'Everything else runs because of the IPL, there is so much money involved so the IPL definitely needs to happen.'
His ability to bowl yorkers almost at will and his unpredictable bounce make him a death-overs nightmare for most batsmen.
Frequently changing captains and coaches has hurt Kings XI Punjab in the past and that is why the franchise has decided to work on a three-year plan under Anil Kumble and K L Rahul to take the side forward, co-owner Ness Wadia said.
The 33-year-old, who has taken a break from Tests to manage his workload, missed the final of South Africa's domestic 50-overs tournament with a back injury, which also kept him out of Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL opener against Delhi.
With an emphatic seven-wicket win Rajasthan ended Kings XI Punjab's five-match winning run in the IPL.
'I have been training really consistently during the off season, and it (the upcoming season) is very important because I've been waiting for a big opportunity for a long time, and every year I've been getting only a few matches.'
Three-time champions Chennai Super Kings have been knocked out of the race to secure an IPL play-offs' berth for the first time in 13 years after Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by eight wickets in Abu Dhabi.
'I think I have made enough cricketing memories on and off the field to last me a lifetime. For all those who still feel, I should have not retired yet, well...'
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's aim was to take the game against Kings XI Punjab deep and ensure a top-two finish for defending champions Chennai Super Kings once he realised that Lokesh Rahul's blitzkrieg has sealed the deal for the home team, in Mohali, on Sunday.
Kolkata Knight Riders' spin sensation Sunil Narine added another feather to his cap when he registered the first hat-trick in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League, against Kings XI Punjab, in Mohali, on Tuesday. Check out the dismissals.
Shami unleashed yorker after yorker to keep Kings XI in the match.
Sakshi Dhoni, undoubtedly the fist lady of Indian cricket, seems to have passed on her luck to husband's Chennai Super Kings.
Preity Zinta was again the cynosure of all eyes as she egged on her team, Kings XI Punjab, in Monday's Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Dubai.
Delhi Capitals avenged their shocking first-leg defeat with a five-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab, brightening their prospects of making the play-offs of the Indian Premier League.
A quiz for all you cricket fans.
Kolkata Knight Riders expressed 'surprise', but are hopeful of an 'appropriate resolution' to the issue of spinner Sunil Narine being reported for suspect bowling action.
'Like I said, he should never retire, he's always in great touch. I've been lucky that I've played with the likes of Chris Gayle, AB (de Villiers), (Adam) Gilchrist, Virat Kohli...'
Neesham, who struggled for form in the Indian Premier League last year, is expected to return to action for the back end of the ongoing Super Smash tournament, where Wellington are currently leading the table.
After a below-par effort against Pune Supergiants, the Delhi Darevils will be looking to hit the straps rightaway with their prime players set to comeback in the playing XI as they take on bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab in an IPL encounter at Mohali on Saturday. Following three horrendous seasons, the Daredevils have had a decent outing so far under Rahul Dravid's mentorship and Zaheer Khan's captaincy, having won five of their eight games and are placed third in the eight-team table. There has been no standout performer as such but contributions from most of the players in their five victories has made it clear that Dravid's men are certainly not dependant on any one individual to carry the team forward.
It was Marcus Stoinis at his destructive best on Monday as he took the RCB bowling apart in the final few overs.
They are the team's leading performers, but Lokesh Rahul and Chris Gayle's batting in the Powerplay overs was one of the "massive problems", opined Kings XI Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin after team failed to make it to the play-offs in Season 12 of the Indian Premier League.
Shardul Thakur's two wickets in two balls in the 18th over put the brakes on the KXIP innings.
Rahul, 27, has overcome probably the toughest phase in his life and career
A total of 62 players were sold at the auction for the 13th edition with the eight franchises spending a total of 1.403 billion rupees ($19.73 million). Australia's Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy ever in the Indian Premier League when the Kolkata Knight Riders paid a staggering Rs 15.50 crore ($2.18 million) for the fast bowler in Thursday's auction in Kolkata on Thursday.
India's leading off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can use the IPL as a platform to revive his dwindling career in limited overs cricket, feels veteran batsman Subramaniam Badrinath.
Jos Buttler, Steve Smith and Sanju Samson could only manage 31 runs between them.
Some teams have completely overhauled their squads. Others retained their core at the IPL Players Auction.
Former India players Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Gautam Gambhir urged Congress leader Shashi Tharoor not to compare Rajasthan Royals' batting sensation Sanju Samson with the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Unheralded teenagers Prabh Simran Singh and Prayas Ray Barman attracted astonishing bids during the IPL Players' Auction on a day when superstar Dale Steyn went unsold and once a hot-property Yuvraj Singh went for his base price.
As the dust settles on the tournament after over a month and 60 matches, Rediff.com picks its IPL Dream XI. You too can pick yours by listing your 11 here.
Shami will be given adequate rest in between matches, said Kings XI Punjab coach Mike Hesson
Sunrisers Hyderabad produced a solid batting performance to beat Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets and virtually secure their place in the play-offs of the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Bollywood's presence at IPL matches can never go unnoticed! Rediff.com spots a few of them at the Wankhede on Monday.
High on confidence after their victory against table-toppers Kings XI Punjab in their previous game, Kolkata Knight Riders will look to continue the winning momentum when they take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League match in Cuttack.
Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin insists that he is not losing sleep over making a limited-overs comeback for India and his immediate focus is on the 'big responsibility' of captaining Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming 11th season of the Indian Premier League.
Glenn Maxwell's blitzkrieg 38-ball 90 in Kings XI Punjab's win over Chennai Super Kings in an IPL match in Cuttack on Wednesday night prompted the losing captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to compare the Australian with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in talent.
Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey rued making changes to the batting order, saying it played a part in their defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Friday night's IPL match in Pune.
Images from Saturday's IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Abu Dhabi.
Sunrisers Hyderabad surprised quite a few by opting to release the fast bowling duo of Ishant Sharma and Dale Steyn, while they also let go of England discard Kevin Pietersen.
Photos of the IPL match being played between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders
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