IPL 2017: We can continue with same opening combination if it works, says Gautam Gambhir

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 itemprop="headline" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IPL 2017: We can continue with same opening combination if it works, says Gautam Gambhir</h1><h2 class="synopsis" itemprop="description" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine together stitched a partnership of 76 runs for the first wicket where Narine smacked 37 off 18 deliveries.</h2><div>           <img alt="Image result for sunil narine" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PH1SHTgvUaA/hqdefault.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">The encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab in Kolkata became a one-sided affair when <a href="http://indianexpress.com/about/gautam-gambhir/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #346f99; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gautam Gambhir</a> smashed yet another IPL half century to anchor his team to a 8-wicket win. Gambhir scored an unbeaten 72 during the course but what came as a surprise to many was KKR opting Sunil Narine as Gambhir’s opening partner.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gambhir and Narine together stitched a partnership of 76 runs for the first wicket where Narine smacked 37 off 18 deliveries including three maximums. While talking to IPL website, Gambhir revealed that how Narine’s batting removed pressure from his shoulders and hailed the knock played by the West Indian player.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I really enjoyed it as I said it takes a lot of pressure off my shoulder as well because I knew that there was someone who is going to really go hard on each and every delivery so it really helps me keep rotating and just try batting as long as I can because I know there is Sunil (Narine) and after Sunil there is Robin (Uthappa) who can play the ball well and Manish (Pandey) as well. All these guys are attacking players so obviously having someone like Sunil is a luxury because someone with his quality of bowling with someone who can hit a long ball. If it keeps coming it is going to be great advantage for us.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">When asked about continuing with the same opening combination, Gambhir looked positive about the fact and the way the two left-handed batsmen came up with the opening stand.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“If it keeps working, obviously yes as it just lengthens our batting order as well. It just gives him the freedom to go out there and go as hard as he can because as I just mentioned he has got 9-10 people to follow. Someone who is batting at number 9 has hardly has a luxury to go hard specially when you are batting at number 8. You know there are only two or three batters left so I think in top order if it keeps working it is going to be great advantage for us.”</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wpcom-protected-iframe " frameborder="0" height="476" id="wpcom-iframe-d00887b50a5ec8001d0ac25e1d1cf0b0-58f07072d9a79" mozallowfullscreen="" name="wpcom-iframe-d00887b50a5ec8001d0ac25e1d1cf0b0-58f07072d9a79" scrolling="no" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><span style="font-family: "Droid Serif", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Droid Serif", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Droid Serif", serif;"></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Praising Narine’s batting display, Gambhir emphasized on taking tips from the Caribbean player about hitting long sixes.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I think this should be other way round as well. Some of the batters should be really proud of the way he played. So, I need to take tips from him how to hit big sixes.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">While skipper Gautam Gambhir was in all praise of his new opening partner, Narine too didn’t leave a chance to appreciate the kind of game play he has shown in the IPL.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Every time you come here you see Gambhir top run-scorers for KKR and even close to the Orange cap so watching him bat always gives you confidence and makes the wicket as it is not doing much. I think it’s a good team spirit, team effort and hopefully we continue winning games.”</div></div></div>

IPL 2017: We can continue with same opening combination if it works, says Gautam Gambhir

IPL 2017: We can continue with same opening combination if it works, says Gautam Gambhir Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine together stitched a...

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IPL 2017: MS Dhoni will be fine (with the bat) later in the tournament, says Steve Smith

