India and Pakistan locked horns with each other in the 2021 Men's T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Both sides played their respective Super 12 opening clash against each other on October 24 at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.&nbsp;

While many expected the Virat Kohli-led Indian team to extend their unbeaten run versus the arch-rivals in World Cup history, Babar Azam's&nbsp;Men in Green thrashed the one-time winners by ten wickets. Shaheen Afridi was the star performer for Team Pakistan as he returned with 3 for 31. The youngster's opening spell pushed India on the backfoot, reducing them to 6 for 2 with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul back in the hut. While then captain Kohli stood tall with an impressivr 57, he was also dismissed by Shaheen in his last spell as Men in Green restricted India's famed batting line-up to 151-7. In reply, Babar and Md Rizwan's respective half-centuries propelled the team to a massive ten-wicket win.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ms-dhoni-was-in-the-team-it-was-not-like-virat-kohli-on-giving-up-team-india-captaincy-449252">'When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like.....': Virat Kohli on giving up Team India captaincy</a>

&nbsp;

Recently, Shaheen reflected back on the team atmosphere prior to the marquee clash, his magical spell and lauded India's top order. In a chat with&nbsp;Cricbuzz, Shaheen said,&nbsp;"Most players were playing for the first time against India in a T20 World Cup, except Hafeez bhai and Shoaib bhai. And for us, it was an opportunity. The kind of cricket we played, we were very prepared and we had belief in each other. The captain's role is crucial and he backed me and the team a lot. The dressing room environment was quite friendly."

He opined, "There was a sense that if Shaheen can't, then Hasan Ali will... and if Hasan Ali can't, then Haris Rauf will. We had to play our best cricket and make people happy back home. And it was good fortune that we ended up on the right side."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/quicker-virat-kohli-discovers-his-form-easier-it-will-be-for-rohit-sharma-says-former-india-pacer-449267">Quicker Virat Kohli discovers his form, easier it will be for Rohit Sharma, says former India pacer</a>

On the famed trio -- Kohli, Rohit and KL and the strategy behind getting the better of them

In this regard, Shaheen said, "The end I was bowling from, the leg-side boundary was smaller, say about 60-65 meter only. If I had bowled straight and fast at him [Virat Kohli], he would have flicked me or pulled me for runs. So I wanted to mix things up and bowl a slow bouncer at him so that it would have been difficult for him to go leg-side."

"Luckily for me, the ball gripped and he got out. I admire Virat Kohli a lot, he's one of the best around. Rohit, Rahul and Kohli are their mainstays and three of the best batsmen in the world. Kohli unki reedh ki haddi hai (Kohli is their spinal cord). And once you get them out, it gets difficult for the middle order," he added.

For the unversed, India and Pakistan will once again lock horns with each other in this year's Men's T20 WC, to be held in Australia. They both are in Pool 2 and will meet at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23.

India and Pakistan locked horns with each other in the 2021 Men's T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Both sides played their respective Super 12 opening clash against each other on October 24 at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

India and Pakistan locked horns with each other in the 2021 Men's T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Both sides played their respective Super 12 opening clash against each other on October 24 at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. While many expected the Virat Kohli-led Indian team to extend their unbeaten run versus the arch-rivals in World Cup history, Babar Azam's Men in Green thrashed the one-time winners by ten wickets. Shaheen Afridi was the star performer for Team Pakistan as he returned with 3 for 31. The youngster's opening spell pushed India on the backfoot, reducing them to 6 for 2 with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul back in the hut. While then captain Kohli stood tall with an impressivr 57, he was also dismissed by Shaheen in his last spell as Men in Green restricted India's famed batting line-up to 151-7. In reply, Babar and Md Rizwan's respective half-centuries propelled the team to a massive ten-wicket win. ALSO READ | 'When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like.....': Virat Kohli on giving up Team India captaincy Recently, Shaheen reflected back on the team atmosphere prior to the marquee clash, his magical spell and lauded India's top order. In a chat with Cricbuzz, Shaheen said, "Most players were playing for the first time against India in a T20 World Cup, except Hafeez bhai and Shoaib bhai. And for us, it was an opportunity. The kind of cricket we played, we were very prepared and we had belief in each other. The captain's role is crucial and he backed me and the team a lot. The dressing room environment was quite friendly." He opined, "There was a sense that if Shaheen can't, then Hasan Ali will... and if Hasan Ali can't, then Haris Rauf will. We had to play our best cricket and make people happy back home. And it was good fortune that we ended up on the right side." ALSO READ | Quicker Virat Kohli discovers his form, easier it will be for Rohit Sharma, says former India pacer On the famed trio -- Kohli, Rohit and KL and the strategy behind getting the better of them In this regard, Shaheen said, "The end I was bowling from, the leg-side boundary was smaller, say about 60-65 meter only. If I had bowled straight and fast at him [Virat Kohli], he would have flicked me or pulled me for runs. So I wanted to mix things up and bowl a slow bouncer at him so that it would have been difficult for him to go leg-side." "Luckily for me, the ball gripped and he got out. I admire Virat Kohli a lot, he's one of the best around. Rohit, Rahul and Kohli are their mainstays and three of the best batsmen in the world. Kohli unki reedh ki haddi hai (Kohli is their spinal cord). And once you get them out, it gets difficult for the middle order," he added. For the unversed, India and Pakistan will once again lock horns with each other in this year's Men's T20 WC, to be held in Australia. They both are in Pool 2 and will meet at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23.

'He's their batting's backbone': Shaheen Afridi lauds Virat Kohli, reflects on magical T20 WC spell vs India

Rahul Dravid has served Indian cricket probably like no other cricketer. Over the years, the 49-year-old has&nbsp;donned various roles; i.e. being a&nbsp;makeshift opener, middle-order batter to a finisher, part-time keeper, taking over as captain, coaching U-19 and India A side, heading the NCA before taking over as the senior men's cricket team's head coach in late 2021. Apart from 13,288 and 10,889 runs in Tests and ODIs, respectively, Dravid has done a lot for Indian cricket and continues to be a role model for many aspiring cricketers worldwide.

Thus, Dravid -- known as The Wall -- has never been short of fans and followers worldwide. During an interaction with Vikram Sathaye, in 2016, the current head coach Dravid revealed a hilarious, or rather 'scary', interaction with a female fan who turned up at his house in Bengaluru and refused to leave.

