IPL season 2 will be bigger and better: Lehmann

Aussie Cricketers' Association President Lehmann said the IPL should be played as a ‘boutique’ tournament.

Australian Cricketers’ Association President Darren Lehmann, who came out of retirement to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, believes the Twenty20 venture would be ‘bigger and better’ in its second season in next April and May.

“They have another 12 months to get it right and there will be even greater interest,” said Lehmann, who had replaced South African captain Graeme Smith in the first two games of Rajasthan Royals in the cricket extravaganza.

The 38-year-old former Australian player also suggested expansion of international quota in the playing XI of IPL teams and said the competition should be played as a ‘boutique’ tournament.

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“They could add another overseas player to rosters and open up the window for all international team including England to play,” Lehmann was quoted as saying by The Advertiser.

“We need the best possible outcome so this can happen. I feel a bit sorry for the English boys but think we can work around it to help get things across the line. The IPL should be played as a boutique tournament for international players.”

The charged IPL atmosphere and the chance to work with young Indian players has made Lehmann ambitious to coach.

“I am really looking forward to getting into the coaching side of things now,” said Lehmann.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

Amid Mahagathbandhan crisis, RJD unveils list of 143, drops 36 MLAs, focuses on ‘M-Y’

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The RJD, lead player of the Mahagathbandhan, released its full list of 143 candidates for the November Bihar Assembly elections. Its key face Tejashwi Yadav will contest from Raghopur, and 41 sitting MLAs have been renominated. The party has dropped 36 sitting MLAs and fielded young leaders, signaling a bid to consolidate its core Muslim-Yadav vote base. The Congress has fielded 60 candidates.

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