Pakistan vs Australia Live Score, 2nd ODI in Lahore

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1st ODI report: Travis Head hit a blistering century and leg-spinner Adam Zampa grabbed 4-38 to lift Australia to an 88-run victory over Pakistan in the first ODI on Tuesday.

Head hammered 101 off 72 balls and propelled Australia to impressive 313-7 after they were left with only 13 fit players hours before the start of the three-match series.

Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq made 103 off 93 balls — his eighth ODI hundred — and captain Babar Azam labored for 72 deliveries to get 57 before second-string Australia bowled out Pakistan for 225 in 45.2 overs.

“Runs at the top against the new ball were going to be crucial and it was nice to play a role,” Head said. “It’s a completely different wicket with a night game. We put on a great total and were able to defend it.”

Imam and Babar struggled to pace the chase in a 96-run second wicket stand before leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson had him trapped leg before wicket in the 25th over.

Babar became the second fastest batter in ODIs to complete 4,000 runs, doing it in 82 innings, behind South African Hashim Amla (81 innings) but never looked to threaten the Australia total as the Pakistan skipper could hit only six boundaries.

Zampa and Head, who picked up 2-35 with his offspin bowling, then ran through the middle and lower order on a wicket which offered plenty of turn to the spinners.

“We started poorly and then gave away too many runs at the death,” Babar said. “When I was batting with Imam, we felt we had the chase under control but then lost wickets in clumps and couldn’t recover.”

Imam hit six boundaries and three sixes before he was clean bowled by debutant fast bowler Nathan Ellis in the 38th over as Zampa wrapped up the tail quickly through his sharp googlies and legspin.

With several leading Australian players being rested for the white-ball series in Pakistan, Ashton Agar was ruled out hours before the toss on Tuesday after testing positive for COVID-19. Josh Inglis had been ruled out Monday when the wicketkeeper-batter was also tested positive.

Head provided Australia a strong platform with his blistering hundred off 70 balls — the left-handed batter’s second ODI century against Pakistan after Babar won the toss and opted to field.

Ben McDermott hit his maiden ODI half-century before he was run out for 55 off 70 balls while attempting a needless run off a misfield, but Head punished Pakistan fast bowlers after successfully overturning an lbw decision off debutant Mohammad Wasim’s fourth delivery.

Australia’s fast emerging new all-rounder Cameron Green provided a late flourish to the innings with an unbeaten 40 off 33 balls as Pakistan hit back after claiming the key wicket of Head at the stroke of halfway mark.

Head had struggled in Australia’s 1-0 historic win in the test series against Pakistan but exhibited an array of shots against Pakistan fast bowlers early on by smashing 10 boundaries off his first 32 deliveries in his first ODI since November 2019.

Captain Aaron Finch struggled to get going during his 23-run knock in a 110-run Head-dominated opening stand with the left-hander playing some fluent drives — especially on the off side of the wicket.

Finch tried to break the shackles and smashed debutant leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood for a big six in his first over before wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan grabbed an edge off Australia skipper on the second attempt to give Mahmood his first ODI wicket.

“We felt we probably needed around the 300 mark,” Finch said. “We’ve come here with a real open mind. To be flexible with the team we select and some different roles that the guys play, so I’m really proud of the way that the guys took on that challenge.”

Head hit 12 fours and three sixes in his fastest ODI century for Australia against Pakistan before holing out at long off while attempting a lofted drive against off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed.

Pakistan pegged back Australia in the later half of the innings through Haris Rauf (2-44) and Mahmood, who came back strongly after leaking 30 runs off his first three overs and finished with 2-59.

With inputs from AP

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NH7 Weekender 2022 in Pune was a much-needed but scaled-down, warmer event thanks to the pandemic

On Sunday, I returned to a music-festival ground after a little more than two years. The second I entered Mahalakshmi Lawns, the venue for the Bacardi NH7 Weekender, it instantly seemed like familiar territory.

I felt this way even though my last visit was in 2017. After all, I had been there every year for eight consecutive years since the inception of the festival in 2010. The venues change but for the most part, the vibe does not.

I took along somebody who was attending Weekender for the very first time, which in some way helped me experience it with a fresh perspective. Because while I was observing everything with occasionally jaded eyes - minutes after reaching the Jack & Jones stage, I complained about how the sound was less than optimal - they were consistently impressed by the scale and spectacle of it all.

To Weekender veterans, this was definitely a scaled-down version, from the stage backdrops to the number of stalls and of course, the line-up, just 24 across four stages (not counting the stand-up comedians). Even the bar menus used to be bigger. This time around, rum was the only option, and beer, vodka, and whisky were conspicuously missing from the list. But despite the lack of international acts and offerings for two of the festival’s largest audience segments, electronic and hard rock/heavy metal fans, the music, by and large, did not disappoint.

On account of my two-year gap between fests, the programme provided me the opportunity to watch several acts I had heard recordings of but not seen live. Back in the pre-audio-streaming era of the early tens, it used to be the other way around.

Among the acts I caught live for the first time, When Chai Met Toast lived up to hype, and Osho Jain pleasantly surprised me with his energetic set. But the issues with the acoustics at their stage left me wanting at the performance by The Yellow Diary. And despite hearing just the last few minutes of Tanmaya Bhatnagar’s performance,  I was happy to find her voice sounds just as great in concert as it does on her releases. Both Sunday headliners, Rivtiz and Ankur Tewari, reminded us why they are among the biggest independent acts of the country.

Alas, work and personal commitments meant that I could only make it for the second day. From the chatter I read on social media, a lot of students had to skip it because of a clash with their exams. We can blame the third wave of the pandemic, which led to the postponement of the edition this year to March, which is far from the ideal month to hold an outdoor event in Pune.