In an interaction with cricket humorist Vikram Sathaye in his show What The Duck, in 2016, Dravid had revealed an interesting episode of how a female fan surprised him by entering his house and refusing&nbsp;to leave.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-an-internal-battle-gautam-gambhir-doesnt-mince-his-words-on-virat-kohli-vs-bcci-row-449610">It was an internal battle: Gautam Gambhir doesn't mince his words on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row</a>

'I will stay here only' - I was taken back

Dravid spilled the beans on the entire incident and said, "I had just come from a tour and I was sleeping in the afternoon. When I woke up, my parents told me to go and meet this fan who had come all the way from Hyderabad. She was waiting there for an hour and a half. At first, I thought it would be a simple taking autograph or photograph thing."

"She said, ‘no I am not going to leave. I have left my home and come. I will stay here only’ and I was taken aback. It ended quite well but it was a wake-up call for my parents that you don’t let anyone in just like that," the legendary cricketer revealed while laughing.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/as-you-get-older-you-dont-know-what-to-feel-says-rahul-dravid-as-team-india-head-coach-turns-49-443931">As you get older you don’t know what to feel, says Rahul Dravid as Team India head coach turns 49</a>

At present, the Dravid-led Team India is gearing up to face West Indies in a white-ball series at home. After the disastrous tour of South Africa, the Men in Blue will be eager to revamp and get back to winning ways under Dravid's guidance. The ODI series will get underway on February 6, in Ahmedabad, whereas Kolkata will host the three T20Is.

&nbsp;

Rahul Dravid has served Indian cricket probably like no other cricketer. Over the years, the 49-year-old has donned various roles; i.e. being a makeshift opener, middle-order batter to a finisher, part-time keeper, taking over as captain, coaching U-19 and India A side, heading the NCA before taking over as the senior men's cricket team's head coach in late 2021.

Rahul Dravid has served Indian cricket probably like no other cricketer. Over the years, the 49-year-old has donned various roles; i.e. being a makeshift opener, middle-order batter to a finisher, part-time keeper, taking over as captain, coaching U-19 and India A side, heading the NCA before taking over as the senior men's cricket team's head coach in late 2021. Apart from 13,288 and 10,889 runs in Tests and ODIs, respectively, Dravid has done a lot for Indian cricket and continues to be a role model for many aspiring cricketers worldwide. Thus, Dravid -- known as The Wall -- has never been short of fans and followers worldwide. During an interaction with Vikram Sathaye, in 2016, the current head coach Dravid revealed a hilarious, or rather 'scary', interaction with a female fan who turned up at his house in Bengaluru and refused to leave. In an interaction with cricket humorist Vikram Sathaye in his show What The Duck, in 2016, Dravid had revealed an interesting episode of how a female fan surprised him by entering his house and refusing to leave. ALSO READ | It was an internal battle: Gautam Gambhir doesn't mince his words on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row 'I will stay here only' - I was taken back Dravid spilled the beans on the entire incident and said, "I had just come from a tour and I was sleeping in the afternoon. When I woke up, my parents told me to go and meet this fan who had come all the way from Hyderabad. She was waiting there for an hour and a half. At first, I thought it would be a simple taking autograph or photograph thing." "She said, ‘no I am not going to leave. I have left my home and come. I will stay here only’ and I was taken aback. It ended quite well but it was a wake-up call for my parents that you don’t let anyone in just like that," the legendary cricketer revealed while laughing. ALSO READ | As you get older you don’t know what to feel, says Rahul Dravid as Team India head coach turns 49 At present, the Dravid-led Team India is gearing up to face West Indies in a white-ball series at home. After the disastrous tour of South Africa, the Men in Blue will be eager to revamp and get back to winning ways under Dravid's guidance. The ODI series will get underway on February 6, in Ahmedabad, whereas Kolkata will host the three T20Is.

I'm not going to leave: When Rahul Dravid was gobsmacked after a female fan refused to leave his house

After the end of IPL 2021, AB de Villiers dropped a bomb by announcing his retirement from all forms of the game. De Villiers ended by being the sixth-highest run-getter, amassing&nbsp;5,162 runs in 184 matches at a whopping strike-rate of 151.68.

Being a big name in IPL, De Villiers signed off as one of the greatest of all-time&nbsp;in the tournament history. He represented Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- currently known as Delhi Capitals (DC) -- before being a mainstay in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp since IPL 2011. Apart from the runs and fielding heroics, which led RCB to the playoffs on five occasions, the former South African captain established a special bond with the Indian fans (especially with the Bengaluru fans). During a recent&nbsp;interaction, ABD revealed how he has been offered apartments to move to India.

To this, de&nbsp;Villiers said in the RCB podcast, "I hope it's a big apartment because I have three kids now and we need a lot of room! My relationship with RCB goes a lot deeper than just playing cricket for them. And I don't think it would have been the same for any other franchise and that's what I hold dearest to my heart - it's the fans and the city itself."

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The RCB Podcast powered by Kotak Mahindra Bank: Trailer 
 
10 episodes, plenty of interesting and never heard before stories about the tournament that made them the superstars they are! 
(1/n)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreChallengers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreChallengers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheRCBPodcast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheRCBPodcast</a> <a href="https://t.co/MWPQG3IEwH">pic.twitter.com/MWPQG3IEwH</a>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-an-internal-battle-gautam-gambhir-doesnt-mince-his-words-on-virat-kohli-vs-bcci-row-449610">It was an internal battle: Gautam Gambhir doesn't mince his words on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row</a>

He added, "I have always connected with the places I go to. It's a bit weird but I remember smells and visual stuff I see. The minute I get into Bangalore there's a certain freshness in the air, a certain something that I sort of connect with that feels familiar.

"And I would never pick that up in any (other city). I have thought about it long and hard - Mumbai, Delhi, if you put me in any other team I never would have had that kind of connection so that's one thing that I find special while playing for RCB."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/370-indians-220-overseas-stars-up-for-grabs-complete-list-of-590-players-for-ipl-2022-mega-auction-449547">370 Indians, 220 overseas stars up for grabs: Complete list of 590 players for IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Recently, De Villiers also hinted at taking up coaching role in the near future.&nbsp;"I still believe that I have a role to play in SA cricket and also over there in the IPL with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). I have no idea what will come next but I will take it one day at a time and see. I have been looking after and mentoring some youngsters with potential and ability for the last few years," he had recently told TimesLive.com.za.

Talking about IPL 2022, the mega auction is set to be held in mid-February. Virat Kohli-starrer RCB will look to revamp and build a strong team after retaining the likes of Kohli, Md Siraj and Glenn Maxwell.

After the end of IPL 2021, AB de Villiers dropped a bomb by announcing his retirement from all forms of the game. De Villiers ended by being the sixth-highest run-getter, amassing 5,162 runs in 184 matches at a whopping strike-rate of 151.

