Shane Watson decodes why Riley Meredith, Jhye Richardson haven’t done well in IPL 2021

Two of the most expensive buys in this year’s Indian Premier League, Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson haven’t been able to perform well and former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes it has got something to do with their yorker bowling abilities.

Speaking at The Grade Cricketer Podcast, Watson, an IPL legend in himself said that young Australian pacers are unable to execute yorkers during the key moments of the game.

“The guys [fast bowlers] that have done well, have been able to execute their variations well. Executing the yorker under pressure is the most important thing,” said the 40-year-old.

"In my opinion, younger guys like Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson haven’t been able to. So when a batsman starts to tee off, they really can’t get themselves out of the pressure zone,” Watson added.

Both Richardson and Meredith have found themselves in the playing XI of three matches for Punjab Kings, all of which were held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a batting-friendly wicket. In those three games, while Meredith has two wickets to his kitty, Richardson has three and both of them have been hugely expensive.

Talking about other fast bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins, who too have not had the kind of impact that was expected of them, Watson said it is mostly due to the wickets.

“The wickets at which the IPL is being played at this point in time in India is more batting friendly. Most of the foreign pacers have got speed and since the wickets are a little bit slower, they can’t just run up and destroy the batting lineup with their raw speed,” he said.

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Shane Watson calls Covid-19 situation in India 'tragic', backs IPL to bring joy to people's lives

Former Australian all-rounder and IPL star Shane Watson has said the tournament brings joy to the life of people who have been forced to be in isolation at their homes in the fear of the novel Coronavirus. Talking to The Grade Cricketer podcast, Watson said that the current situations ongoing in India due to the Covid-19 pandemic are tragic for the people of the country that have supported the game at all times. He also said that whatever is developing in India is a concern for the whole cricketing community as the Indian people have always supported the game, not only on their own land but globally. He also said that the game of cricket has always united the people of India and hence the role of IPL can’t be underestimated amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “What’s happening in India is tragic and it should be a concern for the whole cricket community as the Indian people have always supported the game, not only in India but globally as well. The IPL can bring joy to people’s lives as they are stuck at homes to isolate themselves and Cricket has always brought the Indian people together,” Watson said. Shane Watson has been an IPL legend and played for franchises such as the Rajasthan Royals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Chennai Super Kings.

IPL 2021 | 'Hero' Pat Cummins does not see IPL cancellation as answer to India's Covid-19 crisis

Days after donating $50,000 into the PM CARES fund to help India in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic, Australian pacer Pat Cummins has said that cancelling the remainder of the ongoing edition of the IPL is not the answer to India’s health crisis. "I don't think ending the IPL is the answer," said Cummins, who represents the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, in an interview with WION and “We are doing everything we can to make sure we don't take any resources out of the front line. I don't think so (it's the answer),” he added. Instead, he said that the IPL can influence people in staying at their homes in the evening hours and may well help authorities in avoiding situations of crowding in public. "Of course there's an aspect that playing every night for three-four hours hopefully contributes to people staying home as it has been a hard routine for them and we can help them get through each day," he added. Having asked what led to him contributing to the PM Cares, Cummins said that the team owner Sharukh Khan and many of his Knight Riders teammates have contributed generously for the cause and hence he thought it was the way to go about helping the people in India. “Just chatting with a couple of guys here at Kolkata Knight Riders and they have been really generous in their donation to the PM CARES fund over the last year. Shahrukh (Khan) donated himself and that is the way to go,” Cummins said. Pat Cummins contribution to the PM Cares fund earned him high praise from the people and commentators on social media for having a great heart and coming in for people’s cause in one of the toughest time.

One match wouldn’t spoil our team environment: DC fielding coach Kaif

Delhi Capitals fielding coach Mohammad Kaif believes that the team is full of players who can perform under pressure and be true match winners for their side. “Delivering under pressure is a crucial part of the IPL. You may bat as well as you want in the nets and may plan as much as you want. But when it comes to a pressure situation, how well do you play and how you come out of it as a match-winner is a real test of the character,” Kaif said in a video uploaded by the Delhi Capitals on their official Twitter account. We have such players who can come out of that situation very well. You name the player and he is a match-winner,” added the 40-year-old. Saying that his team is an experienced unit, Kaif claimed, “One match haven’t spoiled anything for us. We are a happy bunch and we have always maintained that if we lose we lose as a team and when we win, we win as a team only.” The Delhi Capitals lost by a solitary run against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their previous encounter. The Capitals will be up against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While KKR are coming on the back of a victory, Kaif still feels, “Any team can beat the other team on their day.” Kaif further went on to say that executing the plans in the middle is going to be the key. “To win each match you need to play well. We plan everything in various meetings but execution plays a very important role in how you deal with the nerves on a given day under pressure,” he said.

IPL 2021 | Rajasthan Royals pledge Rs 7.5 crore fund to help India fight Oxygen shortage

Amid mounting criticism for continuing to play in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League in India while the country is grappling with a massive health crisis, the Rajasthan Royals have extended monetary support of Rs 7.5 crore to help in the fight against the raging Covid-19 pandemic. All the players along and the team management including the owners have come up with a fundraising plan in association with the Rajasthan Royals Foundation and British Asian Trust, which was founded by Prince Charles. The move has been made to aid the Indian government in tackling the dire need for oxygen and the acquisition and distribution of oxygen concentrators across the country. "BAT works closely with the Indian Government on many initiatives – especially in the area of skills and education. The Trust’s founder, Prince Charles, launched an emergency "Oxygen for India" appeal, which is currently focused on the acquisition and distribution of oxygen concentrators, devices that can provide the enriched gas straight from the air, to treat patients when hospital supplies are under strain," the franchise said in a statement. Although it’s a contribution with a pan-India objection, the Royals have said that the initial focus will be given to the state of Rajasthan—the home state of the franchise. "The funds raised by Rajasthan Royals will help pan India, with an initial focus on the state of Rajasthan, where the RRF, Chaired by Ranjit Barthakur, has numerous initiatives it continues to support. Having the team owners and its players come together has enabled this initiative to reach the scale it has, providing aid to tackle the current crisis and help people get the single most pressing necessity at this time - Oxygen,” Royals said in a statement. India has been reporting more than 3 lakh cases every day for the last week and the death toll from the novel Coronavirus has surged past the worrying 2 lakh-mark.