Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated Punjab Kings(PBKS) by 21 runs on Saturday to clinch their first victory in the IPL 2024 season. Debutant Mayank Yadav led Lucknow’s pace attack and took 3 important wickets to break the backbone of Punjab’s strong start. Mayank Yadav consistently clocked 150kph to trouble the Punjab Kings batsmen while defending the 200 run target.

He bowled the fastest delivery of the season thus far – 155.8 kph to make a massive statement on debut. He finished with figures of 3 for 27 in 4 overs, assisted by pacer Mohsin Khan, who took 2 for 34. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batsmen Krunal Pandya (43), Quinton De Kock (54) and Nicholas Pooran (42) ensured a good finish for their team and powered the score to 199/8 after 20 overs.

Lucknow Super Giants kept losing wickets at regular intervals but there was a batsman at one end who kept going and helped Lucknow post a formidable total at their home ground. Lucknow Super Giants lost early wickets in the powerplay as KL Rahul (15) and Devdutt Padikkal (9) failed to convert their starts into big scores in the powerplay.

In a suprising move KL Rahul decided to rest from his leadership role in the first innings and just played as a batsman. LSG batsman Nicholas Pooran lead the team in his absence. Lucknow’ stand in skipper won the toss and elected to bat first against Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS). Explaining Rahul’s decision, Pooran said Rahul had suffered an injury and the team has decided to play him as an impact sub.

Punjab Kings failed to capitalize on the century-run opening stand provided Shikhar Dhawan and Johnny Bairstow (42), and the increasing run rate because of Mayank’s 3 wicket spell proved to be the difference. In the end, lady luck finally smiled finally smiled at the LSG and the team registered its maiden win in Tata IPL 2024.

Ravichandran Ashwin has demanded an end to fan clashes in India following taunts directed towards Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Hardik, the five-time IPL champion’s captain who succeeded Rohit Sharma, has had a difficult time in his early leadership role. The all-rounder has received criticism on social media after losing his first two matches as MI’s captain.

The Ahmedabad crowd booed Hardik during MI’s opening IPL 2024 match against the Gujarat Titans. Fans also attacked Hardik harshly on social media after their defeat by SRH, which ended their season without winning.

Ashwin addressed the issue on his YouTube channel in response to a fan’s question on whether MI ought to intervene and issue a statement.

The RR spinner asserted that the fan fights in India are getting ugly and that neither the team nor the player is at fault. Criticising it and defining it as a full-blown cinema culture, Ashwin expressed amazement at the booing of Indian players by domestic fans.

He said, he thinks it is the responsibility and onus of the fans. Ashwin said, fan wars are turning so ugly. It is very sad to point where in their comments section, people talk on Kohli and Dhoni. They’re both legends. They’re Indian team legends, he added.

During his YouTube video he questioned fans saiyng, has anyone witnessed fighting between Joe Root and Zak Crawley fans in any other country? He said, its’ crazy and he is unable to understand these things. Do Australian supporters of Pat Cummins and Steve Smith fight?, he added.

The RR bowler said, this is cricket and what fans are doing is  complete cinema culture. Fan wars shouldn’t turn ugly, he said. These guys are our own cricketers. Why do you boo your own player? said Ashwin.

In addition, Ashwin mentioned how great players like Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar had all played for younger captains like MS Dhoni in the past and expressed his desire for the nation to be free of hero worship.

Meanwhile, RR will face MI on April 1 at Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai.

The Kolkata Knight Riders crushed Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 7 wickets in their Indian Premier League match at M Chinnaswamy stadium on Friday. The Royal challengers Bangalore posted 182 for 6 riding on Virat Kohli’s 59-ball unbeaten 83. For KKR, the openers Philip Salt (30 off 20 balls) and Sunil Narine (47 off 22 balls) added 86 runs in just 6.3 overs.

Venkatesh Iyer joined in and scored a half century of 30 balls along with captain Shreyas Iyer who scored 39 off 24 balls. Both of them helped KKR complete the task with 19 balls remaining for the side’s second win in 3 games. Star batsman Virat Kohli was the top scorer for Royal Challengers Bengalore along with useful contributions made by Cameron Greene (33 of 21 balls) and Glen Maxwell (28 off 19 balls).

RCB captain Faf du Plessis fell early but the hosts managed to get off to a strong start thanks to Kohli. He along with Cameron Green, ensured that RCB scored 61 runs in the powerplay. Kohli then cruised past a half century for the 2^nd consecutive time this season. The partnership between the two ended on 65 off 42 balls when Green fell to Andre Russel on 31 off 21.

His Australian teammate Glen Maxwell then finally found his touch after 2 poor outings in RCB’s last 2 games, thanks to KKR fielders dropping 2 straightforward catches off him. Maxwell’s luck ran out in the 15^th over after he had scored 28 off 19 balls. Harshit Rana and Andre Russell then led the way as KKR managed to largely restrict RCB in the death overs.

With this victory, KKR becomes the first team in IPL 2024 to win an away game and also break its record of losing against RCB in Bengaluru. Previously KKR lost 9 matches against RCB. KKR’s fielding unit made blunders as they dropped 3 easy catches in the match against Bengaluru.