The organisers could do little about the heat but could have perhaps programmed shorter sets and started the proceedings a little after 4 PM when the sun is not out in full force. To save ourselves from heatstroke, we got to the venue after 5 PM, and as a result, I missed seeing a couple of the artists I wanted to catch, such as Anoushka Maskey and Kayoben.

Another fallout of the pandemic was the reduced capacity of the event, which was limited to approximately 3,000 people.

On the bright side, the smaller crowds gave Weekender 2022 a feel similar to the 2011 instalment, which was held before the festival went 'mainstream.'

This also meant it was easier to bump into scenesters you had not met since 2019.

I was flooded with memories of the happy times spent in such an environment but remembered why it could occasionally get a little uncomfortable. That occurred when watching Ritviz’s special Words of Vizdumb show. There is something to be said about the energy in the densely packed first few rows of a stage but there is also something ominous these days about being in such close proximity with so many unmasked people. I guess this is a way festivals have changed for the near future.

What has remained the same is the sense of community and euphoria. Now that I am of a certain vintage, I often struggle to find company for live gigs, many of which take place on working weekends instead of weekends, which are dominated by DJs. At a festival, even among strangers, I feel like I am among my tribe. This is a special brand of people who will power through the clogged traffic, the heat, the crowds, and the overpriced booze just for that incomparable excitement. After 25 long months, I hope to be at the next music fest on my agenda within less than 25 days.

Amit Gurbaxani is a Mumbai-based journalist who has been writing about music, specifically the country's independent scene, for nearly two decades. He tweets @TheGroovebox.

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Paresh Rawal on Sharmaji Namkeen: ‘Rishi Kapoor was one of the finest human beings I have come across’

Paresh Rawal is indisputably one of our finest actors. Of late we have been seeing less of him on screen. That’s because Paresh is being extra-selective. He has made one exception, though Paresh will be seen in Amazon’s ‘Sharmaji Namkeen’ completing the scenes Rishi Kapoor left undone.  It is an unprecedented experiment.  Paresh tells Subhash K Jha why he’s confident it will work. Excerpts:

How and why did you agree to fill in for Rishi Kapoor?

It was very strange kind of relay race. I had to take up the character from he left it off. It’s a very emotional moment for me. I can’t look at the  experience in practical terms. It is the last film of one of my favourite co-stars and what a film it is for any actor! And for an actor to depart without completing it is really sad.

What made you agree to do the film?

Firstly, it was to ensure that Chintuji’s (Rishi Kapoor) last film was somehow completed. Also, I felt truly concerned for the producers. They were stuck in an awful situation when I decided to step in. They wanted to complete the film, and as an actor I didn’t want to hesitate.

The fact that something like this, with two actors playing the same role in one film has not been done before, did that weigh on your mind?

I wasn’t even thinking on those lines. I was very confident about the producer’s intention. I knew he was not only going to complete the film but he was also going to make sure that it was released. This meant he had a lot of expenses to bear, and I was willing to take the risk for his sake. It was my duty as an actor to support him.

Did you know Rishi Kapoor well?

Yes! I was in his only directorial venture Aa Ab Laut Chalen. We worked together in some films like Damini and another one Rishta Ho Toh Aisa and Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi. Rishi was the finest human being I have come across. I wanted to make sure that I completed his film without vandalizing or in any disrupting his presence. I mean Sharmaji Namkeen is Rishi Kapoor’s film. I am just there to complete his dream.

But to synchronize his personality and acting style with yours?

It was a challenge for sure. But I didn’t try to synchronize my acting with his. That would have been mimicry. By doing so I didn’t want to reduce the importance of his performance. I have gone with the tensions of the character and not tried to imitate Rishi. Even if I tried, I couldn’t have done it. There is a ‘Punjabiyat’ about Rishi Kapoor that would be impossible for me imbibe. That ‘Punjabiyat’ runs in every Punjabi’s blood and in their skin tone.  It would have looked very unbecoming for me to try to capture his personality.

Are you confident that the audience will accept this experiment?

The script is so strong that the audience will not even notice that two different actors are playing Sharmaji. Kahaani mein itna dum hai. No one will bother. I know it will require the highest degree of suspension of disbelief from the audience, which I am sure they are willing to extend.

Subhash K Jha is a Patna-based film critic who has been writing about Bollywood for long enough to know the industry inside out. He tweets at @SubhashK_Jha.

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Highlights, South Africa vs England, Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 2nd semi-final: Heather Knight and Co reach final

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Preview: South Africa take on England in the second semi-finals of the Women's Cricket World Cup 2022. The winner of the match will face Australia in the final.

South Africa’s shot at redemption comes after missing out on a place in the 2017 final in a heartbreaking defeat to England.

England chased down 219 with two balls to spare as Anya Shrubsole set up her final heroics by striking the winning four, going on to take six for 46 against India at Lord’s to hand England their fourth title.

The defending champions have been involved in more tight encounters this time, losing their first three games by narrow margins to put them in a knockout mindset from the fourth group match.

Having come through to the semi-finals, they face a stern test in South Africa whose only defeat came to Australia and have shown that the mental fragility that cost them in previous ODI and T20 World Cup semi-finals is a thing of the past.

South Africa beat England by three wickets in the league stage as Marizanne Kapp put in a starring performance with both bat and ball, taking five for 45 in what marked the tournament's best figures so far.

Since that defeat, England have won every game as their road to redemption continues, and while their top order batters have failed to click at the same time, their spinners are saving the day.

Sophie Ecclestone is the top wicket-taker so far in her first ODI World Cup, having taken 14 wickets, while Charlie Dean is not far behind with 10 having only made her World Cup debut in the match against South Africa.

Despite her wicket-taking exploits, Ecclestone has competition for the best 22-year-old at the tournament with South Africa opener Wolvaardt leading the run-scoring charts.

Wolvaardt is still searching for a first World Cup century but has piled on 433 runs at an average of 61.85, with only Australia’s Beth Mooney boasting a better average.

