Hardik Pandya faces fan backlash while leading Mumbai Indians in IPL, struggling with team decisions and slow start. Speculation surrounds lineup changes and performance expectations against Rajasthan Royals' left-arm bowlers for MI's success.
Despite a vintage Dhoni cameo of 37* off 16 balls, studded with 4 fours and 3 sixes, Delhi held nerve to beat Chennai in Vizag. But the foundation of the win was laid by Pant's quickfire 51, the opening burst of Khaleel (2 for 21) and his fellow pacer Mukesh Kumar's (3/21) death-over bowling, as he didn't get perturbed even when Dhoni was hitting big.
Rishabh Pant showcased his leadership prowess by delivering his first IPL fifty since his return from a harrowing car accident as Delhi Capitals secured a 20-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024 on Sunday.
The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam buzzed with excitement as the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni strode onto the field to bat in the IPL 2024. Thunderous applause filled the stadium as Dhoni made his tournament debut at the crease, igniting the fervor of the crowd. The fans went wild when the 42-year-old maestro struck a boundary off the very first delivery he faced, pulling a short-of-length delivery from Mukesh Kumar.
SRH, MI winners, play GT. Cummins, Head recall ODI win. Shami absent. GT eyes Williamson. Johnson, Omarzai, Ahmad choices. CSK challenge. Little, Kumar, Natarajan key. Malik, Markram, Klassen in focus.
On his IPL debut, emerging fast bowler Mayank Yadav showcased his talent by claiming three wickets, aiding Lucknow Super Giants in their 21-run victory over Punjab Kings. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Lucknow Super Giants set a formidable target of 199 for 8. Punjab Kings could only manage 178/5 in their 20 overs.
Mayank Yadav, the young pace sensation, marked a remarkable IPL debut, playing a pivotal role in steering Lucknow Super Giants to a comfortable 21-run victory over Punjab Kings in Lucknow on Saturday.
LSG face Punjab Kings at Ekana stadium aiming for their first win after a loss to Rajasthan Royals. Punjab Kings won one of two matches. Both teams seek victory with key players in focus.
Venkatesh Iyer's innings of 50 runs from 30 balls, including three fours and four sixes, combined with explosive performances from openers Sunil Narine (47 runs off 22 balls, including two fours and five sixes) and Phil Salt (30 runs off 20 balls, including two fours and two sixes), propelled the Knight Riders past the target of 183 runs set by RCB, anchored by Virat Kohli's unbeaten 83.
Abhishek Sharma's stellar performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad, guided by Brian Lara's advice, showcased his growth from a struggling player to a key asset. His impact against the MI attack highlighted his development and determination.
Needing 17 off the last over, Delhi Capitals could all manage 4 runs courtesy fine yorker length deliveries by pacer Avesh Khan as Rajasthan Royals registered 12-run win, their second of the IPL 2024 season. Explaining his approach, Avesh, who returned figures of 1/29, clearly stated that his plan was clear to back his strengths and focus was on the execution.
Sunrisers Hyderabad achieved the highest IPL total of 277/3 against Mumbai Indians, setting a new record. Mumbai's chase fell short by 31 runs, setting a new IPL record for second-innings total. The Sunrisers' formidable batting display, including Abhishek Sharma's half-century and a stellar partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head, proved too daunting for Mumbai.
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Virat Kohli's aggressive innings against Punjab Kings at Chinnaswamy stadium impresses with his adaptability and high strike rates, showcasing potential for T20 World Cup and fitting into young India's attacking cricket style.
Chennai Super Kings won their second match of the Indian Premier League 2024 with a 63-run victory over Gujarat Titans. The match played at MA Chidambaram Stadium saw CSK's batsmen displayed impressive cricketing talent, posting a total of 206 for 6. The Titans struggled to counter CSK's bowling attack, resulting in a disappointing loss.
What's MS Dhoni's age? He's 42. But for the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman, it's just another number. Affectionately referred to as 'Thala' by his fans, Dhoni displayed his brilliance during the match against the Gujarat Titans. In his opening over, CSK's Daryl Mitchell sent down a full delivery around the off-stump to Vijay Shankar. Shankar aimed for a straight drive but ended up edging the ball instead.
