Lucknow Super Giants defeated Mumbai Indians by 18 runs at Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Mumbai Indians were set to chase a target of 215 runs and were restricted to 196 for 6. Earlier, Nicholas Pooran scored 75 runs off 29 balls as the Lucknow Super Giants posted a total of 214 for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs.

The Lucknow Super Giants needed to beat Mumbai Indians with a margin of over 300 runs to stay alive in playoff race but they could only reach 214. KL Rahul also played a crucial knock of 55 runs off 41 deliveries. In defence of the total, Ravi Bishnoi picked up 2 important wickets and gave just 37 runs and played a pivotal role for the Lucknow Super Giants.

Mumbai Indians’s chase started slowly with just 33 runs in 23 balls before the match ended due to rain. The game resumed after a 45-minute break as Rohit Sharma hit 2 consecutive boundaries to Mohsin Khan. Mumbai Indians managed to increase the run rate after the break, courtesy of some brilliant hitting by Rohit and Dewald Brevis, as they took the score to 53 by the end of the Powerplay. The former skipper reached his half-century with a 6 to Mohsin off just 28 balls.

Naveen-ul-Haq provided the opening breakthrough to Lucknow Super Giants with the dismissal of Brewis. Protea tried clearing the long-off boundary but mistimed the ball. Krunal Pandya, who was standing on the long off had to run and cover a few yards to take a diving catch at the end.

Suryakumar Yadav came at number 3 but did not last for too long as he was dismissed after 3 deliveries.  The Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul may have pre-empted Surya’s shot because just before the wicket ball was bowled, Rahul asked the square leg fielder (Ravi Bishnoi) to move towards his left.

The former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, MS Dhoni, was recently seen in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dressing room. The now-viral video was posted by RCB’s official social account, in which they were seen welcoming Dhoni with a cup of tea.

Sharing the video on social media, RCB captioned it, Welcome to Bengaluru Mahi. The viral video got a lot of attention, as till now the video has gained 17 lakh likes and 4000 comments. This gesture of sportsmanship has won hearts across the cricket fraternity.

Fans on social media are loving this display of respect and fair play between archrivals. Many fans have expressed their appreciation for the mutual respect between Dhoni and the RCB team. It’s a refreshing reminder that even during fierce competition, the spirit of sportsmanship can prevail.

Social media reacted to the video by saying it was divided by teams and united by Chai. People on social media commented that this is what cricket is all about: respect for the game and the legends expressing their love for cricket as a sport. A user wrote, who would know that they’d see Mahi in the RCB den.

Another user commented, saying, this warms his heart. It is great to see such generosity despite the competition, A third user said. Even former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag shared his emotions, saying it looks like Dhoni forgot which dressing room he was in! Just kidding, this is brilliant stuff, he added. Sehwag also said this shows the true spirit of the game.

Meanwhile, under the captainship of MS Dhoni, CSK has lifted the IPL trophy 5-times, while RCB is yet to a title.

Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK is all set to clash with Faf du Plessis-led RCB tomorrow, on Saturday, at 7:30 PM. The heated clash will be live streamed on Jio Tv.

Former India captain and Royal Challengers Bangluru (RCB)’s star player Virat Kohli has unveiled his post-retirement plans. The cricketer hinted that once he finishes his career, he won’t appear in the limelight for a duration of time and will be on hiatus before taking the next step.

While Virat Kohli has typically kept his retirement intentions under wraps, he recently made a notable statement, articulating his aspiration to conclude his career with no regrets and to continue giving his utmost until he decides to step away from the game.

Ahead of the RCB’s big clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), at the Royal Gala Dinner in Bengaluru, the 35-year-old cricketer shared insights into his contemplations about life after retirement from cricket. He expressed the significance of acknowledging the finite nature of a sports career. He conveyed a proactive approach towards planning for the eventual conclusion of his playing days, emphasizing the need to confront this reality head-on. Kohli underscored his determination to avoid any semblance of regret by meticulously addressing all unfinished objectives and aspirations before bidding farewell to the sport that has defined his existence.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli currently leads the list of top run-scorers in the ongoing IPL 2024, having amassed an impressive 661 runs in 13 innings at a striking strike rate of 155.16 and an outstanding average of 66.10. His remarkable performance includes 5 fifties and one century. Despite Kohli’s stellar contributions, RCB is on the fifth position on the IPL table with 12 points from 13 matches.

Following the IPL, Virat Kohli is gearing up to represent India in the ICC T20 World Cup, with the aim of ending India’s ICC trophy drought. Initially, there were uncertainties about Kohli’s inclusion in the squad, fueled by reports suggesting selectors’ concerns about his T20 approach. However, Kohli silenced his critics with sensational power-hitting and a high strike rate during IPL 2024, reaffirming his indispensability to the Indian team.