Sunil Narine will be available for selection for Kolkata Knight Riders’ second fixture on Wednesday, against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens

Nagraj Gollapudi in Kolkata12-Apr-2016Sunil Narine will rejoin Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday evening after a brief visit back home to Trinidad and Tobago following the death of his father. Narine will be available for selection for Knight Riders’ second fixture on Wednesday, against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens.Narine, who opted out of the 2016 World Twenty20 to work on his remodelled action, underwent testing at the ICC-accredited centre in Chennai before joining his IPL team-mates in Kolkata, but had to rush back home on April 3. His action was deemed legal by the ICC on April 7, two days before the start of this year’s IPL.Brad Hogg, Knight Riders’ other lead spinner, who addressed the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, insisted a change in action has had little impact on Narine’s control and mastery. “It is good having Sunil V 2.0,” Hogg said. “It is just a confidence thing with Sunil. I remember taking some balls from him.”I struggled to pick it from the hand. He was bowling the or I thought it was going the other way and I looked like a complete idiot as the ball went to the boundary past me,” Hogg said rolling his eyes to the left to indicate the ball sliding down the leg side. “His action was perfect. And he was still bowling the balls we see out in the middle. We know that he can do it legitimately.”Hogg, who took three wickets in Knight Riders’ nine-wicket win in their tournament opener against Delhi Daredevils, said Narine’s return would mean a tussle for spots, but insisted it was a healthy rivalry.”We put pressure on each other with the ball. It is competitive and respectful competition between us,” he said. “He is a class bowler. He has been sorely missed. As individuals we train hard. We want to be able to be on the park. But it is a team. If I am not playing and he takes my spot, I have to create the energy which I quite have in the change room to make sure everyone is up for the challenge.”

Two female umpires will officiate at the Women’s World T20 for the first time in the tournament’s history next month, after Kathy Cross and Claire Polosak were named in a 31-person list of officials

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2016

Two female umpires will officiate at the Women’s World T20 for the first time in the tournament’s history next month, after Kathy Cross and Claire Polosak were named in a 31-person list of officials for the concurrent men’s and women’s events in India.Cross, from New Zealand, has prior experience of an ICC event, having officiated at three Women’s World Cups in 2000, 2009 and 2013. She will be the first of the two to officiate in the forthcoming tournament, when she takes charge of Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh at Chennai on March 16.Polosak, however, will be making her first appearance in a global tournament, having overseen the women’s World Cup qualifiers in Thailand recently. At 27, will be the youngest official on duty in India, with her first match coming at Mohali on March 18, when New Zealand take on Ireland.A Sydney-based schoolteacher by profession, Polosak made another slice of history last year when she became the first woman to officiate in Australia’s Matador Cup, standing as third umpire for Queensland v Cricket Australia XI in October 2015.”When I started umpiring at 15, I really didn’t think I’d have the opportunities that have already been presented to me at 27,” Polosak said.Her ultimate ambition is join the ICC Elite Panel and officiate in a Test match. “It’s ultimately about working your way through the pathway but at the moment I’m just concentrating on being the best I am for the game that’s in front of me. If I continue to work hard the opportunities will come,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.”There is a really good statistic that there has been more astronauts than there has been Test umpires. So it’s a very tight tunnel to get through. But like the players you always want to go to the next level if possible.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the opening match of Group 1 between England and West Indies

