Newsfile: May 11

Rohit reprimanded: Mumbai Indians batsman Rohit Sharma has been reprimanded for kicking at the stumps after his team’s nine-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday. His actions were considered to be a Level 1 breach of the IPL code of conduct. Rohit reportedly admitted to being guilty in the matter and the match referee subsequently decided to issue only a reprimand.

Yusuf has not had much opportunity to dominate – Bayliss: Kolkata Knight Riders coach Trevor Bayliss has said Yusuf Pathan’s poor run with the bat in the IPL is not a cause for concern. Yusuf, he said, has not had much of an opportunity to show what he can do. "I am sure with a player of his calibre, he would be there for us in the big matches. He has not had many opportunities. It's difficult in Twenty20 to get going without spending some time in the middle," Bayliss was quoted as saying by PTI. "The middle order probably had some lack of runs but that's only because of lack of opportunities. We have been scoring runs at the top. Obviously, [Gautam] Gambhir has done extremely well. [Brendon] McCullum started to score runs. We have played some very good cricket but we know that there is half a dozen tough games to go, and we must [continue] to do well."

KKR the team to beat – Sangakkara: Kolkata Knight Riders’ fine form makes them favourites in the tournament, Deccan Chargers’ captain Kumar Sangakkara has said. “To me, the most balanced sides appeared to be Delhi and Chennai. Unfortunately, Chennai has had a kind of an up-and-down season. Royal Challengers [Bangalore] have an incredible side as well,” Sangakkara told IPLT20.com. “Kolkata have been playing exceptionally. You have to give credit to the way Gautam [Gambhir] has managed to get those guys to gel. On form, I would say Kolkata [will win].” Sangakkara’s last-placed Chargers are out of contention for the title. He said the top teams’ Indian contingent made the difference for them. “The most important thing, when you look at all these sides, is the quality of the local players. Delhi has got Viru [Virender Sehwag], [Ajit] Agarkar, Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan. Kolkata has Yusuf Pathan, Gautam Gambhir, Manoj Tiwary, [Laxmi] Shukla…”