Bengaluru: The BCCI's decision to send a full-strength squad to the Asian Games later this month has brought one name into focus - Jasprit ***** rah. The premier India pacer has not played for India since the second ODI against England in Cardiff in July, when he limped off after suffering an impact injury to his left knee. He has since been undergoing rehabilitation and is part of India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, although his participation is subject to fitness clearance.

With the Asian Games in ***** an beginning later this month, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the tournament could provide ***** rah with valuable game time ahead of India's next major ***** ignment, the New Zealand tour.

The Asian Games, then, is the perfect opportunity for ***** rah to ease back into competitive cricket before that series. "There's a fair gap between the Asian Games and the New Zealand series, so playing ***** rah in the Asian Games is actually a good idea because he has to get some bowling under his belt. In Sri Lanka, we heard Mohammad Siraj was not quite in rhythm because he hadn't played enough in competitive matches. The bowlers need to get some overs and ***** rah getting them is very essential," Gavaskar said.

Although Shreyas Iyer has lost six of the seven T20Is he has led India in this year, Sunil Gavaskar backed him. "He's very experienced as a captain, having led Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. I don't think there should be any pressure on him at the Asian Games. "

'Asian Games ***** le defence won't be easy'

Gavaskar was quick to add that the ***** le defence won't be an easy ride for India. "It's going to be tough because it's a T20 tournament. Bangladesh are in form, Pakistan are always dangerous and Sri Lanka are a terrific team, not to forget Afghanistan, so it's not going to be easy at all," he said. Gavaskar pointed out that the Asian Games will be a huge learning experience for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. "To be able to meet sportspersons from other sports from across Asia can be an absolute treat. For Sooryavanshi, I hope it turns out to be even more inspirational because he will get to rub shoulders with athletes who he's looked up to."

(This interaction was facilitated by Sony Sports Network)

#asian #easy #sunil #zealand

Former India batter and Director of Cricket at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, VVS Laxman, is set to travel with the Indian men's team to ******* an and will take charge as head coach in the absence of Gautam Gambhir for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya later this month.

Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side for India's home ODI series against the West Indies. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on September 27.

Laxman will be ******* isted by former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh, according to the list of coaches released by the Sports Ministry. The development was earlier reported by TimesofIndia.com in July.

Laxman has previous Asian Games experience, having coached the Indian men's team at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, where India won the gold medal.
The cricket competition at the Asian Games will begin on September 24, with India scheduled to play its opening men's match on September 28. India will defend its men's T20 ******* le under captain Shreyas Iyer, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the squad. The men's team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which comprises Afghanistan, ******* an and Nepal.

The Indian women's team will also enter the tournament as defending champions and will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The women's side will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage and face hosts ******* an. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach of the women's team, with bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali completing his support staff.
Indian men's team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ******* ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit ******* rah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Indian women's team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandani Sharma.

#coach

Sunil Narine added another landmark to an extraordinary T20 career on Thursday, becoming only the second bowler in the history of the format to reach 650 wickets.

The Trinbago Knight Riders spinner achieved the feat during their Caribbean Premier League 2026 clash against Saint Lucia Kings at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. Playing his 611th T20 match, Narine needed just one wicket to enter the exclusive club and duly delivered, finishing with figures of 1/27 from his four overs.

The milestone wicket arrived in the sixth ball of the 12th over of Saint Lucia Kings' innings. Narine trapped West Indies batter John Campbell lbw to take his career tally to 650 wickets.

Only Afghanistan's Rashid Khan had previously reached the mark. Rashid has 736 wickets from 547 T20 matches and is set to travel to India next month for a three-match T20I series in New Delhi against the three-time T20 World Cup winners.

Narine and Rashid have established a significant gap over the next names on the list. Dwayne Bravo is third with 631 wickets, followed by Imran Tahir on 582.

The latest milestone adds to Narine's remarkable record in the CPL. He is the competition's leading wicket-taker with 137 dismissals, two ahead of Tahir's 135.

His numbers in the IPL are equally impressive. Since making his debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, Narine has represented the franchise in 202 matches and taken 207 wickets. He is the only overseas player in IPL history to cross 200 wickets and also holds the record for the most wickets by a player for a single team in the competition.

What makes Narine's longevity even more striking is his economy rate. At a time when 200-plus totals have become increasingly common in the IPL, the mystery spinner has continued to keep scoring under control. He has maintained an economy rate of 6.79 throughout IPL seasons, while in IPL 2026 he took 15 wickets at an outstanding economy of 6.65.
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Narine's impact has also extended beyond his bowling. The all-rounder has scored 4,881 runs in 390 T20 innings, underlining his value as one of the format's most versatile players.

With 650 wickets now to his name, Narine has further strengthened his claim as one of the greatest T20 players of all time.

#time

Sunil Gavaskar slams 'brazen' hypocrisy over Mackay pitch, claims it was no surprise after Australia were 'humiliated' by Bangladesh originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India legend Sunil Gavaskar has accused cricket of brazen hypocrisy over pitch ***** sments.
He said the Mackay surface was a deliberate response to Australia's humiliating defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin.
The second Test lasted just 750 ***** , the fourth-shortest completed Test in history.
Australia levelled their series against Bangladesh inside two days at Mackay, and Sunil Gavaskar has used the occasion to reopen an argument he has been making for the better part of two decades. The India batting great believes the silence surrounding the surface tells you everything about how pitches are judged depending on where they are laid.

#australia #hypocrisy

Former England captain Michael Atherton has revealed why he joined a group of 21 former international cricketers in calling on Pakistani authorities to ensure imprisoned former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan receives proper medical treatment.

Imran has been in prison since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases, charges he has vehemently denied. Concerns over his health have grown in recent months, with reports earlier this year claiming that he had lost sight in one eye.

The reports prompted former cricketers to appeal to the authorities for his medical care. Last week, 21 former international players again wrote to the authorities after Imran was reportedly taken to a hospital following an order from the country's top court, but was allegedly not properly examined.

Atherton, speaking on a Sky Sports cricket podcast alongside former England captain Nasser Hussain, said the appeal was not simply about ensuring medical treatment for Imran. He also expressed concern over what he described as an attempt to erase the former Pakistan leader from public life.

"Nass [Nasser Hussain] and I were among 21 former captains who sent a second letter yesterday, a humanitarian appeal for Imran Khan to get the requisite level of treatment. But I suppose the basic theme was the way the state has tried to airbrush Imran almost out of existence, which is increasingly difficult to do in a social media age," Atherton said on a Sky Sports cricket podcast in the company of Hussain.

The group included several prominent former cricketers from across the cricketing world. Former India captains Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar were also among those who signed the appeal.

The involvement of the three Indian cricketers was particularly notable given the political tensions between India and Pakistan and Imran's own history as Pakistan's prime minister.

Kapil explained why he felt compelled to support his former cricketing rival and friend, while also acknowledging that Pakistani cricketers could be in a difficult position if they spoke publicly.

"I don't blame Pakistani cricketers for not speaking up. They have to live there. But I would like to support my friend, whom we admired and played with," Kapil said.

The former India captain stressed that the appeal was not about intervening in Pakistan's legal process but about ensuring basic care and dignity for a prisoner.

"We don't know the law of the country, that's fine. But humility and simple facilities should be given to a prisoner, whoever he may be. And he was a former prime minister of the country and a top cricketer.

"We want him to get the best treatment, [that's] what we are asking for. We are not asking for anything else, we are not asking for any replies, we are requesting," the former India captain added.