The Preview by Andrew Miller15-Mar-2016

Match facts

Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT)3:01

Agarkar: Wankhede pitch suits England

Big picture

Two of the three most recent winners of the World T20 go head to head in a tantalising showdown at the Wankhede, and picking a winner is rather like guessing which side of bed either team plans on getting up. The fact that no side has yet won any of the five tournaments on more than one occasion points to the unknowable nature of the format itself, but in the case of these two teams, the turmoil they have endured in the intervening years has rather precluded any sort of coherent challenge.England have been to the brink and back, their credentials stripped bare in a brace of ignominious campaigns in 2012 and 2014, over which the banishment of Kevin Pietersen loomed uncomfortably large. West Indies, by contrast, would be delighted to have had their own troubles so concentrated on a single character. Contractual disputes have been a constant companion in recent years – the squad came close to a full-blown strike on the eve of this competition – and yet, here they are, both sides on the starting line with their engines running and opportunity knocking.Of the two, West Indies look the likeliest to go the distance, simply because of their greater experience, both of Asian conditions and of previous victory in the World T20. Whereas Eoin Morgan is the last man standing from England’s 2010 campaign, no fewer than eight survivors from West Indies’ triumph over Sri Lanka four years ago are back for more.With eight squad members over the age of 30, West Indies are longer in the tooth and in many cases facing the final curtain – a legend though Chris Gayle remains, it is hard to imagine him turning out for the 2020 event at the age of 40 – which merely reinforces that sense of now or never.England, by contrast, are at the start of their own journey. They’ve had several aborted rebuilds in one-day cricket in recent years, but there’s a strategy and coherence to this particular regeneration that augurs very well for the future. Of their 15, only Liam Plunkett has so far reached the big 3-0. Nine of the squad have yet to turn 26.Morgan spent much of his pre-match press conference playing down his team’s chances and keeping his cards tucked tightly to his chest. Darren Sammy, by contrast, wasn’t afraid to big up his big men, and why would he hide their lights under a bushel given the fear factor they can bring to any contest? Gayle, he declared, is “one of the most destructive T20 batsman”, but it wasn’t anything other than a stone-cold fact. On Wednesday night, under the lights, we shall witness a battle of reputation versus potential. And there can be only one winner.West Indies will have many of the big guns that helped them win the title in 2012•Getty/ICC

Form guide

England: LLWWW (last five completed matches)
West Indies: WLLWW

Watch out for

Chris Gayle. Who else? Everything about this contest screams for a from the man who epitomises above all others the hopes, the talents and the frustrations of West Indies cricket in the 21st century. This contest will be Gayle’s first full international appearance since the 50-over World Cup 12 months ago, and his first T20 outing since he spanked South Africa for 90 in 41 balls at Johannesburg in January 2015. But the prodigal son is back for more, and back in a country where his legend precedes him. Gayle has been the heart and soul of the IPL since its inception, and assuming the local population have found a means to secure any tickets, you can be sure who they will be rooting for when the first ball is sent his way.Gayle may be an established local hero but Jos Buttler could yet be the coming man and, if that is the case, then the Wankhede will soon feel like his second home, following his signing for Mumbai Indians in the recent IPL auction. His casual ability to ally supreme power to outlandish shot selection has turned him into the flagbearer for England’s new free-spirited attitude to one-day cricket, and though he was scuppered in the end by Chris Jordan’s yorkers during England’s practice match at the Brabourne on Monday, his 25 from 16 balls while guesting for Mumbai was a hint that he has found his range. “Everyone’s worried by Jos when he gets going,” said Joe Root after that innings.

Team news

England’s XI is more or less straightforward. Ben Stokes provides the all-round flexibility to factor in four seamers and both spinners, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. With Chris Jordan’s death bowling and outstanding fielding securing him a berth, the only real debate is whether the extra grunt of Liam Plunkett is preferable to the left-arm attack of David Willey. Morgan refused to be drawn, but Willey’s hat-trick at the death in Monday’s warm-up may have tilted the scales in his favour.England (probable) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 David Willey, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Reece TopleyWest Indies have all-round options pouring out of their squad, and any batsman from No. 4 to No. 9 could prove to be interchangeable depending on the match situation. The likelihood is that all eight of West Indies’ previous World T20 winners will be given the chance to start the campaign, although with only one spinner likely to make the cut, Samuel Badree could conceivably make way for Sulieman Benn, having failed to play in either of West Indies’ warm-ups.West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Dwayne Bravo, 5 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Jason Holder, 10 Samuel Badree/Sulieman Benn, 11 Jerome Taylor.

Pitch and conditions

The wicket is one of the seamier in the subcontinent, and both teams look set to respond in kind with pace options. A day out from the contest, there was still plenty grass in situ, although the baking 37C degree heat may put paid to some of that by game time.

