Welcome to our special segment DRS or the Daily Review System. In this, InsideSport will provide you with the top stories of IPL from a day before that you might have missed in the hustle and bustle of your busy life. And to start with March 19 belonged to RCB. With the WPL title ending their jinx, RCB and Virat Kohli are ready for IPL 2024 with a new identity.
What’s in a name?
Royal Challengers Bangalore have finally listened to the sentiments of the fanbase and city that adores them. RCB will be Royal Challengers Bengaluru from now on.
After 16 years, RCB have finally decided to update the name to the city’s identity considering the recent uprise of pro-Kannada sentiments. RCB will have a new jersey, a new name and a new logo.
Cloud over SKY
A day after Jason Behrendorff’s blow, Mumbai Indians have suffered another one. World No 1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav is out of the GT vs MI IPL 2024 clash.
SKY underwent surgery for his sports hernia in Germany in January and has been out of action since. While he has begun rehab, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has not issued him clearance. Suryakumar Yadav will appear for another fitness test on March 21 to know how long he will be out.
Pat on the back for SRH
The second-most expensive cricketer in IPL history Pat Cummins has joined Sunrisers Hyderabad camp. The Australia captain who led his side to World Test Championship and ODI World Cup title was sold for Rs 20.50 Crore in IPL 2024 Auction.
With his captaincy credentials rock solid, he will lead SRH. After a poor last season, SRH have replaced Aiden Markram with Cummins. Now, all eyes will be on Cummins whether he can weave his magic as he did with Australia.
Captain Rishabh Pant returns
Rishabh Pant is back and he is back as the captain of Delhi Capitals. While not many expected him to be fit to play cricket soon after a near-fatal car crash in December 2022, Pant has become the miracle man.
Delhi Capitals have announced Rishabh Pant as the captain again after David Warner led the side in his absence last season.
Rest in Peace, DRS!
BCCI will trial an alternate version of the Decision Review System or DRS in IPL 2024. Doing away with DRS, BCCI will introduce SRS or Smart Replay System. SRS will eliminate the role of TV broadcast director from the review. Instead, the TV umpire will receive direct inputs from Hawk-Eye operators who will sit in the same room. There will also be additional split screens for better decision-making.
Queen gets guard of honour from King
What the Kings of RCB could not do for 16 seasons, the Queens have done in their second attempt. And deservedly, the RCB men’s team gave a guard of honour to the RCB women’s team after they won the WPL title.
Especially, it was King Virat Kohli who led the guard of honour for RCB for Queen Smriti Mandhana-led RCB Women.
Super Over: 6 news flash of March 19
IPL wins over Test
Wanindu Hasaranga’s Test unretirement may have to wait and that’s good news for SRH. Sri Lankan star spinner is banned from two Tests and he is likely to be available for SRH’s first game on March 23.
Best fans?
RCB fan base may be the best in India and they proved that again. M Chinnaswamy Stadium was packed, not for a cricket match but for a pre-tournament event. RCB fans welcomed their WPL champs and also Virat Kohli and the name change.
King ≠ Queen
Despite comparisons and the recent triumph in WPL, Smriti Mandhana has refused to compare her achievements with Virat Kohli at RCB.
RCB to finish 6th?
Despite the hullabaloo over RCB’s name change and WPL title, if data is to be trusted, Virat Kohli & Co will finish 6th in IPL 2024. As per BETSiE Super Computer analysis, RCB will only win 6 matches this season.
Mitchell Starc shines
The most expensive player in IPL history Mitchell Starc has arrived. The star Australian pacer for KKR even got a wicket on his return to IPL.
Hope is the biggest ‘tope’
He might have switched to laughter challenge but Navjot Singh Sidhu was never away from cricket. And the iconic and one of the most energetic voices in the commentary box, Sidhu will make a comeback in IPL 2024 as the commentator for Star Sports.
