I know World Cup in 2022 is my swansong: Mithali Raj

We are pretty good as a bowling unit: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Sunrisers Hyderabad finally got their first win in this edition of the Indian Premier League after they defeated Punjab Kings by 9 wickets in Chennai. Riding on some brilliant bowling from the bowlers, SRH bundled out Punjab for 120 in 19.4 overs and then chased down the target sparing more than an over. In a video released by the SRH franchise on their official YouTube channel, Brad Haddin, wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar talk about their first win, Rashid Khan and Abhishek Sharma’s bowling performance. “It’s good to finally win a game. The pitch was different in Chennai. It was relatively slow as compared to other tracks that we have played on,” said Bairstow. Talking about the bowling department, Bhuvneshwar Kumar suggested that all the bowlers have complimented each other well. “The bowlers have complimented each other especially Khaleel bowled with a plan. And if you look at Rashid, Abhishek, everyone complimented each other and we are pretty good as a bowling unit,” the right-arm bowler said. Spinner Abhishek Sharma began the proceedings for SRH in this particular game and impressed everyone with his bowling performance and returned with figures of 2/24 in 4 overs eventually. Mentioning about the left-arm spinner, Bhuvneshwar said that he was mentally prepared for bowling in the initial stage of the game. “Abhishek was ready to take the opportunity to bowl with the new ball,” Bhuvi said. “It’s not easy to bowl with the new ball especially in front of someone like KL or Gayle. So I think he was just spot on,” the right-arm bowler added. Wicket-keeper Bairstow has the best seat while Rashid is bowling. When asked about his bowling, Bairstow said that the Afghan spinner is just brilliant. “Rashid is just brilliant and as a batsman you need to pick him up well. The success he has had over the years and the skillset he has is amazing,” Bairstow said. “Rashid is bowling his leg spin more now and I think that is a different aspect of bowling,” he added. SRH will now play Delhi Capitals in Chennai on Sunday.

Sachin Tendulkar thanks his fans for birthday wishes; urges people for plasma donation

Extending his gratitude towards his fans and followers on the occasion of his birthday, Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar said that good wishes from friends and family along with doctors and staffs helped him staying in a positive frame of mind while recovering from Covid-19. "Thank you, everyone, for your birthday wishes. It's truly made my day. The last month has been a tough month for me, I was tested positive and has to be isolated for 21 days. Your good wishes, my family and friends' good wishes, and last but not the least the doctors and the staff kept me in a positive frame of mind and helped me recover," Tendulkar said in a video he released on his Twitter timeline. He also urged fans and people who have recovered from the novel coronavirus infection to donate their plasma after consultations with doctors. He said that while launching a plasma donation center last year he was made aware that patients recover quickly in case of plasma treatment. "Big thank you all of you. Last year I had inaugurated a plasma donation center and their message was if plasma is given at the right time patients can recover faster. I too when permissible would be donating plasma, I have had a word with my doctor," he added. All of those who have recovered from Covid-19, consult your doctor, and when permissible please donate blood. With this, problems we are facing can be reduced. Please donate blood and help fellow Indians.” Notably, Tendulkar tested positive for novel coronavirus infection after returning from the Road Safety World Series played among legends of world cricket in Raipur, Chhatisgarh.

Dimuth Karunaratne plays captain’s knock, hits maiden double ton to neutralize Bangladesh

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne hit his maiden double century in Test cricket as he alongside Dhananjaya de Silva continued to steer the Lankans to safe havens against an imposing Bangladesh’s first innings total of 541 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. At the end of the fourth day’s play due to bad light, Karunaratne was unbeaten at 234. In his marathon knock which has taken up 419 deliveries till now, the left-handed maestro has hit 25 fours and not a single six, showcasing how disciplined he has been in his approach. After three wickets fell in quick succession, including that of experienced campaigners like Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne, the 33-year-old alongside young gun de Silva built a partnership, which is now 322 runs strong. For Bangladesh, it was a day of despair as they failed to pick even a single wicket on the fourth day of play. Among the three wickets that have fallen, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan have picked one each. Earlier Bangladesh declared their innings after scoring 541 in 173 overs. Their innings was dominated by young Najmul Hossain Shanto who scored a brilliant maiden Test hundred (163) and was well supported by skipper Mominul Haque with his 11th Test ton (127). With the onset of the fifth day, Sri Lanka, who trail by 29 runs would look to take a definite lead and practice their batting some more as getting a result out of this game seems impossible.

Steve Smith looking for more success with bat and eyeing ultimate goal of winning IPL 2021

The Delhi Capitals have had an exceedingly good start to the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League but a lot of the success has been due to an in-form opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. On the other hand, the Capitals have struggled to find a perfect number three batsman and have tried both Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith for the role. Having axed Rahane after a couple of sluggish innings, the Capitals would have been happy seeing Steve Smith fulfilling the role by setting up the game in the last game. Discussing his progression in the Capitals camps after being sacked by the Rajasthan Royals before the auction earlier this year, Smith has said that they are a lot of people who are trying to see the common cause and honing their skills to help the Capitals. He said that winning the IPL 2021 will be the ultimate goal of everyone in the Capitals camp. "It hasn't been difficult at all, just a really good group of people. Ana, who brings everyone together, you know for a common cause, and that's trying to do everything we can, to make the time enjoyable for everyone but winning the IPL is obviously the ultimate goal,” Smith said in an all-access video posted by the Capitals in their Twitter timeline. Smith batted fluently and found gaps to keep the scoreboard going in the game against the Mumbai Indians in their last game along with Shikhar Dhawan who has been the top run-getter this season so far. Smith said having Dhawan makes a task a lot easier than it is but hoped for better returns for himself in the coming games. "Nice to spend a bit of time in the middle with Shikhar the other day. You know he's batting superbly, so takes a lot of pressure off. So it was nice to spend some time out there and enjoy it and yeah hopefully some big runs in the next few games,” Smith added. The Capitals have won three of their four games this season and will take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next game at the Chepauk in Chennai.