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IPL 2022: Itinerant cricketers Karthik, de Kock, Miller, Saha relishing new challenges at new teams

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3 years ago

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It’s never easy for a cricketer to join a new team and start performing straightway especially in a high-pressure and competitive tournament like IPL but there are exceptional players like Dinesh Karthik, Quinton de Kock, Mitchell Marsh and others, who have adjusted to the new environment quite nicely and have become a vital cog in the success of their respective franchises.
hree big superstars of Indian cricket — Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore), MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) and Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) are players who have been synonymous with their respective IPL teams and they have also made immensense contribution in the growth and popularity of the leagues.

However, there are many players who have not been able to find permanent homes for themselves in the cash-rich league. Usually, they have moved from one team to another after a season or two due to various reasons like poor form, injury or because of not fitting in the scheme of things.

Most often, these cricketers have found it difficult to adjust to the new management, culture, environment and different playing conditions. But like every other thing, there are few exceptions here as well. In the ongoing season of IPL 2022, there are many experienced campaigners, who are representing new teams, but in a very short span of time, they have become match winners for them.

A look at the brief journey of these players at the IPL:

Dinesh Karthik

The 36-year old Karthik, is a veteran campaigner in the IPL and has been involved in all the editions of the league since the inaugural 2008 season.

The wicket-keeper batter has represented six teams over the course of his IPL career. He started off with Delhi Daredevils in 2008 before moving to Kings XI Punjab in 2011. He spent the following two seasons with Mumbai Indians before going back to Delhi in 2014. RCB bagged him in 2015 and he played for Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017 before spending four seasons with KKR.

Ahead of the 2022 edition of the league, Karthik was released by KKR and was bought by RCB for Rs 5.5 crore in the mega Auction. This will be Karthik’s second stint with RCB after the 2015 season and it seems, he was saving his best for IPL 2022. When the wicket-keeper was playing for RCB in 2015, it was a completely different set-up and Karthik too has upgraded his batting style since then.

The veteran, who has IPL career tally of 4320 runs in 225 matches, is doing a finisher’s job for the RCB and scored 274 runs in 12 matches with an superb strike-rate of 200.00, this season. Cricket fans are highly impressed by Karthik’s heroics with the bat and want him to be a part of the Indian team for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. If RCB manage to reach the playoffs and eventually want to win the title, they would certainly ‘DK’ at his best in the upcoming matches of the IPL 2022.

Quinton de Kock

De Kock, one of the most exciting wicketkeeper-batters in world cricket, started his IPL journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad and then played for Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the next few seasons. However, his best in IPL came with the Mumbai Indians, where the Proteas cricketer played quickfire knocks at the top and also did a solid job behind the wickets, helping MI win back to back titles in 2019 and 2020.

Despite his impactful contributions, five champions MI, didn’t retain de Kock and even didn’t buy him in the auction. Mumbai’s loss became Lucknow Super Giants’ gain after the new franchise bought the left-hander for Rs 6.75 crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction.

In the ongoing season, de Kock has scored 355 runs in 12 matches and given LSG solid starts along with skipper KL Rahul. His explosive hitting is making things easier for Rahul partners and putting pressure on the opposition.

David Miller

After playing for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) over a number of years, Miller was bought by Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2020. Despite playing just one game in the IPL 2020, the franchise retained him for the IPL 2021 and he had an average season with the bat.

Known for his ability to single-handedly change the course of the match by hitting huge sixes, Miller was far from his best in the last couple of IPL seasons. But, new franchise Gujarat Titans, who bought him for Rs 3 cr in the mega auction, seem to bring the best out of the Proteas batter.

Gujarat has become the first team to qualify for the playoffs and Miller certainly played a vital role in that. The left-hander has scored 332 in 12 matches and finished matches for GT at most occasions under tremendous pressure. The Hardik Pandya led side would certainly want Miller to maintain his brilliant form in the play-off matches.

Mitchell Marsh

Marsh, who is known for his hard-hitting skills and pace bowling prowess, has played for multiple franchises — Deccan Chargers, Rising Pune Supergiants, Pune Warriors (all three defunct now) and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous editions of IPL. However, the Australian has never played for the full season either because of his injuries or bad-form. So, in a way, Indian fans haven’t seen Marsh at his best consistently in the IPL.

