Ahead of the 2023 IPL season, let's take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Devdutt Padikkal is paired with Virat Kohli. There is no better mentor for a young developing player.
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma sustained the injury during their last IPL game against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday.
Flamboyant Australian Glenn Maxwell is expected to be a favourite, despite his under-whelming record, along with England's spin bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali, while Kerala's batting sensation Mohammed Azharuddeen could be in hot demand during a condensed IPL players' auction, to be held in Chennai, on Thursday.
Despite taking a career-best six for four in an ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka in June, Stuart Binny is, however, yet to win the confidence of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the team management. He was benched throughout the ODI series in England before being dropped for the recent controversy-ridden ODI series against the West Indies.
Intense bidding is expected to be the order of the day when 10 teams jostle to grab their preferred players in the IPL players' auction in Kochi on Friday.
'We got off to a good start and kept (going) on with that adrenaline''
England's leading pacer Jofra Archer, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 8 crore despite his unavailability for this year's IPL, said the team's "close-knit, family-oriented" structure makes him feel "safe" as a new entrant.
Surya is currently at the NCA doing his rehabilitation
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson enjoyed a return to form but his Hyderabad Sunrisers were left sweating on their Indian Premier League play-off hopes after a four-wicket loss to the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.
Having spent considerable time under Rahul Dravid's tutelage in Rajasthan Royals as well as the India 'A' set-up, talented Karun Nair is grateful to the Karnataka legend for giving him the "right confidence" which has gone a long way in him earning a call-up to the Test squad.
Smith top-scored with 73 not out for Rajasthan Royals in their relatively meagre total of 139 for three in Jaipur.
Ponting shrugged off Australia's injury worries and the idea of there being risk in rushing Smith and Warner into the team.
It is being asked why a lot of foreign players were having a team dinner for Easter celebrations despite Delhi Capitals physio Patrick Farhart testing positive.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who replaced the injured Ambati Rayudu in the Indian squad for the remainder of the Zimbabwe tour, said he is happy and excited to don the country's colours.
Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble was extremely satisfied with the new players, including Liam Livingstone and Odean Smith, coming to his franchise during the IPL 2022 Player Auction, the dynamics of which were "very different and challenging".
Defending champions Mumbai Indians will need their famed top-order batting to fire and turn things around when they take on Punjab Kings in the IPL in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman, on Monday, said the franchise would wait for Cricket Australia's decision David Warner
'It's a massive loss obviously but it's a loss that we can cover. We have someone like Trent Boult, who is a world-class fast bowler. He had a terrific season for the Daredevils (erstwhile) last year. With him coming to the side now, we think we can cover for the loss of Rabada quite well'
The auction ahead of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League had in store something on expected lines and some surprises. Here's a look at the top buys after the first round.
Delhi Capitals players reached Mumbai in batches following all the protocols and safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
After eight defeats in 11 outings, Chennai Super Kings will look to give their forgettable campaign a semblance of respectability when they take on in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League in Dubai on Sunday.
The onus would be on their famed batting line-up of Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell to start firing once again and put pressure on the KKR batsmen.
Warner was barred from last year's IPL having also been hit with a 12-month ban from international cricket for his role in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal along with Steve Smith.
Pant, who was once seen as heir apparent to Dhoni, has faced flak for his keeping skills right from the beginning of his career.
Suresh Raina unexpectedly pulled out of the tournament after travelling to Dubai with the CSK contingent. The former India cricketer, who announced his international retirement alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni on August 15, later revealed he pulled out to be with his family.
India skipper Virat Kohli and his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among the top players who are set to be retained by their respective IPL franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore and comeback outfit Chennai Super Kings respectively.
Delhi Capitals now have 14 points from 11 matches, which include seven wins and four losses, and Ponting believes that his team is peaking at the right time.
The 24-year-old, born in Barbados and who represented West Indies at Under-19 level, was not in England's provisional squad and only made his ODI debut little over a fortnight ago.
Indian opener K L Rahul hit pay dirt with a Rs 11 crore deal with Kings XI Punjab, while controversial England all-rounder Ben Stokes also triggered a bidding war before going to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 12.50 crore at the IPL auctions, in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
According to market experts, the buyers are expected to shell out in the "range of 500 to 600 crore INR" per team in the closed-bid auction for the women's IPL.
Delhi's performance at home is woeful, but having registered a win after two consecutive losses at the Kotla, the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit is high on confidence.
The Maharashtra government on Monday cleared the decks for the IPL to take place in COVID-19 ravaged Mumbai, allowing teams to practice after 8pm IST and travel to their respective hotels during the night curfew that has been imposed across the state to contain the pandemic.
Delhi Daredevils skipper Jean-Paul Duminy blamed poor batting and fielding as well as lack of intensity for his team's 14-run loss to Rajasthan Royals In an IPL match at the Brabourne Stadium.
'His intent and positive captaincy are signs that he can lead Team India in the future'
Talking of his role as Australia's interim coach, McDonald said he has yet to hold formal discussions with governing body Cricket Australia about the possibility of taking up the full-time role following the exit of Justin Langer.
"Now captaincy on the field can be a different thing. To read moments, win moments and strategize, you have to be sharp, and I think Hardik has all ingredients to be a good captain.
Rodrigues, Kaur, Mandhana and Sharma were also a part of the now-defunct Kia Super League (KSL) in 2019, the ECB's domestic T20 tournament that made way for the Women's Hundred.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is drawing a lot of flak for his indifferent form with the bat in this year's IPL, but there is no one quicker than the Chennai Super Kings captain when it comes to reflexes, said former Indian team trainer Ramji Srinivasan.
Senior New Zealand player Ross Taylor said that players from his country have benefitted immensely by rubbing shoulders with the best players in world cricket in the Indian Premier League.