To give it to Mumbai Indian, despite being poor starters, they have won the title five times. In fact in 2015, they won it despite losing four of their first five games. The year before, they qualified despite losing their first five games. They may do so again, but Sunday's loss had disturbing pointers.
The beauty of franchise cricket is such that the visiting Titans side will consist of five 'locals', while Super Kings, the only IPL team from the state, have none from the region. The Titans playing pack comprises five TN members, who know the Chepauk pitches like the back of their palms.
Virat Kohli delivered a stellar performance with a knock of 77 runs, guiding Royal Challengers Bangalore to a crucial four-wicket win over Punjab Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday. This victory marked RCB's first win in IPL 2024 after their defeat in the season's opener against Chennai Super Kings.
Gujarat Titans triumphed over Mumbai Indians in a thrilling IPL match. Hardik Pandya's captaincy switch faced criticism as Mumbai Indians fell short in the chase.
Mumbai Indians maintained the tradition of losing their opening match of IPL since 2012 with Gujarat Titans snatching an improbable six-run victory in a thrilling match in Ahmedabad on Sunday. While Jasprit Bumrah bowled a couple of terrific spells to restrict Gujarat Titans to 168 for 6 in 20 overs, MI lost their way after Rohit Sharma's dismissal to end up on 162 for 9 in 20 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah's outstanding performance at Narendra Modi Stadium put Mumbai Indians in a strong position against Gujarat Titans. Bumrah's stellar performance not only aided MI in containing the opposition but also etched his name in IPL history with a record-breaking 17 three-wicket hauls, the most by any player in the tournament's history.
Rajasthan Royals focus on enhancing their middle-order with key additions like Powell, Buttler, and Jaiswal, preparing to face Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, LSG's confidence lies in Pooran, Stoinis, and the fitness of skipper KL Rahul.
For Mumbai Indians, the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah adds another layer of excitement to the fixture. After missing the tournament last year due to injury, Bumrah will be eager to make his mark in his comeback season. With 148 wickets in 123 matches, Bumrah is on the verge of reaching a significant milestone of 150 IPL wickets, a feat he will be aiming to accomplish in this season.
Mustafizur Rahman's stellar performance led Chennai Super Kings to victory in IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Hotstar's latest show, Lootere, will take you to the murky world of Somalia, where crime is the order of the day and law and order have taken a convenient backseat. The show is about Somalian pirates (no, they aren't as goofy as Captain Jack Sparrow) who otherwise live pitiful lives. It is reportedly based on the true incident of 2017 when an Indian ship was similarly hijacked on Somalian waters by pirates.
The first scene of Lootere gives a preview of what comes along thrill, adventure, cat and mouse chase, tons of action sequences, and lots of adrenaline rush. A lot of local Somalians are running towards the shore, some of whom have ammunition. It seems like they are all going on a mission. The captivating background music adds to the urgency that the makers are trying to create.
The first main character we meet is Vikrant (Vivek Gomber), an Indian businessman who has spent all his life in Somalia and is yet standing at the receiving end of discrimination and hatred from the localities. Before you start sympathising with him, it is worth mentioning that there might be other reasons for it as well: he is the President of the port organisation and has many illegal activities going under his wing. This is, of course, besides the fact that he is a money-minded asshole who has somewhat gotten his emotional fuse dismantled. He strongly relies on the philosophy of his father-in-law (from whom he has inherited his illegal business empire) that it is better to be a king in hell than a servant in heaven.
Vikrant is contending for the presidency of the port and needs lots of funds to lure the votes and clear his loans. One such piggy bank that he is relying on is the Ukrainian ship which is bringing an illegal consignment to Sonalia's Mogadishu for him. The ship has 13 crew members, including the savage Captain (Rajat Kapoor), a Pakistani crewmate, and two women – one of whom is pregnant.
As the information of illegal consignment on the ship goes out, Vikrant's enemies get ready to get this reported so that the ship is inspected on reaching Mogadishu, leading to Vikrant's presidency being nulled.