Stats and trivia

• England have not played West Indies in T20 cricket since a three-match series in Barbados on the eve of the last tournament in March 2014. England lost 2-1 but they did win the last of the three encounters, by five runs, thanks to Chris Jordan’s haul of 3 for 39.
• That contest, however, is now better remembered for Ben Stokes’ reaction to his first-ball duck. He was bowled by Krishmar Santokie to complete a dismal sequence of scores – 5, 4, 0, 4 and 0 – and on returning to the dressing room, Stokes punched his locker, broke his wrist, and ruled himself out of the World T20 in Bangladesh.

Quotes

“I look at our lower order and it always makes me smile.”
“We’ve played a lot more positive cricket, we haven’t been afraid to go out and play with no consequences.”

Sri Lanka Cricket has taken a dim view of Mahela Jayawardene’s resumption of a consulting role with England for 10 days of the forthcoming World T20. SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala labeled Jayawardene’s temporary job “sad and disappointing”, even while his board rejected the clustered provincial first-class tournament Jayawardene had played a leading role in devising last year.Jayawardene had previously worked with England for two Tests, during their tour to the UAE in 2015. Former Sri Lanka coaches Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace – both of whom are now in the England set-up – had been instrumental in bringing Jayawardene into the fold, and the England players had been complimentary of the expertise Jayawardene offered.But with Sri Lanka now scheduled to play England in the group stage of the World T20, Sumathipala has taken issue with the potential sharing of inside information.”I had a lot of respect and gratitude for Mahela’s knowledge, but now he’s advisor to a competing team of ours,” Sumathipala said. “I’m very disappointed that a national captain, within a few months of retirement, has been retained by another team at a World Cup.”You could go to a club, a province, an IPL kind of team, or a county. But this is a World Cup. You can’t have a player who has just left your country’s team joining a competitive nation. All the contracted players who are playing, once they retire from the game, should have at least 24 months before joining another team for giving advice or coaching.”Jayawardene played his last ODI for Sri Lanka in March last year, but had quit T20s in April 2014. His forthcoming role with England will end on March 25 at the latest, with Sri Lanka scheduled to play England on March 26.”You need that minimum cooling-off period, because you were recently in the team,” Sumathipala said. “You know the team’s strengths and its weaknesses because you’re inside the team. You know your team planning ahead of the World Cup. I think I’ve been very sad and disappointed by this.”Sumathipala said SLC would now look at introducing a no-compete clause in Sri Lanka’s player contracts, in order to avoid the transfer of sensitive information. He also suggested Jayawardene had been unprincipled in taking up the role.”I don’t think this is just a matter of contract. You captained Sri Lanka, you played for your country, and after a few months you go and represent another country and advise against your own nation? I’m talking here about ethics of cricket.”Jayawardene has had contrasting relationships with various SLC boards. He had engaged in public skirmishes with the board featuring Nishantha Ranatunga, which operated until March 2015. His ideas were then embraced by the Sidath Wettimuny-led interim committee, whom he had advised on domestic cricket, in an unpaid capacity. He now appears to be at odds again with Sumathipala’s administration, which has scrapped Jayawardene’s plan to cluster clubs to help administer provincial sides, labeling that structure “impractical”.Jayawardene was not offered a formal role with Sri Lanka, but had advised the team informally, particularly ahead of India’s tour of Sri Lanka in August last year.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Arsenal are currently among the "frontrunners" to land midfield transfer target Declan Rice in the summer window.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

While the Gunners will no doubt be primarily focusing on the exploits in the Premier League as they look to win the division as he enter the final 11 games of the campaign, others will still have one eye on the upcoming transfer market.

In fact, it seems the West Ham United captain may even be looking ahead to the end of the season as he dropped a big hint about his future when saying in December that he wants to play Champions League football soon.

This no doubt would have put a number of clubs on high alert and while speaking about the player on the Devils United podcast, Jacobs said Manchester United and Chelsea are both keen on the player but tipped Arsenal to get the deal done if things remain as they are.

He said: "Declan Rice is a player that Manchester United have liked for a while, but Arsenal and Chelsea are thought to be the frontrunners.

