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After starting the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in style with two victories at their second home ground of Indore, Kings XI Punjab’s form has turned for the worse with the team losing their next two matches on the road.Granted, they have played some good opposition on their home turf, both Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils are strong teams at home, but the manner in which Kings XI have been comprehensively beaten will concern Virender Sehwag and Glenn Maxwell. It will also bring back not-so-fond memories of the last two IPL campaigns where Kings XI have finished dead last.

At the Feroz Shah Kotla, Kings XI were unable to claim a single wicket in the powerplay, despite Sandeep Sharma being miserly. Unfortunately for Sandeep and Maxwell there was no support from the other seamers throughout the innings with speedster Varun Aaron consistently losing his line and sliding down the legside. Aaron has long been considered as a player of great potential and someone who could form a great fast bowling partnership with Umesh Yadav for India. However, injuries and poor form have seen Aaron lose his way in recent times and he has looked short of a gallop in his first two matches for Kings XI this IPL season.

Aaron bowled four wides in his spell of 2/45 from four overs and his lack of control would go on to hurt Kings XI as he bowled during the middle overs but was unable to keep a lid on Delhi’s scoring rate.

Mohit Sharma’s form will also be of concern to the Kings XI hierarchy as he conceded 37 runs from his four overs, while Sandeep received plenty of punishment when he returned at the death and finished with figures of 1/41.

To strengthen the bowling and take some pressure off the Indian contingent, Kings XI may look to bring in Matt Henry, but that would require sacrificing one of their international batting stars. Unfortunately for Kings XI their batting has been just as bad as their seam bowling in the last two matches and there isn’t much depth in their Indian batting bench strength, especially with Murali Vijay missing through injury.

Manan Vohra and Hashim Amla have provided decent starts at the top of the order, without really dominating in the powerplay. Vohra’s shot selection continues to be a worry, he has fantastic ball striking ability but throws his wicket away far too often and this is reflected in his far from glorious record.

Including Martin Guptill at the top of the order could be a solution to Kings XI’s woes, but that would require making a tough call on either Amla, or Eoin Morgan who has only played one match.

Delhi’s bowlers choked the scoring of Kings XI throughout their innings and the batsmen were unable to rotate the strike or score boundaries regularly to ease the pressure. This led to loose shots from Amla, Wriddhiman Saha and captain Maxwell, all of whom holed out trying to find the boundary.

Axar Patel continues to be one shining light for Kings XI with his 44 off 29 being the only consolation in Kings XI’s 51-run hammering. Axar bowled well early, again coming on during the powerplay, and proved difficult to score off. The lanky left-arm spinner was called upon to bowl the 19th over of the Delhi innings, which is always a tough ask for a spinner and he copped the treatment from a red hot Corey Anderson which slightly ruined his figures. Despite conceding 16 in his last over Axar finished with impressive figures of 1/33 from his four overs.

In a dreadful night at the Kotla for Kings XI, the Punjab side were poor in all three facets of the game, and it started off with a below par bowling effort that allowed Delhi to score 20-30 more than KXIP would have wanted. Death overs execution has been a worry for Kings XI so far this tournament, but it was during the middle overs where they allowed Delhi to pick up boundaries too easily which set the batsman up to swing freely at the death.

If Kings XI aren’t able to quickly find their best lineup, and provide some bowling support for their spinners in particular Axar Patel, this could end up being another very long and painful tournament for Kings XI Punjab and first time captain Maxwell.
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Bengaluru: Ravichandran Ashwin ripped through Australia's batting line-up on Day 4 of the second Test match to guide India to a comprehensive 75-run win against Steve Smith's men. India defended a meagre 188-run target in style as Australian batsmen looked vulnerable against Indian bowlers on Day 4India: 189 & 274

Australia: 276 & 112

Over 35.4 | Score 112/10 | (Hazlewood 0*)

It's all over for Australlia. Ashwin removed Handscomb and Lyon in a matter of three balls to guide India to a 75-run win over Australia.

