Dugout News: Wasim Jaffer sparking controversy over Hardik Pandya

However, he has just taken four wickets in 5 innings and averages 35 to take a wicket. While everyone was pleased to see Pandya, the power-hitter, back on the crease, fans were more excited to see his return as a bowler. 

While Titans are doing great in the tournament, Wasim Jaffer thinks Hardik Pandya not bowling consistently is a matter of concern because this puts his role in the Indian team as a big question. 

"Hardik Pandya not bowling is a concern for GT. If he doesn't bowl in the rest of the tournament, Indian selectors will also have to think if they have to pick him just as a pure batter for the T20 World Cup," Wasim Jaffer said CricTracker's 'Not Just Cricket' Show.

Even Nikhil Chopra looked to support the statement and said, "Hardik Pandya has failed to convert his starts."

Rajasthan Royals take a sly dig at Sunil Gavaskar.

Although they lost their previous match against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals are still one of the favourite sides to advance to the knockout stage. They have everything a team needs as a batting and bowling unit. The team's social media handle has been quite active throughout the tournament and has entertained millions of fans and supporters. And one such moment came during a match against Delhi Capitals, where they went hard on Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.

This was just after Devdutt Padikkal had smashed a couple of sixes and then took a single in the 13th over of the innings. The tweet came as a dig at Gavaskar's words that he frequently uses time and again while commentating during the match. The one expectation we all have in the shortest game format is that we all want the batters to smash as many sixes as possible, but Gavaskar thinks differently. 

He believes that every time a player clears the rope, the next thing he wants him to do is to take a single and rotate the strike. He is often heard describing it as "smart cricket", and the RR admin, through this tweet, poked fun at his outdated cricketing logic and made everyone a fan. 

“*???? ??? ?????. ????? ? ??????. ????? ???????!*," RR wrote on the micro-blogging site and a picture of the former India opener.

Being the legend of the game, the tweet could have backfired but surprisingly got acknowledged and hailed as the "best ever" in the league. Fans couldn't believe that it came from the official handle of Rajasthan Royals.

Hayden takes on Ravi Shastri.

 

India's most loved cricketer, Virat Kohli, has been struggling to score runs in the ongoing season of IPL. He averages at 19.67 while finding 236 runs in 13 matches played. His highest score came against Gujarat Titans, where he scored 58 off 53. Looking at his struggling form, many former cricketers came up suggesting the cricketer on how he could find his form back. 

One such suggestion came from former coach Ravi Shastri in a clash of RCB against SRH, where he argued that the former Indian captain needs a break on-air.

And just then, to counter the statement, Matthew Hayden stated on-air, "Does he think Rohit Sharma is the same?" These players are constantly playing cricket, and tournaments come around rapidly that you get into a mental place. Kohli has been excellent at it for many years, energetic and enthusiastic. You're under pressure to come off that for a second." 

"It takes a lot of confidence to go to the selector and say, "Sorry, I need to be out," because you want to perform, you want to be the one to take charge of the game. It's so annoying when you get stuck in a rut and can't seem to get out."

"It may be an explosive cover drive, a brilliant pull shot, or, as in Virat Kohli's case, just a fantastic one or two with hard and positive body language like David Warner," he continued.

Gavaskar clarified further, "As long as the break does not mean that you are missing India matches. India matches have to be No.1 every single time, as simple as that."