The grand finale of IPL Season 2 is going to redefine the meaning of grandeur. Top shots from the world of film, politics and corporates are going to add to the zing of closing ceremony of IPL Season 2. The organizers are not ready to disclose now, but media can dig out any secret and as goes the scoop: the crowd at the Wanderers are expected to witness an unprecedented assembly of rich and famous on the May 24th.

Over the past one month and more, the South African crowd has been watching Bollywood stars cheering for their teams. Now its time to see some of them dancing. If the Indian Premier League management and producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Eros International are able to reach an agreement, the Kambhakkt Ishq stars, Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor will be there to entertain the crowd gathered.

International film festivals were considered the most suitable venue for holding the premier of the upcoming movies, but Indian Premier League clearly provides a bigger launch pad for the Mumbai movies. After missing it out in the Cannes, Sajid Nadiadwala is all set to unveil his film at the Indian Premier League. For the film’s hero, Akshay Kumar, association with IPL is not a novel experience, as he was the brand ambassador of Delhi Daredevils in the previous season. However, for Kareena, IPL will be a new experience. She is expected to perform a special dance number from the film.

If Akshay and Kareena are not enough for your eyes, then wait to see the beautiful Katrina dancing to the steps of Shiamak Davar to the tune of ‘Jai Ho’ and two other Bollywood babes, Bipasha and Rani sharing stage with her, Shilpa Shetty joining American R&B sensation Akon as he sings his Grammy award winning Smack, Caribbean music legend Eddy Grant performing the world-famous “Walking on Sunshine” and his anti-apartheid hit “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”, followed by pyrotechnics and laser show are all part of what is being marketed as a spectacular closing ceremony. 

But the celebrity list does not end there. Many other film stars both from Bollywood and South Indian film industry are going to appear at the closing ceremony. Many of them are brand ambassador of some of the IPL teams, the rest have been invited simply to add up to the glamour quotient of this mega event. 

Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Ramya and Upendra (Bangalore Royal Challengers); Juhi Chawla, Arjun Rampal, Sajid Khan, and Farah Khan (Kolkata Knight Riders); Singer Daler Mehndi (Kings XI Punjab); Vijay and Nayantara (Chennai Super Kings); Ila Arun (Rajasthan Royals); Hansika Motwani (Deccan Chargers); and Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor (Mumbai Indians).

In addition to the who’s who from the glamour world, the big shots from industry and politics are also going to attend the gala ceremony on Sunday night. Although, the organizers refused to divulge the names of the politicians for obvious reasons, there are reasons to believe that some of the most high profile politicians are flying in here to attend the event. 

And if the speculation of the cricket news media proves correct, the newly-elected South African President Jacob Zuma will be there to grace the occasion. Among the businessmen, Vijay Mallya, the seventh-richest man in the world, and Mukesh Ambani, the fourth-richest in the world, will definitely be there to cheer their respective teams, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.

Tags: Akshay Kumar, Bipasha, bollywood, Caribbean Music, Deepika Padukone, Eddy Grant, Gimme Hope Jo'anna, Grammy Award, Grand IPL Final, Hollywood, IPL 2, IPL 2009 News, IPL Finals, IPL Updates, Jai Ho, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Preity Zinta, R and B sensation, Shah Rukh Khan, Shiamak Davar, Shilpa Shetty, Smack, Walking on sunshine

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Mumbai Indians kept their IPL hopes alive with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday.

Chasing a total of 120, Mumbai Indians reached the target in just 16.2 overs with Dwayne Bravo blasting an unbeaten 70 off 59 balls and Sachin Tendulkar contributing an unbeaten 41.

The victory brought Mumbai Indians back into the semi-final contention, as they jumped two spots to fourth place in the IPL standings with 11 points from 11 matches.

Kings XI Punjab’s chances of finishing among the top four now looks bleak as they are down to seventh place with 10 points and three matches in hand.

It was a must-win situation for both teams, and Mumbai Indians came out with all guns blazing to steal the show.

Mumbai’s promotion of Dwayne Bravo worked wonders as the West Indian ripped apart the bowlers with clean strikes. He struck seven fours and three sixes.

Brett Lee took out Sanath Jayasuriya before Bravo cut loose in Sreesanth’s only over, which cost 21 runs with two sixes and two fours. Bravo continued in the same vein through the innings.