After the end of IPL 2021, AB de Villiers dropped a bomb by announcing his retirement from all forms of the game. De Villiers ended by being the sixth-highest run-getter, amassing 5,162 runs in 184 matches at a whopping strike-rate of 151.68. Being a big name in IPL, De Villiers signed off as one of the greatest of all-time in the tournament history. He represented Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- currently known as Delhi Capitals (DC) -- before being a mainstay in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp since IPL 2011. Apart from the runs and fielding heroics, which led RCB to the playoffs on five occasions, the former South African captain established a special bond with the Indian fans (especially with the Bengaluru fans). During a recent interaction, ABD revealed how he has been offered apartments to move to India. To this, de Villiers said in the RCB podcast, "I hope it's a big apartment because I have three kids now and we need a lot of room! My relationship with RCB goes a lot deeper than just playing cricket for them. And I don't think it would have been the same for any other franchise and that's what I hold dearest to my heart - it's the fans and the city itself." The RCB Podcast powered by Kotak Mahindra Bank: Trailer 10 episodes, plenty of interesting and never heard before stories about the tournament that made them the superstars they are! (1/n)#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #TheRCBPodcast pic.twitter.com/MWPQG3IEwH — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 1, 2022 × ALSO READ | It was an internal battle: Gautam Gambhir doesn't mince his words on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row He added, "I have always connected with the places I go to. It's a bit weird but I remember smells and visual stuff I see. The minute I get into Bangalore there's a certain freshness in the air, a certain something that I sort of connect with that feels familiar. "And I would never pick that up in any (other city). I have thought about it long and hard - Mumbai, Delhi, if you put me in any other team I never would have had that kind of connection so that's one thing that I find special while playing for RCB." ALSO READ | 370 Indians, 220 overseas stars up for grabs: Complete list of 590 players for IPL 2022 mega auction Recently, De Villiers also hinted at taking up coaching role in the near future. "I still believe that I have a role to play in SA cricket and also over there in the IPL with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). I have no idea what will come next but I will take it one day at a time and see. I have been looking after and mentoring some youngsters with potential and ability for the last few years," he had recently told TimesLive.com.za. Talking about IPL 2022, the mega auction is set to be held in mid-February. Virat Kohli-starrer RCB will look to revamp and build a strong team after retaining the likes of Kohli, Md Siraj and Glenn Maxwell.

RCB legend AB de Villers gives cheeky response to people offering him apartments to live in India

Virat Kohli vs BCCI row has hogged the headlines for over a month now. After Kohli resigned as the T20I captain, following the T20 World Cup last year, he was sacked as the ODI skipper before he himself gave up Test captaincy, early this year.

During all this, Kohli's relations with the BCCI has downhill. With him contradicting&nbsp;BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly's claims on his T20I captaincy resignation, Kohli's explosive presser in early December 2021 exposed the gap between him and the top board officials. Now, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has reacted to the whole controversy.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/remember-ms-dhoni-saying-very-clearly-dinesh-karthik-reacts-to-virat-kohlis-captaincy-saga-449603">'Remember MS Dhoni saying very clearly...' Dinesh Karthik reacts to Virat Kohli's captaincy saga</a>

Gambhir, who doesn't mince his words, told Times Now, "I think this could've been sorted behind closed doors as well. It was an internal battle. It was a great TRP for a lot of new channels but that's fine. If you go to the depth of it, the matter can easily be solved. It's not that big of an issue."

"Honestly, I don't see any controversy which was created. Talking about captaincy, I think Virat should have continued as red-ball captain. But for white-ball captaincy, once he decided to let go of T20I captaincy, he had to let go of ODI captaincy as well. The BCCI and the selectors were right from the white-ball point of view. But it was Virat's personal decision to step down from Test captaincy, which he should have continued," he further added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ms-dhoni-was-in-the-team-it-was-not-like-virat-kohli-on-giving-up-team-india-captaincy-449252">'When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like.....': Virat Kohli on giving up Team India captaincy</a>

Recently, Kohli had also opened up on his decision to give up Team India captaincy altogether by resigning as the Test skipper. He cited MS Dhoni's example&nbsp;and said on an episode of 'Fireside Chat with VK', "See, I think firstly you need to have a complete understanding of what you set out to achieve and whether you have achieved those targets or not. Everything has a tenure and time period, so you have to be aware of it. As a batter, you might be able to give more to the team, so take pride in that."&nbsp;

He further opined, "You do not need to be a captain to be the leader. When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like he was not the leader, he was still the guy from whom we wanted to have input. To win or not win is not in your hands, the striving for excellence and to be better every day, is not something you can do short term. When it comes to a culture, it will last beyond your playing years and your responsibility."

Virat Kohli vs BCCI row has hogged the headlines for over a month now. After Kohli resigned as the T20I captain, following the T20 World Cup last year, he was sacked as the ODI skipper before he himself gave up Test captaincy, early this year.

Virat Kohli vs BCCI row has hogged the headlines for over a month now. After Kohli resigned as the T20I captain, following the T20 World Cup last year, he was sacked as the ODI skipper before he himself gave up Test captaincy, early this year. During all this, Kohli's relations with the BCCI has downhill. With him contradicting BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly's claims on his T20I captaincy resignation, Kohli's explosive presser in early December 2021 exposed the gap between him and the top board officials. Now, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has reacted to the whole controversy. ALSO READ | 'Remember MS Dhoni saying very clearly...' Dinesh Karthik reacts to Virat Kohli's captaincy saga Gambhir, who doesn't mince his words, told Times Now, "I think this could've been sorted behind closed doors as well. It was an internal battle. It was a great TRP for a lot of new channels but that's fine. If you go to the depth of it, the matter can easily be solved. It's not that big of an issue." "Honestly, I don't see any controversy which was created. Talking about captaincy, I think Virat should have continued as red-ball captain. But for white-ball captaincy, once he decided to let go of T20I captaincy, he had to let go of ODI captaincy as well. The BCCI and the selectors were right from the white-ball point of view. But it was Virat's personal decision to step down from Test captaincy, which he should have continued," he further added. ALSO READ | 'When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like.....': Virat Kohli on giving up Team India captaincy Recently, Kohli had also opened up on his decision to give up Team India captaincy altogether by resigning as the Test skipper. He cited MS Dhoni's example and said on an episode of 'Fireside Chat with VK', "See, I think firstly you need to have a complete understanding of what you set out to achieve and whether you have achieved those targets or not. Everything has a tenure and time period, so you have to be aware of it. As a batter, you might be able to give more to the team, so take pride in that." He further opined, "You do not need to be a captain to be the leader. When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like he was not the leader, he was still the guy from whom we wanted to have input. To win or not win is not in your hands, the striving for excellence and to be better every day, is not something you can do short term. When it comes to a culture, it will last beyond your playing years and your responsibility."

