ALL ABOARD I ROLLER COAS

The 7-Week Event’s Constant Cricket And Intense Highs & Lo Drained. But With The World Cup To Follow, All The Talk Is Ab

The show ‘Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians’ has been on Netflix for a while now. It never reaches the height of something like the ‘All or Nothing: Manchester City’ docu-homage, but it does allow us a peek into the dressing-room of a high-profile IPL team when things aren’t going too well.

The IPL journey, as we see in the show, is a roller-coaster ride, and as much as it is about the highs of last-ball victories, it’ bout dealing with the lows of defeats, d Importantly, there’s just no time t Even before a team is able to pro it’s taking the next flight and is bac Win or lose, what IPL does to pla them, and that’s the biggest talkin move into a month and half of cricket. Never before has a 50-ov been scheduled just after the IPL for national teams is to see their for the ICC showpiece event. Wh have stopped their entire World tery from taking part in the tourn stan, for once, will be happy that are not allowed to take part in th There have been experts who h ers should try and preserve them but is that possible once you take t Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indi who is coming back from an injury, his team management that he won’t games so that he is fresh for the W will Virat Kohli stop short of thro on the boundary line with Royal Bangalore pushing for their first-e As much as we talk about th theory, franchise-first is bound to the next couple of months. Kohli forget all about his India concerns RCB teammate — the dangerous myer of West Indies — how to d mystery of Kolkata Knight Rid Yadav. Similarly, Rohit Sharma w into the details of the exact length McClenaghan of New Zealand ne stop MS Dhoni, who is looking to the IPL to prepare himself for the Notes will be exchanged, mys decoded, injuries will happen, sti be any let-up in the intensity. Wh champions Chennai Super Kings will use all their experience to make their army of fans happy, star-studded Mumbai Indians will try to shrug off the bitter disappointment of last year and be in the title-race. As KKR’s Dinesh Karthik and Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant try to do enough for themselves — and subsequently for the team — so that they are in the World Cup squad, Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals) and David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) will get the feel of competitive cricket all over again after a year’s ban. For RCB and Kohli, it’s only about winning the title and anything less will add to the underachievers’ tag that they have been carrying for a while now.


And before the curtain goes up on our next Prime Minister, India will know whether captain Kohli has been able to break his IPL duck and leave for England on a high for a more meaningful second half of a long summer.

CAN CSK REPEAT LAST YEAR’S FEAT OR ARE THEIR PLAYERS OVER THE HILL?

WHO WIL CRACK THE CODE?
CAN CSK REPEAT LAST YEAR’S FEAT OR ARE THEIR PLAYERS OVER THE HILL? CAN UNF THE CORNER THIS TIME? WILL SMITH AND WARNER BE RUSTY? TOI ANALYSES THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE EIGHT TEAM
Strength: They have retained their core team and therefore have a well-settled playing XI. The presence of a number of allrounders like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Carlos Brathwaite and Lockie Ferguson gives skipper Dinesh Karthik plenty of options in the bowling department. In Narine, Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawla, the team has three top-quality spinners who can be a handful on any track. In Russell and Karthik, KKR have two finishers of very high pedigree.

Weakness: Their pace bowling arsenal lacks firepower and is also low on experience. KKR have already lost three pacers — Indian youngsters Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti and South African Anrich Nortje — to injuries.


X-Factor: The highly talented Punjab youngster Subhman Gill showed glimpses of his class in the last edition of the IPL. KKR team management plans to use him as a floater as he can bat anywhere in the order. He could well turn out to be a star performer for KKR in the tournament.

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD

Strength: There are no superstars in the squad and that helps them to fly successfully under the radar. David Warner is back, bearded and looking fitter than ever. Their bowling unit has definitely been their strength over the years and relies on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan who will be joined by Shahbaz Nadeem this season.

Weakness: Shikhar Dhawan’s move to Delhi Capitals means the new opening combination will be slightly unsettled.

X-Factor: Flexibility. Last year they made light of David Warner’s absence. They rode on Kane Williamson’s batting prowess and tactical acumen to finish runners-up even with Bhuvneshwar not playing all the games. The Sunrisers’ ability to find like-for-like replacements in the team has stood them in good stead.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS

Strength: CSK have quite simply been there, done pla offs in each of the nine editions they ha e

Weakness: With South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi ruled out of the tournament, CSK’s pace bowling resources wear a thin look. Last season, he was the standout pacer for the side with 11 wickets in 7 matches at an economy rate of just 6 runs per over.

