.jpeg?im=Resize,height=373 "Neither Sachin, Nor Lara; 'This' Indian Cricketer is the Toughest Opponent for Shoaib Akhtar")
Neither Sachin, Nor Lara; 'This' Indian Cricketer is the Toughest Opponent for Shoaib Akhtar
I think Dhoni valued and liked that attitude: CSK coach talks about youngster
Asia Cup 2022 | Balaji says Deepak Chahar should have been first-choice pacer
IPL 2021 | I thought he would do something magical: Balaji lavishes praise on improved Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja won Chennai Super Kings a tough match against Kolkata Knight Riders with the bat and his bowling coach was all praise for the all-rounder. Lakshmipathy Balaji, while speaking in the post-match press conference said that he had all the confidence in the left-handed batter that he would do something magical and win the game. Recalling a moment from last IPL, Balaji said, "I think, this was exactly one year back in Dubai, the second game against KKR, Jaddu (Jadeja) won us the game in the last over.” “I recollected the memory and I thought when Ravi is playing, he would do some kind of magic and he has improved his batting under pressure, so he would win this" Balaji said. Talking about the improvement in Jadeja, who hit 22 off the 19th over when CSK needed to get 26 off two overs, having scored just 18 off the last three overs, Balaji further said, "He is showing that improvement on the field and making sure, helping us to cross the line. It is wonderful to see Ravi coming higher in this batting order, his batting ability has changed overall in the last one or two years.” On the other David Hussey, Assistant coach of KKR backed Prasidh Krishna to come back strong after this drubbing at the hands of Jadeja. "PK (Prasidh Krishna) has been (an) amazing death bowler for us throughout this tournament, in the last two games, so he is definitely in our plans to bowl. Unfortunately, he got beaten by a better player today in Jadeja. I'm sure knowing PK he is going to bounce back and become the world-class bowler that he actually is normally," Hussey said. Although CSK chased down 172 to win the game by two wickets and go top of the table, it got tight in the last over even as only four runs were required as Sunil Narine dismissed Sam Curran and Jadeja and it was Deepak Chahar who hit the last ball for a single to win the game as Sharduk Thakur had three earlier in the third ball of the over.
CSK bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji calls recovery from Covid-19 an episode of Man vs Wild
The bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings, Lakshmipathy Balaji, who tested positive for Covid-19 while he was with the side in the IPL 2021 said that the isolation period after contracting the virus felt like going through an episode of Man vs Wild. He said that phase took both a mental and physical toll on him. “As I was isolating on my own having tested positive for Covid-19, a thought crossed my mind: recovering from Covid-19, both physically and mentally, is like experiencing an episode of Man vs Wild,” Balaji said ESPNcricinfo. Going back in time when he was infected with the virus, Balaji said that he had felt uneasiness and some covid-19 related symptoms such as body ache some six days after arriving in Delhi from Mumbai. He said that the positive result of Covid-19 left him in shock as he had not done anything to put both himself and his teammates at risk. “On May 2, I was feeling a bit of uneasiness. I had body ache and a mild nose block. I was tested the same day around mid-afternoon. By May 3 morning, I had tested positive. I was shocked. I had done nothing to breach the norms to endanger my and rest of the bubble's safety,” Balaji added. Three members of the Chennai Super Kings franchise including Balaji, bating coach Michael Hussey and CEO Kashi Vishwanathan had tested positive for Covid-19 before the tournament was abruptly postponed by the BCCI.
