Former India captain MS Dhoni recently caught up with his old mate Yuvraj Singh sending cricket fans into a frenzy on social media. Dhoni and Yuvraj spent a number of years together in the Indian dressing room and were the vital cogs in the team's middle-order. The duo played an instrumental role in helping India attain several memorable wins across formats.

Dhoni and Yuvraj are regarded as two of the best finishers of the current generation and were the heroes of India's famous&nbsp; 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs. Yuvraj was the Man of the Tournament as his all-round heroics saw India bring an end to their 28-year-long wait for an ODI World Cup title in 2011 under Dhoni's captaincy.

As the legendary duo met for a shoot recently, Yuvraj shared a small clip of their meeting on his Instagram story and tagged Dhoni in it. The clip soon went viral on social media with fans getting nostalgic over the reunion of old mates.

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Yuvraj Singh's latest Instagram story:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yuvi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yuvi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSD</a> <a href="https://t.co/FdCWaR2tkF">pic.twitter.com/FdCWaR2tkF</a>
— StumpMic Cricket (@stumpmic_) <a href="https://twitter.com/stumpmic_/status/1467913119154556935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Meet up of Dhoni &amp; Yuvraj after a Long time... <a href="https://t.co/E1ByExs447">pic.twitter.com/E1ByExs447</a>
— CricketWithLove (@cricket_widlove) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricket_widlove/status/1467887547468632069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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While Yuvraj had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2019, Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the former India captain continues to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he leads the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been retained by the four-time champions once again ahead of the 2022 season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/still-remember-you-smashing-me-ajaz-patel-tells-sehwag-after-perfect-ten-former-india-opener-responds-434652">'Still remember you smashing me': Ajaz Patel tells Sehwag after perfect ten, former India opener responds</a>

Dhoni-led CSK to their fourth IPL crown in IPL 2021 as the Yellow Army staged a remarkable comeback after missing out on the playoffs last season. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders comprehensively in the final in Dubai to lift the elusive trophy for the fourth time as Dhoni yet again proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest captains of all time.

Dhoni has led CSK to a staggering nine finals and four titles in just twelve seasons while missing out on the top four only once. CSK have retained all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL mega auction and will be looking to build a strong team once again this time around.

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Former India captain MS Dhoni recently caught up with his old mate Yuvraj Singh sending cricket fans into a frenzy on social media. Dhoni and Yuvraj spent a number of years together in the Indian dressing room and were the vital cogs in the team's middle-order.

Former India captain MS Dhoni recently caught up with his old mate Yuvraj Singh sending cricket fans into a frenzy on social media. Dhoni and Yuvraj spent a number of years together in the Indian dressing room and were the vital cogs in the team's middle-order. The duo played an instrumental role in helping India attain several memorable wins across formats. Dhoni and Yuvraj are regarded as two of the best finishers of the current generation and were the heroes of India's famous 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs. Yuvraj was the Man of the Tournament as his all-round heroics saw India bring an end to their 28-year-long wait for an ODI World Cup title in 2011 under Dhoni's captaincy. As the legendary duo met for a shoot recently, Yuvraj shared a small clip of their meeting on his Instagram story and tagged Dhoni in it. The clip soon went viral on social media with fans getting nostalgic over the reunion of old mates. Yuvraj Singh's latest Instagram story:#Yuvi #MSD pic.twitter.com/FdCWaR2tkF — StumpMic Cricket (@stumpmic_) December 6, 2021 × Meet up of Dhoni & Yuvraj after a Long time... pic.twitter.com/E1ByExs447 — CricketWithLove (@cricket_widlove) December 6, 2021 × While Yuvraj had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2019, Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the former India captain continues to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he leads the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been retained by the four-time champions once again ahead of the 2022 season. Also Read: 'Still remember you smashing me': Ajaz Patel tells Sehwag after perfect ten, former India opener responds Dhoni-led CSK to their fourth IPL crown in IPL 2021 as the Yellow Army staged a remarkable comeback after missing out on the playoffs last season. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders comprehensively in the final in Dubai to lift the elusive trophy for the fourth time as Dhoni yet again proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest captains of all time. Dhoni has led CSK to a staggering nine finals and four titles in just twelve seasons while missing out on the top four only once. CSK have retained all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL mega auction and will be looking to build a strong team once again this time around.

2011 World Cup heroes reunite: MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh's meet-up makes cricket fans nostalgic - WATCH

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the Virat Kohli-led team for being the 'ambassador' of Test cricket and excelling in the longest format over the last few years. Many believe Test cricket is losing its sheen amid the rise of shorter formats like T20 and T10 cricket. However, the Indian team has embraced Test cricket and has been a force to reckon with when it comes to playing in whites.

India defeated New Zealand by a huge margin of 372 runs in the second Test between the two sides on Monday to clinch the two-match series 1-0. With the win, India went on top of the ICC Test rankings dethroning New Zealand from the no.1 spot.

It will be the fifth straight year when the Indian team will be finishing&nbsp;as the no.1 ranked side in Tests under Kohli's captaincy and Shastri credited the players' love for the longest format as the reason behind India's dominance in Test cricket. The former India head coach also highlighted how captain Kohli worships Test cricket.

"I think if any team has been an ambassador for Test match over the last five years, it is this Indian cricket team. Virat worships Test match cricket, as do most of the team, which might surprise the world because of the amount of one-day cricket India plays, then IPL," Shastri&nbsp;told renowned author Jeffrey Archer on his podcast.

"If you ask anyone in the team, 99 percent of them would say they love Test match cricket. That’s why, what India have done in the last five years remain as the No. 1 team in the world at the end of every year," he added.

India have dominated the proceedings in Test cricket over the last few years with some memorable series wins at home and away from home including back-to-back series wins in Australia. India also reached the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) but lost against New Zealand to miss out on the trophy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-creates-history-becomes-1st-player-to-win-50-international-matches-across-all-formats-434603">Virat Kohli creates history, becomes 1st player to win 50 international matches across all formats</a>

Nonetheless, Kohli &amp; Co. have been one of the best Test teams in the world in the last few years. Shastri said the greatest legacy that the current generation of Indian players will leave is the way they have embraced and played Test cricket.

"We may have lost the one-off WTC final against New Zealand but otherwise We have dominated the format for the last five years. To win two series in Australia, to win the series that was taking place in England, to win everywhere around the world white-ball and red-ball cricket, and to set a benchmark in red-ball cricket, the fast bowlers coming to the fore unheard of from the Indian cricket team it was remarkable," Shastri said.

"For me the greatest legacy this generation and this lot of players will leave is the way they have played Test cricket and embraced it," he added.

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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the Virat Kohli-led team for being the 'ambassador' of Test cricket and excelling in the longest format over the last few years.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the Virat Kohli-led team for being the 'ambassador' of Test cricket and excelling in the longest format over the last few years. Many believe Test cricket is losing its sheen amid the rise of shorter formats like T20 and T10 cricket. However, the Indian team has embraced Test cricket and has been a force to reckon with when it comes to playing in whites. India defeated New Zealand by a huge margin of 372 runs in the second Test between the two sides on Monday to clinch the two-match series 1-0. With the win, India went on top of the ICC Test rankings dethroning New Zealand from the no.1 spot. It will be the fifth straight year when the Indian team will be finishing as the no.1 ranked side in Tests under Kohli's captaincy and Shastri credited the players' love for the longest format as the reason behind India's dominance in Test cricket. The former India head coach also highlighted how captain Kohli worships Test cricket. "I think if any team has been an ambassador for Test match over the last five years, it is this Indian cricket team. Virat worships Test match cricket, as do most of the team, which might surprise the world because of the amount of one-day cricket India plays, then IPL," Shastri told renowned author Jeffrey Archer on his podcast. "If you ask anyone in the team, 99 percent of them would say they love Test match cricket. That’s why, what India have done in the last five years remain as the No. 1 team in the world at the end of every year," he added. India have dominated the proceedings in Test cricket over the last few years with some memorable series wins at home and away from home including back-to-back series wins in Australia. India also reached the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) but lost against New Zealand to miss out on the trophy. Also Read: Virat Kohli creates history, becomes 1st player to win 50 international matches across all formats Nonetheless, Kohli & Co. have been one of the best Test teams in the world in the last few years. Shastri said the greatest legacy that the current generation of Indian players will leave is the way they have embraced and played Test cricket. "We may have lost the one-off WTC final against New Zealand but otherwise We have dominated the format for the last five years. To win two series in Australia, to win the series that was taking place in England, to win everywhere around the world white-ball and red-ball cricket, and to set a benchmark in red-ball cricket, the fast bowlers coming to the fore unheard of from the Indian cricket team it was remarkable," Shastri said. "For me the greatest legacy this generation and this lot of players will leave is the way they have played Test cricket and embraced it," he added.

Virat Kohli worships Test cricket, Indian team has been an ambassador for the longest format: Ravi Shastri

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently opened up on how he managed to convince Rahul Dravid to take up the Team India head coach role after Ravi Shastri's exit. Dravid had replaced Shastri as the head coach of the team after his tenure came to an post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021.&nbsp;

Ganguly revealed it took a lot of convincing and some personal conversations for him to convince Dravid to take up the India head coach role. Ganguly admitted he and BCCI secretary Jay Shah had even given up at one point but continued to insist Dravid to take up the job.&nbsp;

Dravid was not sure about becoming the India head coach and the job requires him to travel around the globe for the most part of the year which would mean he would have to stay away from his family and young children. But Ganguly somehow managed to convince his former India teammate, who was serving as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to become the new head coach of the Indian team.

"We had Rahul in mind for a long period of time, both me and Jay, but he wasn't agreeing because of the time away from home [and] because doing a national team's job is [about being] on the road for about 8-9 months in a year and he has two young children," Ganguly said on the show Backstage with Boria.

"At one stage we gave up, he was appointed as the head of NCA (National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru) to look after it and take things forward. We had done all the interviews and everything, his interview and application, and he was appointed at the NCA. But even after he was appointed, we still kept insisting." he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-dravids-gesture-wins-hearts-as-duo-visit-nz-dug-out-to-congratulate-ajaz-patel-for-perfect-10-watch-434248">Kohli, Dravid's gesture wins hearts as duo visit NZ dug-out to congratulate Ajaz Patel for perfect 10 - WATCH</a>

Ganguly further revealed that even the Indian players wanted someone like Dravid to become the head coach of the team post Shastri's exit and that he communicated that to the batting legend. Dravid eventually agreed to take up the top job but Ganguly admitted he didn't know what triggered the change.

"And when we spoke to the players also [about] what sort of person they want, you could clearly see that, you know, there was an inclination to Rahul so we communicated that to him. I spoke to him personally many times [saying] that, 'I know it's hard but give it a try for two years, and if you find it too hard then we'll see another way'," Ganguly said on the show.

"Luckily he agreed and I don't know what triggered the change in his mind but he agreed and I think this is the best BCCI could have done in terms of coaching once Ravi [Shastri] left," he added.

Dravid replaced Shashtri as the new head coach after India's exit from the T20 World Cup 2021 and helped them whitewash New Zealand 3-0 in the home T20I series which was his first major assignment as the coach.

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BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently opened up on how he managed to convince Rahul Dravid to take up the Team India head coach role after Ravi Shastri's exit. Dravid had replaced Shastri as the head coach of the team after his tenure came to an post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently opened up on how he managed to convince Rahul Dravid to take up the Team India head coach role after Ravi Shastri's exit. Dravid had replaced Shastri as the head coach of the team after his tenure came to an post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. Ganguly revealed it took a lot of convincing and some personal conversations for him to convince Dravid to take up the India head coach role. Ganguly admitted he and BCCI secretary Jay Shah had even given up at one point but continued to insist Dravid to take up the job. Dravid was not sure about becoming the India head coach and the job requires him to travel around the globe for the most part of the year which would mean he would have to stay away from his family and young children. But Ganguly somehow managed to convince his former India teammate, who was serving as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to become the new head coach of the Indian team. "We had Rahul in mind for a long period of time, both me and Jay, but he wasn't agreeing because of the time away from home [and] because doing a national team's job is [about being] on the road for about 8-9 months in a year and he has two young children," Ganguly said on the show Backstage with Boria. "At one stage we gave up, he was appointed as the head of NCA (National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru) to look after it and take things forward. We had done all the interviews and everything, his interview and application, and he was appointed at the NCA. But even after he was appointed, we still kept insisting." he added. Also Read: Kohli, Dravid's gesture wins hearts as duo visit NZ dug-out to congratulate Ajaz Patel for perfect 10 - WATCH Ganguly further revealed that even the Indian players wanted someone like Dravid to become the head coach of the team post Shastri's exit and that he communicated that to the batting legend. Dravid eventually agreed to take up the top job but Ganguly admitted he didn't know what triggered the change. "And when we spoke to the players also [about] what sort of person they want, you could clearly see that, you know, there was an inclination to Rahul so we communicated that to him. I spoke to him personally many times [saying] that, 'I know it's hard but give it a try for two years, and if you find it too hard then we'll see another way'," Ganguly said on the show. "Luckily he agreed and I don't know what triggered the change in his mind but he agreed and I think this is the best BCCI could have done in terms of coaching once Ravi [Shastri] left," he added. Dravid replaced Shashtri as the new head coach after India's exit from the T20 World Cup 2021 and helped them whitewash New Zealand 3-0 in the home T20I series which was his first major assignment as the coach.

'At one stage we gave up': Sourav Ganguly on how he convinced Rahul Dravid to become India head coach

Indian cricket team's Test and ODI captain Virat Kohli is ranked second on the list of most searched Indian personalities in the year 2021. Kohli, who enjoys a massive fan following across the globe and is the most followed cricketer on social media, finished behind only Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the elite list.

PM Modi has claimed the title of India's Most Searched Personality consistently since 2017, barring last year when late actor Sushant Singh Rajput took the top spot.&nbsp;As per Yahoo's India year-ender list of 2021,&nbsp;Kohli is second on the overall list and is also the most searched sports personality of 2021 followed by former India captain MS Dhoni.

Despite having retired from international cricket in 2019, Dhoni is one of the most popular cricketers in India and enjoys a staggering fan following across the nation. Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the last two seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) post his retirement from international cricket and continues to remain one of the most inspirational figures in world cricket.

While he is second on the list of most followed sports personalities in India in 2021, he claimed the sixth spot on the list of the most searched personalities of the year. India's Olympic golden hero Neeraj Chopra was ranked 19th while ace shuttler PV Sindhu also featured in the cricket-dominated list.

