India Maharajas Vs World Giants : Special Match 🏏

The second edition of the Legends League Cricket is all set to get underway with players from the past competing against each other to entertain the fans. India Maharajas will lock horns against World Giants in a one-off exhibition match in what would be the curtain raiser. The two teams will meet at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday, September 16. This match is special because it is organized for celebrating 75 Years of Independence of India.

World Giants, led by Daren Sammy, were crowned the champions of the inaugural edition of the LLC T20 earlier this year. They had defeated Asia Lions in the final by 25 runs to win the three-team competition. This time around, four teams namely India Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Bhilwara Kings and Manipal Tigers will compete for the title. The four teams will be led by Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh, respectively.

The tournament will comprise 12 group matches and three knockouts. Talking about the curtain raiser, Indian Maharajas were earlier slated to be led by Sourav Ganguly but the BCCI president pulled out due to professional commitments.

LLC Special Match:  India Maharajas exhibited a brilliant show with the bat to win the special match against World Giants by 6 wickets in the Legends Cricket League (LLC) match on Friday. The Maharaja conceded 170 runs in the first innings as Kevin O Brien and Ramdin smashed them all around the park in the first innings. Kevin O’Brien provided a stellar start for World Giants as he played an outstanding knock of 52 runs in 31 balls, including 9 fours and 1 six. India Maharajas Pankaj Singh was exceptional with the ball as he took 5 wickets.

Masakadza (18 off 15) and Kallis (12 off 14) failed to hit the straps but Rambin’s 42 off just 29 balls propelled World Giants to a competitive score of 170 runs on the board at the end of the first innings. It could have been an even bigger target had Pankaj Singh not made a sensational recovery in the latter half. He bowled a three-wicket maiden in the final over of the innings and returned with figures of 5 for 26 in 4 overs. In reply, India Maharajas chased down the score in 18.4 overs. India was in big trouble at the start as they had both openers Sehwag (4) and Parthiv (18) sent back early in the innings.

However, Tanmay Srivastava then provided the required impetus and played a handy knock of 54 runs in 39 balls, including 8 fours and 1 six.  India had lost three wickets for 50 runs inside the first seven overs. World Giants looked like favorites to win at that stage. But Tanmay and Yusuf Pathan had other ideas. The duo joined hands and added 103 runs for the fourth wicket and took the game away from the visitors. Tanmay got out in the 18th over but had done his job. Pathan went on to play an unbeaten match-winning knock of 50 runs in 35 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes.

Irfan Pathan also provided valuable support in the end with an unbeaten 9-ball 20-run cameo and guided India Maharajas towards victory in the LLC Special Match. Harbhajan and Sreesanth, who were playing for the India Maharajas in the special match, decided to make this occasion memorable as they posed for a photograph after the conclusion of the game that saw the India Maharajas come out on top by six wickets courtesy of blistering half-centuries from Yusuf Pathan and Tanmay Srivastava.