The International Cricket Council is confident the June 16 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-sources-on-india-playing-pak-at-cricket-world-cup-will-not-play-if-government-does-not-want-us-to-198443">World Cup match between Indian and Pakistan </a>will go ahead despite last week's attack claimed by Pakistan-based militants on Indian forces in disputed Kashmir, chief executive David Richardson has said.

A suicide bomber on Thursday attacked a paramilitary police convoy in India's Kashmir, killing at least 40 in the deadliest single assault on Indian forces in 30 years of insurgency in the Muslim-majority region.

Angry Indian fans have demanded boycotting the marquee match in England though neither of the cricket boards has publicly expressed any such desire.&nbsp;

"Certainly there are no indications any of the matches, including the Pakistan-India match, will not be played as planned at the World Cup," ICC chief executive David Richardson told cricket website http://www.cricinfo.com

"But ... we will continue to monitor the situation."

However, some sources in BCCI have said&nbsp;India will not play Pakistan at the 2019&nbsp;World Cup if the government does not want them to.&nbsp;The sources said the "situation will get clearer after some time, a little closer to the World Cup. &nbsp;

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash at Old Trafford in Manchester in what would be one of the most eagerly-anticipated matches at the May 30-July 14 tournament.

More than 400,000 applications had been made for the 25,000 tickets available for the match, organisers said.

"To put that in perspective, England v Australia was around 230-240,000," World Cup tournament director Steve Elworthy told Cricinfo. "And the final was around about 260-270,000 applications for tickets.

"So that gives you a bit of perspective for the demand for this match.

"It's a big game."

The International Cricket Council is confident the June 16 World Cup match between Indian and Pakistan will go ahead despite last week's attack claimed by Pakistan-based militants on Indian forces in disputed Kashmir, chief executive David Richardson has said.

The International Cricket Council is confident the June 16 World Cup match between Indian and Pakistan will go ahead despite last week's attack claimed by Pakistan-based militants on Indian forces in disputed Kashmir, chief executive David Richardson has said. A suicide bomber on Thursday attacked a paramilitary police convoy in India's Kashmir, killing at least 40 in the deadliest single assault on Indian forces in 30 years of insurgency in the Muslim-majority region. Angry Indian fans have demanded boycotting the marquee match in England though neither of the cricket boards has publicly expressed any such desire. "Certainly there are no indications any of the matches, including the Pakistan-India match, will not be played as planned at the World Cup," ICC chief executive David Richardson told cricket website http://www.cricinfo.com "But ... we will continue to monitor the situation." However, some sources in BCCI have said India will not play Pakistan at the 2019 World Cup if the government does not want them to. The sources said the "situation will get clearer after some time, a little closer to the World Cup. Bitter rivals India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash at Old Trafford in Manchester in what would be one of the most eagerly-anticipated matches at the May 30-July 14 tournament. More than 400,000 applications had been made for the 25,000 tickets available for the match, organisers said. "To put that in perspective, England v Australia was around 230-240,000," World Cup tournament director Steve Elworthy told Cricinfo. "And the final was around about 260-270,000 applications for tickets. "So that gives you a bit of perspective for the demand for this match. "It's a big game."

ICC expects India-Pakistan game to go through despite tensions

Pushed out of their comfort zone by some incisive swing bowling in challenging conditions, a jolted India will gain confidence from Mahendra Singh Dhoni's return as they aim to finish the five-match series against New Zealand on a high.&nbsp;

India's most experienced ODI player was out with hamstring injury during the last two matches and his return couldn't have been timed better after their inexplicable collapse for 92 in Hamilton.&nbsp;

A 4-1 margin will look much better than 3-2 but it will be easier said than done at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.&nbsp;

The windy conditions here could just be the shot that Trent Boult would need as he again marks his run-up.&nbsp;

And that's where Dhoni's presence will be a factor in that middle order which still doesn't rock solid if skipper Virat Kohli isn't around.&nbsp;

Assistant coach Sanjay Bangar confirmed that Dhoni is fit and available for the game.&nbsp;

"Yes, he is fit and will be playing the fifth ODI," Bangar told reporters on the eve of the game.&nbsp;