NM Lyon c & b Ashwin 2 (6b)

PSP Handscomb c Saha b Ashwin 24 (67b)

Over 35 | Score 110/8 | (Handscomb 24*, Lyon 0*)

Jadeja picked another wicket when one of his deliveries kept low and breached through O'Keef's defense to rattle his stumps! India now just need two wickets to win. Handscomb will have to take most of the strike from here onwards.

SNJ O'Keefe b Jadeja 2 (10b)

Over 34 | Score 110/7 | (Handscomb 24*, O'Keefe 2*)

Handscomb and O'Keefe need to pull off a miracle to save the match for their team. Both of them have the potential to bat but given the circumstances, it remains to be seen whether they can do the job for their team today.

Over 30 | Score 103/7 | (Handscomb 20*, O'Keefe 0*)

Ashwin continued his good run even after tea as he deceived Mitchell Starc with his flight and clean bowled the left-hander. The body language of the Indian players has been quite impressive in the last one hour or so. India need three more wickets from leveling the series.

MA Starc b Ashwin 1 (6b)

Over 27.5 | Score 101/6 | (Handscomb 19*)

TEA: R Ashwin dismissed two more batsmen to send Australia on backfoot. Saha took a brilliant catch running towards his right while Marsh was caught bat pad. Tremendous fightback by the Indian team. Excellent show by the bowlers so far!

MS Wade c Saha b Ashwin 0 (5b)

MR Marsh c Nair b Ashwin 13 (16b)

Over 25 | Score 98/4 | (Handscomb 16*, Marsh 13*)

Marsh and Handscomb are looking to attack the bowlers without reeling under pressure. The pair has scored some elegant boundaries against the pacers and Kohli might soon look to bowl spinners from both ends. Australia are still 90 runs behind and a decent partnership could tilt the momentum Australia's way.

Over 21 | Score 75/4 | (Handscomb 5*, Marsh 1*)

Australia were given a massive blow when Umesh Yadav trapped Steve Smith in front of wicket. The Australian skipper was bamboozled by a delivery which kept low and hit him on the pads right in front of the wicket. That could be the final nail in the coffin for the visitors. Mitchell Marsh is the new man in. Australia desperately need a partnership going.

SPD Smith lbw b Yadav 28 (48b)

Over 19 | Score 71/3 | (Smith 28*, Handscomb 2*)

Smith is standing like a wall once again for his team. Handscomb has the potential to do well and he could easily become Australia's hero with a gutsy knock today. Meanwhile, Indian bowlers are bowling their hearts out today. Smith's wicket is the key for the hosts.

Over 15 | Score 67/3 | (Smith 26*)

Shaun Marsh paid a price for not offering a short to one of Umesh Yadav's deliveries, which moved into him and hit him on the pads. The umpire immediately raised his finger and the Aussies didn't take the DRS despite a long chat between Smith and the left-hander. India are strengthening their grip by picking wickets at regular intervals.

SE Marsh lbw b Yadav 9 (19b)

Over 14 | Score 65/2 | (Smith 25*, Marsh 8*)

Both Smith and Marsh are looking to use their feet to negate the spin – a move which has worked for them so far. India cannot let any of these batsmen settle down. 

Over 12 | Score 59/2 | (Smith 20*, Marsh 7*)

India missed out on a huge opportunity when Virat Kohli dropped Steve Smith's catch when he was batting on 12 off Umesh Yadav's bowling. While the catch went towards the vacant first slip area, Kohli dived from second slip towards his left, got his hands to the ball but could not hold on to it. 

Over 10 | Score 44/2 | (Smith 11*, Marsh 1*)

Ashwin got a massive breakthrough for India when he trapped Warner in front of the wicket in the tenth over. Warner was looking to sweep but could not read the line of the ball as Ashwin bowled to him from round the stumps. Aussies took the review but it didn't go in their favour. Shaun Marsh is the new man in and the visitors need a partnerhsip.

