IPL 2022 | MS Dhoni to be retained by Chennai Super Kings ahead of mega-auctions next year

He’s always been a mentor: Kohli excited to welcome MS Dhoni back into Indian dressing room

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli was excited to welcome back legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni into the Indian dressing room, albeit in a new role of a mentor for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli said that the experience of Dhoni would give a big boost to the players who are starting their careers at a major tournament. "He's always been a mentor for all of us when we were starting our careers through the time that he played with the team and now he has an opportunity to continue to do that same work again,” Kohl said in a pre-tournament presser. “Especially for the younger guys who are playing major tournaments, early stages in their careers, to just experience what he's gained over the years, and just have conversations with him around the game,” the Indian skipper added. The 32-year-old, who has announced he’s stepping down from the position of captain of the Indian limited-overs side after the end of the T20 World Cup 2021, would hope to have the mantra of winning major trophies from Dhoni, who won every single world trophy during his captaincy. "Such practical inputs, such intricate details of where the game is going and how we can improve our games by that 1 or 2% which always makes the difference when he's in the leadership role in any team,” Kohli said about Dhoni, who just won his fourth IPL title as skipper when CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL finale on Friday, October 15. “We are absolutely delighted to have him back in this environment and his presence will certainly boost the morale of the team even further and give us a lot more confidence than we already have as a team,” added the Indan skipper who would begin his search for an elusive trophy with the clash against Pakistan in the Super 12 stage on October 24.

New Zealand get Fleming boost ahead of T20 World Cup 2021

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming will be spending time with his national side for the T20 World Cup as he was approached by New Zealand Cricket to be with the team after his successful stint as head coach of IPL winning Chennai Super Kings. The confirmation of the news was given through social media channels of the Blackcaps just ahead of the team’s first warm-up game against the Netherlands. "Fresh from the @IPL Final - it's great to have @ChennaiIPL winning coach @SPFleming7 joining us for a few days ahead of the start of the @T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup," the BLACKCAPS tweeted. Kiwis will kick off their World Cup campaign on October 26 against Pakistan in at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. They are drawn in Group 2 at the Super 12 stage and have to face India and Afghanistan apart from Pakistan and two other teams which will make it through after the preliminary round matches. Fleming, who represented New Zealand in four World Cups, leading in two of them, was not able to get his team to the final even once. But the Kiwis’ recent success at the ICC World Test Championship would give the team a big boost going ahead in this campaign.

World T20 2021 | OMA vs PNG: Historic setting marks the beginning of World Cup journey

The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is finally here and when Oman takes on Papua New Guinea at their home ground of Al Amerat in Muscat on October 17, a new leaf in the history of Oamni Cricket will be turned. If Oman are becoming the first Aossizte nation to host and participate in the same T20 World Cup, then the stage is not small whatsoever for Papua New Guinea, who will become only the third team after giants Australia and New Zealand from Oceania to take part in cricket World Cup of any kind. What's at stake? With such occasions awaiting, both teams have worked hard to make sure that their dream of playing the World Cup get off to a great start. While Oman would be playing their second World Cup, they would still be looking to go one better than their 2016 effort where they could not get through to the second round even after beating Ireland at the group stage. Experienced players like Jatinder Singh, Kaleemullah, Aaquib Ilyas, Khawar Ali and skipper Zeeshan Maqsood will hold the key in Oman’s attempt to hit the board running with a win against PNG. For PNG too, the key will be with the likes of skipper Assad Vala, all-rounders Charles Amini and Norman Vanua and batters Tony Ura if they want to make a mark in their first-ever World Cup. Which team will trump which? Only time will tell on October 17. Oman vs PNG: Match Details Match Number-01 Date and Time: October 17, 2021, 03:30 pm IST, 02:00 pm Local, 10:00 am GMT Venue: Oman Cricket Academy Ground, Al Amerat Broadcast and Live Stream: Disney+Hotsar Pitch Report Although the wicket at Al Amerat has been a friendly one as scores of 160 are easy to get, but it has also provided some grip to the spinners and the World Cup opener could not ask for anything more than a true wicket to begin a true contest. Weather Forecast Al Amerat, which is situated 18 Kilometers away from Oman’s capital Muscat, will have a sunny day with temperatures hovering in the lower thirties and higher 20s. Any skipper winning the toss would look to bat first as the ball might just grip a bit more in the second innings. Probable XI Oman Jatinder Singh, Khawar Ali, Zeeshan Maqsood (c), Aqib Ilyas, Mohammad Nadeem, Suraj Kumar (wk), Sandeep Goud, Kaleemullah, Bilal Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Fayyaz Butt Papua New Guinea Assad Vala (c), Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Charles Amini, Norman Vanua, Nosaina Pokana, Kipling Doriga, Gaudi Toka, Damien Ravu, Jason Kila (wk), Chad Soper CE XI Fantasy team Wicketkeeper Suraj Kumar Batters Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Jatinder Singh All-rounders Khawar Ali, Assad Vala, Charles Amini, Zeeshan Maqsood Bowlers Nosaina Pokana, Kaleemullah, Bilal Khan Vice-Captain Assad Vala Captain Jatinder Singh

Dale Steyn lashes out at CSA after board blatantly ignores Faf du Plessis' exploits once again

Even as Faf du Plessis, former South Africa skipper made terrific 86 off 59 balls in his team Chennai Super Kings’ win in the final of the Indian Premier League against Kolkata Knight Riders, Cricket South Africa chose to ignore him. Instead of honouring the Man of the Match winner in the final, the social media handles i.e. official Twitter and Instagram handle of the board only mentioned Lungi Ngidi in its posts congratulating South African players part of the IPL. First Faf himself took offence to the post and posted a comment below it saying, “Really??” Soon, another Proteas legend Dale Steyn came in with his support and advised CSA to tag all the players and support staff of South Africa involved in it, especially du Plessis and Imran Tahir as they have served South African cricket for a long period. No heed was paid by the handlers of the official handle to those comments for a long time and Steyn put out another tweet saying that CSA blocked the comments section. It was only after that the post was removed and a new post was made by the CSA social media handles where they especially congratulated du Plessis.