How many batsmen were dismissed for a golden duck in IPL 2018?

— Ravi Shetty, Chennai

In all, there were 42 instances of batsmen been dismissed first ball (golden duck) in IPL 201■. There was also one instance of a batsman (Colin Munro for Delhi Daredevils) being dismissed (run out) without facing a ball! Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma had the dubious distinction of being dismissed first ball on three occasions, while seven others fell so twice!

Lokesh Rahul scored a century and Kuldeep Yadav claimed a fivewicket haul in the Manchester T20I . Have two players from the same side done this before?

— Ajit Kumar Goyal, Kolkata

The efforts of Lokesh Rahul (101*) & Kuldeep Yadav (5/24) at Manchester were the second such occasion in T20IS. The first came at Durban when South African Morne van Wyk made an unbeaten 114 while his teammate David Wiese claimed a fifer (5/23) in the same match against the West Indies on January 14, 2015.

In the Ranji Trophy match played between Holkar and Mysore in March 1946, Holkar declared its 1st innings at 912 for eight wickets. Is this the highest score in a Ranji Trophy match? Also, out of the first eight batsmen, six scored centuries. Is this a record, too?

— B. K. Harinath, Mysuru Holkar’s 912/■d in 1946 was then an Indian firstclass record and also it was then the fourth highest total in firstclass history.

Today, it is the joint seventh highest total in firstclass cricket and the joint second highest in Indian firstclass history. In January 1994, Hyderabad amassed 944/6d against Andhra Pradesh at Secunderabad. Before that, in January 19■9, Tamil Nadu made 912/6d against Goa at Panaji to equal Holkar’s effort.

However, the six centuries by Holkar batsmen in 1946 is still a world record in firstclass cricket. Only three teams have come close with five centuries in an innings.

Has any Sri Lankan pace bowler captained the side?

— Raju Kharat, Pune

If you are referring to genuine pace bowlers (excluding allrounders), then the following have done so. In ODIS: Lasith Malinga (one match in August 2017). You could also include Chaminda Vaas (1 match in January 2006), if you don’t classify him as an allrounder.

In T20IS: Lasith Malinga (nine matches between 2014 to 2016).

In Tests: Suranga Lakmal (one match in June 201■).

Note:

All figures above are updated as on July 7, 201■.