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Aakash Chopra reckons David Warner might not be the hottest pick at the IPL 2022 auction 

IPL 2022 will be an exciting edition with the addition of two new teams and a mega auction ahead of the upcoming season. Lucknow and Ahmedabad are the two new teams to be added to the roster of the tournament in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league. 

A total of 1214 cricketers, including 270 capped players, 312 uncapped players have registered for the mega auction. However former India opener Aakash Chopra doesn’t believe that all IPL franchises would go hammer and tongs for David Warner as the Australian opener lost his old mojo.

“The first name that comes to mind is David Warner. Warner will be expensive, he will be in demand. But I’ve heard that Lucknow (Lucknow Super Giants) were not even keen on him. We thought he would open with Rahul. Hyderabad let him go. I don’t think Chennai will even think about Warner. I’m not 100 percent certain that Mumbai will consider him,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“I’m not saying he won’t be expensive. People will go after him. It could be Delhi, Punjab, or Ahmedabad for all we know. But I think his goodwill has taken a hit. He has scored a lot of runs, he’s a good player. But I don’t think anyone will look at him as a captain. As opener, he might fetch money but will he go for ₹15-16-17 crores? I don’t think so.” Chopra added.

Warner was previously associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad but things went awry in the last season as he was sacked from captaincy mid-season and eventually dropped from the XI. Also, his social media interactions pointed out that the relations between him and the franchise ended as sour.

Dwayne Bravo Performs hook step from Pushpa’s Srivalli song after taking a wicket

Tollywood star Allu Arjun-Pushpa: The Rise has not only become an overnight blockbuster but has also become a trendsetter with star cricketers including the likes of David Warner , Ravindra Jadeja, and Shikhar Dhawan seen mimicking the Tollywood star on several occasions.

After Australian opener David Warner, who is renowned for his humorous viral videos did the ‘Pushpa walk” West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo has also copied the steps of Allu Arjun’s famous song. Taking to his official social media handles, DJ Bravo opted for a white tee and bright yellow shorts paired to perform the Srivalli dance challenge.

In the caption, he tagged Warner and Suresh Raine, who also tried out the trend, and wrote, ”Going with the trend!! ” @davidwarner31 @sureshraina3 how did I do!! Warner was quick to reply to him as he commented, ”Haha legend, ” you’re the man brother”.

DJ Bravo had earlier shared a video of him dancing to the song dubbed “Pushpa Walk”, but this time, he has paid tribute to Allu Arjun yet again on the cricket field. In the BPL match between Comilla Victorians and Fortune Barishal on Tuesday Bravo had bowled a length delivery on the middle and leg stump line as to Mahidul Islam. While he got the timing right, it failed to get the distance as Najmul Hossain Shanto completed a good catch in the deep. After picking up a vital wicket in the death overs, the two-time World Cup winner performed hook step of Allu Arjun from Srivalli song.

Yuvraj Singh and his wife Hazel Keech blessed with a baby boy : Twitter reacts

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh and his wife Hazel Keech welcomed their first child, a boy, on Tuesday. The couple took to their social media handles to share the big news and also requested the media to respect their privacy.

Taking to Twitter Yuvraj wrote, “To all our fans, family and friends, we are elated to share that God blessed us with a baby boy. We thank God for this blessing and wish you to respect our privacy as we welcome the little one into the world, Love Hazel and Yuvraj “. Yuvraj and actress Hazel Keech got married on November 30, 2016. The baby boy is their first child together.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh congratulated Yuvraj Singh and wife Hazel Keech, after the couple got blessed with a baby boy. Taking to Twitter, Harbhajan wrote in Punjabi, Congratulations to the boy’s father and mother, very happy for you both.”

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif extended his warm wishes to the lucky parents and wrote, “Warmest wishes to the lucky parents. Bahut bahut mubarak bhai.”

How To Fast-Track Your Cricket Predictions

The thrill of a live cricket game is doubled once you begin to predict the winner. Cricket predictions in general have become one of India’s most enjoyable activities. It is one of the way for cricket fans to show that they have an understanding of the game.

With the number of events on the cricket calendar increasing every year, there is no shortage of opportunities to earn bragging rights with your accurate cricket predictions. Here is some of the best advice to consider when making cricket predictions.