Dhoni's calmness in anchoring the innings will be priceless and young Shubman Gill might make the way in the playing XI as the World Cup preparations hit full swing.&nbsp;

The Hamilton match was an eye opener where Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik failed to prove a point that they can stand up and be counted if Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan fail on a given day with Kohli also not around.&nbsp;

However, Bangar said it was an one-odd failure.&nbsp;

"The middle order has rose to the occasion many times and delivered. Yes some situation has been trying but it is not that the middle order hasn't performed," Bangar said.&nbsp;

"When required, more often than not whenever it has been put in a situation, it has delivered, maybe the last game was an aberration," the assistant coach in charge of batting, added.&nbsp;

With the three-match T20I series ahead and also the World Cup round the corner, India will have to address this weakness to ensure that their much-vaunted batting doesn't crumble on an odd day when the condition aids swing bowling in England.&nbsp;

Rohit has already described it as 'one of the worst batting performance' by the team and he would like to lead by example by quickly getting over the disappointment with another fiery opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan on Sunday.&nbsp;

Having returned from provisional suspension post his loose talk on a TV chat show, Hardik Pandya gave ample display of his importance in the ODI team and he will look to continue to deliver.&nbsp;

It will be interesting if Mohammed Shami comes back for the final game with Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting the rest.&nbsp;

The team management might also want to test Mohammed Siraj as Khaleel Ahmed wasn't very impressive in the last game.&nbsp;

Although the series is done and dusted, the fourth ODI win gave a new lease of life to New Zealand's campaign and they will look to dish out another superlative performance before going into the T20I series.&nbsp;

Opener Henry Nicholls, who replaced Colin Munro in the fourth ODI, made an unbeaten 30 to provide solidity at the top, while Ross Taylor looked in good touch en route his 93 and 37 not out in the last two innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

New Zealand, however, is likely to miss out opener Martin Guptill who suffered a back injury during practice.&nbsp;

In the bowling department, Boult has swung his way with a five-wicket haul while Grandhomme seemed to have regained confidence with his three-wicket haul in the last match.&nbsp;

Back into the New Zealand fold, all-rounder James Neesham and spinner Todd Astle have made a decent start with one wicket each in the fourth game.&nbsp;

Playing XI:

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Shubman Gill, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya.&nbsp;

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, and Ross Taylor.

Pushed out of their comfort zone by some incisive swing bowling in challenging conditions, a jolted India will gain confidence from Mahendra Singh Dhoni's return as they aim to finish the five-match series against New Zealand on a high.

Pushed out of their comfort zone by some incisive swing bowling in challenging conditions, a jolted India will gain confidence from Mahendra Singh Dhoni's return as they aim to finish the five-match series against New Zealand on a high. India's most experienced ODI player was out with hamstring injury during the last two matches and his return couldn't have been timed better after their inexplicable collapse for 92 in Hamilton. A 4-1 margin will look much better than 3-2 but it will be easier said than done at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The windy conditions here could just be the shot that Trent Boult would need as he again marks his run-up. And that's where Dhoni's presence will be a factor in that middle order which still doesn't rock solid if skipper Virat Kohli isn't around. Assistant coach Sanjay Bangar confirmed that Dhoni is fit and available for the game. "Yes, he is fit and will be playing the fifth ODI," Bangar told reporters on the eve of the game. Dhoni's calmness in anchoring the innings will be priceless and young Shubman Gill might make the way in the playing XI as the World Cup preparations hit full swing. The Hamilton match was an eye opener where Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik failed to prove a point that they can stand up and be counted if Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan fail on a given day with Kohli also not around. However, Bangar said it was an one-odd failure. "The middle order has rose to the occasion many times and delivered. Yes some situation has been trying but it is not that the middle order hasn't performed," Bangar said. "When required, more often than not whenever it has been put in a situation, it has delivered, maybe the last game was an aberration," the assistant coach in charge of batting, added. With the three-match T20I series ahead and also the World Cup round the corner, India will have to address this weakness to ensure that their much-vaunted batting doesn't crumble on an odd day when the condition aids swing bowling in England. Rohit has already described it as 'one of the worst batting performance' by the team and he would like to lead by example by quickly getting over the disappointment with another fiery opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan on Sunday. Having returned from provisional suspension post his loose talk on a TV chat show, Hardik Pandya gave ample display of his importance in the ODI team and he will look to continue to deliver. It will be interesting if Mohammed Shami comes back for the final game with Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting the rest. The team management might also want to test Mohammed Siraj as Khaleel Ahmed wasn't very impressive in the last game. Although the series is done and dusted, the fourth ODI win gave a new lease of life to New Zealand's campaign and they will look to dish out another superlative performance before going into the T20I series. Opener Henry Nicholls, who replaced Colin Munro in the fourth ODI, made an unbeaten 30 to provide solidity at the top, while Ross Taylor looked in good touch en route his 93 and 37 not out in the last two innings. New Zealand, however, is likely to miss out opener Martin Guptill who suffered a back injury during practice. In the bowling department, Boult has swung his way with a five-wicket haul while Grandhomme seemed to have regained confidence with his three-wicket haul in the last match. Back into the New Zealand fold, all-rounder James Neesham and spinner Todd Astle have made a decent start with one wicket each in the fourth game. Playing XI: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Shubman Gill, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya. New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, and Ross Taylor.