DA Warner lbw b Ashwin 17 (25b)

Over 8 | Score 40/1 | (Warner 16*, Smith 9*)

There is no point defending on this pitch, which is why Warner and Smith are looking to play their natural game on this deteriorating track. Warner smashed Aswhin for a six over deep midwicket. This should be an exciting Test match. India need to dismiss one of these two batsmen to come back in this match.

Over 5 | Score 22/1 | (Warner 8*, Smith 0*)

Ishant Sharma got an early breakthrough for India when he dismissed Mathew Renshaw in the fifth over of the innings. It was a well directed ball as the left-hander edged one behind the wicket. Ishant has been bowling with a probing line and length and was finally rewarded. R Ashwin is bowling from the other end. Australia need to show some positive intent. Smith is the new man in and this partnership could decide the course of this match.

MT Renshaw c Saha b Sharma 5 (12b)

Over 97.1 | Score 274/10 | (Saha 20*)

All Out! After showing some resistance, Ishant was the final batsman to be dismissed after he mistimed a shot straight to the fielder at short cover. Australia have been given a 188-run target. There is plenty of time still remaining in this match. But it's not going to be easy for the visitors given the nature of the wicket which will only deteriorate from here onwards.

I Sharma c SE Marsh b O'Keefe 6 (28b)

Over 92 | Score 268/9 | (Saha 15*, Ishant 5*)

Saha and Ishant are adding some valuable runs for their team. Every run from here onwards will frustrate the Aussies, who have done exceptionally well to bounce back in the game after a wicketless final session on Day 3. These two have added ten runs for the last wicket stand so far.

Over 88 | Score 258/9 | (Saha 10*, Ishant 0*)

Umesh Yadav was the next batsman to be dismissed as he perished while trying to clear covers off Hazlewood's bowling and was caught by Warner. Poor shot, considering he had Saha at the other end, who is looking to add a few more valuable runs to India's total. Ishant is the new man in and he needs to give maximum strike to his partner.

UT Yadav c Warner b Hazlewood 1 (5b)

Over 86 | Score 238/8 | (Saha 0*, Yadav 0*)

After Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood gave a double blow to the Indian team. Pujara, who was batting so well, was surprised by a bouncer from Hazlewood as he edged one towards gully. Ashwin drove him for a brilliant boundary through covers but was bowled off the next ball, which kept low. India are in huge trouble after losing four wickets in two overs.

R Ashwin b Hazlewood 4 (3b)

CA Pujara c MR Marsh b Hazlewood 92 (221b)

Over 85 | Score 238/6 | (Pujara 88*, Saha 0*)

Things changed drastically after Australia took the new ball in the 85th over. Starc first trapped Rahane in front of the wicket off the third ball and then bowled Karun Nair off the next ball, which was a brilliant inswinger. Starc is on fire and India are in some sort of trouble here. Pujara is the set batsman and India would want him to get going.

KK Nair b Starc 0 (1b)

AM Rahane lbw b Starc 52 (134b)

Over 81 | Score 232/4 | (Pujara 87*, Rahane 51*)

Ajinkya Rahane drove Mitchell Starc through covers for a boundary to bring up his fifty. These two are looking confident at the crease. India now lead by 145 runs and this pair has stitched unbeaten 112-run partnership for fifth wicket. Australia need a wicket as soon as possible and Steve Smith is using all his bowlers for that one breakthrough.

Over 77 | Score 221/4 | (Pujara 83*, Rahane 44*)

India finally got a DRS right when Cheteshwar Pujara got a lifeline at 83. Nathan Lyon looked like he had trapped the batsman in front of the wicket, but replays suggested that the ball was missing leg stump. Lyon and O'Keefe are bowling from both ends and are getting plenty of purchase from the wicket.

KL Rahul's half-century and Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane's resolute 93-run partnership revamped India's hopes of getting the maximum out of the second Test match being played in Bengaluru.