"And the reason for that is because, a bit like what I said a moment ago, Rice just really likes living in London and has spoken glowingly about Mikel Arteta.

"So I sense that Arsenal are frontrunners, but Chelsea are still very much in that race as well."

Why does Declan Rice want to join Arsenal?

As Jacobs alludes to, Rice is understood to be very keen to learn under manager Arteta – with the midfielder said to be a big fan of the Spaniard (via The Guardian).

What's more, the Gunners seem to be in the market for a big new midfielder signing – evidenced by their failed attempts to sign Moises Caicedo in the winter – so the West Ham captain may be able to see a clear path for him to claim a spot in the starting XI.

On top of that, the club's superb season now means the prospect of winning major trophies in the near future is a lot more realistic and this will no doubt appeal to Rice who is yet to win any silverware up to this point in his career.

Of course, clubs like Chelsea and Man Utd will also be able to offer him similar incentives, so it's not a done deal just yet. But it does feel as though this transfer is in Arsenal's hands for now.

Tottenham Hotspur's director of football has intimidated Daniel Levy since arriving in north London back in 2021 with his football knowledge.

Will Paratici leave Spurs?

The Italian has recently seen his 30-month ban from Italian football extended to a worldwide ban which is open for appeal next month.

However, upon receiving the initial ban back in November, the other members involved in the alleged scandal have all resigned from their positions at Juventus.

Spurs have stuck by Paratici who was set to oversee his third managerial appointment since arriving in north London less than two years ago.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has suggested the 50-year-old's football knowledge has slightly intimidated the Spurs chairman at Hotspur Way:

"Those I've spoken to within Spurs have actually said – it's quite interesting – that he's a bit of a rarity at Spurs, Paratici, in that Daniel Levy clearly likes him, but actually, people have said that they don't really see Levy like this very much with many people. They say with Paratici, there's a sense that he's maybe ever so slightly intimidated by him because of his experience, his football knowledge.

"And because of that, from what I'm told, Paratici really had no qualms in telling Daniel Levy when he felt he was wrong."

Is it time for Levy to get out of Spurs?

There have been reports suggesting Spurs have been listening to offers over recent years over a potential sale of the club from the grasp of ENIC.

A Qatari consortium was recently linked with the Iranian billionaire Jahm Najafi also believed to have held a potential interest in the north London club.

And the pressure on Levy and Joe Lewis is only growing from the Spurs fans who are voicing their thoughts towards the club's board as their club is being labelled a "circus" by some.

It is believed Paratici was the man who led the move to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo back in 2021 which ultimately ended in disaster as he was sacked just months later.

However, it is also said Levy was the person who then took charge of the bid to bring Antonio Conte to north London to replace the Portuguese manager.

Although it is said Paratici's knowledge of the game intimidated Levy, there are a lot of things which the Italian got wrong during the transfer window with the summer signings failing to impress.

But some Tottenham fans will take some delight in hearing the 50-year-old was not scared to tell Levy when he was wrong and when to step aside and allow him to take charge.

That being said, the club are hardly heading towards the summer in a glowing position as they look for a new permanent manager and the future of their main man, Harry Kane, hanging in the balance.

HLTCO presenter Dan Cook has praised Steve Cooper amid talk that he could end up replacing Roy Hodgson as Crystal Palace manager.

What's the latest on Steve Cooper to Palace?

Earlier this month, the Eagles made the bold call to sack Patrick Vieira with the club in poor form and edging closer and closer to the relegation zone.

It's now been announced that former coach Hodgson will take charge until the end of the campaign, tasked simply with keeping Palace in the Premier League with 11 games left to play.

In the summer, however, they will likely be on the hunt for a new manager regardless of whether they stay up or not – and it seems as though Nottingham Forest boss Cooper is a primary candidate.

Indeed, as per the Daily Mail, the 43-year-old is someone the club will hope to target at the end of the season.

While talking about all this on HLTCO, Cook offered his opinion on the matter, saying: "You look at Steve Cooper, a man at Nottingham Forest who is seemingly on the verge.

"I mean, I've heard different reports about Nottingham Forest being prepared to part ways with Steve Cooper. I'm not sure how solid those rumours are.

