In a gripping encounter at Guwahati, Punjab Kings emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals with a hard-fought five-wicket win. The skipper, Sam Curran, played a pivotal role in Punjab’s successful chase, showcasing composure with an unbeaten 63 runs, well-supported by Jitesh Sharma’s contribution of 22.

Sam Curran leads from the front with a match-winning knock for Punjab

Despite facing early setbacks, including the dismissals of openers Prabhsimran Singh and Jonny Bairstow, Punjab’s chase on a challenging pitch was anchored by Curran’s determined innings. Rajasthan Royals, batting first, struggled to build momentum, managing only 144 runs despite efforts from Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin to revive the innings with a 50-run partnership. Avesh Khan’s early breakthroughs and the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ashwin kept Punjab’s chase in check, reducing them to 49/4 initially.

Avesh Khan and spin duo restrict Rajasthan Royals

However, Curran’s leadership and match-winning knock guided Punjab to victory with 1.1 overs to spare, reflecting his pre-match determination to play with pride. Despite glimpses of brilliance from Parag and Ashwin, Rajasthan’s inconsistent batting ultimately led to their defeat.

See Also: SRH set to continue playoff chase after extended break in IPL 2024

This crucial win for Punjab Kings keeps their hopes alive in the tournament as they continue to push for a playoff berth.

Punjab Kings registered a convincing win by 5 wickets over Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in the 65th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 on Wednesday, May 15. Sam Curran smashed a quick fifty and the bowlers helped the team win.

RR players failed to do well with the bat

Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bat first. RR had a poor start as their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal got out for a mere 4. However, Kohler-Cadmore and Sanju Samson tried to steady the ship but they couldn’t do much. Riyan Parag played yet another good knock of 48 off 34. On the other hand, R Ashwin also scored 28 off 19 with 3 fours and 1 six.

Their efforts helped them post a decent total of 144 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Sam Curran, Harshal Patel and Rahul Chahar claimed 2 wickets each.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

Sam Curran scored a quick fifty

While chasing, PBKS lost their in-form opener Prabhsimran Singh for a mere 4. However, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw tried to steady the ship and added 30 runs within 5.3 overs before the latter got out. Soon Shashank Singh also got out for a duck.

However, after their dismissals, middle-order batters Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma stepped up. While Sam scored a quickfire 63 off 41 with 5 fours and 3 sixes, Jitesh Sharma scored 22 and Ashutosh Sharma’s quick 17 helped them to win the match by 5 wickets and 18.5 overs in hand.

Sanju Samson said after the match: “We needed a few more runs. I think we were 10-15 runs short. It was a 160 kind of a wicket. We would have easily got more than 160 (had we played better), that’s where we lost the game. Would have been nice to have one more bowling option. I am getting used to five quality bowlers. We have to sit back and accept that we are going through failures, have lost four games on the trot. Got to find out what’s not working out for us as a team.

Somebody needs to step up, we have so many match-winners in the team. This is the time we need to show character. We need to score more runs. We thought 160-170 would have been a good score. We are not used to playing on such wickets this season where 200-plus totals are getting scored easily. We had to play smart cricket and build those partnerships today. Hopefully the result goes in our way (in the upcoming games.)”

Several key players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 are facing the prospect of early exits from the tournament due to their international commitments. These players, integral to their IPL franchises, are likely to depart earlier than expected, leaving a void in their teams’ line-ups. Let’s know about the details of these potential departures and their impact on the ongoing IPL season.

Reece Topley (RCB)

Representing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Reece Topley is an essential component of England’s T20 World Cup plans. Scheduled to leave in the third week of May, Topley’s absence could pose a challenge for RCB’s bowling lineup as they strive for success in the IPL.

Sikandar Raza (PBKS)

Playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sikandar Raza is expected to bid adieu to the IPL by the end of April. With Zimbabwe set to tour Bangladesh for five T20Is, Raza’s departure could disrupt PBKS’ balance in the middle order.

Mustafizur Rahman (CSK)

For Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mustafizur Rahman’s services might not be available in May due to Bangladesh’s T20I series against Zimbabwe and the USA. Rahman’s absence could affect CSK’s bowling options in the crucial stages of the tournament.

Jos Buttler (RR)

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Jos Buttler could receive a call back in the third week of May as England prepares to face Pakistan in four T20Is starting from May 22. Buttler’s potential departure could leave a significant void in RR’s batting lineup.

Will Jacks (RCB)

Another player from RCB, Will Jacks, is a vital cog in England’s T20 World Cup plans. Like Topley, he might leave the IPL early to participate in T20Is against Pakistan, potentially impacting RCB’s middle-order stability.