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 itemprop="headline" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IPL 2017: MS Dhoni will be fine (with the bat) later in the tournament, says Steve Smith</h1><h2 class="synopsis" itemprop="description" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">Smith said the match against Delhi Daredevils was a disappointing one for him as he could not play the game because of stomach upset.</h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v1pw1ctrjqGNVmJjzYFGSTC2jVXRtr7Cexoms0VFrclwQsSoZ_XihqY88DJ0p6wgYZk_ANl3gg0wlq1gkPtjGmTfJZ32xUv4RuSIHZUjrfTnqRxJabbywRs1avG8oUxO8c5LcU1BE-Jt/s1600/steve-smith-m1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v1pw1ctrjqGNVmJjzYFGSTC2jVXRtr7Cexoms0VFrclwQsSoZ_XihqY88DJ0p6wgYZk_ANl3gg0wlq1gkPtjGmTfJZ32xUv4RuSIHZUjrfTnqRxJabbywRs1avG8oUxO8c5LcU1BE-Jt/s1600/steve-smith-m1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rising Pune Supergiant skipper <a href="http://indianexpress.com/about/steve-smith/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #346f99; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Steve Smith</a> backed M S Dhoni, who is struggling with the bat in the last three games, and said that he was not bothered about the form of the former India captain.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I am not bothered about his (Dhoni’s) form. He is a class player, and we have just played three games, so he will be fine (with the bat) in the tournament,” Smith told reporters ahead of his side’s IPL match against Gujarat Lions.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Smith said the last match against Delhi Daredevils was a disappointing one for him and his team as he could not play the game because of stomach upset.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It was a disappointing game for me and my team as I was not well while the team lost the game. Sometimes you get sick but now I have recovered and should be fine tomorrow (Friday),” Smith said.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: nowrap;">Praising South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir, Smith said, “He has been good with his economy and taking wickets, which is important for us. He is number one bowler in the world in T20, he has good tricks in bowling, he knows his game very well.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">“He has been a key player for us so far and would remain so in the remaining matches,” the Australian skipper said. Asked about Gujarat Lions player <a href="http://indianexpress.com/about/ravindra-jadeja/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #346f99; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ravindra Jadeja</a>, who missed a couple of games as BCCI advised him for rest for two weeks and who had well in the Test series against Australia, Smith said, “He (Jadeja) is a quality player, he has been good in IPL and his inclusion would strengthen Gujarat Lion’s batting and bowling”.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Replying to a query about RPS losing back-to-back games against KXIP and Delhi Daredevils, after winning the first game against Mumbai Indians, Smith said, “It’s a long tournament, we have played only three games and have to play eleven more games. We hope to get the winning momentum quickly.”</div></div></div>

IPL 2017: MS Dhoni will be fine (with the bat) later in the tournament, says Steve Smith

IPL 2017: MS Dhoni will be fine (with the bat) later in the tournament, says Steve Smith Smith said the match against Delhi Daredevils was a...

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IPL 2017: Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 72 leads KKR to eight-wicket win over KXIP

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IPL 2017: Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 72 leads KKR to eight-wicket win over KXIP</h1><h2 class="synopsis" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gautam Gambhir made an unbeaten 72 as Kolkata chased down a 171-run target to hand Punjab their first defeat of IPL 2017.</h2><div><br /></div><div><img alt="Image result for sunil narine" src="https://saddahaq.blob.core.windows.net/multimedia/48901721-m-id-373393-sunil-narine.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kolkata Knight Riders completed a dominant eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab to record their second win in the IPL 2017. This is the first loss that Punjab has suffered this season. Captain Gautam Gambhir led the way for Kolkata 72 off 49 balls. His innings didn’t include any sixes but he smashed 11 fours on the way to the total.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">KKR had won the toss and put Punjab to bat first. While there was no stand out innings in their score card, it turned out to be a team effort from the visitors and they put up a formidable 171-run target for KKR to chase. But the home side made light work of that total. With Chris Lynn out due top injury, it was Sunil Narine who surprisingly opened the innings with his skipper. It turned out to be a good move as Narine raced to 37 runs off just 18 deliveries. He smashed four boundaries and three maximums in his innings and thus got KKR off to a good start in their run chase. Narine eventually fell to Varun Aaron.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Robin Uthappa was the next man to play for KKR and played a valuable cameo, scoring 26 off just 16 balls. It was after the dismissal of Uthappa that Gambhir decided to take charge of the chase. Manish Pandey proved to be an able partner and the two took KKR over the line with nearly four overs to spare.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">This was the first match to be played at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens stadium this season and thus Kolkata Knight Riders’ first home match of the season.</div></div></div>

IPL 2017: Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 72 leads KKR to eight-wicket win over KXIP

IPL 2017: Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 72 leads KKR to eight-wicket win over KXIP Gautam Gambhir made an unbeaten 72 as Kolkata chased down a 1...

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