India vs New Zealand, 5th ODI: Dhoni boost for India seeking an improved batting show

Indian skipper Virat Kohli converted his fifty into his 39th ODI hundred while chasing a target of 299 runs set by Australia in the second ODI on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Supported by MS Dhoni at the other end, Kohli played a patient inning of 104 runs to lift his side back into the game but was&nbsp;dismissed while trying to hit a six&nbsp;off Jhye Richardson.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Earlier, a partnership was developed between Kohli and Ambati Rayadu before the current No 4 batsman gave a simple catch to Marcus Stoinis off Glenn Maxwell.

The 'Men in Blue' lost both its openers - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan - after the two gave India the required start. The two established a partnership of 47 runs before Dhawan fell off Jhye Richardson while trying to hit a big shot. &nbsp;

Dhawan made 32 runs, which included five boundaries. While Rohit, who slammed a brilliant century in the first ODI, lost his wicket at 43.

For Australia, Shaun Marsh slammed a patient century to lift Australia while wickets kept falling at the other hand in the second ODI against India on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Playing at an economy of 106.5, Marsh hit 131 runs in123 balls to set India a target of 299 runs. The 35-year-old, however, lost his wicket by giving an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja while trying to hit a six off Bhuneshwar Kumar. &nbsp;

Marsh found an ally in Glenn Maxwell, who got lucky twice but was finally dismissed for 48 runs off Bhuneshwar. Australia, who stood at 218 for the loss of five wickets at 42 overs, lost four more wickets in the following eight overs.&nbsp;

Australia lost its third wicket in the form of Usman Khawaja, who was run-out by Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The fourth damage was caused after Peter Handscomb was dismissed by Dhoni off Jadeja only

Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami on Tuesday struck early to dismiss Australian openers Aaron Finch and Alex Carey respectively, not allowing them to cause much damage with the bat.&nbsp;

Bhuvneshwar drew the first blood for his side as he bowled skipper Finch for just 6 runs. In the next over of Shami, wicketkeeper-batsman Carey was sent back to the pavilion for 18 runs.