At Stumps on Day 3, India were 213 for four, leading Australia by 126 runs. Pujara (79) and Ajinkya Rahane (40) were at the crease. The 5th wicket stand between Rahane and Pujara was all-the-more special considering the fact that they played on a difficult, dry, cracking pitch, and the duo batted the entire final session and lifted India`s lead to 126 runs.

Earlier, Rahul (51), who top-scored with 90 in first innings, put on 45 with Pujara after Abhinav Mukund (16) was bowled by Josh Hazlewood just after lunch.

For the Aussies, Hazlewood claimed three wickets, including the key scalp of skipper Virat Kohli for 15.

In the morning session, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took a six-wicket haul to help dismiss Australia for 276 in their first innings, a lead of 87.

Schedule

Time: 9:30 AM IST

Live streaming: Hotstar.com | Hotstar App

TV Telecast: Star Sports Network

What to expect on Day 4

As KL Rahul said, the hosts will be hoping Pujara-Rahane to add 100 more runs in their partnership and give their side a fair chance to put the Aussies into pressure for the first time since the start of the series.

Pujara produced a 173-ball 79, while Rahane hit 40 off 105 balls after opener Rahul had laid the foundation with a 85-ball 51 to help India reach 213 four four, leading Australia by 126 runs. Virat Kohli will be hoping his boys can bat until the Tea session on 4th day and try to take lead past 300-run mark. If successful in the target, India will not just put pressure on the visitors but also hand them a stern test of chasing a tricky total on the 'unpredictable' 4th innings wicket.
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Wisconsin, Mar 6: Last night marked the final stop before Wrestlemania 33. The flagship show has hosted the third installment of Fastlane PPV containing a major main event match between Goldberg and Kevin Owens.
There were another series of interesting matches on the card that took place at the BMO Bradley Harris Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.This was an entertaining match and the contenders were on the verge to pick up the win after connecting with the Air Enzo. But, Anderson came from behind to hit with a running knee and pin him to steal the win, all of a sudden.Sasha Banks pulled off a surprise win over the dominant Nia. The big woman connected with a power slam following it with a running leg drop. But, Sasha rolled her up to get the pinfall.This was an impromptu match up set up the show runners in which the Swiss Superman pinned Zinder with a pop-up uppercut. After the match, Rusev beat down Zinder out of frustration only to find out that he will have to face Big Show, It was a pretty much squash match in favor of Big Show who defeated the Bulgarian Brute with a massive knock-out punch.The brutal contest at Fastlane was the best match in the Cruiserweight division, this far. The crowd broke out into a “this is awesome” chant, rightfully. Neville regrouped even after eating two headbutts and hit his pendant, Red Arrow to pick up the win.The crowd was on their feet as these two locked horns in a physical match up. Joe almost pinned Zayn after planting him with a brutal power slam. Aftermath, Zayn went for the Helluva Kick but got caught midway. Joe then locked in the Coquina Clutch to submit his opponent and pick up his first PPV victory.Bayley retained her championship via interference from Sasha Banks. Charlotte almost pinned the champion by pulling her tights. But, Sasha saved her by pointing it to the referee. In this distraction, a Bayley-to-Belly was enough to pin the queen and end her PPV streak.Roman Reigns did the unthinkable by pinning Braun Strowman for the very first time in the WWE. Even after connecting with two superman punches, Strowman put reigns down and went to the top rope to hit a splash. He missed it and Reigns connected with a spear to pick up the massive pinfall.Kevin Owens was roaming all over the arena instead of getting into the match with Goldberg. Jericho’s music hit and he was forced to enter the ring.
The Myth then connected with the spear following with a Jackhammer to pin him and become the Universal Champion at Fastlane.
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Manchester: Jose Mourinho fears Manchester United's bid to qualify for the Champions League will fail because of their inability to kill off inferior opponents at Old Trafford.

United had most of the possession and chances against struggling Bournemouth on Saturday, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's penalty miss forced them to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Mourinho's side have dropped home points against a number of sides below them in the table this season, with Stoke, Burnley and Hull all picking up draws when second best.The United manager believes if his team had been more ruthless, they could even be challenging Chelsea for the title, but instead they are three points adrift of the top four.