The 2021 Year in Review India from Yahoo is a collection of the year's top personalities, news makers and events based on daily search trends.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-hardik-pandya-and-kl-rahul-play-together-in-ipl-daniel-vettori-suggests-there-may-be-alliances-forming-433660">Will Hardik&nbsp;and Rahul play together in IPL? Daniel Vettori suggests there may be 'alliances forming'</a>

Kohli, who stepped down as India's T20 captain earlier this year, is currently leading the Indian team in the ongoing second Test of the two-match series against New Zealand at home. Kohli had missed the first Test of the series as he was rested after the T20 World Cup 2021 but is back in action once again.

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Indian cricket team's Test and ODI captain Virat Kohli is ranked second on the list of most searched Indian personalities in the year 2021. Kohli, who enjoys a massive fan following across the globe and is the most followed cricketer on social media, finished behind only Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the elite list.

Indian cricket team's Test and ODI captain Virat Kohli is ranked second on the list of most searched Indian personalities in the year 2021. Kohli, who enjoys a massive fan following across the globe and is the most followed cricketer on social media, finished behind only Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the elite list. PM Modi has claimed the title of India's Most Searched Personality consistently since 2017, barring last year when late actor Sushant Singh Rajput took the top spot. As per Yahoo's India year-ender list of 2021, Kohli is second on the overall list and is also the most searched sports personality of 2021 followed by former India captain MS Dhoni. Despite having retired from international cricket in 2019, Dhoni is one of the most popular cricketers in India and enjoys a staggering fan following across the nation. Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the last two seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) post his retirement from international cricket and continues to remain one of the most inspirational figures in world cricket. While he is second on the list of most followed sports personalities in India in 2021, he claimed the sixth spot on the list of the most searched personalities of the year. India's Olympic golden hero Neeraj Chopra was ranked 19th while ace shuttler PV Sindhu also featured in the cricket-dominated list. The 2021 Year in Review India from Yahoo is a collection of the year's top personalities, news makers and events based on daily search trends. Also Read: Will Hardik and Rahul play together in IPL? Daniel Vettori suggests there may be 'alliances forming' Kohli, who stepped down as India's T20 captain earlier this year, is currently leading the Indian team in the ongoing second Test of the two-match series against New Zealand at home. Kohli had missed the first Test of the series as he was rested after the T20 World Cup 2021 but is back in action once again.

Virat Kohli ranked second after PM Narendra Modi in list of India's most searched personalities in 2021

England all-rounder Ben Stokes is all set to make his comeback to the cricket pitch in the upcoming Ashes 2021-2022 in Australia later this year. Stokes will be returning after a mental health break which he had opted for earlier this year and also skipped the T20 World Cup 2021 for England. Ahead of the Ashes, Stokes has made some startling revelations.

The England all-rounder revealed he almost choked on a table in his hotel room and thought "it might be the end". He opened on the traumatic experience in his column for Daily Mail and revealed distressing details. Stokes said he felt as if his mouth was on fire and he was not able to breathe at all after the tablet got stuck in his windpipe.

"Until it actually came out, I thought this might be the end," Stokes wrote in his column for Daily Mail.&nbsp;

"I was on my own in my room and I couldn't breathe as it became lodged and started to dissolve. It felt like my mouth was on fire.

“Without going into too much detail I have never seen as much saliva as I did on Sunday morning, it was a genuinely frightening experience,” he explained further.

Stokes revealed he recieved another scare on the same day when he was struck on the arm by England batting coach Jonathan Trott during a practice session. The 30-year-old, who was recovering from a finger injury, felt that his arm was broken after being hit but much to his respite, the physios helped him reduce the pain.

"I couldn't lift it ... I thought it was broken," Stokes added. "Thankfully the pain and reaction settled down once I was back in the dressing room and the physios could be sure it wasn't actually a break," Stokes wrote.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-kl-rahul-to-hardik-pandya-top-5-indian-players-who-might-not-be-retained-by-their-ipl-franchises-432611">From KL Rahul to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 Indian players who might not be retained by their IPL franchises</a>

"It was only after I got back to my hotel room that I took stock of what a day I'd had. The adrenaline had worn off and I was exhausted. Happy that I'm here to tell the tale, but hoping that my pre-test dramas are now over," he added.

The Ashes 2021-2022 is all set to get underway from December 08 with the first Test scheduled to be staged in Brisbane. Australia had retained the Ashes in 2019 after drawing the series 2-2 in England. 
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England all-rounder Ben Stokes is all set to make his comeback to the cricket pitch in the upcoming Ashes 2021-2022 in Australia later this year. Stokes will be returning after a mental health break which he had opted for earlier this year and also skipped the T20 World Cup 2021 for England.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes is all set to make his comeback to the cricket pitch in the upcoming Ashes 2021-2022 in Australia later this year. Stokes will be returning after a mental health break which he had opted for earlier this year and also skipped the T20 World Cup 2021 for England. Ahead of the Ashes, Stokes has made some startling revelations. The England all-rounder revealed he almost choked on a table in his hotel room and thought "it might be the end". He opened on the traumatic experience in his column for Daily Mail and revealed distressing details. Stokes said he felt as if his mouth was on fire and he was not able to breathe at all after the tablet got stuck in his windpipe. "Until it actually came out, I thought this might be the end," Stokes wrote in his column for Daily Mail. "I was on my own in my room and I couldn't breathe as it became lodged and started to dissolve. It felt like my mouth was on fire. “Without going into too much detail I have never seen as much saliva as I did on Sunday morning, it was a genuinely frightening experience,” he explained further. Stokes revealed he recieved another scare on the same day when he was struck on the arm by England batting coach Jonathan Trott during a practice session. The 30-year-old, who was recovering from a finger injury, felt that his arm was broken after being hit but much to his respite, the physios helped him reduce the pain. "I couldn't lift it ... I thought it was broken," Stokes added. "Thankfully the pain and reaction settled down once I was back in the dressing room and the physios could be sure it wasn't actually a break," Stokes wrote. Also Read: From KL Rahul to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 Indian players who might not be retained by their IPL franchises "It was only after I got back to my hotel room that I took stock of what a day I'd had. The adrenaline had worn off and I was exhausted. Happy that I'm here to tell the tale, but hoping that my pre-test dramas are now over," he added. The Ashes 2021-2022 is all set to get underway from December 08 with the first Test scheduled to be staged in Brisbane. Australia had retained the Ashes in 2019 after drawing the series 2-2 in England.

'Thought this might be the end': Ben Stokes reveals he nearly choked on tablet in his hotel room

Australian spin-bowling legend Shane Warne has reportedly got injured in a bike accident on Sunday, and though the injuries are not serious, he went to hospital as a precaution. 
 
Sydney Morning Herald, quoting News Corp said on Monday that, "Warne was riding his bike with his son Jackson when he fell off and slid for more than 15 metres. Shane Warne says he went to hospital as a precaution." 
 
According to the report, the 52-year-old who has played 145 Tests and is the second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game at 708, avoided serious injury, "but woke up on Monday morning still in pain". 
 
"Fearing he may have broken his foot and/or damaged his hip, he went to hospital as a precaution," the report added. 
 
"I`m a bit battered and bruised and very sore," Warne told News Corp. 
 
Warne is in the Fox Sports` commentary team for the Ashes series beginning at the Gabba on December 8. 
 
Recently, Warne made critical remarks over Steve Smith being made vice-captain of the Australian Test side for the Ashes, saying that while the former captain can return to the leadership role, David Warner would remain suspended from captaining or vice-captaining his country again during his cricketing career. 
 
Smith, who has served a one-year ban for his involvement in ball-tampering in 2018, was appointed vice-captain of the Australian Test side ahead of the Ashes series, beginning on December 8. 
 
In the aftermath of the ball-tampering episode, also called `Sandpaper-gate`, that took place during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town in 2018, the then Australian skipper Smith, his deputy David Warner and team-mate Cameron Bancroft were banned for different periods of time. 
 
In addition to a one-year suspension, a two-year leadership ban was also imposed on Smith, while Warner, who was the then vice-captain, also received a year ban, as well as a lifetime leadership ban. 
 
Warne is not happy with the dichotomy in punishment for the same crime. 
 
--IANS 
 
akm/ 
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Australian spin-bowling legend Shane Warne has reportedly got injured in a bike accident on Sunday, and though the injuries are not serious, he went to hospital as a precaution.

Australian spin-bowling legend Shane Warne has reportedly got injured in a bike accident on Sunday, and though the injuries are not serious, he went to hospital as a precaution. Sydney Morning Herald, quoting News Corp said on Monday that, "Warne was riding his bike with his son Jackson when he fell off and slid for more than 15 metres. Shane Warne says he went to hospital as a precaution." According to the report, the 52-year-old who has played 145 Tests and is the second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game at 708, avoided serious injury, "but woke up on Monday morning still in pain". "Fearing he may have broken his foot and/or damaged his hip, he went to hospital as a precaution," the report added. "I`m a bit battered and bruised and very sore," Warne told News Corp. Warne is in the Fox Sports` commentary team for the Ashes series beginning at the Gabba on December 8. Recently, Warne made critical remarks over Steve Smith being made vice-captain of the Australian Test side for the Ashes, saying that while the former captain can return to the leadership role, David Warner would remain suspended from captaining or vice-captaining his country again during his cricketing career. Smith, who has served a one-year ban for his involvement in ball-tampering in 2018, was appointed vice-captain of the Australian Test side ahead of the Ashes series, beginning on December 8. In the aftermath of the ball-tampering episode, also called `Sandpaper-gate`, that took place during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town in 2018, the then Australian skipper Smith, his deputy David Warner and team-mate Cameron Bancroft were banned for different periods of time. In addition to a one-year suspension, a two-year leadership ban was also imposed on Smith, while Warner, who was the then vice-captain, also received a year ban, as well as a lifetime leadership ban. Warne is not happy with the dichotomy in punishment for the same crime. --IANS akm/

Legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne injured in bike accident

Team India star Shreyas Iyer had a dream Test debut against New Zealand in the ongoing series-opener between the two sides at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. After a magnificent century in India's first innings, Iyer followed it up with a brilliant half-century in the second innings to become the first India batter to score a ton and a fifty on Test debut.

India's top-order suffered a terrible collapse in their second innings on Day 4 of the Test match on Sunday as the visitors were left reeling at 51/5 at one point. Iyer showed remarkable grit and batted well to bail the hosts out of trouble with his terrific knock.

He combined with R Ashwin (32) to post a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket before adding 64 runs for the seventh wicket with Wriddhiman Shaha, who also played an amazing knock of 61 runs.

Iyer revealed the advice he had recieved from head coach Rahu Dravid before going in to bat and also said it was not the first time that he found himself in such a pressure situation as he has played such knocks in domestic cricket as well.

"I had been in this situation before as well, not with the Indian team but with my Ranji team. Mindset was to play the session and play as many balls as possible. I wasn't thinking too far ahead, was just focusing on the present," Iyer told the official broadcaster at the end of the 4th day's play in Kanpur.

He revealed Dravi had asked him to stay out their in the middle for as long as possible and stay as long as he can.&nbsp;. "Rahul Sir had told me to bat as many balls as possible and I was determined to do that," said the right-hander, who scored 105 and 65 in the two innings of his debut Test match.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-scripts-history-becomes-1st-indian-to-slam-ton-half-century-on-test-debut-432522">Shreyas Iyer scripts history, becomes 1st Indian to slam ton &amp; half-century on Test debut</a>

With the help of half-centuries from Iyer and Saha, India posted 234/7 on the board and stretched their lead to 283 runs before declaring. New Zealand lost opener Will Young (2) cheaply in their second innings as R Ashwin struck early for India toward the closure of Day 4. New Zealand now need 280 runs to win with nine wickets to spare and a day in hand.

Indian are in a strong position in the Test match and will be looking to bundle out the visitors quickly on the final day and seal the Test match.

&nbsp;

Team India star Shreyas Iyer had a dream Test debut against New Zealand in the ongoing series-opener between the two sides at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. After a magnificent century in India's first innings, Iyer followed it up with a brilliant half-century in the second innings to become the first India batter to score a ton and a fifty on Test debut.

Team India star Shreyas Iyer had a dream Test debut against New Zealand in the ongoing series-opener between the two sides at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. After a magnificent century in India's first innings, Iyer followed it up with a brilliant half-century in the second innings to become the first India batter to score a ton and a fifty on Test debut. India's top-order suffered a terrible collapse in their second innings on Day 4 of the Test match on Sunday as the visitors were left reeling at 51/5 at one point. Iyer showed remarkable grit and batted well to bail the hosts out of trouble with his terrific knock. He combined with R Ashwin (32) to post a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket before adding 64 runs for the seventh wicket with Wriddhiman Shaha, who also played an amazing knock of 61 runs. Iyer revealed the advice he had recieved from head coach Rahu Dravid before going in to bat and also said it was not the first time that he found himself in such a pressure situation as he has played such knocks in domestic cricket as well. "I had been in this situation before as well, not with the Indian team but with my Ranji team. Mindset was to play the session and play as many balls as possible. I wasn't thinking too far ahead, was just focusing on the present," Iyer told the official broadcaster at the end of the 4th day's play in Kanpur. He revealed Dravi had asked him to stay out their in the middle for as long as possible and stay as long as he can. . "Rahul Sir had told me to bat as many balls as possible and I was determined to do that," said the right-hander, who scored 105 and 65 in the two innings of his debut Test match. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer scripts history, becomes 1st Indian to slam ton & half-century on Test debut With the help of half-centuries from Iyer and Saha, India posted 234/7 on the board and stretched their lead to 283 runs before declaring. New Zealand lost opener Will Young (2) cheaply in their second innings as R Ashwin struck early for India toward the closure of Day 4. New Zealand now need 280 runs to win with nine wickets to spare and a day in hand. Indian are in a strong position in the Test match and will be looking to bundle out the visitors quickly on the final day and seal the Test match.

Shreyas Iyer reveals advice from head coach Rahul Dravid after dream Test debut against New Zealand

Breaking his silence on the racism allegations levelled against him by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan has apologised to him for the hurt caused. Vaughan said he was 'sorry' for the pain Rafiq has experienced after being accused of racism by his former Yorkshire teammate.

Rafiq had alleged that Vaughan had said there were "too many of you lot, we need to do something about it" to him and two other Asian players at the club during his time at Yorkshire. Vaughan, however, strongly denied the allegations and maintained that he had never used those words for anyone.

Now, the former England captain has issued an apology and said he needs to take responsibility as he was the captain at Yorkshire when Rafiq had to endure racist behaviour from his teammates and other staff members at the club.