With inputs from ICC Media Zone

Click here for our full coverage of the 2022 Women's World Cup

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Crash Landing On You stars Hyun Bin, Son Ye jin get married; see first wedding photos

The famed South Korean actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye jin, have finally tied the knot today, on 31 March. Ever since the couple announced their imminent marriage through poignant letters shared on Instagram, fans have been squealing with delight.

Consequently, to lift up their delight, the actors' agencies VAST Entertainment and MSTeam revealed pictures of the couple from their wedding ceremony. They have also asked fans to be understanding of the fact that the wedding could not be held publicly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Take a glimpse at the stunning photos below

The gorgeous pair can be seen in their beautiful wedding attire in the first photo. Hyun Bin, dressed in a white suit, black pants, and a black bow, smiles at the camera. Son Ye-jin, on the other hand is dressed in a white embroidered gown and holding flowers in one hand and her partner in the other. The second picture from their ceremony shows the happy couple dressed in different outfits, holding each other's hands in front of a lovely flowery setting.

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A post shared by VAST엔터테인먼트 (@vast.ent)

According to reports, the wedding took place at the luxurious Aston House of the Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. With the recent surge in COVID-19 infections in South Korea, the pair walked down the aisle in the presence of only their closest friends and family members.

The actors had confirmed their relationship in January 2021 and announced their marriage later in February this year. Hyun, 39, and Son, 40, co-starred in the 2018 action thriller film The Negotiation and the global hit Korean drama Crash Landing on You

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Tom Parker, member of British-Irish band The Wanted, passes away aged 33

Tom Parker, one of five members of British-Irish boy band The Wanted, died on Wednesday aged 33, less than two years after revealing he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumour, reported Agence France-Presse.

The singer from northwest England announced the diagnosis in October 2020 and, after undergoing treatment, joined the rest of the band on a reunion tour in March.

But his actress wife Kelsey Hardwick wrote on Instagram: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side."

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A post shared by Kelsey 💋 Parker (@being_kelsey)

The remaining four bandmates said: "He was our brother, words can't express the loss and sadness we feel. Always and forever in our hearts."

Parker and Hardwick have two small children, including one born after his diagnosis.

"I'm going to be here," he told OK! magazine at the time. "I'm going to fight this."

Formed in 2009, The Wanted had number-one singles in Britain with 'All Time Low' and 'Glad You Came', the latter also reaching number three in the US Billboard chart.

With inputs from Agence France-Presse

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Explained: From missile strikes to racers’ unrest, how Saudi Arabia is losing its sheen as an F1 venue

On Friday 25 March, 2022, a plume of smoke rushed heavenwards at a drastic pace, only to be spotted by F1 racers at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. The missile struck on Friday, just before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix race that was underway at the circuit around 10 miles away.

The F1, in response, said in a statement, “The position at the moment is that we are waiting for further information from the authorities on what has happened.” The F1 did not elaborate.

The racers called for an almost immediate boycott of the race, expressing distaste at the regime’s appalling human rights record while fearing for the safety of their teams. A four-hour-long meeting on Friday night managed to get the drivers on board to participating in the race.

The following day, on 26 March, Saturday, FIA released the following statement on Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/hmZ0S9jQwA

— FIA (@fia) March 26, 2022

Reactions

Lewis Hamilton was among those who very bluntly stated that they did not feel safe racing in the kingdom. Hamilton was quoted saying, “I am just looking forward to getting out.”

It's believed that Hamilton was strongly in favour of the cancellation of the race and after coming in 10th. “I am so happy the weekend is done,” he said. “I am so happy that everyone is safe, I am just looking forward to getting out. I just want to go home.”

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali batted for any further response to the occurrence “in the right way.”

“When you have to manage such a situation I think that you need to divide the emotion with the rational aspect of it and try to manage all the information that you have to try to make the right assessment and to involve the right stakeholders, the right people in that decision,” he said, as per a Racefans.net report, adding, “There’s been a lot of discussion, a lot of debate, but safety, security for all the people of our world is at the maximum level of attention to all of us. And there’s no discussion about it. It’s just the first priority."

Victor Max Verstappen said that drivers would seek a conversation with F1 regarding a decade-long contract with Saudi Arabia, which purportedly amounts to $900 million.

“We had a lot of guarantees that of course it would be safe but after this weekend all the drivers together, we will speak with F1 and the team bosses to see what is happening for the future,” he said.

McLaren’s Lando Norris said, “Of course, I am relieved (to have got through the weekend). It is a nervous place to be and you are going to have these nerves.”

What might it mean for F1 in Saudi?

F1's initial contract agreed upon with Saudi officials was worth £500 million for a 10-year duration. This will likely cover a change of location of race, with an eventual move from Jeddah to Qiddiya being planned.

Questions were asked this weekend whether lucrative deals signed with Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — which reportedly pays $55 million per year to host the race — are worth it, given everything else that can come with a race; and whether commercial interests take priority in making the final decision to host races.

The deal garnered a lot of criticism and was considered by many as the latest display of ‘sportswashing’ to take away the limelight from Saudi's terrible human rights record.

The attack came two weeks after 81 people were put to death in Saudi Arabia in the kingdom’s biggest mass execution. Even when F1 ran its inaugural event at the circuit last December, drivers expressed concerns about human rights.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said, “I think there's definitely some considerations that we will have to do as a group and see what's best for the sport going forwards,” wherein Charles Leclerc added that he agreed.

“I don't want to go too much into details on this subject now, but it's definitely a discussion that we should have after this race, once everything calms down and we'll look back at it, and then we'll see,” he said before the finale on Sunday.

Force of change

Can high-profile sports events act as a force for change for zones of unrest?

“We believe what we’re doing will have a very positive impact in the political situation,” Domenicali said.

F1 terminated its contract with Russia after it invaded Ukraine. Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel said he wouldn’t have raced there anyway. Other drivers agreed and, during pre-season testing, they wore “No War” messages as they gathered behind a flag of Ukraine.

