Latest news with #SaiKishore
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
R. Sai Kishore discusses his breakthrough IPL season, finger-spinners in T20 cricket, competition for Indian team spots and more.
In this year's Indian Premier League, Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore finally had the breakthrough season he had been looking for. The 28-year-old has had to wait three years for regular game-time and grabbed his chances in 2025, scalping 19 wickets for Gujarat Titans. In this chat with The Hindu, the TN skipper discusses the IPL, finger-spinners in T20 cricket, the competition for spots in the Indian team, and more. Excerpts: How satisfying was this year's IPL? I have been part of IPL for six or seven years, but have never had the opportunity to play a full season. So, very grateful for it. I do not have any attachment towards it. When you get a full season, you know your full potential, whether you can contribute or not. Otherwise, you are just [thinking of] permutations and combinations, whether I am good enough or not. After a full season, I feel very confident that I am ready to play at the highest level. The biggest realisation was that what I have is enough. Sometimes, when you are not competing, you don't know whether what you have is enough or not. What was your approach this year? I tried to stick to my basics, just as I would in any other tournament, such as the Mushtaq Ali, TNPL, or Ranji Trophy. If I execute my plans well, that's more than enough. Sometimes in T20, you can't buy wickets. So, wickets have to happen. I was very happy that the team also used me when the batsmen were trying to attack. And when I could just adapt to the situation, wickets were falling. So, very grateful for it. ALSO READ | Rishabh, the Pant-astic entertainer After your debut in 2022, you sat out 2023 because of the team combination and then an injury cut short your journey last year. How did you handle this phase? In the first year [2022], I had a very good season. You wanted to build on it. You would expect things to just happen. But as time would have it, I think that also was for the good. It made me much more mature and understand my game. As a result, all those experiences occurred because of that break. So when this breakthrough season happened, I was more than ready mentally to handle it. They say the Chinese bamboo tree doesn't grow for years, and suddenly, in one year, it grows. But for about six to seven years, the tree has been forming its roots and strengthening the foundations. This year, you were the leader of the spin attack. Did you enjoy the responsibility? In the other teams I play for, I naturally take on that role. So, it wasn't like I was taken aback or anything. I am waiting for such roles. To be fair, Rashid [Khan] is the best T20 bowler across all the teams. In this decade, he will be the best T20 bowler. Maybe for some reason, he didn't find his rhythm. Because I have done such roles in all the other competitions, it came naturally to me. I just wanted to back myself. Whatever has worked for me in domestic cricket is what has brought me here. Thankfully, Ashish Nehra also trusted me with those roles. Usually, people can be judgmental about a finger-spinner bowling in the death or a left-arm spinner against left-handers. But he trusted me. I am pleased I could deliver for the trust he had. Speaking about finger-spinners, there are not many going around. How can your tribe stay relevant in T20 cricket? The basic thing is to spin the ball. At times, as a finger-spinner, you dart the ball too much. If you can spin the ball, impart revolutions, and have the basics intact, that is where the key lies. Also, being very smart. Sometimes wrist-spinners can get away by being a little simple. They have to just bowl length, turn the ball both ways, and go. As finger-spinners, you have to understand the game, what the batsman is trying to do, what to do and what not to do. That becomes crucial, but still trying to spin the ball. Luckily, I have had coaches who always emphasised that and not just darting it in. I have been working with Ram Kumar for seven or eight years, and even with Aashish Kapoor in Gujarat Titans. Thankfully, I have had good mentors. You tried bowling the carrom ball this year. How did it come about? It is something which I consciously worked on because you can't just sit back. When you miss a lot of games, then naturally you want to develop. I don't have this. I will work on it. That thought was definitely [there] and could have been the seed for it. So, I worked on my carrom ball for the last two to three years. I started bowling it in the Deodhar Trophy two years ago. From there on, it has evolved so much. I didn't want to overuse it and make it a very mainstream thing. I have trust in my left-arm spin. So, whenever the situation arises, I will deliver. You have to keep evolving along with your basics. I feel the perfect left-arm spinner hasn't been formed yet, and I am working towards it. ALSO READ | The curious case of Kuldeep Yadav What is your idea of the perfect left-arm spinner? You should be able to bowl orthodox well. You should be able to dip the ball well. At the same time, also bowl defensively. Then you have the carrom, googly. What I am saying is probably a bit too much, but I want to keep it for myself so that I have something to look forward to. How do you assess your bowling, and what is your process for improving? Of late, I have stopped a lot [of looking at data]. I switch off my mind. If I have a skill, I want to extract it to the best. I am not diagnosing it or dissecting it. Ram is always very critical. It's difficult to get