One of Vikrant's partners offers the unique solution of getting the ship hijacked and retrieving the priceless consignment midway before it reaches the enemies: an offer Vikrant agrees to without even listening to the entire plan.
Thus, kickstarts a series of thrilling sequences.
Vivek Gamber plays a corrupt Indian businessman in Somalian waters
Lootere's cast has done an impressive job. I particularly liked Rajat Kapoor's ship Captain. Although there wasn't much scope for emotional diversity to explore, he nailed the parts of a leader who knows how to keep his team calm under distress. His character also knew how to shoot subtle sarcasm, even with pirates jumping around.
Vivek Gomber and Amruta Khanvilkar's performances are also worth noting. While Amruta's character will make you appreciate her bravery, Vivek will make you feel all kinds of emotions: anger, hatred, frustration.
However, Martial Batchamen Tchana's role stole the show for me. His character had a surprising moral compass and calm composure, even though he is a pirate. It brings a respite from the otherwise comical representation of foreign actors in commercial Indian films and shows.
It would have been very easy to screw the show with fake accents and incorrect casting, but the makers have scored well in that area.
Lootere can be streamed in seven Indian languages on Hotstar
While there are plenty of crime thrillers, just a few of them have dared to explore beyond the hinterlands or overdone backdrop of the USA and Europe. Lootere brings a refreshing change in the form of a Somalian backdrop with an interesting premise of pirates. Some might even call it an African counterpart of the Uttar Pradesh or Bihar-based crime shows.
The show gives a closer look at the lawlessness of the region and the mayday situation that persists in this African nation. While the chances of civil war have been casually mentioned in the show, makers haven't dug deeper into that territory. However, Lootere is still likely to invoke curiosity in viewers regarding the actual socio-political scenario of Somalia. There is a scene where young kids are being trained in a pirate camp, and they are then kidnapping other children into camp recruitment.
Another scene of Somalian touch which grabbed my attention is of an organised dog fight where people are cheering and rooting for the canines to defeat the other.
Lootere is somewhat new territory for the Indian digital space and even cinema, which means fewer cliches. It is a good attempt by Jai Mehta, who is donning the directorial hat for the first time.
Lootere has all the ingredients of a good thriller and is likely to make your heart pounce in a bunch of scenes. The background score deserves special mention. The composers have struck just the perfect chord with music: I particularly enjoyed the Somalian notes.
The show has beautifully captured how humans desperately cling to every sliver of hope when their lives are thrown into danger, from trying to attack without a game plan to trying to side with the enemy.
The perspective of the poor pirates of Somalia is also an interesting concept to ponder. Even though they are the ones putting everyone at gunpoint, the makers haven't forgotten to mention their plight and how they feel unattended by the government. Is rather amusing to see the pirates making humanly mistakes while executing their mission.
Another notable point the show captures is the shortcomings of the corrupt administration and the resultant inefficiency. Unfortunately, I can't disclose much in this context without giving away spoilers!
All in all, Lootere is a decent crime thriller worth a watch.
CSK beat RCB by 6 wickets in the IPL opener in Chennai on Friday. RCB recovered to 173 for six against CSK after opting to bat. Skipper Faf du Plessis (35) got his team off the blocks before the visitors collapsed to 78/5. Anuj Rawat (48) and Dinesh Karthik (38 not out) shared a 95-run stand for the sixth wicket to give some respectability to the total. In response, CSK got home in 18.4 overs after contributions from debutant Rachin Ravindra (37), Shivam Dube (34 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (25 not out).
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar influenced Dhoni's captaincy, highlighting his intuitive leadership qualities. Reflecting on IPL 2024, Tendulkar shared insights on Dhoni's remarkable attributes. Tendulkar emphasized his role in Dhoni's appointment despite concerns about his physical condition. Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.Only weeks after launching the Nothing Phone 2a, company CEO Carl Pei is teasing something new is coming soon. In typical Nothing fashion, Pei hinted that the company will be unveiling something this week. Nothing posted a short video on X teasing the announcement. The company has not disclosed anything about this upcoming offering apart from revealing the date. Nothing recently launched the Phone 2a in India, the company's first budget smartphone.