Bhuvneshwar, who is a death-over specialist, ended his 10 overs with four wickets and giving away 45 runs. Mohammed Shami to clinched three wickets and gave away 58 runs in his 10 overs.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli converted his fifty into his 39th ODI hundred while chasing a target of 299 runs set by Australia in the second ODI on Tuesday. Supported by MS Dhoni at the other end, Kohli played a patient inning of 104 runs to lift his side back into the game but was dismissed while trying to hit a six off Jhye Richardson.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli converted his fifty into his 39th ODI hundred while chasing a target of 299 runs set by Australia in the second ODI on Tuesday. Supported by MS Dhoni at the other end, Kohli played a patient inning of 104 runs to lift his side back into the game but was dismissed while trying to hit a six off Jhye Richardson. Earlier, a partnership was developed between Kohli and Ambati Rayadu before the current No 4 batsman gave a simple catch to Marcus Stoinis off Glenn Maxwell. The 'Men in Blue' lost both its openers - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan - after the two gave India the required start. The two established a partnership of 47 runs before Dhawan fell off Jhye Richardson while trying to hit a big shot. Dhawan made 32 runs, which included five boundaries. While Rohit, who slammed a brilliant century in the first ODI, lost his wicket at 43. For Australia, Shaun Marsh slammed a patient century to lift Australia while wickets kept falling at the other hand in the second ODI against India on Tuesday. Playing at an economy of 106.5, Marsh hit 131 runs in123 balls to set India a target of 299 runs. The 35-year-old, however, lost his wicket by giving an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja while trying to hit a six off Bhuneshwar Kumar. Marsh found an ally in Glenn Maxwell, who got lucky twice but was finally dismissed for 48 runs off Bhuneshwar. Australia, who stood at 218 for the loss of five wickets at 42 overs, lost four more wickets in the following eight overs. Australia lost its third wicket in the form of Usman Khawaja, who was run-out by Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The fourth damage was caused after Peter Handscomb was dismissed by Dhoni off Jadeja only Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami on Tuesday struck early to dismiss Australian openers Aaron Finch and Alex Carey respectively, not allowing them to cause much damage with the bat. Bhuvneshwar drew the first blood for his side as he bowled skipper Finch for just 6 runs. In the next over of Shami, wicketkeeper-batsman Carey was sent back to the pavilion for 18 runs. Bhuvneshwar, who is a death-over specialist, ended his 10 overs with four wickets and giving away 45 runs. Mohammed Shami to clinched three wickets and gave away 58 runs in his 10 overs.

IND vs AUS, 2nd ODI: Kohli departs after making 104; India 242/4 after 44 overs

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday congratulated Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his team for their historic test series win in Australia.&nbsp;

Imran, who is also the World Cup winning captain for Pakistan, took to his Twitter handle to extend his wishes to the Indian team and cricket fans.

"Congratulations to Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team for the first ever win by a subcontinent team in a test series in Australia," Imran tweeted.

Virat Kohli-led side ended a 71-year wait for a Test series victory Down Under. Their 2-1 victory was confirmed when the rain-affected fourth and final test ended in a draw at Sydney Cricket Ground early on Monday afternoon. 
&nbsp; 
In the fourth and final test, India opted to bat and scored a mammoth 622-7 declared total in the first innings.&nbsp;

The hosts were duly dismissed for 300 and Kohli did not hesitate to go for the jugular by enforcing the follow-on -- the first time in 30 years Australia had suffered such ignominy on home soil.

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Congratulations to Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team for the first ever win by a subcontinent team in a test series in Australia
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Ultimately, it was the Sydney weather that saved Australia from a 3-1 humiliation with no play possible after tea on day four, when they had mustered up six runs without loss in their second innings.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday congratulated Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his team for their historic test series win in Australia. Imran, who is also the World Cup winning captain for Pakistan, took to his Twitter handle to extend his wishes to the Indian team and cricket fans.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday congratulated Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his team for their historic test series win in Australia. Imran, who is also the World Cup winning captain for Pakistan, took to his Twitter handle to extend his wishes to the Indian team and cricket fans. "Congratulations to Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team for the first ever win by a subcontinent team in a test series in Australia," Imran tweeted. Virat Kohli-led side ended a 71-year wait for a Test series victory Down Under. Their 2-1 victory was confirmed when the rain-affected fourth and final test ended in a draw at Sydney Cricket Ground early on Monday afternoon. In the fourth and final test, India opted to bat and scored a mammoth 622-7 declared total in the first innings. The hosts were duly dismissed for 300 and Kohli did not hesitate to go for the jugular by enforcing the follow-on -- the first time in 30 years Australia had suffered such ignominy on home soil. Congratulations to Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team for the first ever win by a subcontinent team in a test series in Australia — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 8, 2019 × Ultimately, it was the Sydney weather that saved Australia from a 3-1 humiliation with no play possible after tea on day four, when they had mustered up six runs without loss in their second innings.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan congratulates Virat Kohli and team India for 'first ever win' in Test series in Australia