Liam Livingstone (PBKS)

PBKS’s Liam Livingstone is another English player who could exit the IPL prematurely to feature in the Pakistan series. His departure might disrupt PBKS’s plans, especially considering his all-round capabilities.

Moeen Ali (CSK)

CSK’s Moeen Ali could face unavailability issues with England facing Pakistan from May 22 onwards. Ali’s departure might leave a void in CSK’s middle order and spin department.

Phil Salt (KKR)

Representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), opener Phil Salt might also face an early exit from the IPL due to England’s series against Pakistan. KKR could struggle to find a suitable replacement for Salt at the top of the order.

Joshua Little (Gujarat Titans)

Although he hasn’t featured in any games this season, Joshua Little of Gujarat Titans might have to leave in May as Ireland plays Pakistan in three T20Is from May 10 to 14. His absence might not directly impact Gujarat Titans but could affect their squad depth.

Sam Curran (PBKS)

PBKS’s Sam Curran, a key member of the team, might be unavailable towards the end of the league stage due to his international commitments. His absence could pose challenges for PBKS in both batting and bowling departments.

Jonny Bairstow (PBKS)

Another PBKS player, Jonny Bairstow, might have to depart early to be available for England’s T20Is against Pakistan. His early exit could disrupt PBKS’s batting plans and team balance.

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These potential departures due to international commitments highlight the delicate balance between IPL participation and national team duties. Cricket enthusiasts will keenly observe how these developments unfold and the subsequent impact on their respective IPL franchises.

The clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2024 season brought about high expectations and thrilling moments for cricket enthusiasts. Faf du Plessis, the skipper of RCB, won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision set the tone for an intriguing encounter. However, PBKS faced an early setback with opener Jonny Bairstow departing early, courtesy of a brilliant delivery from Mohammed Siraj.

Anuj Rawat’s Catch

One of the highlights of the match was Anuj Rawat’s exceptional catch behind the stumps to dismiss the dangerous Sam Curran. Rawat’s athleticism and skill garnered widespread praise, with some comparing his performance to that of former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni.

See Also: IPL 2024: Breaking Down How Gujarat Titans Pulled Off the Heist Against Mumbai Indians?

It was the 5th delivery of the 18th over and Sam Curran was looking to go big as Punjab needed a strong finish. However, Yash Dayal who was hit for a boundary earlier in the over, bowled a good pacy bouncer that produced an top edge off the bat of Sam Curran who tried to hook the ball. The ball seemed to be going over Anuj Rawat but the wicketkeeper timed his jumped nicely to grab a one-handed stunner.

Anuj Rawat’s Record

Anuj Rawat’s catch marked a historic moment as he became the first wicketkeeper for RCB to achieve four dismissals in a single innings, showcasing his prowess behind the stumps.

PBKS Innings

Despite the early setback, PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan led from the front, attempting to stabilize the innings. However, RCB’s bowlers applied consistent pressure, resulting in Dhawan’s departure after a valiant effort of 44 runs off 37 balls. Additionally, the departure of the dangerous Liam Livingstone for just 17 runs in 13 balls further hampered PBKS’ momentum. The team pinned their hopes on Jitesh Sharma and Sam Curran to provide a strong finish.

PBKS concluded their innings with a competitive total of 176/6, with contributions from various players, including Shashank, who provided crucial runs towards the end. With the pitch offering advantages to the batters, PBKS aimed to defend their total with an effective bowling strategy.

RCB Bowling Performance

RCB’s bowlers, notably Glenn Maxwell and Yash Dayal, showcased exceptional skills, restricting PBKS’ batters and preventing them from unleashing their full potential.

Sam Curran was the player of the match in Punjab Kings winning start to IPL 2024 against DC as he scored a brilliant 63 in a run-chase. After the wicket of Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma also lost his wicket and Punjab Kings who would have hoped for a total of close to 200, have fallen well short of that landmark.

Without captain Shikhar Dhawan, the Punjab Kings are currently in trouble. The team was chasing a target of 175 runs in their most recent match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, but they were bowled out for just 150 runs. 

Sam Curran, who was in charge of the team when Dhawan wasn’t there, didn’t do much with the ball or the bat

The English all-rounder was run out for a small 10 runs off 12 balls, and previous Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag was incredulous of his exhibition.