a 'well bowled' from him. I trust him and Aashish Kapoor. Sometimes, if I am drifting or falling apart, they tell me. They are very straightforward. They don't think about whether they are hurting me or not. Has captaincy helped you? It has helped me see the game from a larger perspective. Thinking not just as a bowler but also what a batsman does and thinking in terms of team dynamics. I have been grateful that when I started leading, we [Tamil Nadu] have done well in the last few years, and players are doing well. I wouldn't say it is [because of me]. I spoke to other captains and former cricketers. W.V. Raman sir helped a lot. He gave his inputs on how to keep the team together and what not to do. I interacted with him a lot during the 2023-24 season. India has quality left-arm spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel. And last year, Harsh Dubey did exceedingly well with bat and ball. How do you see the competition for spots? We are filled with talent. I am just trying to make my garden beautiful. If the flowers are beautiful, there will be bees here. If the garden is not beautiful, bees won't come. My philosophy is very simple. I just want to keep my garden very beautiful, very attractive. Automatically, what has to come will come. I trust the timing of the universe. When it comes, it will flow. You have to wait for it. I just want to make sure I am ready with all the skill-sets. If I go there, I don't want to turn back and say, 'No, I have to work on this'. I have got some learnings from IPL. I am just working on it here in TNPL. I think the best delivery I can have is patience.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Gaming authority questions TNPL over surrogate ads of betting apps
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) has sought explanation from the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) regarding advertisement of offshore betting apps at its tournament being held in Coimbatore. The TNPL is an eight-team, franchise-based cricket competition organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) where international and popular IPL cricketers from Tamil Nadu like R Ashwin, Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, and T Natarajan are participating. It is telecast on TV and live-streaming apps. A senior TNOGA official said that they had a meeting with the TNPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Prasanna Shankar at their office in MRC Nagar in Chennai on Wednesday (June 11). This was a few days after TNOGA sought an explanation after receiving multiple grievance emails from residents of Tamil Nadu, pointing out that TNPL teams have enlisted multiple betting apps like dafabet, 1xBet, MELBET, Cricadda, Pin-up Cricket and JSK1 as main sponsors. These apps are promoted through surrogate advertising like dafanews, MELBAT, Cricadda news, and JSK1 news, etc. TNIE had recently reported on the wide prevalence of surrogate advertising in TNPL. According to the official, the surrogate advertising of offshore betting apps by TNPL has been found to be 'prima facie objectionable'. The TNOGA official stated that even surrogate advertisement of online betting apps is not allowed as per Section 8 of the TN Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Act, which bans the direct or indirect promotion of online gambling. Section 16(2) allows for a punishment of one year prison term or Rs 5 lakh fine for those violating Section 8.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
R Ashwin fined for outburst on umpires during TNPL game
Former Indian cricketer R Ashwin has been fined 30 per cent for a breach of the code of conduct during the Tamil Nadu Premier League game between Dindigul Dragons and Tiruppur Tamizhans held on Sunday. 'There was a hearing conducted by the match referee after the game,' a TNPL official told Cricbuzz. 'Ashwin was fined 10 per cent for showing dissent towards the umpires and 20 per cent for misuse of equipment. He accepted the sanctions.' The 38-year-old who plays for Dindigul Dragons was judged LBW off the bowling of Sai Kishore, who plays for Tiruppur Tamizhans. Ashwin was seen in a long argument with the umpire Venkatesan Krithika, and he was thundering off the field and was seen hitting his pads in anger with the bat. 'Ashwin is saying 'he has bowled this from over the stumps, ma'am', arguing his case that it was pitched well outside leg stump,' said one of the commentators on AIR during the incident. The TNPL has two DRS per innings, and when this incident happened in the fifth over, Ashwin's team, Dindigul Dragons, had exhausted both their reviews, that too in the first over. Ashwin's opening partner, Shivam Singh, used both the DRS options in a valiant attempt to overturn two legitimate calls made by Venkatesan Krithika for a wide. With the new leg-side wide rule in place, Shivam was guilty of moving across, which the umpire noticed and called it a fair delivery. But Shivam in consultation with Ashwin, took DRS in the hope that it would be ruled a wide and ended up losing both the reviews. Dragons could not put on much of a score after Ashwin fell. Ashwin's 18 is the second-highest score alongside RK Jayant. Shivam Singh, with his 30, was the top scorer as the Dragons were bundled out for a mere 93 runs from 16.2 overs. Esakkimuthu A was the pick of the bowlers for Tamizhans with four wickets, with M Mathivannan picking three wickets. Skipper Sai Kishore too chipped in with a couple. Tamizhans chased the total in 11.5 overs for the loss of one wicket. Tushar Raheja with his 39-ball 65 was the top scorer of the innings. Ganeshan Periyaswamy was the lone wicket-tacker for Dragons.