Piyush Chawla got the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane, but Tendulkar batted around Bravo to see the team through.

Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar played the spin card to perfection to restrict Kings XI to 119-9. His plan was carried out by off-spinners Harbhajan Singh (1-9) and JP Duminy (2-15), who bowled intelligently to bring the downfall of Kings XI batting line-up that had seven left-handers.

Opener Sunny Sohal played a lone hand in Punjab’s innings with a breezy 43 off 23 balls that included three sixes and five fours.

Punjab lost two quick wickets at the top with Simon Katich and Irfan Pathan being dismissed for ducks. Sunny Sohal counter-attacked to bring Punjab back on the track.

Harbhajan came into the attack and soon got the prized wicket of Kumar Sangakkara. Tendulkar quickly tried his options and used as many as eight bowlers to keep Punjab guessing.

Duminy removed dangerous Yuvraj Singh and Ajinkya Rahane. Punjab batsmen were guilty of sloppy running between the wickets with as many as four players, including Sohal, being run-out. It was Karan Goel’s 20 that helped Punjab cross the 100-run mark.

Tags: Brett Lee, Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL Updates, Irfan Pathan, Kings XI Punjab Vs Mumbai Indians, Kumar Sangakkara, Preity Zinta, Punjab vs Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Yuvraj Singh

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Scoreboard of the 36th IPL match between Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab ended with a thriling 3 wicket win for Punjab with just one ball remaining.

Deccan Chargers innings (20 overs maximum)
AC Gilchrist     c Powar b Sreesanth                           20
HH Gibbs          c Jayawardene b Chawla                   13
TS Suman         c Jayawardene b Mota                      27
RG Sharma      c wicketkeeperSangakkara b Lee     9
A Symonds      not out                                                     60
Y Venugopal Rao run out (Katich/Sangakkara)   32
Extras     (lb 2, w 3, nb 2)             7

Total     (5 wickets; 20 overs)     168

Did not bat: DB Ravi Teja, PP Ojha, SM Shoaib, RP Singh, RJ Harris

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-54, 3-70, 4-73, 5-168

Bowling:O-M-R-W-Econ: B Lee:    4-0-24-1-6.00, I Pathan: 4-0-42-0-10.50, S Sreesanth: 4-0-37-1-9.25, PP Chawla:    3-0-26-1-8.66, W Mota: 4-0-26-1-6.50, Yuvraj Singh: 1-0-11-0-11.00

Kings XI Punjab innings (target: 169 runs from 20 overs)
S Sohal                     c Venugopal Rao b Sharma     30
S Katich                   c Venugopal Rao b Sharma       9
K Sangakkara        b Shoaib                                          25
Yuvraj Singh         c Gilchrist b Shoaib                    18
D Jayawardene    run out (Ravi Teja/Gilchrist)  43
I Pathan                  c Shoaib b Suman                         10
W Mota                   run out (Gibbs/Gilchrist)             3
B Lee                       not out                                                14
P Chawla               not out                                                   8
Extras     (lb 6, w 3)                 9

Total     (7 wickets; 19.5 overs)     169

Did not bat RR Powar, S Sreesanth

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-42, 3-85, 4-86, 5-116, 6-127, 7-149

Bowling:O-M-R-W-Econ: RJ Harris: 3-0-29-0-9.66,     RP Singh: 2.5-0-26-0-9.17, SM Shoaib: 3-0-25-2-8.33, RG Sharma: 2-0-12-2-6.00, Y Venugopal Rao: 1-0-3-0-3.00, TS Suman: 3-0-24-1-8.00, A Symonds: 1-0-20-0-20.00, PP Ojha: 4-0-24-0-6.00

Kings XI Punjab won the toss and chose to field first.

Man of the match: Jayawardene (Kings XI Punjab)

Tags: IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL Updates, Kings XI Punjab Vs Deccan Chargers, Preity Zinta, Punjab Vs Hyderabad

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Yuvraj Singh had almost single-handedly won the match and if he would have stayed there five overs more, the game would have been all over, feels Royal Challengers skipper Anil Kumble.

“The ball was stopping and coming and Yuvraj of course likes pace on the ball and I wanted to take the pace off and that worked. Yuvi was going great guns and if he had been five overs more, probably the game was over and there on we really tightened screw,” Kumble said after the match.

