IPL

Sunrisers Hyderabad player Shreevats Goswami has disclosed the players' reactions on replacement of ex-captain David Warner with Kane Williamson. Goswami said, while the move did not affect the players much, some showed remorse. The players were in good spirit and would give their contribution to the game, he added. Reportedly, SRH management snubbed Warner over the team’s poor performance with just one win in its half of the league games.… read-more

Appreciating BCCI for providing secure bio-bubble for the IPL players, former South Africa captain Graeme Smith stated that no South African player ‘felt at risk’ during their India stay at the now postponed IPL2021. Smith said, “The element of risk is always there and the organisers can't be blamed”. Meanwhile, all the 11 South African players who participated in the tournament have already left for Johannesburg. 

BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla on May 4 announced that IPL is suspended due to players testing positive to COVID-19. He said that it is not cancelled and can be rescheduled later. The decision came along when Sunrisers Hyderabad player Wridihiman Saha and various other franchise members tested COVID positive. IPL chairman Brijesh Patel said that although suspended indefinitely, they will try to conduct it in next month

COVID-19 has now marred the IPL 2021 as the BCCI announced that the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore, scheduled on May 3, would be postponed. The decision has been taken after two KKR players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, tested COVID positive. Moreover, the BCCI has directed the KKR squad to undergo a daily testing routine "to identify any other possible cases".

In-form Punjab Kings’ skipper KL Rahul has been diagnosed with acute appendicitis and is set to miss the remainder of IPL 2021. Reportedly, Rahul complained of severe abdomen pain following which he was admitted to the hospital. Leading run getter in the tournament with 331 runs, the wicket-keeper batsman has also hit four half centuries. Currently, Mayank Agarwal or Chris Gayle are likely to be the front runners.