Imran led Pakistan to their only men's ODI World Cup ***** le in 1992 and was considered one of the finest all-rounders the game has ever s

NEW DELHI: India's stand-in bowling coach Sunil Joshi has urged everyone to keep the spotlight firmly on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting, lavishing praise on the teenage sensation after his record-breaking knock in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe while revealing that the youngster's bowling will be developed gradually at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Sooryavanshi lit up the Harare Sports Club with a breathtaking 18-ball half-century, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I fifty. His whirlwind innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, turned India's chase of 126 into a one-sided affair as the reigning T20 World Cup champions sealed victory with 40 ****** to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Ahead of the second T20I, Joshi said the teenager's explosive batting should remain the primary focus.

"I think the first thing is, let's focus on his batting. He's been sensational and I'm glad that he has done well. This is a happy hunting ground for him. He performed well in the U19 World Cup finals here. He had a good performance yesterday as well," Joshi told reporters.

The former India spinner also disclosed that Sooryavanshi's bowling is part of the long-term plan.

"Vaibhav has been very comfortable with his batting. Whenever we get time in his bowling, I'll work with him in the CoE. Whenever we see him bowling well, we'll definitely and quickly focus on that," he said.
Joshi also called for patience with emerging seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who has drawn comparisons with established stars such as Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.

The stand-in bowling coach insisted every player has their own journey and warned against making premature comparisons.

"Look, we shouldn't compare. Suryansh is making his place in the Indian team. Hardik has made his place. Shivam has also made his place. So, he's a rising talent. We have to persist with him. He's working on good things and good areas. That's what we want in the T20 format," he said.

Joshi also highlighted the bowling depth available in India's squad, pointing to top-order batters Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, who can also contribute with the ball.

"I think all three are good bowlers and all-rounders, although Abhishek Sharma has improved a lot. The coaches always want him to improve every time for the better. We also have Tilak Varma with us. He's another optional bowler. We have conversations with him about not giving too many runs, bowling more dot ****** , and focusing on the basics," he further added.
Joshi also praised leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, revealing that a minor adjustment to his run-up helped him bounce back after a difficult outing against England earlier this month.

Bishnoi endured a forgettable spell of 0/60 in Manchester, where England batter Jacob Bethell smashed 29 runs in a single over. However, the leg-spinner responded impressively in Harare with figures of 1/24 from four overs.

According to Joshi, t

NEW DELHI: India fast bowler Ashok Sharma described his international debut as a "dream come true" after receiving his maiden India cap ahead of the opening T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday, dedicating the emotional milestone to his elder brother whose sacrifice helped shape his cricketing journey.

The 24-year-old Rajasthan pacer was handed his India cap by bowling coach Sunil Joshi before the toss, capping a remarkable rise from domestic cricket to the international stage. Although Ashok finished with figures of 0/29 in four overs, India secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Overcome with emotion after the cap presentation, Ashok reflected on years of hard work finally paying off.

"It's very special. The thing for which I was working hard, hopefully today it's fulfilled. It's a dream. Till now it's a dream, sir, whatever it was. Even now it's a dream that I wore the cap of India, and my dream has come true," he said.

The young pacer then revealed the person he wanted to honour the most.

"I dedicate this moment to my elder brother," he added.
Ashok's story is one of perseverance and family sacrifice.

Growing up in Rampura, a small village near Jaipur, he shared a passion for cricket with his elder brother, Akshay Sharma, who also played the game. However, financial constraints meant the family could not afford to support both sons in pursuing cricket.

Akshay made the difficult decision to put aside his own ambitions so Ashok could attend inter-district Under-16 trials. That selfless act became the turning point in Ashok's career.

Years later, the youngster who once struggled for opportunities has now become India's newest fast-bowling prospect.
Before presenting the India cap, stand-in head coach VVS Laxman reminded Ashok of the significance of representing the country.

"We know Ashok is going to make his international debut, and we discussed that it's a matter of great honour," he said.

Laxman also acknowledged the effort behind the achievement.

"Representing the country, all your hard work, and all your performances were rewarded by this opportunity," he added.
Ashok's rise has been rapid over the past year.

After finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 22 wickets, he earned an IPL contract with Gujarat ******* ans, where he grabbed headlines by clocking 154.2 kmph — the fastest delivery of IPL 2026.

Earlier in his journey, he almost walked away from cricket before a chance appearance at the Red Bull Speedster competition opened the doors to becoming a Rajasthan Royals net bowler, eventually paving the way for his domestic breakthrough.

Though he went wicketless on debut against Zimbabwe, Ashok consistently hit a lively pace and showcased the attributes that earned him national selection.

#ashok #India #Cricket #hard

'Why such unnecessary comments?': BCCI VC Rajeev Shukla defends Gautam Gambhir over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut delay originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla backs team management over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's delayed debut.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel says dropping World Cup heroes for Sooryavanshi isn't straightforward.
India legends, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, all push for Sooryavanshi's immediate inclusion.
Questions keep swirling around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for a senior India cap, and now BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has stepped into the debate, firmly backing the team management and insisting the 15-year-old will get his chance when the moment is right.

MUMBAI: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his India debut in the opening T20I against England in Durham on Wednesday, saying the 15-year-old could provide the spark India desperately needs after their disappointing 0-2 series defeat to Ireland.

India's batting unit struggled throughout the Ireland series under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, prompting calls for changes ahead of the five-match series against England. Gavaskar believes Sooryavanshi's unpredictability could work in India's favour.

"I'm hoping that Sooryavanshi plays the first game because it will be the start of a new series and he gets the team off to a flying start. It's the best way to recover from the series loss against Ireland," Gavaskar said.

He admitted fitting Sooryavanshi into the playing XI would be a challenge given the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but argued that England's lack of familiarity with the youngster could be a decisive factor.

"So, if he gets going, he can take the game away and I think that is what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, is for somebody to make the impact straight away. So, the host nation England is put on the backfoot straight away," Gavaskar added.
Despite Shreyas Iyer's poor start as India's T20I captain, Gavaskar urged patience, pointing out that adapting to leadership at the international level takes time.

"I think with any new relationship, there will always be just a little time taken for both to understand the support staff and the playing staff to understand what is expected of them," he said.

"Shreyas Iyer's leadership has been proven over the years in the T20 format. We have seen him win trophies, win ****** les and get teams into the knockouts and get teams into the final."

Gavaskar also felt India's batters needed to adapt better to conditions after struggling on seamer-friendly pitches in Belfast.

"In any form of the game and practically in any sport, I think you play the situation," he said, adding that shot selection and decision-making had let India down in Ireland.

Gavaskar also backed Rohit Sharma to silence doubts over his future during the upcoming ODI series against England.

"So, I think England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year-and-a-half down the road, he'll be there opening the batting for India," he said.

On England pacer Jofra Archer, Gavaskar said his impact often depended on his mindset on the day.

"He is a top class bowler and you know, if he's, if I might say, if I might use the word, if he's in the mood, he can cause problems for anybody," he said.

Gavaskar added that Ben Stokes' retirement did not surprise him entirely, although he had expected the England all-rounder to step away at the end of the home season rather than immediately.

(Watch India Tour of England 2026, England vs India, 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on So

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must start' in ENG vs IND 1st T20I: Sunil Gavaskar's verdict after nightmare Ireland series originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sunil Gavaskar demands Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's start for the England series after the 2-0 Ireland series loss.
The India legend suggested how the team can fit in the 15-year-old while keeping the likes of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in the team.
India suffered its first-ever series defeat to Ireland, losing both T20Is.
Sunil Gavaskar has insisted on handing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his T20I debut right in the opening match against England, which comes shortly after India suffered their first-ever series loss to Ireland.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to prioritise player welfare and ensure centrally contracted cricketers get at least one month of uninterrupted rest every year.

His comments come after India completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan, shortly after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

Gavaskar acknowledged the role the BCCI has played in supporting developing cricket nations such as Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka through bilateral series. However, he said the health and fitness of Indian players should remain a priority despite a busy cricket calendar.