Recovered from Covid-19, Michael Hussey looks back on time during IPL 2021
Michael Hussey was one of the few people who had tested positive for the Covid-19 infection and now, having recovered and returned to his homeland, the left-hander has opened up on his journey before and after contracting the virus in India. He had felt some symptoms related to Covid-19 and he also had a seating arrangement near the CSK bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji who was reported to have contracted the virus before him. Hence, he presumed that he too contracted the virus from Balaji. “To be honest, I had already started feeling some of the symptoms and so I was thinking, I’m pretty sure I’ve got it. Plus I was sitting next to the bowling coach on the bus a few times, so I thought, ‘If he’s got it then there’s a pretty good chance I’ve got it as well,” Hussey told Foxsports.com.au. The former Australia batsman further said that the first report suggested a weak infection and it led to him hoping for a negative result in the second round of testing. To his dismay though, the second test only confirmed the infection. “I wasn’t thinking about (getting home) too much to start with. I was focusing on just trying to get better again, really. My initial test came up as a weak positive, and we were sort of hoping the next would be negative and it’d be alright, but unfortunately, I got retested the next day and that came back positive,” he said. Explaining his thoughts just after confirmation of infection, Hussey said that he felt terrible initially but gathered his sense soon enough to not worry about anything such as breathing issues that Covid-19 brings with itself to get set on the recovery path. “I was a bit like, ‘Oh gosh, why me’, but I didn’t really think too much at all. I thought it was a bit of a shame. But I certainly wasn’t worried about my breathing or things like that,” he added. “It was just a bit annoying, really,” Hussey added. Elaborating where he or Balaji would have contracted the virus, the left-handed batsman said that contracting the virus from the ground was a certain possibility. He also said that the Mumbai leg of the tournament was relatively safe and secure and that they felt more vulnerable after leaving the bubble in Mumbai for the next round of matches scheduled for Delhi. “So there was a risk there. It (also) could have been at the ground; there was ground staff while we were there training and on game day. There was certainly more risk once we left that Mumbai bubble,” said the 45-year-old. The Western Australian did not join the Aussie contingent who travelled to the Maldives to spend time in isolation till Cricket Australia managed to find a way for them to enter the country. Hussey travelled on a commercial flight via Qatar to Australia but reached on the same day when his other countrymen hit home.
Chennai Super Kings step up to help people fighting Covid-19; procure 450 oxygen concentrators
Stepping in to help the people of Tamil Nadu in the fight against the deadly second wave of Covd-19, the Chennai Super Kings have procured 450 oxygen concentrators. CSKCL Director Mr R Srinivasan has handed over the first consignment of Oxygen concentrators to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, on May 8 and in the presence of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association President, Mrs Rupa Gurunath. The second consignment of concentrators is expected to be delivered by next week. These Oxygen concentrators will be used for the treatment of Covid-19 patients in the Government hospitals and Covid care centres being run by Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). “The people of Chennai and Tamil Nadu form the very heartbeat of the Super Kings and we want them to know that we are all together in this fight against the pandemic,” CSK CEO Mr KS Viswanathan said. Notably, the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League was suspended for an indefinite period of time in the wake of Covid-19 outbreaks in various franchises including the CSK with both the batting coach Michael Hussey and bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji contracting the novel coronavirus.
IPL 2021: Pat Cummins feels organisers tweaked with a few things to organise IPL in India
Aussie speedster Pat Cummins who was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League feels that the organisers might have tweaked with a few things to host this edition of the tournament in India despite the second wave of COVID-19 creating a ruckus in the country. The pandemic has taken the Indian medical system off guard with thousands of people losing their lives daily. Cummins stated that the 2020 edition held in UAE was a very well organised one and incredibly well-run. He felt the organisers tried to push it a step further by organising the 14th edition at home, which backfired after the tournament had to be suspended indefinitely after several COVID cases were reported from the respective bio-bubbles. The IPL was suspended after two KKR players, three CSK members and a DC and an SRH cricketer tested positive for the novel Coronavirus. "Last year we had the IPL held over in the UAE and that was an incredibly well-run tournament," Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Sports. "This year, they tried to push it little step further and have it over here in multiple cities in India. I'm sure looking back they might have tweaked a few things,” he further added. It must be taken into account that Cummins’ statement was made before the league was postponed indefinitely. With Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier from KKR testing positive, it seemed inevitable that the tournament might have to be halted. The BCCI had no other options when it was reported that the virus had breached through DC and SRH bubbles as well after Amit Mishra and Wriddhiman Saha tested positive. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and a bus driver also tested positive. Later batting coach Michael Hussey also tested positive for the same. "It's two different worlds. We're lucky, we're safe, we're comfortable and there's people just trying to get basic medical treatment. First thing was to find out whether us playing the IPL was the right thing and basically everyone said, we would be lost without the IPL for three or four hours every night. I'm just trying to do my bit. India's been such a good country to me and cricketers,” Cummins said.
