Indian Cricket Team Updates

Sachin Tendulkar enjoyed a "perfect ending" to his Indian Premier League career as he retired from the competition following Mumbai Indians' title-winning victory over Chennai Super Kings.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) The 40-year-old India superstar did not play last night in Kolkata because of a hand injury, but - moments after his side secured a 23-run victory - he announced he was to bow out of the IPL.    (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) His casual announcement came in an IPL pitchside interview shortly after the match when asked where the Mumbai Indians' maiden triumph rated in his long and illustrious career. "The World Cup I had to wait for 21 years, and this for six years, so it's never too late. This is my last IPL and it's perfect way to end IPL," he said, to the interviewer's apparent surprise. He added: "I've got to be realistic here, I...

For a youngster like Aditya Tare, playing under the watchful eyes of some of the most respected coaches itself provides an invaluable opportunity. Add to that the chance to fill in Sachin Tendulkar’s shoes atop the Mumbai Indians order and you have the perfect baptism by fire for an up and coming cricketer.    (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) The 25-year-old showed a lot of promise during the handful of chances he got this year for MI. He even managed to score a remarkable half-century during one of his outings for the franchise. However, he was completely awestruck after his team won their first IPL title.  (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) “Winning the Ranji Trophy and the IPL this year is two of the best days of my career,” said Tare during his post-game chat with IPLT20.com.  Tare also relished the opportunity to replace the Little Master as one-half of MI’s opening pair. “Thi...

Ambati Rayudu has been an understated, yet integral part of the Mumbai Indians line-up over the last few years. The 27-year-old batter has time and again steadied the MI innings and whenever need be, even unleashed big hits to steer his side to a favourable position.    (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) For him to finally get his hands around the IPL Trophy meant a culmination of four seasons of tireless efforts. “This is extraordinary! Four years of hard work. We have come so close before and were really very hungry for it. This is beyond words,” Rayudu told IPLT20.com.     (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) He also pointed out that MI gained a lot of confidence from their first perfect home season. “I think the unbeaten run at home set the tone for the Playoffs,” said Rayudu as he spoke about what boosted the team in the highly-competitive league. The MI batsman was also thri...

Mumbai Indians’ successful title run in IPL 2013 was propelled by consistent performers in all three departments of the game. Dinesh Karthik was one such performer, who featured in all 19 games for the franchise and excelled both with bat and behind the wickets.    (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) The 27-year-old, who has been part of the MI squad for a couple of seasons, often came through in the middle order whenever his team was marred by an indifferent start with the bat. Capping off a good season with a league title, courtesy a win over the Chennai Super Kings seemed like a fitting end to his IPL 2013 campaign.     (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) “It has been a long journey for us. And it feels really good to be on the right side of the final result for the first time,” Karthik said. “The Playoffs loss did not play on our minds. We took it as a fresh game. And we had beate...

One of Mumbai Indians’ early recruits ahead of IPL 2013 was their team mentor, Anil Kumble. It was also perhaps, their smartest move, to get on board a man who has tremendous understanding of the game of cricket on the whole and that of the IPL.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) After his illustrious international career, the former India captain has been involved in the IPL as a player, captain and mentor. He dons the administrator’s hat too, thus enabling him of decision-making and planning right.      (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) MI’s move to hire one of the shrewdest brains in Indian cricket paid rich dividends in the form of the IPL 2013 Trophy. We, at IPLT20.com, spoke with Anil Kumble about the process that went behind the closed doors of the dressing room to lead MI to their long-desired IPL title. The whole new leadership group, that MI put together, seems to ha...

For John Wright Eden Gardens brings back memories of one of India’s most famous Test wins – against Australia in 2001. As coach of that spirited Indian side, Wright was managing the show in the background much like he was during the Mumbai Indians’ maiden IPL title win on Sunday.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) Both wins came after Wright’s team got off to bad starts. And in both instances, Harbhajan Singh weaved his magic to see the team through, rather emphatically in the end. No little wonder then that coach Wright ranks both wins ‘right next’ to each other.    (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) In a brief chat with IPLT20.com, the former India, and current MI, coach spoke about winning an IPL title in his first season in the league.  Here are excerpts from his interview: On leading MI to their maiden IPL title It is an amazing feeling. It is unbelievable! It is ...

A few days back, Dinesh Karthik told this website that Ricky Ponting was the best thing to have happened to Mumbai Indians. One thing that all the MI players vouch for is the positivism that the most successful Australian captain has brought into the camp.    (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) He played no more than six matches in IPL 2013, but Ponting’s involvement with the team was unmistakable every time he stepped on the field during a timeout. And in the end, the three-time World Cup winning captain, along with some stellar names in mentoring – John Wright and Anil Kumble – fulfilled a dream that the Mumbai franchise have harboured for the last six years.     (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) As the glittering IPL Trophy went into the MI dressing room, Ponting took time out to talk to IPLT20.com about his role in the team and how he, along with the team coach and mentor, helped MI ...

In just his first season in the IPL, Mitchell Johnson made quite an impression on the opening batsmen who were left with the tough task of facing him. Generating pace, bounce and movement, the Mumbai Indians’ strike bowler made sure his probing deliveries left batters around the league clueless and got him 24 wickets – the joint highest for MI alongside Harbhajan Singh.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) Johnson bowling with the intention of taking wickets up front ensured that MI were always in the contest, no matter how modest a total they were defending. This was evident in the final as well, when he bowled yet another testing first spell to pin down the strong Chennai Super Kings top order.    (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) Here’s what the MI pacer had to say to IPLT20.com about his exploits this season.  On winning the title This victory rates very highly. I am re...