Writing in his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar said: "Yes, BCCI is like the elder brother to countries like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka, and have always tried to help them grow on the field and boost their finances by touring these countries. However, our cricketers’ health and fitness are also crucial and there should be a clear month’s rest for our players in the year. India is blessed with talent and so you can rotate the players but that is cheapening the India cap. The cap mustn’t be given because a player replaces the undroppable player who is rested. It has to be earned."

The former opener also questioned the growing practice of resting senior players because of workload management. According to Gavaskar, India should field its strongest available side whenever possible.

He pointed to India's recent Test against Afghanistan, where Shubman Gill and KL Rahul scored centuries.

“In the Test against Afghanistan who have been honest triers but nothing more, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul scored centuries, and Manav Suthar made an impressive debut. Jasprit ***** rah was rested but wouldn’t he have liked to have added a fifer or a tenfer to his career record against this team. When India is playing, then the best team must play, unless there are injuries of course. But this resting because of workload must be avoided as much as possible. Have a look at the calendar and you will see that India is playing every month somewhere or the other."

Gavaskar clarified that he supports more opportunities for younger players through India A and Under-19 cricket, but believes senior players should get a proper break from the game.

“Yes, by all means have ‘A’ team and U-19 matches so that young players get the opportunity and the experience, but please spare our elite players and ensure they as a team and not just as individuals get at least a month’s break in the year."

He added that the current schedule cannot be changed but suggested future planning should include a mandatory break for players and even fans.

“This year’s schedule is already done and nothing can be changed but since the thinking is to have the IPL start and finish early next year is there, then please add a month’s rest to not just the players but the fans of Indian cricket."

India's next ***** ignment is a

Shubman Gill's remarkable purple patch continued on Wednesday as the India captain produced another batting masterclass, prompting high praise from Sunil Gavaskar after India's emphatic ODI series-clinching victory over Afghanistan in Lucknow.

Gill has enjoyed a stunning run of form over the past three weeks, piling up runs across formats and competitions. The 26-year-old began the sequence with a commanding century for Gujarat **** ans against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 before registering his 11th Test hundred in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. He then followed an unbeaten 85 in the rain-affected ODI in Dharamsala with a magnificent 154 in Lucknow as India secured a dominant win.

The latest innings came in challenging conditions and helped set up India's massive total of 402. Gill shared a match-defining 224-run stand with Ishan Kishan, who blasted 125, as the pair completely took the game away from Afghanistan.

Speaking on JioStar's 'Cricket Live' show, Gavaskar said Gill's success with the bat was also having a positive impact on his captaincy.

"When you're not getting runs, you're not confident about making those marginal moves that come from your gut feel, like holding back a bowler who has bowled well, giving him an extra over, or moving a fielder from a certain position. That gut feel is a lot stronger when you're personally performing. But if you're not performing, even when you get a gut feel, you're apprehensive about making that call because you're worried about getting it wrong. Since you're also not performing as a player, you'll be criticised for your captaincy as well," Gavaskar said.

While Gill and Kishan stole the spotlight with the bat, India's young fast bowlers also played a key role in completing the victory. Afghanistan were dismissed for 232, with rookie pacers Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav combining for five wickets.

Gavaskar was particularly impressed by Brar's performance, praising both his bowling rhythm and ability to trouble batters with steep bounce.

"His run-up is so good, his rhythm is so good, he was hitting the deck and getting the ball to climb. The wicket he got of Gurbaz was particularly impressive because of the way that bouncer followed him. It's very accurate. It comes right at you, exactly where the batter does not want it. I think the selection committee deserves all the compliments. If you look at his stats, or his India A performances, they're okay, but not to the extent where you would say he deserved an India cap. However, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, saw something in him, and that's why they picked him. He's also been backed by the management, which is so important,” added the former India captain.

India's all-round display secured a 170-run victory and gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with Gill's outstanding form continuing to be one of the biggest positives for the team.

