The Marlboro Man is riding into town but he could soon face some deadly duels, says Surajeet Das Gupta.
Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan stroked solid half-centuries to power Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore and qualify for the play-offs.
Skipper Virat Kohli insisted Royal Challengers Bangalore deserved a qualification spot in the Indian Premier League play-offs and said his team would make full use of the opportunity.
Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore go into the virtual quarter-final, having lost four and three games on the trot respectively
A venomous spell of fast bowling from Stuart Broad led England to an emphatic seven- wicket win over South Africa in the third on Saturday to clinch the series. Broad's brilliant return of 6-17 on a lively wicket skittled the Proteas for 83 in their second innings on the third day. England reached their modest victory-target of 74 with relative ease as captain Alastair Cook (43) top-scored in guiding them to 77 for three from 22,4 overs under gloomy skies. The tourists now have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, with the final game to be played in Pretoria. South Africa bowled out England for 323 in the morning session for a slender first-innings deficit of 10 runs, but were no match for the bounce and movement of a rampant Broad as they crumbled to their second lowest score since returning to international cricket in 1991.
Ace Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has become the first Indian to receive a nomination in the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards to be held, in Monaco, on February 18.
Mohali was on Wednesday formally approved as the venue for the second cricket Test between India and England after getting the clearance from England and Wales Cricket Board's security experts.
Morne Morkel makes a return to the limited-overs format after nearly 10 months, adding experience to the pace bowling group featuring Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo.
Delhi Daredevils snapped their five-match losing streak with a comfortable six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad to keep their hopes alive of making it to the play-offs, in the Indian Premier League, at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, on Tuesday.
Earlier, South Africa England swung the bat to declare on 313-8 at tea on the fourth day, a taking huge lead of 491 runs.
Xander Schauffele waded into the debate over the world's best golfer after finishing runner-up to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Sunday.
England's cricket team could decide by Monday if they will return to India for two scheduled Test matches following this week's attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 200 people. Morris said a security report would be compiled within the next 48 hours and that fringe players are ready if required to replace any team members not wishing to return to India.
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli described team-mate AB de Villiers's unbeaten 33-ball 73, which set up a comprehensive victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Monday, as "superhuman" effort.
The middle-order continues to remain a concern for CSK with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself not being at his best.
England Professional Cricketers Association chief executive Sean Morris has lashed out at IPL chairman Lalit Modi for using pressure tactics on players which has led to Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff being used as "pawns and bargaining chips" in a global power struggle between India and England.
Young batsman Krunal Pandya produced a blinder of an innings scoring 86 runs off only 37 balls as Mumbai Indians defended their massive 206-4 against Delhi Daredevils to record a convincing 80-run victory at Visakhapatnam on Sunday. This win by a huge margin has also boosted the net run-rate of Mumbai at a crucial time as they move above Gujarat Lions to third place in the points table. Pandya's knock was laced with half a dozen towering sixes and seven boundaries as he shared a 98-run fiery stand with opener Martin Guptill to power Mumbai to a commanding 206 for four.
Shane Watson smashed an unbeaten century and then bagged two wickets as Rajasthan Royals outplayed defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by nine runs to seal a play-offs berth in the IPL tournament in Mumbai on Saturday.
'Sanju backed himself to get the job done, and he nearly did'
The celebrated duo of head coach Ricky Ponting and mentor Sourav Ganguly has managed to instill belief in the team members and that is visible on the field. The team now seems to believe that it can win the title after a long spell as the perennial underachiever of the competition.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle list IPL 2021's 50 Most Valuable Players up to Game 39.
South Africa's talismanic captain AB de Villiers has recovered from injury and been included in the Proteas squad for the One-day series at home against Australia starting later this month.
Rajasthan Royals defeated Delhi Daredevils by three wickets.
A look at Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL record over the years.
Most of these incredible performances came against one team -- the Gujarat Lions.
Rajneesh Gupta presents statistical summary of Delhi Capitals formerly known as Delhi Daredevils and much more.
Featuring Santer, Jordan, Faulkner, Morris, Zampa.
Travellers Jack Morris and Lauren Bullen tell you how to perk up your relationship while on the go.
India face a South Africa in their final World Twenty20 warm-up game in Mumbai, on Saturday.
The Australian newspaper reported on Saturday the documentary will allege spot-fixers bribed the groundsman at Galle to doctor the pitch used for the 2016 second Test between hosts Sri Lanka and Australia.
On a roll after back-to-back wins, the vintage Chennai Super Kings would look to extend their winning run when they clash with struggling Kolkata Knight Riders in their next IPL match in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle list IPL 2021's 50 Most Valuable Players.
Fine knocks by Kiran Powar and Dheeraj Jadhav helped Mumbai Champs coast to a 54-run victory over Kolkata Tigers in the ICL-50s played at Mayajaal Sports Village in Chennai on Sunday.
South Africa lost four wickets in the final session of a fluctuating first day of the second Test against England at Trent Bridge on Friday but finished with a defiant flourish to end on 309 for six.
While Dhoni scored 44 not out from 22 balls in the 80-run victory, it was the two stumpings he pulled off in the same Ravindra Jadeja over to send back Chris Morris and Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer that were as crucial.
KKR coach said there was no demon in the pitch but their batsmen lacked intent against some quality RCB bowling.
Lockie Ferguson's inclusion gave the much-needed impetus to the side, but KKR are still struggling with their star all-rounder Andre Russell who capped yet another flop show with the bat.
Off-spinner Dane Piedt raised hopes of an unlikely South African victory as he grabbed three wickets on Wednesday to leave England on 155 for six at tea on the final day of the high-scoring second Test.
Buoyed by their thrilling last-ball win against Delhi Daredevils, a confident Rajasthan Royals will take on a beleaguered Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League cricket encounter in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Rajasthan Royals celebrated their return to their home ground at the Sawai Mansingh stadium with a 10-run win over Delhi Daredevils in the rain-hit Indian Premier League match in Jaipur on Wednesday.
Rajasthan Royals would be keen to adapt quickly to their new 'home ground' when they lock horns with last season's runner-up Kings XI Punjab in their campaign opener in the Indian Premier League in Pune.