Learn About Teams’ Recent Achievements 

Though there is no guarantee that the team in the form will not be in good condition in upcoming matches, studying recent performances will give you a sense of how well the team is doing. 

Investigate consistency or lack of consistency in batting and bowling performance.

Notice the players that played a significant role in their team’s victories. Look at the groups to understand whether they are depended on just a few or more players in their victories.

To do this, find the results of matches where some of the team’s key players have failed to deliver or have been excluded from playing XI. You will also get an idea of the team’s bench strength. In this way your cricket predictions will be better.

Read The Statistics Head To Head 

Studying historical statistics aims to develop a better understanding of the nature of competition between the two extremes. 

One team could have won seven matches against the opposition and yet lost in the eighth game. Therefore, stay on your toes when interpreting these figures. 

By looking at past face-to-face matches, you can spot critical battles and find out more about match-ups. For example, let’s take the England vs India Test match in South Africa and observe the match-up between James Anderson and Virat Kohli. 

Before your cricket predictions, When you analyse both teams that way, you get a clearer image of which side has an advantage.

Look At The Players’ Current Form

Teams always try to strike the right balance between experienced players and young guns in their squads. When predicting the winner, it may be tempting to trust seasoned players with many milestones in their names. 

However, the basic form of players is a more reliable factor to consider during cricket predictions.

Stay On Top Of The Latest News And Expert Opinions

Make sure to be updated about player injuries or other factors that may impact selections. Read experts’ opinions, such as former cricket players and sports journalists, with a thorough understanding of current data and game statistics, including relevant players.

You may get to learn the shortcomings of the players thanks to the technical eye of experts that never miss out anything. The game’s technical features discussed in these articles or videos will help you refine your cricket predictions.

Also, don’t forget to look up the venue records to see if the team that hits first or second has won more matches. In the location statistics, you can also find the average scores in innings 1 and 2. If you review the latest games played at the venue, search for the most successful style of bowling – seam, spin or swing.

Weather And Ground Conditions

For a test game, especially in England, the weather is significant. Cloudy conditions help balance the swing bowlers, and without the sun, the field may not help spin bowlers on the fourth and fifth day.

The grassy pitch will offer movement for seam bowlers, which has a good impact even in the T20s. Assess these conditions and compare them with both teams’ bowling attack and batting skills. Discover which of the two teams is better suited to these conditions.

Conclusion

With all these aspects and tips you can make better cricket predictions and be on top of the leader board undoubtedly. Wishing you all the best for your upcoming cricket predictions.

Best Cricket Tips I Learned From a Cricket Expert

Cricket is always widely recognized as one of the world’s most popular sports. In contrast to other sports, cricket has three major popular formats. These are 20-20 matches, One Day Internationals and Tests, played in different lengths.

Several incredible teams across the globe possess outstanding cricket skills. Many countries also organize tournaments to highlight the skills of their local players. These tournaments are also an excellent way to show cricket organizations that deserve to be on their national teams.

A lot of cricket fans check the latest game updates to see what’s going on in their scheduled matches. Some even go so far as to wager for their favourite teams and players so that they can gain profits from their match assumption.

Placing wagers on cricket matches can be exciting, like live casino games. Here are some best cricket tips that can give better results for people who have not yet attempted.

Look for different odds

Each sport offers various odds that individuals can use for their reference. These ratings help to identify outsiders and popular fan opinions. They also give punters a sense of what they can win with every decision they make.

By verifying the various odds of each site, players will get an idea of the prize offers of each wager’s site. It allows them to select the website that best suits them with these best cricket tips.

Leverage previous team statistics

Punters will need to focus on players and teams based on their current performance and not just their popularity. It is always preferable to rely on data rather than gut feeling. These kinds of best cricket tips help to guide throughout this journey.

To learn more about a team’s recent performance, players can either review previous matches or read the news about the team’s readiness. Punters may also decide based on the player’s lineup.

Think about the game’s format

As stated, there are three main formats of cricket. While the principles of the game can stay the same, people will notice that different teams and players specialize in various formats.

During crucial situations, the format of the game must always be considered so that punters can make the right choices when money is involved.