X-Factor: In Mitchell Santner, CSK have almost a completely new player who can add a different dimension to the side. His left-arm spin will add potency to the attack and he is also a useful lower-order batsman.

MUMBAI INDIANS

Strength: Mumbai opted to retain the core of their squad prior to the auctions and will be banking on the chemistry between the likes of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and the other experienced MI members.

Weakness: They trust their existing bowling resources completely but that may backfire. MI have invested in another fast bowler, Barinder Sran, and young bowling all-rounder Pankaj Jaiswal, but they may struggle if the regular bowlers hit a rough patch. Also, MI have traditionally been slow starters and need to improve on this count.

X-Factor: MI have been known to promote rookies who have gone on to make a name for themselves and this year too, they have a couple of players like Jaiswal and 17-year-old pacer Rasikh Salam from Kashmir, who given the chance, could shine on the big stage.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

Strength: With Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane opening the innings, things look bright at the top.

Weakness: There is too much dependence on Stokes as an all-rounder. K Gowtham fits the bill, but it is difficult to see him as a fulcrum around whom an innings can be built. The spinning department appears a little thin. Ish Sodhi may not always be available due to overseas combinations. That leaves Shreyas Gopal and Gowtham with a tough job.

X-factor: Return of the prodigal in Steve Smith could hold the key. The Australian, who would have led Royals on their return from the ban last year, would be looking to start afresh. And what better stage than IPL to show he remains the player he was before Sandpapergate happened. He can be expected to share the strategizing role with Rahane, Shane Warne and Zubin Bharucha.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

Strength: The top-order batting led by in-form skipper Virat Kohli continues to be the team’s USP. The addition of West Indies’ young talent Shimron Hetmyer to the line-up, which also includes AB de Villiers, has enhanced the top order. RCB seem to have addressed their middleorder woes as well with the addition of Shivam Dube and Marcus Stoinis, both powerful strikers of the ball.

Weakness: Bowling, especially in the death overs, continues to be a cause for worry for RCB. Much like the last few years, the team’s ability to use its allrounders will be put to test.

X Factor: A left-handed top-order batsman, Hetmyer showed a glimpse of what he can deliver on Indian soil, especially against spinners, when West Indies toured the country last year. The 22-year-old —playing his maiden IPL—will be eager to prove that RCB’s investment of Rs 4.2 Sharma add experience to a team which has groomed the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Sandeep Lamicchane and Avesh Khan.

Weakness: Barring Dhawan, this team doesn’t have anybody in the ranks who has been part of a successful franchise. The Delhi franchise doesn’t have the habit of winning big games and tournaments. Coach Ricky Ponting and advisor Sourav Ganguly will have to raise the intensity in the dressing room to push this young team over the line.

X-factor: Rishabh Pant. He has the ability to win matches single-handedly.

KINGS XI PUNJAB

Strength: Primarily, Punjab’s strength lies in a power-packed top-order. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul will open the innings, and both are in good form. With 39 sixes in four innings in the recent ODI series against England, Gayle showed that his powers haven’t waned, while Rahul was on a different plane altogether in the last IPL – scoring 659 runs in 14 innings at a strike-rate of 158.41. Kings XI’s spin department is also their strong point. Skipper R Ashwin and mystery spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Varun Chakravarthy add teeth to the team’s bowling.

Weakness: Lack of an explosive allrounder is bound to affect the balance of the team. Kings have Sam Curran and Moises Henriques in their squad, but neither is a certainty in the playing eleven. Besides, their tail is too long.

X-factor: Chris Gayle was in devastating form in the ODI series against England recently. Even in the last IPL, the ‘Universe Boss’ scored 368 runs from 11 innings at an average of 40.88 and a strike-rate of 146.03.

I fit the role of 4th bowler for World Cup: Umesh

I fit the role of 4th bowler for World Cup: Umesh

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) pacer Umesh Yadav is looking to impress RCB and Team India captain Virat Kohli with a strong show in his team’s opener against CSK on Saturday. Umesh believes that he fits the bill for the fourth seamer’s slot in India’s World Cup squad. “If you look at the IPL as a platform to convince selectors that I am the man to be picked for the World Cup, I am the man. The fourth bowler that the team is looking at, I feel I fit that role,” he said.