Sehwag, in his examination, was scorching towards Curran, particularly for his dynamic that prompted his run out. The former Indian opener also emphasized Curran’s lack of experience in comparison to Dhawan’s. Curran is one of the most sought-after all-rounders in the game. He was purchased at the auction for a staggering INR 18.50 crore, making him one of the tournament’s most expensive players.

“He’s an international player. But you can’t buy experience with 18 crore. It only comes when you play, when your hair turns white as you play under the hot sun,” .

Sehwag said on Cricbuzz’s show

“We think just because he was bought for 18 crore, he will win you matches. But he doesn’t have that experience yet. It was poor running, there was no need for that. You’re captain, you should’ve stayed, tried to take it to the final overs. But again, the lack of experience cost him,”

the former India and Punjab Kings opener further said.

The Kings’ loss against the Royal Challengers pushed them down to the seventh spot in the points table, with three wins and three losses in six matches. Even though the season isn’t over yet, the team is probably hoping that Dhawan’s quick recovery will help them get good results the rest of the way.

On Wednesday, February 1, England and South Africa will meet in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley. After dismissing Temba Bavuma in the second One-Day International on January 29, all-rounder Sam Curran was given a demerit point and fined 15% of his match fee for “excessively celebrating.”

On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council made the decision regarding Sam Curran’s fine for breaking the code of conduct

Temba Bavuma assisted the team in chasing down the enormous target and scored 109 runs off 102 balls. With just one game remaining, the hosts won the series with an unbreakable 2-0 lead. After dismissing the South Africa captain in the 28th over, the left-arm pacer celebrated in the direction of Temba Bavuma.

The ICC’s code of conduct’s Article 2.5 was found to have been broken by Sam Curran. Since Curran admitted to the crime, there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Adrian Holdstock, as well as third and fourth umpires Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele, made the accusation. Curran was fined by New Zealand match referee Jeff Crowe after an umpire’s report.

It was Curran’s first offense, and he faces a ban if he gets four or more demerit points within 24 months. Curran “excessively celebrated towards and in close proximity to the dismissed batter, being an action which had the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from Bavuma,” as stated by the ICC, was found to have committed a level one violation of the ICC code of conduct.

ALSO READ: IND vs AUS: Jadeja set to join, Iyer still doubtful

With figures of 1-60 from his ten overs, Sam Curran performed admirably with the ball. In the high-scoring match in which South Africa chased down the target with five balls remaining, the all-rounder was the bowler who was the second most economical.

The most keenly awaited part of an IPL auction – mega or mini – has been the order in which a player’s name comes out for bidding. And usually franchises pay a lot of attention, and money, to the names in the marquee set which opens proceedings. It is fair to assume that Curran, Stokes, Williamson and Pooran will be part of this set along with probably Agarwal. Overseas allrouders have always been a mega hit at mini auctions and the in-form trio of Curran, Stokes and Green will fancy a fat pay cheque as an early Christmas present on December 23. While Green has never featured in IPL, the England duo have significant experience.

Currran last played in the tournament in 2021 for Chennai Super Kings before a stress fracture in his lower back forced him to miss a lot of cricket. The Super Kings had bought Curran for 5.5 crore and will once again aim to buy him though rival franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, who go in with the two biggest purses, will have a better chance of landing the England allrounder who is a proven match-winner both with ball and bat.

Also Read: Indian players lowers their base price before IPL Auction

Teams focus on Curran, Stokes, Green; as these players were in limelight recently

The year 2021 was also the last time Stokes played the IPL. Representing Rajastthan Royals, Stokes left the season at the halfway stage due to an injury. Royals had bought Stokes for 12.5. crore in 2018 and had retained him for the next three years. In 2022, Stokes opted out of the IPL. As for Green, he recently said despite the massive workload confronting Australian players leading to. Immediately after, IPL 2023, he was excited to participate in the tournament. Green turned a lot of heads during Australia’s white-ball series in India. Just before the T20 World Cup where he scored 118 runs at a strike rate of 214.54 while opening the batting. Coupled with his bowling the 23-year old could prove to be a big asset in T20 cricket.

Dwayne Bravo looks to have said goodbye to the IPL (at least as a player). Having been released by the Super Kings ahead of the auction. His name was not among the 991 put forward in the long list. Bravo is a three-time IPL winner and the tournament’s highest wicket-taker (183). MS Dhoni’s team had brought him on in 2011 and had kept faith in him through to 2022. But at 39 years of age and battling injuries, it is likely that the West Indian will now shift to a backroom role. Much like his great friend Kieron Pollard has at Mumbai Indians.