The official X handle of Nothing posted a ten-seconds long clip, on March 18. The snippet shows Pei in a conversation with Julie Duan, who as per her LinkedIn bio is a short-form content manager at Nothing. Pei captioned this short video as ‘an industry first'. As part of the conversation, Duan can be heard asking Pei, “So I think this is a bit of an industry first. Why do you think other companies haven't done this before?”
Replying to Duan the Nothing chief just says, “Well, it's uh...” following which the screen blacks out. The announcement will be made on March 20 as per teaser.
"an industry first" pic.twitter.com/ff4ONU3PLa
— Nothing (@nothing) March 18, 2024
The post has managed to garner over 130,000 views in the last 24 hours. The comments section under this post has been flooding with all sorts of guesses. The Nothing team has not announced any specific time for the announcement. Nothing could announce a new app or software tomorrow.
In the first week of March this year, the company launched the budget-friendly Nothing Phone 2a with a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC chipset, 5,000mAh battery, and a new Glyph LED design. The two variants of this handset are priced Rs. 25,999 and Rs. 27,999.
Shortly after the launch of Phone 2a, Nothing's sub-brand CMF introduced two wearable devices -- the Neckband Pro offering 50dB hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) and the CMF Buds that come with 42dB ANC support.
Headquartered in London, Nothing was founded in October 2020. Former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei officially unveiled Nothing on January 27, 2021 – three months after Pei exited OnePlus. Between 2021 and 2024, Nothing has launched a bunch of wireless earphones alongside two mid-range flagship smartphones -- the Nothing Phone 1 and Nothing Phone 2.
Google Chrome for Android is reportedly adding support for third-party password managers. The browser currently only supports password autofill from Google Password Manager, its native service. As a result, Android users who prefer and use other password managers cannot use the app's saved data to log into their accounts on the browser. It appears that the tech giant is now addressing this pain point by allowing users to choose whichever third-party service they want. Notably, the desktop app of Google Chrome recently upgraded the standard version of the Safe Browsing feature with a real-time protection protocol.
Spotted by tipster @Leopeva64 on X (formerly known as Twitter) in the Stable version of Chrome for Android, the feature lets users autofill passwords from their preferred password manager. He said, “This feature now works and if you choose the "Use other providers" option, Chrome no longer shows you suggestions from its password manager.” The tipster first highlighted this feature in November 2023 when it was still under development.
In the example above I set Microsoft Authenticator as the default autofill provider in Android settings.
— Leopeva64 (@Leopeva64) March 18, 2024
This is how it normally works in the Stable version of Chrome for Android: pic.twitter.com/t4oQ0ZVuQw
The feature is already available on Chrome Stable, Beta, and Canary builds, and users with these builds can access them immediately. However, they will first have to activate an experimental flag. As per a report by Android Authority, it can be enabled at chrome://flags/#enable-autofill-virtual-view-structure. Once activated, the setting will appear. After that, users can go to Chrome Settings > Autofill options and select Use other providers. Once the setting is changed, Google will no longer show its password suggestions in login text fields.
This setting should automatically prompt Chrome to trigger the default password manager the user has set for their Android smartphone. To change the default password manager, users can head to Android settings and click on Passwords & accounts > Passwords, passkeys, and data services and select the password manager of their choice.
A thing to note here is while the feature is working, the report found a bug where entering a new password did not prompt an option to save it, despite the flag being activated. This can be a concern for users wanting to switch their password manager immediately. It appears Google is still fine-tuning the feature before its public release.
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers is excited about Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant's return for the Indian Premier League 2024 season. Pant, who missed IPL 2023 due to multiple injuries in a car accident, has an impressive record of 2,838 runs in 98 matches, with an average of 34.61 and a striking rate exceeding 147.
The Indian Premier League's new season starts in Chennai with a match between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The opening match features MS Dhoni leading CSK against Virat Kohli and RCB. Kohli returns after a two-month break, and Dhoni has been praised by Bengaluru skipper Faf du Plessis for his leadership and growth.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli focus on IPL-2024 before the T20 World Cup. Kohli's batting position dilemma arises with contenders for berths. Hardik Pandya's role remains crucial for India's success.
