Latest news with #Suyash
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
IPL 2025: Suyash's googly turns knockout hero for RCB
New Delhi: A native of the swarming lanes of Bhajanpura in North East Delhi, Suyash Sharma turned out to be the unlikely hero for Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the night of the IPL Qualifier 1 against table-toppers Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. The wiry leg-spinner, who once had a mop of hair but now dons a more slick hairstyle, delivered a game-changing spell of 3/17, dismantling PBKS hopes with the wickets of Shashank Singh, Musheer Khan and Marcus Stoinis — all with his googly. PBKS were already in trouble at 59/5 when Suyash was asked to bowl but the two wickets in his first over sealed the collapse. 'The coaches have told me just one thing: I have to hit the stumps — whether it's a googly, legbreak or flipper,' he said after the match. 'There was some help from the pitch, but I think my googly is what made the difference.' Suyash's wrong 'un has always been his secret weapon. A pivotal figure in Suyash's journey was the late coach Suresh Batra, who mentored him during his early years. The googly was also what first caught the attention of the Delhi selectors during his U-25 trials. Kartar Nath, who handled Dena Bank's team for the DDCA League, had been nudging Gursharan Singh, then-chair of the Delhi selectors, to give the teenager a chance. 'It was his unusual action and the confidence with which he bowled his googly that stood out,' Nath told HT. 'I just asked them to watch him — he had the talent, he just needed the opportunity. There is incredible talent in Delhi. It's a metro city after all, players come from everywhere. But backing a player amidst the politics that happens here is very important. I believed in him but he always had what it takes.' That opportunity, however, didn't come easily. Suyash had been spotted by Kolkata Knight Riders who picked him in 2023. After two seasons in and out of the playing XI, RCB picked him up for ₹2.6 crore in the mega-auction ahead of this season. However, Suyash had been playing through the pain of hernia in three places for nearly two years. RCB sent him to London for surgery ahead of the season. He returned fitter, lighter, and the renewed clarity and confidence of the franchise seems to have been repaid. 'It helped that he had the trust of the team,' said RCB captain Rajat Patidar. 'We've kept the messaging simple. Stick to your strengths, bowl stump to stump. His wrong'un is hard to read anyway. I always want to give him clear ideas, I don't want to confuse him. I am okay if he concedes a few runs in the process.' That clarity has been crucial. Nath revealed that Suyash mentioned to him on a phone call that even two games ago, the RCB coaching staff reminded him not to overthink. Instead, he needed to back his googly – the very reason he was here. This season, his numbers (8 wickets from 13 games at an economy of 8.81) are not mind-boggling but his performance on Thursday also aligned with RCB's trend of having a new match-winner turn up for them through the season. Beyond the field, Suyash has had his share of challenges. Besides financial pressure and limited backing, two years ago, he lost his father to cancer and that had been tough to recover from personally. 'It's not always easy to find the right backing,' Nath said. 'Suyash always had it in him. He just needed someone to believe in him. It was also about luck that RCB supported him even beyond the field. It has shown in his performance.' On a crucial day, Suyash's googly baffled and proved to be a quiet force in RCB's push for their first IPL title.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
PBKS vs RCB, IPL 2025: RCB storms into fourth final with crushing win over Punjab Kings
If there was a blueprint for Royal Challengers Bengaluru after opting to bowl in IPL's Qualifier 1, it would have been pretty similar to how things transpired at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium on Thursday. Almost everything that the RCB bowlers did fell into place as Punjab Kings' catastrophic explosion with the bat saw it folding up for 101 in 14.1 overs. Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma starred with three scalps each. With Phil Salt spearheading the chase, the target was knocked off in 10 overs with eight wickets in hand. It takes RCB to a fourth IPL final, in Ahmedabad on June 3, and ignites hope among its fervent fanbase of a long-awaited maiden title. For PBKS, it is not quite the end of the road. It will play Qualifier 2 against the winner of Friday's Eliminator. A key factor in Punjab's run this season has been the spunk shown by openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. But on the big day, neither lasted long enough. After punching Bhuvneshwar Kumar through backward point for four, Priyansh succumbed to an uppish drive off Yash Dayal. Prabhsimran was looking to assert himself by running down the track and hitting Bhuvneshwar for back-to-back fours. But there's a fine line between aggression and recklessness. He chanced his luck when he charged at Bhuvneshwar again, only to lose his shape and get caught behind. RELATED | PBKS vs RCB QUALIFIER 1 HIGHLIGHTS Hazlewood's introduction brought further joy for RCB. Having missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, the Australian emphasised his importance by removing Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis in successive overs. Shreyas wouldn't want to watch a replay of his wicket, for it was an ungainly hoick across the line that resulted in an outside edge to Jitesh Sharma. At the start of the sixth over, Inglis top-edged a pull against his Australian compatriot and found Bhuvneshwar at fine-leg. Wickets continued to tumble like ninepins as 38 for four became 50 for five, 60 for six and 60 for seven. Nehal Wadhera chopped on a delivery by Dayal while Shashank Singh was cleaned up by Suyash's googly. The leggie also trapped impact player Musheer Khan leg-before in his opening over. Marcus Stoinis waged a lone battle briefly, getting to 26 off 17 balls, before his stumps were rearranged by another of Suyash's wrong 'uns.
India Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Rajat Patidar sends message to RCB fans after reaching final: Just one more game
Rajat Patidar sent a message to the RCB fans for their support as the team beat PBKS in Qualifier 1 in Mullanpur to make it to the final. Bengaluru produced a clinical performance with the ball as they bundled out Punjab for just 101 runs, the second-lowest total in IPL play-offs history. After that, Phil Salt's 54 helped RCB cross the line by 8 wickets to book their place in the final for the first time in nine years. It was fitting that Patidar hit the winning runs as he has led from the front throughout the season. Speaking at the post-match presentation, the RCB skipper sent a message to the fans, thanking them for their support everywhere they go. Patidar said that the team loves them and it is all about one more game and they will get to celebrate together the title. advertisementIPL 2025 Qualifier 1: Highlights | Scorecard "I want to thank RCB fans, not only Chinnaswamy but wherever we go, we feel at home. We all love you. Just one more game and let's celebrate together," said Patidar. Patidar said that they were very clear with the bowling plans and the pacers used the surface well and Suyash chipped in as well. "We were very clear in our bowling plans. Fast bowlers used the surface pretty well. The way Suyash chipped in with his line and length was incredible," sad Patidar. Patidar said that he was very clear with Suyash when it comes to his bowling. The RCB skipper said that he wants the bowler to try and hit the stumps consistently and didn't want to confuse him. advertisement"As a captain I am pretty much clear about his bowling. His strength is to bowl in line of the stumps. His googly is very hard to pick. I don't want to confuse him. We don't mind him conceding a few runs," said Patidar. The RCB skipper also doffed his hat to Phil Salt, saying that he is a big fan of him. "The way he's batting in most of the matches. The way he's giving the start, it's a dream to watch him from the dug out. I am a huge fan of him," said Patidar. RCB now wait for their opponents in the IPL 2025 final on June 3. Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Why did Punjab Kings batters fail against Suyash Sharma? The spinner reveals
Suyash Sharma (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: The googly proved to be Suyash Sharma's deadly weapon as he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure a commanding eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, propelling RCB into the IPL 2025 final. The leg-spinner credited some assistance from the worn pitch for his success. In a remarkable spell of 3-17, Suyash dismantled Punjab's lower order by taking the wickets of Shashank Singh, Musheer Khan, and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession. His efforts ensured PBKS were bundled out for a mere 101 runs in just 14.1 overs. RCB comfortably chased down the target in exactly 10 overs, marking their first IPL final appearance since 2016. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I have performed well, that's why everyone is happy for me. My coaches gave me just one role, which was to hit the stumps, whether I bowl leg-break, googly, flipper, or any other variation. I just try to finish all my percentage balls on the stumps,' said Suyash. He added, 'It (googly) is my stock ball, and also I got a bit of help from the wicket as well, so that's why many weren't able to pick it up. Not quite now (whether he will be celebrating tonight), I will celebrate on the 3rd (June) and very hard as well,' during the post-match presentation. 'I don't want to be a one-season wonder': Punjab Kings' Shashank Singh Chasing the modest total, opener Phil Salt dazzled with his stroke play, scoring a quickfire 23-ball fifty—his fastest in the IPL—and remained unbeaten on 56 off 27 balls. Reflecting on the match, Salt said that the short turnaround between their last league match and the qualifier worked in their favor. 'Great feeling right now, it (the ball) did move a bit. I think that was not the worst wicket to have played on this season. (Replying to what was going on in his mind during the chase) Don't get out to Arshdeep, we played two group games (with PBKS) and he's found different ways to get me out, so I was just trying to react to the ball.' He concluded, 'I said before the game to Andy (Flower) that it was a blessing in disguise for us. (This win) Gives us the momentum, it is a cliche but true, that's what you want at the backend of the tournament, want to hit your straps and play a part with the bat or ball.'
India Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
PBKS vs RCB: Punjab set unwanted IPL record after 101 all-out in Qualifier 1
The Punjab Kings recorded the second-lowest total in the history of IPL playoffs as Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood ran riot in Mullanpur in Qualifier 1 on Thursday, May 29. Suyash and Hazlewood picked up three wickets each as PBKS posted 101 runs in 14.1 overs as the batting order completely collapsed on the day for Punjab. After winning the toss in Mullanpur, RCB made the early breakthrough by dismissing the in-form Priyansh Arya in the second over of the game. Since then, wickets kept falling at regular intervals with the likes of Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis falling after playing rash shots as the PBKS owners looked in dismay. advertisementWhile Marcus Stoinis provided some respite with his 26 off 17 balls, the rest of the batters were clueless as Suyash spun a web around them. The spinner claimed the wickets of Shashank Singh and the impact sub Musheer Khan in the same over before cleaning up Stoinis. PBKS vs RCB UpdatesHazlewood, who was returning from an injury layoff, got rid of Inglis, Shreyas and then Azmatullah Omarzai to end the innings in the 15th over. 14.1 overs is the lowest batted by a team in an IPL play-off. Lowest totals in IPL playoff history87 - DC vs RR, Mumbai WS, 2008 SF101 - PBKS vs RCB, Mullanpur, Qualifier 1*101 - LSG vs MI, Chennai, 2023 Eliminator104 - Deccan Chargers vs CSK, DY Patil, 2010 SF107- KKR vs MI, Chinnaswamy, 2017, Qualifier 2What Suyash said after the performanceadvertisementRCB's hero of the day, Suyash, who ended with figures of 3 for 17 said that the coaches set the plan for them and they executed it brilliantly. He also felt that no one could pick his googly on the day. "The coaching staff helped us plan this and we executed it very well. I felt the ball nice in my hand today. I was feeling that no one could pick my googly. We wanted to play this as a normal game. The previous victory also helped us feel energetic. I have worked hard on my googly," said Suyash. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