It was an internal battle: Gautam Gambhir doesn't mince his words on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row

A lot of changes&nbsp;have taken place in Indian cricket following their disastrous run in the 2021 T20 Men's World Cup, held in the UAE. Following the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue's dismal campaign in the mega event, Kohli stepped down as the T20I captain;&nbsp;he had already announced his resignation from the post prior to the tournament.

After the tournament, BCCI selectors sacked Kohli as the ODI captain, making Rohit Sharma the white-ball format's skipper. Early in 2022, Kohli stepped down as the Test skipper, ending his captaincy tenure for Team India overall. While many have shared their thoughts on Kohli's captaincy saga, especially after speculations of his&nbsp;rift with the senior board officials spread like wildfire, veteran keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has also reacted to the Kohli-captaincy saga.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-see-the-same-virat-kohli-former-opener-feels-ex-captain-not-dominating-with-the-bat-449573">Don't see the same Virat Kohli: Former opener feels ex-captain 'not dominating' with the bat</a>

Karthik mentioned MS Dhoni's words and told news agency ANI, "I remember MS Dhoni saying very clearly that India as a cricketing nation is very hard to have split captaincy. It is unfair for me to answer this question because only Virat knows why he took that decision to step down as captain, and I am sure he has a good reason behind it."

He further added, "He has led India so well and taken the Test team to a very strong place. As a person who has been part of the team and has played under him, I know the amount of effort he puts in every time he goes out on the field. He gives it everything he has. It has been a great joy for me to have been part of that journey. He has been one of the top captains for India in Tests. I hope when he turns back, he looks at all the pleasant memories and the good memories and he has a good time thinking about the success he has had as the captain."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-opens-up-on-delhi-franchises-decision-to-choose-pradeep-sangwan-over-him-in-maiden-ipl-auction-449482">Kohli opens up on Delhi franchise's decision to choose Pradeep Sangwan over him in maiden IPL auction</a>

Kohli will now be eager to move past his captaincy tenure and deliver his best with the bat in India's upcoming home season, versus West Indies and Sri Lanka. Rohit-led India are gearing up for the three-match ODI series versus Kieron Pollard-led Windies, starting on February 6.

The ODIs will be hosted in Ahmedabad and will be followed by an equal number of T20Is, to be held entirely in Kolkata.

A lot of changes have taken place in Indian cricket following their disastrous run in the 2021 T20 Men's World Cup, held in the UAE. Following the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue's dismal campaign in the mega event, Kohli stepped down as the T20I captain; he had already announced his resignation from the post prior to the tournament.

A lot of changes have taken place in Indian cricket following their disastrous run in the 2021 T20 Men's World Cup, held in the UAE. Following the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue's dismal campaign in the mega event, Kohli stepped down as the T20I captain; he had already announced his resignation from the post prior to the tournament. After the tournament, BCCI selectors sacked Kohli as the ODI captain, making Rohit Sharma the white-ball format's skipper. Early in 2022, Kohli stepped down as the Test skipper, ending his captaincy tenure for Team India overall. While many have shared their thoughts on Kohli's captaincy saga, especially after speculations of his rift with the senior board officials spread like wildfire, veteran keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has also reacted to the Kohli-captaincy saga. ALSO READ | Don't see the same Virat Kohli: Former opener feels ex-captain 'not dominating' with the bat Karthik mentioned MS Dhoni's words and told news agency ANI, "I remember MS Dhoni saying very clearly that India as a cricketing nation is very hard to have split captaincy. It is unfair for me to answer this question because only Virat knows why he took that decision to step down as captain, and I am sure he has a good reason behind it." He further added, "He has led India so well and taken the Test team to a very strong place. As a person who has been part of the team and has played under him, I know the amount of effort he puts in every time he goes out on the field. He gives it everything he has. It has been a great joy for me to have been part of that journey. He has been one of the top captains for India in Tests. I hope when he turns back, he looks at all the pleasant memories and the good memories and he has a good time thinking about the success he has had as the captain." ALSO READ | Kohli opens up on Delhi franchise's decision to choose Pradeep Sangwan over him in maiden IPL auction Kohli will now be eager to move past his captaincy tenure and deliver his best with the bat in India's upcoming home season, versus West Indies and Sri Lanka. Rohit-led India are gearing up for the three-match ODI series versus Kieron Pollard-led Windies, starting on February 6. The ODIs will be hosted in Ahmedabad and will be followed by an equal number of T20Is, to be held entirely in Kolkata.

'Remember MS Dhoni saying very clearly...' Dinesh Karthik reacts to Virat Kohli's captaincy saga

Formula One will make it mandatory for all personnel working in its paddock to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, without exemption, starting this season, a spokesperson for the sport`s commercial arm said on Monday.

The mandate, which was first reported by the Times newspaper and the BBC, will apply to anyone entering the paddock -- an exclusive area in which teams and drivers set up shop for a race weekend. "F1 will require all travelling personnel to be fully vaxxed and will not request exemptions," the spokesperson said. This will include all competitors, hospitality staff, members of the media, the governing FIA, Liberty Media-owned commercial rights holders FOM and even celebrity guests.

The mandate was approved at a December meeting of the FIA`s World Motor Sport Council.&nbsp;News of Formula One`s vaccine mandate comes after Novak Djokovic`s Australian Open vaccine controversy.&nbsp;The world number one was detained by immigration authorities on Jan. 6, ordered released by a court on Jan. 10, then detained again before being forced to leave Australia after a final court ruling that upheld the government`s decision to cancel his visa.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-christian-horner-opens-up-on-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-max-verstappen-vs-lewis-hamilton-rivalry-447562">EXCLUSIVE | Christian Horner opens up on Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton rivalry</a>

The new rules call into question the future of long-time medical car driver Alan van der Merwe. The South African, who played a pivotal role rescuing Romain Grosjean from a fiery crash in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, has chosen not to get vaccinated for personal reasons.&nbsp;The FIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the vaccine mandate or Van der Merwe`s future. Formula One is set for a record 23-race calendar this year, with races&nbsp;such as Singapore, Japan, Canada and Australia, which had been cancelled for the last two years, set to return.

The sport successfully staged two seasons amid the pandemic by adopting a bubble system and regular testing. The 2022 season, which will feature all new cars designed to a radical rules overhaul, gets underway in Bahrain on March 20. Teams will run their cars at a pre-season session in Spain from Feb. 23-25 and an official test session in Bahrain from March 10-12. &nbsp;

Formula One will make it mandatory for all personnel working in its paddock to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, without exemption, starting this season, a spokesperson for the sport`s commercial arm said on Monday.