Be conscious of the game conditions

Apart from previous players and statistics, other factors should be taken into account when money is involved. These include weather forecasts and the state of the playing field, as these factors have an enormous impact on the quality of the game.

Administer your bankroll

Cricket punters would also have to vary their bets in different markets to have a better chance of winning. They can choose from a wide range of markets geared to various gaming aspects. 

It is strongly recommended that punters spread their money even while paying particular attention to their bankroll so that they do not lose too much money. It also helps them to be responsible punters.

ConclusionThese are just a few best cricket tips that will give punters a better wagering experience. Trying these tips will benefit more from their scheduled cricket matches.

IND vs WI Series: Rohit Sharma to lead, rest for Jasprit Bumrah

India will host West Indies for a three match ODI and three match T20 series from February 06-February 20 after returning from South Africa. The IND vs WI ODI series will be played from 6 February in Ahmedabad.

According to report, Rohit Sharma Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are set to return to India’s squad for the limited-overs series against  West Indies. The national selection panel, headed by former India pacer Chetan Sharma, is set to pick the squad this week for three ODIs and three T20Is. However, the team selection meeting, which is set to happen this week, will be an interesting one as some senior players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin, after their indifferent performance against South Africa in their 0-3 ODI series defeat, will come under the scanner.

Meanwhile, having recovered from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss India’s tour to South Africa, Rohit will formally take charge of India’s ODI squad in the series opener. “Rohit is fit and available for the series against the West Indies,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. By the time, the West Indies series starts, it will be more than seven and half weeks of rehabilitation and recuperation for Rohit. He is already training in Mumbai and is expected to be in Bangalore for the fitness test and get a formal okay from the National Cricket Academy,” the BCCI source informed.
Notably Jasprit Bumrah played every game on the SA tour and is likely to be rested. Mohammed Shami, who was rested for SA ODIs, is expected to be back for the series.

‘Send him back, he doesn’t have that level of maturity yet’ – Gautam Gambhir on Venkatesh Iyer’

India lost all three matches of the ODI series against South Africa a few days back . The KL Rahul-led side lost the opening ODI by 31 runs. In the 2nd ODI, SA chased down 288 while India lost the 3rd tie by 4 runs.

Following the series defeat against SA, former India opener Gautam Gambhir had made a bold claim about Venkatesh Iyer’s future in the ODI team. Venkatesh made his ODI debut against South Africa in the recently concluded series. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders player failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Iyer scored 2 off 7 in the opening ODI while he didn’t get a chance to bowl. In the 2nd ODI, he scored 22 off 33 and went for 28 runs in 5 overs. He was surprisingly kept out of the playing XI for the 3rd ODI.

Gambhir feels that Iyer doesn’t have the maturity level to play in ODIs yet and should only be considered for selection in T20Is. Speaking on Star Sports after the series, Gambhir said: “I feel he should only be considered for T20 cricket. Because he doesn’t have that level of maturity yet. He has been given an opportunity to play international level after watching him in only 7-8 IPL matches. If you are going by IPL performances, then play him in T20 cricket. ODI is a completely different ball game and a completely different beast “

IPL 2022: Lucknow franchise announce official name, to be called `Lucknow Super Giants`

Indian Premier League’s new Lucknow-based franchise has announced their team name on Monday as Lucknow Super Giants. Chairman of RPSG group Sanjiv Goenka revealed the name on social media. 

Notably the Lucknow franchise was bought by RP-Sanjiv Goenka group in IPL team auctions last year for an amount of Rs 7090 Crore. They organized a crowd-sourced contest with the name ‘Naam Banao, Naam Kamao’ to finalise the name of its team.

While revealing the team name, Goenka said in his message that, “Thank you so much for your overwhelming response to the ‘Naam banao naam kamao’ contest. Lakhs and lakhs of people responded, based on that we are very happy to choose the name for the Lucknow IPL team,” And the name that we have chosen based on your recommendations is Lucknow Super Giants. Thak you so much for your response and love and continue to give us your blessings in the future as well.” 

Last week, Lucknow franchise had announced their three pre-auction picks with KL Rahul set to lead the team. Rahul, who captained Punjab Kings in the last two years will earn a massive salary of Rs. 17 Crore. Meanwhile, they also chose Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis as one of their new picks. And their third pick is uncapped Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.

