In Case You Missed It: The big IPL wrap, sexuality in cricket
Our best content of the week
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Nov-2020
Famous five: Can anyone stop the Mumbai Indians juggernaut? • BCCI
Another IPL done and dusted and an unstoppable Mumbai Indians have won their record fifth title. But there's no break for the Indian players as they have already landed in Sydney and gone into quarantine for the Australia series that begins November 27. IPL injuries have come to haunt a few players - Rohit Sharma is still recovering, Varun Chakravarthy is out, and Wriddhiman Saha is doubtful - and Virat Kohli is all set to go on paternity leave after the first Test, so will it be a depleted Indian side against the resurgent Aussies? Elsewhere, Firdose Moonda explores the nuances of sexuality in cricket, and why the sport has been more accepting of same-sex relationships in the women's game. Catch up on the week's best stories here.
Trent Boult and Rohit Sharma help dominant Mumbai Indians coast to fifth IPL title
The Delhi Capitals came up against the Mumbai Indians three times this IPL, and lost each time, and the final was no different. The Capitals lost three wickets inside the first four overs, but late fifties by Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer took them a reasonable 156. It wasn't enough against a do-no-wrong Mumbai. Sidharth Monga argues that there could have been no other outcome to what was being called the most closely contested IPL so far - no team came close to consistently challenging the Mumbai Indians. And Shiva Jayaraman has the numbers to prove it.
The Delhi Capitals came up against the Mumbai Indians three times this IPL, and lost each time, and the final was no different. The Capitals lost three wickets inside the first four overs, but late fifties by Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer took them a reasonable 156. It wasn't enough against a do-no-wrong Mumbai. Sidharth Monga argues that there could have been no other outcome to what was being called the most closely contested IPL so far - no team came close to consistently challenging the Mumbai Indians. And Shiva Jayaraman has the numbers to prove it.
Usman Qadir takes four as Pakistan sweep Zimbabwe 3-0
Pakistan eased to a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe to complete a clean sweep over the visitors in the T20I series after beating them 2-1 in the ODIs
Pakistan eased to a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe to complete a clean sweep over the visitors in the T20I series after beating them 2-1 in the ODIs
Smriti Mandhana 68, Salma Khatun three-for lead Trailblazers to 2020 Women's T20 Challenge title
The Trailblazers beat last season's champions Supernovas, captained by an inspirational Smriti Mandhana, who remains a class act, as batter, captain, and ambassador of the women's game, on and off the field. Annesha Ghosh has five takeaways from the T20 Challenge, including the case for more games and better investment in women's cricket in the subcontinent.
The Trailblazers beat last season's champions Supernovas, captained by an inspirational Smriti Mandhana, who remains a class act, as batter, captain, and ambassador of the women's game, on and off the field. Annesha Ghosh has five takeaways from the T20 Challenge, including the case for more games and better investment in women's cricket in the subcontinent.
Uncapped Indians shine, overseas fast bowlers trump Indians
With the IPL wrapped up, Bharath Seervi looks at some of the trends and patterns of this year's tournament through numbers. Smart Stats has one clear winner for tournament MVP - though Trent Boult led on wickets, it's Jofra Archer by a distance.
With the IPL wrapped up, Bharath Seervi looks at some of the trends and patterns of this year's tournament through numbers. Smart Stats has one clear winner for tournament MVP - though Trent Boult led on wickets, it's Jofra Archer by a distance.
Devdutt Padikkal: 'Virat Kohli makes your game easier and helps you build an innings'
The young Royal Challengers Bangalore opener, and the winner of the Emerging Player award this season, spoke to Vishal Dikshit about what he learnt from Kohli, de Villiers and Finch, and his India goals.
The young Royal Challengers Bangalore opener, and the winner of the Emerging Player award this season, spoke to Vishal Dikshit about what he learnt from Kohli, de Villiers and Finch, and his India goals.
Varun Chakravarthy, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Natarajan and other young players who have impressed me this IPL
Mark Nicholas comes away excited by the talent he's seen in the next generation of cricketers playing in the IPL, while Aakash Chopra is surprised by what the IPL threw up this year - including the dominance of pace bowling and the quality of fielding and catching.
Mark Nicholas comes away excited by the talent he's seen in the next generation of cricketers playing in the IPL, while Aakash Chopra is surprised by what the IPL threw up this year - including the dominance of pace bowling and the quality of fielding and catching.
IPL team reviews
A final round of reviews of the teams that made it to the playoffs but didn't go all the way in the end. The Sunrisers Hyderabad came together as a team in an injury-affected season, but they could really do with an experienced Indian middle-order batsman next season, says Hemant Brar. The Royal Challengers reached the playoffs again, but despite their improved performance the lack of lower-order firepower hurt them, says Shashank Kishore. The Delhi Capitals made their maiden final but they were still less than the sum of their parts in a roller-coaster season, says Karthik Krishnaswamy.
A final round of reviews of the teams that made it to the playoffs but didn't go all the way in the end. The Sunrisers Hyderabad came together as a team in an injury-affected season, but they could really do with an experienced Indian middle-order batsman next season, says Hemant Brar. The Royal Challengers reached the playoffs again, but despite their improved performance the lack of lower-order firepower hurt them, says Shashank Kishore. The Delhi Capitals made their maiden final but they were still less than the sum of their parts in a roller-coaster season, says Karthik Krishnaswamy.
Team-mates in love
Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Lizelle Lee, Megan Schutt, and an anonymous male cricketer talk to Firdose Moonda about sexuality.
Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Lizelle Lee, Megan Schutt, and an anonymous male cricketer talk to Firdose Moonda about sexuality.
'A Test match can change course in half an hour. That's what happened to us'
Twenty years on, Naimur Rahman, Aminul Islam, Shahriar Hossain, Habibul Bashar, Sunil Joshi and Saba Karim relive Bangladesh's inaugural Test, against India.
Twenty years on, Naimur Rahman, Aminul Islam, Shahriar Hossain, Habibul Bashar, Sunil Joshi and Saba Karim relive Bangladesh's inaugural Test, against India.
Three young cricketers I'd like to watch in the 2020-21 Australia v India series
Ian Chappell picks two batsmen and an allrounder who have the potential to evolve into really good players.
Ian Chappell picks two batsmen and an allrounder who have the potential to evolve into really good players.
'I'm feeling like the luckiest cricketer in the world' - Noor Ahmad
The 15-year-old left-arm leggie from Afghanistan speaks to George Dobell ahead of his BBL stint with Melbourne Renegades.
The 15-year-old left-arm leggie from Afghanistan speaks to George Dobell ahead of his BBL stint with Melbourne Renegades.
The balls of the century, No. 2: Mohammad Asif to VVS Laxman
We're down to the last two of the greatest balls bowled this century, and at number two - a near-perfect delivery by Mohammad Asif, one which he doesn't rate very highly himself.
We're down to the last two of the greatest balls bowled this century, and at number two - a near-perfect delivery by Mohammad Asif, one which he doesn't rate very highly himself.