If F1 is condoning countries that support war, like Russia, then why's it willing to race in Saudi Arabia?

“It’s different if one country invades another country, or if something is going on with terrorists,” Williams team principal Jost Capito said.

Team principals were asked on the weekend how financial factors influence decisions to stay.

“We shouldn’t shy back or shut ourselves off from these countries because of the criticism that we’re getting,” McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said. “I see the unique chance we have in sport to share this passion for Formula One, to drive this positive change.

“Not just on the economics, for the country here, but also in terms of positive change on the society.”

Who is behind the missile strike?

Yemen’s Houthis rebels acknowledged they had launched a series of attacks on the kingdom but were late to claim responsibility for it.

A Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's official government has spent seven years fighting the rebel group called Houthis, mainly via air strikes. The Houthis, in turn, use missiles and drones to attack both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its ally, the United Arab Emirates.

Because of the war, Yemen is now facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

The Houthis took over Yemen's capital in Sanaa in 2014 and since then the Saudi-led coalition has been in the line of fire for human rights violations. The Houthis too cite the same reason as they return fire to Saudi Arabia.

Why Jeddah?

The North Jeddah Bulk Plant, to the south of the city's international airport, stores gasoline, jet fuel and diesel for use in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city. It is also a crucial hub for Muslim pilgrims heading to Mecca besides accounting for over a quarter of all of Saudi Arabia’s supplies.

Videos of the blaze corresponded to known geographic features around the plant. The Saudi Arabian Oil Co, known as Saudi Aramco, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Houthis have twice targeted the North Jeddah plant with cruise missiles. One attack came in November 2020. The last came on Sunday as part of a wider barrage by the Houthis.

At the time of the 2020 attack, the targeted tank, which has a capacity of 500,000 barrels, held diesel fuel, according to a recent report by a UN panel of experts examining Yemen’s war. Repairing it after the last attack cost Aramco some $1.5 million.

The UN experts described the facility as a “civilian target,” which the Houthis should have avoided after the 2020 attack.

“While the facility also supplies the Saudi military with petroleum products, it is mostly supplying civilian customers,” the panel said. “If the plant had been out of service of a significant period, the impact on the kingdom’s economy as well as on the welfare of the residents of the Western region would likely have been significant.”

Cruise missiles and drones remain difficult to defend against, though the US recently sent a significant number of Patriot anti-missile interceptors to Saudi Arabia to resupply the kingdom amid the Houthi attacks.

In September, the AP reported that the US had removed its own Patriot and THAAD defense systems from Prince Sultan Air Base outside of Riyadh.

With inputs from agencies

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'Hollywood is just spineless': Jim Carrey condemns Oscar audience for giving Will Smith standing ovation

Jim Carrey has slammed Hollywood for giving Will Smith a standing ovation for his Best Actor award for King Richard at the 94th Academy Awards, several minutes after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the ceremony.

The Oscars were overshadowed by the incident, which saw Smith walking over to Rock and slapping him onstage after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s bald head. Pinkett-Smith who suffers from alopecia, shaved her head last year due to excessive hair fall.

While Smith later apologised for his actions at the Oscars, many people, including Carrey, have lambasted the Hitch actor for hitting Chris Rock.

Carrey told CBS’ Gayle King that he was “sickened” when he saw Oscar attendees give a standing ovation to Smith after he won the Best Actor award for the first time, even though the he had slapped Rock minutes before.  The actor-comedian stated that the moment felt like “Hollywood is just spineless en masse" and  "that we aren’t the cool club anymore.”

The Mask actor also stated that Smith should have been escorted out of the ceremony after he slapped Rock. Carrey even said that if he had been in place of Rock, he would have sued the Pursuit of Happyness actor for “$200 million”. Rock had declined to file a police report against Smith for slapping him, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Carrey claimed in his interview with Gayle King that Rock declined to file a report as he "didn't want the hassle."

The actor-comedian added that while he has nothing against Smith but slapping Chris Rock onstage “cast a shadow over everyone’s shining moment last night…It was a selfish moment.”

Carrey is not the only actor to have criticised Smith over his actions at the recent Oscars ceremony. Judd Apatow, Maria Shriver and Mandy Moore had also slammed the Men In Black actor for his actions.  The Academy had also issued a statement on the incident and asserted that it does not condone any form of violence.

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On Nagesh Kukunoor birthday, looking at his non-conformist style of filmmaking with Iqbal, Dor

I have known Nagesh Kukunoor for a good 25 years. And I do mean, good. There was never any stress between us even if I didn’t like any of this prolific filmmaker’s work. I must admit that not liking Nagesh’s work is rare. For example, Bombay To Bangkok (2008) and Mod (2011) just didn’t work for me.

Those apart, I have been a big Kukunoor-o-phile since the quirky Hyderabad Blues in 1998. What a rebellious start Nagesh made! And he followed it up with the boarding school brilliancy of Rockford.

I was hooked. We have been in touch since then. With his close friend and longtime soul-sakhi Elahi Heptoolah by his side, Nagesh has gone from strength to strength seeking to instil not only innovation but purity in his cinematic language with quasi-classics like 3 Deewarein in 2003 (Juhi Chawla’s career-best performance), Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade’s glorious moment), Dor (Ayesha Takiya’s only memorable performance), Aashayein (John Abraham’s only decent performance), Lakshmi (a brutal message in a brothel which proved singer Monali Thakur could act) and Dhanak (a tender achingly sweet parable of a blind little boy who sets off with his sister to meet Shah Rukh Khan).

But Nagesh’s piece de resistance, the tour de force of his career is the webseries City Of Dreams. Produced by the ever-enterprising content producers Applause Entertainment, the series and its sequel in 2021 remain benchmark of excellence on the streaming platform. When originally released in 2019 I was stunned by Nagesh’s grasp of the then-burgeoning OTT medium and his grip over the grammar of a political drama. For my time and money, City Of Dreams is more of a game-changer on OTT than Sacred Games.

