Recovering Ryder unlikely to make late IPL appearance

New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder is unlikely to make a late entry into IPL 2013 for Delhi Daredevils, as he is still "very weak" after being assaulted outside a bar in Christchurch in the last week of March. According to New Zealand papers, Ryder's manager, Aaron Klee, said: "It would be extremely unlikely [that Ryder will play in the IPL]. He's still very weak and can't do a lot." It would be another two to three months, Klee said, before Ryder was "ticking over properly" once more.

Warriors turn to 'energy' man
Desperate times at Pune Warriors. Despite overhauling the leadership think tank, they have started their campaign with consecutive defeats. Yuvraj Singh, their best player, has not yet been deemed fit and did not attend the team's training on Tuesday. In an attempt to boost the confidence levels, the team management has hired Anand Chulani, who calls himself the peak condition coach. "I play with energy," an excited Chulani said on his first day at work at the Warriors' home ground on Tuesday. Chulani had worked closely with Mumbai and Warriors allrounder Abhishek Nayar last year. Nayar, who finished as the highest run-maker in the Ranji season, had credited Chulani's left-field methods; he had met him during the previous IPL, where Chulani took on the same role for Kings XI Punjab. Warriors are not the first franchise to hire a psychologist: last season Rudi Webster was hired by Kolkata Knight Riders as a mental skills coach.

'T20 has made bowlers smarter' - RP Singh
Twenty20 cricket is not just a batsman's game, according to Royal Challengers Bangalore seamer RP Singh. In fact, he says, the format is helping bowlers get better. Talking to the IPL website, he said: "Because of the T20 format, we're getting better and better at finding new variations and different ways to fox the batsmen. I'd say that the T20 format has made bowlers smarter." The format, he said, does not marginalise bowlers: "Irrespective of the format, if you want to win a game of cricket, you have to have good bowlers. Without the right bowlers you cannot defend any total. Yes, the bowlers are not as popular as the batsmen but they hold the key to winning matches. As a bowler, that's always on my mind that no matter how many runs he scores off me, I just need one good ball to get him out."

Kohli fined for slow over rate
Virat Kohli has been slapped with a fine of US$20,000, after Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to meet over-rate requirements in their home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday. Royal Challengers were assessed to be three overs behind the required rate, after making allowances for various delays. Kohli is the second captain behind Rajasthan Royals' Rahul Dravid to pick up a penalty for over-rate offences this season.

No entertainment tax on Raipur IPL tickets
The Indian state of Chhattisgarh has exempted IPL tickets from entertainment tax. Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, is one of the two new venues in IPL 2013, and will co-host Delhi Daredevils. Two matches are scheduled at the venue, against Pune Warriors and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 28 and May 1. The decision, a government official said, was to boost the state's image as a cricket destination.