Natarajan to miss remainder of IPL 2021 with knee injury, set to undergo surgery

Workload management not allowing emergence of all-rounders like Kapil Dev, feels VVS Laxman

Former Indian legend VVS Laxman feels that too much workload on players is not allowing the country to witness another Kapil Dev. Unlike the World-Cup winning skipper, most of the other all-rounders in the recent past have not managed their workload properly which has resulted in either injury or concentrating on either batting or bowling. Constant comparisons between Kapil Dev and Hardik Pandya became a regular feature in any discussion but Laxman feels that the amount of workload doesn’t allow the players of the modern generation to follow the footsteps of Kapil Dev. Speaking at a Youtube book-launch session at the “Tata Literature Live Sports Yatras”, Laxman said, "It's a very difficult role being an all-rounder. Kapil paaji was someone who could take wickets and score runs. He was the ultimate match-winner for India. But with the amount of workload nowadays, it's very, very difficult." Laxman didn’t take anyone’s name but he might have indirectly indicated Hardik Pandya when he said that there are glimpses of Kapil Dev in certain players. "There were some glimpses from some players, because they were focusing a lot on both the skills, ultimately with the amount of workload and matches the Indian team plays in three formats, it's very difficult to manage,” Laxman said. That player who has the ability to become a genuine all-rounder unfortunately gets injured and he has to compromise or he has to take a decision on either batting or bowling," added the stylish batsman from Hyderabad. Hardik Pandya is coming off a big break following a back surgery. He didn’t bowl for the Mumbai Indians for the whole of the IPL last season. Hardik bowled five overs in total during the ODI series in Australia. He got enough time to rest during the Test series Down Under and the one against England at home. He bowled in all matches of the T20I series against England but didn’t bowl in the first two matches of the ODI series. So far, Hardik hasn’t bowled for the Mumbai Indians in this edition and it will be interesting to see whether he gets the ball in some part of the tournament or not. Meanwhile, Laxman said that it was “not right to compare any sort of all-rounder with the legendary Kapil”. "I just feel that there can be only one Kapil. It (comparison) will put undue pressure on the player. There can be only one MS Dhoni, or one Sunil Gavaskar," he added. Meanwhile, he also backed Rishabh Pant to be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper batsman for the T20 World Cup slated to be held in October-November. "India is spoilt for choices. The way Sanju Samson has batted, kept and led Rajasthan Royals (in ongoing IPL), even though he did not have too much of experience (in captaining) a side," he said. Then there's Ishan Kishan. KL Rahul has done well whenever he got the gloves, and batted either top of the order or in the middle. But somehow I just feel Rishabh Pant is the player whom you should pick for the wicketkeeper-batsman slot. I will definitely go for Pant," Laxman added. "Not only that he's really improved and impressed everyone with his keeping abilities, but as a left-handed batsman, he's someone who can take away the game from any opposition in any situation in the middle overs," Laxman signed off.

IPL 2021: Kiran More set to join MI bio-bubble having recovered fully from COVID-19

Former India wicket-keeper and currently a Mumbai Indians’ talent scout, Kiran More has fully recovered from COVID-19 and is expected to join his team’s bio-bubble pretty soon. The news was announced by the official Twitter handle of the Mumbai Indians and it will be interesting to see when More returns to the bubble. Meanwhile, it must be noted that More is not only the talent scout but also a wicket-keeping consultant for the five-time champions. More who is a former chief selector had tested positive for the deadly virus back on April 6. "Kiran More has recovered from COVID-19 and has completed medically supervised isolation. More has tested negative in three RT-PCR tests. #Mumbai Indians #MI #OneFamily," Mumbai Indians tweeted. "Our medical team in consultation with BCCI have determined Kiran More fit to rejoin the MI bio-bubble in adherence with BCCI guidelines," the franchise said in another tweet. The second wave of the COVID-19 has forced the organisers to hold the 14th edition of the tournament behind closed doors. The tournament was taken to UAE last year and was also held behind closed doors. The teams are in a bio-bubble are not allowed to go anywhere barring the hotel rooms and ground. Mumbai Indians are currently based in Chennai where they have played all their four games so far. While they have won a couple, the defending champions have lost against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2021: Stephen Fleming credits batsmen for putting up competitive totals