Formula One will make it mandatory for all personnel working in its paddock to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, without exemption, starting this season, a spokesperson for the sport`s commercial arm said on Monday. The mandate, which was first reported by the Times newspaper and the BBC, will apply to anyone entering the paddock -- an exclusive area in which teams and drivers set up shop for a race weekend. "F1 will require all travelling personnel to be fully vaxxed and will not request exemptions," the spokesperson said. This will include all competitors, hospitality staff, members of the media, the governing FIA, Liberty Media-owned commercial rights holders FOM and even celebrity guests. The mandate was approved at a December meeting of the FIA`s World Motor Sport Council. News of Formula One`s vaccine mandate comes after Novak Djokovic`s Australian Open vaccine controversy. The world number one was detained by immigration authorities on Jan. 6, ordered released by a court on Jan. 10, then detained again before being forced to leave Australia after a final court ruling that upheld the government`s decision to cancel his visa. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE | Christian Horner opens up on Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton rivalry The new rules call into question the future of long-time medical car driver Alan van der Merwe. The South African, who played a pivotal role rescuing Romain Grosjean from a fiery crash in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, has chosen not to get vaccinated for personal reasons. The FIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the vaccine mandate or Van der Merwe`s future. Formula One is set for a record 23-race calendar this year, with races such as Singapore, Japan, Canada and Australia, which had been cancelled for the last two years, set to return. The sport successfully staged two seasons amid the pandemic by adopting a bubble system and regular testing. The 2022 season, which will feature all new cars designed to a radical rules overhaul, gets underway in Bahrain on March 20. Teams will run their cars at a pre-season session in Spain from Feb. 23-25 and an official test session in Bahrain from March 10-12.

Formula One set to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for 2022 season

Virat Kohli gave up Team India captaincy altogether when he resigned as the Test skipper early this year. The 33-year-old had already lost the limited-overs captaincy when he was sacked as the ODI captain, after having already stepped down from T20I skipper with India's end of campaign in the 2021 World Cup, in the UAE.

Having been released of additional responsibilities, Kohli will now look to rediscover his form with the bat, having not scored an international hundred in over two years. While Kohli isn't short of runs, with fifty-plus scores still coming off his blade across formats at regular intervals, a big knock has deprived the former Indian captain since late 2019. Hence, he will be eager to come at his usual best in the forthcoming home series, versus West Indies and Sri Lanka.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-warner-or-dhawan-chopra-predicts-indian-youngster-as-most-expensive-opener-in-ipl-2022-auction-449533">Not Warner or Dhawan! Chopra predicts Indian youngster as 'most expensive opener' in IPL 2022 auction</a>

Ahead of the India-WI ODIs, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reflected on the lack of big scores from Kohli's willow.

Talking on&nbsp;Star Sports, Chopra said, "From a personal and individual standpoint, you want to convert those 50s into 100s because you’ve got to save something for the rainy days as well. He’s not going through a bad patch of form, so to speak, in terms of runs, but when you see him bat, you don’t see the same Virat Kohli."

"He’s not imposing, he’s not dominating, he’s still scratching around, he’s scoring those runs and that’s what all great players do – we saw Sachin, Rahul – we’ve seen them&nbsp;accumulate runs, but he’s (Virat Kohli) not an accumulator, he’s an enforcer but he’s not there yet," added the ex-Indian opener.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/warner-iyer-rabada-and-7-others-part-of-marquee-set-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-see-full-list-449521">Warner, Iyer, Rabada and 7 others part of marquee set at IPL 2022 mega auction, see full list</a>

In addition, the cricketer-turned-commentator further emphasised on how Kohli will have to adapt to new white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma's brand of cricket. The former Test opener&nbsp;feels&nbsp;that could work in favour of King Kohli and liberate him.

"But the one thing I actually want to see, is now Rohit Sharma will have his stamp of authority and the brand of cricket that he wants to play. Virat Kohli has to be apart of the same philosophy. And once you have a different philosophy in place, sometimes it just liberates you, because you are not really thinking about, ‘Ok, I need to score or I need to do this. This is what all of us have to do together.’

"And that is what I am waiting to see, whether it unleashes and liberates Virat Kohli, no matter you get out on 50 but score that 50 off 55 balls, don’t worry about scoring a century, finishing games off, as a captain, you’ve done it all this while. It’s no longer your only job, your job description has changed a little," Chopra&nbsp;concluded.

Virat Kohli gave up Team India captaincy altogether when he resigned as the Test skipper early this year. The 33-year-old had already lost the limited-overs captaincy when he was sacked as the ODI captain, after having already stepped down from T20I skipper with India's end of campaign in the 2021 World Cup, in the UAE.

Virat Kohli gave up Team India captaincy altogether when he resigned as the Test skipper early this year. The 33-year-old had already lost the limited-overs captaincy when he was sacked as the ODI captain, after having already stepped down from T20I skipper with India's end of campaign in the 2021 World Cup, in the UAE. Having been released of additional responsibilities, Kohli will now look to rediscover his form with the bat, having not scored an international hundred in over two years. While Kohli isn't short of runs, with fifty-plus scores still coming off his blade across formats at regular intervals, a big knock has deprived the former Indian captain since late 2019. Hence, he will be eager to come at his usual best in the forthcoming home series, versus West Indies and Sri Lanka. ALSO READ | Not Warner or Dhawan! Chopra predicts Indian youngster as 'most expensive opener' in IPL 2022 auction Ahead of the India-WI ODIs, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reflected on the lack of big scores from Kohli's willow. Talking on Star Sports, Chopra said, "From a personal and individual standpoint, you want to convert those 50s into 100s because you’ve got to save something for the rainy days as well. He’s not going through a bad patch of form, so to speak, in terms of runs, but when you see him bat, you don’t see the same Virat Kohli." "He’s not imposing, he’s not dominating, he’s still scratching around, he’s scoring those runs and that’s what all great players do – we saw Sachin, Rahul – we’ve seen them accumulate runs, but he’s (Virat Kohli) not an accumulator, he’s an enforcer but he’s not there yet," added the ex-Indian opener. ALSO READ | Warner, Iyer, Rabada and 7 others part of marquee set at IPL 2022 mega auction, see full list In addition, the cricketer-turned-commentator further emphasised on how Kohli will have to adapt to new white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma's brand of cricket. The former Test opener feels that could work in favour of King Kohli and liberate him. "But the one thing I actually want to see, is now Rohit Sharma will have his stamp of authority and the brand of cricket that he wants to play. Virat Kohli has to be apart of the same philosophy. And once you have a different philosophy in place, sometimes it just liberates you, because you are not really thinking about, ‘Ok, I need to score or I need to do this. This is what all of us have to do together.’ "And that is what I am waiting to see, whether it unleashes and liberates Virat Kohli, no matter you get out on 50 but score that 50 off 55 balls, don’t worry about scoring a century, finishing games off, as a captain, you’ve done it all this while. It’s no longer your only job, your job description has changed a little," Chopra concluded.