Yuvraj Singh notched up the first hat-trict of second Premier League and also scored a blistering 33-ball 50 but still could not avoid Kings XI Punjab’s narrow 9-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore here today.

Kumble gave credit to Roelof van der Merwe for posting such a competitive target even after losing three wickets in three balls.

“It was a great game. After losing three wickets in three balls, I thought Re (van der Merwe) batted fantastically to get us to 145 and everybody rallied around him and when we got to the score we really backed ourself. It is a great show by the bowlers,” he said.

Merwe score a quickfire 35 off 19 balls studded with three fours and three sixes to post a target of 146 to win against the Kings XI Punjab.

Kumble also lavished praise on Praveen Kumar for his crucial over in the end. “It was tough to grip the ball because of the dew. We didn’t expect dews and Praveen is a quicker baller and has experience and he bowled brilliantly,” he said.

Kumble, who succeeded Kevin Pietersen as skipper, said they are improving with each game and hoped the winning streak will continue.

Disappointed at the loss, Yuvraj Singh said the opponent were a better side on the given day.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Kevin Pietersen, Kings XI Punjab, Merwe, Praveen Kumar, Preity Zinta, Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab, Yuvraj Singh

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After ending their losing streak, Bangalore Royal Challengers will be looking to maintain their new-found form when they clash with an upbeat Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Friday.

Both Royal Challengers and Kings XI Punjab clinched thrilling victories in their last matches. Royal Challengers beat Knight Riders to end their four-match losing streak while Kings XI Punjab beat Mumbai Indians in a low-scoring match.

The Bangalore team captain Kevin Pietersen left for England for the series against the West Indies. Earlier Jacques Kallis was supposed to take over from Pietersen, but now it looks like Anil Kumble or Rahul Dravid might take up the job, as indicated by coach Ray Jennings.

Under Pietersen, Royal Challengers made a brilliant start with an upset win over defending champions Rajasthan Royals. But then lost way only to get back with a thrilling win over Knight Riders.

But what might have worked for Royal Challengers was the changes to their side. They replaced Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor with youngster Shreevats Goswami and Mark Boucher. It worked for Royal Challengers as Goswami made a flamboyant 43 as an opener while the experienced Boucher saw the team through in the final stages.

In the bowling department, barring Kumble and Praveen Kumar none of the bowlers have looked impressive.

Kings XI, on the other hand, are riding high after beating Mumbai Indians for their third straight win.

Kumar Sangakkara and Ravi Bopara have played crucial knocks with good all-round performances from Irfan Pathan. Pacer Yusuf Abdulla has been impressive in the tournament and gave a match-winning performance against Mumbai Indians. Skipper Yuvraj Singh is still to come good.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Irfan Pathan, Jacques Kallis, Jesse Ryder, Kevin Pietersen, Kings XI Punjab, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Boucher, Preity Zinta, Rahul Dravid, Ravi Bopara, Ross Taylor, Royal Challengers, Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab, Shreevats Goswami, Vijay Mallya, Yusuf Abdulla, Yuvraj Singh

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The Bangalore Royal Challengers secured a five-wicket win off the penultimate ball against the Kolkata Knight Riders to move off the bottom of the Indian Premier League standings on Wednesday.

The second match in the Durban between the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab also went down to the last over with the bowling side, Punjab, holding on for a three-run win.

Chasing Kolkata’s total of 139 for six, Bangalore reached 143 for five after beginning the last over of their innings needing 10 runs for victory.

South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (25 not out) duly obliged for Bangalore by scoring 12 runs off five balls with the winning runs coming courtesy of a boundary behind square-leg.

Bangalore’s winning total was built on a first-wicket stand of 69 off 72 balls between Jacques Kallis (23) and left-hander Shreevats Goswami, who contributed 43, while off spinner Brad Hodge returned figures of 3-29 for Kolkata.

After Kolkata had won the toss and chosen to bat, Bangalore made use of four spinners who between them bowled 15 overs for 99 runs, picking up five wickets. Leg spinner Anil Kumble was the most successful with 2-16 off four overs.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle contributed 40 runs to Kolkata’s score while right-hander Morne van Wyk, on his IPL debut, scored 43 not out. Kolkata are rooted to the bottom of the table with one win and one no-result from their six matches.

Mumbai began the last over of their innings, bowled by left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdulla, needing 12 runs to win.