Rohit Sharma’s leadership was one of the cornerstones of Mumbai Indians’ successful IPL 2013 campaign. The stylish batsman was handed the captaincy in the early stages of the season, and far from buckling under pressure he managed to make the most of the opportunity on offer.  (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) Along the way, the 26-year-old was ably guided and backed by experienced MI players, coaches and support staff. In an exclusive interview with IPLT20.com, Rohit Sharma speaks of how all the pieces fell in place for the IPL 2013 champions under his leadership.    (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) On the finals and what it meant to him The way we performed shows the character of the team. It was not an easy victory and I am really happy. I would like to thank each and everyone as we stuck it out. This is for the people of Mumbai who have been coming and supporting us over five years...

For a generation of cricket lovers the name ‘Jonty Rhodes’ is synonymous with the art of fielding. After all, not many cricketers can claim to have won an ODI Man of the Match award just for their performance on the field.     (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) Now, the legendary South African fielder teaches the tricks of his trade to the mélange of players from all over the world in the Mumbai Indians camp.     (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) In a chat with IPLT20.com after MI’s first IPL title victory, Rhodes credited the league for lifting the standard of fielding several notches. Finally an IPL title under your belt! Yes! We were in the final in 2010 and lost to CSK. So it is nice to turn it around this time. We’ve had some ups and downs and disappointments but we’ve finally got our first IPL title. We won the CLT20 two years ago and it is nice to add an IPL Trophy t...

There is no doubt that Kieron Pollard has been one of the most important players in the Mumbai Indians set-up this year. The all-rounder has not only shone with bat and sometimes with ball, but he has been a game-changer with his exceptional fielding as well.     (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) From plucking certain sixes in midair on the field to crafting championship-winning innings, Pollard gave his 100 percent in all departments this season.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) In an exclusive chat with IPLT20.com, this is what the West Indian all-rounder had to say about his half century against the Chennai Super Kings and winning the coveted IPL title for the first time. MI have come close before and finally with your help they got their hands around the IPL Trophy This is a great feeling! I have been playing for the Mumbai Indians for four years and to get this opportun...

Over the last few years, Lasith Malinga’s name has been synonymous with the Mumbai Indians. The Sri Lankan Slinger has been the sharpest weapon in the MI arsenal with all the timely, unplayable yorkers that he is known to dish out.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) However, this year Slinga Malinga had a relatively sedate season as per his own high standards. But come the IPL 2013 final, the veteran pacer did not disappoint. Eager to nudge his side over the line, Malinga gave MI the kind of start they had grown accustomed to in previous seasons.    (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) “Until this match, I did not do anything for the team. So, I am really happy I did something special today in the first over itself,” said Malinga about the two crucial wickets – of Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina – he claimed up front. According to the pacer, his bowling had somehow not clicked this s...

This season of IPL has seen some superlative cricketing performances with bat, ball and in the field. And some of the most entertaining ones have come from the swaggering Caribbean contingent. Be it Chris Gayle’s incredible willow-wielding, Dwayne Bravo dancing his way to the purple cap or Kieron Pollard plucking those stunners out of thin air – the Caribbean magic was on full view for the last two months.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) Two of the West Indians kept their region’s flag flying high till the very end of the tournament. Dwayne Smith and Pollard played significant roles in taking the Mumbai Indians to their maiden IPL title, with a 23-run win over Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens.  (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) Smith, one half of the opening pair that replaced the Sachin Tendulkar-Ricky Ponting duo, scored 418 runs in 13 matches with four fifties. He couldn’t...

Throughout the season, Mumbai Indians’ skipper, Rohit Sharma, has marshaled his troops like a veteran. In just his first full-time leadership role at the top level, the 26-year-old managed the array of world-class bowlers at his disposal with aplomb. This was especially evident when he brought in Pragyan Ojha in the middle overs to decisively tilt the IPL 2013 Final in MI’s favour.    (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) The left-arm spinner repaid his skipper’s faith with the wicket of Albie Morkel, thereby neutralising the potential threat of the South African all-rounder mounting a comeback with the hard-hitting MS Dhoni.  “I think it was a very crucial wicket as these two guys (Morkel and Dhoni) would have made a lot of difference and getting them out at a crunch time was extremely vital,” Ojha said.  (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) The spinner credited his captain for such well...

He cheered every wicket when the Chennai Super Kings were batting. When Mumbai Indians’ win was a ball away, he was the first one to jump off his seat in the dugout and jump onto the field to celebrate with his victorious team-mates. (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) Even while talking to IPLT20.com after the match, he kept looking at the trophy. Finally, pointing towards it, he said, “I can’t wait to get my hands on that trophy”! (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) After spending 23 years playing cricket at the highest level, accumulating almost every individual batting record in the sport, being part of world’s No.1 Test team and winning the ODI World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar remains a wide-eyed cricket lover. The enthusiasm of the 40-year-old is so genuine, it can make some of his awestruck teenage fans look jaded. Excerpts from our chat with him: What does this moment mean to you? I have wa...

Mumbai Indians clinched their first IPL Trophy as they defeated Chennai Super Kings by a convincing 23-run margin in the Pepsi IPL 2013 final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 26th May 2013. IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics source: iplt20.com Thanks BCCI