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Tag: Irfan Pathan

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Hardik Pandya’s tactics left Steve Smith ‘perplexed’; all-rounder’s captaincy has been ‘ordinary’, says Irfan Pathan

After Mumbai Indians lost their second match in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League, former cricketers again pointed out flaws in MI skipper Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and the tactics he employed. Mumbai Indians’ bowlers were tonked for 277 runs in a game that saw 523 runs being scored overall. In reply, Mumbai’s batters could only manage to score 246/5 as their chase fell short by 31 runs. Australia cricketer Steve Smith, who is on the commentary panel for Star Sports, expressed his surprise at some of the tactics employed by Mumbai Indians captain Hardik during the match. “I was perplexed with some of their bowling changes in the first innings for Mumbai. Jasprit Bumrah bowled in the 4th over where he went for 5 runs. Then, we didn’t see him again till the 13th over when SR...
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Pathan brothers slam Hardik Pandya after Mumbai Indians’ defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium witnessed an electrifying showdown between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in a high-scoring thriller in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite a remarkable attempt at chasing down 247, Mumbai Indians faced defeat, sparking criticism from former Indian all-rounders Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan towards the visitors' captain, Hardik Pandya.Former Indian all-rounders Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan voiced their concerns over Mumbai Indians' captaincy approaches, targeting Pandya for criticism. Irfan questioned Pandya's batting strike rate, while Yusuf found fault in the decision to keep the spinners' overs, with both Piyush Chawla and Shams Mulani bowling two overs each.Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), I...
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‘Hardik Pandya maybe didn’t want to face…’: Irfan Pathan slams MI captain for sending Tim David to bat ahead of him | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan slammed Hardik Pandya's captaincy on his return to Mumbai Indians as the five-time champions started their IPL 2024 campaign on a sour note after losing to last year's runner-up Gujarat Titans.Pathan questioned Hardik’s leadership acumen and specifically pointed out two major decisions which backfired for Mumbai Indians in their six-run defeat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Pathan highlighted Hardik's decision-making during the match, particularly focusing on his bowling strategy. Hardik bowled two overs during the powerplay, including the opening over after winning the toss and opting to bowl first. However, he conceded 20 runs during his initial spell, which allowed the Gujarat Titans to gain momentum early in the i...
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‘It’s an exciting time for fans…’: Irfan Pathan predicts MS Dhoni’s role in IPL 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his insights on MS Dhoni's role in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad, foreseeing continuity in the veteran's approach. Additionally, Pathan confirmed Dhoni's fitness after meeting him recently, indicating an exciting season ahead for fans.According to Pathan, Dhoni's role in the CSK squad is expected to remain consistent with recent years. "His role has changed in the past two years. He comes in lower-order, plays lesser deliveries but hits the big shots, the strike rate is high. It’s a small innings but a memorable one. I think there won’t be much of a change in that this year," Pathan stated during an appearance on Star Sports.Providing an update on Dhoni's fitness, Pathan revealed, "I met with him a few days ago, he was pl...
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‘My doubt is only…’: Irfan Pathan on Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bold move in signing Pat Cummins | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lauded Sunrisers Hyderabad's bold move in securing the services of Pat Cummins for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Pathan emphasised the significant momentum Cummins has garnered from his recent international performances.While acknowledging Cummins' past IPL statistics, Pathan expressed optimism about the Australian fast bowler's potential to make a substantial impact and lead Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to success in the tournament.SRH made headlines by appointing Cummins as the captain of the team for the 2024 IPL season, following his acquisition for a staggering Rs 20.5 crore in the auction.Cummins' stellar performances in 2023 further solidified his leadership credentials. Notably, he played a pivotal role in...
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Irfan Pathan pens heartfelt post as brother Yusuf embarks on political journey | Off the field News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan expressed words of encouragement and support for his brother, ex-India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, as he embarks on a new journey in the field of politics.The Trinamool Congress announced on Sunday that Yusuf Pathan is among the 42 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. He will be contesting from the Baharampur constituency."Your patience, kindness, help to the needy and service to people even without an official position can be easily noticed. I am confident that once you step into a political role, you will truly make a difference in the daily lives of people @iamyusufpathan," Irfan wrote in his social media post.Yusuf, known for his aggressive batting style and off-spin, was a key player in the shorter formats of cricket....
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‘Kuch logon ko taqleef hogi lekin…’: Kapil Dev backs BCCI strictness on domestic cricket | Cricket News – Times of India