Nagesh did the first season of City Of Dreams because he had a really powerful political story to tell. The challenge in Season 2 was to make the story even more powerful. It had to have a cutting edge. Nagesh wouldn’t jump into a sequel just for the heck of it. It took Nagesh six years to be convinced that he can do so sequel to my Hyderabad Blues.

Nagesh who started his career with the clutter-breaking feature film Hyderabad Blues in 1998, sees the OTT platform as the way out and the way ahead. A filmmaker like Nagesh has to constantly face a paucity of theatres. Every film of Nagesh has been subjected to scrutiny and no-show by the gatekeepers of the movie-exhibition business. His only film that did not have a problem getting movie theatres was 8x10 featuring Akshay Kumar. And look at the irony: movie theatres went on a strike just when 8x10 was to release in 2008.

The agony of having to find theatres for his cinema ended for Nagesh with the digital boom. Nagesh had seen the long format being popular on HBO. He used to wonder when he would finally get to be part of it. City Of Dreams was dream come true for Nagesh. It opened a whole new world for him. It ended what he called the shameless self-promotion that his films had to be necessarily subjected to.

Each of Nagesh’s films has its own grammar. He wrote Dor and started shooting it within 45 days. He wanted to make a dramatic tale by conveying his own sensibility, and that meant putting ordinary people in extraordinary situations.

Said Nagesh, “In the process of writing and making a film, we filmmakers never know where we're heading until the film is made. I couldn't pull back and admire this line or that scene. It was only at the end of the process that I realised the full impact. I wanted to take my audience on an emotional journey using all the tools at my disposal without distracting them from the plot. You're right when you say I don't indulge in too much technical wizardry. I'd get gimmicky if I was doing a slick thriller or comedy.”

Nagesh Kukunoor likes to portray real-life characters in his films and in 8X10 Tasveer, the director himself was the inspiration behind Akshay Kumar's role as an environment protection officer.

In Iqbal, an 18-year old deaf-mute dreams of overcoming his economical, emotional and physical handicaps to become a national-level cricketer. The mom supports his struggle to achieve his dream, but the father disapproves. The resilient never-say-die protagonist is bamboozled and tutored into success by his burnt-out alcoholic coach. We saw a similar struggle celebrating the spirit of survival and triumph in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, where a deaf and blind girl fought her way into emotional and academic freedom with the help of a burnt-out alcoholic but impassioned coach.

Iqbal is not about the protagonist's physical handicap at all. If you notice, right from the start Iqbal Khan's physical impairment is not an issue at all. No one in his family or immediate vicinity draws attention to his condition. There's no pity or self-pity. Iqbal is treated like a normal person, so much so that the audience wouldn't notice his disability if Iqbal didn't communicate in sign language.

With Iqbal, Nagesh got a certain level of acceptance from the film industry. He was consciously present at every awards function.

Nagesh says, “This industry is opening up. We're seeing many non-formula films being made and released. The trick is to stop being an outsider and become part of it. I'd rather be at the forefront of the change. I'm to a large extent not gregarious. But there's enough life around you to observe and absorb, no matter how cocooned you are. There're certain stories that take their own shape in your mind.”

Keep moving, Nagesh. And never become a conformist.

Subhash K Jha is a Patna-based film critic who has been writing about Bollywood for long enough to know the industry inside out. He tweets at @SubhashK_Jha.

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IPL 2022: Third umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan faces ire after Kane Williamson's controversial dismissal

The IPL 2022 match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad saw the third umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan being criticised for his controversial decision regarding SRH skipper Kane Williamson’s dismissal at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

RR made 210/6 batting with skipper Sanju Samson scoring a power-packed half-century. When Hyderabad came on to bat, all eyes were on Williamson and fans were hoping that the right-hand batter could score some big runs in the match.

However, in the second over of the match, Williamson mistimed Prasidh Krishna’s delivery. The ball hit the edge of the SRH skipper’s bat and went flying towards Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter failed to catch the ball as it bounced against his glove. The ball was then caught by Devdutt Padikkal at first slip, who dived in to catch the ball before it hit the ground.

Seeing the visuals of the dismissal, many people thought that the ball had bounced before being caught by Padikkal. However, third umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan decided in favour of RR, leading to Williamson walking away after having scored just two runs.

Slow motion footage of Kane Williamson controversy out decision.#IPL #IPL2022 #RRvsSRH #NotOut #TataIPL #Cricket

Video credit:-@IPL pic.twitter.com/AzNdoPWdWX

— CricketO (@CricketO22) March 29, 2022

Many fans of the SRH skipper took to social media to slam the third umpire’s decision. Several internet users called the decision “an umpiring blunder”.

 

Others jokingly commented that the unfair dismissal makes all their problems seem trivial.

Here are some more reactions:

 

 

After Williamson’s dismissal, things went downhill for SRH. Some superb bowling by Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna left SRH floundering at 29/4 in 8.2 overs. Aiden Markam and Washington Sundar did try their best to help their team reach the target of 211. Markam remained unbeaten at 57 off 41, while Sundar smashed 40 off just 14 balls.

Despite their efforts, SRH could only score 149 in 20 overs, leading to Rajasthan Royals winning the match by 61 runs.

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Highlights, Australia vs West Indies, Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 1st semi-final: Aussies reach final with 157-run win

Toggle between the tabs above to switch between quick scorecard, full scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

Preview: Australia take on West Indies in the first semi-final of the Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 at Basin Reserve in Wellington.

The two teams set to battle it out on Wednesday couldn’t have had more different routes to the semi-final.

Australia sewed up a semi-final spot with two games to go while the Maroon Warriors could only watch on as South Africa defeated India in the last over of the final group game to confirm the Windies’ place in the final four.