But when Abdulla (2-19) had JP Duminy caught at deep midwicket for 59 with the fourth ball of the over, Mumbai’s challenge fizzled out as they reached 116 for seven.

Punjab, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored 119 for eight on a sluggish pitch that did not encourage stroke play with Sri Lanka wicketkeeper/batsman Kumar Sangakkara top-scoring with 45 not out.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, bollywood, Brad Hodge, Chris Gayle, Duminy, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Kings XI Punjab, Kings XI Punjab Vs Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight riders, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Boucher, Morne, Mumbai Indians, Preity Zinta, Royal Challengers Vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Shreevats Goswami, Yusuf Abdulla, Yuvraj Singh

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Two buoyant sides, boasting some of the best stroke players in contemporary cricket, will clash head on when Kings XI Punjab take on Mumbai Indians in a potential humdinger in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

After the rain god stopped stalking them, Kings XI under Yuvraj Singh have managed to put their campaign back on track with back-to-back victories over Bangalore Royal Challengers and defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

The wins lifted the pall of gloom that had descended on the Kings XI camp following their defeats against Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in two rain-marred ties.

In contrast, the Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians got off to a perfect start with a victory over last year’s finalist Chennai Super Kings before sharing points with Rajasthan Royals from their washed out outing.

Tendulkar and his men tasted their first defeat against the all-conquering Deccan Chargers in their third tie but shrugged off the setback with a thumping 92-run win against the Knight Riders on Monday.

Tendulkar himself has led from the front with his consistent display at the top, in company of the ageless Sanath Jayasuriya. The senior batsmen have forged a lethal pair at the top and while the Knight Riders were at the receiving end of their onslaught on Monday, it could be any other side on Wednesday.

JP Duminy didn’t convert the start on Monday but the exciting Protea youngster is unlikely to squander another chance to impress the home crowd.

Abhishek Nayar and even Harbhajan Singh have the ability to land a few lusty blows, which means Tendulkar is not short on gunpowder.

Their bowling looks equally formidable with Lasith Malinga and Zaheer Khan forging a fearsome pair.

Dwayne Bravo has also chipped in while Abhishek Nayar, Jayasuriya and Tendulkar himself can prove quite a handful with their part-time bowling.

In contrast, Kings XI batting line-up has been inconsistent with Yuvraj’s own reputation as one of the deadliest batsmen in this format in tatters.

Rather, Kumar Sangakkara’s has been a reassuring presence in the middle and it was the Lankan’s unbeaten half-century that paved way to the side’s victory against Rajasthan Royals.

Irfan Pathan has also done justice to his all-rounder’s reputation, shining both with the bat and ball.

Even though the absence of Brett Lee and S Sreesanth depleted the Mohali-based outfit’s bowling resources, their late recruit Yousuf Abdulla has been among the wickets while Pathan’s impressive form also helped their cause.

Tags: Abhishek Nayar, Brett Lee, Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Kings XI Punjab, Kings XI Punjab Vs Mumbai Indians, Kumar Sangakkara, Malinga, Mumbai Indians, Preity Zinta, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sreesanth, Yusuf Abdulla, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan

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Highlights of match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

• Kings XI have now recorded four points in four outings with a Net Run Rate of +0.271. Rajasthan Royals are placed at the seventh position with three points with a Net Run Rate of -1.700.
• The 75-run fifth-wicket partnership between Irfan Pathan and Kumar Sangakkara and Irfan Pathan is Kings XI’s best stand, obliterating the 63 between Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan against Rajasthan at Jaipur last year.
• Shane Warne and Ravindra Jadeja put on a seventh-wicket stand of 60, which is the best in the IPL, bettering the 54 between Dilshan and Maharoof for Delhi Daredevils against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur last year.
• Irfan Pathan (39 off 33 balls) recorded his second highest IPL innings, next only to the 40 off 18 balls against Chennai Super Kings at Chennai last year.
• In Rajasthan Royals’ innings, Irfan bowled splendidly to claim two wickets for 26 runs and became the first all-rounder to post a 35-plus and bag two wickets in the same match in the second edition.
• Irfan is now the second all-rounder after James Hopes from Kings XI to achieve the double.
• Ravindra Jadeja (37 off 44 balls) posted his best innings in the IPL, bettering an unbeaten 36 off 25 balls against Kings XI at Jaipur last year.
• Shane Warne’s unbeaten 34 off 33 balls is also his best IPL knock, outstripping the 22 not out off 9 balls against Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad last year.
• Kumar Sangakkara posted his fifth IPL fifty – his first fifty in the second edition.
• With 60 off 51 balls and two catches, Sangakkara has received his second Man of the Match award in the IPL.
• Kings XI Punjab, with a 27-run victory, have won two games out of three against Rajasthan Royals.
• Kings XI Punjab (139/6) recorded their lowest total against Rajasthan Royals.
• Rajasthan Royals also posted their lowest total against Kings XI Punjab.
• Kings XI Punjab recorded a 27-run win, which is their second in four matches this year in the IPL.