"I don't speak about the Manchester City match at home that we lost, because everybody knows what happens, the penalty (we should have had) and the red card (that should have been shown) to (goalkeeper Claudio) Bravo," Mourinho said.

"But if you look at the points we lost at home, all the other matches we drew. If you accumulate those points, you are talking another 10 or 12.

"Then you are not just talking about top four, but top two or maybe even top one. There are matches to play, points to win and points to lose, but the reality is that we are losing too many points at home."

The match was dominated by three flash-points just before half-time, first when Tyrone Mings escaped punishment for stamping on Ibrahimovic's head, then when the United striker elbowed the Bournemouth defender in the face.

Referee Kevin Friend did not penalise either player, but did then send off Bournemouth captain Andrew Surman for a second bookable offence as he pushed over Ibrahimovic in the aftermath of the elbow incident.

Street football

Friend than also sent Bournemouth assistant manager Jason Tindall to the stand for making his protests too forcefully at half-time.

That all came after Josh King's penalty had cancelled out Marcos Rojo's first league goal for United, and before Ibrahimovic's second-half spot-kick was saved by Artur Boruc.

Mourinho refused to criticise Friend or Mings, saying: "Zlatan is a big man, who has had too many years in football, like me. We are not the generation who goes to the media and complains.

"We are from that generation of street football and football for big guys. What happens, happens."

Asked about the confrontation between Ibrahimovic and Mings, Mourinho said: "I don't comment. I comment on the football, I comment on the game, I comment on the big decisions of the game.

"I think Kevin Friend was very good, the penalty against Phil Jones was a clear penalty, the penalty against Adam Smith was a clear penalty so the two big decisions of the game were good.

"The assistant referees were also good so for me good performance by the referee."

Tindall took on post-match media duties because Eddie Howe was suffering with illness, although the Bournemouth manager was well enough to stand on the touchline during the game.

"Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to see any of the decisions back again," Tindall said.

"The only thing I did see was the first yellow card for Surman, which I did think was very harsh.

"My players felt it was an elbow by Ibrahimovic. I am sure there was some kind of communication with the officials which ended up with Andrew being sent off.

"I got sent to the stands. I let my frustrations get the better of me at half-time but that was for the reason of Surman getting his first yellow card, which I thought was harsh."
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BENGALURU: When Team India coach Anil Kumble walked into the press conference on Thursday, he wore a smug look. One that said 'bring it on'! The most obvious question posed to him was about the pitch. The former spin ace played it with a straight bat for a while, before his patience wore thin and he said: "Can we move on? It's only 22 yards, it won't be different here." Away from the cracks and the grass on the strip, Kumble, a man who has thrived on positive intent, refused look back at his team's surrender in the opening Test against Australia in Pune.

"As a coach it's more important for me to look ahead. It was one of those games where things didn't go our way. We have another three Tests in the series and we are looking forward to that. We've had a fantastic home season. What has happened is done and dusted. Australia played well, we didn't play well on that surface. It was challenging but we didn't adapt."

The spin icon from Bengaluru, who led India's attack in the 2004 Test loss against Australia here, said the team was looking to return to winning ways.

"You can't keep winning every game. It has to come to an end at some point. It's challenging for any international side to keep winning. And that's what this team has been able to do. Across conditions, be it Sri Lanka, India, West Indies. And against quality sides, we've won from difficult situations. We have adapted to various conditions and also various situations. That's what we didn't do in the last game. That's why the result didn't go our way. That's why we are looking forward to this game to again start on a winning note," said the coach.

Kumble refused to revisit the five-bowler theory. "It depends on what we believe is the right combination to win a Test, (whether) four bowlers are enough or five bowlers are needed. Which five bowlers or which four bowlers; all that depends on what we look at. Our aim is to win every game. That's the combination we'll put out there."



Kumble said there was no question of dropping batsman Ajinkya Rahane, who had scores of 13 and 18 in Pune.