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories...
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Hardik Pandya’s commitment to white-ball cricket earns him a central contract from BCCI | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its annual central contracts for the 2023-2024 season, and batsmen Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were not included in the list of 30 players. This decision came after they failed to comply with the BCCI's directive to play in the Ranji Trophy. Kishan, who plays for Jharkhand, refused to participate in the tournament, while Iyer, from Mumbai, was unavailable for the quarterfinals after his exit from the Indian Test squad. Interestingly, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who only plays white-ball cricket for India, managed to secure a Grade A contract from the BCCI.This raised questions about the different treatment given to Pandya compared to Kishan and Iyer. Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted this discrepancy...
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‘If players like Hardik…’: Irfan Pathan’s big comment on Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The BCCI on Wednesday revealed its list of centrally-contracted players for the year. India captain Rohit Sharma, batting ace Virat Kohli, star speedster Jasprit Bumrah, and dashing allrounder Ravindra Jadeja maintained their positions in the top tier, while Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not included in any category.Ishan did not turn up for Jharkhand throughout the team's campaign in Ranji Trophy despite not being on national duty since leaving from the tour of South Africa in December last, citing personal reasons.He has instead focussed on preparing for the IPL next month.On the other hand, Iyer did not make himself available for Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal against Baroda after being excluded from the Indian team following the second Test against England.The middle-or...
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Irfan Pathan Applauds Akash Deep’s Debut Performance in Fourth Test Against England | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered praise on Akash Deep for his impactful debut performance in the ongoing fourth Test against England in Ranchi. The right-arm seamer showcased his talent by claiming a three-wicket haul on the first morning of the match.Pathan commended Akash's achievement, highlighting the challenges faced by fast bowlers making their debut in India. "As a batter you want your debut to happen in India but as a fast bowler you dream to have your debut in England, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand," Pathan remarked to PTI during the New Delhi Marathon on Sunday.He further lauded Akash's performance in the match's first session, emphasizing the significance of his three wickets. "The way he bowled in the first session of the match and to pick u...
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‘Maan gaye Akash Deep…’: Ex cricketers praise India’s latest pace sensation | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Pacer Akash Deep's dedication and perseverance bore fruit as he received India's 313th Test cap in Ranchi. Despite a fiery start that saw him knocking off Zack Crawley's stumps, only for it to be deemed a 'no ball', Akash Deep swiftly claimed his maiden international wicket by inducing an edge off Ben Duckett's bat.SCORECARD: India vs England, 4th TestDuring his impressive spell, Akash Deep scalped three wickets from England's top order, including the prized wickets of Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett, both of whom had notable innings in recent matches.While Crawley seemed poised for a substantial score, Akash Deep intervened just before the batsman could reach his half-century, illustrating his impact on the game.Across social media platforms, cricket experts showered praise on th...
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Irfan Pathan Slams Pakistan Fans for Mocking India’s Defeat in U19 World Cup Final | Cricket News – Times of India

India's former all-rounder Irfan Pathan slammed the taunting social media posts from Pakistan fans following India's defeat on Sunday in the Under-19 World Cup final against Australia, who secured a dominating 79-run victory with an impressive performance.After the match, several Pakistan fans took to social media to troll India for their third consecutive defeat against Australia in an ICC event final. Posting his reponse on microblogging platform 'X', Irfan criticized such remarks and stated that mocking and trolling their neighbouring country reflects poorly on Pakistan as a nation."Despite their U19 team not making it to the final, keyboard warriors from across the border find pleasure in our youngsters' defeat. This negative attitude reflects poorly on their nation's mindset. #pado...
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Irfan Pathan’s Creative Take on KL Rahul Batting Down the Order in IPL 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

Former India allrounder turned commentator Irfan Pathan was at his creative best when asked to analyse if KL Rahul batting down the order for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season will work for the franchise. "He (Rahul) is a car with gears in an era of automatic cars. He can bat in any gear from first to fifth. He even has a sixth gear. So considering that, KL Rahul batting down the order might not be bad at all (for LSG)," Pathan said during a discussion on a show on Star Sports.When quizzed further about who would open for the Lucknow team if Rahul drops down to the middle order, Pathan picked the name of two foreign players in the LSG camp."The team combination (playing XI) could include both Quinton de Kock and Kyle Mayers in such a scena...
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‘These two will dominate world cricket’: Virender Sehwag’s big prediction about India rising youngsters | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India opener Virender Sehwag predicts that young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill will assert their dominance in the world of cricket for the "upcoming decade."Jaiswal showcased his prowess by scoring 209 in the first innings, embellished with 19 boundaries and 7 maximums, singlehandedly propelling India to a total of 396.In the second innings on Sunday, facing a challenging situation for India, Gill stepped up and played a pivotal role by scoring a crucial 104, helping the hosts reach a total of 255. "Glad to se two youngsters, both under 25 rising to the ocassion and standing out. Very likely that these two will dominate world cricket for the next decade and more," Sehwag wrote on X.Former batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar hailed Shubamn's skills as he made h...
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U-19 World Cup: Farmer’s son Raj Limbani cycles his way to success! | Cricket News – Times of India

