Mumbai crowd 'went too far' - Gayle
A round-up of IPL news from April 29, 2013
Nikita Bastian
29-Apr-2013
Chris Gayle has come out in support of his Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli, who was strongly critical of the Mumbai crowd's behaviour during his team's away game at the Wankhede on Saturday. Kohli had said he did not know why there was so much "hatred" towards the opposition in Mumbai. Now Gayle, in a column in Indian newspapers, said the way the crowd treated Kohli was "totally unnecessary". "While you are always going to have to negotiate a partisan crowd when you are the away team, I have to say that the fans who booed Virat in Mumbai went too far," Gayle wrote. "He has done so much for his country and their behaviour towards him was totally unnecessary in my opinion. I totally understand getting behind your own team but it's important to support your own people too. I know this is a common occurrence in footballing culture but I'm totally against this creeping into cricket. That said, we know it's going to keep happening as we move forward and we've just got to be strong-minded about it."
Dhoni picks up over-rate fine
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was fined US$20,000 after his side's win against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on Sunday, for an over-rate offence. As per an IPL statement, Super Kings were assessed to be two overs behind the required rate after making allowances for various delays. This was Dhoni's first offence of the season and he was penalised as per the IPL's code of conduct.
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was fined US$20,000 after his side's win against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on Sunday, for an over-rate offence. As per an IPL statement, Super Kings were assessed to be two overs behind the required rate after making allowances for various delays. This was Dhoni's first offence of the season and he was penalised as per the IPL's code of conduct.
Fatherhood helping Watson put troubled times behind him
When Shane Watson had left Australia's troubled tour of India earlier this year amid all the controversy about his incomplete 'homework assignment', it was for the birth of his son. Watson returned to the tour later, and has since given up the Australian vice-captaincy. Becoming a father, Watson told PTI, helped him move on from "fractured relationships" and "cleared [the mind] of all the past troubles and helped focus on future". "Having children is one of the most beautiful things in the world," Watson, the Rajasthan Royals allrounder, said. "I have a boy baby now and that has made me more compassionate."
When Shane Watson had left Australia's troubled tour of India earlier this year amid all the controversy about his incomplete 'homework assignment', it was for the birth of his son. Watson returned to the tour later, and has since given up the Australian vice-captaincy. Becoming a father, Watson told PTI, helped him move on from "fractured relationships" and "cleared [the mind] of all the past troubles and helped focus on future". "Having children is one of the most beautiful things in the world," Watson, the Rajasthan Royals allrounder, said. "I have a boy baby now and that has made me more compassionate."
'I can be effective with the old ball too' - Bhuvneshwar
India and Pune Warriors seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made a name for himself on Australia's recent Test tour of India, believes the perception that he is new-ball bowler who requires helpful conditions to perform is incorrect. "It's true that I have got wickets with the new ball in Test matches but that doesn't mean that I can't bowl with the old ball. Even during the Australia Test series, I have bowled a number of overs with the old ball. I have full confidence that I can be equally effective with the old ball too," Bhuvneshwar told PTI. "And people forget that I have grown up playing on Indian tracks and have bowled huge number of overs on unresponsive Indian tracks. Therefore, I have a fair idea about what length to bowl on these tracks."
India and Pune Warriors seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made a name for himself on Australia's recent Test tour of India, believes the perception that he is new-ball bowler who requires helpful conditions to perform is incorrect. "It's true that I have got wickets with the new ball in Test matches but that doesn't mean that I can't bowl with the old ball. Even during the Australia Test series, I have bowled a number of overs with the old ball. I have full confidence that I can be equally effective with the old ball too," Bhuvneshwar told PTI. "And people forget that I have grown up playing on Indian tracks and have bowled huge number of overs on unresponsive Indian tracks. Therefore, I have a fair idea about what length to bowl on these tracks."
Nikita Bastian is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo