Nepal Dominates Hobart Hurricanes Academy with 180-7 in Top End T20

Nepal Dominates Hobart Hurricanes Academy with 180-7 in Top End T20

Kathmandu, August 19 – In the 18th game of the Top End T20 tournament held at Cazalys Arena in Palmerston, Nepal scored an impressive total of 180 for seven against Hobart Hurricanes Academy in their 20-over innings. After choosing to bat first following a successful toss, Nepal’s inning experienced moments of momentum as players from different positions contributed effectively.

Kushal Bhurtel started the scoring with an aggressive 27 from 20 balls, hitting four boundaries before being caught by Marcus Bean. Aasif Sheikh then contributed 29 off 28 deliveries, though he was run out by Nivethan Radhakrishnan when the score was 77-2, which disrupted the flow of play. Bhim Sharki scored 18 runs, while team captain Rohit Paudel was bowled for 9 as Nepal’s opening batsmen found it difficult to maintain consistent progress.

Nepal’s star performer was Aarif Sheikh, who scored 33 runs from 26 deliveries. Alongside lower-order batsman Lokesh Bam, who stayed not out with 25 runs from only 11 balls, they helped Nepal surpass the 180-run target.

For Hobart Hurricanes Academy, Radhakrishnan was the pick of the bowlers with 2-20 in his four overs. Raf MacMillan also claimed two wickets for 43 runs, while Marcus Bean, Bradley Hope, and Gabe Bell took one wicket each, providing some breakthroughs at crucial intervals.

The Nepalese men’s senior squad suffered their third consecutive loss in the series during an encounter held in Darwin, Australia, on Monday, when they were beaten by Melbourne Stars Academy by 31 runs after aiming to score 176 runs at TIO Stadium.

Homecoming Hero: GT’s Prasidh Krishna Eyes RCB Showdown in Bangalore

Homecoming Hero: GT’s Prasidh Krishna Eyes RCB Showdown in Bangalore

Bengaluru (Karnataka), India, April 1 (ANI): Before facing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at their home ground in Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans’ bowler Prasidh Krishna shared his joy about returning to play at this familiar venue in domestic cricket. He also mentioned feeling some initial apprehension when making his comeback to the league following an absence of two years because of injuries.

Impressed by his recent performance of taking 2/18 off four overs against Mumbai Indians (MI) in a victorious match, Krishna aims to regain his best form as they face RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. This comes after Krishnas’ prior two matches following his most recent Indian Premier League (IPL) outings from 2022, where he claimed 19 wickets across 17 fixtures for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), maintaining an economy rate of 29.00.

Krishna aims to provide his teammates with insight into what life is like in Bengaluru, a city where he has spent considerable time playing cricket.

“Returning home to play in the same stadium where we grew up competing is fantastic,” Prasidh stated according to ESPNCricinfo.

“The inaugural match in Bangalore is also thrilling, and we’re eager to see what it will bring. The team is enthusiastic about the way the tournament has begun. We’ve performed several aspects impressively and are working on improving certain areas. Overall, it promises to be an exhilarating experience,” he concluded.

Prasidh acknowledged feeling anxious about returning to the IPL, yet his rigorous fitness regimen following prolonged struggles with back and quadriceps injuries has left him in excellent physical condition, thus making him feel more prepared.

“No matter how hard I attempt to convince myself that this is merely another competition, just another match, I can’t help but sense my return after several years, particularly since I haven’t participated in many T20 games over the past couple of years,” Prasidh stated.

The tempo of the game evolved between 2022 and 2025, so adapting took some time. However, this is just how the sport goes; it constantly progresses, and one must stay ahead. Fortunately, my physical condition hasn’t altered significantly. I’ve had the chance to play some cricket recently during India’s Test series in Australia in 2024-25, and fortunately, my body allows me to perform as needed.

“After playing many matches here, you get some sense of what the pitch might be like. However, regardless of your knowledge, success ultimately depends on how well you perform that day. It also relies on the flow of the game’s momentum. If you can effectively implement your strategy, you’ll likely find yourself performing strongly for much of the match,” he ended his statement.

Squads:

Gujarat Titans Team Members: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Shahrukh Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Nishant Sindhu, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, Karim Janat

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team includes players such as Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandge, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Romario Shepherd, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, and Swastik Chikara. (ANI)

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“Middle Over Logjam “: RCB Cricket Boss Bobat Speaks on Team’s Toughest Scheduling Challenges

“Middle Over Logjam “: RCB Cricket Boss Bobat Speaks on Team’s Toughest Scheduling Challenges

Bengaluru (Karnataka), India, April 1 (ANI): As the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) gear up for their inaugural match at home this IPL season, RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, highlighted the challenges posed by the extensive traveling required over the coming three weeks. He also conveyed his team’s enthusiasm about playing in front of their local fans following two impressive wins in away games.