Don't see the same Virat Kohli: Former opener feels ex-captain 'not dominating' with the bat

All eyes are now on the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 mega auction, which is set to take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. While the two new IPL franchises -- Lucknow Super Giants and Team Ahmedabad -- will look to build their team from scratch, the other eight&nbsp;teams will revamp after releasing some of their marquee players.

Prior to the mega auction proceedings, which will be held in Bengaluru, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts and made a bold claim while predicting the 'most expensive opener'. The likes of David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Quinton de Kock, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, etc. will go under the hammer. Chopra believes Ishan will earn a whopping amount in the forthcoming two-day auction affair.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-opens-up-on-delhi-franchises-decision-to-choose-pradeep-sangwan-over-him-in-maiden-ipl-auction-449482">Kohli opens up on Delhi franchise's decision to choose Pradeep Sangwan over him in maiden IPL auction</a>

"In my opinion, Ishan Kishan will be the most expensive opener at the IPL 2022 Auction. He could actually be the most expensive player, one out of him or Shreyas Iyer could be the most expensive. I won't be surprised if it is Ishan Kishan," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

He further stressed on the role of the openers and said, "The openers make or break the game. They have the ability because they have a lot of time. The problem in T20 is that you don't have time, it gets over very quickly. In such a case if you are an opener, you can decide the tempo of the match. KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Quinton de Kock, Shikhar Dhawan - you have seen a lot of players like that."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-disappointing-to-lose-shubman-gill-coach-brendon-mccullum-explains-why-kkr-released-star-batter-448916">'It was disappointing to lose Shubman Gill': Coach Brendon McCullum explains why KKR released star batter</a>

It will be interesting to see if Ishan goes for big in the auction or not. In IPL 2020, the then Mumbai Indians (MI) keeper-batter Ishan had amassed 516 runs at a strike-rate of&nbsp;145.76 with four&nbsp;half-centuries. While he didn't have a great run in IPL 2021, he is still expected to attract big money for his power-hitting and fearless style of play.

Chopra further also stated that while Bairstow and Warner will also fetch big amounts, he named Quinton de Kock as the most expensive opener among foreign players. "Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock - I am saying the most expensive overseas opener, David Warner, Chris Lynn, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow - a lot of money is going to be spent. Ambati Rayudu can open, Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Faf du Plessis - there are a lot of openers who will present themselves as options," he concluded.

All eyes are now on the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 mega auction, which is set to take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. While the two new IPL franchises -- Lucknow Super Giants and Team Ahmedabad -- will look to build their team from scratch, the other eight teams will revamp after releasing some of their marquee players.

All eyes are now on the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 mega auction, which is set to take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. While the two new IPL franchises -- Lucknow Super Giants and Team Ahmedabad -- will look to build their team from scratch, the other eight teams will revamp after releasing some of their marquee players. Prior to the mega auction proceedings, which will be held in Bengaluru, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts and made a bold claim while predicting the 'most expensive opener'. The likes of David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Quinton de Kock, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, etc. will go under the hammer. Chopra believes Ishan will earn a whopping amount in the forthcoming two-day auction affair. ALSO READ | Kohli opens up on Delhi franchise's decision to choose Pradeep Sangwan over him in maiden IPL auction "In my opinion, Ishan Kishan will be the most expensive opener at the IPL 2022 Auction. He could actually be the most expensive player, one out of him or Shreyas Iyer could be the most expensive. I won't be surprised if it is Ishan Kishan," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. He further stressed on the role of the openers and said, "The openers make or break the game. They have the ability because they have a lot of time. The problem in T20 is that you don't have time, it gets over very quickly. In such a case if you are an opener, you can decide the tempo of the match. KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Quinton de Kock, Shikhar Dhawan - you have seen a lot of players like that." ALSO READ | 'It was disappointing to lose Shubman Gill': Coach Brendon McCullum explains why KKR released star batter It will be interesting to see if Ishan goes for big in the auction or not. In IPL 2020, the then Mumbai Indians (MI) keeper-batter Ishan had amassed 516 runs at a strike-rate of 145.76 with four half-centuries. While he didn't have a great run in IPL 2021, he is still expected to attract big money for his power-hitting and fearless style of play. Chopra further also stated that while Bairstow and Warner will also fetch big amounts, he named Quinton de Kock as the most expensive opener among foreign players. "Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock - I am saying the most expensive overseas opener, David Warner, Chris Lynn, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow - a lot of money is going to be spent. Ambati Rayudu can open, Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Faf du Plessis - there are a lot of openers who will present themselves as options," he concluded.

Not Warner or Dhawan! Chopra predicts Indian youngster as 'most expensive opener' in IPL 2022 auction

The Premier League has confirmed that between Monday, January 24 and Sunday, January 30, 1,947 COVID-19 tests were administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 11 new positive cases."Overall testing numbers are lower in this reporting period due to squads being away from training grounds as a result of the Premier League`s mid-season player break," Premier League said in an official statement. It was also confirmed 85 per cent of players have received one, two, or three COVID-19 vaccination doses, with 92 per cent of players and club staff on the vaccination journey."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tottenham-hotspur-sign-dejan-kulusevski-and-rodrigo-bentancur-from-juventus-on-deadline-day-449322">Tottenham Hotspur sign Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus on deadline day</a>

"The League continues to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff, as well as promoting the Government`s public health vaccination messaging," stated the release. After a mid-season break, Premier League action would begin from this Saturday, February 5. Currently, Manchester City is at the top of the standings closely followed by Liverpool.&nbsp;

The Premier League has confirmed that between Monday, January 24 and Sunday, January 30, 1,947 COVID-19 tests were administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 11 new positive cases.

The Premier League has confirmed that between Monday, January 24 and Sunday, January 30, 1,947 COVID-19 tests were administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 11 new positive cases."Overall testing numbers are lower in this reporting period due to squads being away from training grounds as a result of the Premier League`s mid-season player break," Premier League said in an official statement. It was also confirmed 85 per cent of players have received one, two, or three COVID-19 vaccination doses, with 92 per cent of players and club staff on the vaccination journey." ALSO READ | Tottenham Hotspur sign Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus on deadline day "The League continues to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff, as well as promoting the Government`s public health vaccination messaging," stated the release. After a mid-season break, Premier League action would begin from this Saturday, February 5. Currently, Manchester City is at the top of the standings closely followed by Liverpool.

Premier League: 11 new positive cases reported as Covid-19 continues to make headlines

On January 15, Virat Kohli gave up Test captaincy. This came a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus South Africa 2-1, in the rainbow nation. While Kohli had already resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked as the ODI skipper, he was expected to carry on as the leader in whites for a few more years.

Thus, Team India is set to enter a new phase in the upcoming white-ball home series versus West Indies where Rohit Sharma will completely take over as the limited-overs&nbsp;skipper. Many eyes will still be on Kohli, who will play his first-ever home series without captaincy responsibilities on his shoulders. Ahead of the India-WI ODIs, which gets underway on February 6, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir opined on Kohli the player. The 2011 World Cup-winning member Gambhir feels nothing changes for Kohli and the Rahul Dravid-led team management's approach towards him following his captaincy tenure.

"Nothing changes," Gambhir told Sports Today. He opined, "When you are growing up as a kid you want to try and win games for the country and that is all that matters. You don't dream of captaining the side from day one so for me nothing changes. If it does then there is something seriously wrong. Captaincy is just a honour and responsibility and I'm sure Virat would be thinking the same way."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/quicker-virat-kohli-discovers-his-form-easier-it-will-be-for-rohit-sharma-says-former-india-pacer-449267">Quicker Virat Kohli discovers his form, easier it will be for Rohit Sharma, says former India pacer</a>

Meanwhile, Team India have a lot to do in the white-ball formats with recent disastrous performances in the 2021 T20 World Cup -- in the UAE -- and the 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in the ODI series. Many have called for India to change their playing style and adopt a new and aggressive template in the shorter formats.&nbsp;

However, Gambhir doesn't feel a change of template is required and stated that they are very 'overrated'.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said, "I've always thought of only one template which is to score the last run if you are chasing and take the last wicket if your defending. As simple as that, there is no other template that makes sense to me. All these are created by the media, the finisher, opener, death bowler and all."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ms-dhoni-was-in-the-team-it-was-not-like-virat-kohli-on-giving-up-team-india-captaincy-449252">'When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like.....': Virat Kohli on giving up Team India captaincy</a>

"Cricket is a very simple game. All of us would want that when we are chasing a total, we should score the last run and if we are defending, we should take the last wicket and take the points in our kitty. That is all that matters and the only template. Templates are very overrated," the ex-cricketer added.

Rohit-led India are gearing up for the three-match ODI series versus the Caribbean team, starting on February 6.

On January 15, Virat Kohli gave up Test captaincy. This came a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus South Africa 2-1, in the rainbow nation. While Kohli had already resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked as the ODI skipper, he was expected to carry on as the leader in whites for a few more years.

On January 15, Virat Kohli gave up Test captaincy. This came a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus South Africa 2-1, in the rainbow nation. While Kohli had already resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked as the ODI skipper, he was expected to carry on as the leader in whites for a few more years. Thus, Team India is set to enter a new phase in the upcoming white-ball home series versus West Indies where Rohit Sharma will completely take over as the limited-overs skipper. Many eyes will still be on Kohli, who will play his first-ever home series without captaincy responsibilities on his shoulders. Ahead of the India-WI ODIs, which gets underway on February 6, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir opined on Kohli the player. The 2011 World Cup-winning member Gambhir feels nothing changes for Kohli and the Rahul Dravid-led team management's approach towards him following his captaincy tenure. "Nothing changes," Gambhir told Sports Today. He opined, "When you are growing up as a kid you want to try and win games for the country and that is all that matters. You don't dream of captaining the side from day one so for me nothing changes. If it does then there is something seriously wrong. Captaincy is just a honour and responsibility and I'm sure Virat would be thinking the same way." ALSO READ | Quicker Virat Kohli discovers his form, easier it will be for Rohit Sharma, says former India pacer Meanwhile, Team India have a lot to do in the white-ball formats with recent disastrous performances in the 2021 T20 World Cup -- in the UAE -- and the 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in the ODI series. Many have called for India to change their playing style and adopt a new and aggressive template in the shorter formats. However, Gambhir doesn't feel a change of template is required and stated that they are very 'overrated'. He said, "I've always thought of only one template which is to score the last run if you are chasing and take the last wicket if your defending. As simple as that, there is no other template that makes sense to me. All these are created by the media, the finisher, opener, death bowler and all." ALSO READ | 'When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like.....': Virat Kohli on giving up Team India captaincy "Cricket is a very simple game. All of us would want that when we are chasing a total, we should score the last run and if we are defending, we should take the last wicket and take the points in our kitty. That is all that matters and the only template. Templates are very overrated," the ex-cricketer added. Rohit-led India are gearing up for the three-match ODI series versus the Caribbean team, starting on February 6.

It is just an honour: Gautam Gambhir feels nothing changes for Virat Kohli post captaincy tenure

Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal has said that he feels lucky to be in the same era as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in the men`s final of the Australian Open to surpass Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, each of whom have won 20 Grand Slams each. The 35-year-old who clinched his second Australian Open title on January 30 said, "I think we have always been respectful with each other."

"We understood the rivalry in a positive way through our careers and, yeah, I received plenty of messages. I am sorry I have not been able to answer everyone as you can imagine but, yeah, I really feel proud about the way we manage our rivalry through our careers. At the end of the day, it`s just a game, in some ways we achieved more than what we dreamed as kids," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nadal as saying."At the end, it doesn`t matter much if one is 21, the other is 20, or one finishes with 23 or 21, we did, I think, very important things for our sport, and we achieved our dreams, and we enjoy it. I feel lucky to be part of this era that has been very special for our sport," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-aus-open-2022-rafael-nadal-is-goat-hes-like-a-jekyll-of-hyde-says-indian-coach-nandan-bal-449123">EXCLUSIVE | Aus Open 2022: Rafael Nadal is G.O.A.T, he's like a Jekyll of Hyde, says Indian coach Nandan Bal</a>

After Nadal won his second Australian Open, both Roger Federer and Djokovic took to social media to applaud the Spaniard. Under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, the legendary Spaniard looked down and out against Daniil Medvedev. However, the sixth seed demonstrated his trademark big-match mentality, overcoming the Russian 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in front of a raucous crowd in a Melbourne classic."I don`t know. I didn`t know I was able to play the Australian Open this year, but I don`t know what can happen in the future. My passion and love for the game is still very high, as everybody can see. I just want to enjoy the moment and keep going and try to enjoy this beautiful sport. I was not able to do it often these last two years, so I will love to try to play a bit more this year," said Nadal.&nbsp;

Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal has said that he feels lucky to be in the same era as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in the men`s final of the Australian Open to surpass Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, each of whom have won 20 Grand Slams each.

Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal has said that he feels lucky to be in the same era as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in the men`s final of the Australian Open to surpass Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, each of whom have won 20 Grand Slams each. The 35-year-old who clinched his second Australian Open title on January 30 said, "I think we have always been respectful with each other." "We understood the rivalry in a positive way through our careers and, yeah, I received plenty of messages. I am sorry I have not been able to answer everyone as you can imagine but, yeah, I really feel proud about the way we manage our rivalry through our careers. At the end of the day, it`s just a game, in some ways we achieved more than what we dreamed as kids," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nadal as saying."At the end, it doesn`t matter much if one is 21, the other is 20, or one finishes with 23 or 21, we did, I think, very important things for our sport, and we achieved our dreams, and we enjoy it. I feel lucky to be part of this era that has been very special for our sport," he added. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE | Aus Open 2022: Rafael Nadal is G.O.A.T, he's like a Jekyll of Hyde, says Indian coach Nandan Bal After Nadal won his second Australian Open, both Roger Federer and Djokovic took to social media to applaud the Spaniard. Under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, the legendary Spaniard looked down and out against Daniil Medvedev. However, the sixth seed demonstrated his trademark big-match mentality, overcoming the Russian 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in front of a raucous crowd in a Melbourne classic."I don`t know. I didn`t know I was able to play the Australian Open this year, but I don`t know what can happen in the future. My passion and love for the game is still very high, as everybody can see. I just want to enjoy the moment and keep going and try to enjoy this beautiful sport. I was not able to do it often these last two years, so I will love to try to play a bit more this year," said Nadal.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and I have understood our rivalry in positive way, says Rafael Nadal

2008 was a landmark year for Indian cricket. The inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season was held&nbsp;early in the year, on February 20. Back then, India's U-19 team was involved in the Junior Men's World Cup in Malaysia under Virat Kohli's captaincy.

Kohli-led India won the mega title, beating South Africa in DLS method, on March 2. However, a bunch of them had already made heads turn during the inaugural IPL auction, being picked by the eight franchises for staggering amounts. Kohli's home franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC) -- who were then known as Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- were keen to pick him but instead chose pacer Pradeep Sangwan, who was also a part of the then Kohli-led U-19 squad.

In a podcast shared by RCB, Kohli recenlly recalled not being picked by his local franchise and how the U-19 players went bonkers&nbsp;after knowing the amount for which they were picked.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hes-their-battings-backbone-shaheen-afridi-lauds-virat-kohli-reflects-on-magical-t20-wc-spell-vs-india-449473">'He's their batting's backbone': Shaheen Afridi lauds Virat Kohli, reflects on magical T20 WC spell vs India</a>

Kohli recalled and said, "We were all in Malaysia for the U-19 World Cup. I remember the day when the drafts were happening and the U-19 dynamic was different&nbsp;as we very rightly so had a money cap. That was the only time when I saw a restriction on how much could you be picked for, if you haven't played for India. I remember even that moment for us was so amazing. The amount that we were picked for, when they revealed, we were like, we couldn't believe it, we went absolutely crazy."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-rishabh-pant-top-5-contenders-who-can-succeed-virat-kohli-as-indias-test-captain-448152">From Rohit Sharma to Rishabh Pant: Top 5 contenders who can succeed Virat Kohli as India's Test captain</a>

Kohli, who stepped down as the RCB captain after IPL 2021,&nbsp;also shared how DC bought Sangwan whereas&nbsp;he was picked by the Bengaluru-based franchise, defining it as&nbsp;a 'life-changing moment' for him.

The 33-year-old further asserted, "There was one conversation where I heard from people that the Delhi team was interested to go after me but the dynamics of their team turned out to be such that they went for Pradeep Sangwan - who was a left-arm seamer, amazing bowler, at that time he was our best bowler in U-19. So Delhi decided to go for him because they wanted their bowling strengthened and RCB picked me. In hindsight, I feel it was such an important moment in my life. I didn't realize it then but now when I look back, things could have been very different to what they are now. I would not have it any other way than this."

To date, Kohli remains the only player to have played for a single franchise -- RCB -- since IPL's inception in 2008. He has been retained by the three-time runners-up, along with Glenn Maxwell and Md Siraj, before the IPL 2022 mega auction, set to take place on February 12 and 13.

2008 was a landmark year for Indian cricket. The inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season was held early in the year, on February 20. Back then, India's U-19 team was involved in the Junior Men's World Cup in Malaysia under Virat Kohli's captaincy.

2008 was a landmark year for Indian cricket. The inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season was held early in the year, on February 20. Back then, India's U-19 team was involved in the Junior Men's World Cup in Malaysia under Virat Kohli's captaincy. Kohli-led India won the mega title, beating South Africa in DLS method, on March 2. However, a bunch of them had already made heads turn during the inaugural IPL auction, being picked by the eight franchises for staggering amounts. Kohli's home franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC) -- who were then known as Delhi Daredevils (DD) -- were keen to pick him but instead chose pacer Pradeep Sangwan, who was also a part of the then Kohli-led U-19 squad. In a podcast shared by RCB, Kohli recenlly recalled not being picked by his local franchise and how the U-19 players went bonkers after knowing the amount for which they were picked. ALSO READ | 'He's their batting's backbone': Shaheen Afridi lauds Virat Kohli, reflects on magical T20 WC spell vs India Kohli recalled and said, "We were all in Malaysia for the U-19 World Cup. I remember the day when the drafts were happening and the U-19 dynamic was different as we very rightly so had a money cap. That was the only time when I saw a restriction on how much could you be picked for, if you haven't played for India. I remember even that moment for us was so amazing. The amount that we were picked for, when they revealed, we were like, we couldn't believe it, we went absolutely crazy." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Rishabh Pant: Top 5 contenders who can succeed Virat Kohli as India's Test captain Kohli, who stepped down as the RCB captain after IPL 2021, also shared how DC bought Sangwan whereas he was picked by the Bengaluru-based franchise, defining it as a 'life-changing moment' for him. The 33-year-old further asserted, "There was one conversation where I heard from people that the Delhi team was interested to go after me but the dynamics of their team turned out to be such that they went for Pradeep Sangwan - who was a left-arm seamer, amazing bowler, at that time he was our best bowler in U-19. So Delhi decided to go for him because they wanted their bowling strengthened and RCB picked me. In hindsight, I feel it was such an important moment in my life. I didn't realize it then but now when I look back, things could have been very different to what they are now. I would not have it any other way than this." To date, Kohli remains the only player to have played for a single franchise -- RCB -- since IPL's inception in 2008. He has been retained by the three-time runners-up, along with Glenn Maxwell and Md Siraj, before the IPL 2022 mega auction, set to take place on February 12 and 13.

Kohli opens up on Delhi franchise's decision to choose Pradeep Sangwan over him in maiden IPL auction

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