Indian cricket team on Monday scripted history as they clinched their <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-rain-continues-to-mar-fifth-days-play-aus-60-188608">maiden Test series on Australian soil</a> after the fourth and final game was declared a draw due to incessant rain and bad light.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/india-vs-australia-list-of-records-made-on-day-2-of-sydney-test-188237">Virat Kohli-led side dominated the proceedings</a> on the fourth day of the final Test match against Australia, enforcing the follow-on.&nbsp;

Australia was at 6/0 in the second innings and trail by 316 runs while following-on. This is the first time since 2005 that Australia is following-on, thanks to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-morning-session-on-day-4-lost-due-to-rain-and-bad-light-188477">Kuldeep Yadav's brilliant five-wicket haul.</a>

Only 25.3 overs were bowled on Sunday and India managed to wrap up the Australian first innings after some defiance from tailenders Mitchell Starc (29), Josh Hazlewood (21) and Pat Cummins (25).

Yadav decimated the hosts by picking up his second fifer in Tests and Virat Kohli enforced the follow-on, making Australia bat again.

Usman Khawaja (4) and Marcus Harris (2) then survived some brilliant bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami before bad light stopped the play and forced the umpires to call for early tea.

Since then, there wasn't much improvement with respect to the light and play was suspended.

Cheteshwar Pujara was declared the Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his remarkable performance.&nbsp;

When asked how proud is he of himself, Pujara said, " It's a great feeling for all of us. We've been working really hard to win a series overseas. And especially doing it in this country, it's never easy. First hundred was special, scoring it in Adelaide and going 1-0 up is something which we were all aiming for. "

"When you do that, there's a good chance of winning the series. As a batsman, you just need to get used to pace and bounce. Playing in different conditions, in South Africa, in England, in county cricket has helped me improve my technique."

"Definitely the best squad I've been a part of. Congratulations to the bowlers. Taking 20 wickets in never easy. I'll be playing some first-class cricket back home. During IPL, I might be playing county cricket. Next Test series is 6-7 months away."

I'll work hard on my game to play white-ball cricket. But Test cricket is my priority, it'll always remain my priority, he concluded.&nbsp;

It is the first time they have managed the feat since they began touring Australia in 1947-48.

Indian cricket team on Monday scripted history as they clinched their maiden Test series on Australian soil after the fourth and final game was declared a draw due to incessant rain and bad light.

Indian cricket team on Monday scripted history as they clinched their maiden Test series on Australian soil after the fourth and final game was declared a draw due to incessant rain and bad light. The Virat Kohli-led side dominated the proceedings on the fourth day of the final Test match against Australia, enforcing the follow-on. Australia was at 6/0 in the second innings and trail by 316 runs while following-on. This is the first time since 2005 that Australia is following-on, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav's brilliant five-wicket haul. Only 25.3 overs were bowled on Sunday and India managed to wrap up the Australian first innings after some defiance from tailenders Mitchell Starc (29), Josh Hazlewood (21) and Pat Cummins (25). Yadav decimated the hosts by picking up his second fifer in Tests and Virat Kohli enforced the follow-on, making Australia bat again. Usman Khawaja (4) and Marcus Harris (2) then survived some brilliant bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami before bad light stopped the play and forced the umpires to call for early tea. Since then, there wasn't much improvement with respect to the light and play was suspended. Cheteshwar Pujara was declared the Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his remarkable performance. When asked how proud is he of himself, Pujara said, " It's a great feeling for all of us. We've been working really hard to win a series overseas. And especially doing it in this country, it's never easy. First hundred was special, scoring it in Adelaide and going 1-0 up is something which we were all aiming for. " "When you do that, there's a good chance of winning the series. As a batsman, you just need to get used to pace and bounce. Playing in different conditions, in South Africa, in England, in county cricket has helped me improve my technique." "Definitely the best squad I've been a part of. Congratulations to the bowlers. Taking 20 wickets in never easy. I'll be playing some first-class cricket back home. During IPL, I might be playing county cricket. Next Test series is 6-7 months away." I'll work hard on my game to play white-ball cricket. But Test cricket is my priority, it'll always remain my priority, he concluded. It is the first time they have managed the feat since they began touring Australia in 1947-48.

