Spot-fixing helped Rajasthan gel stronger: Gavaskar
by IANS
Kolkata: Praising Rajasthan Royals'(RR) effort at "getting everybody gell together" after the side was rocked by the spot fixing scam, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar feels the developments have further boosted the bonding between the squad.

"I think it's a question of getting everybody gelling together and that is what has happened. Yes I think they have had a traumatic last 10-15 days and that is in fact, if anything, that has helped the team gel even stronger," Gavaskar told a television channel at the Eden Gardens, which hosted the second qualifier between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.

Delhi Police arrested Rajasthan Royals players Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and 11 bookies in a post-midnight operation in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad May 16, exposing the spot fixing scam.

Gavaskar also acknowledged RR's ability to recover after the initial shock of the spot-fixing scandal. "The first match after what had happened.. they were in a shock.. after that they have regrouped and recovered and looking good," he added....more    
09:45 PM, May 24, 2013

Live Blog: Late flourish takes Rajasthan to 165 in Qualifier 2 Live updates from the 2nd Qualifier of IPL 6 played between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Rajasthan scraped to a four-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad Wednesday night in the Eliminator thanks to a rearguard action from Australian veteran Brad Hodge who made a 29-ball 54* at No.7 to take the team to the target of 133, while Mumbai were cut down to size...  
06:45 PM, May 24, 2013

BCCI should have never started the IPL: Kamal Morarka As the probe reaches the doorstep of the franchise he owns, and the team CEO and his son-in-law summoned by the police for questioning, should the BCCI president step down? Former BCCI vice-president and former Cabinet Minister Kamal Morarka joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue. Q. Similar to how Ministry of Corp Affairs intervened in Satyam Scandal, BCCI should be shown the same treatment and N Srinivasan...  
05:21 PM, May 24, 2013

No need to ban IPL, guilty will be punished: RPN Singh
by IANS
New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh on Friday said it would not be right to ban the Indian Premier League (IPL) in view of fresh revelations in the spot fixing scandal, and promised to act tough against guilty. "If there is a problem somewhere, it does not mean the whole organisation should be shut. It will not be right as so many people in the country...  
01:21 PM, May 24, 2013

IPL betting: Five bookies remanded in police custody Nashik: A local court has remanded five bookies, arrested in connection with alleged betting on IPL matches, in police custody till May 25. The five bookies - Rajendra Savna, resident of Nashik Road, Sameer Mahindra Mantri, Praveen Bhutada, Ravindra Dhage and Pankaj Somani (all from Buldhana, Maharashtra) - were arrested from Nashik road on Wednesday night while they were allegedly betting on the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers...  
01:00 PM, May 24, 2013

Rain clouds hang over Rajasthan-Mumbai Qualifier in Kolkata Kolkata: Kolkata woke up to a cloudy morning on Friday with possibility of rain later when Rajasthan Royals take on Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens in the second Qualifier of IPL 6, with the winner progressing to play the final against Chennai Super Kings. Kolkata, also to host the final on Sunday, has seen clouds hanging over the city with spells of rain over the last few days, and...  
11:04 AM, May 24, 2013

Meiyappan unlikely to be quizzed in betting case before IPL 6 ends New Delhi: The widening net in the IPL spot-fixing and betting case continues to grow by the day. Actor Vindoo Dara Singh's interrogation, which first brought the focus on Chennai Super Kings CEO and BCCI chief N Srinavasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, has now also reached Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf. Gurunath Meiyappan was served summons by the Mumbai Police on Thursday to appear before investigators in Mumbai. Meiyappan though has asked...  
07:50 AM, May 24, 2013

IPL 6 betting: Noose tightens around Srinivasan as Meiyappan summoned New Delhi: The Mumbai Police on Thursday served a notice to Chennai Super Kings team owner and BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, asking him to appear before it for questioning by 5.00 pm on Friday. The police claimed they needed to probe a substantial number of calls made by arrested Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh to Meiyappan and bookie Ramesh Vyas. All through Thursday, even as dramatic scenes...  
10:40 PM, May 23, 2013

IPL 6 betting: Noose tightens around Srinivasan as Meiyappan summoned New Delhi: The Mumbai Police on Thursday served a notice to Chennai Super Kings team owner and BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, asking him to appear before it for questioning by 5.00 pm on Friday. The police claimed they needed to probe a substantial number of calls made by arrested Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh to Meiyappan and bookie Ramesh Vyas. All through Thursday, even as dramatic scenes...  
10:40 PM, May 23, 2013