It perhaps puts the pressure on Australia – and this is something they have been building towards since their defeat to India in the semi-finals of the 2017 edition.

They bounced back with consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup wins and are now on a quest to hold both trophies at the same time.

Captain Meg Lanning has well and truly led from the front, racking up the highest score of the group stage with 135 not out against South Africa.

She sits second in the overall run charts behind Laura Wolvaardt, and her vice-captain Rachael Haynes is one position behind her.

Despite Australia’s dominance, they say they are a side still searching for a perfect game and were given a scare by newcomers Bangladesh in their final match of the league stages.

While the wickets have been evenly shared among Australia’s bowlers – spin trio Jess Jonassen, Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King all have eight – one West Indies player is topping all the charts.

Hayley Matthews has enjoyed a stellar tournament, scoring the first century of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 with 119 against New Zealand in the opening game, also taking two wickets.

She has continued to pile on the runs and sits 11th with 226, the most of any of the West Indies players, and she is out front as their best wicket-taker too.

Matthews is the only player in this ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to have opened the batting and bowling and is thriving under the pressure, having taken 10 wickets including career-best figures of four for 15 against Bangladesh.

Australia won by seven wickets when the two sides met in the group stages, also in Wellington, and were also the victors in the 2013 final, the only time the West Indies have progressed to the showpiece.

So, while Stafanie Taylor’s side will be looking for revenge, Lanning will be hoping to maintain Australia’s sterling record against the West Indies having lost only once in 13 ODI meetings.

Squads:

Australia: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy(w), Meg Lanning(c), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Amanda Wellington

West Indies: Deandra Dottin, Rashada Williams, Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor(c), Shemaine Campbelle(w), Chedean Nation, Kycia Knight, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Karishma Ramharack, Shamilia Connell, Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, Aaliyah Alleyne, Cherry Ann Fraser

With inputs from ICC media zone

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Dear Will Smith, Why The Apology?

You stood up for your wife and publicly slapped a man (Chris Rock) who insulted your wife…. I applaud your grit.  And so do all those people out there who live in constant fear of their loved ones being attacked. It could be a bunch of hoodlums whistling at your sister and passing lewd remarks, or it could be your wife’s colleague at work repeatedly inviting her out when she is not interested.

The misuse of the public space to humiliate your opponents, settle scores, or get even is a common curse to mankind. Your reaction in defending your wife made you a bigger hero than the one you play in King Richard. Ironically King Richard is about protecting one’s family. The way Richard Williams looks out for his daughters is the way we all ought to look out for our loved ones. There is a sequence in King Richard where you beat the shit out of a neighborhood Romeo who is troubling your daughter.  What should Richard have done?  Gifted the sadak-chhaap Romeo with a copy of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet on how to woo a woman in style?

What were you expected to do at the Oscars after Chris Rock insulted your wife?  Send him a memo on stage asking for an apology? Maybe. Violence is never the solution. Try explaining that to militants who mow down school kids in public attacks. Not to a man who reacts impulsively to his wife being heckled.

You acted on a protective impulse. You did nothing wrong. The public outcry against the slap is turning you defensive. Maybe you feel the Academy Awards will blacklist you. I wonder why nobody talks of blacklisting Chris Rock!  I guess it’s okay to insult. But it is not okay to react to the insult. When you smile away at cringe jokes at awards functions you encourage these wisecracking jerks to push further and further down the road of insolence.

Your slap came at the right time. It tells the world that, just because you have a powerful platform it doesn’t give you the right to insult and humiliate people. And even if the joke is at the expense of the star, it shouldn’t land on his family.

So, chin up, Will Smith. I think you deserve an added Oscar for standing up for your loved one. For those who think Mrs. Smith doesn’t need your support, I say she needs to know you care. That doesn’t make your wife weak. It just makes her proud.

Subhash K Jha is a Patna-based film critic who has been writing about Bollywood for long enough to know the industry inside out. He tweets at @SubhashK_Jha.

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SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction, IPL 2022: Playing XI News, Cricket Fantasy Tips, Injury update And Pitch Report

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 5 of IPL 2022 at the MCA stadium in Pune on March 29, Tuesday. Sunrises Hyderabad will be led by Kane Williamson, a player that was retained by SRH. They have let go of Rashid Khan and David Warner, but managed to buy back Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan at the mega auction.

Sunrises Hyderabad have also added Washington Sundar, Rahul Tripathi, Marco Jansen and Nicholas Pooran to bolster their side.

The Rajasthan Royals were extremely busy at the mega auction. The team retained Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the auctions and then went on to add Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal to bolster their bowling attack. Apart from these, they have snapped up Rassie Van Der Dussen, Shimron Hetmyer, all-rounders Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell that will add a lot of balance to their side.

Both these sides had a horror season last year and they now start with a clean slate.

Ahead of the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals match, here is everything you need to know:

SRH vs RR Telecast

Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 HD and Star Sports 3 channels will broadcast the SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals encounter.

SRH vs RR Live Streaming

The match between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals will be available to be streamed live on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

SRH vs RR Match Details

The SRH vs RR match will be played at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Tuesday, March 29, at 7:30 PM IST.

SRH vs RR Dream11 Team Prediction

Captain: Sanju Samson

Vice-Captain: Nicholas Pooran

Suggested Playing XI for SRH vs RR Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:

Wicketkeeper: Nicholas Pooran

Batsmen: Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, Devdutt Padikkal, Yashasvi Jaiswal

All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, James Neesham

Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult

SRH vs RR Probable XIs:

SunRisers Hyderabad: Nicholas Pooran (wk), Aiden Markram, Kane Williamson (c), Rahul Tripathi, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Washington Sundar, Romario Shepherd, Umran Malik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, James Neesham/Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal and Prasidh Krishna

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Vivek Agnihotri recalls Varun Dhawan's assistance, says he 'owes a lot to the actor'

The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri was effusive in his praise for famed actor Varun Dhawan in a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, a television and radio host.