"But of course, he was a manager that was previously linked with Crystal Palace prior to our decision to go with Patrick Vieira.

"And he knows Marc Guehi very, very well from their time together with the England under-17s setup.

"He is, for my money, a fantastic coach and someone that I wouldn't necessarily be against getting in as the new Palace boss for a long-term process."

Would Cooper be a good fit as Crystal Palace manager?

As Cook alludes to, Cooper could soon be leaving Forest. However, it's not necessarily because he's done a poor job there but more because he's a wanted man.

The Daily Mail claims a number of Premier League clubs have been impressed by the work he's done at the City Ground and so he is "currently under consideration" for at least two unnamed sides in the top flight.

With that in mind, it might not be easy for Palace to land him even if they want but perhaps his past relationship with key man Guehi could help in convincing Cooper to join – after all, the 22-year-old centre-back has played 59 times for his former England youth coach already in his career.

This certainly looks like one rumour to keep an eye on.

R Ashwin has sought to put in perspective his performance in the World T20 semi-final against West Indies in Mumbai, and even made a thinly-veiled observation that he didn’t get the chance to bowl more despite creating wicket-taking opportunities

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2016

India offspinner R Ashwin has sought to put in perspective his performance in the World T20 semi-final against West Indies in Mumbai, and even made a thinly-veiled observation that he didn’t get the chance to bowl more despite creating wicket-taking opportunities.When a journalist remarked, on the eve of his team Rising Pune Supergiants’ debut at the IPL, that Ashwin had “struggled” with the dew in the World T20 semi-final against West Indies, he was quickly interjected to ask, “You mean with the ball?” After the journalist replied in the affirmative, Ashwin said he wasn’t well placed to answer the question because he hadn’t bowled when the dew had set in.”It’s better you ask someone who actually bowled. To be very honest, I don’t know how it felt,” Ashwin said.”It’s very amusing because for the first 12 balls I bowled I created a wicket-opportunity as well. It’s quite surprising the way you phrase your question.” When it was offered that MS Dhoni, the captain, had said Ashwin had struggled with the dew, he flatly responded: “I don’t know what he said.”India were defending 192 that night at the Wankhede. Ashwin was introduced in the seventh over and he began by only conceding seven runs. However, his figures suffered when opener Johnson Charles mowed him across the line for a four and a six in his next over. Ashwin, however, did not bowl after the ninth over of the innings. He finished with figures of 2-0-20-0, but he could well have picked up a wicket off his fifth delivery. Lendl Simmons, when on 18, sliced a thick edge to short third man, where Jasprit Bumrah took a fine catch, but replays indicated Ashwin had overstepped. Dhoni blamed the two no-balls – Hardik Pandya bowled the other one, which Simmons hit the straight down the throat of mid-off – and the dew for India’s defeat.When asked if he had got over the disappointment, Ashwin gave a convoluted reply to suggest that it was relatively less significant in the larger scheme of things.”The day I went back home my dog had a heat stroke. He had fits. It just showed me what’s more important and what is very, very important in life,” he said. “I didn’t turn a piece of paper for the next three days. So I haven’t really read about what people have said. There have been good enough journalists, and knowledgeable people who called me and said I haven’t’ bowled a no-ball in ages, and to have bowled one no-ball I don’t become the villain. If that’s the perception, I don’t know how to counter that.”On the subject of physical and mental fatigue in the IPL, which begins less than a week after the World T20, Ashwin admitted it was going to be taxing.The thing about IPL is that it’s pretty fast-paced. If you get in and try to beat your own odds, look for improvements during this time, it’s going to help you as a cricketer and hold you in good stead through the year.”As far as I am concerned, IPL is a place and avenue to improve your cricket,” Ashwin said. “You have lots of down time to work on your game, the practice facilities are international standard. These are the things you look forward to. On top of it, it’s one of the best T20 leagues going around. You improve and try and see what you can offer the team.”