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming feels that the addition of a few new players and the change of attitude has helped them recover from a disastrous IPL campaign last year and win three of their first four matches of the 14th edition of the tournament. Fleming feels the addition of players like Moeen Ali has augured well with the Yellow brigade as they have managed to turn things around this year. Meanwhile, he also said that despite the addition of new enigmatic players, the main difference has been in their mindset. Chennai Super Kings didn’t manage to qualify for the playoffs the previous year for the very first time in IPL history. However, they have started this year’s campaign with a bang. Having lost the opening match against the Delhi Capitals, CSK has won their next three matches and currently occupy the top position in the points table. "I think we've added some players that made a difference already, but the attitude is probably the number one thing, so real mind shift." "It's probably both of those things, just making sure that we have a lot of batting that you can play a high-risk game and that gives confidence to the players to play a certain way. We felt we were a little bit thin last year to play a high-risk game. So we had to really swivel around and change more attitude than anything in this year," Fleming said at the post-match media interaction. The batsmen have been in great form this season. After a few poor outings, Ruturaj Gaikwad also bounced back to form with a brilliant knock against the Kolkata Knight Riders. On the other hand, Faf du Plessis looked in sublime touch and finished on 95. Important contributions by Moeen Ali and MS Dhoni eventually propelled them to a huge score of 220. Fleming credited the batsmen for helping them register big totals. "Winning three out of four probably exceeded the expectations. We felt maybe three out of five or if we got a couple would be good," Fleming said. "We're very proud of the way the batting, in particular, is standing up that's two 190s and two 220s So, we're playing well in that department and that's by design which is good." Before the match, Fleming had made it clear that they will persist with Gaikwad who showed his credentials in the last three matches in 2020 slamming three half-centuries. After a few poor outings this season, Gaikwad finally roared back to form with a mighty fine knock of 64 of just 42 deliveries. Speaking on Gaikwad, Fleming said, "We told him to just keep playing, we rate him very highly. I know there's a bit of pressure on him from the outside, but inside the camp, there was absolutely no doubt that what he's capable of.” "Naturally, you want the player to get into the tournament and relax and do well. He's such a stylish player and trains well, he's got talent oozing out of him. There was some pressure there but the mental aspect of getting a good performance will do him a lot of good," he added.

Sikandar Raza suffers bone marrow infection; long recovery process to follow

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza won’t be seen in action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with an infection in his bone marrow. He had suspected it to be cancerous at one stage but after the surgery on 2nd April to remove the tumour, Raza has been cleared of any serious illness. However, it might take him several weeks to get back to normal. The recovery period won’t be easy but given the toughness of Raza, he should sail through the process. Raza is currently at home is undergoing cycles of meditation and injections. Raza revealed that he first felt severe pain in his right arm during the series against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi last month. He was part of the Playing XI in both Tests and three T20Is. The series ended on 20th March and Raza returned to Harare to see a specialist. Tests revealed that it was much more serious than regular muscle pain. "I had pain in my right arm during the Abu Dhabi Tests," Raza told ESPNcricinfo. "We treated like it was muscular pain initially but the pain kept getting worse. I remember staying up all night, unable to sleep despite having sleeping pills. That's how I played the Test matches. "After coming home, the ultrasound showed that the muscles are all fine. The MRI showed that I had a foreign or alien substance on my bone marrow. Seeing this the surgeon told me that this substance could make my shoulder bone so weak that I could fracture it by just throwing a ball. He suggested that I do a biopsy right away. I wanted to wait till the Pakistan series but he insisted otherwise. He said that due to the deformity seen in my bicep bone, they were suspecting cancer." Raza decided to go for surgery instantaneously and it was only on Tuesday evening that he found out that he had an infection in his bone marrow. "I went under the knife within the next 48 hours. They opened up my bicep by drilling the bone. They created a hole to take out some puss and red substance." "All of this was sent it for a biopsy, and it came back as negative. There was a type of infection but only last night the bone biopsy report ruled out cancer," he said. Raza further added that it will take him a long time to recover fully and he will definitely miss playing against Pakistan in the ongoing series. "I have been ruled out indefinitely. There's no set date for my return. Of course, this not being cancerous has suddenly fast-tracked some of it." "After the lab professor studies my MRI, I will apparently be on medication and jab for the next six months. We want to treat it aggressively so that I don't get the infection again. I am very sure that I have three to five more weeks of doing nothing if everything goes smoothly,” Raza said. Meanwhile, Raza also expressed his regard towards the Zimbabwe Cricket officials and thanked them. It included chairman Tavenga Mukuhlani, managing director Givemore Makoni and team physio Trevor Wamble for taking his special care. "Allah was very kind. He gave me a lot of strength but people like our physio Trevor Wambe helped me through this. He was by my side in Abu Dhabi, giving me a lot of time. When we got back to Zimbabwe, he ran around with me with the scans and tests." Raza spoke about the help that he got. "When ZC found out what the doctors suggesting seeing my MRI, Givemore Makoni, the MD, and chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani got very worried. They were very supportive, even contacting other boards and telling me that they would send me anywhere else for better treatment." Raza further added. "My family, friends and team-mates were also very supportive. Alhamdullilah when the report came last night, it put me and my family at ease. There were tears of joy in my family," he said.