The filmmaker became sentimental as he recalled Dhawan's assistance at a time when no one was with him.

Agnihotri told Siddharth Kannan, that he adores Varun Dhawan and does not want to confess on camera how much he owes him. "He helped me at a time when nobody in this world was helping me, and quietly." the director said. Agnihotri noted that he is not praising the actor because he wants to work with him on a film. The director further wished Varun Dhawan all the success and happiness in life.

Agnihotri’s comment came a few days after Varun Dhawan shared a review on The Kashmir Files and gave a huge thumbs up to the entire cast and crew including the director. "One of the most hard-hitting films ever made with incredible performances," he wrote on his Instagram story.

For those who are unaware, Vivek Agnihotri made his Bollywood directorial debut in 2005 with the crime thriller Chocolate. After a hiatus of several years, the director returned to work on The Tashkent Files, which received two national awards. Ultimately, with The Kashmir Files, he has joined a group of directors who have earned more than Rs 200 crore. The film was made on a shoestring budget, but it outperformed Baahubali at the box office by collecting Rs 200 crore in the first two weeks.

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IPL 2022: Who is 'Baby AB' Ayush Badoni who made fifty on debut?

Young Ayush Badoni stole the show on Monday despite his side Lucknow Super Giants losing to Gujarat Titans by five wickets in their IPL 2022 campaign opener.

Badoni, playing his first IPL match, slammed an impressive 54 off 41 balls from the lower order, helping LSG cross the 150-run mark on their tournament debut. In an innings laden with three sixes and four fours, Badoni offered little respect to established stars like Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan as he made the whole of India sit up and take notice of this latest sensation to come out of the IPL stable.

During the innings break, after Badoni's blitzkrieg, the first thing broadcaster Harsha Bhogle asked him was: "Where have you been hiding?"

A completely valid question considering the 22-year-old Badoni has never played a First-Class game. He only has six T20s to his name, in which he has scored a total of 62 runs at an average of 31 and strike rate of 119.23. He has the highest score of 54 which came Monday night.

So, who is Ayush Badoni?

It was at the Under-19 level that Badoni first made the headlines. In 2018, the right-handed batter from Delhi slammed 185 in a youth Test against Sri Lanka. In the same year, he made a quick-fire 28-ball 52 not out against the same opposition this time in the U-19 Asia Cup final, leading India to a 144-run win.

However, for various reasons, Badoni who is a product of Tarak Sinha's Sonnet Club didn't get a chance for his state team. Sonnet Club is famous for producing cricketing gems like Ashish Nehra, Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant. While many from the club have gone on to represent India, Badoni apparently became a victim of local politics.

A #NotSoFunFact about Badoni.
A reputed Delhi coach stalled his #ranjitrophy selection for two seasons.
B4 #IPL2022 trials, a franchise's talent scout was a former Delhi player who was himself a backdoor entry and claim to fame was judging the kid having himself scored 60 off 90

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) March 28, 2022

Watch out for Ayush Badoni. Absolute pocket rocket denied by Delhi cricket for some years now. Straight out of Tarak Sinha’s stable. So glad to see the boy make his mark. Only Gambhir could realise his talent! #IPL2022

— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) March 28, 2022

Though that didn't deter Badoni who kept trying his best and eventually caught the attention of LSG who bought him in the 2022 IPL auction for Rs 20 lakh. Fuelled by confidence given to him by Delhi and India legend Gautam Gambhir, Badoni now aims to make a permanent mark.

"Gautam bhaiya backed me a lot," Badoni said in the post-match press conference. "He told me to play just my natural game. He told me you won't get the one-odd match, but you will get a proper run. He also told me, 'you don't need to play according to the situation. There are senior players to do that. You show us your natural game'."

"My name had been coming for three consecutive years and I was going unsold every time. I had attended camps of 2-3 teams but I didn’t know if I’d be picked. Lucknow eventually picked me and I am very grateful."

Badoni had been doing well in the practice games for LSG and it was the major reason why he was sent ahead of Krunal Pandya, at a crucial stage when Lucknow were reeling at 29/4 from 4.3 overs.

"After I was picked by Lucknow, I had scores of fifty-plus in two trial games. That impressed Gautam bhaiya and the coaches – Vijay sir and Andy Flower – and hence they were confident of sending me before Krunal Pandya," Badoni said.

His 87-run partnership with Deepak Hooda propelled LSG to a decent total, but more importantly showed them that they have a solid and reliable middle-order option in the squad.

Captain KL Rahul too was impressed with what he saw of Badoni and called him 'Baby AB' of the team, referring to the similarities in his batting with AB de Villiers.

"He's baby AB. He has been phenomenal from the first day. For a little boy he packs a punch and plays 360 degrees, so happy for him as he grabbed the opportunity. It was not ideal for him to walk out with us four down but he did well under pressure and hopefully he can continue doing that,” KL Rahul said in the post-match presentation.

IPL over the years has unearthed many uncapped superstars who have gone on to play for India. Badoni would now want to add his name to that list.

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Vivek Agnihotri on ICHRRF officially recognising the Kashmiri Hindu genocide

The ICHRRF in a press release states, “Thousands of homes and temples were destroyed. Over 400,000 Kashmiri Hindu men, women, and children were forced into exile by Islamic terrorists at gunpoint, ejected from their homes and everything they’ve known. Women were gang-raped, cut into two pieces with a saw and killed in the most brutal manner. Now, this culture is on the brink of extinction after self-advocacy over the course of 32 years, has been unsuccessful. Those who chose to remain in their homeland did so in faith believing in the goodness of their neighbours. The victims and survivors affirmed hope, peace, nonviolence, and safety, and found themselves raped, tortured, and executed by radical Islamic terrorists. Abused corpses were denied cultural funeral traditions and desecrated in psychological warfare to intimidate and control the remaining masses.”  Subhash K Jha speaks to Vivek Agnihotri on this. Vivek Agnihotri mentions that he has also got consent for a Genocide Museum in Bhopal. Excerpts:

You are now officially the most influential Indian filmmaker of all times?

If I start thinking that way, I would end negating my mission to keep pushing through the darkness into areas of our history that have been ignored or blacked out for unknown reasons.

The    International Commission for Human Rights and Religious Freedom has officially recognized Hindu genocide?

Yes, we are finally talking about it. I have also got consent for a Genocide Museum in Bhopal. So, it looks like I am on the way to achieving what I set out to. But I am not going to sit and feel proud of myself. There is so much more to do.  In Bhopal we have also incepted a Rs 20-lakh scholarship for young students, both boys and girls.

In Bhopal you created quite a stir. After the release The Kashmir Files they called you Islamophobic. Now they are calling you homophobic?

For the record, I am neither Islamophobic or homophobic. Those who label me as such are themselves what they accuse me of. I would rather not focus on these silly controversies.

How do you feel about Kashmiri Genocide being recognised for what it was?

Honestly, I won’t allow myself to take any credit.  I keep going to milestones. And I keep moving on. Abb yeh ho gaya chalo aage badhte hain. I am the medium. I am just the tool to make this happen. You ask the Kashmiri Pandits, they will tell you Vivek Agnihotri is the medium. I am a spiritual person. I am very different from your average filmmakers. For me cinema is a tool, a medium for social reform. My next film is also about change and I am confident that too will have a big impact.

What according to you ails Indian democracy the most?

Indian democracy is filled with unresolved issues from the biggest to the smallest level.  A street is being constructed   outside your house; someone stops the work; the street remains half-constructed for years; no one asks why. It is by strategy, by conscious design that I am raising the most complicated burning issues, to shake off the Indian inertia. When there is a tangled issue awaiting a solution for years, you have to use force.  I have to raise my tone of protest to a high point so that people are woken from their slumber.

So, this romp into obfuscated history is planned?

I am not a spontaneous person. The Files trilogy was planned. I have a plan for the next five years.

What are your plans now that the   International Commission for Human Rights and Religious Freedom has recognized Kashmiri Genocide?

We now plan to go the human rights commission in the United Nations in Geneva. It should happen in the next one month or so. Also, the British parliament has invited me next month. I am going to London next month for this.

How do you react to those who think you are playing the political card by provoking hatred against Muslims?

I am not obliged to be answerable to these misguided elements. See, a mother loves her child. She is not obliged to love every child in her   colony.  If my issue here is the plight of Kashmiri Pandits it doesn’t mean I have to talk about every other issue that others want me to. I am telling my story. That’s my fundamental right. Log kya kehta hain unka apna agenda hai.

How much of your research has gone into the conclusions of International Commission for Human Rights and Religious Freedom?

In fact, I am facilitating this. But   I am supporting the ICHRRF only from behind the scenes. If I come forward it all becomes political when my interest is only human. It has been wonderful to see so many Kashmiri Pandit testify before the ICHRRF during the last couple of days. That this has happened proves the power of cinema. But I am worried.

But why are you worried?

There is no Hindi cinema any more.  It’s all Tamil and Telugu cinema. Everyone is now buying the right of South Indian films. As far as the market is concerned the South Films are performing far better than Hindi films.  Secondly all the content being produced in Hindi is being bought by three American companies Amazon, Netflix and Disney+Hotstar. So, India doesn’t own its own soft power any longer. It is selling off all of it to the West. So, these three companies are now dictating the kind of Hindi cinema to make. It’s a very dangerous situation and we aren’t realizing it. The South cinema is under no such pressure as yet.

Subhash K Jha is a Patna-based film critic who has been writing about Bollywood for long enough to know the industry inside out. He tweets at @SubhashK_Jha.

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IPL 2022: 'Tewatia successfully pulls off a Tewatia', Twitter hails GT's win over LSG

Gujarat Titans beat Lucknow Super Giants by 5 wickets in their first match of the Indian Premier League yesterday, 28 March. The Hardik Pandya-led team performed admirably well at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to defeat their fellow debutant team in their first match of the IPL.

The match began with Gujarat Titans winning the toss and opting to field first. Mohammad Shami dismissed Lucknow’s skipper KL Rahul off the first ball of the match itself. Shami bowled a superb spell and took three wickets to reduce LSG to 4/29 in just 4.3 overs. However, Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni led the team’s comeback, smashing half-centuries to help Lucknow reach 158/6.

Gujarat Titans also didn't get off to a good start, losing 2 wickets for just 15 runs. However, GT skipper Hardik Pandya scored 33 off 28 to help the team inch closer to their target. He was also assisted by Matthew Wade and David Miller, both of whom put up 30 runs.  But the star of the team's innings was Rahul Tewatia who remained unbeaten at 40 off 24 balls.

Mohammad Shami was declared as the Player of the Match for his spell of 3/25. Apart from LSG skipper KL Rahul, the right-arm fast bowler dismissed Quinton de Kock and Manish Pandey to give his team the edge in the game.

After the match ended, many former cricketers praised both the teams for their performance in the thrilling match:

RP Singh praised Lucknow Super Giants for their innings, despite losing more than 3 wickets in the powerplay overs.

 

Virender Sehwag praised Tewatia, as well as newcomers Ayush Badoni and Abhinav Manohar.  

Suresh Raina praised the performances of young cricketers such as Rahul Tewatia, Deepak Hooda and Badoni, among others.

 

Kris Srikkanth commented that with a few minor tweaks, GT can be a threat to the other teams in the tournament.  

Here are some more reactions:

He's done a Tewatia again!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 28, 2022

tewatia successfully pulls off a tewatia #GTvsLSG #IPL2022

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 28, 2022

 

Gujarat Titans will face Delhi Capitals on 2 April, while Lucknow Super Giants will play against Chennai Super Kings on 31 March.

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