Dwayne Smith promises to rectify mistakes Kolkata: Mumbai Indians's explosive batsman Dwayne Smith on Thursday lamented that he has squandered many a good starts but vowed to make it count against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL Qualifier 2 on Friday. "Yes, it's frustrating. I've got a five or six starts, three fifties but did not carry on by getting out to careless shots," Smith said of his 28-ball 68 against Chennai Super Kings in the previous...  
08:35 PM, May 23, 2013

Rajasthan, Mumbai jostle for final berth Kolkata: Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians will look to reach their second IPL final when they take the field at Eden Gardens here on Friday night. Rajasthan scraped to a four-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad Wednesday night in the Eliminator thanks to a rearguard action from Australian veteran Brad Hodge who made a 29-ball 54* at No.7 to take the team to the target of 133, while Mumbai were cut...  
06:44 PM, May 23, 2013

Rahul Dravid hints at retirement from domestic T20
by IANS
New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid hinted at retiring from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after this season. After beating the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL Eliminator here at the Ferozeshah Kotla Wednesday, Dravid told reporters that he is aware that they "need to start looking ahead and for younger players". With the win, the Jaipur-based team also qualified for the Champions League to be held in India from...  
06:16 PM, May 23, 2013

It was like a bereavement: Dravid on spot-fixing New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid says dealing with the turmoil caused by the spot-fixing scandal, which has left his team`s reputation in tatters, has turned out to be as tough as handling "bereavement in some ways". "I would not lie it was a very tough phase for us. It was a blow to the team. It`s something I have never experienced anything like it. It`s like bereavement in...  
03:00 PM, May 23, 2013

IPL spot-fixing: More players likely to be questioned next week New Delhi: A couple of more players are under the radar in the IPL spot-fixing scandal and are likely to be questioned next week, say sources. The name of the players, sources say, came up after the interrogation of a group of bookies. The police have also asked for the footage of all the matches played by the Rajasthan Royals from IPL's broadcaster Set Max. The Delhi Police is also...  
02:57 PM, May 23, 2013

IPL spot-fixing, betting: Bookie Akash Garg arrested in Ajmer Jaipur: More arrests are taking place in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing and illegal betting scandal. Another bookie has been arrested now from Ajmer in Rajasthan. The bookie has been identified as Akash Garg. Rajasthan has in the recent times emerged as a hub for bookies in addition to Mumbai, Gujarat and Goa. The betting scandal in the past few days has seen arrests of bookies from Mumbai, Kolkata and...  
02:10 PM, May 23, 2013

Spot-fixing: I hang my head in shame, says Sports Minister New Delhi: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said he has been forced to hang his head in shame due to the IPL spot-fixing scandal, which is becoming bigger and murkier with each passing day, insisting that a deterrent law could have prevented the credibility crisis that cricket is facing right now. "It is very shameful. As a young person, as a sports fan, as the Sports Minister of the...  
12:45 PM, May 23, 2013

I hang my head in shame: Sports Minister on IPL fixing scandal New Delhi: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said he has been forced to hang his head in shame due to the IPL spot-fixing scandal, which is becoming bigger and murkier with each passing day, insisting that a deterrent law could have prevented the credibility crisis that cricket is facing right now. "It is very shameful. As a young person, as a sports fan, as the Sports Minister of the...  
12:25 PM, May 23, 2013

It's been a fairytale experience: Dravid after win over SRH New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid was all praise for his team following a four-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 6 eliminator at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday night. Chasing 133 to win, Rajastan were in deep trouble at one time but thanks to Brad Hodge's 54* they were able to get over the line in a close chase. "It has been a great journey. It has...  
09:18 AM, May 23, 2013

Win over Hyderabad 'most thrilling', says Brad Hodge New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals batsman Brad Hodge was extremely happy with his effort that helped his side beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 6 Eliminator on Wednesday night. Chasing 133 to win, Rajasthan were reduced to 57 for 5 at one time at the Feroz Shah Kotla here and were facing exit but Hodge held his nerve with an unbeaten 54 guiding the 2008 champions into the second qualifier against Mumbai...  
08:40 AM, May 23, 2013