ICC nod for names, on shirts in Tests

In a bid to further popularise Test cricket, the ICC has allowed players to have their names and numbers on the back of their shirts starting with the World Test Championship from August 1. The Ashes series between England and Australia will be the first instance when the players will sport these jerseys. With an aim to attract more fans to the game, the ICC has approved the idea of having players’ names and numbers on their shirts even in the longest format of the gentleman’s game. It will only make it more exciting for the fans who seem to be more interested to follow the shorter formats of the game.

Ireland to host Windies, Bangladesh

West Indies and Bangladesh will travel to Ireland for a One-Day International tri-series, beginning May 5 ahead of the ICC World Cup. The tri-series will involve a double roundrobin phase followed by the final. The matches will be hosted between the three venues of Castle Avenue, Clontarf and Malahide, ICC reported.

Haris maiden ton lifts Pakistan to 280

Left-hander Haris Sohail knocked his maiden one-day century to guide Pakistan to 280-5 in the first day-night international against Australia here on Friday. The 30-year-old made 115-ball 101 not out in his comeback match after returning home from the South Africa tour with a knee injury last year, lifting Pakistan to a fighting total in their 50 overs.

Brief scores: Pakistan 280 for 5 (Sohail 101*, Coulter-Nile 2-61 ) v Australia

Cousins returns, leads Warriors to win

DeMarcus Cousins contributed six points to a third-quarter runaway in his return to the line-up Thursday night, helping the Golden State Warriors blowout the Indiana Pacers 112-89 in Oakland.

Results: Golden State Warriors 112 bt Indiana Pacers 89; Atlanta Hawks 117 bt Utah Jazz 114; Charlotte Hornets 113 bt Minnesota Timberwolves 106; Washington Wizards 108 lt to Denver Nuggets 113; Phoenix Suns 98 lt to Detroit Pistons 118; Sacramento Kings 116 bt Dallas Mavericks 100.

Bianca pulls off great escape in Miami

Canadian teenage sensation Bianca Andreescu pulled off a Miami Open great escape by fighting back from a set and match point down to beat a dazed Irina-Camelia Begu 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the first round on Thursday. Third-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova breezed into the third round with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

When Xavi cracked the coconut code

Fifa 2010 World Cup winner Xavi was in the city this week as part of his ambassadorial role for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The star playmaker, who also won two European Championships with Spain and four Uefa Champions League titles with Barcelona, spent some time with children from an NGO, trying to give them a few tips

on how to become a better footballer.

While the kids basked in the opportunity to take part in a brief football session with the midfield maestro — who showed off his amazing passing skills — Xavi saved his best for last. The 39-year-old was asked to break a coconut as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for the laying of a new turf at a ground in Colaba. For someone who broke down the world’s best defences at ease, breaking a coconut might have seemed a fairly straightforward task. Xavi appeared amused at first but then he’s not one to shy away from challenges. The only problem however, was that he was alien to the process. He was all set to throw it from shoulder height onto the stone when an organiser, luckily, stopped him and explained how it was to be done.

Xavi finally succeeded on the third try but continued banging the coconut a couple more times, much to the amusement of everyone around. Be it with a football or a coconut, trust Xavi to entertain!

‘Zak the ripper’ is back

Here’s something exciting that IPL-12 may offer: More than three years after he retired, ‘Zak the ripper’ Zaheer Khan, who mesmerised batsmen with his lethal swing bowling, is set to roll his famous left arm over again.

Answering a query by a fan about whether he’s likely to bowl to the Mumbai Indians batsmen at the nets, the former India seamer, who’s joined the franchise as the director of cricket operations, said in the team’s pre-tournament presser: “Towards the second half of the tournament, when everybody is tired, when everybody needs a little bit of time off! I am warming up for that and that time you will see me contribute by bowling in the nets to provide that extra practice for the batsmen.”

At 40, Zaheer may not offer the same challenge in the nets as he did in his heyday, but it’s clear that MI are set to gain a lot from the brains of this wily bowler, as was evident when he spoke about monitoring allrounder Hardik Pandya’s fragile lower back.