IPL 2024 begins with Chennai Super Kings facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22. Virat Kohli trains at MA Chidambaram Stadium, with Glenn Maxwell mimicking him in a viral video. RCB rebranded at RCB Unbox event.
Australian fast-bowling icon Glenn McGrath advises caution for Bumrah as he prepares to once again spearhead the Mumbai Indians' formidable bowling attack in the upcoming two-month-long IPL 2024 season, commencing on March 22 and concluding at the end of May.
Miami-Dade Police have classified the passing of Konstantin Koltsov, former NHL ice hockey player and partner of tennis sensation Aryna Sabalenka, as a case of "apparent suicide," as stated by authorities on Tuesday. According to Argemis Colome, a spokesperson for the police department, in an email, officers responded to a distress call at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort at 12:39 a.m. (0439 GMT) on Monday, regarding an individual who had jumped from a balcony.
Hardik Pandya faces a leadership test with Mumbai Indians. Pat Cummins joins Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shubman Gill leads Gujarat Titans. Will they succeed in their new roles in the upcoming IPL season?
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have unveiled their jersey in anticipation of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, set to commence on March 22. During the ceremony, KKR's mentor Gautam Gambhir said that he did not make KKR a successful franchise with two title wins in 2012-14 during his stint as a player from 2011-17 for the team.
Asha Sobhana's remarkable journey from Kerala to Puducherry, guided by Shweta Mishra, led to success with RCB in the WPL tournament. Training under L Sivaramakrishnan proved pivotal in her improved performance, showcasing her talent and determination.
RCB women claimed their first WPL title by defeating Delhi Capitals as Smriti Mandhana led the team to victory. The spin quartet, including Georgia Wareham, played a pivotal role in dismantling DC's batting lineup.
After a gap of over three months, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer made a rather edgy return to T20 format while playing in an inhouse practice match of Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Sunday. Shreyas, who is set to lead KKR in IPL 2024, hardly looked comfortable in the middle while registering 22 of 19 balls before getting stumped by Phil Salt off a local left-arm spinner.
India’s long drought at the All England badminton championships continued as Lakshya Sen lost in the semifinals of the blue riband event in Birmingham, England, on Saturday.
From scoring the most number of hundreds in women’s cricket (17 tons) to hitting the fastest century in ODIs (off 45 balls), Lanning holds all kinds of batting records. She spoke to TOI in an exclusive interaction before the 2024 WPL final and shared her thoughts on a range of topics, including her shocking retirement last year.
Bernardo Silva guides Manchester City to FA Cup semis with a brace. Coventry stages late comeback to shock Wolverhampton. City aims for treble under Guardiola's leadership, maintaining a 22-game unbeaten streak.
The great Sunil Gavaskar applauded BCCI's reward system for Test players. He advocated increasing Ranji Trophy fees to avoid pull-outs. Gavaskar also suggested scheduling the Ranji Trophy from October to mid-December to allow practice for the IPL. The BCCI had recently denied central contracts to a couple of players for non-participation in the Ranji Trophy.
CSK faces bowling challenges with Pathirana's absence due to injury. Mustafizur's arrival as backup becomes vital for the team's success in the upcoming matches, especially in countering opponents effectively.
Opener Pathum Nissanka's impressive innings of 114 runs off 113 balls guided Sri Lanka to a three-wicket triumph over Bangladesh, leveling their three-match ODI series in Chittagong on Friday.
Cognizant partners with Major League Cricket as the first title sponsor, supporting the league's growth and development of cricket in the US. The upcoming season will feature international cricket stars, building on the success of the inaugural season.
Mumbai's emotional victory in the Ranji Trophy final at Wankhede Stadium was marked by Dhawal Kulkarni's exceptional performance, supported by key players like Ajinkya Rahane, Tanush Kotian, and Musheer Khan, securing their 42nd title.
Ace Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen, currently ranked World No. 18, fought back from a 2-8 deficit in the deciding game after dropping the second game, ultimately prevailing 24-22, 11-21, 21-14 over World No. 3 Anders Antonsen, a three-time medalist at the World Championships, in a contentious second-round match. Sen entered the match with a 1-3 record against Antonsen, who had emerged victorious in their last three encounters.