"I'm sorry for the hurt (Rafiq's) gone through. Time I don't think can ever be a healer in the situation that he's gone through," Vaughan said in an interview with BBC Breakfast.

"But hopefully, time can be a way of us making sure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club never goes through this situation again and never puts themselves in a position of denial that they treated a player so badly.

"It hurts deeply, hurts me that a player has gone through so much and be treated so badly at the club I love. I have to take some responsibility for that because I played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club for 18 years and if in any way shape or form, I'm responsible for any of his hurt, I apologise for that," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-cricket-board-unveils-action-plan-to-tackle-racism-following-azeem-rafiqs-allegations-432337">England Cricket Board unveils action plan to tackle racism following Azeem Rafiq's allegations</a>

Vaughan continued to deny the allegations of racism levlled against him by Rafiq and said 'no' when asked if he did make any racist comment to any player during his time with Yorkshire. Vaughan had earlier been dropped by BBC from its Ashes coverage after the racism allegations against him surfaced.

Meanwhile, the England Cricket Board has devised a 12-point plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the sport going forward.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Breaking his silence on the racism allegations levelled against him by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan has apologised to him for the hurt caused.

Breaking his silence on the racism allegations levelled against him by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan has apologised to him for the hurt caused. Vaughan said he was 'sorry' for the pain Rafiq has experienced after being accused of racism by his former Yorkshire teammate. Rafiq had alleged that Vaughan had said there were "too many of you lot, we need to do something about it" to him and two other Asian players at the club during his time at Yorkshire. Vaughan, however, strongly denied the allegations and maintained that he had never used those words for anyone. Now, the former England captain has issued an apology and said he needs to take responsibility as he was the captain at Yorkshire when Rafiq had to endure racist behaviour from his teammates and other staff members at the club. "I'm sorry for the hurt (Rafiq's) gone through. Time I don't think can ever be a healer in the situation that he's gone through," Vaughan said in an interview with BBC Breakfast. "But hopefully, time can be a way of us making sure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club never goes through this situation again and never puts themselves in a position of denial that they treated a player so badly. "It hurts deeply, hurts me that a player has gone through so much and be treated so badly at the club I love. I have to take some responsibility for that because I played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club for 18 years and if in any way shape or form, I'm responsible for any of his hurt, I apologise for that," he added. Also Read: England Cricket Board unveils action plan to tackle racism following Azeem Rafiq's allegations Vaughan continued to deny the allegations of racism levlled against him by Rafiq and said 'no' when asked if he did make any racist comment to any player during his time with Yorkshire. Vaughan had earlier been dropped by BBC from its Ashes coverage after the racism allegations against him surfaced. Meanwhile, the England Cricket Board has devised a 12-point plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the sport going forward.

'I am sorry for the hurt': Michael Vaughan apologises to Azeem Rafiq amid racism allegations

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday released a 12-point action plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the sport, including a review of the "dressing room culture" across teams and a standardised approach to whistleblowing.

The move comes after a number of players, including former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq&nbsp;alleged they were the victims of institutional racism at their clubs.

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2369919 promises a redesigned blueprint for player and coach education, as well as a mentoring programme for cricketers from diverse or underprivileged backgrounds.

Teams will also be required to diversify their leadership boards by April 2022, with a commitment to have 30% female and representative ethnicity.

"We have now set out a series of game-wide commitments so that cricket can start to make the transformation that we know is needed," ECB interim chair Barry O`Brien said.

"Change is required as a matter of urgency, but we also recognise that sustained action is required over months and years to achieve fundamental and long lasting progress. This must begin today."

The ECB said it would set up a new anti-discrimination unit within sixth months and also vowed to remove "structural and cultural barriers" in their elite talent pathways.

"For cricket truly to `connect communities and improve lives` -- our stated aim at the ECB -- we must start by accepting that not enough has happened to make our game better" ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said.

"That is the only possible reaction to the powerful testimony of Azeem Rafiq and others in recent weeks."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday released a 12-point action plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the sport, including a review of the "dressing room culture" across teams and a standardised approach to whistleblowing.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday released a 12-point action plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the sport, including a review of the "dressing room culture" across teams and a standardised approach to whistleblowing. The move comes after a number of players, including former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq alleged they were the victims of institutional racism at their clubs. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2369919 promises a redesigned blueprint for player and coach education, as well as a mentoring programme for cricketers from diverse or underprivileged backgrounds. Teams will also be required to diversify their leadership boards by April 2022, with a commitment to have 30% female and representative ethnicity. "We have now set out a series of game-wide commitments so that cricket can start to make the transformation that we know is needed," ECB interim chair Barry O`Brien said. "Change is required as a matter of urgency, but we also recognise that sustained action is required over months and years to achieve fundamental and long lasting progress. This must begin today." The ECB said it would set up a new anti-discrimination unit within sixth months and also vowed to remove "structural and cultural barriers" in their elite talent pathways. "For cricket truly to `connect communities and improve lives` -- our stated aim at the ECB -- we must start by accepting that not enough has happened to make our game better" ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said. "That is the only possible reaction to the powerful testimony of Azeem Rafiq and others in recent weeks."

England Cricket Board unveils action plan to tackle racism following Azeem Rafiq's allegations

Team India bounced back with a 3-0 clean sweep of New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 series after a disappointing campaign at the T20 World Cup 2021. It was a clinical performance from the hosts throughout the series as they won all three games in a row against the T20 World Cup finalists to kick start the new era of Indian cricket under head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma with a win.

While the team's performance was lauded by many on social media, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) got embroiled in a fresh controversy after a report claimed the BCCI&nbsp;has banned beef and pork in any form in the new strict diet regimen for the Indian men's cricket team. The report also stated that the players have been asked to consume meat only in halal form.

However, the dietary plan has been shared by the Indian team management and not the BCCI for the upcoming first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur that starts from November 25 (Thursday). As per a report in India Today,&nbsp;"No pork and beef whatsoever in any form and variety. All meat must be Halal," is written as part of the catering requirements for Team India for the Kanpur Test and marked as 'important'.

Fans have been left irked by the Indian team management's&nbsp;decision to ban all other forms of meat except halal, with many claiming it is against Hindus as eating halal meat is forbidden and against the religion. Fans also dragged BCCI into the controversy slamming the board over the dietary plan.

There are two ways of slaughtering an animal - the halal method where the animal is given a cut and is left to bleed slowly, and the jhatka method where the animal is slaughtered in one go. Muslims consume only halal meat and&nbsp;abstain&nbsp;from eating any other type of meat.&nbsp;

However, as per India Today, the dietary plan has not come from the BCCI but the team management, which has to share the dietary plan along with security and logistics with the host board. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association is the host board for the first Test which will be played in Kanpur. It is a regular procedure to share the security, diet and logistics plans with the host board before an international game.

Nonetheless, fans on Twitter have accused the BCCI of promoting halal meat after the details of their new dietary plan were reported.

Here's how Twitter reacted to halal met being made compulsory for Team India:

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As per reports, cricketers of 'SECULAR' India's national team will be able to eat only ‘Halal certified’ meat as per new diet plan ! 
 
Question to <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcci</a> is when most of the players in Indian team are non-Muslims, then why HALAL is being imposed on them ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCCI_Promotes_Halal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCCI_Promotes_Halal</a> <a href="https://t.co/FPwxnuoEPB">pic.twitter.com/FPwxnuoEPB</a>
— 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡🇮🇳 (@2prithish) <a href="https://twitter.com/2prithish/status/1462880397457383426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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As per reports, cricketers of 'SECULAR' India's national team will be able to eat only ‘Halal certified’ meat as per new diet plan ! 
 
Question to <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcci</a> is when most of the players in Indian team are non-Muslims, then why HALAL is being imposed on them ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottHalalProducts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottHalalProducts</a> <a href="https://t.co/19AlrbIits">pic.twitter.com/19AlrbIits</a>
— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) <a href="https://twitter.com/HinduJagrutiOrg/status/1462409703812591618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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BCCI should not promote Halal at all.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCCI_Promotes_Halal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCCI_Promotes_Halal</a>
— Gaurav Goel (@goelgauravbjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/goelgauravbjp/status/1462994762848473092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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There are 28 players contracted by <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcci</a> 
 
A+ grade :3 
A grade :10 (1 mu$lim) 
B grade :5 
C grade:10 (1 mu$lim) 
 
2 out of 28 (3.4%) are Mu$lims; But for them all other 26 players will also get Halal certified food. 
 
Why Halal is mandatory in a secular india?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCCI_Promotes_Halal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCCI_Promotes_Halal</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4ZMr35dOG">pic.twitter.com/Y4ZMr35dOG</a>
— Sandeep Shinde (@sanatandeep_) <a href="https://twitter.com/sanatandeep_/status/1462988097444990976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-rahul-dravid-applauds-fielding-coach-after-ishan-kishans-direct-hit-dismisses-nzs-mitchell-santner-431369">Dravid applauds fielding coach after Ishan Kishan's direct hit dismisses&nbsp;Santner - WATCH</a>

A dietary plan is shared every time the Indian team travels overseas as well for tournaments or series and the menu reportedly has directives for halal meat most of the time. It is also to be noted that the current Indian Test squad has a Muslim player.

Rohit-led India defeated New Zealand by a big margin of 73 runs in the third and final T20I of the series at the Eden Gardens on Sunday to register a clean sweep against the Kiwis. Batting first, India posted a strong total of 184 runs on the board before Axar Patel and Harshal Patel combined to run riot with the ball.

The duo picked up five wickets between them to bundle out the Kiwis for a paltry 111 and help India register a huge win and clinch the series 3-0. India will now play a two-match Test series against New Zealand which gets underway from Thursday (November 25).

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Team India bounced back with a 3-0 clean sweep of New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 series after a disappointing campaign at the T20 World Cup 2021. It was a clinical performance from the hosts throughout the series as they won all three games in a row against the T20 World Cup finalists to kick start the new era of Indian cricket under head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma with a win.

Team India bounced back with a 3-0 clean sweep of New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 series after a disappointing campaign at the T20 World Cup 2021. It was a clinical performance from the hosts throughout the series as they won all three games in a row against the T20 World Cup finalists to kick start the new era of Indian cricket under head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma with a win. While the team's performance was lauded by many on social media, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) got embroiled in a fresh controversy after a report claimed the BCCI has banned beef and pork in any form in the new strict diet regimen for the Indian men's cricket team. The report also stated that the players have been asked to consume meat only in halal form. However, the dietary plan has been shared by the Indian team management and not the BCCI for the upcoming first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur that starts from November 25 (Thursday). As per a report in India Today, "No pork and beef whatsoever in any form and variety. All meat must be Halal," is written as part of the catering requirements for Team India for the Kanpur Test and marked as 'important'. Fans have been left irked by the Indian team management's decision to ban all other forms of meat except halal, with many claiming it is against Hindus as eating halal meat is forbidden and against the religion. Fans also dragged BCCI into the controversy slamming the board over the dietary plan. There are two ways of slaughtering an animal - the halal method where the animal is given a cut and is left to bleed slowly, and the jhatka method where the animal is slaughtered in one go. Muslims consume only halal meat and abstain from eating any other type of meat. However, as per India Today, the dietary plan has not come from the BCCI but the team management, which has to share the dietary plan along with security and logistics with the host board. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association is the host board for the first Test which will be played in Kanpur. It is a regular procedure to share the security, diet and logistics plans with the host board before an international game. Nonetheless, fans on Twitter have accused the BCCI of promoting halal meat after the details of their new dietary plan were reported. Here's how Twitter reacted to halal met being made compulsory for Team India: As per reports, cricketers of 'SECULAR' India's national team will be able to eat only ‘Halal certified’ meat as per new diet plan ! Question to @bcci is when most of the players in Indian team are non-Muslims, then why HALAL is being imposed on them ?#BCCI_Promotes_Halal pic.twitter.com/FPwxnuoEPB — 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡🇮🇳 (@2prithish) November 22, 2021 × As per reports, cricketers of 'SECULAR' India's national team will be able to eat only ‘Halal certified’ meat as per new diet plan ! Question to @bcci is when most of the players in Indian team are non-Muslims, then why HALAL is being imposed on them ?#BoycottHalalProducts pic.twitter.com/19AlrbIits — HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) November 21, 2021 × BCCI should not promote Halal at all.#BCCI_Promotes_Halal — Gaurav Goel (@goelgauravbjp) November 23, 2021 × There are 28 players contracted by @bcci A+ grade :3 A grade :10 (1 mu$lim) B grade :5 C grade:10 (1 mu$lim) 2 out of 28 (3.4%) are Mu$lims; But for them all other 26 players will also get Halal certified food. Why Halal is mandatory in a secular india?#BCCI_Promotes_Halal pic.twitter.com/Y4ZMr35dOG — Sandeep Shinde (@sanatandeep_) November 23, 2021 × Also Read: Dravid applauds fielding coach after Ishan Kishan's direct hit dismisses Santner - WATCH A dietary plan is shared every time the Indian team travels overseas as well for tournaments or series and the menu reportedly has directives for halal meat most of the time. It is also to be noted that the current Indian Test squad has a Muslim player. Rohit-led India defeated New Zealand by a big margin of 73 runs in the third and final T20I of the series at the Eden Gardens on Sunday to register a clean sweep against the Kiwis. Batting first, India posted a strong total of 184 runs on the board before Axar Patel and Harshal Patel combined to run riot with the ball. The duo picked up five wickets between them to bundle out the Kiwis for a paltry 111 and help India register a huge win and clinch the series 3-0. India will now play a two-match Test series against New Zealand which gets underway from Thursday (November 25).

Team India's dietary plan with halal meat and no beef, pork only for Kanpur Test vs New Zealand - Report

'Absolutely, you need a break," said Jasprit Bumrah in the&nbsp;aftermath of India's loss against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, when asked if the team would have preferred a bigger break between the second leg of the&nbsp;Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the start of the World Cup in the UAE.

India's campaign got underway less than two weeks after the conclusion of IPL 2021 and it didn't take long for the players to realise the implications of having spent months playing continuous cricket in bio-bubbles across the world. In the past year, the 'new normal' as the bio bubble life&nbsp;has often been labelled as, has taken a massive toll on the mental health of cricketers.

It all started in August last year when the IPL got underway in the UAE after a long hiatus due to COVID-19. The challenges of living in a bubble were quite evident right from the beginning but the excitement of cricket returning after a long gap meant the ill effects were ignored.

But, as India's campaign derailed in the T20 World Cup, the mental health of the players took centre stage. As much as the form&nbsp;and priorities of each player were discussed in the aftermath of India's consecutive defeats in their first two Super 12 matches, mental health was one of the decisive factors in the team's poor start.

Mental health has never been taken as seriously in cricket as it has been in the past few months after the introduction of 'bio-bubbles' to combat the invisible virus. From Ben Stokes taking a break to Indian players and support staff talking openly of the fatigue caused by the bubble life, mental health has become one of the biggest talking points in cricket post COVID-19.

India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 was all but over after their back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in the first two games but they hung on till the end. Only to eventually bow out despite winning the remaining three matches comprehensively.&nbsp;

While they didn't bring home the second T20 World Cup trophy but the tournament did enough to awaken the senses of Indian cricket which has for long ignored mental health and the issues surrounding it. India are one of the most active teams in world cricket and excessive cricket in these tough times can easily become mentally challenging for even the toughest of characters.

Here is a look at how much rest did each of the Indian players got ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021:

Before we start looking at the amount of rest each of the 15 members of the Indian T20 World Cup 2021 squad got ahead of the tournament, we need to take into account the common break periods for the team since IPL 2020.

The IPL 2020 final was played on November 10 and the Indian team had almost no break ahead of the Australia tour which kicked off on November 27 and lasted till January 19 2021. India got a six-day break before the start of the England series at home.

The team then got a break of two weeks after the cancellation of IPL 2021 in May ahead of the England tour and a 21-day break in England in between the World Test Championship final and the start of the Test series. Each of the 15 players were part of the IPL bio bubble in April-May and then September-October.

1) Virat Kohli - The former Indian T20I captain took just one break in between IPL 2020 and the start of the T20 World Cup this year. He missed the last three Tests against Australia due to paternity leave from December 21 to January 27.

2) Rohit Sharma - Rohit Sharma was injured ahead of the start of the Australia tour and had missed the ODI and T20I series Down Under along with the first two Test matches. He was out due to injury from November 11 to December 18.

3) KL Rahul - The Indian opener was ruled out of the Australia Test series after the conclusion of the firs two games and was on an injury break from January 05 to January 28.

4) Suryakumar Yadav -&nbsp;The batter was not part of India's tour of Australia but was in a bio-bubble during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in India. He got a 45-day break post IPL 2020 ahead of the start of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then played the England series at home but was not part of the England tour and got&nbsp;40 days rest before the Sri Lanka tour in July. He had then travelled to England post the SL tour.

5) Rishabh Pant - The wicket-keeper batter has been one of the busiest cricketers for Team India and has had no break since the IPL 2020. Pant has been part of each of India's series since the conclusion of the IPL last year without taking any rest.

6) Ishan Kishan - India's backup wicket-keeper and opener in the T20 World Cup this year, Ishan also got a 45-day break after IPL 2020 ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then got a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour before the start of IPL 2021's second leg.

7) Hardik Pandya - Hardik Pandya was on a break after the T20I series in Australia. He got a rest period of 50 days before the England series at home. He then had a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour and a three-week break post that.

8) Ravindra Jadeja - The star all-rounder was out with an injury for 60 days from January 11. His Australia tour was cut short in between. Jadeja made his comeback in the England series at home and didn't get any break till the T20 World Cup 2021.

9) R Ashwin - R Ashwin was also in a bubble continuously throughout the Australia tour before entering another bubble during the England Test series at home. He then was part of the Test squad for the England tour ahead of IPL 2021's second leg and didn't get any break before the start of the T20 World Cup 2021.

10) Shardul Thakur - The Indian pacer didn't get any break from IPL 2020 to the start of the T20 World Cup 2021 this year as he was part of the Australia tour, England series at home, IPL 2021 and the England tour.

11) Mohammed Shami - Shami had an injury break of 90 days after getting ruled out following the first Test against Australia in December. He made a comeback during the first leg of IPL 2021 and stayed in bubbles continuously post that.

12) Jasprit Bumrah - One of India's best fast bowlers at present, Bumrah got a two-week break for his wedding when he left the bio-bubble midway through the England series at home. He has also been one of India's most active cricketers in the past year.

13) Varun Chakaravarthy - The spinner was initially named in India's T20 squad for the Australia tour but ended up missing the tour due to an injury. He was out for four months due to his injury and made his comeback in IPL 2021. Chakaravarthy then got a 40-day break after IPL 2021 was cancelled in May before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour.

14) Bhuvneshwar Kumar - The senior pacer was also out injured for quite a while and had missed the Australia tour entirely. He spent 60 days on the sidelines due to his injury and made his comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then joined Team India's bubble for the England series at home and got the rest of 40 days after that before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour.

15) Rahul Chahar - The spinner got a two-month break post IPL 2020 as he was also not part of the Australia tour. Chahar then got a 40-day break after the IPL 2021 was suspended in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour.

&nbsp;

'Absolutely, you need a break," said Jasprit Bumrah in the aftermath of India's loss against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, when asked if the team would have preferred a bigger break between the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the start of the World Cup in the UAE.

'Absolutely, you need a break," said Jasprit Bumrah in the aftermath of India's loss against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, when asked if the team would have preferred a bigger break between the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the start of the World Cup in the UAE. India's campaign got underway less than two weeks after the conclusion of IPL 2021 and it didn't take long for the players to realise the implications of having spent months playing continuous cricket in bio-bubbles across the world. In the past year, the 'new normal' as the bio bubble life has often been labelled as, has taken a massive toll on the mental health of cricketers. It all started in August last year when the IPL got underway in the UAE after a long hiatus due to COVID-19. The challenges of living in a bubble were quite evident right from the beginning but the excitement of cricket returning after a long gap meant the ill effects were ignored. But, as India's campaign derailed in the T20 World Cup, the mental health of the players took centre stage. As much as the form and priorities of each player were discussed in the aftermath of India's consecutive defeats in their first two Super 12 matches, mental health was one of the decisive factors in the team's poor start. Mental health has never been taken as seriously in cricket as it has been in the past few months after the introduction of 'bio-bubbles' to combat the invisible virus. From Ben Stokes taking a break to Indian players and support staff talking openly of the fatigue caused by the bubble life, mental health has become one of the biggest talking points in cricket post COVID-19. India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 was all but over after their back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in the first two games but they hung on till the end. Only to eventually bow out despite winning the remaining three matches comprehensively. While they didn't bring home the second T20 World Cup trophy but the tournament did enough to awaken the senses of Indian cricket which has for long ignored mental health and the issues surrounding it. India are one of the most active teams in world cricket and excessive cricket in these tough times can easily become mentally challenging for even the toughest of characters. Here is a look at how much rest did each of the Indian players got ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021: Before we start looking at the amount of rest each of the 15 members of the Indian T20 World Cup 2021 squad got ahead of the tournament, we need to take into account the common break periods for the team since IPL 2020. The IPL 2020 final was played on November 10 and the Indian team had almost no break ahead of the Australia tour which kicked off on November 27 and lasted till January 19 2021. India got a six-day break before the start of the England series at home. The team then got a break of two weeks after the cancellation of IPL 2021 in May ahead of the England tour and a 21-day break in England in between the World Test Championship final and the start of the Test series. Each of the 15 players were part of the IPL bio bubble in April-May and then September-October. 1) Virat Kohli - The former Indian T20I captain took just one break in between IPL 2020 and the start of the T20 World Cup this year. He missed the last three Tests against Australia due to paternity leave from December 21 to January 27. 2) Rohit Sharma - Rohit Sharma was injured ahead of the start of the Australia tour and had missed the ODI and T20I series Down Under along with the first two Test matches. He was out due to injury from November 11 to December 18. 3) KL Rahul - The Indian opener was ruled out of the Australia Test series after the conclusion of the firs two games and was on an injury break from January 05 to January 28. 4) Suryakumar Yadav - The batter was not part of India's tour of Australia but was in a bio-bubble during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in India. He got a 45-day break post IPL 2020 ahead of the start of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then played the England series at home but was not part of the England tour and got 40 days rest before the Sri Lanka tour in July. He had then travelled to England post the SL tour. 5) Rishabh Pant - The wicket-keeper batter has been one of the busiest cricketers for Team India and has had no break since the IPL 2020. Pant has been part of each of India's series since the conclusion of the IPL last year without taking any rest. 6) Ishan Kishan - India's backup wicket-keeper and opener in the T20 World Cup this year, Ishan also got a 45-day break after IPL 2020 ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then got a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour before the start of IPL 2021's second leg. 7) Hardik Pandya - Hardik Pandya was on a break after the T20I series in Australia. He got a rest period of 50 days before the England series at home. He then had a 40-day break ahead of the Sri Lanka tour and a three-week break post that. 8) Ravindra Jadeja - The star all-rounder was out with an injury for 60 days from January 11. His Australia tour was cut short in between. Jadeja made his comeback in the England series at home and didn't get any break till the T20 World Cup 2021. 9) R Ashwin - R Ashwin was also in a bubble continuously throughout the Australia tour before entering another bubble during the England Test series at home. He then was part of the Test squad for the England tour ahead of IPL 2021's second leg and didn't get any break before the start of the T20 World Cup 2021. 10) Shardul Thakur - The Indian pacer didn't get any break from IPL 2020 to the start of the T20 World Cup 2021 this year as he was part of the Australia tour, England series at home, IPL 2021 and the England tour. 11) Mohammed Shami - Shami had an injury break of 90 days after getting ruled out following the first Test against Australia in December. He made a comeback during the first leg of IPL 2021 and stayed in bubbles continuously post that. 12) Jasprit Bumrah - One of India's best fast bowlers at present, Bumrah got a two-week break for his wedding when he left the bio-bubble midway through the England series at home. He has also been one of India's most active cricketers in the past year. 13) Varun Chakaravarthy - The spinner was initially named in India's T20 squad for the Australia tour but ended up missing the tour due to an injury. He was out for four months due to his injury and made his comeback in IPL 2021. Chakaravarthy then got a 40-day break after IPL 2021 was cancelled in May before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour. 14) Bhuvneshwar Kumar - The senior pacer was also out injured for quite a while and had missed the Australia tour entirely. He spent 60 days on the sidelines due to his injury and made his comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then joined Team India's bubble for the England series at home and got the rest of 40 days after that before the Sri Lanka tour. He then got a three-week rest post the SL tour. 15) Rahul Chahar - The spinner got a two-month break post IPL 2020 as he was also not part of the Australia tour. Chahar then got a 40-day break after the IPL 2021 was suspended in May and a three-week break after the Sri Lanka tour.

Too much cricket for Team India? Who got how much rest before T20 World Cup 2021

Tim&nbsp;Paine abruptly stepped down as Australia's test cricket captain on Friday after the sexting scandal where he exchanged sexual graphics with a female colleague.

"Today, I'm announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men's Test team," said Paine.&nbsp;

Speaking about the text exchange, he said, "Nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague."

"I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/some-players-might-not-be-comfortable-going-captain-tim-paine-on-australias-tour-of-pakistan-428013">Also read |&nbsp;Some players might not be comfortable going: Captain Tim Paine on Australia's tour of Pakistan</a>

"I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I'm sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport."

Paine highlighted that he will remain a committed member of the Australian cricket team.

In a statement, Cricket Australia said, "The Board has accepted&nbsp;Tim’s resignation and will now work through a process with the national selection panel of identifying and appointing a new captain.

"While the board acknowledges an investigation cleared&nbsp;Tim&nbsp;of any breach of the code of conduct regarding this matter some years ago, we respect his decision. CA does not condone this type of language or behaviour."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ive-got-1534-more-runs-than-aussie-skipper-tim-paine-takes-a-jibe-at-barmy-army-ahead-of-ashes-2021-419177">Also read |&nbsp;'I`ve got 1,534 more runs than....' - Aussie skipper Tim Paine takes a jibe at Barmy Army ahead of Ashes 2021</a>

"Tim&nbsp;will continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Tim Paine abruptly stepped down as Australia's test cricket captain on Friday after the sexting scandal where he exchanged sexual graphics with a female colleague.

Tim Paine abruptly stepped down as Australia's test cricket captain on Friday after the sexting scandal where he exchanged sexual graphics with a female colleague. "Today, I'm announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men's Test team," said Paine. Speaking about the text exchange, he said, "Nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague." "I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community," he said. Also read | Some players might not be comfortable going: Captain Tim Paine on Australia's tour of Pakistan "I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I'm sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport." Paine highlighted that he will remain a committed member of the Australian cricket team. In a statement, Cricket Australia said, "The Board has accepted Tim’s resignation and will now work through a process with the national selection panel of identifying and appointing a new captain. "While the board acknowledges an investigation cleared Tim of any breach of the code of conduct regarding this matter some years ago, we respect his decision. CA does not condone this type of language or behaviour." Also read | 'I`ve got 1,534 more runs than....' - Aussie skipper Tim Paine takes a jibe at Barmy Army ahead of Ashes 2021 "Tim will continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer." (With inputs from agencies)

'I'm sorry for any damage': Australia's Tim Paine resigns as captain after his involvement in sexting scandal

Tim Paine on Friday (November 19) announced he will be stepping down as Australia's Test captain while apologising for his actions four years ago. Paine has been forced to resign over a sexting scandal involving him and a former female colleague from 2017. Paine's abrupt decision to quit captaincy just days ahead of the start of Ashes has left the cricket fraternity in shock.

While addressing the media in Hobart on Friday, Paine was in tears as he announced his decision to quit Test captaincy. He later released a full statement on his decision to step down from his post.

The messages exchanged between him and his former co-worker&nbsp;date&nbsp;back to 2017. Paine was cleared by Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania at the time but the re-emergence of the investigation has prompted him to take a call on his future as the captain of the Australian Test team.&nbsp;

"Today, I'm announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men's test team. It's an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket," Paine said in his statement.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/martin-guptill-on-cusp-of-breaking-virat-kohlis-elusive-record-as-india-take-on-new-zealand-in-2nd-t20i-430417">Guptill on cusp of breaking&nbsp;Kohli's elusive record as India take on New Zealand in 2nd T20I</a>

<h2>Why has Tim Paine resigned four years after the investigation?</h2>

In 2017, months before he was recalled in the Australian Test team after a gap of seven years, Paine was in the middle of a sexting scandal. He had exchanged sexual graphics with a female co-worker. The exchange was subject to a CA Integrity Unit investigation and the matter was investigated by Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania with full cooperation from Paine.

It was later ruled that there was no breach of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct by Paine and he was given a clean chit. However, Paine admitted he regretted the incident at the time and has insisted his actions from 2017 'do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community'.

Paine's admission has come in the wake of being&nbsp;named in a News Corp report which has decided to make his chats with his female co-worker public. The fact that his chats will soon go public has forced Paine to relinquish Test captaincy after consulting with his family and Cricket Australia.

"As a background on my decision, nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague. At the time, the exchange was the subject of a thorough CA Integrity Unit investigation, throughout which I fully participated in and openly participated in," Paine said in his statement.

"That investigation and a Cricket Tasmania HR investigation at the same time found that there had been no breach of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct. Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today. I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support. We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years.

"However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community. I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I'm sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport," he added explaining the reason behind his decision.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/im-sorry-for-any-damage-australias-tim-paine-resigns-as-captain-after-his-involvement-in-sexting-scandal-430408">Australia's Tim Paine resigns as captain after his involvement in sexting scandal</a>

Paine had a remarkable rise after being recalled in the Australian Test team after seven years in 2018 as he was soon elevated to captaincy in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal. The ball-tampering scandal saw Steve Smith getting sacked as then Australian Test captain and subsequently being banned from all cricket for a year.

Paine replaced Smith in the aftermath of the controversy and helped Australia retain the Ashes in 2019. The Australian cricket board has accepted Paine's resignation as captain and will be soon announcing the new captain of the Aussie Test team. While he has stepped down as captain, Paine has made himself available for selection as a player for the upcoming Ashes.

&nbsp;

Tim Paine on Friday (November 19) announced he will be stepping down as Australia's Test captain while apologising for his actions four years ago. Paine has been forced to resign over a sexting scandal involving him and a former female colleague from 2017.

Tim Paine on Friday (November 19) announced he will be stepping down as Australia's Test captain while apologising for his actions four years ago. Paine has been forced to resign over a sexting scandal involving him and a former female colleague from 2017. Paine's abrupt decision to quit captaincy just days ahead of the start of Ashes has left the cricket fraternity in shock. While addressing the media in Hobart on Friday, Paine was in tears as he announced his decision to quit Test captaincy. He later released a full statement on his decision to step down from his post. The messages exchanged between him and his former co-worker date back to 2017. Paine was cleared by Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania at the time but the re-emergence of the investigation has prompted him to take a call on his future as the captain of the Australian Test team. "Today, I'm announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men's test team. It's an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket," Paine said in his statement. Also Read: Guptill on cusp of breaking Kohli's elusive record as India take on New Zealand in 2nd T20I Why has Tim Paine resigned four years after the investigation? In 2017, months before he was recalled in the Australian Test team after a gap of seven years, Paine was in the middle of a sexting scandal. He had exchanged sexual graphics with a female co-worker. The exchange was subject to a CA Integrity Unit investigation and the matter was investigated by Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania with full cooperation from Paine. It was later ruled that there was no breach of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct by Paine and he was given a clean chit. However, Paine admitted he regretted the incident at the time and has insisted his actions from 2017 'do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community'. Paine's admission has come in the wake of being named in a News Corp report which has decided to make his chats with his female co-worker public. The fact that his chats will soon go public has forced Paine to relinquish Test captaincy after consulting with his family and Cricket Australia. "As a background on my decision, nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague. At the time, the exchange was the subject of a thorough CA Integrity Unit investigation, throughout which I fully participated in and openly participated in," Paine said in his statement. "That investigation and a Cricket Tasmania HR investigation at the same time found that there had been no breach of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct. Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today. I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support. We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years. "However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community. I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I'm sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport," he added explaining the reason behind his decision. Also Read: Australia's Tim Paine resigns as captain after his involvement in sexting scandal Paine had a remarkable rise after being recalled in the Australian Test team after seven years in 2018 as he was soon elevated to captaincy in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal. The ball-tampering scandal saw Steve Smith getting sacked as then Australian Test captain and subsequently being banned from all cricket for a year. Paine replaced Smith in the aftermath of the controversy and helped Australia retain the Ashes in 2019. The Australian cricket board has accepted Paine's resignation as captain and will be soon announcing the new captain of the Aussie Test team. While he has stepped down as captain, Paine has made himself available for selection as a player for the upcoming Ashes.

Explained! Why Tim Paine has stepped down as Australia's Test captain 4 years after sexting scandal

As Australia won the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, here's reliving the entire seventh edition held in the UAE.

T20 World Cup 2021: Reliving the seventh edition held in the UAE

Star Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya took to Twitter to issue a clarification on Monday (November 15) after reports of his 'Rs 5 crore (INR 50 million)' watch being seized at Mumbai airport went viral. The watch was seized by the customs officials at Mumbai airport after Hardik's return from Dubai post the conclusion of India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 last week.

Hardik released a statement on Twitter and clarified that the watch seized by the customs department at Mumbai airport was worth Rs 1.5 crore (INR 15 million) and not Rs 5 crore as speculated. Reports also claimed that Hardik had failed to produce any bill or related document for the watch which led to its seizure. However, the cricketer denied the allegations and said he voluntarily declared all items and submitted all the purchase documents.

"I voluntarily went to Mumbai airport customs counter to declare the items brought by me and pay the requisite customs duty. Wrong perceptions have been floating around on social media regarding my declaration to customs at Mumbai airport, and I would like to clarify about what transpired," the India all-rounder said.

"I had voluntarily declared all the items that I'd lawfully purchased from Dubai and was ready to pay whatever duties that needed to be paid. As a matter of fact, the customs department had asked for all purchase documents which were submitted; however customs is doing proper valuation for duty which I've already confirmed to pay.

"The cost of the watch is approximately ₹ 1.5 crore and not ₹ 5 crore as per the rumours floating around on social media. I'm a law-abiding citizen of the country and I respect all government agencies. I've received all the cooperation from the Mumbai customs department and I've assured my full cooperation to them and will provide them with whatever legitimate documents they need to get this matter cleared. All allegations against me of crossing any legal boundaries are totally unfounded," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/three-teams-that-flopped-in-t20-world-cup-2021-virat-kohli-co-headline-list-429594">Three teams that flopped in T20 World Cup 2021: Virat Kohli &amp; Co. headline list</a>

Hardik was part of the Indian squad that was in action in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 and played all five matches for the Men in Blue in the Super 12. He didn't have a great tournament on the personal front as the all-rounder could only manage 69 runs and went wicket-less with the ball.

Hardik has not been selected in India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand at home and will be eager to make his comeback in the side with impressive performances in the domestic circuit.&nbsp;

Star Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya took to Twitter to issue a clarification on Monday (November 15) after reports of his 'Rs 5 crore (INR 50 million)' watch being seized at Mumbai airport went viral.

Star Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya took to Twitter to issue a clarification on Monday (November 15) after reports of his 'Rs 5 crore (INR 50 million)' watch being seized at Mumbai airport went viral. The watch was seized by the customs officials at Mumbai airport after Hardik's return from Dubai post the conclusion of India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 last week. Hardik released a statement on Twitter and clarified that the watch seized by the customs department at Mumbai airport was worth Rs 1.5 crore (INR 15 million) and not Rs 5 crore as speculated. Reports also claimed that Hardik had failed to produce any bill or related document for the watch which led to its seizure. However, the cricketer denied the allegations and said he voluntarily declared all items and submitted all the purchase documents. "I voluntarily went to Mumbai airport customs counter to declare the items brought by me and pay the requisite customs duty. Wrong perceptions have been floating around on social media regarding my declaration to customs at Mumbai airport, and I would like to clarify about what transpired," the India all-rounder said. "I had voluntarily declared all the items that I'd lawfully purchased from Dubai and was ready to pay whatever duties that needed to be paid. As a matter of fact, the customs department had asked for all purchase documents which were submitted; however customs is doing proper valuation for duty which I've already confirmed to pay. "The cost of the watch is approximately ₹ 1.5 crore and not ₹ 5 crore as per the rumours floating around on social media. I'm a law-abiding citizen of the country and I respect all government agencies. I've received all the cooperation from the Mumbai customs department and I've assured my full cooperation to them and will provide them with whatever legitimate documents they need to get this matter cleared. All allegations against me of crossing any legal boundaries are totally unfounded," he added. Also Read: Three teams that flopped in T20 World Cup 2021: Virat Kohli & Co. headline list Hardik was part of the Indian squad that was in action in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 and played all five matches for the Men in Blue in the Super 12. He didn't have a great tournament on the personal front as the all-rounder could only manage 69 runs and went wicket-less with the ball. Hardik has not been selected in India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand at home and will be eager to make his comeback in the side with impressive performances in the domestic circuit.

'Rs 1.5 crore not Rs 5 crore': Hardik Pandya breaks silence on watch seized by customs at Mumbai airport

Australia defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the final to lift their maiden T20 World Cup title in Dubai. One of the most dominant teams in the history of cricket, the Aussies have now won a staggering five ODI World Cup titles and a T20 World Cup trophy.

Never write them off: Champions Australia's journey to maiden T20 World Cup triumph

Team India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has opened up on being snubbed from India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad. His exclusion from the 15-man squad had come as a surprise to many given his experience. Chahal was leading India's spin attack in white-ball cricket over the last few years and was shockingly left out of the T20 World Cup squad after a dip in form as the selectors went with Rahul Chahar while R Ashwin was recalled in the shortest format after as many as four years.

Chahal didn't even make the cut in India's revised squad which was announced days before the start of the tournament despite doing well for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. He was also not named in the reserves and was left disappointed after being dropped for the first time in many years in a major event like T20 World Cup.

Chahal said he was down for a couple of days after being snubbed from the squad but knew the second leg of IPL was around the corner which might give him a chance to redeem himself. However, despite his brilliant performances in the second leg of the IPL in UAE, he was not recalled in the team.

“I was not dropped in four years and then I got dropped for such a marquee event. I felt really bad. I was down for two-three days. But then I knew the second leg of the IPL was still around the corner. I went back to my coaches and spoke to them a lot,” Chahal was quoted as saying by&nbsp;the Times of India.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aussie-star-trolls-michael-vaughan-over-his-i-dont-give-australia-much-chance-remark-after-t20-wc-triumph-429557">Aussie star trolls Vaughan over his 'I don’t give Australia much chance' remark after T20 WC triumph</a>

While leg-spinner played a key role for several teams in the T20 World Cup this year, Indian spinners failed to make an impact. Chakravarthy failed to live up to the expectations as he went wicket-less in the tournament while Ashwin and Jadeja picked 6 and 7 wickets respectively in the tournament as India failed to make it to the semis.

Chahal has been recalled in the T20I squad for India's upcoming series against New Zealand at home and will be hoping to cement his spot in the squad with his performances. 
&nbsp;

Team India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has opened up on being snubbed from India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad. His exclusion from the 15-man squad had come as a surprise to many given his experience.

Team India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has opened up on being snubbed from India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad. His exclusion from the 15-man squad had come as a surprise to many given his experience. Chahal was leading India's spin attack in white-ball cricket over the last few years and was shockingly left out of the T20 World Cup squad after a dip in form as the selectors went with Rahul Chahar while R Ashwin was recalled in the shortest format after as many as four years. Chahal didn't even make the cut in India's revised squad which was announced days before the start of the tournament despite doing well for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. He was also not named in the reserves and was left disappointed after being dropped for the first time in many years in a major event like T20 World Cup. Chahal said he was down for a couple of days after being snubbed from the squad but knew the second leg of IPL was around the corner which might give him a chance to redeem himself. However, despite his brilliant performances in the second leg of the IPL in UAE, he was not recalled in the team. “I was not dropped in four years and then I got dropped for such a marquee event. I felt really bad. I was down for two-three days. But then I knew the second leg of the IPL was still around the corner. I went back to my coaches and spoke to them a lot,” Chahal was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Also Read: Aussie star trolls Vaughan over his 'I don’t give Australia much chance' remark after T20 WC triumph While leg-spinner played a key role for several teams in the T20 World Cup this year, Indian spinners failed to make an impact. Chakravarthy failed to live up to the expectations as he went wicket-less in the tournament while Ashwin and Jadeja picked 6 and 7 wickets respectively in the tournament as India failed to make it to the semis. Chahal has been recalled in the T20I squad for India's upcoming series against New Zealand at home and will be hoping to cement his spot in the squad with his performances.

'I was not dropped in 4 years': Yuzvendra Chahal says he was down for 2-3 days after T20 World Cup snub

World cricket's most successful coach John Buchanan will be on WION today to help us build-up to the big final. Buchanan coached Australia to 2 ODI world cup titles in 2003 and 2007 and also served as New Zealand's director of cricket between 2011 and 2013. This is his take on the key matchups that could decide the game. Take a look.

World cricket's most successful coach John Buchanan speaks to WION

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has taken a dig at meme creators on social media who often target him in their quirky posts and have a laugh at his expense. Shastri said he finds some of the memes quite enjoyable and would like to invite some of the creators for a drink someday.

The former head coach was blamed for India's losses on social media on several occasions during his stint with the team. However, Shastri said at least his memes made people laugh even during difficult times. Shastri's tenure with the Indian team came to an end last week after India's exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

"I quite enjoyed some of them (memes). That's talent also. When they suddenly make me have a paunch, then it disappears the next day," Shastri was quoted as saying by India Today.

"There are bottles everywhere, it is a laugh at my expense. So at least in tough times you kept people in good humour. I would like to invite some of them for a drink," he added.

India headed into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites but endured a disappointing run in the tournament as they suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. The Men in Blue did bounce back to win their next three games in a row by big margins but six points were not enough to seem them make it to the semi-finals.

Shastri, who had taken over as India's full-time head coach in 2017, ended his stint without a major ICC trophy. However, under his guidance, India became a force to reckon with across formats and came close to winning an ICC trophy on a couple of occasions.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/which-fool-would-value-playing-in-ipl-over-india-ravi-shastri-hits-back-at-critics-after-t20-wc-debacle-428825">Which fool would value playing in IPL over India: Ravi Shastri hits back at critics after T20 WC debacle</a>

"This tenure has given me more job satisfaction than anything else. When in this job, you are just with your coaching staff. All you can do is create a mindset that allows the boys to play freely once they are out and giving back something," said Shastri.

"It has entailed a lot of sacrifice, especially in the last year and a half during Covid which cricket has not seen since the Second World War," he added.

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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has taken a dig at meme creators on social media who often target him in their quirky posts and have a laugh at his expense.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has taken a dig at meme creators on social media who often target him in their quirky posts and have a laugh at his expense. Shastri said he finds some of the memes quite enjoyable and would like to invite some of the creators for a drink someday. The former head coach was blamed for India's losses on social media on several occasions during his stint with the team. However, Shastri said at least his memes made people laugh even during difficult times. Shastri's tenure with the Indian team came to an end last week after India's exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. "I quite enjoyed some of them (memes). That's talent also. When they suddenly make me have a paunch, then it disappears the next day," Shastri was quoted as saying by India Today. "There are bottles everywhere, it is a laugh at my expense. So at least in tough times you kept people in good humour. I would like to invite some of them for a drink," he added. India headed into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites but endured a disappointing run in the tournament as they suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. The Men in Blue did bounce back to win their next three games in a row by big margins but six points were not enough to seem them make it to the semi-finals. Shastri, who had taken over as India's full-time head coach in 2017, ended his stint without a major ICC trophy. However, under his guidance, India became a force to reckon with across formats and came close to winning an ICC trophy on a couple of occasions. Also Read: Which fool would value playing in IPL over India: Ravi Shastri hits back at critics after T20 WC debacle "This tenure has given me more job satisfaction than anything else. When in this job, you are just with your coaching staff. All you can do is create a mindset that allows the boys to play freely once they are out and giving back something," said Shastri. "It has entailed a lot of sacrifice, especially in the last year and a half during Covid which cricket has not seen since the Second World War," he added.

Ravi Shastri takes a dig at meme creators on social media: 'I would like to invite some of them for a drink'

The cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is unparalleled, fans in the South Asian nations go above and beyond to support their teams. The buzz around Indo-Pak matches is just crazy and frenzy spreads like a fever.&nbsp;

Although, the neighbouring countries now square off only in the multi-nation ICC tournaments as the bilateral series between the two has been suspended due to political reasons.&nbsp;

The two teams last met in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman, when India lost the match by 10 wickets. India last hosted Pakistan in a bilateral series in 2013.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-doctor-who-treated-pakistans-mohammad-rizwan-was-astonished-by-players-recovery-shares-details-429000">Indian doctor, who treated Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, was astonished by player's recovery; shares details</a>

Commenting on the possibility of bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the future, Geoff Allardice, chief executive of the International Cricket Council replied on would the ICC get involved in Indo-Pak bilateral situation.&nbsp;

"Not in bilateral cricket. We obviously enjoy when they play each other in our events. But the relationship between the two countries and the boards is something the ICC isn’t able to influence," Allardice was quoted as saying by News18.&nbsp;

"Like any bilateral cricket, if the two boards agree they play, if they don't, then they don’t. I suppose we’re not seeing much of a change on the horizon," he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-shaheen-should-have-used-his-head-ex-pakistani-cricketer-opines-on-pacers-spell-against-australia-428887">T20 WC: 'Shaheen should have used his head': Ex-Pakistani cricketer opines on pacer's spell against Australia</a>

During the media interaction in Dubai, he was further asked about the World Test Championship. Allardice said, "It's just a pragmatic approach to keep them apart and let the competition function. If they both make it to the final of an ICC tournament, then playing each other at a neutral venue."

On prospects of keeping both the teams in the same group in limited-overs ICC events, Allardice said, "It depends a bit on where they are ranked at the cut off dates. Initially they were not in the same group for this event. But so much time had passed and they did end up in the same group at the revised group. I’m not sure how they are placed for Australia next year."

The cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is unparalleled, fans in the South Asian nations go above and beyond to support their teams. The buzz around Indo-Pak matches is just crazy and frenzy spreads like a fever.

The cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is unparalleled, fans in the South Asian nations go above and beyond to support their teams. The buzz around Indo-Pak matches is just crazy and frenzy spreads like a fever. Although, the neighbouring countries now square off only in the multi-nation ICC tournaments as the bilateral series between the two has been suspended due to political reasons. The two teams last met in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman, when India lost the match by 10 wickets. India last hosted Pakistan in a bilateral series in 2013. ALSO READ | Indian doctor, who treated Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, was astonished by player's recovery; shares details Commenting on the possibility of bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the future, Geoff Allardice, chief executive of the International Cricket Council replied on would the ICC get involved in Indo-Pak bilateral situation. "Not in bilateral cricket. We obviously enjoy when they play each other in our events. But the relationship between the two countries and the boards is something the ICC isn’t able to influence," Allardice was quoted as saying by News18. "Like any bilateral cricket, if the two boards agree they play, if they don't, then they don’t. I suppose we’re not seeing much of a change on the horizon," he added. ALSO READ | T20 WC: 'Shaheen should have used his head': Ex-Pakistani cricketer opines on pacer's spell against Australia During the media interaction in Dubai, he was further asked about the World Test Championship. Allardice said, "It's just a pragmatic approach to keep them apart and let the competition function. If they both make it to the final of an ICC tournament, then playing each other at a neutral venue." On prospects of keeping both the teams in the same group in limited-overs ICC events, Allardice said, "It depends a bit on where they are ranked at the cut off dates. Initially they were not in the same group for this event. But so much time had passed and they did end up in the same group at the revised group. I’m not sure how they are placed for Australia next year."

Chief executive of ICC reacts to the prospects of India vs Pakistan bilateral series in future

Ravi Shastri's tenure as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team came to an end on Monday (November 08) with the team's emphatic nine-wicket win over Namibia in their final Super 12 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Shastri's contract with the Indian team was set to expire post the T20 World Cup this year.

He was appointed as the full-time head coach of Team India in 2017, replacing Anil Kumble at the helm after India's defeat against Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017. Under Shastri and captain Virat Kohli, Team India made giant strides in world cricket and became a force to reckon with across all formats.

India recorded some memorable victories in all three formats of the game at home and overseas. India won the Asia Cup in 2018 which remains the biggest trophy of Shastri's era while also becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia in 2019. India made it back-to-back Test series wins in Australia with another memorable triumph earlier this year.

While Shastri failed to inspire India to a major ICC trophy despite coming close on a few occasions, the Indian team fared well across all three formats in his tenure. Here is a look at how Team India performed under head coach Shastri in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-look-at-ravi-shastris-top-achievements-as-india-head-coach-425093">&nbsp;A look at Ravi Shastri's top achievements as India head coach</a>

<h3>Ravi Shastri's report card as India's head coach:</h3>

Tests -&nbsp;43 matches, 25 wins, 13 losses, 5 draws

India were one of the best teams in the world under Shastri's tenure as they dominated the ICC Test rankings and were the no.1 team for several months. India won back-to-back Test series in Australia and were 2-1 ahead in the Test series in England earlier this year.

India also reached the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) but missed out on the trophy after losing against New Zealand by 8 wickets in the summit clash. India played a total of 43 Tests under Shastri as head coach, winning 25 matches and losing 13. 5 games ended in a draw.

ODIs - 76 matches, 51 wins, 22 losses, 2 tied, 1 no-result

India also dominated the proceedings in ODIs under Shastri. With Virat Kohli leading the side from the front, the Men in Blue finished on top of the points table in the group stages of the ODI World Cup in 2019 and were favourites to clinch the title before losing against New Zealand in the semi-finals.

India semi-finals finish at the ODI World Cup in 2019, and the Asia Cup triumph in 2018 remains Shastri's best achievements as a head coach as far as ODIs are concerned. India won an impressive 51 matches out of 76 ODIs under Shastri with 22 games ending in a defeat and three matches without a result.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/rahul-dravid-likely-to-replace-ravi-shastri-a-look-at-his-achievements-as-a-coach-421553">A look at Rahul Dravid's&nbsp;achievements as a coach</a>

T20Is - 64 matches, 42 wins, 18 losses, 2 tied, 2 no-result

India might have endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 which was Shastri's first and last major T20 tournament as the head coach of the team, but they were a dominant force in the shortest format in the build-up to the showpiece event.

India won the Nidahas Trophy t20 tournament in 2018 under Shastri's coaching and Rohit Sharma's captaincy. India played 64 T20Is under Shastri, winning a staggering 42 games and losing only 18 matches. India clean swept New Zealand 5-0 in a T20I series in their own backyard last year and also defeated Australia in 2-1 in a T20I series on Australian soil in 2019.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-named-captain-gaikwad-avesh-harshal-make-the-cut-in-indias-15-man-squad-for-new-zealand-t20is-428049">Rohit named captain; Gaikwad, Avesh, Harshal make the cut in India's 15-man squad for NZ&nbsp;T20Is</a>

Shastri will be replaced by the legendary Rahul Dravid, who has already been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian team while Rohit will be leading the side in T20Is after Kohli stepped down as the T20I captain of the side. Rohit and Dravid's first major assignment will be the New Zealand T20I series which gets underway from November 17.

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Ravi Shastri's tenure as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team came to an end on Monday (November 08) with the team's emphatic nine-wicket win over Namibia in their final Super 12 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Ravi Shastri's tenure as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team came to an end on Monday (November 08) with the team's emphatic nine-wicket win over Namibia in their final Super 12 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Shastri's contract with the Indian team was set to expire post the T20 World Cup this year. He was appointed as the full-time head coach of Team India in 2017, replacing Anil Kumble at the helm after India's defeat against Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017. Under Shastri and captain Virat Kohli, Team India made giant strides in world cricket and became a force to reckon with across all formats. India recorded some memorable victories in all three formats of the game at home and overseas. India won the Asia Cup in 2018 which remains the biggest trophy of Shastri's era while also becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia in 2019. India made it back-to-back Test series wins in Australia with another memorable triumph earlier this year. While Shastri failed to inspire India to a major ICC trophy despite coming close on a few occasions, the Indian team fared well across all three formats in his tenure. Here is a look at how Team India performed under head coach Shastri in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Also Read: A look at Ravi Shastri's top achievements as India head coach Ravi Shastri's report card as India's head coach: Tests - 43 matches, 25 wins, 13 losses, 5 draws India were one of the best teams in the world under Shastri's tenure as they dominated the ICC Test rankings and were the no.1 team for several months. India won back-to-back Test series in Australia and were 2-1 ahead in the Test series in England earlier this year. India also reached the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) but missed out on the trophy after losing against New Zealand by 8 wickets in the summit clash. India played a total of 43 Tests under Shastri as head coach, winning 25 matches and losing 13. 5 games ended in a draw. ODIs - 76 matches, 51 wins, 22 losses, 2 tied, 1 no-result India also dominated the proceedings in ODIs under Shastri. With Virat Kohli leading the side from the front, the Men in Blue finished on top of the points table in the group stages of the ODI World Cup in 2019 and were favourites to clinch the title before losing against New Zealand in the semi-finals. India semi-finals finish at the ODI World Cup in 2019, and the Asia Cup triumph in 2018 remains Shastri's best achievements as a head coach as far as ODIs are concerned. India won an impressive 51 matches out of 76 ODIs under Shastri with 22 games ending in a defeat and three matches without a result. Also Read: A look at Rahul Dravid's achievements as a coach T20Is - 64 matches, 42 wins, 18 losses, 2 tied, 2 no-result India might have endured a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 which was Shastri's first and last major T20 tournament as the head coach of the team, but they were a dominant force in the shortest format in the build-up to the showpiece event. India won the Nidahas Trophy t20 tournament in 2018 under Shastri's coaching and Rohit Sharma's captaincy. India played 64 T20Is under Shastri, winning a staggering 42 games and losing only 18 matches. India clean swept New Zealand 5-0 in a T20I series in their own backyard last year and also defeated Australia in 2-1 in a T20I series on Australian soil in 2019. Also Read: Rohit named captain; Gaikwad, Avesh, Harshal make the cut in India's 15-man squad for NZ T20Is Shastri will be replaced by the legendary Rahul Dravid, who has already been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian team while Rohit will be leading the side in T20Is after Kohli stepped down as the T20I captain of the side. Rohit and Dravid's first major assignment will be the New Zealand T20I series which gets underway from November 17. ×

Ravi Shastri bids adieu: A look at Team India's performances across formats under former head coach

The bitter battle for power within the Taliban is out in the open. The Haqqanis tried to attempt a "coup" at the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Reports say armed supports of Mullah Baradar stormed the office & beat up officials. Molly Gambhir has more.

Gravitas | Haqqanis "fail" in their attempt to takeover Afghan Cricket Board

Virat Kohli's leadership credentials are being questioned once again after India endured a terrible campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 and bowed out from the group stages of the tournament. Kohli &amp; Co. bagged three wins in five matches in the Super 12 but failed to make it to the semi-finals as New Zealand finished above there in the Group 2 points table with eight points from five games and became the second team after Pakistan to progress to next round.

It was a disappointing start to the tournament for India as the Men in Blue suffered back-to-back defeats in their firt two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively which eventually saw them miss out on a spot in the top four despite three big wins in their next three matches. Kohli has already led India in his final game in T20Is as captain after confirming that he will be stepping down from the post of captain in the shortest format.

However, questions are also being raised on his spot in the T20I side considering the recent dip in his performances. In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli managed to score only 68 runs in three innings and didn't come out to bat at no.3 in two matches. Former India opener Virender Sehwag recently gave his take on the matter and said Kohli can't be replaced in the Indian batting line-up in T20Is.

The former India batter said it won't be right to question Kohli's spot in India's T20I side and that he will continue to play for as long as he wants in the shortest format. Kohli had earlier explained his decision to quit captaincy was to manage his workload well and focus on doing well as a pure batter for the Indian team.

“No matter how many youngsters come, there won’t be another Virat Kohli. With the kind of consistency, he displays with the bat, even in this current side, it won’t be right to question his place in the T20 set-up. He will continue to play T20I for as long as he wants,” said Sehwag on Cricbuzz.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-explains-why-he-quit-indias-t20i-captaincy-its-been-6-7-years-of-intense-cricket-427830">Virat Kohli explains why he quit India's T20I captaincy: 'It's been 6-7 years of intense cricket'</a>

Kohli might have stepped aside as India's T20I captain but will continue to lead the national team in ODIs and Tests. BCCI will soon announce his replacement with Rohit Sharma leading the race to become the next T20I captain of the team under new head coach Rahul Dravid.

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Virat Kohli's leadership credentials are being questioned once again after India endured a terrible campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 and bowed out from the group stages of the tournament.

Virat Kohli's leadership credentials are being questioned once again after India endured a terrible campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 and bowed out from the group stages of the tournament. Kohli & Co. bagged three wins in five matches in the Super 12 but failed to make it to the semi-finals as New Zealand finished above there in the Group 2 points table with eight points from five games and became the second team after Pakistan to progress to next round. It was a disappointing start to the tournament for India as the Men in Blue suffered back-to-back defeats in their firt two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively which eventually saw them miss out on a spot in the top four despite three big wins in their next three matches. Kohli has already led India in his final game in T20Is as captain after confirming that he will be stepping down from the post of captain in the shortest format. However, questions are also being raised on his spot in the T20I side considering the recent dip in his performances. In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli managed to score only 68 runs in three innings and didn't come out to bat at no.3 in two matches. Former India opener Virender Sehwag recently gave his take on the matter and said Kohli can't be replaced in the Indian batting line-up in T20Is. The former India batter said it won't be right to question Kohli's spot in India's T20I side and that he will continue to play for as long as he wants in the shortest format. Kohli had earlier explained his decision to quit captaincy was to manage his workload well and focus on doing well as a pure batter for the Indian team. “No matter how many youngsters come, there won’t be another Virat Kohli. With the kind of consistency, he displays with the bat, even in this current side, it won’t be right to question his place in the T20 set-up. He will continue to play T20I for as long as he wants,” said Sehwag on Cricbuzz. Also Read: Virat Kohli explains why he quit India's T20I captaincy: 'It's been 6-7 years of intense cricket' Kohli might have stepped aside as India's T20I captain but will continue to lead the national team in ODIs and Tests. BCCI will soon announce his replacement with Rohit Sharma leading the race to become the next T20I captain of the team under new head coach Rahul Dravid.

'There won't be another Virat': Virender Sehwag says won't be right to question Kohli's spot in T20I team

Cheeku, Gabbar, Steyn Gun, Whispering Death: Cricketers and their iconic sobriquets

Cricket fans on Twitter were left stumped after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s official women's team handle posted a tweet sharing cricketer&nbsp;Anushka Sharma's score from a game in the onging&nbsp;Womens Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy. The cricketer shares her name with Bollywood superstar and Indian men's cricket team captain Virat Kohli's wife Anushka Sharma.

The Women's Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy got underway in Jaipur on 2nd November with two matches being played on the opening day. BCCI Women's official Twitter handle was continuously providing updates from the matches but one tweet particularly caught the eyes of many.

"Anushka Sharma 52 runs in 88 balls &nbsp;(5x4, 1x6) India B 140/0 #U19ChallengerTrophy," tweeted BCCI Women and the post soon went viral with several fans noticing the funny side of it. Fans had a filed day sharing memes and jokes as they couldn't help but mention actor and producer Anushka Sharma's name in their responses.

Check out some&nbsp;tweets:

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For a sec i thought bcci is trolling virat kohli
— Pisces dude (@Deltaseira0318) <a href="https://twitter.com/Deltaseira0318/status/1455430230336626688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Wait...whaaatt... so..the wife plays for BCCI women team? Isn't she only a actress
— Indika Bandara (@hmcindikab) <a href="https://twitter.com/hmcindikab/status/1455430528602042368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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you had us
— SURBHI SHARMA🇮🇳 (@Imsurbhis) <a href="https://twitter.com/Imsurbhis/status/1455410592559210502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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And She is Captain too <a href="https://t.co/Mdm8Iv2l05">pic.twitter.com/Mdm8Iv2l05</a>
— Sandesh Naik (@Sandesh18333) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sandesh18333/status/1455461840327041028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Virat Kohli's reaction after seeing this:- <a href="https://t.co/Ew6MPTA1YJ">pic.twitter.com/Ew6MPTA1YJ</a>
— CRICKET VIDEOS (@AbdullahNeaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbdullahNeaz/status/1455442151395905544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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While Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma commands a huge fan base across the country and is one of the most successful actors in the industry, young cricketer Anushka Brijmohan Sharma is making a name for herself on the cricket field.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-the-runs-and-hundreds-you-score-mean-nothing-if-you-dont-win-trophy-rohit-sharma-426899">All the runs and hundreds you score mean nothing if you don’t win trophy: Rohit Sharma</a>

Anushka hails from Madhya Pradesh and plays for her state team in the domestic circuit. She is currently leading the India B side in the&nbsp;Women's Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy and has been making waves with her performances.

Anushka played a brilliant knock of 72 runs off 114 balls as she combined with opener G Trisha to help India B post 221 runs on the board against India A in their first game of the competition. India A were bundled out for 129 runs, in reply as they lost the game by a whopping 92 runs.

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Cricket fans on Twitter were left stumped after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s official women's team handle posted a tweet sharing cricketer Anushka Sharma's score from a game in the onging Womens Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy.

Cricket fans on Twitter were left stumped after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s official women's team handle posted a tweet sharing cricketer Anushka Sharma's score from a game in the onging Womens Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy. The cricketer shares her name with Bollywood superstar and Indian men's cricket team captain Virat Kohli's wife Anushka Sharma. The Women's Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy got underway in Jaipur on 2nd November with two matches being played on the opening day. BCCI Women's official Twitter handle was continuously providing updates from the matches but one tweet particularly caught the eyes of many. "Anushka Sharma 52 runs in 88 balls (5x4, 1x6) India B 140/0 #U19ChallengerTrophy," tweeted BCCI Women and the post soon went viral with several fans noticing the funny side of it. Fans had a filed day sharing memes and jokes as they couldn't help but mention actor and producer Anushka Sharma's name in their responses. Check out some tweets: For a sec i thought bcci is trolling virat kohli — Pisces dude (@Deltaseira0318) November 2, 2021 × Wait...whaaatt... so..the wife plays for BCCI women team? Isn't she only a actress — Indika Bandara (@hmcindikab) November 2, 2021 × you had us — SURBHI SHARMA🇮🇳 (@Imsurbhis) November 2, 2021 × And She is Captain too pic.twitter.com/Mdm8Iv2l05 — Sandesh Naik (@Sandesh18333) November 2, 2021 × Virat Kohli's reaction after seeing this:- pic.twitter.com/Ew6MPTA1YJ — CRICKET VIDEOS (@AbdullahNeaz) November 2, 2021 × While Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma commands a huge fan base across the country and is one of the most successful actors in the industry, young cricketer Anushka Brijmohan Sharma is making a name for herself on the cricket field. Also Read: All the runs and hundreds you score mean nothing if you don’t win trophy: Rohit Sharma Anushka hails from Madhya Pradesh and plays for her state team in the domestic circuit. She is currently leading the India B side in the Women's Under 19 One Day Challenger Trophy and has been making waves with her performances. Anushka played a brilliant knock of 72 runs off 114 balls as she combined with opener G Trisha to help India B post 221 runs on the board against India A in their first game of the competition. India A were bundled out for 129 runs, in reply as they lost the game by a whopping 92 runs.

Anushka Sharma scores 52 runs in 88 balls: Fans react as BCCI's post goes viral on Twitter

Ravi Shastri is all set to step down from the post of the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. Here is a look at the team's achievements under Shastri.

Ravi Shastri's top achievements as India head coach

Former India captain MS Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. Dhoni is in the UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as the team's mentor in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Dhoni, a two-time World Cup-winning captain and the only skipper to have won all three major ICC limited-overs trophies, will be helping the young Indian team in bringing an end to their ICC trophy drought since 2013. India's Champions Trophy triumph in England in 2013 was their last major ICC trophy which came under Dhoni's captaincy.

As Kohli aims to lift his first T20 World Cup title in what is set to be his last assignment as India's T20I captain, Dhoni's presence in the dressing room can play a crucial role in the team's success, feels former Australia head coach John Buchanan.

Buchanan is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and helped the Australian team win two back-to-back ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007 while also claiming their maiden Champions Trophy title in 2006.&nbsp;The ex-Aussie coach feels Dhoni is an incredible leader and his presence around the dressing room can be an asset for Team India in the T20 World Cup 2021 where pressure can easily get the better of players.

"Dhoni is just an incredible player and an incredible leader," Buchanan told WION.

"His presence is really important. He is a calming influence, he is good at summing out situations and pretty clear at what needs to be done. I am not suggesting that Virat Kohli is not doing that but it's nice to have that sort of presence around the dressing room when things might be a little bit emotional and are not going the right way. If Dhoni plays that sort of a role, which he would. Then I think he will be a real asset to that Indian dressing room," he explained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-under-pressure-he-is-trying-to-distract-himself-with-his-statements-former-pakistan-pacer-423559">Virat Kohli is under pressure, he is trying to distract himself with his statements: Former Pakistan pacer</a>

Kohli-led India will ope their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign with a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24 (Sunday).

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Former India captain MS Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. Dhoni is in the UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as the team's mentor in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.

Former India captain MS Dhoni has returned to the Indian dressing room for the first time since announcing his retirement from international cricket last year. Dhoni is in the UAE with the rest of the Indian squad as the team's mentor in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Dhoni, a two-time World Cup-winning captain and the only skipper to have won all three major ICC limited-overs trophies, will be helping the young Indian team in bringing an end to their ICC trophy drought since 2013. India's Champions Trophy triumph in England in 2013 was their last major ICC trophy which came under Dhoni's captaincy. As Kohli aims to lift his first T20 World Cup title in what is set to be his last assignment as India's T20I captain, Dhoni's presence in the dressing room can play a crucial role in the team's success, feels former Australia head coach John Buchanan. Buchanan is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and helped the Australian team win two back-to-back ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007 while also claiming their maiden Champions Trophy title in 2006. The ex-Aussie coach feels Dhoni is an incredible leader and his presence around the dressing room can be an asset for Team India in the T20 World Cup 2021 where pressure can easily get the better of players. "Dhoni is just an incredible player and an incredible leader," Buchanan told WION. "His presence is really important. He is a calming influence, he is good at summing out situations and pretty clear at what needs to be done. I am not suggesting that Virat Kohli is not doing that but it's nice to have that sort of presence around the dressing room when things might be a little bit emotional and are not going the right way. If Dhoni plays that sort of a role, which he would. Then I think he will be a real asset to that Indian dressing room," he explained. Also Read: Virat Kohli is under pressure, he is trying to distract himself with his statements: Former Pakistan pacer Kohli-led India will ope their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign with a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24 (Sunday). ×

MS Dhoni an incredible leader, his presence in the dressing room will help India at T20 WC: John Buchanan

Team India will aim to end their ICC trophy drought when they return to action in the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman. The Virat Kohli-led side will open their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

India's last major ICC trophy came under former captain MS Dhoni when he inspired the Men in Blue to a historic triumph at the Champions Trophy in England. India have since failed to clinch a major ICC trophy and will be desperate to return home with the elusive T20 World Cup title.

Since taking over as the full-time skipper of the Indian team in 2017, Kohli has been instrumental as a batter and a leader in India's success across all three formats of the game. However, an ICC trophy continues to elude the run-machine when it comes to his record as a captain.

Having already announced that he will be stepping down as the captain of the T20I side after the T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli will be hoping to end his captaincy stint in the shortest format on a high and inspire India to their second T20 World Cup title.

Ahead of the start of India's campaign at the showpiece event, here we take a look at the team's performances under Virat Kohli in major ICC events so far -

1) ICC Champions Trophy 2017

<img alt="India lost Champions Trophy final against Pakistan in 2017" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b2cff164-e44d-4a7f-905d-8181b9f5f35f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Champions%20trophy%202017.png" />

The Champions Trophy in 2017 was Virat Kohli's first major assignment as the captain of the Indian team. Up against arch-rivals Pakistan in the very first game of the tournament, India registered a massive win by 124 runs to get their campaign underway in style. The win set the tone for the Men in Blue as they played some phenomenal cricket in the group stages to make it to the knockout round.

In the semi-final, India were up against an in-form and spirited Bangladesh side. Kohli &amp; Co. mauled their oponnents by nine wickets to book a spot in the final where they were once again up against Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan posted a huge total of 338 runs at the Kennington Oval in London before bowling out India for a paltry 158 as the Men in Blue lost the final by a whopping 180 runs to miss out on the trophy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-one-can-beat-ms-dhonis-legacy-in-team-india-and-chennai-super-kings-virender-sehwag-421477">No one can beat MS Dhoni's legacy in Team India and Chennai Super Kings: Virender Sehwag</a>

2) ICC ODI World Cup 2019

<img alt="India lost in the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6229712e-397b-4838-a39f-64610b3f81a2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhoni%20run%20out.png" />

Virat Kohli's first ODI World Cup as the captain of the Indian team couldn't have come at a better time for the skipper. With most of the players at the peak of their prowess, Kohli &amp; Co. were one of the favourites heading into the tournament. They did live up to the expectations and dominated the league stage to top the points table with 15 points from nine matches with just one loss in nine games.

However, India crumbled under pressure in the semi-final against New Zealand. The rain-affected clash was played across two days in Manchester with New Zealand posting a moderate total of 239/8 batting first. India got off to a woeful start in the run-chase as they lost their top three on one run each and were reduced to 3/5 inside the first four overs. MS Dhoni (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) led India's fightback and got the team close to a victory. However, India suffered a heartbreaking loss by 18 runs to bow out of the tournament. It also turned out to be MS Dhoni's final game in an India jersey as he announced his retirement on August 15, a year later.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-game-of-cricket-virat-kohli-plays-down-hype-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-at-t20-wc-421463">Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC</a>

3) ICC World Test Championship (2019-2021)&nbsp;

<img alt="India lost the WTC final against New Zealand in 2021." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4382a74e-fcb1-4e50-91ee-f347eb93858d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kohli%20Williamson.png" />

India once again proved to be the best team in the league stages as they lost just one out of six series they took part in during the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship which was played from 2019 to 2021. India's only series defeat came against New Zealand as they topped the rankings in the league stages to make it to the final where they were once again up against the Kiwis.

It was a golden chance for Virat Kohli to extend India's dominance further in Test cricket and bring an end to their ICC trophy drought. However, New Zealand outclassed India in a thrilling final to become the maiden champions of the World Test Championship. New Zealand won the rain-affected final by eight wickets in Southampton to lift the prestigious trophy.

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Team India will aim to end their ICC trophy drought when they return to action in the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman. The Virat Kohli-led side will open their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

Team India will aim to end their ICC trophy drought when they return to action in the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman. The Virat Kohli-led side will open their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. India's last major ICC trophy came under former captain MS Dhoni when he inspired the Men in Blue to a historic triumph at the Champions Trophy in England. India have since failed to clinch a major ICC trophy and will be desperate to return home with the elusive T20 World Cup title. Since taking over as the full-time skipper of the Indian team in 2017, Kohli has been instrumental as a batter and a leader in India's success across all three formats of the game. However, an ICC trophy continues to elude the run-machine when it comes to his record as a captain. Having already announced that he will be stepping down as the captain of the T20I side after the T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli will be hoping to end his captaincy stint in the shortest format on a high and inspire India to their second T20 World Cup title. Ahead of the start of India's campaign at the showpiece event, here we take a look at the team's performances under Virat Kohli in major ICC events so far - 1) ICC Champions Trophy 2017 The Champions Trophy in 2017 was Virat Kohli's first major assignment as the captain of the Indian team. Up against arch-rivals Pakistan in the very first game of the tournament, India registered a massive win by 124 runs to get their campaign underway in style. The win set the tone for the Men in Blue as they played some phenomenal cricket in the group stages to make it to the knockout round. In the semi-final, India were up against an in-form and spirited Bangladesh side. Kohli & Co. mauled their oponnents by nine wickets to book a spot in the final where they were once again up against Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan posted a huge total of 338 runs at the Kennington Oval in London before bowling out India for a paltry 158 as the Men in Blue lost the final by a whopping 180 runs to miss out on the trophy. Also Read: No one can beat MS Dhoni's legacy in Team India and Chennai Super Kings: Virender Sehwag 2) ICC ODI World Cup 2019 Virat Kohli's first ODI World Cup as the captain of the Indian team couldn't have come at a better time for the skipper. With most of the players at the peak of their prowess, Kohli & Co. were one of the favourites heading into the tournament. They did live up to the expectations and dominated the league stage to top the points table with 15 points from nine matches with just one loss in nine games. However, India crumbled under pressure in the semi-final against New Zealand. The rain-affected clash was played across two days in Manchester with New Zealand posting a moderate total of 239/8 batting first. India got off to a woeful start in the run-chase as they lost their top three on one run each and were reduced to 3/5 inside the first four overs. MS Dhoni (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) led India's fightback and got the team close to a victory. However, India suffered a heartbreaking loss by 18 runs to bow out of the tournament. It also turned out to be MS Dhoni's final game in an India jersey as he announced his retirement on August 15, a year later. Also Read: Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC 3) ICC World Test Championship (2019-2021) India once again proved to be the best team in the league stages as they lost just one out of six series they took part in during the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship which was played from 2019 to 2021. India's only series defeat came against New Zealand as they topped the rankings in the league stages to make it to the final where they were once again up against the Kiwis. It was a golden chance for Virat Kohli to extend India's dominance further in Test cricket and bring an end to their ICC trophy drought. However, New Zealand outclassed India in a thrilling final to become the maiden champions of the World Test Championship. New Zealand won the rain-affected final by eight wickets in Southampton to lift the prestigious trophy.

As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli

Hardik Pandya is currently one of the most highly-rated all-rounders in world cricket. He has struggled with fitness issues recently and has not bowled much due to a back injury but remains a vital cog of the Indian team in white-ball cricket. He is part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2021 and will be donning the role of the finisher in the team.

Pandya, who made his international debut for India in 2016 has come a long way and has already established his credentials as one of the top all-rounders in the world. He was a regular in all three formats before a back injury hampered his progress as his bowling woes ensured he was out of the Test team. Nonetheless, he continues to be an important member of India's ODI and T20I teams.

Pandya recently opened up on tasting success at an early age and age his take on whether money changes the perspective of a youngster once he is offered a big contract in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pandya, who is a vital cog of the Mumbai Indians squad in the IPL, is currently on a salary of INR 110 million per season with the franchise.

Pandya said he and his brother Krunal, who also plays for Mumbai Indians, made sure they never lifted their foot off the ground after money changed their lives for good. Pandya, who comes from a humble background, said he would have been working at a petrol pump had it not been for the money in cricket.

“You need a strong head to understand what is happening. I and Krunal were very strong-headed, so we were able to accept the fact that money is there, but we make sure we never lift a foot off the ground. It might come across like I am flying and all that, but I know at the end of the day, my foot is always on the ground," Pandya said in an interview with&nbsp;Cricket Monthly&nbsp;when asked if money can be a distraction for youngsters in IPL.

"Money is good, bro. It changes a lot of things. I am one of those examples. Otherwise, I would be working at a petrol pump. I am not joking. For me, my family was the priority, to make sure my family has a good life,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-amazon-delivery-man-to-scotlands-hero-chris-greaves-story-is-an-inspiration-to-all-">From Amazon delivery man to Scotland's hero: Chris Greaves' story is an inspiration to all</a>

Pandya further stated that it is important to talk about money as it helps youngsters in pursuing sports as a career. The star India all-rounder wondered how many youngsters will be willing to play cricket if there was no money involved in the game.

“In 2019 I had a conversation with someone who was saying, money should not be there for “you all young guys”. I disagreed. When a guy from a village or a small town gets a big contract, he does not keep it for himself, he is looking after his parents, he is looking after his relatives. Money makes the difference. And it gives motivation as well," said Pandya, who has played 11 Tests, 63 ODIs and 49 T20Is for India.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuvraj-singh-arrested-and-released-on-bail-by-haryana-police-for-using-casteist-slur-against-yuzvendra-chahal-421683">Yuvraj Singh arrested and released on bail by Haryana police for using casteist slur against Yuzvendra Chahal</a>

"There is a misconception that people should not talk about money. I don’t believe in that, because you are passionate about sport and money matters as well. I do not know how many people will play cricket if money is not there,” he added.

Hardik Pandya is currently one of the most highly-rated all-rounders in world cricket. He has struggled with fitness issues recently and has not bowled much due to a back injury but remains a vital cog of the Indian team in white-ball cricket.

Hardik Pandya is currently one of the most highly-rated all-rounders in world cricket. He has struggled with fitness issues recently and has not bowled much due to a back injury but remains a vital cog of the Indian team in white-ball cricket. He is part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2021 and will be donning the role of the finisher in the team. Pandya, who made his international debut for India in 2016 has come a long way and has already established his credentials as one of the top all-rounders in the world. He was a regular in all three formats before a back injury hampered his progress as his bowling woes ensured he was out of the Test team. Nonetheless, he continues to be an important member of India's ODI and T20I teams. Pandya recently opened up on tasting success at an early age and age his take on whether money changes the perspective of a youngster once he is offered a big contract in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pandya, who is a vital cog of the Mumbai Indians squad in the IPL, is currently on a salary of INR 110 million per season with the franchise. Pandya said he and his brother Krunal, who also plays for Mumbai Indians, made sure they never lifted their foot off the ground after money changed their lives for good. Pandya, who comes from a humble background, said he would have been working at a petrol pump had it not been for the money in cricket. “You need a strong head to understand what is happening. I and Krunal were very strong-headed, so we were able to accept the fact that money is there, but we make sure we never lift a foot off the ground. It might come across like I am flying and all that, but I know at the end of the day, my foot is always on the ground," Pandya said in an interview with Cricket Monthly when asked if money can be a distraction for youngsters in IPL. "Money is good, bro. It changes a lot of things. I am one of those examples. Otherwise, I would be working at a petrol pump. I am not joking. For me, my family was the priority, to make sure my family has a good life,” he added. Also Read: From Amazon delivery man to Scotland's hero: Chris Greaves' story is an inspiration to all Pandya further stated that it is important to talk about money as it helps youngsters in pursuing sports as a career. The star India all-rounder wondered how many youngsters will be willing to play cricket if there was no money involved in the game. “In 2019 I had a conversation with someone who was saying, money should not be there for “you all young guys”. I disagreed. When a guy from a village or a small town gets a big contract, he does not keep it for himself, he is looking after his parents, he is looking after his relatives. Money makes the difference. And it gives motivation as well," said Pandya, who has played 11 Tests, 63 ODIs and 49 T20Is for India. Also Read: Yuvraj Singh arrested and released on bail by Haryana police for using casteist slur against Yuzvendra Chahal "There is a misconception that people should not talk about money. I don’t believe in that, because you are passionate about sport and money matters as well. I do not know how many people will play cricket if money is not there,” he added.

I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya

In what comes as a significant development as far as Indian cricket is concerned, Rahul Dravid has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Dravid is all set to replace current head coach Ravi Shastri once his tenure gets over post the conclusion of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021.

The decision was taken by former India captain Dravid during the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai on Friday (October 15). As per a report in the Times of India, BCCI secretary Jay Shah held a meeting with Dravid and persuaded him to take over as the new head coach of team India.

There had been reported claiming that David might not be interested in coaching team India but the latest developments suggest that he is willing to take the top job and will be stepping down from his current role as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief soon.

“Dravid has confirmed he will be the next head coach of the Indian team. He will be stepping down as the head of the NCA soon,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying by TOI.

Apart from Shastri, current India bowling coach Bharat Arun is also set to be replaced with Dravid's trusted lieutenant Paras Mhambrey. Mhambrey has worked with Dravid in the past. Dravid will be offered a two-year contract by the BCCI and will be drawing a salary of INR 100 million (10 crore) as the head coach of the Indian team.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/maybe-i-am-not-that-famous-when-a-newspaper-got-rahul-dravids-name-wrong-after-his-century-421037">'Maybe I am not that famous': When a newspaper got Rahul Dravid's name wrong after his century</a>

However, batting coach Vikram Rathore is expected to continue in his role under Dravid. The new backroom staff under Dravid will take charge from&nbsp;the New Zealand series in November post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021.

“He was re-appointed as the NCA head last month. But the BCCI needed a strong candidate to take Indian cricket forward. He has worked so hard to develop the next line of Indian cricketers. Even Mhambrey knows this next lot of players like the back of his hand. So, Ganguly and Shah thought it would be best if they could bring both of them on board. They will assume charge from the New Zealand series after the World Cup,” the source told TOI.

In what comes as a significant development as far as Indian cricket is concerned, Rahul Dravid has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team.

In what comes as a significant development as far as Indian cricket is concerned, Rahul Dravid has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Dravid is all set to replace current head coach Ravi Shastri once his tenure gets over post the conclusion of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. The decision was taken by former India captain Dravid during the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai on Friday (October 15). As per a report in the Times of India, BCCI secretary Jay Shah held a meeting with Dravid and persuaded him to take over as the new head coach of team India. There had been reported claiming that David might not be interested in coaching team India but the latest developments suggest that he is willing to take the top job and will be stepping down from his current role as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief soon. “Dravid has confirmed he will be the next head coach of the Indian team. He will be stepping down as the head of the NCA soon,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying by TOI. Apart from Shastri, current India bowling coach Bharat Arun is also set to be replaced with Dravid's trusted lieutenant Paras Mhambrey. Mhambrey has worked with Dravid in the past. Dravid will be offered a two-year contract by the BCCI and will be drawing a salary of INR 100 million (10 crore) as the head coach of the Indian team. Also Read: 'Maybe I am not that famous': When a newspaper got Rahul Dravid's name wrong after his century However, batting coach Vikram Rathore is expected to continue in his role under Dravid. The new backroom staff under Dravid will take charge from the New Zealand series in November post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. “He was re-appointed as the NCA head last month. But the BCCI needed a strong candidate to take Indian cricket forward. He has worked so hard to develop the next line of Indian cricketers. Even Mhambrey knows this next lot of players like the back of his hand. So, Ganguly and Shah thought it would be best if they could bring both of them on board. They will assume charge from the New Zealand series after the World Cup,” the source told TOI.

Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021

Batting legend and former India captain Rahul Dravid is all set to take over as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team post the T20 World Cup 2021. Current head coach Ravi Shastri's contract is all set to expire after the T20 World Cup and Dravid has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Men in Blue.

Shastri had taken over as the full-time head coach of the Indian team in 2017 and has since formed a formidable partnership with captain Virat Kohli to take the side to greater heights. Under Shastri, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia in 2019 before repeating the feat once again this year.

India also made it to the final of the World Test Championship and the semi-final of the ODI World Cup in 2019 while also clinching some memorable wins both at home and overseas. However, Shastri is yet to win a major ICC trophy with the team and will be hoping to end his stint on a high with a triumph at the T20 World Cup 2021.

He is all set to be replaced by Dravid once his contract runs down. As per reports, Dravid has given his nod to the top post and will be joining the Indian team on a two-year contract starting from November this year. Reacting to the news of Dravid's appointment as the new head coach of the Indian team, former England captain Michael Vaughan issued a warning to the rest of the teams around the world.

Vaughan took to Twitter to state that the rest of the world should better&nbsp;beware if the news is true. "If it’s true Rahul Dravid is to be the next Indian coach I think the rest of the world better beware," he wrote on Twitter.

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If it’s true Rahul Dravid is to be the next Indian coach I think the rest of the world better beware … !
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-set-to-replace-ravi-shastri-as-team-indias-new-head-coach-after-t20-world-cup-2021-421166">Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021</a>

Dravid has previously coached the Indian U-19 and India A sides. He was also the interim head coach of the Indan team on their limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. Dravid, who played 163 Tests,&nbsp;is India's second-highest run-getter in Tests with 13,265 runs and is regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time.

He had been backed by many to take over as the new head coach of Team India after Shastri's exit.

Batting legend and former India captain Rahul Dravid is all set to take over as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team post the T20 World Cup 2021. Current head coach Ravi Shastri's contract is all set to expire after the T20 World Cup and Dravid has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Men in Blue.

Batting legend and former India captain Rahul Dravid is all set to take over as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team post the T20 World Cup 2021. Current head coach Ravi Shastri's contract is all set to expire after the T20 World Cup and Dravid has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Men in Blue. Shastri had taken over as the full-time head coach of the Indian team in 2017 and has since formed a formidable partnership with captain Virat Kohli to take the side to greater heights. Under Shastri, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia in 2019 before repeating the feat once again this year. India also made it to the final of the World Test Championship and the semi-final of the ODI World Cup in 2019 while also clinching some memorable wins both at home and overseas. However, Shastri is yet to win a major ICC trophy with the team and will be hoping to end his stint on a high with a triumph at the T20 World Cup 2021. He is all set to be replaced by Dravid once his contract runs down. As per reports, Dravid has given his nod to the top post and will be joining the Indian team on a two-year contract starting from November this year. Reacting to the news of Dravid's appointment as the new head coach of the Indian team, former England captain Michael Vaughan issued a warning to the rest of the teams around the world. Vaughan took to Twitter to state that the rest of the world should better beware if the news is true. "If it’s true Rahul Dravid is to be the next Indian coach I think the rest of the world better beware," he wrote on Twitter. If it’s true Rahul Dravid is to be the next Indian coach I think the rest of the world better beware … ! — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 15, 2021 × Also Read: Rahul Dravid set to replace Ravi Shastri as team India's new head coach after T20 World Cup 2021 Dravid has previously coached the Indian U-19 and India A sides. He was also the interim head coach of the Indan team on their limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. Dravid, who played 163 Tests, is India's second-highest run-getter in Tests with 13,265 runs and is regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time. He had been backed by many to take over as the new head coach of Team India after Shastri's exit.

'The world better beware': Michael Vaughan reacts as Rahul Dravid agrees to take over as India head coach

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