Chinnaswamy track is a result wicket: Coach

M Chinnaswamy stadium holds a special place in the heart of coach Anil Kumble. It's his backyard. It's the ground where he has bowled many memorable spells including ones where he claimed his 300th and 400th Test wickets. But ask him about his home wicket and he shows his cheeky side. "I don't know much about the Chinnaswamy wicket to be frank," he laughed, before adding: "I have grown up playing on this ground. It's generally been a good batting surface and yeah I'm sure it'll be a result wicket. That's exactly what we want in a Test match...you want results. It's always a good batting wicket."
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BENGALURU: Indian captain Virat Kohli on Friday assured that his team will never repeat the kind of "bad performance" and "lack of intent" that led to the humiliating opening Test loss to Australia in Pune.
The Indians were hammered by 333 runs in the first Test inside three days in a stunning defeat, which ended their 19-match unbeaten streak.
Ahead of the second Test starting on Saturday, Kohli said the hosts have learnt their lessons from the debacle.

"You will not see such a bad performance again, I will assure you that," said the feisty captain in a pre-match press conference.

"It is important to accept defeats. We lost the Pune match because of lack of intent. Australia played better cricket. It is important to accept defeat, if you go by your ego or ignore it, it will affect you only. It doesn't mean losing in Pune would result in us losing the other matches also," he added.

Kohli said it was a rare collective failure for the Indians.

"Sometimes such defeats are necessary. This gave us a platform to understand where we lacked. It happens very rarely that the whole team does not perform, this is what happened in the last match. We learnt a lot from that loss," Kohli said.

"Even if we win or lose, our preparation remains the same. The intensity remains the same even if we lose or win a match. Basically you don't change the practice depending upon the result," he added.

Kohli refused to divulge what changes are likely to be made in the playing XI though he promised "surprises".


"We have a combination in mind and we will finalise it when we sit together this evening. There are all kinds of possibilities tomorrow there could be few surprises," he said.


However, Kohli did confirm that all-rounder Hardik Pandya was not yet fit to be considered for selection.


"Hardik Pandya is not available for selection. He has a niggle in his shoulder. Rest of them are fit and available."


Steve Smith's men were labelled the weakest Australian team ever to tour India before the series but managed to surprise naysayers with a thoroughly commendable all-round performance.


Smith himself showed excellent form for a hundred on the rank turner of Pune.


Asked how the home team would look to negate the Smith factor, Kohli said, "Our focus is not only on him. I think the whole team has to play against Australia to win the Test match. We are not focussing on one player at all."

"All 10 wickets have to be taken twice to win a Test match, that is something we already have marked," he added.

Kohli also played down the threat posed by Australian pace attack led by Mitchell Starc.

"I don't think there will be any extra sort of variation added to his bowling suddenly. He is the bowler he is. We have to accept that and face him the best way as a batsmen," he said.

Kohli also refused suggestions that they are under pressure as suggested by his counterpart Steven Smith.

"It is better we focus on our skills rather than what Australia is saying. I know these are mind games that they come up during press conferences. We still have to play cricket as we are doing for the last few years," he added.

The questions kept veering towards the Pune loss and parallels were drawn with the infamous 2015 loss to Sri Lanka in Galle, which was followed by an unbeaten streak that ended last month.

"It was basically a scenario where we look at a situation differently. It is similar when you bat and bowl you try to break a partnership by taking three wickets in a spell. I think we believed as a team that we can win from that position. I think we have more experience and belief in the team that we had back then," he added.

Kohli said it is never a good idea to get either too excited by a win or too deflated by a loss.

"We are all professional cricketers but sometimes when you are winning lot of games you don't tend to focus on to improve as such, because someone or the other would step in," he reasoned.

"When the whole team does not execute the things you want to, you understand a lot of things to work on and that's always a good sign...you can't take anything for granted during a Test match. I think these things are also very important in your cricket journey," he said.

The swashbuckling batsman, who endured a rare failure with the bat in Pune, said he expects the familiarity with the pitch to work in favour of India here.
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