Shane Warne suggests who should be India’s next Test captain

Legendary cricketer Shane Warne has reacted to Virat Kohli stepping down as Team India’s Test skipper and named his choice who will lead the team in the longest format of the game.

Former Australian spinner Shane Warne reckoned that a wicket-keeper should not be a captain and keeping the Indian team in mind, he felt it should either be Jasprit Bumrah or Rohit Sharma. “I was not surprised with Virat’s decision because being the captain of India has so much pressure and expectation. Virat is such an inspiration to so many people, he is an inspirational leader and I am sad to see him resign as captain and step down. He is still playing Test cricket and he still believes that it is the number one form of the game,” Warne told.

Further talking about the captaincy prospects, Warne said: “Rohit has done a good job in shorter formats, so he will be the favourite to lead the side. KL Rahul could do it, I would love to say Rahane, but he has lost form. If Rahane is in form or he finds that form again, then he can do it. He is a very good captain. India is lucky to have so many options but I think Rohit will get the captaincy.”

Even Warne said that the fast bowler has the potential to lead the team as well. He explained why he does not want Rishabh Pant to take over as the next India captain, “I do not believe a wicketkeeper should be a captain, I believe a wicketkeeper makes a good deputy, a good vice-captain. Looking at the Indian side, Jasprit Bumrah can make a good captain, Rohit Sharma can make a good captain,” Warne further said.

Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor claims being ‘forced’ to spot-fix, to face ‘multi-year’ ICC ban

Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has opened up about being blackmailed into spot-fixing by an Indian businessman. He took money from match-fixers who tried to blackmail him into manipulating international games with a secret video of him using cocaine on a visit to India in 2019.

Taylor, who retired from international cricket in September last year, said the ICC was about to impose a ban on him because he had delayed reporting the incident.He was coerced into accepting the money from an Indian businessman in October 2019 and that it took him four months to report the incident to the ICC anti-corruption unit because he feared for his safety. Taylor took $15,000 from the fixers, however he said he never fixed or manipulated games. 
he was invited to India to discuss a sponsorship opportunity in October 2019. At a dinner with businessmen, he was offered cocaine and “foolishly took the bait.”

” We had drinks and during the course of the evening they openly offered me cocaine, which they themselves engaged in, and I foolishly took the bait. I’ve gone over it a million times since and still feel sick to my stomach reliving that night and how they played me,” Taylor wrote.

” The following morning, the same men stormed into my hotel room and showed me a video taken of me the night before doing cocaine and told me that if I did not spot fix at international matches for them, the video would be released to the public.  “I was cornered. And with 6 of these individuals in my hotel room, I was scared for my own safety. I’d fallen for it. I’d willingly walked into a situation that has changed my life forever.” 

“I was handed the $15,000 but was told this was now a ‘deposit’ for spot-fixing and that an additional $20,000 would be paid once the ‘job’ was complete,” he said. He said he didn’t approach the ICC because he was being blackmailed by the businessman and his associates, who had made a video of him using cocaine. took the money so I could get on a plane and leave India. I felt I had no choice at the time because saying no was clearly not an option. All I knew was I had to get out of there.

Taylor decided to report the incident to the ICC four months later and said he delayed it to protect his family. “The ‘businessman’ wanted a return on his investment which I could not and would not give. It took me 4 months to report this offence and interaction to the ICC. “I acknowledge this was too long of a time but I thought I could protect everyone and in particular, my family. I approached the ICC on my own terms and I hoped that if Iexplained my predicament, my genuine fear for our safety and wellbeing, that they would understand the delay.”

“Unfortunately, they did not, but I cannot feign ignorance in this regard. I have attended many anti-corruption seminars over the years and we know that time is of essence when making reports,” he wrote.

“And so, I would also like to let you know that on Tuesday the 25th of January I am checking into a rehabilitation centre to get clean and to get my life back on track. I have to tell my story now because I know people will want to hear from me. To try and understand what led to this point. But for many weeks I will be away and trying to get better,” Taylor added.

https://twitter.com/BrendanTaylor86/status/1485522867768991745?s=20