(CONTRIBUTED BY ANIL DIAS & GAURAV GUPTA)


2010 World Cup winner Xavi found it rather tricky to break a coconut as part of a ground-breaking ceremony for the laying of a new turf

Midfielder Inspires Belgium To 3-1 Win Over Russia In Qualifying Opener

ROAD TO EURO 2020
HAZARD DOUBLE SINKS RUSSIA

Paris:

Eden Hazard ensured Belgium kicked off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 in style on Thursday with a brace in a home victory over Russia, while a Memphis Depay-inspired Netherlands romped to a 4-0 win over Belarus.


World Cup semi-finalists Belgium earned a battling 3-1 win over Russia in Brussels as Hazard struck twice for Roberto Martinez’s side in their opening game in Group I. Youri Tielemans rounded off a flowing move with a crisp low strike to fire Belgium ahead on 14 minutes at the King Baudouin Stadium, but Thibaut Courtois gifted Russia an immediate equaliser.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper, put under pressure by Artem Dzyuba, panicked and scuffed the ball straight to Denis Cheryshev who duly swept home into an empty net. Michy Batshuayi had a shot cleared off the line, and later hit the post, but Hazard restored Belgium’s lead just before halftime after drawing a foul from Yuri Zhirkov in the area.

The Chelsea playmaker sealed the three points two minutes from time with an alert finish, while Aleksandr Golovin was sent off for Russia just before the end. “I enjoyed myself tonight. I take a lot of pleasure from this victory, in which I scored two goals,” said Belgium captain Hazard. “After our last game against Switzerland (a 5-2 defeat), we had to respond in front of our own fans.” Scotland crashed to a humiliating 3-0 loss in Kazakhstan — a nation ranked 117th in the Fifa rankings. Yuriy Pertsukh and Yan Vorogovskiy notched early goals for Kazakhstan before Baktiyor Zainutdinov’s terrific header extinguished any chance of Scotland recovering.

Depay dazzles

In Rotterdam, Memphis Depay pounced on a sloppy backpass to put the Dutch ahead inside 60 seconds against Group C opponents Belarus.

The Lyon forward set up Georginio Wijnaldum for their second on 21 minutes, with Depay tucking away a penalty after half-time following a foul by Mikhail Sivakov. Depay whipped in a cross for skipper Virgil van Dijk to nod in a fourth late on, leaving the Netherlands level on points with Northern Ireland, who beat Estonia 2-0 with Niall McGinn and Steven Davis on target in Belfast.

“It’s hard to choose between the goals and the assists,” said Depay. “The first goal was good because it was the outside of my foot, but I also enjoyed the flick that set up the second.”

Krzysztof Piatek continued his magnificent season as he came off the bench to grab the only goal in a 1-0 win for Poland away to Austria in Group G. World Cup runners-up Croatia, relegated from the top tier of the Nations League last year, ground out an unconvincing 2-1 victory against Azerbaijan in Zagreb. Rami Sheydaev put Azerbaijan on top on 19 minutes before Croatia hit back through Borna Barisic and a 79th-minute effort by Andrej Kramaric in Group E. AFP

Key results: (Gr C) Netherlands 4 (Depay 1, 55-pen, Wijnaldum 21, Van Dijk 86) Belarus 0; (Gr E) Croatia 2 (Barisic 44, Kramaric 79) Azerbaijan 1 (Sheydaev 19); (Gr G) Austria 0 Poland 1 (Piatek 69); (Gr I) Kazakhstan 3 (Pertsukh 6, Vorogovskiy 10, Zainutdinov 51) Scotland 0; Belgium 3 (Tielemans 14, Hazard 45-pen, 88) Russia 1 (Cheryshev 16)


ETERNAL HAZARD: Eden Hazard (C) celebrates on scoring Belgium’s third goal against Russia in Brussels

Champion Carlsen plays ‘black first’ in fight against racism

Chennai:

World champion Magnus Carlsen and Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri are the fiercest of rivals who don’t shy away from having a go at each other either during a competition or on the social media.


But on Thursday the two got together for a social cause and shot for the “Move for Equality” campaign which celebrates the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which falls on March 21. The campaign shows the duo play a game with Carlsen making the opening move with the black pieces — instead of white — thereby breaking the age-old chess rule.

