Indian Cricket Team Updates

He has been performing with the ball for the Rajasthan Royals, but in the Eliminator of the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013, James Faulkner’s batting skills were called upon against Sunrisers Hyderabad. And the young Aussie came out trumps in that tense situation. With six wickets down and 31 runs required to win off 25 balls, Faulkner joined Brad Hodge (54 off 29) at the crease and helped take the team across the line with four balls to spare.    (Also Read:  RR vs SRH - Eliminator Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) While speaking to IPLT20.com later, Faulkner who has, on occasions found himself at the receiving end of Hodge’s batting prowess in his country’s domestic circuit said that, he was glad to be on the same side at the senior Pro.  Excerpts from the interview: On whether the similar conditions when they beat SRH at Sawai Mansingh Stadium were at the back of the mind Yes, but it wasn’t at the back of the mind. It has obviously been a tough wee...

Brad Hodge might have stolen all the limelight with his fiery batting that took the Royals to a thrilling four-wicket victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, but one of the notable performances that should not be given a miss is that of medium-pacer Vikramjeet Malik. Malik, who plays for Himachal Pradesh and was scouted by the Rajasthan Royals before the start of the tournament has not been a regular fixture for the franchise. But given the day, given the moment and thrown the ball to, Malik did not disappoint.    (Also Read:  RR vs SRH - Eliminator Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) “I got a hint that I would play the match against SRH a day before and was asked to be ready for the game,” Malik said, as he spoke to IPLT20.com.  “It was only on Wednesday that Rahul Dravid confirmed the decision after looking at the pitch. Rahul bhai and Shane Watson motivated me before the game and asked me to stick to my basics,” added Malik. Before playing against the Su...

The Sunrisers Hyderabad showed a lot of character and nerves of steel as they scrapped their way into the Playoffs of the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013. However, the Cameron White-led team lost the eliminator to Rajasthan Royals, but not without a fight. SRH, who had more often than not, defended small totals in the competition were not able to pull off the feat against Brad Hodge’s onslaught at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday night.    (Also Read:  RR vs SRH - Eliminator Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) After the four-wicket loss, in a last over finish while defending 132 runs, Darren Sammy spoke to IPLT20.com about the game. The West Indian smashed three sixes in his 21-ball 29 and then took a superb catch to send back the dangerous Shane Watson and followed up with wickets of Dishant Yagnik and Stuart Binny to keep the team in the contest.  While speaking to the official website, he highlighted the fighting spirit and the efforts of his team in th...

The Sunrisers Hyderabad showed a lot of character and nerves of steel as they scrapped their way into the Playoffs of the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013. However, the Cameron White-led team lost the eliminator to Rajasthan Royals, but not without a fight. SRH, who had more often than not, defended small totals in the competition were not able to pull off the feat against Brad Hodge’s onslaught at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday night.    (Also Read:  RR vs SRH - Eliminator Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) After the four-wicket loss, in a last over finish while defending 132 runs, Darren Sammy spoke to IPLT20.com about the game. The West Indian smashed three sixes in his 21-ball 29 and then took a superb catch to send back the dangerous Shane Watson and followed up with wickets of Dishant Yagnik and Stuart Binny to keep the team in the contest.  While speaking to the official website, he highlighted the fighting spirit and the efforts of his team in th...

Excitement, thrill and at the end of it, euphoria took centre stage when Rajasthan Royals’ Brad Hodge whacked Darren Sammy’s second ball of the last over for a six. The result; Rajasthan Royals booked a place in the Champions League T20 and more importantly got a step closer to the final of the IPL.    (Also Read:  RR vs SRH - Eliminator Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) The man of the moment, the man at the centre of all the action to take RR to a thrilling victory, was Brad Hodge, a T20 veteran of sorts with 5548 runs in the shortest format of the game; the most by any batsman. It was a night when Hodge’s year’s of experience in this format was put to test and how well the Australian succeeded.  “It was a close contest and that is exactly where you need your experience to get a team over the line,” said Hodge, visibly excited with a broad smile on his face as he was up for a chat with IPLT20.com. “This is the most thrilling game I have ever played i...

Led by the calm, composed and methodical Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals have made their way to the Qualifier II of the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013. (Also Read:  RR vs SRH - Eliminator Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) The former India captain has worked diligently with the coach and support staff to chart the path for the Jaipur franchise’s success. They worked out the details with painstaking effort and spent time with each individual player to ensure role clarity and emphasised on team work. Leading from the front, the RR skipper worked out ways to utilise the resources available to him to their maximum potential. Dravid, who thrives on planning and the intellectual aspect of the game spoke to IPLT20.com after their thrilling victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator about the ‘fairytale’ run that the Royals have had in the sixth edition.  Excerpts from the interview: Congratulations on a great season so far and an amazing victory in the elim...

Match Report: Rajasthan Royals progressed to the second Qualifier after they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by four wickets in the eliminator at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. Rahul Dravid and Cameron White at the toss during the eliminator match of the 2013 Pepsi Indian Premier League between The Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi on the 22nd May 2013 Chasing 133, Rahul Dravid got RR rolling with two gorgeous strokes through mid-wicket off Dale Steyn. Ishant Sharma got SRH the first breakthrough as Dravid (12) was caught by Karan Sharma of a leading edge. Shane Watson hit two boundaries off Ishant Sharma in the fourth over and then Ajinkya Rahane hit a six off Ishant Sharma before Watson smashed two boundaries. RR made 44 from their Power Play.  Watson (24) was sent back by Karan Sharma as Darren Sammy pulled off a stunning catch at the mid-wicket boundary. Sammy then knocked back Dishant Yagnik's (0) of...

Match Report: Shane Watson delivered a second consecutive telling innings to enable Rajasthan Royals stretch their undefeated streak at home to four matches with a convincing eight wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. RR restricted SRH for 144 with James Faulkner picking up five wickets before Shane Watson starred in the chase with an undefeated 98 to see RR home.  Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid and Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kumar Sangakkara shake hands after the toss during match 36 of the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 between The Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on the 27th April 2013 Chasing 145, Dale Steyn bowled a fiery first spell removing Ajinkya Rahane (1) caught behind in the third over. Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson started cautiously preferring to see off the fiery Steyn. Dravid hit two boundaries off Ishant Sharma as RR made 30 from the power ...