IPL-10 Diary: Virat Kohli finally fit to play

Kohli to play on Friday

Virat Kohli, who has missed playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore is likely to play on Friday, April 14, against Mumbai Indians at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB has won only one of their first three matches and would be eagerly awaiting the return of Kohli, who confirmed through an Instagram post on Tuesday that he is finally fit to play.

Lynn’s MRI report on Wednesday

Chris Lynn’s MRI report is expected on Wednesday when it will be known whether the opener will be available to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the rest of the IPL. He had disclocated his shoulder while fielding in the deep against Mumbai Indians and the team’s mentor Jacques Kallis does not appear very hopeful. The shoulder is a difficult area of the body to heal, he wrote in his column, and Lynn, he felt, would need a prolonged period of rest. Lynn, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday, had made an explosive start this season and the fans will miss him if he is unable to play.

Amla’s tribute to Sehwag and de Villers

Talking to Wisden India Hashim Amla said that Virender Sehwag, as the head of cricket operations for King’s XI Punjab, had done an exceptional job. “I have seen him encourage every player ... He tells the boys to maximise their potential in whatever way they can, which will help the team.” An admirer of his South African teammate de Villiers, Amla said that it would be difficult to emulate the range of strokes that de Villers has. “No, I will never ever try a reverse flick off a fast bowler,” he maintained.

“Any shot that you want to try out in the match requires lots of practice. Like the ramp shot is common in T20s as lots of players have it in their arsenal. When I come to practice, I come with my specific set of plans.”

Shane Watson blames himself

Stand-in captain for Virat Kohli , Shane Watson blames himself for Royal Challenger Bangalore’s humiliating defeat against King XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Monday. “I didn’t start well with the bat and I’m certainly to blame, getting out in the first over,” Watson said after Punjab overhauled the 149-run target in just 14.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.

Opening the innings, Watson was dismissed in the first over by Axar Patel. In fact, RCB were 22-3 in five overs but a superb 46-ball 89-run unbeaten innings by AB de Villiers took Bengaluru to 148-4.

Tahrir has some questions for Delhi Daredevils

South African wrist-spinner Imran Tahrir, currently at the top of the IPL wickets table with five scalps in two matches, confessed at a press conference on Monday that he was hurt at going unsold during this year’s auctions before being fetched by Rising Pune Supergiant. “If I say I was okay (at being unsold), I will be lying. I am (just a human at the end of the day. I was sad when the auction happened, the last two years I have been performing. And it’s not me saying that, the stats that are saying that,” the top-ranked T20 bowler in the world was quoted as saying in The Times of India. “It’s not that I am here to prove something. I wanted to be here to challenge and see as to what was the reason for me not being picked.”

Ganguly questioned for endorsing Kings XI Punjab sponsor

Conflict of interest allegations have been raised against former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly for endorsing a brand associated with Kings XI Punjab.

The Times of India quoted an unnamed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official questioning if Ganguly could be involved in promoting an associate team sponsor even as he sits on the IPL Governing Council.

The 44-year-old is also the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and is among those who could represent the BCCI at the International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai on April 24, which makes his association with Kings XI more problematic.

“There’s an ambiguity around these things, but actually when one is an administrator in the board, one should avoid all this. It’s not right to sail in two boats. He’s also a member of the IPL Governing Council,” the BCCI official was quoted as saying. The report, however, couldn’t be independently verified.

League toppers Sunrisers to take on Mumbai Indians

Defending IPL champions Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on an inspired Mumbai Indians side at the Wankhade Stadium on Wednesday. The Mumbai side are expected to be high on confidence after clinching victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in their last IPL encounter on Sunday.

However, the third game of the tournament will be the toughest one for Mumbai as they face an in-form Sunrisers squaring off after a couple of comprehensive victories in their previous encounters.

Compiled by Dhairya Maheshwari with PTI inputs