On Wednesday, RCB will play their inaugural match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Following their commanding victory over the reigning champions, KKR, and breaking a 17-game losing streak with a win against CSK—the five-time title holders—RCB appears to be a cohesive team. They have showcased impressive batting and bowling displays without depending solely on star players.

Before the match during the pre-game press conference, Bobat mentioned that it feels strange not having played a game there yet and expressed his delight at returning to Bengaluru.

“I’m thrilled to return to Bangalore. After playing two matches without being here yet, it’s great to finally have this opportunity. We’re extremely excited to compete in front of our supporters. Our edge will come from the ambiance generated by these passionate fans; undoubtedly, their presence will be quite daunting for the opposing team, especially with all the noise they’ll bring,” he stated.

Referring to beginning with two victories on the road, Bobat mentioned that following these impressive displays, the squad is eager to put on a good show for their supporters at home.

He mentioned that they aimed to make an impact early in the initial few matches since facing two prominent teams with impressive home track records presents a significant test. They intend to leverage this as motivation for the team. Likewise, they wish to return and inspire the squad to deliver an entertaining performance in front of their supporters.

As the squad prepares for trips to Mumbai, Jaipur, Punjab, and Delhi amidst their home games over the next few days, Bobat acknowledged that such extensive traveling could make it difficult to maintain player freshness and engagement with the team’s desired playing style.

“You simply focus on what’s right in front of you. Therefore, I don’t consider the schedule to be a major concern. The real challenge lies in our extensive traveling requirements. Our beginning phase has been relatively calm and tranquil, followed by a pleasant and relaxing conclusion; however, the core segment is tightly packed. After this match, we will face about seven matches within 22 days, including seven travel days. This creates an extremely busy timetable. Thus, my primary interest revolves around keeping the players energized throughout this duration and ensuring they can continue performing as desired,” he stated.

Regarding the match in Bangalore, Bobat mentioned that the squad boasts a “strong batting and adept bowling” lineup ready to face the challenge of playing at a high-scoring ground such as Bangalore, known for its shorter boundaries.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team roster includes: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandge, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Romario Shepherd, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara

The Gujarat Titans team roster includes players such as Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper), Shahrukh Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Nishant Sindhu, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, and Karim Janat. (ANI)

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Lessons from Every Match: KKR All-Rounder Ramandeep Singh Analyzes Team’s Performance Against MI

Lessons from Every Match: KKR All-Rounder Ramandeep Singh Analyzes Team’s Performance Against MI

Mumbai (Maharashtra), India, April 1 (ANI): The current title holders,
Kolkata Knight Riders
(
KKR
) endured an eight-wicket defeat against
Mumbai Indians
At the Wankhede Stadium during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday.

Ramandeep Singh
‘S fast-scoring innings of 22 runs from 12 deliveries along with Angkrich Raghuvanshi’s contribution of 26 runs from 16 balls and Andre Russell’s two wickets were the standout moments for
KKR
as the hosts
MI
pursued the objective of scoring 117.

Facing the defeat without flinching,
KKR
all-rounder
Ramandeep Singh
he offered an candid evaluation during the post-game press briefing.

Even the strongest teams can fall apart at any time. This undoubtedly provides an opening for those further down the ranks, yet we faced bad luck tonight. Moving forward in the competition, we will strive to avoid finding ourselves in a comparable predicament.
Ramandeep Singh
as cited by the
KKR
press release

He likewise provided insights into supporting the team’s bold strategy at batting, while stressing that they could gain valuable lessons from this outing.

“Each member of the team has our full support as they rely on their inherent instincts. While this approach may not always succeed, we believe in trusting our players so they can deliver their best efforts and embrace their offensive inclinations,” Ramandeep clarified.

“We recognize that collaborations are crucial, but if Angkrich and Rinku’s aggressive strategy had proven successful, they would deserve praise for their play. However, sometimes things just don’t go as planned. Every match offers valuable lessons,” the batsman commented.

When considering the situation at the Wankhede Stadium, Ramandeep believed that the coin flip had a considerable impact on the result.

“It was an excellent toss to win for
MI
They had an edge since the new ball continued to seam in the second innings, and the spinners extracted considerable turn. Thus, there were opportunities for the bowlers. Nonetheless, we cannot use this as a justification. It is essential for us to adapt to all conditions,” he stated.

“The pitch today required settling in before attempting to hit sixes. Usually, this isn’t the norm, but today was somewhat different,” the player stated.