India win maiden Test series Down Under, beat Australia 2-1

Incessant drizzling ruin the start of the fifth day game between India vs Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.&nbsp;

Only 27.3 overs were possible on the fourth day which witnessed Australia follow-on at home for the first time in 30 years. On day 4 the first session was declared washed out due to bad light and rain and it seems the case will be the same today also.

Openers Usman Khawaja (4) and Marcus Harris (2) safely negotiated four overs until bad light and light drizzle forced an early end to an already heavily rain-disrupted day just before the re-scheduled tea break.

Australia will resume on six without loss on Monday, still without a century in the series and 316 runs adrift of India's mammoth first innings effort of 622-7 declared.

The tourists, leading 2-1 in the four-test series, only need a draw to secure a breakthrough triumph in Australia.

Play at the Sydney Cricket Ground had finally got underway after a rain delay of almost four hours and India needed just 80 minutes to take the last four wickets at a cost of 64 runs.

Incessant drizzling ruin the start of the fifth day game between India vs Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Only 27.3 overs were possible on the fourth day which witnessed Australia follow-on at home for the first time in 30 years.

Incessant drizzling ruin the start of the fifth day game between India vs Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Only 27.3 overs were possible on the fourth day which witnessed Australia follow-on at home for the first time in 30 years. On day 4 the first session was declared washed out due to bad light and rain and it seems the case will be the same today also. Openers Usman Khawaja (4) and Marcus Harris (2) safely negotiated four overs until bad light and light drizzle forced an early end to an already heavily rain-disrupted day just before the re-scheduled tea break. Australia will resume on six without loss on Monday, still without a century in the series and 316 runs adrift of India's mammoth first innings effort of 622-7 declared. The tourists, leading 2-1 in the four-test series, only need a draw to secure a breakthrough triumph in Australia. Play at the Sydney Cricket Ground had finally got underway after a rain delay of almost four hours and India needed just 80 minutes to take the last four wickets at a cost of 64 runs.

IND vs AUS: Rain continues to mar fifth day's play, Aus 6/0

Indian skipper Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 157 to power India to 321 runs in the 2nd ODI against West Indies on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Kohli's 129-ball inning was laced with 13 boundaries and four huge sixes. He played at a strike rate of over 121, with India adding 61 runs in the last five overs. It is his 37th ODI century. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The skipper along with Ambati Rayudu build up a partnership of 139 runs to save the team from drowning, which was reduced at one point for 40/2, after both the openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan fell early. &nbsp;

Rayudu, however, lost his wicket for 73 after being clean bowled by Ashley Nurse.

During his inning, Kohli also surpassed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the fastest cricketer ever to reach 10000 runs in ODI.

Kohli also surpassed legends Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid in the time taken and the number of innings played, to become the fastest to reach the 10K number.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni also failed to leave any big mark and departed after making 20 runs.

For West Indies, Nurse and Obed McCoy took two wickets each, while Marlon Samuels and Kemar Roach took one each.&nbsp;

The Jason holder's side, which suffered a defeat in the first ODI, now need 322 runs to equal the series.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 157 to power India to 321 runs in the 2nd ODI against West Indies on Wednesday. Kohli's 129-ball inning was laced with 13 boundaries and four huge sixes.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 157 to power India to 321 runs in the 2nd ODI against West Indies on Wednesday. Kohli's 129-ball inning was laced with 13 boundaries and four huge sixes. He played at a strike rate of over 121, with India adding 61 runs in the last five overs. It is his 37th ODI century. The skipper along with Ambati Rayudu build up a partnership of 139 runs to save the team from drowning, which was reduced at one point for 40/2, after both the openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan fell early. Rayudu, however, lost his wicket for 73 after being clean bowled by Ashley Nurse. During his inning, Kohli also surpassed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the fastest cricketer ever to reach 10000 runs in ODI. Kohli also surpassed legends Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid in the time taken and the number of innings played, to become the fastest to reach the 10K number. Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni also failed to leave any big mark and departed after making 20 runs. For West Indies, Nurse and Obed McCoy took two wickets each, while Marlon Samuels and Kemar Roach took one each. The Jason holder's side, which suffered a defeat in the first ODI, now need 322 runs to equal the series.