Tags: IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Irfan Pathan, James Hopes, Kings XI Punjab, Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, Maharoof, Preity Zinta, Raj Kundra, Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Yuvraj Singh

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A thrilling encounter is on the cards with the tactful Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals challenging win-hungry Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

The Rajasthan Royals pulled off a win via ‘Super Over’ in a nerve-wrecking tie against the Kolkata Knight Riders, putting behind their two successive losses to emphasise that they are in a serious business to defend their title in the eight-team tournament.

Warne fulfilled its promise to hit back strongly after it had collapsed to the lowest IPL total of 58 runs in their opening match while their second match had been washed off by rains. The Jaipur brigade would now try their best to build on their success and improve the run rate to fire up their title defence instead of slipping below the fourth position from here on.

With all-rounder Yusuf Pathan coming of age and rookie pacer Kamran Khan living up to Warne’s expectation, Rajasthan have also showed they were not missing any previous season players.

Kings XI Punjab, with just a single win in their pocket, requires to be extra cautious as they face Rajasthan Royals, who would be again waiting to surprise their opposition by flinging yet another surprise after baffling Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match.

Punjab skipper Yuvraj Singh, on his part, would rely on another stint of apt execution of plan, especially by his bowlers to tame the Rajasthan Royals by causing their yet another batting fiasco.

Riding on the heroics of their new revelations young England batsman Ravi Bopara, who hammered a match winning knock of 85 runs, and bowler Yusuf Abdullah, the Preity Zinta-owned team would hope to climb the rungs on team standing table, where they are languishing at lowly sixth among eight contenders.

Besides, Yuvraj Singh and Co would also be praying that rain may not play a spoilsport as they bid to continue with their winning ways.

Tags: bollywood, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Kings XI Punjab, Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals, Preity Zinta, Raj Kundra, Rajasthan Royals, Ravi Bopara, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Super Over, Yusuf Abdulla, Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh

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Ravi Bopara blasted his way to a half century to help the Kings XI Punjab beat the Bangalore Royal Challengers by seven wickets at Kingsmead on Friday for their first victory in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Bopara carved his way to 84 off 59 balls with four fours and five sixes as Punjab, chasing Bangalore’s total of 168 for nine, scored 173 for three to win the match with six balls remaining.

Opening batsman Bopara initially played a vigilant innings as he used up 46 balls to reach fifty but the right-hander then cut loose, adding 32 runs to his score, off 13 balls.

He was caught at midwicket by New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder off the bowling of seamer Jacques Kallis with Punjab needing 11 runs from 11 balls to win.

Bopara had shared in a third-wicket stand of 66 off 34 balls with skipper Yuvraj Singh and it was Punjab’s captain who finished the match in some style by belting a Kallis delivery over long-off for six to end the innings not out on 30.

Punjab’s innings appeared to have stalled due to an economical performance from leg spinner Anil Kumble, who served up a four-over spell that captured a wicket and cost 19 runs, but then Bopara and Yuvraj took control of the match.

Bangalore’s total was built on 62 off 46 balls from South African Kallis after opener Ryder had got the innings off to a fast start thanks to his 32 from 21 balls.

Left-arm swing bowler Yusuf Abdulla accounted for both men before adding the wickets of England’s Kevin Pietersen (0) and Kiwi Ross Taylor (35) as he finished with career best Twenty20 figures of four for 31 off four overs.

Abdulla received admirable support from fellow left-arm swing bowler Irfan Pathan who snared three for 35 off four overs including two wickets in the last over of Bangalore’s innings.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, bollywood, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Jacques Kallis, Jesse Ryder, Kevin Pietersen, Kings XI Punjab, Preity Zinta, Ravi Bopara, Ross Taylor, Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab, Yusuf Abdulla, Yuvraj Singh

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