Indian Cricket Team Updates

The Kolkata Knight Riders were a revelation in the 2014 Indian Premier League. After a series of losses in the initial part of the tournament, they gathered themselves together and start winning games with panache. They made it to the business end of the tournament only to emerge as Champions at the end of it. Not surprisingly, their captain Gautam Gambhir is a happy man who takes immense pride in leading a side full of exuberance. (Aldso Read:  Kolkata Knight Riders Squad - CLT20 2014 ) When Gambhir speaks, he oozes confidence and self belief. It is that quality that has helped him succeed as a captain and as a batsman for the Kolkata Knight Riders. With the Knight Riders all set to kickstart their Champions League T20 tournament in a week’s time, we at  CLT20.com  quizzed the KKR captain about the team’s mindset ahead of the marquee tournament. Not surprisingly, the Knight Riders are keen to get their hands on the CLT20 trophy and place it in their trophy cabinet....

Pravin Tambe’s is story that showcases perseverance and a dedicated pursuit of one’s craft. Although he ended up on the losing side in the final, Rajasthan Royals’ leg-spinner, who turns 42 on October 8, received the Golden Wicket in the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20 2013. He claimed 12 wickets form five matches to finish as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament. (Also Read:  Ajinkya Rahane: Sorry Couldn't Win The Game ) Tambe, who was playing a tournament of this stature for the first time in his long career, foxed and asked questions of some of the best players of spin bowling. In the nurturing environment of the Rahul Dravid-led Royals, he grew from strength to strength and displayed his art in full flow.  (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Report: CLT20-2013 ) Disappointed about the loss, Tambe said that had RR won the match, they would have had something to give Rahul Dravid, who played his last match against the Mum...

His flair with the bat, his timing and elegance continue to impress. The slightly built Ajinkya Rahane milks bowlers, no matter how much of a threat they pose. Rajasthan Royals’ opener has consistently helped his side lay foundations and even chase down targets. He has the ability to anchor an innings just like his role model and mentor ‘The Wall,’ Rahul Dravid.  Instrumental in taking the Dravid-led side into the CLT20 2013 Final, Rahane amassed 288 runs at an average of 57.60 from six matches. On the grand stage at Feroz Shah Kotla against the Mumbai Indians, he scored 65 off 47 while chasing a mountainous total. Although he received the Golden Bat award for being the highest run scorer in the Karbonn Smart Champions League 2013, the heartbreaking loss in the final left the youngster a little saddened. (Also Read:  Harbhajan Singh: Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are Special ) While speaking to clt20.com after receiving the trophy, he said that he would have ...

Harbhajan Singh, aka the Turbanator, led the Mumbai Indians to the Champions League Twenty20 trophy in 2011, and in 2013 the off-spinner was the Man of the Match in the final against the Rajasthan Royals. (Also Read:  Sachin Tendulkar: All My Dreams Have Come True ) Although they had set the Rajasthan Royals a 203-run target, in the battle of David versus Goliath, the match was evenly placed till about the 16th over of the chase. But Harbhajan Singh struck in the 17th over to claim the key wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny and Kevon Copper and tipped the balance in MI’s favour. The experienced campaigner took the game away from the Royals and finished with four for 32. (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma: My Team Stuck By Me Through Thick and Thin ) Among his other achievements, the spinner has over 400 Test scalps under his belt and has had the opportunity of playing alongside both Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid during his career. Speaking about the batting legen...

Many eyebrows were raised by the Mumbai Indians’ willingness to cough up a whopping USD 1 million for Glenn Maxwell at the 2013 IPL Player Auction. The surprised voices got louder with each match of IPL 2013 that Maxwell sat out – he played three matches in a tournament that MI went on to win. (Also Read:  Anil Kumble Renews Love Affair With Feroz Shah Kotla ) CLT20 2013 started on a similar note, as the Million-Dollar Man’s name was missing from the MI playing XI in their first two matches. He played against the Perth Scorchers and was again dropped in the semi-final. So, when he found himself at the crease in the final, against the Rajasthan Royals, Maxwell latched on to the chance with both hands. (Also Read:  Kieron Pollard: Fantastic To Win Two Championships In One Year ) Coming in at No.6, he smashed 37 off 14 balls to change the game in MI’s favour. Those runs made the difference in the end as MI defeated RR by 33 runs. (Also Read:  Sachin Tendulkar: ...

Anil Kumble shares a special relationship with the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Many of his bowling exploits for India were architected there, including the historic 10-wicket haul against Pakistan in 1999. It was on this very ground where the former India captain played his final international match, in 2008. (Also Read:  Sachin Tendulkar: All My Dreams Have Come True ) India’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket now has another reason to remember his favourite cricket ground fondly. This time, however, it is not for his own performance but that of his wards at the Mumbai Indians. The mentor of the team was brimming with pride after MI drubbed the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs in the final to lift the Champions League Twenty20 2013 trophy. (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma: My Team Stuck By Me Through Thick and Thin ) In a chat with clt20.com, Kumble spoke about the jittery start his team made to the tournament and how they fought back to take the title. He paid a loving tr...