2nd ODI: Kohli's 'virat' 157 against Windies powers India to 321

India's Suraj Panwar clinched a silver in men's 5000m race walk event in the ongoing Youth Olympic Games to open the country's medal account in athletics here.

Panwar won the stage 2 competition by clocking 20 minutes and 35.87 seconds on Monday night but finished second overall.

In a new format, there are no finals in track and field (with the exception of 4km cross-country) in the Youth Olympics and each event is held twice, with results from both rounds counting towards the final standings.

The 17-year-old Panwar had finished second in the first stage in 20.23.30s, behind Patin Oscar of Ecuador.

Oscar, who finished second in Stage 2, won the gold with timings of 20:13.69s and 20:38.17s.

Panwar's total time of 40:59.17s was over seven minutes slower than Oscar's 40:51.86s. Puerto Rico's Jan Moreu finished third to claim the bronze.

This is India's first athletics medal in this edition and third overall. Arjun (men's discus throw) and Durgesh Kumar (men's 400m hurdles) had won a silver each in the inaugural edition in 2010.&nbsp;

"It's a great feeling. I am very happy to have won a medal. I had put in a lot of hard work for the Games. It is my first medal for India," Panwar said after winning the silver medal.&nbsp;

"My next target is to better my performance here and win a medal in the senior level also," he added.&nbsp;

India's Suraj Panwar clinched a silver in men's 5000m race walk event in the ongoing Youth Olympic Games to open the country's medal account in athletics here. Panwar won the stage 2 competition by clocking 20 minutes and 35.

India's Suraj Panwar clinched a silver in men's 5000m race walk event in the ongoing Youth Olympic Games to open the country's medal account in athletics here. Panwar won the stage 2 competition by clocking 20 minutes and 35.87 seconds on Monday night but finished second overall. In a new format, there are no finals in track and field (with the exception of 4km cross-country) in the Youth Olympics and each event is held twice, with results from both rounds counting towards the final standings. The 17-year-old Panwar had finished second in the first stage in 20.23.30s, behind Patin Oscar of Ecuador. Oscar, who finished second in Stage 2, won the gold with timings of 20:13.69s and 20:38.17s. Panwar's total time of 40:59.17s was over seven minutes slower than Oscar's 40:51.86s. Puerto Rico's Jan Moreu finished third to claim the bronze. This is India's first athletics medal in this edition and third overall. Arjun (men's discus throw) and Durgesh Kumar (men's 400m hurdles) had won a silver each in the inaugural edition in 2010. "It's a great feeling. I am very happy to have won a medal. I had put in a lot of hard work for the Games. It is my first medal for India," Panwar said after winning the silver medal. "My next target is to better my performance here and win a medal in the senior level also," he added.

India's Suraj Panwar wins silver in men's 5000m race walk at Youth Olympics

India have the perfect opportunity to find a solution to their top-order batting woes before their year-end series in Australia when the world's top-ranked side host two tests against lowly West Indies, starting on Thursday.

Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan opened for India in the first match of the recent five-test series in England but the duo were dropped following modest returns during the 4-1 defeat.

Lokesh Rahul, the third opener in England, survived the axe after posting a 149 in the final test at the Oval and will walk out to face the new ball against West Indies in the company of either Mayank Agarwal or Prithvi Shaw, who are both uncapped.

Agarwal, 27, was rewarded for a 2017-18 season in which he scored heavily across formats while the 18-year-old Shaw has already been tipped to have a bright future in national colours.

Agarwal and Shaw will be keen to make the most of their chances and book their place for India's four-test series in Australia, though Vijay has responded to being dropped by making a hundred and three half-centuries in his last five innings for Essex in the County Championship.

