As much as Ishan Kishan has done his bit, India will need Iyer, the proverbial slayer of spin bowling in the middle overs during the World Cup.
Peaking at the right time and with all their boxes ticked, Sunrisers Hyderabad are certain to hold sway over a dishevelled Delhi Capitals in a virtual semi-final in the second Indian Premier League qualifier, in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
Kings XI Punjab captain KL Rahul believes that the 'short run' that played a part in their opening IPL loss to Delhi Capitals massively affected their play-off chances despite a remarkable comeback in the second leg of the tournament.
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday
The leg-spinner was at his mercurial best in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as he bowled a splendid spell of 3-14 in four overs, including 11 dot balls, to send Delhi Capitals crashing to defeat.
Gambhir has once again criticised Virat Kohli's captaincy
Images from Thursday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, in Dubai.
Images from Saturday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, in Sharjah.
They will, however, only be able to join their respective franchises after Australia play their lone T20 match against Pakistan on April 5.
Delhi Capitals have made the perfect start to IPL, with two morale-boosting victories, while SunRisers Hyderabad are the only side yet to register a win in the tournament, having lost both their games.
Images from the World Cup 2023 match between Australia and South Africa.
England produced a brilliant comeback to beat Australia by two runs on the final ball of their first T20 international in Southampton on Friday after the visitors looked to be cruising to victory in their first competitive match for six months.
Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha turned out to be the biggest gainer while comeback man Amit Mishra got five wickets and more importantly vital overs under his belt as the first unofficial 'Test' match between India A and Australia A ended in a tame draw.
Hosts Australia will pull on a classic uniform from the 1980s featuring green strip on bright gold top and pants when they take on India in the three-match ODI series.
In his last five innings including the first practice match against Western Australia, Rohit has scored just 63 runs, including two ducks in the T20I series against South Africa.
It remains to be seen who will partner Rahul at the all-important opening slot.
Most of Australia's players have had scant preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup but captain Aaron Finch said his underdone squad can still bring the trophy home for the first time.
Australia on Tuesday named Steve Smith and David Warner in their Twenty20 squad for home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan as selectors firm up plans for next year's World Cup on home soil.
Australia and West Indies are set to lock horns in five T20Is and three ODIs in July this year.
The Australians, led by Steve Smith, arrived in Chennai from Bangladesh after drawing a two-Test series and the match tomorrow would give them opportunity to at least switch to the One-day format.
Virat Kohli was a relieved man after a nail-biting 10-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, in Kolkata on Friday, kept Royal Challengers Bangalore's hopes alive in the Indian Premier League.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Australia and Pakistan in Bengaluru, on Friday.
It was only the fourth time in history that a side has lost an ODI chase with two centurions.
Ponting, who coached Delhi Capitals in the currently-suspended Indian Premier League, said one of the reasons for Australia not having a good finisher was that all of the best batsmen of the country bat in top four in Big Bash League.
Australia's David Warner was taken to hospital for scans on a groin strain on Sunday, prompting a nervous wait for the hosts ahead of the start of the Test series against India in Adelaide on December 17.
Gautam Gambhir feels Virat Kohli's team will keep facing the problem of imbalance till it finds a suitable replacement for a half-fit Hardik Pandya
Australia coach Justin Langer hinted on Wednesday that Joe Burns will continue as opening partner for David Warner in the Test series against India despite growing calls for Will Pucovski to replace him at the top of the order.
Kings XI Punjab's head of cricket operations Virender Sehwag is confident that international players like Varun Aaron, Darren Sammy will bring fresh ideas and skills going into the 10th edition of Indian Premier League.
Not only were Royal Challengers Bangalore outplayed in all departments by Delhi Capitals, Virat Kohli was outdone by his opposite number Shreyas Iyer.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians claimed their fifth Indian Premier League title after romping to a five-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in Tuesday's final in Dubai.
PHOTOS of the IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow on Monday.
The duo shared six scalps among them -- the impact of their performance saw Delhi unable to make any headway into the match.
Delhi Capitals have gone from strength to strength in the last few years -- finishing third in 2019 before finishing runners up last year to Mumbai Indians.
Kedar Jadhav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck unbeaten fifties to help India pull off a tricky chase and beat Australia by six wickets in the first One-day international on Saturday.
Once again, it was the teacher's son from Vadodara, that mysterious practitioner of lethal magic at the death who ensured that Rohit Sharma's side ended the night an improbable fourth on the IPL points table.
Kane Richardson gets nod ahead of Josh Hazlewood as replacement
Hetmyer's 59* included six sixes and a four in a spectacular hitting spree during the closing overs.
The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League will commence, on Saturday, April 7 and will end on 27th May
Sunrisers Hyderabad need a complete, all-round performance against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL match on Monday to register their first win of the season.
Ponting said the way DC played they deserve to be in the title clash this season.
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