'It's been a tough time as I was injured, playing after a year. My father got discharged from the ICU yesterday and he was in the hospital for the last 10 days and I did it for him, he would have been watching.'
Smith's selection was mostly influenced by Australia's emphasis on having bowling options in their top six.
And one Saturday evening, under the Mumbai night sky, next to the Arabian Sea, with the 'God of Cricket' in attendance, Mumbai Indians were done in by the brilliance and resilience of Punjab Kings.
Mumbai won with 31 balls to spare, only the five time IPL winners's third win in 12 IPL 2022 games. CSK slumped to their eighth defeat, ending their slim hopes of making it to the last four.
PHOTOS from the 5th T20I match between India and Australia played in Bengaluru on Sunday
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2024 after Game 62.
Bumrah, DreRus or Varun Chakravarthy: Who bowled the best spell?
Mumbai Indians' bowling coach Shane Bond expressed his frustration with the team's bowling unit for committing the 'same mistake over and over again' in match situations.
Left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan avoided a possible amputation of his bowling hand after approaching the doctor just in time.
Mohsin Khan's exceptional bowling performance changed the game in LSG's favour.
Both teams will be looking to get out of the danger zone as eight teams remain in the play-off contention.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2024 after Game 46.
SunRisers Hyderabad has the biggest purse while Kolkata Knight Riders has the slimmest purse.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians in Jaipur, on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India's growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy of the world in his third term. India is currently the fifth largest economy of the world after the US, China, Germany and Japan with a GDP of around $3.9 trillion. India has been the fastest growing large economies of the world with GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the last three consecutive years.
A look at the XI Best Spells of the league stages of IPL 2024.
Bumrah, Coetzee and Patel all took three wickets each.
Images from the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has mounted a spirited defence of David Warner.
umbai Indians overcame some tense moments to pull off a last-ball win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2024 after Game 31.
India aim to seal series as Tilak Varma looks for quality batting time
India's young bowling unit will have to push behind the timid show in the series opener and find its flow against a forceful Australian batting line-up in the second T20 in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Gill's heroics showcased his versatility as a batsman, as he effortlessly handled both spin and pace bowling.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2024 after Match 54.
The 35-year-old Aaron Finch, who had suffered a hamstring injury in 2016 as well, left the field early during Ireland's chase, which ended at 137 all out in 18.1 overs.
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday
They are languishing at the bottom and placed eighth in the points table after the first half of IPL 2023.
Meanwhile, Royal Challenger Bangalore brought in Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga as replacement for Australia's Adam Zampa. In the recent three-match T20I series against India in Sri Lanka, Hasaranga bagged a total of seven wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the final T20I.
How the IPL teams have shaped up after the auction.
Images from India vs Australia 3rd T20 International in Guwahati on Tuesday.
India captain Virat Kohli said it is unfortunate to "end up here early" for the IPL after a COVID-19 outbreak led to the cancellation of the fifth Test against England and hoped for a "secure" bio-bubble in the league to tackle the "uncertain" times.
'The three quicks bowled pretty good pace, they are relentless in pressure'
Rohit Sharma ended his barren spell with the bat as Mumbai Indians edged Delhi Capitals off the final ball of the match.
Kolkata Knight Riders batter Venkatesh Iyer dedicated his maiden century to assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.
England will need to defeat Namibia in their last league match and hope that Scotland lose to Australia.
Australia captain Aaron Finch says he is more likely than not to play in Friday's crunch Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 match against Afghanistan, despite suffering a hamstring strain on Tuesday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of T20 World Cup 2024 after Game 48.
Abhishek, Head or Klassen? Whose batting caught your fancy last night?