Kolkata Knight Riders
will look forward to bouncing back when they face the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on April 3. (ANI)

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Questing for Knowledge: Tristan Stubbs Seeks Insights from Kevin Pietersen

Questing for Knowledge: Tristan Stubbs Seeks Insights from Kevin Pietersen

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), India, March 30 (ANI): Tristan Stubbs is making every effort to absorb as much knowledge as possible from English cricket icon and Delhi Capitals team advisor Kevin Pietersen by posing numerous queries to him.

Stubbs brought an extra kick to Delhi’s smooth 164-run pursuit against Sunrisers Hyderabad during the current season of the lucrative Indian Premier League on Sunday.

When DC’s top-order crumbled rapidly, the youthful South African batsman stepped up to the wicket. Paired with Abhishek Porel, he provided solidity through precise batting and efficient run-scoring.

He crossed the boundary three times and completed DC’s victorious pursuit with an undefeated 21 runs off 14 balls, maintaining a commendable strike rate of 150.

As Stubbs keeps improving his performance, he has been striving to maximize Pietersen’s potential and absorb all he can from him.

In the post-match presentation, Stubbs stated, ‘I’ve done my utmost. I’m endeavoring to absorb as much knowledge as possible from him (Kevin Pietersen). I pose numerous questions.’

Stubbs recounted his experience, noting that he found the pitch to be quite sluggish, making batting challenging. While sharing time at the wicket with Porel, their main objective was to stay straightforward.

“It appeared somewhat sluggish; it seemed to spin all day with the blades operating. It didn’t appear very easy for batting. We kept things straightforward, positioning the players wherever they thought they should be in key areas,” he stated.

During the initial phase, DC’s fast bowler Mitchell Starc dominated the match with an impressive five-wicket performance. When chasing down Sunrisers’ score, Faf du Plessis’s rapid 50-run attack combined with his 81-run opening stand alongside Jake Fraser McGurk laid the foundation for DC’s victory.

After their convincing 7-wicket win, DC is now tied on points with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the second position, ranked by net run rate. (ANI)

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Umesh Yadav Cheers Saliva Ban Reversal in IPL 2025, Praises Jasprit Bumrah

Umesh Yadav Cheers Saliva Ban Reversal in IPL 2025, Praises Jasprit Bumrah

By Vivek Prabhakar Singh

On Sunday, Indian fast-bowling legend Umesh Yadav commented on the removal of the saliva ban in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He mentioned that this change would be beneficial for bowlers in one-day games, particularly when using a brand-new ball. This statement was made from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, as reported by ANI on March 30.

Umesh attended an AstroLawn event in Greater Noida.

Regarding the saliva ban, Umesh commented, “It could have an impact on white-ball cricket. However, it may vary depending on circumstances, as some evening games see the ball become damp from dew, making saliva irrelevant then. Yet when the ball is fresh, spit can be quite significant… Therefore, I believe this return is a positive move. It will greatly benefit fast bowlers.”

Regarding Jasprit Bumrah, the leading fast bowler for India, Umesh stated that he is presently the finest cricketer of this era, entirely due to his “dedication, training, and strategic mindset.”

“When you possess such talent, it’s crucial to display it effectively. Since Bumrah joined us, and as he has developed over time, he has consistently aimed to improve himself. This dedication is what places him at this elite level today. His success stems from his relentless efforts, rigorous training, and strategic mindset. Ever since he began participating in the IPL and collaborated with Lasith Malinga, his Yorkers became even more formidable. In just a brief period, he absorbed numerous lessons which helped elevate him to become the finest fast bowler of our era,” explained Umesh regarding his colleague.

Regarding the concern that T20 matches have turned overly favorable for batsmen, Umesh stated that this format will inherently favor batters since the ball doesn’t wear down significantly and rarely exhibits reverse swing.

“Short-format games like T20 have consistently favored batsmen. During these matches, the ball rarely swings or reverses after just 20 overs. Additionally, with only limited overs played, the cricket balls aren’t subjected to enough wear and tear to alter play significantly. White balls tend to behave similarly throughout the innings without much movement off the pitch. Poor performance can lead to conceding many runs quickly in such formats. However, precise execution along with accurate lines and lengths usually yields positive outcomes. A total of 280 might indicate subpar bowling efforts rather than exceptional batting alone. This format will likely continue being dominated by bat-wielding players. Teams participating in leagues like the IPL aim primarily at scoring high totals,” explained Umesh.

Regarding MS Dhoni batting at number nine during a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) home game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Umesh stated, “The decision rests with either the team or Dhoni personally. They determine his spot.” (ANI)

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