The star all-rounder was bought by Delhi Capitals for 6.50 cr in the mega auction and once again he missed half of matches in the IPL 2022 for the franchise due to hip flexor injury and Covid-19. But in his limited number of outings (6 matches), Marsh has scored 188 runs with an strike rate of 134.28 and picked 4 wickets for the DC.

On Wednesday, nearly six months after that surreal innings in the 2021 T20 World Cup final in Dubai, Marsh played a match-winning knock of 89 runs for Delhi against Rajasthan Royals. The Rishab Pant led side have two more league matches to play and inform Marsh could play a pivotal role in their campaign.

Wriddhiman Saha

Athletic wicketkeeper and a more than handy contributor with the bat, Saha has displayed his skills for Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in earlier editions of IPL. His glovework is second to none and the veteran has tried to make the most of his opportunities with the bat as well while turning up for his respective franchises.

He has been used as an opener in the past by the franchises and Saha has notched up some breezy half centuries in the process, scoring 2324 runs in 140 IPL matches.

A new challenge awaited Saha in Gujarat Titans and so far he has passed the test with flying colours. In the ongoing season, Saha has scored 214 runs in 7 matches, which includes two fifties while batting at the top-order.

Aaron Finch

Kolkata Knight Riders signed Aaron Finch as a replacement for England batter Alex Hales for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League. The Australian batter, who has played 92 IPL games and has 2091 runs, joined KKR at the price of Rs 1.5 crore.

When it comes to IPL, Finch is no stranger having played for eight other franchises — Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore — since his IPL debut in 2010. KKR is Finch’s ninth IPL franchise and despite his vast experience, the attacking batter has never been consistent with his performances and has most often disappointed the cricket fans and experts.

In the ongoing IPL 2022 as well, Finch has scored just 86 runs in five matches and was dropped for the KKR’s last game against Mumbai Indians.

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National News

Messi in India? Kerala sports minister’s renewed claim sparks fresh wave of skepticism

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10 hours ago

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November 3, 2025

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Malappuram (Kerala), Nov 3: The Kerala government has once again stirred public excitement and controversy with Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman asserting that Argentine football legend Lionel Messi will play in India next year.

According to the minister, the state has received a new email from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirming that the G.O.A.T player Messi and his team will visit India in March.

“Two days ago, we received an email from the AFA team confirming their visit to Kerala in March,” Abdurahiman said.

He added that the match was initially planned for November but had to be deferred due to infrastructural issues at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

However, this fresh claim has drawn widespread skepticism, with critics recalling the earlier unfulfilled promise of Messi’s visit.

The absence of any official agreement or confirmation from the AFA has led to questions about the government’s credibility and the procedures followed in organising what is billed as a major international sporting event.

The Opposition and sports enthusiasts have also raised concerns over why the Kochi stadium was partially dismantled for “renovation” despite the lack of a signed deal.

With no documented terms, the government is now under pressure to clarify who the sponsors are, what the contractual commitments were, and whether due diligence was observed.

Adding to the controversy, it has emerged that the sponsors involved in the initiative have alleged links to the notorious Muttil tree felling case despite the government’s previous assurances that it would not engage with tainted entities.

As anticipation mixes with disbelief, many are demanding transparency and official documentation to substantiate the minister’s claim.

For now, Messi’s supposed Kerala appearance remains more of a political talking point than a confirmed sporting event, a story that continues to keep football fans across the country guessing and critics on edge.

If the world cup winning team led by Messi lands on Kerala’s soil, the timing of the visit will add a feather to the cap of the now beleaguered Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is caught in a few scams which the Congress-led UDF is playing up. More importantly by then Kerala will be at the peak of election campaigning fever for the Assembly polls.

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National News

‘Biggest victory since 2011…’: Panesar sings praise for India women’s maiden WC trophy

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10 hours ago

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November 3, 2025

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New Delhi, Nov 3: Former England spinner Monty Panesar praised the Indian women’s cricket team’s first-ever World Cup win, calling it the biggest since 2011, when the men’s team won the World Cup in India after a 28-year wait.

