As the Indian cricket team gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, the reflections of Hardik Pandya–Rohit Sharma‘s bitter Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign are still being seen in the rearview mirror. It isn’t yet known how the two would go about doing their job in the Indian team, despite what happened in the IPL. Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan and retired Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden, however, feel there shouldn’t be any chatter about the IPL in the Indian team between Rohit and Hardik.

“The conversation of IPL shouldn’t be happening, not even once. Don’t talk about it, just focus on what Rahul Dravid wants from a particular player like Hardik Pandya or anyone else. Just make sure that they are focussed on that,” Irfan Pathan said in a chat on ESPNCricinfo.

Hayden, fellow expert on the show, echoed Irfan’s statement, saying there’s no need to address what happened in the IPL at Mumbai Indians. It’s all about the Indian team and the T20 World Cup now.

“Without one word, you know who the leader is. Nothing has to be spoken. You look at each other, you understand what needs to happen and you go about it. It’s music to my ears what Irfan just said, about how it is that you are not going to address it. Don’t even talk about it,” Hayden said.

“Australia doesn’t have a celebrity culture. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have that. Ideally I would want a nice balance between Australian culture and Indian culture, where we come in between. Sometimes having that kind of a culture doesn’t help us. But at the same time, we are what we are. We are not Australians. We are Indians. Our emotions, ethics and mindsets are different,” Pathan further added..

The mood in the Mumbai Indians camp during the IPL didn’t look conducive to good cricket at all, with reports emerging of there being two groups inside the team. As a result of the poor atmosphere, the franchise finished bottom of the 10-team points table despite possessing a formidable squad on paper.

It would be interesting to see if Rohit stays put at the franchise next season. With the mega auction set to take place before the IPL 2025 campaign, Mumbai Indians have a big call to make with regards to Rohit’s future.

Virat Kohli slammed 741 runs including a century and five fifties in IPL 2024.© BCCI

Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden has asserted that Pakistan’s squad for the next month’s T20 World Cup looks solid with a star-studded line-up but their fielding remains a ‘biggest chink’ for them. Babar Azam will lead Pakistan in the showpiece event in the USA and the West Indies, commencing on June 2. The runners-up have named a strong squad consisting of four lethal pacers – Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.

Hayden lauded the fast-bowling attack and termed the quartet ‘amazing’ talents.

“Looking at the Pakistan squad as usual Pakistan are always dark horses when comes to the World Cup. In particular, their fast bowling stocks are amazing. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, who wasn’t available for selection in the last World Cup -that’s a big comeback, and then you have got Mohammad Amir as well and Haris Rauf. You have four major (bowlers) from the pace attack,” Hayden said in a video posted by Star Sports on X.

The veteran cricketer further highlighted Pakistan’s batting prowess, having the likes of Babar, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman in the side.

“You’ve got Shadab Khan through the middle for spinning and also a power-hitter and at the top you’ve got big three – captain Babar Azam, glad to see him back at the helm. He is the natural leader and should be there and you’ve got Mohammad Rizwan as well that more than likely will partner with him and Fakhar Zaman, who is dangerous left-hand striker of the ball,” the 52-year-old said.

Hayden feels Pakistan have a solid team and they have to work on their fielding to improve their chances in the forthcoming tournament.

“So, all in all, generally speaking, their biggest chink is always going to be fielding. Their defensive efforts in the field have and hopefully, in this case, won’t diminish their performances. But they’re a solid team and a dangerous team and certainly a team to watch out for in this T20 World Cup across America and Barbados,” he added.

Pakistan are currently playing a four-match T20I series against England and will take on co-host USA in their opening T20 World Cup match in Texas on June 6 before facing arch-rivals India in New York on June 9.

The RCB vs CSK IPL 2024 game was one charged up encounter. The Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the contest in style to book the final playoff spot in IPL 2024. During the course of the match, RCB, which is now on a six-match winnign streak, was quite aggressive throughout the CSK innings. Every wicket was celebrated with extra fervour and the fielding attempts were great too. 

There was one point when, the RCB players were not happy with the decision of the umpires. The point of contention seemed to be a no ball by Lockie Ferguson to Rachin Ravindra. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli seemed to be telling the umpire that the slippery ball was responsible. Something that the duo had complained a couple of overs back.

Even after du Plessis went away, Kohli came back and saoid something to the umpire. Australia great Matthew Hayden, who has been a member of the CSK, blasted Kohli’s behaviour. 

“There’s way too much interjection from Virat Kohli. He is not the captain and he should not be in those conversations with the umpire,” Hayden said on commentary.

Mathew Hayden said “Virat Kohli is not the captain as he got sacked, he shouldn’t involve in conversations with umpire” pic.twitter.com/Xk3rYn5BLw

— (@ArrestPandya) May 19, 2024

Meanwhile, former India star batter Ambati Rayudu, who has played for franchises like CSK and Mumbai Indians,  feels that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are favourites in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals, to be held at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Faf du Plessis-led RCB are undefeated in six matches, after winnign only one out of their first seven game.

Sharing his thoughts on the Eliminator clash, Rayudu backed Bengaluru over Rajasthan as the latter are coming after a washout against Kolkata Knight Riders that dropped them to third place in the points table.

“I think RCB are clear favourites for me, because of the way they are playing and they’ve had a clinical game against CSK and for RR I don’t know if this gap in play will help, this washout would help them in going into an eliminator against RCB who I feel right now are a matured side and every player over there knows his role. So I think RCB are the ones who will eventually go into qualifiers 2,” Rayudu said on Star Sports Cricket Live.

With IANS inputs

The RCB vs CSK IPL 2024 game was one charged up encounter. The Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the contest in style to book the final playoff spot in IPL 2024. During the course of the match, RCB, which is now on a six-match winnign streak, was quite aggressive throughout the CSK innings. Every wicket was celebrated with extra fervour and the fielding attempts were great too. 

There was one point when, the RCB players were not happy with the decision of the umpires. The point of contention seemed to be a no ball by Lockie Ferguson to Rachin Ravindra. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli seemed to be telling the umpire that the slippery ball was responsible. Something that the duo had complained a couple of overs back.

Even after du Plessis went away, Kohli came back and saoid something to the umpire. Australia great Matthew Hayden, who has been a member of the CSK, blasted Kohli’s behaviour. 

“There’s way too much interjection from Virat Kohli. He is not the captain and he should not be in those conversations with the umpire,” Hayden said on commentary.

Mathew Hayden said “Virat Kohli is not the captain as he got sacked, he shouldn’t involve in conversations with umpire” pic.twitter.com/Xk3rYn5BLw

— (@ArrestPandya) May 19, 2024

Meanwhile, former India star batter Ambati Rayudu, who has played for franchises like CSK and Mumbai Indians,  feels that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are favourites in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals, to be held at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Faf du Plessis-led RCB are undefeated in six matches, after winnign only one out of their first seven game.

Sharing his thoughts on the Eliminator clash, Rayudu backed Bengaluru over Rajasthan as the latter are coming after a washout against Kolkata Knight Riders that dropped them to third place in the points table.

“I think RCB are clear favourites for me, because of the way they are playing and they’ve had a clinical game against CSK and for RR I don’t know if this gap in play will help, this washout would help them in going into an eliminator against RCB who I feel right now are a matured side and every player over there knows his role. So I think RCB are the ones who will eventually go into qualifiers 2,” Rayudu said on Star Sports Cricket Live.

With IANS inputs

Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden‘s daughter, Grace, had a fun day out in Hyderabad feasting on local delicacies. Grace, who is a content creator by profession, is currently working as a presenter with Star Sports, the official broadcasters of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 21-year-old visited the famous ‘Paradise Biryani’ joint and enjoyed some biryani and khubani-ka-meetha (a dessert prepared with dried apricots as the main ingredient). She had some SRH fans for company, who helped Grace identify Hyderabad’s must-have delicacies.

“Biryani in Hyderabad is an emotion! Experience the essence of Hyderabad with #GraceHayden as she indulges in the iconic Hyderabadi Biryani alongside passionate @SunRisers fans!,” Star Sports captioned the video, which has gone viral, on their social media handles.

Biryani in Hyderabad is an emotion!

Experience the essence of Hyderabad with #GraceHayden as she indulges in the iconic Hyderabadi Biryani alongside passionate @SunRisers fans!

| #LSGvMI | TODAY, 6:30 PM | #IPLOnStar pic.twitter.com/l75BhuvmQT

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 16, 2024

A couple of weeks back, SRH captain Pat Cummins had a great outing with his family as they enjoyed a Hyderabadi biryani feast. Cummins and his family visited the Southern Mirchi restaurant, located in located in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

On Thursday, the Cummins-led SRH became the third team to secure a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs after their match against the Gujarat Titans was washed out.

SRH joined the already qualified Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in the playoffs. The fourth and final playoff spot will be decided on Saturday with three teams – CSK, RCB and LSG – currently in contention.

Although LSG’s Net Run Rate makes it nearly impossible for them to go through, they still have an outside chance of qualifying.

LSG can still spoil the party for RCB and CSK ahead of the big game on Saturday if they pull off a heroic result.

Firstly, LSG need to beat Mumbai Indians by a big margin in their final game on Friday, taking the NRR above +0.400.

Secondly, they hope RCB beat CSK by a narrow margin, which keeps the NRR of both the sides below LSG’s.

The race to the playoffs of IPL 2024 is now picking pace. While Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals have already sealed the berth for themselves, a total of five teams are still in race for the remaining two spots. Chennai Super Kings, SunRisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants are the teams fighting for the top-4 finish. Among the remaining crucial games will be the RCB vs CSK match in Bengaluru on May 18.

While the winner of the game will get closer to IPL 2024 playoffs, the losing side will be eliminated from the tournament. Former India stars Irfan Pathan, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammad Kaif and ex-Australia players Matthew Hayden and Tom Moody told Star Sports as quoted by Hindustan Times that it will be CSK and not RCB, who will make it to the playoffs.

“Kolkata, Rajasthan, Hyderabad and… Chennai Super Kings are my picks. Because I feel CSK will find some or the other way to make the Playoffs. They are a legacy team,” said Irfan Pathan.

Meanwhile, former CSK star Ambati Rayudu said, “My top four predictions for now will be KKR at the top, followed by Chennai Super Kings at second. RR and SRH the other two.”

Mohammad Kaif, who also holds the experience of playing 29 IPL matches, said, “At the top for me would be KKR. At No. 2 would be (Rajasthan) Royals. At third would be (Sunrisers) Hyderabad and at the 4th position I would bank on CSK because they know how to perform in the big matches.”

“My top four, in no particular order, are… well, one has actually qualified. KKR are certainly there. I’m going to go with Rajasthan Royals. They have to beat this poor slump that they find themselves in (losing three matches in a row). Then I’ll pick Sunrisers Hyderabad since they have their matches back home and then CSK to win that derby against RCB on May 18,” said former CSK player Matthew Hayden.

“My top four in the Playoffs would be KKR at first place, Rajasthan Royals in the second position, Sunrisers Hyderabad at third and just falling into that fourth position, Chennai Super Kings,” said ex-SRH coach Tom Moody.