Indian Cricket Team Updates

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...

142 Runs added by the Mumbai Indians batsmen in the last 10 overs, after being 60 for one in the first 10. 63 Runs scored by the Mumbai Indians in their last four overs. The Rajasthan Royals could manage only 14 while losing 7 wickets. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Report: CLT20-2013 ) 23 Number of balls taken by Sanju Samson to score his fifty – the fastest by any player in a CLT20 final. Sydney Sixers’ Michael Lumb had taken 33 balls against the Lions at Johannesburg in the last edition. (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma: My Team Stuck By Me Through Thick and Thin ) 8 All 8 Mumbai Indians batsmen had a strike-rate of more than 100. Each one of them also hit a boundary four or six. (Also Read:  Ajinkya Rahane: Sorry Couldn't Win The Game ) 4.3 Overs taken by the Rajasthan Royals to race to 50 – their joint second-fastest 50 ever. 4 Ajnikya Rahane scored his fourth consecutive 50 in the tournament. He became the first player to...

In a match befitting of a tournament decider, the Mumbai Indians defeated the Rajasthan Royals in a thrilling final played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to be crowned champions of the Karbonn Smart CLT20 2013. After posting a daunting 202 runs on the board, MI dismissed their opponents for 169 to win by 33 runs. (Also Read:  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Final - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) The Rajasthan Royals’ run-chase was a reflection of true grit, determination and a never-say-die attitude one has come to associate with the team. Set to chase a mammoth 203, the Royals innings began on a disastrous note as opener Kushal Perera was run-out in the very first over. But that set the stage for young Sanju Samson, who was promoted to bat at No.3. The 18-year-old showed no nerves despite the huge task in front of him. He played some outrageous shots – mostly through the leg-side – en route to his fourth half-century in Twenty20 cricket, which gave his team a seriou...

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...

1 Mumbai Indians became first side to enter CLT20 final on two occasions. They did so in 2011 as well. 2 Number of times two IPL sides made it to the final of CLT20. The first such instance was in 2011 when Mumbai Indians defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 31 runs at Chennai. (Also Read:  Trinidad & Tobago vs Mumbai Indians, SF 2 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) 3 Number of ducks scored by Lendl Simmons in the tournament. He became second player to aggregate three ducks in one single edition of CLT20 after Victoria’s Rob Quiney who suffered this fate in 2009. (Also Read:  Dinesh Karthik: Keep calm, Finish Matches ) 4 Number of wicketkeepers with all-round double of 1000 runs and 100 dismissals in Twenty20 cricket. Denesh Ramdin joined MS Dhoni, Kamran Akmal and Kumar Sangakkara. 64 Number of dot balls bowled by Sunil Narine in CLT20 2013 – most by any bowler. He went ahead of Rajasthan Royals’ James Faulkner’s tally of 56 dot balls. 50009 Runs scored b...

The Mumbai Indians set up a date with the Rajasthan Royals in the Final of the Karbonn Smart CLT20 2013 after they defeated Trinidad & Tobago by six wickets in the second semi-final, at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. After restricting T&T to 153, MI knocked reached the target in the final over; Dinesh Karthik completed the formalities in style when he hit a six at the start of the 20th over to confirm MI’s second appearance in the CLT20 final (after 2011). (Also Read:  Mumbai Indians vs Trinidad & Tobago, SF 2 - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) Needing to score at 7.70 runs per over, MI were steady off the blocks, with Dwayne Smith setting the early pace and dominating most of the strike. Sachin Tendulkar joined his partner in the fourth over with his trademark straight drive that raced away to the boundary. Tendulkar hit two towering sixes off Yannick Ottley as the Mumbai Indians raced to 49 for no loss before the fielding restrictions were relaxed...

3 Number of IPL teams to qualify for the semi-finals of CLT20 2013 – Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. This is the first time 3 IPL teams have reached the semi-finals in one edition of CLT20. (Also Read:  Perth Scorchers vs Mumbai Indians, M19 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) 11.40 Mumbai Indians’ run-rate in the match – second best by any team in CLT20 after Otago Volts’ 12.10 also against Perth Scorchers at Jaipur on Sep 25. 19 Number of batsmen to score a fifty on their CLT20 debut. Sam Whiteman is the third batsman to do so this year after Sanju Samson and Hilton Cartwright. 23 Number of balls taken by Rohit Sharma to race to his fifty – fastest half-century by a Mumbai Indians batsman in CLT20. Kieron Pollard held the previous record with 26-ball fifty against Guyana at Durban in 2010. 40 Mumbai Indians won the match with 40 balls to spare – biggest win for any team in CLT20 2013 in terms of balls to spare. Chennai Super Kings had beaten Br...

The Mumbai Indians faced a stiff equation to displace the Otago Volts from second place in Group A and progress into the semi-finals. They needed a special performance from one of their players, and that match-winning knock came from skipper Rohit Sharma. Needing to score 150 in 14.2 overs to join the Rajasthan Royals in the semi-finals, the Mumbai Indians – powered by Sharma’s 51 – sailed past the finish line in 13.2 overs to register an emphatic six-wicket victory. (Also Read:  Perth Scorchers vs Mumbai Indians, M19 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) Though the Mumbai Indians lost Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn Maxwell cheaply, Dwayne Smith ensured his team had the momentum in the run-chase; he smashed five boundaries and three sixes before a spectacular catch by Jason Behrendorff cut short his innings at 48. Sharma, who walked out at 34/2, was a picture of intent from the word go; he hit his second and third deliveries for a six and a four respectively. Despite losing the company ...

Rohit Sharma of Mumbai Indians was reprimanded and handed a fine of US$1 000.00 suspended for the duration of the Karbonn Smart CLT20 2013 tournament, for breaching the CLT20 Code of Conduct during the match against Highveld Lions at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur last evening. (Also Read:  Mumbai Indians vs Highveld Lions, M11 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) Mr. Sharma admitted to the Level 1 offence (Section 1 – A1) of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game. (Also Read:  Mumbai Indians vs Highveld Lions, M11 - Stats Highlights: CLT20-2013 ) For Level 1 breaches of the CLT20 Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding. (Also Read:  Pragyan Ojha: Bowling proper Length Was Key ) Hardus Viljoen of Highveld Lions was reprimanded for breaching the CLT20 Code of Conduct during the match against Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur last evening. Mr. Viljoen admitted to the Level 1 offence (Section 1 – A1/A2) of con...