Despite his team being unable to defend a fighting total against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League match in Sharjah on Tuesday, Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant asserted that the bowling unit does not need a "massive change".
Rahul and Pant, both match-winners in their own rights even with the bat, will like to seize the initiative in these early rounds.
Pakistan will not only have to win the remaining three matches, starting with New Zealand, but also hope that the results in other matches favour them to salvage any hopes of a semi-final berth.
IMAGES from the IPL 2022 game between Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, in Mumbai, on Monday
New Zealand Cricket has indicated that it may not block its players from fully participating in the upcoming IPL if the knock-out phase matches of the lucrative league clash with the Test series opener in England beginning on June 2.
In India, 29 positive cases have been reported so far, including 16 Italian tourists. New Zealand Cricket said that the cricket board is in constant touch with the country's health, foreign affairs and sports ministry to get regular updates which will ensure health safety for its players.
Both India and New Zeland have not lost any of their matches in the tournament as of now
Injuries to frontline fast bowlers have forced New Zealand to opt for fresh blood in their pace attack for the three-match ODI series against India starting February 5 in Hamilton. Kyle Jamieson could be in for a potential debut, while Scott Kuggeleijn and Hamish Bennett return to the squad after a long absence. Injury has meant the likes of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are unavailable for the series.
Senior New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was ruled out of the three-match series after failing to recover from a back injury.
Neesham replaced Doug Bracewell in the team while leg-spinner Ish Sodhi made way for Astle.
The third and final T20 International between New Zealand and West Indies was abandoned due to rain at the Bay Oval, in Mount Maunganui, on Monday.
'Williamson, Jamieson rested from T20s as Tests key priority.'
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) have acquired the services of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) pacer Shardul Thakur for the 10th edition of the Indian Premier League.
Following is the list of players who have been released by the different franchises ahead of the auction for the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League.
Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be striving to turn around their fortunes in IPL 2021 after a below-par showing last season.
'We leave it up to the players to decide whether or not they want to participate and request NOCs'
New Zealand are better organised and clinical in terms of execution and hence could start as the favourites in the first semi-final against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Captain Kane Williamson struck a composed unbeaten century as New Zealand edged past South Africa by four wickets in a thrilling last-over finish.
Captain David Warner single-handedly scripted the turnaround with an unbeaten 47 from 33 balls and somehow forced the game into the Super Over, which gave Sunrisers Hyderabad another shot at victory despite being so behind in the race at one point.
Three wins from three is a major confidence boost for New Zealand - but the next game against India is simply massive, says Daniel Vettori.
New Zealand will enter the World Cup feeling optimistic of finally winning it after four and half decades of trying.
David Miller blasted a quickfire 51-ball 94 as Gujarat Titans pulled off an incredible come-from-behind three-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2022 match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday.
Pics from the IPL 2022 match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals
A clinical showing from their bowlers and a solid half-century from captain Kane Williamson helped Sunrisers Hyderabad outclass Gujarat Titans by eight wickets in the IPL 2022 match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Monday.
An in-form Delhi Capitals will fancy their chances of securing a play-off berth when they face Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner are among 10 New Zealand players in the different franchises of the IPL.
Here's the full list of players sold on Day 1:
Table-toppers Chennai Super Kings will look to complete the double against Kolkata Knight Riders, just like Delhi Capitals did, when the teams clash in Sunday's IPL match in Kolkata. The home side's consistency has suddenly taken a beating after two defeats on the trot, first in Chennai and then against Delhi Capitals on Friday night. Thus, the Knight Riders will be under immense pressure to arrest the slide when they face mighty Chennai.
Karthik will be surrounded by cricketing brains all around him with the 2019 England World Cup winning skipper as his deputy, and New Zealand great Brendon McCullum as the head coach.
KKR did not win the mini-battles in the game and 172 eventually proved too little.
An unwell Trent Boult skipped the New Zealand cricket team's training session at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Monday, staying away from the squad as a precautionary measure. The left-arm pacer is among eight players including Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, who are attending the first half of the camp that started 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.
Hardik Pandya's philosophy of playing 'not just to win' but 'to entertain' has infused energy and life into Gujarat Titans
The Black Caps were also scheduled to travel to Australia for an ODI series but the fixture was on Friday postponed to next summer (2021-22) due to the pandemic.
The 10 IPL franchises have so far spent above Rs 388 crore collectively
New Zealand will be banking on injured pace bowlers Trent Boult (hand), Matt Henry (thumb) and Lockie Ferguson (calf) coming back into contention for the Tests
Towering fast bowler Kyle Jamieson will make his international debut for New Zealand against India in the second one-day match in Auckland on Saturday. The 2.03m (6'8") tall Jamieson was called into the national squad for the final two Tests against Australia but did not play and was not in the side for the opening one-day match against India in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Punjab, who are on eight points from 11 games, need to win the match to keep their play-offs hopes alive, while KKR (10 points from 11 games) also need a victory to boost their hopes.
Photos from the ongoing IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad
New Zealand's fast bowling department has been hit hard by injuries as Matt Henry, Doug Bracewell and Adam Milne have also been sidelined.
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