India.com
09-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
TNPL 2025: Angry Ravi Ashwin Argues With Female Umpire Over LBW Decision, Video Goes Viral
TNPL 2025: Ravichandran Ashwin, after a disappointing IPL 2025 season with Chennai Super Kings where he took only seven wickets and scored 33 runs in nine matches, is now captaining Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. The 38-year-old all-rounder was seen in a heated argument with the umpire during a match against IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans on Sunday. It was the fifth ball of the fifth over when Dindigul opener R Ashwin was trapped in front of the stumps by Sai Kishore. The umpire didn't hesitate and raised her finger, but Ashwin felt the ball had pitched outside leg stump. He argued with the umpire briefly before walking off the field angrily. The 38-year-old hit his pads hard with the bat in frustration while returning to the pavilion. TNPL 2025 | iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Dindigul Dragons | Star Sports #TNPLOnJioStar #TNPL #TNPL2025 — Star Sports Tamil (@StarSportsTamil) June 8, 2025 Tiruppur Bowlers Dominate Tiruppur's bowling unit was on fire, bundling out Dindigul for just 93 runs in 16.2 overs. Only three Dindigul batters managed to reach double figures. Shivam top-scored with 30 runs. Right-arm pacer Esakkimuthu starred with four wickets, while Sai Kishore picked up two important scalps. Raheja Seals It with a Stylish Knock Chasing the low total, Tiruppur had no trouble. Wicketkeeper-batter Tushar Raheja led the charge with a brilliant unbeaten 65. Tiruppur won the match by 9 wickets with 49 balls to spare, showing complete control throughout the chase. Ashwin's Tough Phase Continues Ashwin's poor run with the bat and ball is continuing. After a forgettable IPL 2025 season with Chennai Super Kings, where he took only 7 wickets and scored 33 runs in 9 matches, the veteran may be released by the franchise next year. He was also dropped from the playing XI in a few games this season. Surprise Retirement Last Year In December last year, Ashwin shocked everyone by announcing his retirement from international cricket in the middle of a Test series against Australia. He ended his Test career as India's second-highest wicket-taker with 537 wickets in 106 matches, just behind Anil Kumble's 619.
News18
09-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
TNPL Drama! R Ashwin Argues With Umpire, Slams Bat After Sai Kishore Gets Him Out
Last Updated: Serious drama unfolded in the TNPL as R Ashwin was angry at the umpire for giving him out LBW off R Sai Kishore's bowling when the ball had clearly pitched outside the leg-stump. Dindigul Dragons captain and India legend Ravichandran Ashwin lost his cool after getting out to his opposite number, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans' R Sai Kishore in the fifth match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025 on Sunday (June 8) at the SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore. The drama happened in the fifth over of the first innings. Sai Kishore pitched a loopy ball on a good length on the leg-stump and Ashwin went down to sweep it but missed as the ball from the left-arm spinner turned sharply. The bowler appealed and the umpire raised his finger, much to the dismay of Ashwin. The batter immediately went to argue with the umpire, who turned his back to him. Angered, he slammed his bat on his pads before walking off. Watch the video here: Ash அண்ணா Not Happy அண்ணாச்சி! 😶🌫📺 தொடர்ந்து காணுங்கள் | TNPL 2025 | iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Dindigul Dragons | Star Sports தமிழில் #TNPLOnJioStar #TNPL #TNPL2025 — Star Sports Tamil (@StarSportsTamil) June 8, 2025 Ashwin's anger was perhaps justified because one look at the replay is enough to suggest that the ball pitched well outside the leg-stump, which is what the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star seemed to indicate. Luck just hasn't been on Ashwin's side since he announced his retirement from all formats late last year, with his IPL numbers also falling drastically in the recent season: seven wickets in nine matches at 40.42. The younger and in-prime-form Sai Kishore, on the contrary, has come off an excellent year with the Gujarat Titans, picking 19 wickets in 15 innings at 20.68. He was unlucky not to be selected for the ongoing Indian tour of England, even for the 'A' side, which is playing two unofficial Tests against England Lions. Coming back to the match, the Tamizhans romped to a comfortable victory against the Dragons. The promising Shivam Singh top-scored with a 30 in the first inning,s but another wicket for Sai Kishore, four scalps for pacer Esakkimuthu A and three strikes for spinner M Mathivannan reduced them to 93/10. In reply, after opener Amit Sathvik got out early, wicketkeeper Tushar Raheja scored a brisk 39-ball 65 to see off the chase in the 12th over with nine wickets to spare. First Published:
