Sourav Ganguly was appointed as the BCCI President in late 2019, after India's ODI World Cup campaign. In September 2022, he will complete three years as the BCCI chief. Under his tenure, BCCI have had a lot to deal with.

With the Covid-19 pandemic leading to various obstacles for hosting the last two IPL seasons, the Virat Kohli captaincy saga, pressure building up&nbsp;to start Women's IPL, etc., the Ganguly-led board has had a lot on their plate. In recent times, the image of the board&nbsp;officials and selectors have also taken a toll following the Kohli captaincy saga. Moreover, many have accused the BCCI chief Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah of interfering in selection meetings.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-ipl-should-be-top-priority-michael-vaughan-tells-bcci-chief-sourav-ganguly-450433">Women's IPL should be top priority: Michael Vaughan tells BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly</a>

In an interview with news agency&nbsp;PTI,&nbsp;Ganguly opened up on all such claims and said,&nbsp;"I don't think I need to answer anybody anything (on this) and dignify any of these baseless accusations. I am the president of BCCI and I do the job of what the president of BCCI should be doing."&nbsp;

"Also just to let you know, I see a picture doing the rounds (of social media) showing me sitting in a selection committee meeting. I want to make it clear, that picture (where Ganguly can be seen sitting with secretary Jay Shah, skipper Virat Kohli and joint secretary Jayesh George) wasn't from a selection committee meeting.&nbsp;Jayesh George isn't a part of selection committee meetings. (I have played) 424 international matches for India. Not a bad idea at times to remind people about it, isn't it? (laughs)," added Ganguly.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/upto-you-all-to-judge-my-legacy-sourav-ganguly-on-his-tenure-as-bcci-president-450365">'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President</a>

In addition, Ganguly dwelled on the&nbsp;fantastic relationship with Secretary Jay Shah as well as the other office bearers of the BCCI. "I share a fantastic relationship with Jay. He is a very dear friend and a trusted colleague. Me, Jay, Arun (Dhumal) and Jayesh (George), we have all been working together to get the board going in these difficult times especially with COVID-19 in these two years. To make sure that cricket happens. I would say it has been a fantastic two years. We have all done it as a team," further asserted the&nbsp;BCCI chief.&nbsp;

Sourav Ganguly was appointed as the BCCI President in late 2019, after India's ODI World Cup campaign. In September 2022, he will complete three years as the BCCI chief.

Sourav Ganguly was appointed as the BCCI President in late 2019, after India's ODI World Cup campaign. In September 2022, he will complete three years as the BCCI chief. Under his tenure, BCCI have had a lot to deal with. With the Covid-19 pandemic leading to various obstacles for hosting the last two IPL seasons, the Virat Kohli captaincy saga, pressure building up to start Women's IPL, etc., the Ganguly-led board has had a lot on their plate. In recent times, the image of the board officials and selectors have also taken a toll following the Kohli captaincy saga. Moreover, many have accused the BCCI chief Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah of interfering in selection meetings. ALSO READ | Women's IPL should be top priority: Michael Vaughan tells BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly In an interview with news agency PTI, Ganguly opened up on all such claims and said, "I don't think I need to answer anybody anything (on this) and dignify any of these baseless accusations. I am the president of BCCI and I do the job of what the president of BCCI should be doing." "Also just to let you know, I see a picture doing the rounds (of social media) showing me sitting in a selection committee meeting. I want to make it clear, that picture (where Ganguly can be seen sitting with secretary Jay Shah, skipper Virat Kohli and joint secretary Jayesh George) wasn't from a selection committee meeting. Jayesh George isn't a part of selection committee meetings. (I have played) 424 international matches for India. Not a bad idea at times to remind people about it, isn't it? (laughs)," added Ganguly. ALSO READ | 'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President In addition, Ganguly dwelled on the fantastic relationship with Secretary Jay Shah as well as the other office bearers of the BCCI. "I share a fantastic relationship with Jay. He is a very dear friend and a trusted colleague. Me, Jay, Arun (Dhumal) and Jayesh (George), we have all been working together to get the board going in these difficult times especially with COVID-19 in these two years. To make sure that cricket happens. I would say it has been a fantastic two years. We have all done it as a team," further asserted the BCCI chief.

I've played 424 internationals: Sourav Ganguly slams accusations of him interfering in selections

After the disastrous tour of South Africa, Team India return to familiar conditions as they get ready to host Kieron Pollard-led West Indies in the three-match ODI series, starting on February 6. Being whitewashed 3-0 in the ODIs in South Africa, India will be eager to return to winning ways in the 50-over format.

Rohit Sharma will also officially start his tenure as the full-time white-ball captain of the Men in Blue during the series. In early December 2021, Rohit was appointed as the limited-overs skipper by the BCCI selectors. After missing the SA ODIs, due to a hamstring injury, Rohit will have a stern test to start his tenure with a win.

Ahead of the India-WI ODI series, the Covid-19 crisis has hit the Indian camp. Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan,&nbsp;Navdeep Saini,&nbsp;Ruturaj Gaikwad and a few other support staff members have tested positive. Thus, the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Ishan Kishan, etc. have been added to the squad before the series opener.

Here's everything to know about the squads, streaming, schedule and telecast details before the ODI series

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-west-indies-covid-19-scares-rohit-sharma-led-indian-camp-before-windies-odis-450056">India vs West Indies: COVID-19 scares Rohit Sharma-led Indian camp before Windies ODIs</a>

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Ishan Kishan, Mayank Agarwal

WI: Kieron Pollard (c), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh.

Schedule

India will host West Indies in the three ODIs at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad before the action moves to the three T20Is (in Kolkata).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-announces-rohit-led-india-squad-for-wi-series-jasprit-bumrah-md-shami-rested-jadeja-misses-out-447930">BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out</a>

Telecast and live streaming

The three ODIs'&nbsp;live telecast will be on Star Sports 1/1HD/1 and Star Sports Hindi/1HD Hindi from 1:30 PM IST. In addition, the&nbsp;fixtures will be streamed live on the Disney+Hotstar app.

After the disastrous tour of South Africa, Team India return to familiar conditions as they get ready to host Kieron Pollard-led West Indies in the three-match ODI series, starting on February 6.

After the disastrous tour of South Africa, Team India return to familiar conditions as they get ready to host Kieron Pollard-led West Indies in the three-match ODI series, starting on February 6. Being whitewashed 3-0 in the ODIs in South Africa, India will be eager to return to winning ways in the 50-over format. Rohit Sharma will also officially start his tenure as the full-time white-ball captain of the Men in Blue during the series. In early December 2021, Rohit was appointed as the limited-overs skipper by the BCCI selectors. After missing the SA ODIs, due to a hamstring injury, Rohit will have a stern test to start his tenure with a win. Ahead of the India-WI ODI series, the Covid-19 crisis has hit the Indian camp. Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, Navdeep Saini, Ruturaj Gaikwad and a few other support staff members have tested positive. Thus, the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Ishan Kishan, etc. have been added to the squad before the series opener. Here's everything to know about the squads, streaming, schedule and telecast details before the ODI series ALSO READ | India vs West Indies: COVID-19 scares Rohit Sharma-led Indian camp before Windies ODIs Squads India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Ishan Kishan, Mayank Agarwal WI: Kieron Pollard (c), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh. Schedule India will host West Indies in the three ODIs at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad before the action moves to the three T20Is (in Kolkata). ALSO READ | BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out Telecast and live streaming The three ODIs' live telecast will be on Star Sports 1/1HD/1 and Star Sports Hindi/1HD Hindi from 1:30 PM IST. In addition, the fixtures will be streamed live on the Disney+Hotstar app.

India vs WI, ODIs: Everything to know about squads, schedule, telecast, streaming details

The Indian Premier League (IPL)'s birth has been a gamechanger for cricket. In 2008, the IPL kicked off which led to the start of various T20 leagues across the globe. The likes of Australia, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc. have started their own respective leagues in the shortest format.

Moreover, the likes of Australia and England have gone a step ahead in also running women's T20 leagues simultaneously, in the form of Women's Big Bash League (BBL), The Hundred, respectively. Such leagues have also gained eyeballs and led to the overall popularity of women's cricket worldwide.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the&nbsp;BCCI have managed to consolidate IPL's growth over the years and also start the Women's T20 Challenge. However, the women's version remains limited to only a few games.&nbsp; Amid the growing pressure on the Indian cricket board to start a full-fledged Women's IPL, former England captain Michael Vaughan has joined the bandwagon&nbsp;and urged BCCI President Sourav Ganguly to make the Women's IPL top priority.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/upto-you-all-to-judge-my-legacy-sourav-ganguly-on-his-tenure-as-bcci-president-450365">'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President</a>

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Vaughan wrote, "A Women's #IPL should be top priority now @SGanguly99&nbsp;!! Let’s get it sorted .."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A Womens <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a> should be top priority now <a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> !! Let’s get it sorted .. 👍👍
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1489280382998622217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-chief-sourav-ganguly-confirms-indias-pink-ball-test-vs-sri-lanka-to-be-held-in-bengaluru-450123">BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly confirms India's pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka to be held in Bengaluru</a>

India have quite a few popular women's cricketers, such as&nbsp;Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jhulan Goswami, etc. Harman, Smriti, Jemimah have also been a part of WBBL, The Hundred and made heads turn with their performances and overall presence. Thus, BCCI have&nbsp; a good base ready and a platform to cash in and make a sizeable T20 league focusing on women's cricket.

Recently, Ganguly spilled the beans on BCCI's plan regarding Women's IPL.&nbsp;"Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to host a bigger women’s IPL once the number of women players [player pool] goes up. But this year, the Women’s T20 Challenge will happen during the IPL playoffs,” said Ganguly while talking to&nbsp;Sportstar.&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League (IPL)'s birth has been a gamechanger for cricket. In 2008, the IPL kicked off which led to the start of various T20 leagues across the globe.

The Indian Premier League (IPL)'s birth has been a gamechanger for cricket. In 2008, the IPL kicked off which led to the start of various T20 leagues across the globe. The likes of Australia, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc. have started their own respective leagues in the shortest format. Moreover, the likes of Australia and England have gone a step ahead in also running women's T20 leagues simultaneously, in the form of Women's Big Bash League (BBL), The Hundred, respectively. Such leagues have also gained eyeballs and led to the overall popularity of women's cricket worldwide. On the other hand, the BCCI have managed to consolidate IPL's growth over the years and also start the Women's T20 Challenge. However, the women's version remains limited to only a few games. Amid the growing pressure on the Indian cricket board to start a full-fledged Women's IPL, former England captain Michael Vaughan has joined the bandwagon and urged BCCI President Sourav Ganguly to make the Women's IPL top priority. ALSO READ | 'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President Taking to his official Twitter handle, Vaughan wrote, "A Women's #IPL should be top priority now @SGanguly99 !! Let’s get it sorted .." A Womens #IPL should be top priority now @SGanguly99 !! Let’s get it sorted .. 👍👍 — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 3, 2022 × ALSO READ | BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly confirms India's pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka to be held in Bengaluru India have quite a few popular women's cricketers, such as Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jhulan Goswami, etc. Harman, Smriti, Jemimah have also been a part of WBBL, The Hundred and made heads turn with their performances and overall presence. Thus, BCCI have a good base ready and a platform to cash in and make a sizeable T20 league focusing on women's cricket. Recently, Ganguly spilled the beans on BCCI's plan regarding Women's IPL. "Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to host a bigger women’s IPL once the number of women players [player pool] goes up. But this year, the Women’s T20 Challenge will happen during the IPL playoffs,” said Ganguly while talking to Sportstar.

Women's IPL should be top priority: Michael Vaughan tells BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly

On January 15, Virat Kohli dropped a bomb by announcing his resignation as Team India's Test captain. This came as a huge shock to the entire cricketing fraternity. Kohli's decision came a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus Dean Elgar-led South Africa, in the rainbow nation.

The 33-year-old tweeted saying, "Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it’s now. It’s been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance every day to take the team in the right direction. I’ve done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it’s now."

Under Kohli, India became a more confident and aggressive force in home Tests and started winning more regularly in away series as well. During his tenure as the Test captain, India won their maiden Test series in Australia, earned an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the incomplete five Tests in the United Kingdom in mid-2021, played the inaugural WTC final and ended as the No. 1 ranked side in the format for five successive years in the annual updates of the ICC Rankings. Following his resignation, all-rounder Shardul Thakur has now opened up on Kohli's decision.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/upto-you-all-to-judge-my-legacy-sourav-ganguly-on-his-tenure-as-bcci-president-450365">&nbsp;'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President</a>

“It was an emotional moment for everyone. No one expected that he would resign from Test captaincy," Thakur told Indian Express in a chat.&nbsp;

“We did well under his captaincy, especially overseas. Those series we lost overseas were close ones. The team was doing well under him and no one expected this. However, now that he has made his decision, everyone should respect it,” he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/didnt-know-anyone-in-bcci-harbhajan-singh-opines-on-not-being-considered-for-india-captaincy-450232">Didn't know anyone in BCCI: Harbhajan Singh opines on not being considered for India captaincy</a>

After Kohli's sudden resignation as the Test captain, the BCCI selectors have a tough job to name his successor. The contenders are Rohit Sharma (already the Test vice-captain and limited-overs skipper), KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant. The selectors will have to take a call and finalise the next captain before India's upcoming two-match Test series versus Sri Lanka, at home, in February-March.&nbsp;

On January 15, Virat Kohli dropped a bomb by announcing his resignation as Team India's Test captain. This came as a huge shock to the entire cricketing fraternity.

On January 15, Virat Kohli dropped a bomb by announcing his resignation as Team India's Test captain. This came as a huge shock to the entire cricketing fraternity. Kohli's decision came a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus Dean Elgar-led South Africa, in the rainbow nation. The 33-year-old tweeted saying, "Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it’s now. It’s been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance every day to take the team in the right direction. I’ve done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it’s now." Under Kohli, India became a more confident and aggressive force in home Tests and started winning more regularly in away series as well. During his tenure as the Test captain, India won their maiden Test series in Australia, earned an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the incomplete five Tests in the United Kingdom in mid-2021, played the inaugural WTC final and ended as the No. 1 ranked side in the format for five successive years in the annual updates of the ICC Rankings. Following his resignation, all-rounder Shardul Thakur has now opened up on Kohli's decision. ALSO READ | 'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President “It was an emotional moment for everyone. No one expected that he would resign from Test captaincy," Thakur told Indian Express in a chat. “We did well under his captaincy, especially overseas. Those series we lost overseas were close ones. The team was doing well under him and no one expected this. However, now that he has made his decision, everyone should respect it,” he added. ALSO READ | Didn't know anyone in BCCI: Harbhajan Singh opines on not being considered for India captaincy After Kohli's sudden resignation as the Test captain, the BCCI selectors have a tough job to name his successor. The contenders are Rohit Sharma (already the Test vice-captain and limited-overs skipper), KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant. The selectors will have to take a call and finalise the next captain before India's upcoming two-match Test series versus Sri Lanka, at home, in February-March.

No one expected Virat Kohli to resign as India's Test captain, reveals all-rounder Shardul Thakur

The former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly took over as the BCCI chief in late 2019, after India's ODI World Cup campaign. In September 2022, Ganguly is set to complete three years of his tenure. During his rein as the BCCI chief, a lot of things have transpired&nbsp;in Indian cricket.

Ganguly's tenure has been hit by the Covid-19 virus wreaking havoc in the cricketing calendar worldwide. While BCCI have managed to host the last two IPL seasons despite various Covid challenges, questions over Women's IPL's implementation at a bigger level and his recent fall-out with Virat Kohli have dented his image as the BCCI President of&nbsp;late.

During a recent interaction with Sportstar, the 49-year-old opined on his legacy as BCCI chief. "I don't think it's more challenging. What's my legacy? Well, I won't be able to tell it now. Let's see what happens. It is up to you all to judge my legacy, it is what it is. But it has been under tough circumstances due to Covid-19 over the last two years. The pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the world and we are fortunate that we could still manage to get a majority of cricket done," Ganguly told the portal in an interview.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-maharashtra-to-host-league-stage-call-on-playoffs-venues-not-taken-says-sourav-ganguly-450052">IPL 2022: Maharashtra to host league stage, call on playoffs' venues not taken, says Sourav Ganguly</a>

For now, the Ganguly-led Indian cricket board is looking to smoothly&nbsp;host India's white-ball series versus West Indies, starting on February 6,&nbsp;following the various Covid cases cropping up in the Rohit Sharma-led Indian camp on Wednesday (February 2).

Recently, Ganguly also revealed that the group stage of IPL 2022 will be held in Maharashtra whereas a call on playoffs' venues will be taken later. Regarding Women's IPL, he told in the same portal, "The Women’s T20 Challenge will again be back this year in the month of May. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to host a bigger women’s IPL once the number of women players goes up. But this year, the Women’s T20 Challenge will happen during the IPL playoffs."

The former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly took over as the BCCI chief in late 2019, after India's ODI World Cup campaign. In September 2022, Ganguly is set to complete three years of his tenure.

The former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly took over as the BCCI chief in late 2019, after India's ODI World Cup campaign. In September 2022, Ganguly is set to complete three years of his tenure. During his rein as the BCCI chief, a lot of things have transpired in Indian cricket. Ganguly's tenure has been hit by the Covid-19 virus wreaking havoc in the cricketing calendar worldwide. While BCCI have managed to host the last two IPL seasons despite various Covid challenges, questions over Women's IPL's implementation at a bigger level and his recent fall-out with Virat Kohli have dented his image as the BCCI President of late. During a recent interaction with Sportstar, the 49-year-old opined on his legacy as BCCI chief. "I don't think it's more challenging. What's my legacy? Well, I won't be able to tell it now. Let's see what happens. It is up to you all to judge my legacy, it is what it is. But it has been under tough circumstances due to Covid-19 over the last two years. The pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the world and we are fortunate that we could still manage to get a majority of cricket done," Ganguly told the portal in an interview. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Maharashtra to host league stage, call on playoffs' venues not taken, says Sourav Ganguly For now, the Ganguly-led Indian cricket board is looking to smoothly host India's white-ball series versus West Indies, starting on February 6, following the various Covid cases cropping up in the Rohit Sharma-led Indian camp on Wednesday (February 2). Recently, Ganguly also revealed that the group stage of IPL 2022 will be held in Maharashtra whereas a call on playoffs' venues will be taken later. Regarding Women's IPL, he told in the same portal, "The Women’s T20 Challenge will again be back this year in the month of May. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to host a bigger women’s IPL once the number of women players goes up. But this year, the Women’s T20 Challenge will happen during the IPL playoffs."

'Upto you all to judge my legacy' - Sourav Ganguly on his tenure as BCCI President

The Ranji Trophy would be held in two phases and now it has been confirmed that the pre-Indian Premier League (IPL) phase would run from February 10 to March 15.

In a letter sent out by BCCI secretary Jay Shah to all state-affiliated units, the details have been specified on how Ranji Trophy would be conducted this season.

The post-IPL-phase would run from May 30 to June 26. The Ranji Trophy this season would see 64 matches being played across 62 days.

"I am pleased to share that we are now truly set to resume both international and domestic cricket with full thrust. The coming months are going to be replete with cricketing action. We have waited patiently for the grip of the pandemic to loosen and the time has come for our cricketers to take center-stage all over again," wrote Shah in his letter, which has been accessed by ANI."

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/didnt-know-anyone-in-bcci-harbhajan-singh-opines-on-not-being-considered-for-india-captaincy-450232">Didn't know anyone in BCCI: Harbhajan Singh opines on not being considered for India captaincy</a>

We have spread out the Ranji Trophy to 9 different venues across the country to mitigate any cross-transmission risk while ensuring the bio-secure bubble is not overburdened," he added.

There are eight Elite Groups and one Plate Group. There would be four teams in Elite Groups and six teams would make up the Plate Group.

One team from each Elite Group will qualify for the quarterfinal stages. The lowest-ranked of the eight qualified teams will have to play a pre-quarterfinal with the top team from the Plate Group.

The Groups are as follows:

Elite Group A: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Meghalaya (Matches to be held in Rajkot)Elite Group B: Bengal, Baroda, Hyderabad, Chandigarh (Matches to be held in Cuttack)Elite Group C: Karnataka, Railways, Jammu and Kashmir, Pondicherry (Matches to be held in Chennai)Elite Group D: Saurashtra, Mumbai, Odisha, Goa (Matches to be held in Ahmedabad)Group E (Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Services, and Uttarakhand), Group F (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Tripura), Group G (Vidharbha, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Assam), and Group H (Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Chattisgarh) will see their matches being played in Trivandrum, Delhi, Haryana, and Guwahati.While the Plate Group matches will be held in Kolkata and this group comprises Bihar, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ranji Trophy would be held in two phases and now it has been confirmed that the pre-Indian Premier League (IPL) phase would run from February 10 to March 15.

The Ranji Trophy would be held in two phases and now it has been confirmed that the pre-Indian Premier League (IPL) phase would run from February 10 to March 15. In a letter sent out by BCCI secretary Jay Shah to all state-affiliated units, the details have been specified on how Ranji Trophy would be conducted this season. The post-IPL-phase would run from May 30 to June 26. The Ranji Trophy this season would see 64 matches being played across 62 days. "I am pleased to share that we are now truly set to resume both international and domestic cricket with full thrust. The coming months are going to be replete with cricketing action. We have waited patiently for the grip of the pandemic to loosen and the time has come for our cricketers to take center-stage all over again," wrote Shah in his letter, which has been accessed by ANI." Read Also | Didn't know anyone in BCCI: Harbhajan Singh opines on not being considered for India captaincy We have spread out the Ranji Trophy to 9 different venues across the country to mitigate any cross-transmission risk while ensuring the bio-secure bubble is not overburdened," he added. There are eight Elite Groups and one Plate Group. There would be four teams in Elite Groups and six teams would make up the Plate Group. One team from each Elite Group will qualify for the quarterfinal stages. The lowest-ranked of the eight qualified teams will have to play a pre-quarterfinal with the top team from the Plate Group. The Groups are as follows: Elite Group A: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Meghalaya (Matches to be held in Rajkot)Elite Group B: Bengal, Baroda, Hyderabad, Chandigarh (Matches to be held in Cuttack)Elite Group C: Karnataka, Railways, Jammu and Kashmir, Pondicherry (Matches to be held in Chennai)Elite Group D: Saurashtra, Mumbai, Odisha, Goa (Matches to be held in Ahmedabad)Group E (Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Services, and Uttarakhand), Group F (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Tripura), Group G (Vidharbha, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Assam), and Group H (Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Chattisgarh) will see their matches being played in Trivandrum, Delhi, Haryana, and Guwahati.While the Plate Group matches will be held in Kolkata and this group comprises Bihar, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Ranji Trophy to be played in two phases from February 10 to June 26

Harbhajan Singh dropped a bomb by announcing his international retirement before the end of 2021. Bhajji represented Team India for 18 years, with his career spanning from 1998-2016 (when he last represented India). The veteran spinner made a big name in world cricket, ending with 711 wickets at the highest level.

During his glorious run for Team India, the 41-year-old played under various captains. He started under Mohammad Azharuddin and was led by the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli (along with also being captained by Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble for a brief period). In the IPL, Bhajji played under Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Eoin Morgan, Dhoni whereas he himself captained the Mumbai Indians (MI) -- where he played for 10 years -- and led them to the 2011 Champions League title.

Despite him being in the leadership group for Team India and the Mumbai-based IPL franchise, he was never considered for captaining India. Before the 2007 T20 World Cup, he was being considered as one of the contenders for leading the Men in Blue in the showpiece event before Dhoni got the top post. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-i-was-scared-of-short-balls-i-wouldnt-have-scored-fifty-in-lords-test-vs-england-md-shami-slams-critics-450217">If I was scared of short balls, I wouldn’t have scored fifty in Lord's Test vs England: Md Shami slams critics</a>

As per the former India spinner, those who aren't favourites don't get the captaincy honour. "Oh yes! That is also an achievement that no one talks about - my captaincy. I didn’t know anyone in the BCCI; someone who could push my case because it is required (for national captaincy). If you are not among the favourites of someone (powerful), you don’t get such honours. But, let’s leave that topic. I know I was capable enough (to lead) as we used to guide a lot of captains. No big deal if I was an India captain or not. No regrets either if I didn’t become the captain for my country. I was always happy to serve the nation as a player," he told Cricketnext.com.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-am-not-married-to-him-harbhajan-singh-gives-cheeky-response-clears-air-on-rumoured-rift-with-ms-dhoni-449222">'I am not married to him': Harbhajan Singh gives cheeky response, clears air on rumoured rift with MS Dhoni</a>

Harbhajan's last international appearance came during the 2016 Asia Cup. He was part of India's victorious run in the 2007 T20 WC, 2011 ODI World Cup, Asia Cup win in 2010 and many other significant wins across the globe. He signed off being the fourth-highest Test wicket-taker in the purest format (417 scalps).&nbsp;

Harbhajan Singh dropped a bomb by announcing his international retirement before the end of 2021. Bhajji represented Team India for 18 years, with his career spanning from 1998-2016 (when he last represented India).

Harbhajan Singh dropped a bomb by announcing his international retirement before the end of 2021. Bhajji represented Team India for 18 years, with his career spanning from 1998-2016 (when he last represented India). The veteran spinner made a big name in world cricket, ending with 711 wickets at the highest level. During his glorious run for Team India, the 41-year-old played under various captains. He started under Mohammad Azharuddin and was led by the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli (along with also being captained by Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble for a brief period). In the IPL, Bhajji played under Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Eoin Morgan, Dhoni whereas he himself captained the Mumbai Indians (MI) -- where he played for 10 years -- and led them to the 2011 Champions League title. Despite him being in the leadership group for Team India and the Mumbai-based IPL franchise, he was never considered for captaining India. Before the 2007 T20 World Cup, he was being considered as one of the contenders for leading the Men in Blue in the showpiece event before Dhoni got the top post. ALSO READ | If I was scared of short balls, I wouldn’t have scored fifty in Lord's Test vs England: Md Shami slams critics As per the former India spinner, those who aren't favourites don't get the captaincy honour. "Oh yes! That is also an achievement that no one talks about - my captaincy. I didn’t know anyone in the BCCI; someone who could push my case because it is required (for national captaincy). If you are not among the favourites of someone (powerful), you don’t get such honours. But, let’s leave that topic. I know I was capable enough (to lead) as we used to guide a lot of captains. No big deal if I was an India captain or not. No regrets either if I didn’t become the captain for my country. I was always happy to serve the nation as a player," he told Cricketnext.com. ALSO READ | 'I am not married to him': Harbhajan Singh gives cheeky response, clears air on rumoured rift with MS Dhoni Harbhajan's last international appearance came during the 2016 Asia Cup. He was part of India's victorious run in the 2007 T20 WC, 2011 ODI World Cup, Asia Cup win in 2010 and many other significant wins across the globe. He signed off being the fourth-highest Test wicket-taker in the purest format (417 scalps).

Didn't know anyone in BCCI: Harbhajan Singh opines on not being considered for India captaincy

The mega auction for the IPL 2022 edition is just a few days away. All eyes are on the ten teams and how they will form their respective sides heading into the 15th edition. While the auction strategies are being laid down by all the ten teams, BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the IPL 2022 season will take place in India itself.

Ahead of the mega auction, to be held in Bengaluru in mid-February, BCCI President Ganguly has stated that Maharastra will be conducting the league stage of the 15th edition whereas no final call has been made regarding the playoffs' venues.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-has-kept-whopping-amount-aside-for-shreyas-iyer-in-ipl-2022-mega-auction-reveals-aakash-chopra-449807">RCB has kept whopping amount aside for Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2022 mega auction, reveals Aakash Chopra</a>

"It will be held in India this year, until and unless COVID-19 hits the roof. As far as venues are concerned, we are looking at hosting the matches in Maharashtra – Mumbai, and Pune. We will take a call on the venues for the knockout stages later," Ganguly has told Sportstar.

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 the last two years, i.e. the Covid-era, BCCI have had their fair share of struggles in hosting the cash-rich league smoothly. After more a five-month delay, the IPL 2020 edition took place in the UAE amid the bio-bubble restrictions. While the IPL 2021 season started in India, only the first half of the marquee event (i.e. 29 games) was held in the country before the second wave of the Covid-19 virus led to its indefinite postponement. Finally, the season was completed with the remainder of the games being held in the Middle East.&nbsp;BCCI will, thus, have their task cut-out to host the 15th season smoothly, without any fuss.

At present, Covid crisis has hit Team India ahead of their white-ball series, at home, versus West Indies. The ODIs get underway on February 6.

The mega auction for the IPL 2022 edition is just a few days away. All eyes are on the ten teams and how they will form their respective sides heading into the 15th edition.

The mega auction for the IPL 2022 edition is just a few days away. All eyes are on the ten teams and how they will form their respective sides heading into the 15th edition. While the auction strategies are being laid down by all the ten teams, BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the IPL 2022 season will take place in India itself. Ahead of the mega auction, to be held in Bengaluru in mid-February, BCCI President Ganguly has stated that Maharastra will be conducting the league stage of the 15th edition whereas no final call has been made regarding the playoffs' venues. ALSO READ | RCB has kept whopping amount aside for Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2022 mega auction, reveals Aakash Chopra "It will be held in India this year, until and unless COVID-19 hits the roof. As far as venues are concerned, we are looking at hosting the matches in Maharashtra – Mumbai, and Pune. We will take a call on the venues for the knockout stages later," Ganguly has told Sportstar. ALSO READ | Kohli opens up on Delhi franchise's decision to choose Pradeep Sangwan over him in maiden IPL auction In the last two years, i.e. the Covid-era, BCCI have had their fair share of struggles in hosting the cash-rich league smoothly. After more a five-month delay, the IPL 2020 edition took place in the UAE amid the bio-bubble restrictions. While the IPL 2021 season started in India, only the first half of the marquee event (i.e. 29 games) was held in the country before the second wave of the Covid-19 virus led to its indefinite postponement. Finally, the season was completed with the remainder of the games being held in the Middle East. BCCI will, thus, have their task cut-out to host the 15th season smoothly, without any fuss. At present, Covid crisis has hit Team India ahead of their white-ball series, at home, versus West Indies. The ODIs get underway on February 6.

IPL 2022: Maharashtra to host league stage, call on playoffs' venues not taken, says Sourav Ganguly

Ravi Shastri ended his four-year-long stint as Team India's head coach following the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue's disastrous run in the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Under Shastri, India achieved considerable success across formats.

Shastri took over from former Indian captain and spinner Anil Kumble, who occupied the head coach's position for a year. After the 2017 Champions Trophy, Shastri took over the reins and formed a lethal pair with former captain Virat Kohli. Under Kohli-Shastri, India developed into a ruthless unit in Tests, dominated bilateral series worldwide in ODIs and T20Is but failed to lead the national side to an ICC title.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/let-him-play-for-that-many-years-md-shami-on-babar-azams-comparison-with-virat-kohli-steve-smith-449269">'Let him play for that many years': Md. Shami on Babar Azam's comparison with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith</a>

During a recent interview with India.com, pace spearhead Mohammed Shami mentioned the stand-out quality of ex-head coach Shastri. “Everybody knows about Ravi Shastri’s pep talk and he speaks just like you see him in the commentary box. There is not an iota of negativity in Ravi Shastri. His positivity rubbed on to the team and that is something that stood out for me,” Shami opined.

Under Shastri's guidance, and the presence of ex-bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar, Shami's fitness improved leaps and bounds. As a result, he took an ODI World Cup hat-trick, remained a regular in whites and sruck at regular intervals&nbsp;in the purest format.

Shami also praised Bharat Arun and said,&nbsp;"It was great working with Bharat Arun when he was the bowling coach of India. At the international level, there is not much to learn in terms of the basics. It was all about discussing bowling plans and he shared his views and it worked really well for us and the team."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/itll-do-him-a-world-of-good-ex-head-coach-ravi-shastri-suggests-how-virat-kohli-can-rejuvenate-his-form-448400">It'll do him a world of good: Ex-head coach Ravi Shastri suggests how Virat Kohli can rejuvenate his form</a>

Shami has been rested for the white-ball series between India and West Indies, which gets underway on February 6 in Ahmedabad. Shastri, meanwhile, has revealed that he will enjoy his break time before stepping onto any new role.&nbsp;

Shastri has been replaced by Rahul Dravid as India's head coach, till the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Ravi Shastri ended his four-year-long stint as Team India's head coach following the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue's disastrous run in the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE.

Ravi Shastri ended his four-year-long stint as Team India's head coach following the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue's disastrous run in the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Under Shastri, India achieved considerable success across formats. Shastri took over from former Indian captain and spinner Anil Kumble, who occupied the head coach's position for a year. After the 2017 Champions Trophy, Shastri took over the reins and formed a lethal pair with former captain Virat Kohli. Under Kohli-Shastri, India developed into a ruthless unit in Tests, dominated bilateral series worldwide in ODIs and T20Is but failed to lead the national side to an ICC title. ALSO READ | 'Let him play for that many years': Md. Shami on Babar Azam's comparison with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith During a recent interview with India.com, pace spearhead Mohammed Shami mentioned the stand-out quality of ex-head coach Shastri. “Everybody knows about Ravi Shastri’s pep talk and he speaks just like you see him in the commentary box. There is not an iota of negativity in Ravi Shastri. His positivity rubbed on to the team and that is something that stood out for me,” Shami opined. Under Shastri's guidance, and the presence of ex-bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar, Shami's fitness improved leaps and bounds. As a result, he took an ODI World Cup hat-trick, remained a regular in whites and sruck at regular intervals in the purest format. Shami also praised Bharat Arun and said, "It was great working with Bharat Arun when he was the bowling coach of India. At the international level, there is not much to learn in terms of the basics. It was all about discussing bowling plans and he shared his views and it worked really well for us and the team." ALSO READ | It'll do him a world of good: Ex-head coach Ravi Shastri suggests how Virat Kohli can rejuvenate his form Shami has been rested for the white-ball series between India and West Indies, which gets underway on February 6 in Ahmedabad. Shastri, meanwhile, has revealed that he will enjoy his break time before stepping onto any new role. Shastri has been replaced by Rahul Dravid as India's head coach, till the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

'There's not an iota of....': Md Shami mentions India's ex-head coach Ravi Shastri's stand-out quality

Four India players and three members of their support staff have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their limited-overs home series against West Indies, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday.

The tour is scheduled to get underway on Sunday with the first of the three one-dayers in Ahmedabad which will be followed by an equal number of Twenty20 Internationals in Kolkata.

"The BCCI Medical team is handling the positive cases and they will remain in isolation till complete recovery is attained," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/u19-world-cup-yash-dhull-shaik-rasheed-shine-as-india-thrash-australia-reach-4th-final-in-a-row-450019">U19 World Cup: Yash Dhull, Shaik Rasheed shine as India thrash Australia, reach 4th final in a row</a>

Opener Shikhar Dhawan and fellow batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer have tested positive for COVID-19, along with standby bowler Navdeep Saini and three members of the support staff.

Opener Mayank Agarwal has been added to the squad.

The matches in Ahmedabad will be played behind closed doors, while the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata will operate with 75% capacity because of the pandemic.

Four India players and three members of their support staff have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their limited-overs home series against West Indies, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday.

Four India players and three members of their support staff have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their limited-overs home series against West Indies, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday. The tour is scheduled to get underway on Sunday with the first of the three one-dayers in Ahmedabad which will be followed by an equal number of Twenty20 Internationals in Kolkata. "The BCCI Medical team is handling the positive cases and they will remain in isolation till complete recovery is attained," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement. Read Also | U19 World Cup: Yash Dhull, Shaik Rasheed shine as India thrash Australia, reach 4th final in a row Opener Shikhar Dhawan and fellow batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer have tested positive for COVID-19, along with standby bowler Navdeep Saini and three members of the support staff. Opener Mayank Agarwal has been added to the squad. The matches in Ahmedabad will be played behind closed doors, while the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata will operate with 75% capacity because of the pandemic.

India vs West Indies: COVID-19 scares Rohit Sharma-led Indian camp before Windies ODIs

The BCCI has had a tough time to host the last two IPL seasons. IPL 2020 was held entirely in the UAE whereas the IPL 2021 season took place in two halves, in India and the Middle East. While the 2020 edition was delayed by over five&nbsp;months due to the Covid-19 virus, the previous edition was also severely affected when at mid-way the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the second wave of Covid-19 in India.

The second half of IPL 14 finally took place in late 2021 in the UAE. Hence, all eyes are on the BCCI as to where they will host the 15th edition. Amid the current Covid-19 wave slowing down in the country and restrictions being lifted nationwide, BCCI is all but set to host the upcoming season in India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-to-pat-cummins-final-list-of-players-with-highest-base-price-of-rs-2-crore-for-ipl-mega-auction-449664">Ishan Kishan to Pat Cummins: Final list of players with highest base price of Rs 2 crore for IPL mega auction</a>

A BCCI official, on the matter, confirmed that the league will 100% be held in the country. The official told the&nbsp;Indian Express, "It will be in India,” on being asked the burning question. On the other hand, the ten franchises have urged the board to finalise the venue of the league ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, the auction will be held in mid-February in Bengaluru.

Regarding the venus of IPL 2022, many reports&nbsp;suggested that BCCI have kept Maharashtra as an option for the league stages&nbsp;-- taking two or three venues into account -- along with Ahmedabad to host the playoffs.&nbsp;

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>

Earlier, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah had stated that the board will leave 'no stone unturned'&nbsp;to host the entire forthcoming season in the country.

"I can tell you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that IPL stays in India. The BCCI has not compromised on the health and safety of its stakeholders in the past and will concurrently work on Plan B since the COVID-19 situation with new variants remains fluid. The mega IPL Auction will take place on February 12-13th and we will lock in venues before that," BCCI secretary Jay Shah had earlier confirmed in a statement.

The BCCI has had a tough time to host the last two IPL seasons. IPL 2020 was held entirely in the UAE whereas the IPL 2021 season took place in two halves, in India and the Middle East.

The BCCI has had a tough time to host the last two IPL seasons. IPL 2020 was held entirely in the UAE whereas the IPL 2021 season took place in two halves, in India and the Middle East. While the 2020 edition was delayed by over five months due to the Covid-19 virus, the previous edition was also severely affected when at mid-way the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the second wave of Covid-19 in India. The second half of IPL 14 finally took place in late 2021 in the UAE. Hence, all eyes are on the BCCI as to where they will host the 15th edition. Amid the current Covid-19 wave slowing down in the country and restrictions being lifted nationwide, BCCI is all but set to host the upcoming season in India. ALSO READ | Ishan Kishan to Pat Cummins: Final list of players with highest base price of Rs 2 crore for IPL mega auction A BCCI official, on the matter, confirmed that the league will 100% be held in the country. The official told the Indian Express, "It will be in India,” on being asked the burning question. On the other hand, the ten franchises have urged the board to finalise the venue of the league ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, the auction will be held in mid-February in Bengaluru. Regarding the venus of IPL 2022, many reports suggested that BCCI have kept Maharashtra as an option for the league stages -- taking two or three venues into account -- along with Ahmedabad to host the playoffs. ALSO READ | Not Warner or Dhawan! Chopra predicts Indian youngster as 'most expensive opener' in IPL 2022 auction Earlier, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah had stated that the board will leave 'no stone unturned' to host the entire forthcoming season in the country. "I can tell you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that IPL stays in India. The BCCI has not compromised on the health and safety of its stakeholders in the past and will concurrently work on Plan B since the COVID-19 situation with new variants remains fluid. The mega IPL Auction will take place on February 12-13th and we will lock in venues before that," BCCI secretary Jay Shah had earlier confirmed in a statement.

IPL 2022: Mega event to be held in India; franchises eager for BCCI to finalise venues - Report

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

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;

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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

Red ball domestic cricket in India will make a much-awaited return after two years when the league stage of the Ranji Trophy is held from February 16 to March 5, as per the revised scheduled prepared by the BCCI.

The BCCI was forced to postpone the premier domestic tournament due to rising COVID-19 cases in the country. It was originally scheduled to start from January 13. The tournament couldn't be conducted last year due to the pandemic.

BCCI sources told PTI that the likely venues for the 38-team event are Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Trivandrum, Cuttack, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Baroda and Rajkot, which means nine separate bio-bubbles will be created.

The format has been tweaked and there will be eight groups of four teams each with the plate group comprising six teams. 
Teams which fail to advance to the next stage will end up playing only three games compared to five in the original format, effectively impacting the players' match fee.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-is-just-a-honour-gautam-gambhir-feels-nothing-changes-for-virat-kohli-post-captaincy-tenure-449283">It is just a honour: Gautam Gambhir feels nothing changes for Virat Kohli post captaincy tenure</a>

No red ball domestic cricket has taken place in India since the Ranji Trophy final in March 2020. Domestic cricketers, who were compensated for cancellation of Ranji Trophy last season, had expressed elation when BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced last week that the red ball event will be held in two phases. The knockouts will be held in June.

The Ranji Trophy, which was cancelled for the first time ever in its rich history, is crucial not only for the financial security of the players, match officials and groundsmen, but it is also the backbone of Indian cricket. 
The lack of red ball cricket was making the players desperate with some of them using the uncertain period to play club cricket in the UK.

"Every domestic cricketer in the country is not thinking about the league phase or knockouts, no one is thinking about bubble or COVID, they just want to play.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/talking-about-it-since-kapil-dev-gautam-gambhir-urges-india-to-move-on-from-search-of-a-pace-all-rounder-449287">Talking about it since Kapil Dev: Gautam Gambhir urges India to move on from search of a pace all-rounder</a>

"Playing is everything right now and rest will follow," star Saurashtra batter Sheldon Jackson told PTI last week following the announcement.

The competition also poses a big logistical challenge for the BCCI amid the pandemic. The bio-security bubbles during the white ball competitions earlier in the season were not strict enough and more vigilance will be needed for a smooth conduct of the tournament.&nbsp;

Red ball domestic cricket in India will make a much-awaited return after two years when the league stage of the Ranji Trophy is held from February 16 to March 5, as per the revised scheduled prepared by the BCCI.

Red ball domestic cricket in India will make a much-awaited return after two years when the league stage of the Ranji Trophy is held from February 16 to March 5, as per the revised scheduled prepared by the BCCI. The BCCI was forced to postpone the premier domestic tournament due to rising COVID-19 cases in the country. It was originally scheduled to start from January 13. The tournament couldn't be conducted last year due to the pandemic. BCCI sources told PTI that the likely venues for the 38-team event are Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Trivandrum, Cuttack, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Baroda and Rajkot, which means nine separate bio-bubbles will be created. The format has been tweaked and there will be eight groups of four teams each with the plate group comprising six teams. Teams which fail to advance to the next stage will end up playing only three games compared to five in the original format, effectively impacting the players' match fee. Read Also | It is just a honour: Gautam Gambhir feels nothing changes for Virat Kohli post captaincy tenure No red ball domestic cricket has taken place in India since the Ranji Trophy final in March 2020. Domestic cricketers, who were compensated for cancellation of Ranji Trophy last season, had expressed elation when BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced last week that the red ball event will be held in two phases. The knockouts will be held in June. The Ranji Trophy, which was cancelled for the first time ever in its rich history, is crucial not only for the financial security of the players, match officials and groundsmen, but it is also the backbone of Indian cricket. The lack of red ball cricket was making the players desperate with some of them using the uncertain period to play club cricket in the UK. "Every domestic cricketer in the country is not thinking about the league phase or knockouts, no one is thinking about bubble or COVID, they just want to play. Read Also | Talking about it since Kapil Dev: Gautam Gambhir urges India to move on from search of a pace all-rounder "Playing is everything right now and rest will follow," star Saurashtra batter Sheldon Jackson told PTI last week following the announcement. The competition also poses a big logistical challenge for the BCCI amid the pandemic. The bio-security bubbles during the white ball competitions earlier in the season were not strict enough and more vigilance will be needed for a smooth conduct of the tournament.

Ranji Trophy league phase to take place from February 16 to March 5

Team India is now gearing up for the white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies at home. The national side ended a disastrous tour of South Africa, where the senior team lost the three Tests 2-1 but were whitewashed in the preceding three ODIs.

During the ODIs, the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, KL Rahul (who was the stand-in captain) and the middle and lower-order failed to do anything extra ordinary. After the flop show in South Africa, the Men in Blue will now look to return back to winning ways versus the West Indies team.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-has-won-like-ms-dhoni-former-wi-skipper-heaps-praise-on-indias-white-ball-captain-448538">Rohit Sharma has won like MS Dhoni: Former WI skipper heaps praise on India's white-ball captain</a>

Prior to the series, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has issued warning to key bowler Yuzi Chahal to be among wickets after the flop show in SA. "You expect Chahal to take wickets in the middle overs but he wasn't as successful. As a captain, I would expect this from Chahal because he's playing for so many years. These are wickets where there is spin and bounce (talking about the ODI series in South Africa),” Parthiv said on&nbsp;Cricbuzz.

“Chahal will be under pressure. If he doesn't take wickets, there are players like Rahul Chahar who was picked ahead of him in the T20 World Cup, and Ravi Bishnoi as well, who has been producing consistent performances. I believe both, India and Chahal will have to think about this because his main role in the team is to take wickets in the middle overs. If he doesn't even bowl 10 overs on a wicket that assists spin (Cape Town ODI), it shows that he didn't meet the expectations," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-announces-rohit-led-india-squad-for-wi-series-jasprit-bumrah-md-shami-rested-jadeja-misses-out-447930">BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out</a>

Chahal returned with only 2 wickets at a disappointing average of 73.50 during the forgettable ODI series in the African nation. With the likes of Chahar, Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar in the mix for the WI white-ball series, Yuzi Chahal will certainly feel the pressure to deliver. Will he regain his form? Only time will tell...

Squads for WI series:

ODI squad:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (Capt), KL Rahul (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), D Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan

T20I squad: Rohit Sharma(Capt),KL Rahul (vc),Ishan Kishan,Virat Kohli,Shreyas Iyer,Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk),Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel

Team India is now gearing up for the white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies at home. The national side ended a disastrous tour of South Africa, where the senior team lost the three Tests 2-1 but were whitewashed in the preceding three ODIs.

Team India is now gearing up for the white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies at home. The national side ended a disastrous tour of South Africa, where the senior team lost the three Tests 2-1 but were whitewashed in the preceding three ODIs. During the ODIs, the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, KL Rahul (who was the stand-in captain) and the middle and lower-order failed to do anything extra ordinary. After the flop show in South Africa, the Men in Blue will now look to return back to winning ways versus the West Indies team. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma has won like MS Dhoni: Former WI skipper heaps praise on India's white-ball captain Prior to the series, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has issued warning to key bowler Yuzi Chahal to be among wickets after the flop show in SA. "You expect Chahal to take wickets in the middle overs but he wasn't as successful. As a captain, I would expect this from Chahal because he's playing for so many years. These are wickets where there is spin and bounce (talking about the ODI series in South Africa),” Parthiv said on Cricbuzz. “Chahal will be under pressure. If he doesn't take wickets, there are players like Rahul Chahar who was picked ahead of him in the T20 World Cup, and Ravi Bishnoi as well, who has been producing consistent performances. I believe both, India and Chahal will have to think about this because his main role in the team is to take wickets in the middle overs. If he doesn't even bowl 10 overs on a wicket that assists spin (Cape Town ODI), it shows that he didn't meet the expectations," he added. ALSO READ | BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out Chahal returned with only 2 wickets at a disappointing average of 73.50 during the forgettable ODI series in the African nation. With the likes of Chahar, Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar in the mix for the WI white-ball series, Yuzi Chahal will certainly feel the pressure to deliver. Will he regain his form? Only time will tell... Squads for WI series: ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), KL Rahul (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), D Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan T20I squad: Rohit Sharma(Capt),KL Rahul (vc),Ishan Kishan,Virat Kohli,Shreyas Iyer,Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk),Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel

'Would expect him to be among wickets': Parthiv Patel issues warning to key bowler after flop show vs SA

Team India are without a Test captain ever since Virat Kohli resigned from the top post following the 2-1 series loss to South Africa, in the rainbow nation, early this year. Under Kohli, India achieved wholesome success in the red-ball format and, hence, his successor will be on his toes to match his credentials.&nbsp;

As of now, India have quite a few options in the form of Rohit Sharma (vice-captain in Tests and the white-ball skipper), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. While Rohit is leading the race and a strong contender to take over from Kohli, ex-India selector and keeper-batter Saba Karim opined on why Rohit can miss out on becoming the all-format captain.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pick-up-the-phone-and-talk-kapil-dev-opines-on-virat-kohli-vs-bcci-row-says-put-country-team-before-self-447554">Pick up the phone and talk: Kapil Dev opines on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row, says 'put country, team before self'</a>

Karim explained on the Khelneeti podcast, "Even if Rohit Sharma is appointed captain in all three formats, it will be a short-term assignment. 2023 is a very important year for Indian cricket. We have the 50-over World Cup and the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle will also end. They need to look at this phase first. They need to groom someone who plays all three formats. Right now, Rohit is the only option because no one like a KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant has been groomed."

He further asserted, "He has earned that respect from his performances. His presence and work ethic is commanding. The England Test series was a challenge for Rohit but he conquered that as well. Keeping all this aside, the biggest challenge for Rohit is whether he is fit."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-announces-rohit-led-india-squad-for-wi-series-jasprit-bumrah-md-shami-rested-jadeja-misses-out-447930">BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out</a>

“Leaving alone leading, even playing all three formats is a huge task for him. He has been injured multiple times and even now he is returning from rehab. The physio, trainers and everyone involved with his fitness needs to be consulted before making such a big decision. We cannot have a captain who gets injured at the start of a Test series," Karim added.

It will be interesting to see who succeeds Kohli as the red-ball captain. Under Kohli, India won their maiden Test series in Australia, achieved an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the incomplete five-match series in the United Kingdom in mid-2021 and dominated at home. India also played the inaugural WTC final under his leadership. Thus, his successor will be eager to take the team forward in a similar fashion.

India's next red-ball assignment is against Sri Lanka, i.e. a two-match series at home in February-March, and the national selectors will name the next Test captain prior to the series.

Team India are without a Test captain ever since Virat Kohli resigned from the top post following the 2-1 series loss to South Africa, in the rainbow nation, early this year.

Team India are without a Test captain ever since Virat Kohli resigned from the top post following the 2-1 series loss to South Africa, in the rainbow nation, early this year. Under Kohli, India achieved wholesome success in the red-ball format and, hence, his successor will be on his toes to match his credentials. As of now, India have quite a few options in the form of Rohit Sharma (vice-captain in Tests and the white-ball skipper), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. While Rohit is leading the race and a strong contender to take over from Kohli, ex-India selector and keeper-batter Saba Karim opined on why Rohit can miss out on becoming the all-format captain. ALSO READ | Pick up the phone and talk: Kapil Dev opines on Virat Kohli vs BCCI row, says 'put country, team before self' Karim explained on the Khelneeti podcast, "Even if Rohit Sharma is appointed captain in all three formats, it will be a short-term assignment. 2023 is a very important year for Indian cricket. We have the 50-over World Cup and the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle will also end. They need to look at this phase first. They need to groom someone who plays all three formats. Right now, Rohit is the only option because no one like a KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant has been groomed." He further asserted, "He has earned that respect from his performances. His presence and work ethic is commanding. The England Test series was a challenge for Rohit but he conquered that as well. Keeping all this aside, the biggest challenge for Rohit is whether he is fit." ALSO READ | BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out “Leaving alone leading, even playing all three formats is a huge task for him. He has been injured multiple times and even now he is returning from rehab. The physio, trainers and everyone involved with his fitness needs to be consulted before making such a big decision. We cannot have a captain who gets injured at the start of a Test series," Karim added. It will be interesting to see who succeeds Kohli as the red-ball captain. Under Kohli, India won their maiden Test series in Australia, achieved an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the incomplete five-match series in the United Kingdom in mid-2021 and dominated at home. India also played the inaugural WTC final under his leadership. Thus, his successor will be eager to take the team forward in a similar fashion. India's next red-ball assignment is against Sri Lanka, i.e. a two-match series at home in February-March, and the national selectors will name the next Test captain prior to the series.

Can't have someone who gets injured at the start of series: Ex-India selector on Rohit Sharma as Test captain

A lot of things have transpired in Indian cricket following their tour of England and IPL 2021. Since the T20 World Cup debacle, in the UAE, Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach ended and he was replaced by Rahul Dravid. With Dravid stepping in, plethora of changes have taken place in the leadership group.&nbsp;

While Virat Kohli was set to step down as the T20I captain post the World Cup, he was sacked as the ODI captain with Rohit Sharma replacing him as the white-ball skipper. During the South Africa tour, Kohli also stepped down as the Test captain following the red-ball series. Thus, the upcoming months are a tough and dicey period for Indian cricket, which is undergoing a transition in the senior men's team.

Many veteran players such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, etc. are also fighting for their spots due to intense competition with the younger bunch of players and their own dip in form. Thus, Shastri opened up on the transition period in Indian cricket and shared a word of advice for his successor Dravid.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/itll-do-him-a-world-of-good-ex-head-coach-ravi-shastri-suggests-how-virat-kohli-can-rejuvenate-his-form-448400">It'll do him a world of good: Ex-head coach Ravi Shastri suggests how Virat Kohli can rejuvenate his form</a>

Talking on Shoaib Akhtar's Youtube channel, Shastri said, “It’s a very important period for Indian cricket, there will be a period of transition in the next 8-10 months. It’s important to identify the right kind of players who will take you forward in 4-5 years. I always believe that there should be a mix between youth and experience.

"Sometimes change is needed if you aim for the future. This is the time. They need to look for youth in the next six months, need to be quick. If you stick with the same for too long a period then the adjustment will be very difficult," he opined.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sourav-ganguly-told-ravi-shastri-boss-its-time-to-go-personal-attacks-have-hurt-india-ex-pakistan-captain-448343">Sourav Ganguly told Ravi Shastri 'boss it's time to go', personal attacks have hurt India: Ex-Pakistan captain</a>

Dravid-Rohit-led Indian team is currently gearing up for their upcoming white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies at home. They will play three ODIs and T20Is, each, before hosting Sri Lanka in two Tests and three T20Is. The action will then shift to the IPL 2022 edition.

A lot of things have transpired in Indian cricket following their tour of England and IPL 2021. Since the T20 World Cup debacle, in the UAE, Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach ended and he was replaced by Rahul Dravid.

A lot of things have transpired in Indian cricket following their tour of England and IPL 2021. Since the T20 World Cup debacle, in the UAE, Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach ended and he was replaced by Rahul Dravid. With Dravid stepping in, plethora of changes have taken place in the leadership group. While Virat Kohli was set to step down as the T20I captain post the World Cup, he was sacked as the ODI captain with Rohit Sharma replacing him as the white-ball skipper. During the South Africa tour, Kohli also stepped down as the Test captain following the red-ball series. Thus, the upcoming months are a tough and dicey period for Indian cricket, which is undergoing a transition in the senior men's team. Many veteran players such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, etc. are also fighting for their spots due to intense competition with the younger bunch of players and their own dip in form. Thus, Shastri opened up on the transition period in Indian cricket and shared a word of advice for his successor Dravid. ALSO READ | It'll do him a world of good: Ex-head coach Ravi Shastri suggests how Virat Kohli can rejuvenate his form Talking on Shoaib Akhtar's Youtube channel, Shastri said, “It’s a very important period for Indian cricket, there will be a period of transition in the next 8-10 months. It’s important to identify the right kind of players who will take you forward in 4-5 years. I always believe that there should be a mix between youth and experience. "Sometimes change is needed if you aim for the future. This is the time. They need to look for youth in the next six months, need to be quick. If you stick with the same for too long a period then the adjustment will be very difficult," he opined. ALSO READ | Sourav Ganguly told Ravi Shastri 'boss it's time to go', personal attacks have hurt India: Ex-Pakistan captain Dravid-Rohit-led Indian team is currently gearing up for their upcoming white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies at home. They will play three ODIs and T20Is, each, before hosting Sri Lanka in two Tests and three T20Is. The action will then shift to the IPL 2022 edition.

'If you stick with the same for too long.....': Ravi Shastri shares word of advice for successor Rahul Dravid

A lot has changed in Indian cricket in the past few months, especially in the senior men's team. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the limited-overs captain, after Virat Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked as the ODI skipper.

After the India-South Africa series, in the rainbow nation early this year, Kohli also resigned as the Test captain. Many believe his fallout with the BCCI and India's T20 World Cup debacle were the reasons behind the 33-year-old resigning from captaincy altogether. Moreover, Kohli's own form hasn't been as per his standards, even though he continues to contribute with vital fifties across formats.

Thus, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri opened up on Kohli's decision of quitting as Test captain and also suggested how the right-hander can come back to his usual best with the bat.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sourav-ganguly-told-ravi-shastri-boss-its-time-to-go-personal-attacks-have-hurt-india-ex-pakistan-captain-448343">Sourav Ganguly told Ravi Shastri 'boss it's time to go', personal attacks have hurt India: Ex-Pakistan captain</a>

Speaking to Shoaib Akhtar for the former Pakistan cricketer's YouTube channel, Shastri opined on Kohli's recent decisions and said,&nbsp;"The pressure started building. People were looking for opportunities. No human being is perfect. I have seen greats of the game quit captaincy to focus on their cricket whether it's Gavaskar, Tendulkar or MS. He played 94 (90) Tests, he could have easily played 10 or 15 more matches but he gave it up.

"He realises he is 33, he realises he has 5 years of good cricket ahead of him. If he can calm down, focus on his batting, take one game at a time, probably take a break from the game as well, I think, if he goes out for 2-3 months, if he takes a break from one series, it will do him a world of good," Shastri further suggested.

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>

He added, "I think, with Virat also he realised it was getting to him, especially in this bio-bubble environment, leading in all 3 formats of the game. You can't take a break also. He did the right thing by quitting from white-ball cricket. When it came to Test cricket, I was a little surprised because for the last 5 years we were the No. 1 team in the longest format of the game.

"After one series defeat, it doesn't mean he had to quit captaincy. At the end of the day, I always respect a cricketer's judgement because I don't know what he is feeling. Sometimes when it comes to here (neck), your body tells you 'enough'."

Kohli will next be seen in the forthcoming India-West Indies ODIs and T20Is at home. The WI tour of India commences on February 6 with the three ODIs to be held in Ahmedabad whereas the T20Is will take place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

A lot has changed in Indian cricket in the past few months, especially in the senior men's team. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the limited-overs captain, after Virat Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked as the ODI skipper.

A lot has changed in Indian cricket in the past few months, especially in the senior men's team. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the limited-overs captain, after Virat Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked as the ODI skipper. After the India-South Africa series, in the rainbow nation early this year, Kohli also resigned as the Test captain. Many believe his fallout with the BCCI and India's T20 World Cup debacle were the reasons behind the 33-year-old resigning from captaincy altogether. Moreover, Kohli's own form hasn't been as per his standards, even though he continues to contribute with vital fifties across formats. Thus, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri opened up on Kohli's decision of quitting as Test captain and also suggested how the right-hander can come back to his usual best with the bat. ALSO READ | Sourav Ganguly told Ravi Shastri 'boss it's time to go', personal attacks have hurt India: Ex-Pakistan captain Speaking to Shoaib Akhtar for the former Pakistan cricketer's YouTube channel, Shastri opined on Kohli's recent decisions and said, "The pressure started building. People were looking for opportunities. No human being is perfect. I have seen greats of the game quit captaincy to focus on their cricket whether it's Gavaskar, Tendulkar or MS. He played 94 (90) Tests, he could have easily played 10 or 15 more matches but he gave it up. "He realises he is 33, he realises he has 5 years of good cricket ahead of him. If he can calm down, focus on his batting, take one game at a time, probably take a break from the game as well, I think, if he goes out for 2-3 months, if he takes a break from one series, it will do him a world of good," Shastri further suggested. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Rishabh Pant: Top 5 contenders who can succeed Virat Kohli as India's Test captain He added, "I think, with Virat also he realised it was getting to him, especially in this bio-bubble environment, leading in all 3 formats of the game. You can't take a break also. He did the right thing by quitting from white-ball cricket. When it came to Test cricket, I was a little surprised because for the last 5 years we were the No. 1 team in the longest format of the game. "After one series defeat, it doesn't mean he had to quit captaincy. At the end of the day, I always respect a cricketer's judgement because I don't know what he is feeling. Sometimes when it comes to here (neck), your body tells you 'enough'." Kohli will next be seen in the forthcoming India-West Indies ODIs and T20Is at home. The WI tour of India commences on February 6 with the three ODIs to be held in Ahmedabad whereas the T20Is will take place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

It'll do him a world of good: Ex-head coach Ravi Shastri suggests how Virat Kohli can rejuvenate his form

The senior Indian men's cricket team is going through a transition period of late. While Virat Kohli was succeeded by Rohit Sharma as India's white-ball captain, the 33-year-old Kohli resigned as the Test captain as well on January 15, a day after the national side went down to South Africa in the three Tests in the rainbow nation.

After Kohli's resignation, all eyes are now on who will succeed him as the Test captain. Under Kohli, India had a great run in the red-ball format. The national team dominated in whites at home, won a Test series in Australia, ensured an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the United Kingdom during the incomplete five Tests in mid-2021 and ended as runners-up in the inaugural WTC final.

Hence, Kohli's successor will have a huge task to take the team forward. At present, there are five contenders to succeed Kohli, in the form of Rohit, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant along with R Ashwin's name also doing the rounds in some discussions.

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>

Speaking on Ex-Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar's Youtube channel, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri also joined the bandwagon. While he had earlier stated that Rohit can take over in whites, Shastri pointed out why he doesn't think Bumrah will get the nod. He&nbsp;said, "No, I never thought of it. In India we've had enough. And I never thought in that fashion at that time. In India it's going to be difficult for a fast bowler to captain. A fast bowler captain has to be an all-rounder basically or he has to be a Bob Willis kind of captain who in conditions where they play, a fast bowler will always be in the game, he will be aggressive."

"He'll be looking to win games and take wickets. Very rarely has a fast bowler been there for too long. Unless he is a genuine all-rounder like Kapil, Imran or Sir Garfield," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-cant-harbhajan-names-virat-kohlis-successor-as-test-captain-if-rohit-sharma-declines-offer-448070">'Why can't...' - Harbhajan names Virat Kohli's successor as Test captain if Rohit Sharma declines offer</a>

Speaking to&nbsp;Sports Tak,&nbsp;recently Harbhajan Singh had backed Bumrah to take the top job and said,&nbsp;"According to me, Rohit Sharma should be the captain of all three formats. If he is totally fit then he should captain all three formats. If Rohit feels that he doesn't want to captain all three formats. Then in Test cricket, I am on Jasprit Bumrah's side. He should be given the captaincy because a fast bowler is always thought that they think too big."

It will be interesting to see who succeeds Kohli. India's next red-ball assignment is at home, versus Sri Lanka starting in end February.&nbsp;

The senior Indian men's cricket team is going through a transition period of late. While Virat Kohli was succeeded by Rohit Sharma as India's white-ball captain, the 33-year-old Kohli resigned as the Test captain as well on January 15, a day after the national side went down to South Africa in the three Tests in the rainbow nation.

The senior Indian men's cricket team is going through a transition period of late. While Virat Kohli was succeeded by Rohit Sharma as India's white-ball captain, the 33-year-old Kohli resigned as the Test captain as well on January 15, a day after the national side went down to South Africa in the three Tests in the rainbow nation. After Kohli's resignation, all eyes are now on who will succeed him as the Test captain. Under Kohli, India had a great run in the red-ball format. The national team dominated in whites at home, won a Test series in Australia, ensured an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the United Kingdom during the incomplete five Tests in mid-2021 and ended as runners-up in the inaugural WTC final. Hence, Kohli's successor will have a huge task to take the team forward. At present, there are five contenders to succeed Kohli, in the form of Rohit, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant along with R Ashwin's name also doing the rounds in some discussions. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Rishabh Pant: Top 5 contenders who can succeed Virat Kohli as India's Test captain Speaking on Ex-Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar's Youtube channel, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri also joined the bandwagon. While he had earlier stated that Rohit can take over in whites, Shastri pointed out why he doesn't think Bumrah will get the nod. He said, "No, I never thought of it. In India we've had enough. And I never thought in that fashion at that time. In India it's going to be difficult for a fast bowler to captain. A fast bowler captain has to be an all-rounder basically or he has to be a Bob Willis kind of captain who in conditions where they play, a fast bowler will always be in the game, he will be aggressive." "He'll be looking to win games and take wickets. Very rarely has a fast bowler been there for too long. Unless he is a genuine all-rounder like Kapil, Imran or Sir Garfield," he added. ALSO READ | 'Why can't...' - Harbhajan names Virat Kohli's successor as Test captain if Rohit Sharma declines offer Speaking to Sports Tak, recently Harbhajan Singh had backed Bumrah to take the top job and said, "According to me, Rohit Sharma should be the captain of all three formats. If he is totally fit then he should captain all three formats. If Rohit feels that he doesn't want to captain all three formats. Then in Test cricket, I am on Jasprit Bumrah's side. He should be given the captaincy because a fast bowler is always thought that they think too big." It will be interesting to see who succeeds Kohli. India's next red-ball assignment is at home, versus Sri Lanka starting in end February.

Should Jasprit Bumrah succeed Virat Kohli as India's Test captain? Ex-head coach Ravi Shastri answers

From Rohit Sharma to Rishabh Pant: Top 5 contenders who can succeed Virat Kohli as India's Test captain

Virat Kohli, on January 15, announced that he is stepping down as Team India's Test captain. This came as a huge shocker for the entire cricketing fraternity. The decision was announced only a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus South Africa, in the rainbow nation.

While Kohli had already resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked from the top post in ODIs, the 33-year-old was expected to carry on as the Test skipper for few more years. Under him, India dominated at home, won their maiden Test series on Australian soil, earned an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the incomplete five Tests in the United Kingdom last year and also played the inaugural WTC final.&nbsp;

Thus, all eyes are now on the national selectors as they have a huge task to name Kohli's successor in whites. While Rohit Sharma is leading the race, already being in charge of the limited-overs side, his fitness remains a concern. Other candidates are KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant. Recently, star pacer Mohammed Shami also opined on the captaincy debate and said 'who doesn't want to captain India'.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-cant-harbhajan-names-virat-kohlis-successor-as-test-captain-if-rohit-sharma-declines-offer-448070">'Why can't...' - Harbhajan names Virat Kohli's successor as Test captain if Rohit Sharma declines offer</a>

Speaking to&nbsp;India.com&nbsp;on captaincy, Shami said: "I am not thinking too much about captaincy at the moment. I am ready for whatever responsibility is given to me. To be honest, who doesn’t want to captain the India team but it is not the only thing and I am looking to contribute in whichever manner possible for the team.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shastri-opines-on-kohli-rohit-and-dhonis-personalities-reveals-whose-phone-number-he-doesnt-have-448040">Shastri opines on Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni's personalities, reveals whose phone number he doesn't have</a>

It will be interesting to see if Shami is considered for the top job. Anil Kumble remains the last Indian player to have captained the national side in any format. Kumble led India in Tests for around a year before being succeeded by MS Dhoni. Since then, bowlers have not been preferred to take up the captaincy role.

Will the same happen this time around? Only time will tell...

Virat Kohli, on January 15, announced that he is stepping down as Team India's Test captain. This came as a huge shocker for the entire cricketing fraternity. The decision was announced only a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus South Africa, in the rainbow nation.

Virat Kohli, on January 15, announced that he is stepping down as Team India's Test captain. This came as a huge shocker for the entire cricketing fraternity. The decision was announced only a day after India lost the three-match Test series versus South Africa, in the rainbow nation. While Kohli had already resigned as the T20I captain and was sacked from the top post in ODIs, the 33-year-old was expected to carry on as the Test skipper for few more years. Under him, India dominated at home, won their maiden Test series on Australian soil, earned an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the incomplete five Tests in the United Kingdom last year and also played the inaugural WTC final. Thus, all eyes are now on the national selectors as they have a huge task to name Kohli's successor in whites. While Rohit Sharma is leading the race, already being in charge of the limited-overs side, his fitness remains a concern. Other candidates are KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant. Recently, star pacer Mohammed Shami also opined on the captaincy debate and said 'who doesn't want to captain India'. ALSO READ | 'Why can't...' - Harbhajan names Virat Kohli's successor as Test captain if Rohit Sharma declines offer Speaking to India.com on captaincy, Shami said: "I am not thinking too much about captaincy at the moment. I am ready for whatever responsibility is given to me. To be honest, who doesn’t want to captain the India team but it is not the only thing and I am looking to contribute in whichever manner possible for the team.” ALSO READ | Shastri opines on Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni's personalities, reveals whose phone number he doesn't have It will be interesting to see if Shami is considered for the top job. Anil Kumble remains the last Indian player to have captained the national side in any format. Kumble led India in Tests for around a year before being succeeded by MS Dhoni. Since then, bowlers have not been preferred to take up the captaincy role. Will the same happen this time around? Only time will tell...

Who doesn't want to captain Team India, says star India player as Test captaincy spot up for grabs

Indian senior men's cricket team is going through a transition phase. While Virat Kohli gave up T20I captaincy after the World Cup, something which he had already revealed prior to the showpiece event, he was sacked as the ODI skipper; making Rohit Sharma the limited-overs captain altogether.

Kohli was expected to remain the Test captain for quite some time, however, the 33-year-old resigned from the top post in red-ball cricket as well, following India's 2-1 series loss to South Africa in the African nation. Thus, Kohli's decision surprised one and all and left the entire cricketing fraternity shocked. Under him, India achieved sizeable success at home and overseas. Hence, his successor will have to strive hard to match his overall success.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shastri-opines-on-kohli-rohit-and-dhonis-personalities-reveals-whose-phone-number-he-doesnt-have-448040">Shastri opines on Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni's personalities, reveals whose phone number he doesn't have</a>

Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh opened up on who should succeed Kohli as the Test captain. Citing Kapil Dev's example, Bhajji mentioned Jasprit Bumrah's name if Rohit doesn't agree to captain in all formats. Speaking to&nbsp;Sports Tak, Bhajji said,&nbsp;"According to me, Rohit Sharma should be the captain of all three formats. If he is totally fit then he should captain all three formats. If Rohit feels that he doesn't want to captain all three formats. Then in Test cricket, I am on Jasprit Bumrah's side. He should be given the captaincy because a fast bowler is always thought that they think too big."

"Kapil Dev was also a bowler. Why can't a bowler be captain? I want to know this. Among match-winners in Team India, Jasprit Bumrah is better than them. How many matches Jasprit Bumrah has won us, probably only one bowler has done that. So Jasprit Bumrah for Test cricket captaincy if Rohit Sharma is not available," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-announces-rohit-led-india-squad-for-wi-series-jasprit-bumrah-md-shami-rested-jadeja-misses-out-447930">BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out</a>

The national selectors will have few more discussions before naming the next Test captain for Team India. As of now, there are some contenders in the form of Rohit, Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin. India's next Test series is against Sri Lanka, in end of February.&nbsp;

Indian senior men's cricket team is going through a transition phase. While Virat Kohli gave up T20I captaincy after the World Cup, something which he had already revealed prior to the showpiece event, he was sacked as the ODI skipper; making Rohit Sharma the limited-overs captain altogether.

Indian senior men's cricket team is going through a transition phase. While Virat Kohli gave up T20I captaincy after the World Cup, something which he had already revealed prior to the showpiece event, he was sacked as the ODI skipper; making Rohit Sharma the limited-overs captain altogether. Kohli was expected to remain the Test captain for quite some time, however, the 33-year-old resigned from the top post in red-ball cricket as well, following India's 2-1 series loss to South Africa in the African nation. Thus, Kohli's decision surprised one and all and left the entire cricketing fraternity shocked. Under him, India achieved sizeable success at home and overseas. Hence, his successor will have to strive hard to match his overall success. ALSO READ | Shastri opines on Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni's personalities, reveals whose phone number he doesn't have Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh opened up on who should succeed Kohli as the Test captain. Citing Kapil Dev's example, Bhajji mentioned Jasprit Bumrah's name if Rohit doesn't agree to captain in all formats. Speaking to Sports Tak, Bhajji said, "According to me, Rohit Sharma should be the captain of all three formats. If he is totally fit then he should captain all three formats. If Rohit feels that he doesn't want to captain all three formats. Then in Test cricket, I am on Jasprit Bumrah's side. He should be given the captaincy because a fast bowler is always thought that they think too big." "Kapil Dev was also a bowler. Why can't a bowler be captain? I want to know this. Among match-winners in Team India, Jasprit Bumrah is better than them. How many matches Jasprit Bumrah has won us, probably only one bowler has done that. So Jasprit Bumrah for Test cricket captaincy if Rohit Sharma is not available," he added. ALSO READ | BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out The national selectors will have few more discussions before naming the next Test captain for Team India. As of now, there are some contenders in the form of Rohit, Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin. India's next Test series is against Sri Lanka, in end of February.

'Why can't...' - Harbhajan names Virat Kohli's successor as Test captain if Rohit Sharma declines offer

The BCCI announced 18-member ODI and T20I squads for Team India's white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies on Wednesday (January 26). As it was reported earlier that Rohit Sharma had passed the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Bengaluru, Hitman has returned to the squad after missing the entire South Africa tour. Rohit was appointed as the white-ball captain in early December 2021, however, he missed leading the side in the three ODIs in South Africa due to hamstring injury. Nonetheless, he has returned as Rohit will gear up to play his first ODI series since early 2021.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, however, remained unfit and couldn't return&nbsp;to the line-up, failing to recovering from his knee injury.&nbsp;Selectors didn't include Hardik Panya as well, in any of the squads, as they aren't fully confident of his ability to deliver as an all-rounder due to fitness concerns. R Ashwin, meanwhile, is not in any squads&nbsp;for being unavailable for selection and the offie is undergoing treatment. Bhuvneshwar Kumar held onto his T20I spot&nbsp;but isn't in the scheme of things for ODIs.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-is-one-of-the-sharpest-cricket-minds-greg-chappell-heaps-praise-on-former-indian-captain-447839">MS Dhoni is one of the sharpest cricket minds: Greg Chappell heaps praise on former Indian captain</a>

In addition, there are some big updates with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami being rested. Limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul will be available from the second ODI onwards whereas spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel will feature only in the T20Is.

&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami have been rested from the series. 
KL Rahul will be available from 2nd ODI onwards. 
R Jadeja is undergoing his final stage of recovery post his knee injury and will not be available for the ODIs and T20Is. 
Axar Patel will be available for the T20Is.
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1486385548063555584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The biggest talking point is the addition of some domestic and IPL star players such as Deepak Hooda and Ravi Bishnoi. Hooda, Harshal Patel are&nbsp;named in the ODI and T20I squad, respectively,&nbsp;whereas Bishnoi is part of both ODIs and T20Is. Kuldeep Yadav also makes a return to the ODI setup. Pacers Md Siraj and&nbsp;Avesh Khan&nbsp;have been backed for both the white-balls series whereas Prasidh Krishna is part of the 50-over squad.&nbsp;Nonetheless, there was no room for Himachal's star Rishi Dhawan, who has had a stellar run in the domestic circuit of late.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/good-news-for-team-india-fans-rohit-sharma-clears-fitness-test-ahead-of-west-indies-series-report-447797">Good news for Team India fans! Rohit Sharma clears fitness test ahead of West Indies series: Report</a>

India will lock horns with West Indies in three ODIs and equal number of T20Is in early February,&nbsp;starting on the 6th. The ODIs will be held in Ahmedabad and the T20Is will take place in Kolkata. The BCCI had recently revised the schedule, to not have the ODIs clash with the IPL 2022 mega auction, and also narrowed down the total venues from six to two cities due to Covid-19 crisis.

Squad for WI series:

ODI squad:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (Capt), KL Rahul (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), D Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan

T20I squad: Rohit Sharma(Capt),KL Rahul (vc),Ishan Kishan,Virat Kohli,Shreyas Iyer,Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk),Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel

The BCCI announced 18-member ODI and T20I squads for Team India's white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies on Wednesday (January 26). As it was reported earlier that Rohit Sharma had passed the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Bengaluru, Hitman has returned to the squad after missing the entire South Africa tour.

The BCCI announced 18-member ODI and T20I squads for Team India's white-ball series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies on Wednesday (January 26). As it was reported earlier that Rohit Sharma had passed the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Bengaluru, Hitman has returned to the squad after missing the entire South Africa tour. Rohit was appointed as the white-ball captain in early December 2021, however, he missed leading the side in the three ODIs in South Africa due to hamstring injury. Nonetheless, he has returned as Rohit will gear up to play his first ODI series since early 2021. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, however, remained unfit and couldn't return to the line-up, failing to recovering from his knee injury. Selectors didn't include Hardik Panya as well, in any of the squads, as they aren't fully confident of his ability to deliver as an all-rounder due to fitness concerns. R Ashwin, meanwhile, is not in any squads for being unavailable for selection and the offie is undergoing treatment. Bhuvneshwar Kumar held onto his T20I spot but isn't in the scheme of things for ODIs. ALSO READ | MS Dhoni is one of the sharpest cricket minds: Greg Chappell heaps praise on former Indian captain In addition, there are some big updates with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami being rested. Limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul will be available from the second ODI onwards whereas spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel will feature only in the T20Is. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami have been rested from the series. KL Rahul will be available from 2nd ODI onwards. R Jadeja is undergoing his final stage of recovery post his knee injury and will not be available for the ODIs and T20Is. Axar Patel will be available for the T20Is. — BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2022 × The biggest talking point is the addition of some domestic and IPL star players such as Deepak Hooda and Ravi Bishnoi. Hooda, Harshal Patel are named in the ODI and T20I squad, respectively, whereas Bishnoi is part of both ODIs and T20Is. Kuldeep Yadav also makes a return to the ODI setup. Pacers Md Siraj and Avesh Khan have been backed for both the white-balls series whereas Prasidh Krishna is part of the 50-over squad. Nonetheless, there was no room for Himachal's star Rishi Dhawan, who has had a stellar run in the domestic circuit of late. ALSO READ | Good news for Team India fans! Rohit Sharma clears fitness test ahead of West Indies series: Report India will lock horns with West Indies in three ODIs and equal number of T20Is in early February, starting on the 6th. The ODIs will be held in Ahmedabad and the T20Is will take place in Kolkata. The BCCI had recently revised the schedule, to not have the ODIs clash with the IPL 2022 mega auction, and also narrowed down the total venues from six to two cities due to Covid-19 crisis. Squad for WI series: ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), KL Rahul (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), D Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan T20I squad: Rohit Sharma(Capt),KL Rahul (vc),Ishan Kishan,Virat Kohli,Shreyas Iyer,Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk),Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel

BCCI announces Rohit-led India squad for WI series; Jasprit Bumrah, Md Shami rested, Jadeja misses out

Former Indian head coach Greg Chappell has lavished huge praise on MS Dhoni, calling him as 'one of the sharpest cricket minds' he has ever encountered. Chappell coached the Rahul Dravid-led Team India for two years, from 2005-2007, and worked closely with the former Indian captain Dhoni.

Back then, Dhoni had just burst into the scene at the international level. Back then, Dhoni wasn't a finished product by any means, Chappell still remained impressed with his learning abilities and cricketing brain.&nbsp;

Chappell quoted Dhoni's example while lamenting the absence of natural environments that once played a huge part in developing and nurturing players in strong cricket nations.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/good-news-for-team-india-fans-rohit-sharma-clears-fitness-test-ahead-of-west-indies-series-report-447797">Good news for Team India fans! Rohit Sharma clears fitness test ahead of West Indies series: Report</a>

"The Indian subcontinent still has many towns where coaching facilities are rare and youngsters play in streets and on vacant land without the interference of formal coaching. This is where many of their current stars have learned the game," wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday.

"MS Dhoni, with whom I worked in India, is a good example of a batter who developed his talent and learned to play in this fashion. By competing against more experienced individuals on a variety of surfaces early in his development, Dhoni developed the decision-making and strategic skills that have set him apart from many of his peers. His is one of the sharpest cricket minds I have encountered."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/throwback-when-ms-dhoni-received-padma-bhushan-award-from-president-ram-nath-kovind-in-2018-watch-447404">THROWBACK: When MS Dhoni received Padma Bhushan award from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018 - Watch</a>

Dhoni lived upto Chappell's expectations following the Australian's ouster from the head coach position, in the aftermath of India's disastrous 2007 ODI World Cup campaign. The 39-year-old former Indian keeper-batter ended his illustrious international career with 17,266 runs, 16 tons, 829 dismissals, 359 sixes and led the national side to all three major ICC titles under his leadership tenure.

Former Indian head coach Greg Chappell has lavished huge praise on MS Dhoni, calling him as 'one of the sharpest cricket minds' he has ever encountered. Chappell coached the Rahul Dravid-led Team India for two years, from 2005-2007, and worked closely with the former Indian captain Dhoni.

Former Indian head coach Greg Chappell has lavished huge praise on MS Dhoni, calling him as 'one of the sharpest cricket minds' he has ever encountered. Chappell coached the Rahul Dravid-led Team India for two years, from 2005-2007, and worked closely with the former Indian captain Dhoni. Back then, Dhoni had just burst into the scene at the international level. Back then, Dhoni wasn't a finished product by any means, Chappell still remained impressed with his learning abilities and cricketing brain. Chappell quoted Dhoni's example while lamenting the absence of natural environments that once played a huge part in developing and nurturing players in strong cricket nations. ALSO READ | Good news for Team India fans! Rohit Sharma clears fitness test ahead of West Indies series: Report "The Indian subcontinent still has many towns where coaching facilities are rare and youngsters play in streets and on vacant land without the interference of formal coaching. This is where many of their current stars have learned the game," wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday. "MS Dhoni, with whom I worked in India, is a good example of a batter who developed his talent and learned to play in this fashion. By competing against more experienced individuals on a variety of surfaces early in his development, Dhoni developed the decision-making and strategic skills that have set him apart from many of his peers. His is one of the sharpest cricket minds I have encountered." ALSO READ | THROWBACK: When MS Dhoni received Padma Bhushan award from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018 - Watch Dhoni lived upto Chappell's expectations following the Australian's ouster from the head coach position, in the aftermath of India's disastrous 2007 ODI World Cup campaign. The 39-year-old former Indian keeper-batter ended his illustrious international career with 17,266 runs, 16 tons, 829 dismissals, 359 sixes and led the national side to all three major ICC titles under his leadership tenure.

MS Dhoni is one of the sharpest cricket minds: Greg Chappell heaps praise on former Indian captain

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