Stragglers Sunrisers Hyderabad will run into the in-form Gujarat Lions in Rajkot on Thursday

The preview by Shashank Kishore20-Apr-2016

Match facts

Thursday, April 21, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

Big Picture

It’s a clash between the pace-setters and the stragglers. Gujarat Lions have completed three successful chases in three matches. Aaron Finch has scored half-centuries in all three games, and the manner in which he has got them – at a strike rate close to 140 – has taken a lot of pressure off Brendon McCullum. Having hurt his hamstring during the last-ball thriller against Mumbai Indians, though, Finch is uncertain for Thursday’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.If Finch doesn’t play, the onus will be on Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina, who are yet to hit peak form, to drive their batting along with McCullum. Finch or no Finch, Lions have a commanding line-up whose batting depth surfaced in their three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians. That Dale Steyn is yet to get a look-in shows how well Lions’ Indian bowlers, led by Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni, have performed. Not playing Steyn has also allowed them to play two overseas batsmen. Pravin Tambe and Shadab Jakati have played the containing role well, while Dwayne Bravo’s mix of slow-dipping yorkers and bouncers have been hard to get away in the end overs.Sunrisers don’t have a wealth of options, and are yearning to have Yuvraj Singh and Kane Williamson match-ready. Until then, they need to find other ways to complement David Warner, who has scored two half-centuries, including an unbeaten 90 that gave Sunrisers their first win, against Mumbai. Warner has prospered since his return to the top – he batted in the middle order for Australia at the World T20 – and the team management could similarly consider promoting Eoin Morgan to No. 3.Ashish Nehra’s absence with a groin injury has put the spotlight on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Barinder Sran. The pair finished with combined figures of 4 for 45 in eight overs in Sunrisers’ seven-wicket win on Monday. Mustafizur Rahman’s cutters have been difficult to negotiate as well.

Form guide

Gujarat Lions WWW (most recent matches first)Sunrisers Hyderabad WLL

In the spotlight

Raina has reserved James Faulkner for the end overs, but the allrounder has not delivered. He has combined figures of 10-0-94-1 in three matches.In a tournament that has largely been about opening partnerships, Shikhar Dhawan‘s form is a worry for Sunrisers. He has managed only 16 runs in three innings, and has struggled against swing bowling. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he edged an attempted slash against Morne Morkel’s away-swinger to the keeper. In the next game, he was bowled, reacting late toTim Southee’s inswinging yorker.

Team news

Ravindra Jadeja has rejoined the squad after a short break for his wedding, and should slot back into the XI. With Dhawal Kulkarni having performed well, Akshdeep Nath could make way. If Finch is not fit, Dwayne Smith could come in.Gujarat Lions (probable) 1 Aaron Finch/Dwayne Smith, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Suresh Raina (capt), 4 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 James Faulkner, 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 Dhawal Kulkarni, 10 Shadab Jakati, 11 Pravin TambeSunrisers are unlikely to make any change to the line-up that beat Mumbai Indians at home on Monday.Sunrisers Hyderabad (probable) 1 David Warner (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Moises Henriques, 4 Naman Ojha (wk), 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Ashish Reddy, 8 Bipul Sharma, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Barinder Sran

Pitch and conditions

The pitch prepared for Rajkot’s first game of the tournament last week had a smattering of grass. The good-length area from one end was brown, while the ball skidded on at the other end. After the game, Faf du Plessis said he felt batting against the old ball, especially against spin, was tough since the surface wore out significantly.Traditionally, Rajkot is known to be a flat batting track irrespective of the format. Dew is unlikely to be a factor.

Stats and trivia

• Aaron Finch averages 61.83 while chasing in T20s in 2016. He has won three successive Man-of-the-Match awards and is just one away from the IPL record
• Mustafizur Rahman has been Sunrisers’ best bowler with four wickets at an economy rate of 7.25. Three of his wickets have come between overs 16 and 20.

2015 form

After managing only single-digit points in the preceding two years, Delhi Daredevils finished with 11 , but still finished second last. Their campaign was a zig-zag pattern of wins and losses, and consequently never found momentum. Despite their inconsistency, they cobbled together five wins, only two fewer than the third-placed team, in what was one of Daredevils’ better seasons in recent memory.

Big Picture

Think of any top IPL franchise and you instantly have a spectacular reel of associative images unspooling in your mind. But think Delhi Daredevils and you struggle to zoom in on any iconic player or memorable match-play that you can identify with the team. Unfortunately for Daredevils, their most enduring identity has been the lack of one. Year after year they have modified teams and team kits; even their theme song is beyond recognition. Arbitrary selection, muddled auction strategy and unstable leadership – they have had five different full-time captains since 2008 – have hurt the franchise. To call them underachievers would be to miss the point, for expectations of them have diminished considerably over the last three years. So what have they done to get things back on track?

Delhi Daredevils squad

Zaheer Khan (captain), Quinton de Kock , Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Sanju Samson, JP Duminy, Karun Nair, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Morris, Pawan Negi, Amit Mishra, Khaleel Ahmed, Sam Billings, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Akhil Herwadkar, Imran Tahir, Mahipal Lomror, Chama Milind, Mohammed Shami, Shahbaz Nadeem, Rishabh Pant, Pratyush Singh, Pawan Suyal, Jayant Yadav

Daredevils started afresh once again by removing Gary Kirsten as head coach and releasing 11 players. They then took what seemed like bizarre decisions at the auction table, steadfastly ignoring the big names and splurging money on relatively less-heralded players like Pawan Negi (INR 8.5 crore), Sanju Samson (4.2 crore) and Karun Nair (4 crore). Daredevils defended the move by calling it a conscious, “strategic shift” towards youngsters, who they felt were hungrier than established stars.Their biggest coup, however, was signing a stellar backroom crew. That the Daredevils squad appears to be modelled on the Rajasthan Royals template – Chris Morris, Samson and Nair are direct imports – is no coincidence. With Rahul Dravid as mentor, Paddy Upton as head coach and Zubin Bharucha as technical director – all formerly with Royals – their strategy of research-backed acquisition of young, lesser-known talent has been replicated. It remains to be seen how effective the strategy is, though, because Royals qualified for the playoffs only twice – in 2013 and 2015 – after their victory in 2008. Dravid’s successful coaching stints with India A and India U-19 has helped him track the progress of many promising youngsters, and three members of the side that made the final of the Under-19 World Cup – Rishabh Pant (1.9 crore), Mahipal Lomror and Khaleel Ahmed – figure in the Daredevils roster.

Burning question

Daredevils were among the more formidable sides in the first few years of the IPL, even making the semi-finals in the first two editions, before their performances began to taper off. They last qualified for the playoffs in 2012, so finishing in the top four will be their priority before gunning for gold. How Daredevils ensure consistency and stability in selection while managing a large squad of 24 players will be critical to their success.

The go-to men

In Zaheer Khan, Daredevils have a captain who successfully mentored bowling groups during his 14-year career as India’s strike bowler. As assured as his expertise is in formulating bowling plans and setting fields, the main challenge for Zaheer, 37, would be to operate at optimum levels, both as bowler and captain, for a month and a half.While JP Duminy‘s experience in the middle order will be invaluable, Daredevils will look to Shreyas Iyer, who triggered the team’s youth-first push in the first place, Sanju Samson, and the in-form Quinton de Kock to set the game up at the top of the order.

Bargain buy

Having made five of the 13 most expensive purchases at the 2016 auction, Daredevils have not got too many players cheap. However, in retrospect, they might have got a good deal by acquiring the services of Carlos Brathwaite for INR 4.2 crore. Who knows what bids he would have attracted had the auction happened after his six-hitting fest in the World T20 final?

Availability

Australia fast bowler Joel Paris has been ruled out due to a shin injury. The rest are available for the duration of the tournament.

Coaches

Rahul Dravid (mentor), Paddy Upton (head coach), Zubin Bharucha (technical director), Sridharan Sriram and Praveen Amre (batting coaches)

Quote

“We wanted young, fearless cricketers who we could work on. We have got Sanju Samson, Karun Nair, Pawan Negi, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, and it’s an advantage that they have all worked with Rahul Dravid, who knows the Indian boys very well. We are looking forward to changing the fortunes of Delhi with the help of the new coaching staff and some talented youngsters.”.