Dugout News :NBA in IPL and MI end 8 match losing streak to get the maiden win against RR

Rohit Sharma got dismissed early as he got out for two runs. Ishan Kishan played a quick cameo but was out for 26. It was Suryakumar and Tilak that brought the MI chase back on track. To seal the win, Tim David and Daniel Sams gave the finishing touches, smashing 20 runs in 9 balls and six off 1. 

Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma: "[When asked if this was a good birthday gift] I would definitely take it. That's how we play. The real potential came out today, with the ball especially. We knew it was gonna be tough to restrict them to that total, but I thought they kept applying the pressure. The conditions are different. When you play at DY, the ball tends to grip a little bit. But when you play at CCI, Wankhede, Pune, the pitches seem to be absolutely flat there. With that in mind, we try to field the best combination. Yes, it hasn't worked for the eight games we played, but we were not blown away by the opposition. We came really close and we lost crucial games. Had we won those, things would be different for us."

Suryakumar-Chahal on field banter

Suryakumar Yadav, in the 9th fixture of the franchise, displayed his consistent performance and hit 51 to help Mumbai Indians seal their first win of the season. The batter who won Player of the Match enjoyed the sweet banter with his Indian teammate Yuzvendra Chahal. The leg-spinner used a DRS referral for LBW. The ball was clipping the top of the off-stump, leading to the umpire's call, and Suryakumar consoled a visibly disappointed Chahal with a hug.

"During the game, I didn't tell him anything and it was just a sweet banter between him and me, but I'm really happy that I got away with the umpire's call and the way things went after that. He is a great bowler and I've enjoyed having that fight between him and me in the middle," Suryakumar said in the post-match press conference.

NFL, NBA stars invest in IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul and NFL duo Larry Fitzgerald and Kelvin Beachum have invested in the IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals.

"We are extremely pleased to have Chris, Larry, and Kelvin join us as investors who have seen the vision of the Royals as a truly global brand," said Rajasthan's lead owner Manoj Badale.

Although cricket has not become popular, the United States will co-host the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup.

"I am excited to have become one of the first US athletes to see the value and scope for growth in the IPL," said NBA star Paul. "With a variety of components, including stadium experience and fan engagement still left to fulfill their course, I see myself contributing world-class experience through this strategic investment", he further added.

The popular T20 league, which saw Bollywood actors and industrialists owning the franchise, is for the first time that International athletes of different sports are investing in cricket franchises.