Rajasthan Royals finish third after rain plays spoilsport in their IPL game against KKR
Guwahati, May 19: Rajasthan Royals paid the price for their shoddy show during the business end as a washout of their final IPL league game against table toppers Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday pushed them to third place behind Sunrisers Hyderabad.
While KKR finished the league engagements on 20 points with nine wins and two more solitary points courtesy wash-outs, SRH (17 points) pipped RR (17 points) by virtue of better Net Run Rate (NRR). SRH finished with NRR of 0.414 compared to RR's 0.273.
KKR will play Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first Qualifier in Ahmedabad on Tuesday followed by the 'Eliminator' between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the same venue.
Rajasthan Royals would blame themselves for getting into a nice little rut after an incredible run during the first half of the tournament when they had won eight out of their nine games.
But their campaign lost a bit of steam towards the back end as they lost four games on trot and with no Jos Buttler for crunch games, facing a marauding RCB in a winner-takes-all match could be a very tough proposition.
On the other hand, SRH, a team that redefined power-hitting with optimum use of 'Impact Sub', had one of their best chases on Sunday, albeit on a track that once again resembled a highway in terms of its placid quotient. The chase of 215 against a depleted Punjab Kings with five balls to spare also bolstered their NRR just when it was needed.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Pakistan comments on Kogilu slum demolition; India rejects remarks
Bengaluru: Pakistan has reacted to the demolition of slum homes at Kogilu in north Bengaluru, prompting a strong response from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which rejected the comments and questioned Pakistan’s own record on minority rights.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office reportedly issued a statement alleging that Muslim homes were being demolished in Bengaluru with state backing and also referred to alleged attacks on Christians, calling the developments a matter of “serious concern”, The New Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
In a strong reply, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reportedly said, “We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself. Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities of various faiths is a well-established fact. No amount of finger-pointing will obfuscate it.”
Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar said senior national leaders would respond to Pakistan’s comments. On questions about the evicted residents possessing identity cards from multiple states, he said officials would verify the details.
Asked if all evictees will be accommodated, Shivakumar said, “We will rehabilitate only genuine and eligible evictees. We will provide housing only to eligible locals.”
The controversy arose after Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) demolished around 160 houses at Fakeer Colony and Wasim Layout in Yelahanka, reclaiming about five acres of land valued at ₹80 crore. BSWML plans to set up a biogas plant and animal rendering unit in the space.
According to the report, the demolition soon turned into a political issue, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accusing the Karnataka government of bringing “bulldozer raj” to Bengaluru and alleging suppression of minorities and Dalits. CPIM from Kerala too started visiting the demolition site.
In a sort of damage-control exercise, All-India Congress Committee General Secretary KC Venugopal, who is said to be a chief ministerial candidate if the United Democratic Front wins in Kerala, asked the Karnataka government to mitigate the problem, ahead of Kerala going to the polls in April-May of next year.
Following the developments, the Karnataka government has decided to provide accommodation to eligible evictees under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation scheme and temporary shelter at Byappanahalli, officials said.
