THURSDAY 8 18 APRIL 2019 newstodaynet.com newstodaydaily ntchennai CHENNAI ORU VIRAL PURATCHI

Polling began for Lok Sabha elections in Tamilnadu this morning. Film personalities including Ajith, Vijay, Suriya, Karthi, Sathyaraj, Arjun, Meena, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, Vijay Antony, Dhanush, Devyani, Nasser, Kushuboo and Thrissa waited in long queues in front of booths early in the morning to cast their votes. Photos: A R JAYAKUMAR, B ANAND & K VIJAY ANAND

the two-time champions KKR lost twice to Chennai ‘The World Cup is nearing but the Super Kings and Delhi Capitals to slip down the points HAVE KEPT A CLOSE EYE Won’t focus table. The last time KKR lost three in a row was under IPL is as tough a competition. That’s Gautam Gambhir in 2014, a season they went on to win the title after starting rather poorly. Gurney said in what we are focusing on’ any T20 competition, the important bit is always the ON DELHI’S CAMPAIGN: only on Kohli, second-half of the group stage. ‘Actually, it’s amazing how often you see the teams that run away with it in the group stages don’t end up going on to win a trophy. We’re not too down in the AB: Gurney dumps about things. We know we’re a good side and BEN CUTTING we’re excited about the next few games,’ Gurney said. On Friday, they take on the Kohli-led RCB who are placed at the bottom of the table and face a do-or-die umbai Indians all-rounder Ben Cutting olkata Knight Riders are not too concerned situation, having lost seven of their eight matches. Wednesday said his team has been keeping a about the presence of Virat Kohli and AB de Vil- K ‘We won’t be underestimating them. It’s a big M liers in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s ranks as close eye on the Delhi Capitals’ campaign in game for us whether the IPL. Mumbai Indians had lost to the Delhi-based they are focusing more on getting their IPL they can qualify or franchise by 37 runs in their opening match of the campaign back on track after a hat-trick of not qualify. I think season. losses, left-arm seamer Harry Gurney said Wednesday. we’re not overly in- The two teams, who face each other on Thursday, have terested in that. It’s 10 points each from eight games. ‘We have played just ‘In IPL whoever you play against, there are several world class players. RCB are no more about KKR about every team except Kolkata so we know what the and what we need other team will bring. Delhi in particular, they were different. Kohli and de Villiers are obviously two of the best in the world. It’s important to do. We go into our fi rst game, we’ve been keeping a close eye on how the second half still they’ve been playing home and away,’ Cutting said on not to underestimate the rest of the batting lineup,’ Gurney told reporters. with our destiny in the eve of the match. Mumbai Indians are coming off our own hands.’ back-to-back home games and the three-time champi- front and has been the team’s leading run-getter in ‘We will not rest on our laurels if we do get Asked why their ons are on the road for their next four games. the tournament with 266 runs at an average of 33.25. those two out early, because their lineup is bowling unit has not There was no offi cial update given on the extent of his full of very good players. So we won’t focus ‘We’ve played well up until this point, we’ve had a lot fi red collectively, he injury. Also seen in the nets was Rishabh Pant, who only on them (Kohli and de Villiers), we of home games. Now it’s time to go on the road, four said: ‘I think with was not picked in India’s World Cup squad announced will focus on all the batsmen,’ the left-arm games straight. The wickets we will be playing in will bat and ball, you’re on Monday. seamer from Nottingham said. On tackling come from home. We trained to adapt to conditions.’ always striving for Young opener Prithvi Shaw, who has not made an Kohli and AB, he said: ‘We will assess them Asked about the recent World Cup squad announce- your perfect game. impact in his last fi ve innings, was engrossed in a in the same way that we do any opposition ment by national teams, Cutting said: ‘Yes the World We got close to that lengthy chat with team advisor Sourav Ganguly on really. We got access to world class analysis Cup is nearing but the IPL is as tough a competition. probably against Ra- the sidelines of the training session. Delhi Capitals at KKR. We will come up with our plans and That’s what we are focusing on.’ jasthan and we think are on course for their fi rst play-off appearance since hopefully try and restrict them as much as Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer suf- we’re capable of as a 2012, having won fi ve out of their eight games. They possible.’ fered an injury scare on Wednesday when he was hit group. on the right arm during training. Iyer has led from the are second on the points table with 10 points. After a dazzling start to their campaign, Published by T.R. Jawahar on behalf of News Today Media Private Limited from 85, Mount Road (G.S.T. Road), Guindy, Chennai-600 032 and Printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Limited, M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600 032. Editor: T.R. Jawahar, Tel: (044) 2250 4000 E Mail: [email protected]. Website: www.newstodaynet.com.