While the game ended in a “no-result”, it was the idea that stood out. “It was an exhibition game and we wanted to set an example for equality and not just celebrate a winner in this UNESCO initiative. Magnus and myself were approached to bring this campaign to life and I didn’t hesitate as it seemed like a great opportunity to promote the idea of equality of opportunities which is something I strongly believe in,” Anish, World No. 4 told the TOI on Friday. Anish felt black making the first move conveyed a strong message. “The idea that black starts first was a symbolic gesture. As a professional, it is actually refreshing to see the same opening positions with colors reversed. It gives a new perspective,” Anish said. The video was shot at Oslo in Norway at the “Good Knight” pub, which has gained popularity as a chess pub since its opening in 2018.

Carlsen, on his part, was happy to have broken a stereotype with this initiative. “We broke a rule in chess today. This rule was never about race or politics but we can break it to send a message to everyone that who believes that color should grant advantage in chess or in life,” he said.

The video was an instant hit on the social media circles with Grandmasters and former players welcoming the move. B Adhiban, who recently won an individual gold for India at the World team championships, was pleasantly surprised to see Carlsen and Anish coming together on the same platform.

“I think it’s a great initiative. However, I was laughing when I first saw the video because the two are generally trolling each other on Twitter. So I thought it was another Twitter war,” Adhiban said. Susan Polgar felt it was an issue that needed to be addressed. “I support any initiative which can raise awareness on this important issue. And to have someone with Magnus’ stature behind it is great,” she said. The bigger question is — will tournaments in future allow blacks the first-mover advantage? “It was not the idea of our campaign, but if an organizer wants to do so — why not,” said Anish.

Susan felt it was best left to the respective federations to make the call. “Not every federation is prepared for such drastic rule change,” she said.

Does featuring in a campaign with Magnus put an end to their banter?

“Banter will be back, but some things are bigger than competition,” Anish said.

NIA files ‘open FIR’ to probe JeM’s plans of more attacks

New Delhi:

A month after the Pulwama attack, the NIA has registered an “open FIR” against Jaish-e-Muhammed and its leaders in India and Pakistan — including Masood Azhar’s brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Muddasir Khan and six others — to investigate the outfit’s plans to carry out more attacks across India.


Azhar, who is admitted in a Pakistani hospital, has not been named in the FIR.

Sources said the purpose of the open FIR was to nab its underground cadres, sleeper cells, sympathisers and those who help the outfit financially and logistically in different cities across India. It will also help stop future attacks and make a strong case detailing the outfit’s terror plans, which are carried out with the help of the Pakistani government and its spy agency ISI.

The agency on Friday took custody of Sajjad Khan, a close aide of Muddasir Khan. Sources said Sajjad was sent by JeM to Delhi to carry out reconnaissance of important targets, set up a hideout in the city, radicalise and recruit Muslim youth of Uttar Pradesh and other states, provide them training in weapons, explosives and field craft, besides raising funds. Sajjad was operating under the guise of a shawl vendor.

Sources said the open FIR also means the NIA can investigate the role of J&K separatists and other outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen in collaborating with JeM for terror activities in India.

It will help India prepare a detailed dossier on JeM’s activities, further strengthening its quest to get the outfit’s leaders banned by UN Security Council.

NIA had registered a similar open FIR against Islamic State in 2016, following which a massive crackdown began against the outfit’s activities in India and those trying to join it.

Recently, in a dossier submitted to Pakistan, India had provided details on JeM’s rallies, meetings and training camps run from POK and territories like Manshera, Bahawalpur and other areas.

NIA and intelligence sources said the outfit was funded by business interests and so-called Islamic charitable foundations. It received funding from Gulf countries and the Pakistani government and ISI. The group is provided with sophisticated weapons, explosives, technical equipment and military training by the Pakistan Army.

The JeM runs a charity called Al-Rehmat Trust, which collects donations in the garb of helping families of mujahideen (terrorists).

Three terror module members chargesheeted
The NIA on Friday filed a chargesheet against Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Salim alias Mama and Mohammad Kamran (absconding Pakistani) in its case related to setting up of a terror funding base in Delhi by Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation, an arm of Lashkar-e-Taiba. NIA says that global terrorist Hafiz Saeed, who heads FIF, conspired to create sleeper cells and logistics base in Delhi under the garb of religious work like construction of mosques, madrasa education and financial assistance for marriage of poor Muslim girls. Later on Friday, a Delhi court sent alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Sajjad Khan, a close aide of Pulwama attack mastermind Mudassir, to the custody of the NIA till March 29. TNN