India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to secure their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to see the women win the World Cup final — probably the biggest victory in the history of Indian women’s cricket. It’s a huge moment, the biggest since 2011, when the men’s team won the World Cup in India. Congratulations to the women’s team!” Panesar told Media.

“This is a truly monumental moment for Indian women’s cricket. They can now believe they can achieve anything — that they can become number one. And they’ve certainly done just that. Congratulations once again to the Indian women’s team,” he added.

Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma starred with both bat and ball to help India achieve a hard-fought victory after South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl.

Chasing 299, South Africa seemed well placed at one point to reach the target, but Deepti’s breakthrough caused a dramatic collapse. After she dismissed Annerie Dercksen, the Proteas crumbled from 209/5 to 246 all out.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) led from the front with a splendid century, but wickets fell regularly at the other end. Deepti was the outstanding performer with the ball, finishing with excellent figures of 5/39, while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani contributed key wickets to secure a historic win for India.

The victory was special for captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was one of five players at the tournament to be appearing at their fifth World Cup. The India skipper made her international debut at the 2009 edition of the event in Australia in a 10-wicket victory over Pakistan.

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Crime

WC win gives ‘new life’ to my mother: Amanjot’s father who crafted his daughter’s first bat

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10 hours ago

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November 3, 2025

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Mohali (Punjab), Nov 3: With India delivering a memorable performance to seal their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title, all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, who not only enabled to add a glorious chapter in India’s cricketing history but also gave a “new life” to her elderly ailing grandmother, an inspiration for her to rise to fame with sheer hard work and determination despite humble background.

Amanjot’s grandmother, Bhagwanti, is bedridden after suffering a heart attack in September. “The news of India’s victory last night and the outstanding performance by Amanjot have given a new life to my mother,” was the first reaction of the cricketer’s father, Bhupinder Singh, 54, who is a carpenter and crafted her first bat with his own hands, on Monday.

He told Media that his 75-year-old mother Bhagwanti Kaur suffered a heart attack and was again hospitalised last week owing to deteriorating health.

On the request of the family that she should be allowed to stay at home till the final match, doctors discharged her on November 1.

“Though my mother is bedridden but conscious, and we informed her about Amanjot’s grand win, and she responded by opening her eyes,” he added.

India defeated South Africa by 52 runs. Amanjot joined the academy of cricket coach Nagesh Gupta when 15 and her father used to take her daily to the academy from Mohali, located on the outskirts of Chandigarh, on a scooter.

Amanjot was primarily a bowler before she met Chandigarh-based coach Gupta, who transformed her into an all-rounder after her debut in domestic cricket for Punjab in 2017-18. Later, she played for Chandigarh in 2019-20 and, from 2022-23, moved to Punjab.

Amanjot’s catch in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final swung the game for India.

Narrating her daughter’s struggle in the initial years, Bhupinder Singh, who was gifted a Mahindra Thar by his cricketer daughter in 2023, told Media that his mother has been Amanjot’s inspiration to enter the world of cricket.

“When Amanjot started playing ‘gully’ (street) cricket with boys with a dupatta tied around the waist in front of our residence (in Mohali), my mother used to sit there for hours to see her performance and for a pep talk. Also, she used to keep an eye on anti-social elements,” he said, adding that before entering cricket, his daughter played hockey, handball and football.

He said if his daughter had missed securing the catch of the South African skipper, she should be blamed if India lost the final. “If Amanjot had missed the catch and India lost the match, the entire blame should fall on my daughter. But the spectacular catch is a huge moment,” he said with moist eyes and ‘shukrana to waheguru’, adding, “In fact, the catch was a game changer and that was the moment when India won and South Africa lost.”

He said he got the phone call from his daughter at around 1 p.m. Sunday-Monday night about the team’s win and said she would come to stay with the family in six to seven days. “India’s win and the spectacular play of their daughter are inspiring her bedridden ‘dadi’ (grandmother) to live life more, as she is the force behind her success,” Bhupinder Singh said with festivity at his residence in Punjabi style since the team’s win.

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