Cricket news round-up – 28 April: Delhi qualify for Playoffs, Kolkata come into contention, Hardik slams fastest fifty

A win against Royal Challengers Bangalore helped Delhi Capitals qualify for the Playoffs of IPL 2019, while Kolkata Knight Riders‘ win over Mumbai Indians helped them return to the top five even as Hardik Pandya slammed the fastest fifty of the tournament.

Elsewhere, Bangladesh have called up Taskin Ahmed and Farhad Reza for the triangular series in Ireland, while Sachin Tendulkar responded to BCCI‘s notice regarding conflict of interest.

Delhi qualify after seven years

Delhi beat Bangalore by 16 runs at Feroz Shah Kotla to qualify for the Playoffs for the first time since 2012. Shikhar Dhawan (50 in 37 balls) and Shreyas Iyer (52 in 37) laid the foundation for Delhi before Sherfane Rutherford and Axar Patel added 46 for the fifth wicket in 19 balls to take Delhi to 187/5. Washington Sundar had 4-0-29-1.

Bangalore had a chance at 103/2 in the 12th over, but were held back by Kagiso Rabada (4-0-31-2), Amit Mishra (4-0-29-2), and Axar (4-0-26-1). They finished on 171/7.

Kolkata jump to fifth spot

A win after 6 consecutive defeats helped Kolkata return from almost a point of no return to Playoffs contention. Shubman Gill (76 in 45), Chris Lynn (54 in 29), and – after finally being promoted to No. 3 – Andre Russell (80* in 40) took Kolkata to 232/2, the highest score of the tournament.

Mumbai then became 58/4 (Russell 4-0-25-2, Sandeep Warrier 4-0-29-0) in the ninth over. Up against a near-impossible challenge, Hardik Pandya then exploded in an array of sixes, eventually falling for a 34-ball 91. His 17-ball 50 is the fastest in IPL 2019. Mumbai finished on 198/7.

Bangladesh call up Taskin, Reza

Bangladesh have included Taskin Ahmed and Farhad Reza for the triangular tournament in Ireland just before the World Cup. The size of the squad has now swelled to 19 members. The tournament will be played in Dublin from May 5 to May 17, and will also feature West Indies and hosts Ireland. The squad reads:

Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Liton Das (wk), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Shaifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed, Nayeem Hasan, Yasir Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Farhad Reza.

Tendulkar responds to BCCI

Sachin Tendulkar has responded to BCCI’s notice, one that raised the matter of conflict of interest of him being part of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee and serving Mumbai Indians as ‘Icon’. A similar letter was sent to VVS Laxman, mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad and part of CAC.

Tendulkar has responded that his role at Mumbai Indians is entirely honorary: neither does he influence team management decisions, nor does he receive any compensation.