Although he conceded 30 runs in his first three overs, Kieron Pollard came back to claim three wickets in his last over to play a crucial in Mumbai Indians’ win over the Rajasthan Royals in the Champions League T20 2013 Final. The Caribbean all-rounder has been a huge asset to the team, contributing vital runs, bowling useful overs and fielding exceptionally well. (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma: My Team Stuck By Me Through Thick and Thin ) After winning the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20, a thrilled Pollard told clt20.com, “It is a fantastic feeling to win two championships (IPL and CLT20) in one year. It is really unfortunate that we have to break up as a team now because of the fresh auctions next year. Having said that, it has been fantastic.” (Also Read:  Sachin Tendulkar: All My Dreams Have Come True ) Besides lifting the trophy, the day marked another memorable occasion given that two batting legends – Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid – bid adieu to Tw...

"Enjoy the game and chase your dreams because dreams do come true.” These words, spoken on March 16, 2012, have been etched in the memories of Indian cricket fans. They were uttered by Sachin Tendulkar after he scored his 100th international century. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Report: CLT20-2013 ) The man dreamed of playing cricket for India as a toddler. When he fulfilled it, as a 15-year-old, he got greedy and kept on adding dream after dream. Today, 25 years later, that man can finally say that he has lived all his cricketing dreams. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) For a legend like him, who, at 40, is nearing the twilight of his playing career, every moment spent in the field and the dressing room, is a still frame of photograph that he takes in his mind to prepare for the life after. (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma: My Team Stuck By Me Through Thick and Thin ) For Tendul...

Prolific run-scorer and a delight to watch when he is on song, Rohit Sharma has also impressed with his leadership skills as he lead the mighty Mumbai Indians to the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20 2013 title after lifting the IPL trophy earlier this year. The youngster from Mumbai has been at his best while marshalling his troops after a slow start to the tournament. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Report: CLT20-2013 ) A brilliant performer with the bat, he amassed 173 runs from five matches at a strike-rate of 151.75, leaving the audiences mesmerized with his impeccable timing. He made crucial contributions with the bat and led the team proactively, which gained him high praise from various quarters. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) While speaking to clt20.com after the finals win over the Rajasthan Royals, Sharma said that although captaincy wasn’t an easy task, the support...

While Dwayne Smith held the top order together and helped lay a solid foundation along with Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Karthik guided the Mumbai Indians to victory with an unbeaten 33 to book a place in the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20 final. (Also Read:  Trinidad & Tobago vs Mumbai Indians, SF 2 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) The wicketkeeper-batsman has been a important cog in the MI line-up and his 42-run partnership with captain Rohit Sharma helped avoid any further hiccups after losing a couple of quick wickets to Sunil Narine while chasing down a competitive target. (Also Read:  Mumbai Indians vs Trinidad & Tobago, SF 2 - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) While speaking to clt20.com after the semi-final clash at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Karthik said “Trying and keeping a cool mind and staying as calm as possible,” is the key to his batting success and finishing games. After finishing the semi-final in style with a six, he is now looking forward for t...

With 10 wickets from four matches, one of the senior-most – when it comes to age – players in the Rajasthan Royals’ squad, Pravin Tambe, has been instrumental in the team’s fortunes. In fact, the 41-year-old is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20 2013.  (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, SF 1 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) After taking the key wickets of S Badrinath, Dwayne Bravo and Suresh Raina and posing a few questions to the dangerous MS Dhoni in the semi-final, the leg-spinner is hoping to claim the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the final if the Mumbai Indians make it to the title clash on October 6.  (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, SF 1 - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) A few days shy of his 42nd birthday, Tambe has made his presence felt while playing for RR by delivering when required. While speaking to clt20.com after his match-winning performance of 4-0-10-3,...

They ended the Otago Volts’ unbeaten streak and continued their own perfect run at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Having won all their home games in 2013, the Rajasthan Royals are looking to carry the momentum into the semi-finals of the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Otago Volts, M18 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) The Royals, who have been cruising along, were given a tough fight by the Volts in their last league game. And although they faced a slight setback in the middle overs while chasing the 140-run target, they got past the finish line with five balls to spare. Earlier, their bowlers had done an excellent job to put the visitors under pressure by claiming quick wickets and restricting them to 139. Brought back into the side, Rahul Shukla claimed three in a first-over maiden wicket to tip the balance in RR’s favour. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Otago Volts, M18 - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) And later, as they took guar...