Shubman Gill's unbeaten century against Afghanistan on Day 1 of the one-off Test was significant not only for the match situation but also for the milestone it helped him achieve.

The Indian skipper became just the 11th captain from the country to score 1,000 runs in Test cricket while leading the side. More impressively, Gill reached the landmark in just his 15th innings as captain, making him the second-fastest Indian to get there behind only Sunil Gavaskar, who needed 14 innings.

Gill also set another record by becoming the quickest Indian captain to reach 1,000 Test runs in terms of time, getting there in only 351 days.

The milestone came during another commanding display with the bat. Leading from the front, Gill remained unbeaten on 103 off 143 ***** as India piled up 368 for 3 against Afghanistan. The innings was a perfect reflection of the approach that has defined his captaincy so far, calm, ***** ured and consistently productive.

The century was Gill's sixth as India's Test captain, moving him ahead of several former captains despite having led the side in only 15 innings. Among Indian captains, only Virat Kohli (20), Sunil Gavaskar (11), Mohammad Azharuddin (9) and Sachin Tendulkar (7) have scored more Test hundreds while leading the team.

Most Test centuries as India captain:
20 - Virat Kohli
11 - Sunil Gavaskar
9 - Mohammad Azharuddin
7 - Sachin Tendulkar
6 - Shubman Gill*

Gill's latest hundred was also his 11th overall in Test cricket and continued a remarkable start to his leadership tenure. At just 26, he has already begun rewriting sections of India's captaincy record book, and if his current pace continues, more milestones could soon follow.

Yesterday IPL match result: Finn Allen blitz, Sunil Narine magic keep KKR playoff hopes alive

KOLKATA: The New Zealand batter’s breezy 93 off just 35 **** helped Kolkata Knight Riders stay alive in this IPL by recording a 29-run victory at the Eden Gardens against Gujarat **** ans here on Saturday. They jumped one spot to seventh with 11 points from 12 games. GT, who suffered their first defeat after five wins, were left waiting for a playoff spot with one match to go. The opener brought back memories of his belligerent knock where he smashed the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in the semis against South Africa off just 33 **** at this same venue in March.

Allen fell short of his second ton of this season, but helped KKR put up 247 for two, their highest total in this IPL, after being asked to bat first on losing the toss against GT. GT’s inform openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill raced to 42 off the first three overs while chasing the target, but their stand ended a little painfully when Sudharsan retired hurt after suffering a blow to the elbow off a delivery from pacer Kartik Tyagi.

Gill played another classic knock, finding boundaries without playing too many risky shots before falling to KKR’s most successful bowler of the evening, Sunil Narine, for 85 that came off 49 **** . Jos **** ler did give his skipper able support, but could not take the side home as GT finished at 218 for four. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, playing his first match for KKR, came in as an impact player, bowled just eight deliveries before walking out sustaining a calf injury.

Earlier, KKR made GT pay for some sloppy fielding after losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14), who became Mohammed Siraj’s 200th T20 victim. Allen, too, could have departed for 14 had Jason Holder managed to hold on to a tough chance at cover. The right-handed batter, however, got an easy life again at 33, when Siraj dropped a sitter at long on off Holder.

However, the 27-year-old was unperturbed and continued to play his shots. Allen greeted Rashid Khan with consecutive sixes and a four to reach his 50 off 21 **** with the help of three fours and four sixes. He added two more sixes off Holder’s next over to help KKR reach 100 in nine overs.

The 95-run second-wicket stand between Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi finally came to an end when Allen played a lofted shot off Sai Kishore to be caught by Rashid at the mid-wicket boundary. The opener hit four boundaries and 10 sixes. Cameron Green too got a life when Arshad dropped him at 33 off Rashid. The Australian also got a 50 off 26 deliveries.

Raghuvanshi was dropped by Washington Sundar on 52 and ended up remaining unbeaten on 82 off 44 **** .

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