Feels like yesterday: Bumrah completes eight years in Blue and Gold

You can’t judge from Test cricket whether or not I will be good at T20: Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is ready to play a different innings, in what seems like an approaching Twilight of his cricketing career. Having previously not been part of any IPL set up since 2015, the Test stalwart feels that he can now give his best in the shortest format of the game as well if given a chance. I wasn't confident I will be picked, but I was very confident that given an opportunity I will be successful in this format. I will learn many things and I am very confident that I will become a better player in this format. The Saurashtra cricketer also feels that people should not judge his T20 playing abilities on the basis of his Test match performances. Stating that it is not people’s fault that they don’t consider him as a T20 player, Pujara said, “They don't know whether I'm good or not good, because in the last few years I haven't been seen playing T20 cricket.” “For example, if someone hasn't played any Test cricket in the last four or five years, you can't say he is good or bad because he hasn't played. So just by seeing the way I play in Test cricket, you can't pass judgement about whether I'll be good or not be good at the shorter format,” the Rajkot born added. When Pujara, 33, was picked by CSK in the IPL auctions, the moment was celebrated by clapping from all the franchises sitting at the table. Talking about that moment and the fact that CSK bought to pay respect to what he has achieved in Test cricket, Pujara said, “I'm really pleased that what I've done for the Indian team is noticed and I got results for that.” I feel that when you are doing something for the Indian team, people love it, they know the value I bring in. Not just the franchises, almost all my [India] team-mates were really happy for me. Saying that he has been the only guy in the Indian team missing out in the IPL in recent years, Pujara felt that Hanuma Vihari, who missed out this year, should also be part of some franchise or the other. “The only guy missing out at this stage is Hanuma Vihari. I feel for him. He was previously part of the IPL. I feel that he should also be part of the IPL,” said Pujara.

Australia Women’s team surpasses Men’s, win 22 games on trot to create world record

The Australian Women’s team created a world record today morning, April 4, as they defeated New Zealand women by six wickets in Mount Munganai to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. This was the 22nd win on the trot for Meg Lanning’s side, one more than what Ricky Ponting’s Kangaroos had achieved in 2003. This incredible run of 22 wins started for the Women in Gold in 2018 when they defeated the Indian eves 3-0 in a three-match series. That wave continued as they went on to win six more three-match ODI series consecutively. They defeated Pakistan Women, New Zealand Women, England Women, West Indies Women, Sri Lanka Women, before defeating New Zealand women once again. The previous record for most consecutive wins by the Women’s cricket team was also held by the Southern Stars only when they had a winning run of 17 matches starting 1997 till 1999. As far as the match is concerned, the White Ferns were dismissed for 212 in 49th over thanks to some disciplined bowling by Megan Schutt and Nicola Carey who took four and three wickets respectively to nullify Lauren Down’s 90 run effort. While batting, Alyssa Healy (65) and Ellyse Perry (56*) made sure that the chase was done and dusted in the 39th over itself.

No replacement for Hazlewood? Billy Stanlake, Reece Topley reject offers from CSK

The Chennai Super Kings management approached Australian quick Billy Stnalake and England left-arm pacer Reece Topley with an offer to join the franchise as Josh Hazlewood’s replacement for the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League. But both the pacers, who have running contracts with County sides reportedly rejected the offer. “Many of them have contracts with English county teams and the permissions aren't forthcoming due to the rising number of Covid cases. We may have to go for a wildcard and may get one soon enough. But the problems do persist," a source close to the developments in CSK was quoted as saying by TOI. While 26-year-old Queenslander, Stanlake, signed for Derbyshire in March 2021, Topley is a Hampshire member and both counties couldn’t risk letting go of their star bowlers in a situation that is getting precariously scary with the rising Covid-19 cases in India. Hazlewood, 30, had pulled out of the showpiece T20 event in India citing bubble fatigue. He also reasoned that he wanted to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup and wanted to remain fresh for the Ashes and thus family time was necessary.

The covid-19 threat for IPL 2021: RCB’s Padikkal becomes latest victim

Royal Challengers Bangalore are in all sorts of trouble and that too at the start of the season itself as its young opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal has tested positive for the dreaded Covid-19 virus. Padikkal according to TOI is now isolating in a separate facility and is in the race of being fit before the start of the first game for RCB on 9th April against Mumbai Indians. Although there is no official confirmation as yet from the RCB unit, if reports are found to be true, then according to the BCCI rules regarding Covid-19, no player could be on the field before days of rest after having tested positive. Earlier Nitish Rana of Kolkata Knight Riders and Axar Patel of the Delhi Capitals too tested positive for the virus. While Rana is now back into the bubble after returning negative tests, the Gujarat born Capitals player is quarantining. Padikkal had been in sublime form in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy scoring 737 runs in seven innings with the help of four hundreds and three fifties and was only behind Prithvi Shaw of Mumbai in the list of top run-getters.