PBKS co-owner Ness Wadia eyeing September window for IPL 2021 comeback
There are concerns surrounding the future of the Indian Premier League after its 14th edition was suspended due to the rising number of cases in franchises. However, some franchise owners are not worried bout the future and backing the league to emerge stronger out of the latest crisis due to Covid-19. A co-owner of the revamped Punjab Kings, Ness Wadia has said that the league that started in 2008 is the most ‘flexible, adaptable and adjustable’ and it can sustain any sort of circumstances. "This is the No 1 tournament in the world. Not just in terms of value, but also for its adaptability. It is the league that is the most flexible, adaptable and adjustable. Whether the move to South Africa in 2009, to UAE in 2014 and 2020, and whether it being held in India the in most gruelling of Covid situations and circumstances, it always emerged strong. There won't be any impact on the league in future. The decision to suspend is right and I am sure they will hold it again," Wadia told Cricbuzz. Although Wadia backed the BCCI’s move of suspending the tournament in wake of the rising number of cases in the bio bubbles of various franchises and also in the outside world in India, he seems confident the 14th edition will resume sometime later this year. "It is very unfortunate but it is a decision that is correct under the current circumstances. I would say given the drastic increase in cases in the last two-three weeks, it has brought in a new dimension to the planning that was done at the beginning," Wadia added. He echoed optimism in line with the thoughts of IPL chairman Brijesh Patel who earlier today said that the BCCI is looking to find a window either before or after the ICC World T20 scheduled to be played later this year. “I think it ( IPL) will definitely come back, sooner than later. If you look at the cricketing window - September before the T20 World Cup. That could happen,” Wadia told Sportstar. Meanwhile, many overseas players who were part of various IPL franchises have left India and some of them have also reached their home countries.
IPL 2021 | Michael Hussey tests Covid-19 positive, to face uncertainty over going back home
A day after the bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji tested positive for the novel coronavirus, batting coach Mike Hussey has also tested positive. The development came in the backdrop of the IPL governing council suspending this year’s edition for an indefinite period. "Hussey was tested and his sample came positive. We sent it for retesting but that has also come positive," PTI quoted an unnamed IPL source. Hussey testing positive for Covid-19 will most likely complicate his return to Australia where the federal government has imposed restrictions on people including players coming from India that is hit severely by the Covid-19 pandemic. Other players, support staffs and commentators are reportedly looking to spend their time in the Maldives in order to be eligible for getting entry to their homeland. But, Mike Hussey might well have to go through a tougher route. The 14th edition of the IPL was on its way till the halfway stage before cores of Covid-19 cases struck teams. First, cases were reported from the Kolkata Knight Riders camp then the Chennai Super Kings along with the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Delhi Capitals. Initially, the BCCI and the IPL governing council started with rescheduling the matches one after another before finally giving up on this season and avised all stakeholders to go back to their homes and spend time with their families.
IPL 2021 | Tournament to continue as of now, KKR squad in hard quarantine for five days
The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League will continue as of now with the defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday (3 May). The development comes after two KKR players Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, three staff members of CSK which includes Lakshmipathi Balaji, the CEO of the franchise and a bus driver has also tested positive for the novel Coronavirus. However, their result in the rapid antigen test turned negative which makes the situation a little dicier. In a recent podcast by Boria Majumder, he clarified the fact that there was no bubble breach as far as the Kolkata Knight Riders are concerned and will be under hard quarantine for the next five days and if all the tests come out negative then only the match against RCB might be rescheduled on 7th May. Hard quarantine means none of the KKR players can go outside their rooms and will be served food in disposable cutleries which will be placed outside their respective rooms. As far as CSK is concerned, the situation can go out of control if the RT-PCR tests of the three aforementioned members come out positive. Balaji was present in the dugout and if his RT-PCR test comes out positive, it means that he might have exposed the virus to quite a few. However, if the results come out negative, the situation should be under control as told by Boria Majumder in his podcast. He also added the fact that none of the groundstaff members who were there yesterday for the match duties has tested positive after several media outlets reported that five to seven DDCA groundsmen who were present for match duties yesterday have tested positive.
#CancelIPL trends on Twitter after 2 KKR players and 3 CSK staff test positive for COVID
The ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League was jolted severely after two members of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad tested positive for COVID-19. It is learnt that Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier contracted the virus after going for a test in a hospital nearby. Though their first report came out negative, both the players tested positive in their next tests. Both players have quarantined themselves and the scheduled match between Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore for today has been postponed. Meanwhile, it must also be noted that three CSK members are also found to be COVID positive including the CEO and Lakshmipathy Balaji. With quite a few players already leaving midway through the tournament, IPL’s recent future remains in jeopardy. Players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Andrew Tye and Liam Livingstone had left the IPL midway. Meanwhile, umpire Nitin Menon also withdrew his name after his family members tested positive. The ultimate decision will be taken by the BCCI and it remains to see what fate has in store for the remainder of the IPL this season. Amidst the chaotic situation, Twitterati has gone wild demanding a cancellation of the ongoing IPL. Few people felt that while IPL at these tumultuous times was giving some entertainment to the people of India, it is not a good idea to continue the tournament especially after positive cases coming out from the bio-bubble.
Flashback: The ODI that turned around India's fortunes in Australia
The period of Sourav Ganguly's captaincy was one where the Indian team progressively broke long-established barriers to their performance. Famous test victories in Zimbabwe, West Indies, England, Australia and Pakistan were ample proof that the Indian side was well over the dreadful 1990s when winning away from home was a distant dream. But among the string of overseas Test triumphs that Ganguly's side registered, there were also highly notable ODI triumphs. One of them came at Brisbane in January 2004 and broke a near 13-year drought for the Indian side. On January 18, India played Australia at the famous Gabba stadium having lost their previous 11 matches to the then reigning world champions on their home soil. In the tri-series, also involving a spirited Zimbabwe, that this match was a part of, they had lost the first match to Australia after putting up a tough fight. This time, the Indians benefitted from a reassuring innings by Sachin Tendulkar, the type he used to play in those days, and a hundred from VVS Laxman who was having the greatest one week of his ODI career - he scored three hundreds in four matches in this period. With Sachin's 86 and Laxman's 103*, India posted a challenging total of 303. However, this was Australia at the peak of their powers and no score looked safe against them. With Matthew Hayden deciding to play a majestic knock of 109, Indian were in danger of losing their grip on the match. But what made the difference was the resolute performance by the young and upcoming pace duo of Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji. It would be the tour of Pakistan, following this series where these two became proper stars. But in the colosseum-like arena of Gabba, they held their nerve against the imposing batting line-up of Aussies to keep the target safe. The veteran Anil Kumble also played a key part in India's victory. Though he didn't pick up a wicket, Kumble managed to turn the screws on Australia with tight bowling. But the surprise package of the match was debutante Rohan Gavaskar, that too, with the ball. At a very crucial stage in the match, when Hayden and Andrew Symonds seemed to put Australia in cruise control, Ganguly brought junior Gavaskar into the attack to bowl left-arm wrist spin, otherwise known as 'Chinaman.' Lo and behold, Symonds popped a return catch back to Rohan and he dived to his right for a brilliant take. When the match finally ended with the home team getting bowled out for 284 in 49.4 overs, India had broken another barrier - an ODI win over Australia in Australia. Sadly, they couldn't follow it up and by the end of the tri-series, the Indian side was out of steam and crumbled helplessly against the might of Australians. But for a whole generation of millenials, it was another sweet memory to lighten up their childhood.