Well, T20 cricket, at the moment is ruling our international fixtures. The plethora of 20-over games happening all around has made the format more budding. Even the cricketers whether contracted or a freelancer are now expected to thrive the most in the shortest format.

However, for certain individuals, the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia will be of utmost importance. Despite these cricketers being the elite names in the T20s, they surprisingly will play their debut World T20 in 2022. Sadly, one or two players from the list were previously part of the 2021 World T20 but their fitness issues got them discarded.

Therefore in this list, let’s check out these five players who’ll debut themselves in the forthcoming ICC T20 event.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal

Certainly, in recent times, Yuzi Chahal has again brought back himself as India’s premier white-ball spinner. Since his snub in the last World T20, the bowler has taken his gameplay onto another level. In IPL 2022, the 32-year-old topped all wicket-taking charts by picking 27 wickets in 17 games. In general, even in recent T20Is, the spinner has phenomenally prospered under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.

However, his trip to the T20 World Cup in Australia will be a special one. The cricketer will play his debut World T20 despite playing the shortest format since June 2016. Unfortunately in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Yuzi was axed and replaced by Rahul Chahar.

Nevertheless, during India’s 2022 WC squad selection, this bowler will be one of the first spinners to be penned. Hopefully, Yuzi will also exhibit his breakthrough performances even in the 2022 ICC event.

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2. Lockie Ferguson

In the last T20 World Cup, NZ was the first team to announce its squad. More importantly, the Kiwis in the squad also had Lockie Ferguson’s express pace. However, the speedster very bitterly had to leave the tournament because of a calf injury.

Sadly, during NZ’s opening game against Pakistan, Ferguson experienced tightness in his right calf. However, a bit later the scans then revealed that the bowler had a grade two tear. Agonizingly, just an hour before the opening game, the 31-year-old was entirely ruled out of the tournament.

That’s why like Yuzi Chahal even this pacer will play his debut World T20 later in Australia. In fact, much like the spinner, even Lockie is in red-hot form when it comes to T20 performances. Hopefully, the cricketer will also sustain his full fitness to appear in the ICC event.

3. Tim David

At present, Tim David is a superstar batter in T20 cricket. Across the globe, the batter has been belting all kinds of bowling attacks. Even in IPL 2022, David exhibited one of the best strike rates who had scored more than 100 runs. More importantly, the 26-year-old is also almost certain for representing Australia in the future.

In fact, one of the selectors (George Bailey) has publicly confirmed that David is on the selection radar for the 2022 World T20. Also as the cricketer had previously represented Singapore national team, his eligibility to represent Australia is legal. However, in the defending champion’s frontline squad, there isn’t much room for this freelancer to dwell.

Overall, David’s T20I Australia call-up is much anticipated to happen when the Aussies tour India. Because a few of the senior players might receive rests, David very likely will get chances to prove.

Comprehensively, even the Aussie legend Ricky Ponting has vouched for this behemoth’s inclusion in the World T20. All in all, certainly T20 cricket’s current favorite freelancer might play his debut T20 World Cup in 2022.

4. Sam Curran

Even Sam Curran had missed the 2021 World T20 because of an injury. This all-rounder before the 2021 mega event was representing CSK in IPL 2021’s second half. Unfortunately, during Chennai’s game against RR, Curran injured his back that later was revealed as a stress fracture. Initially, the southpaw was only ruled out of the T20 World Cup but later even missed England’s entire winter tours.

Sadly, the 24-year-old also opted himself out of the IPL 2022 mega auction. It was just recently that Sam made his full comeback in the first half of English summer. That’s why the upcoming ICC event in Australia will be this Englishman’s debut T20 WC.

Also, with regards to his selection, the cricketer looks like an established all-rounder that will bag the mega event’s ticket. Optimistically, Sam is also expected to emerge as a match-winner for England to triumph.

5. Rovman Powell

Before this year, Rovman Powell had endured a topsy-turvy start to his international career. The batter was almost certain to play in the 2019 World Cup but eventually was dropped. Fortunately in 2022, as many WI’s veteran players have retired, Powell is now an established name in T20Is. More importantly, the 29-year-old is also perceived to be the future white-ball leader.

However, in the shortest format, Powell was already a well-versed name in different T20 leagues. His reputation of being one of the fiercest strikers of the ball is also now witnessed in international cricket. In general, for WI, Powell will be an X-factor player later this year in Australia.

Overall, despite making his T20I debut way back in 2017, Powell will play his first ever T20 World Cup. Conceivably, the batting-friendly pitches in Australia will also encourage the hitter to exhibit his best gameplay.