said 'back your gut feel to bowl yorkers, take your field,' to confuse them, doesn't help too much. Everyone bowled really well," said Virat in the presentation ceremony.##RCB's batsmen proved their worth again. A collective performance from the top order and then de Grandhomme's late blitz give bowlers 10 runs extra to defend.##"Colin's over with the bat. The one over that JP bowled and Manan targeted, that was game-changing. Manan took the game away from them. We needed impact performance to get those two points. We had good intent, results are around the corner. The result went our way. We should take this confidence forward," added Virat.##While RCB were batting, MI tried a lot of variations. Cutters and slower ones used in abundance. That made stroke-making extremely tough.## RCB discussed the impact that those variations had on their batting during the innings break.##"Yeah, it was discussed. First and foremost we went to our strongest skill set and that was trying to ball swing, "Tim Southee said.##He said,"Nice to finally get a win on the board. We've come close in the last two games. There was a little bit of swing, which you have never seen here earlier games. I think we scraped through to a good score. Last over was crucial. Colin's innings gave us the momentum. We still had to bowl well to defend this score. The belief's still good. We have come close, nice to get over the line. It's nice to get a win under the belt,"##Meanwhile, Time Southee awarded Man Of The Match. He led RCB bowling to defend that total.##It's taken a month, but RCB bowlers finally reached a point where they know what redemption feels like. RCB still has the too long way to go but after this win, their confidence only will boost.##For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.##Thanks For Reading

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians by 14 runs to register their third win in VIVO IPL 2018 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Tuesday (May 1). Thanks to some excellent bowling by Mohammed Siraj and Tim Southee in the death. With this third win in eight matches, RCB moved up to 5th spot in points table.##So near yet so far##After losing two close games, RCB were desperately needed this win to stay alive in this competition.##After winning the toss, MI opted to bowl first on a wicket which was on a slower side. RCB off to a decent start. However, MI put pressure on both the openers with accurate line and length. But Manan Vohra hit two fours and as many sixes to Duminy to break the shekels in fourth over of the innings. After putting 38-runs stand for the first wicket, Quinton de Kock got out to McClenaghan on the last ball of the 5th over. Manan Vohra scored 45 off 31 balls (2 fours & 4 sixes) before he got LBW out to young Mayank Markande. After losing 61 for 2, Virat Kohli and McCullum built a partnership and put pressure back on MI. The duo put on a 60-runs standoff 35 balls for the third wicket. RCB were looking good at 139 for 3 after 17 overs with Kohli still at the crease. But Hardik Pandya nearly took the game away from RCB by picking 3 wickets in 18th overs. RCB lost 4 wickets in space of 4 runs. Thanks to de Grandhomme whose 23* off 10 balls lift RCB to 167.##Defending 167, RCB put pressure straightaway on MI by picking 3 wickets on 21 inside 4 overs. MI couldn't recover from this and despite Hardik Pandya's second fifty of IPL, fell short 14 runs from the target. Umesh Yadav and Southee were the stars with the ball for RCB. Umesh Conceded 29 runs and picked two wickets in 4 overs. Whereas Southee was more economical and conceded only 25 runs and took 2 wickets in 4 overs.## Turning point of the match##The last over of RCB's innings, in which de Grandhomme scored 24 runs including 3 big sixes. That over proved to be the turning point of the match as MI were needed 25 to win in last over and managed only 10 runs.##Hardik Pandya-lone warrior for MI##On a day where MI's top order collapsed, Hardik Pandya stood out for them. His 50 off 42 balls, kept MI in the chase till the last over. Earlier while bowling, it was Hardik who was responsible for RCB's middle over collapse where he picked three wickets in 18th over of RCB's innings and restricted them on 167. However he couldn't win for MI, but his all-round performance surely won the hearts of many.##Tim Southee awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant bowling.##For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.##Thanks For Reading.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Delhi Daredevils back to winning streak after three consecutive losses, to handed Kolkata Knight Riders a massive 55-run defeat at a packed Kotla, on Friday (April 27). Thanks to Newly-crowned Shreyas Iyer, who led from the front with blitzing 93* off 40 balls and 18-year old Prithvi Shaw, who set the stage for Iyer with classical 62 off 44 balls. This was the second win for DD in 7 matches and placed themselves in 7th spot with 4 points.##New captain, new hopes for DD##It was the first game for Shreyas Iyer as a captain, and he couldn't ask for any better start than this. Firstly, he himself led DD to a massive 219 for 4 in 20 overs and later on, bowlers did the job for DD by restricting KKR on 164 for 9 in 20 overs.##Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir(DD's regular captain) stepped down from DD's captaincy two days ago. And named Iyer their new captain. He didn't disappointed with his performance and they will be hoping that they carried this performance into next matches also.##How good were Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer while batting##Phenomenal, after winning the toss, Dinesh Karthik opted Delhi to bat first. Shaw and Munro gave DD a solid start by putting 59-run stand for the first wicket. Munro was more aggressive in first six overs. He scored quick fire 33 off 18 balls (4 fours & two sixes)before he bowled out by Shivam Mavi. Munro's wicket brought Iyer to the crease and put on a 68-run partnership off 42 balls with Shaw.##Prithvi Shaw's six over mid-on to Mitchell Johnson grabbed the attention of commentators. He hit two sixes to Johnson and scored 62 off 42 balls (7 fours & 2 sixes)before he bowled out by Piyush Chawla. Iyer scored 32 off 22 balls in partnership with Shaw. But once Shaw fell, Iyer sifted his gears to bring up his next 61 runs off just 18 balls. He collected 28-runs (Including 4 sixes and 1 four) in last over of Mavi. Iyer hit 10 sixes and 3 fours in his knock. His partnership (73 off 31 balls)with Maxwell (27 off 18 balls) ensured that DD post a massive total.##Problems for KKR while chasing##After conceding too many runs, the one thing KKR needed to chase this target down was to maximize their powerplay. Narine did for a while by hitting 3 sixes and a four. But losing Lynn, Uthappa, and Rana in cheaply, didn't help their cause. They lost 4 wickets in the powerplay. Young Shubman Gill and Andre Russell threatened DD for a while. The duo put on a 64-run stand off 36 balls before Gill run out in trying to take the second run. He made 37 off 29 balls. After wicket of Gill, Russell was trying to take strike as much as possible but the pressure of dot balls got Russell out. He was bowled out by Avesh Khan after scored 44 off 30 balls (3 fours & 4 sixes). KKR could manage only 164 for 9 in 20 overs. Amit Mishra and Avesh Khan were star with ball and grabbed two wickets each.##Achievement for the Shaw and Iyer##Prithvi Shaw becomes joint youngest player to get his maiden IPL fifty (18 year & 169 days).##93* by Shreyas Iyer - the highest score by any player on captaincy debut.##Iyer awarded Man Of The Match for his captains knock.##For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.##Thanks For Reading.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Gautam Gambhir has stepped down from Delhi Daredevils captaincy. He took this decision after DD lost five out of six matches so far. Iyer will take charge from Gambhir for rest of the IPL 2018.##Gambhir, the two-time IPL champion, was brought by Delhi Daredevils in players auction earlier this year. But he couldn't repeat his former Franchise winning story for Delhi Daredevils as DD found themselves at bottom of the points table.## "I take full responsibility for the position we are in. And looking at the position, I have decided to step down from captaincy, I still feel that we have the team to turn things around this IPL, "Gambhir said while addressing Media.##However, Gambhir's form too has been subjecting of concern in this IPL. Despite scoring only fifty-plus score in the first match, he has scored 15,8,3, and 4 in next four matches.##"Absolutely it is my decision. I was the one who initiated the meeting with team owners. I thought that I haven't contributed enough and at the same time, the performance of the team. I had to take the responsibility being the leader of the ship. So I feel that it was the right time.##We are very much in the competition. It was absolutely my decision, no pressure from the franchise. They have been absolutely supportive of it. Sometimes when your conscience says it's right time you just take that call," added Gambhir. ## (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); ## Gambhir's replacement as a captain, Iyer will be the 11th captain to lead DD in IPL. He has been with Delhi for a while and said that he is looking forward to taking the challenges," I just got the news today afternoon and I wasn't thinking much about it. I'm loving the responsibility they have put upon me and also the faith they have shown to me. I love challenges and it's a great opportunity for me to prove myself and get the team to the highest possible level,"#Ricky Ponting, DD coach said that Iyer would not be under any kind of pressure.##"It's my job, it's Gambhir's job, and it's all the players'job to make Shreyas job as easy as possible on the field. There is no extra pressure on Shreyas at all. He is going to play the way he's been playing. He ha's been playing terrifically well and that's what we want to create the team. But it's just a great challenge that we've got and with a new young captain, we are all excited to see how it works out for us in the next few weeks," Ponting added.##This is the big blow to DD's expectations, who haven't yet featured in IPL final. Their best run was in 2008 and 2009 when they reached the semi-finals. DD have been very poor since last two IPL, where they reduced to the sixth position. Now they will be hoping that with the new captain, their fortune will also change.##For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.##Thanks For Reading.