#formerengland

[sportsgr8]

IPL 2024: Pietersen Opines Game Time Is Crucial For Pant To Be Ready For T20 WC

Star Sports Cricket Live: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen lauded Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant for his fitness and efforts behind the stumps during the match against Gujarat Titans (GT) and said that the game time is crucial for wicketkeeper batter leading into a T20 World Cup, starting from June 1 in Carribean and USA. In Wednesday's match against GT, Pant took two catches and effected as many stumping. He dived full stretch to his left for taking a low catch of David Miller, followed by successfully changing the decision on review. He would also take a high catch of Rashid Khan to ensure GT’s last scoring hope was gone before reaching three figures. "His mobility tonight was something that will give him great encouragement, which will also encourage Team India. Of course, he needs game time, as everyone does when coming back from an injury. He's returning from a horrific injury, so game time is crucial for him. "To prepare for the T20 World Cup, he should play these 14–15 IPL games because it's significant leading into a T20 World Cup. If he plays that much cricket, he will be ready," said Pietersen on Star Sports Cricket Live Pant used his bowlers well to ensure GT bowled out for just 89 on a slow black-soil pitch. DC then finished off the chase in 8.5 overs, with Pant being 16 not out to pick the Player of the Match award for a terrific all-round performance. "Yeah, the first three bowlers actually bowled beautifully this evening and the way that Rishabh Pant marshalled his troops was exceptional because you want to see one bowler bowling one over and another bowling another and they keep changing with five or six bowlers bowling in the first powerplay whereas Rishabh Pant said no, I am going to back my strike bowlers and I'm going to back the guys that are doing well for me, they are very good with the new ball and I want them to really bury GT. And that's exactly what Delhi did, they buried GT in the powerplay," Pietersen further said. Read the full article

[sportsgr8]

IPL 2024: Once He Starts Facing More Balls, He Will Score Lot Of Runs, Broad Reflects On Buttler s Lean Patch

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former England cricketer Stuart Broad shared insights on Rajasthan Royals opener Jos Buttler's form in the ongoing IPL season, suggesting that once the wicket-keeper batter begins facing more deliveries, he will accumulate a higher run tally. Buttler, who had a stellar performance during the 2022 IPL season, where he amassed 863 runs featuring four centuries, struggled to find his rhythm in the 2024 tournament. His initial three games yielded modest scores of 11, 11, and 13, indicating a lacklustre start to the season. Acknowledging Buttler's recent lean patch since the 50-over World Cup in India and his struggles with the leadership of England team, Broad expressed optimism about the 33-year-old wicketkeeper batter's fresh approach in IPL. "He's been in a bit of a lean patch since the 50-over World Cup in India. He struggled with the leadership of the England team and appeared physically and emotionally tired. However, I believe he's coming into this IPL refreshed. Although he hasn't quite found his form in this tournament yet, he's been dismissed twice by some pretty good bowling," Broad told official broadcaster Star Sports. Broad anticipates that IPL 2024 could be the platform for Buttler to shine, especially given his strong partnership with fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, potentially propelling the Rajasthan Royals into the playoffs contention. "I think this will be the tournament where he plays well. He has a great relationship with Jaiswal at the top of the order, and if both of them fire, Rajasthan Royals will certainly make the playoffs, if not challenge for the trophy. So, I think we need to be patient with him. Once he starts facing a lot of balls, he's going to score a lot of runs in this tournament," he added. Rajasthan are currently second in the points table with three wins in as many as matches. They will play host to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next match on Saturday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Read the full article