VADODARA: His virtually unplayable inswinger uprooted the stumps of New Zealand opener Tom Jones off the very first ball of the innings in the U-19 World Cup tie on Tuesday. Before NZ could recover, the 18-year-old Baroda pacer, Raj Limbani scalped another wicket in the same over, setting the stage for India's massive victory at Bloemfontein in South Africa.Limbani's feat came as a pleasant reminder of Baroda pacer Irfan Pathan who claimed a hat-trick against Pakistan in the very first over of the 2006 Karachi Test. Obviously, Limbani felt good after a stupendous performance. "Our team played a good game and I am happy that I could contribute to the victory. It has improved my confidence," Limbani told TOI from South Africa.When asked if he had a specific plan against the Kiwis, Limbani...
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Irfan Pathan backs struggling Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, picks Rajat Patidar ahead of Sarfaraz Khan for 2nd Test | – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his opinion that neither Shubman Gill nor Shreyas Iyer should be dropped from the Indian playing XI for the second Test against England. According to Pathan, their experience becomes crucial in the absence of senior players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.Despite their struggles against the English spinners in the first Test in Hyderabad, where India lost by 28 runs and trailed 0-1 in the series, Pathan believes that the team management may not take the risk of including young Sarfaraz Khan in the playing eleven for the second Test in Visakhapatnam.Pathan emphasises the significance of experience, especially in the absence of key players, in shaping the composition of the team for the upcoming match."A senior player like Virat Kohli...
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‘Support our vibrant tourism industry’: Cricket fraternity bats for Indian beaches amid Maldives row | Off the field News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Numerous renowned former cricketers including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatesh Prasad and Suresh Raina, have condemned the 'racist' comments made against India by public figures in the Maldives. They encouraged fellow citizens to appreciate the beauty of Indian beaches.This criticism comes in the midst of a controversy over derogatory and 'anti-India' remarks by Maldivian ministers, leaders and other public figures following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the union territory of Lakshadweep.Raina called for unity among Indians against the hate from the Maldives and advocated exploring the islands within India. Raina expressed disappointment over the criticism from the Maldives, particularly considering India's substantial contributions to their economy, crisi...
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‘If something happens to Bumrah…’: Irfan Pathan wants India to focus on building bigger fast bowling pool in 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Mohammed Shami's absence coupled with pacers' underperformance in the first Test in Centurion, exposed chinks in the Indian pace bowling attack and former all-rounder Irfan Pathan wants the team to focus on building a bigger fast bowling pool in 2024. While Shami's non-presence was felt badly, Jasprit Bumrah did not get the support from the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj in India's heavy defeat against South Africa last week.Speaking to Star Sports on areas India need to improve in the new year, Pathan said: "India need to prepare a good fast bowling unit in 2024. We saw what happened in South Africa, the back ups were not ready. Shami was missed."If god forbid, something happens to Bumrah as we have seen in the past, injury can happen to him. If ...
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‘If you’re Rohit Sharma and…’: Irfan Pathan wants India captain to go for this player in place of R Ashwin in second Test | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India faced a tough defeat in the first Test of the two-match series, succumbing by an innings and 32 runs within three days at Centurion's SuperSport Park on Thursday. With this massive win, South Africa secured an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, dashing India's hopes of claiming a Test series victory in the Rainbow Nation for the first time in 31 years.Despite posting 245 runs in their first innings, the Indian batsmen faltered, managing only 131 runs across 34.1 overs in the second innings. This was in reply to South Africa's commanding total of 408 in their first innings.India have struggled in bilateral Test series in South Africa, having attempted eight times without a win, suffering seven losses and managing only one draw.The only chance for redemption n...
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‘Rohit Sharma’s stature in Mumbai Indians is similar to…’: Irfan Pathan | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan commended the remarkable legacy of Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Mumbai Indians and drew insightful comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni's influential role with the Chennai Super Kings.With the announcement of Hardik Pandya as Rohit Sharma's successor on December 15, a new chapter unfolded for the Mumbai Indians, signifying not only a shift in leadership but also the end of an era marked by Rohit's exceptional captaincy that propelled the team to unprecedented heights.Pathan, in a conversation with Star Sports, highlighted the parallel between Rohit's impact on the Mumbai Indians and Dhoni's iconic presence in the CSK. According to him, both captains played the role of architects, contributing to their teams' success through dedicati...