The trip to Australia will be the last chance in 2018 for Virat Kohli's men to show they can match their formidable home form with success abroad and show the world why they are the world`s top-ranked test side.

India, who last lost a test series at home in late 2012 against England, started the year with a 2-1 loss to South Africa but then thrashed debutants Afghanistan at home in a one-off test before flying to England.

Despite losing all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pace bowler Ishant Sharma to injury, India have opted to rest pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the West Indies tests.

The visiting batsmen will still have to contend with India`s lethal spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja however, with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ready to chip in if pressed into action as the third slow-bowling option.

West Indies arrive in India on the back of strong test form at home. They won both tests agasint Bangladesh and drew 1-1 against Sri Lanka in a three-test series.

However, previous form against India in the five-day format offers little optimism. West Indies` last test win against them was in May 2002 in Kingston, while they have not won in India since a 243-run triumph in 1994.

Despite the task facing his side, West Indies captain Jason Holder was upbeat.

"It's been good. Our last two-test series were very good," Holder told reporters on the team's arrival in India.&nbsp;

"I don`t want to dwell too much in the past ... we have a big series ahead of us, a big winter to be precise. So the focus is on that and to play good cricket."

The Caribbean side also suffered a jolt in the buildup to the tour when Australian Stuart Law announced he would be stepping down as head coach following the tours of

India and Bangladesh to take up a role at Middlesex in England.

India have the perfect opportunity to find a solution to their top-order batting woes before their year-end series in Australia when the world's top-ranked side host two tests against lowly West Indies, starting on Thursday.

India have the perfect opportunity to find a solution to their top-order batting woes before their year-end series in Australia when the world's top-ranked side host two tests against lowly West Indies, starting on Thursday. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan opened for India in the first match of the recent five-test series in England but the duo were dropped following modest returns during the 4-1 defeat. Lokesh Rahul, the third opener in England, survived the axe after posting a 149 in the final test at the Oval and will walk out to face the new ball against West Indies in the company of either Mayank Agarwal or Prithvi Shaw, who are both uncapped. Agarwal, 27, was rewarded for a 2017-18 season in which he scored heavily across formats while the 18-year-old Shaw has already been tipped to have a bright future in national colours. Agarwal and Shaw will be keen to make the most of their chances and book their place for India's four-test series in Australia, though Vijay has responded to being dropped by making a hundred and three half-centuries in his last five innings for Essex in the County Championship. The trip to Australia will be the last chance in 2018 for Virat Kohli's men to show they can match their formidable home form with success abroad and show the world why they are the world`s top-ranked test side. India, who last lost a test series at home in late 2012 against England, started the year with a 2-1 loss to South Africa but then thrashed debutants Afghanistan at home in a one-off test before flying to England. Despite losing all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pace bowler Ishant Sharma to injury, India have opted to rest pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the West Indies tests. The visiting batsmen will still have to contend with India`s lethal spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja however, with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ready to chip in if pressed into action as the third slow-bowling option. West Indies arrive in India on the back of strong test form at home. They won both tests agasint Bangladesh and drew 1-1 against Sri Lanka in a three-test series. However, previous form against India in the five-day format offers little optimism. West Indies` last test win against them was in May 2002 in Kingston, while they have not won in India since a 243-run triumph in 1994. Despite the task facing his side, West Indies captain Jason Holder was upbeat. "It's been good. Our last two-test series were very good," Holder told reporters on the team's arrival in India. "I don`t want to dwell too much in the past ... we have a big series ahead of us, a big winter to be precise. So the focus is on that and to play good cricket." The Caribbean side also suffered a jolt in the buildup to the tour when Australian Stuart Law announced he would be stepping down as head coach following the tours of India and Bangladesh to take up a role at Middlesex in England.

West Indies tests chance for India to fix opening woes

The pressure on Virat Kohli before he set foot in South Africa for the Test and limited over series was immense. He was expected to not just lead the team well but also to prove his batting mettle on difficult conditions. After all, a lot of questions had been raised on Kohli&rsquo;s Test batting after his failure to perform against Australia earlier this year and when he had been horribly unsuccessful in England in 2014. A notion had been developed that Kohli struggles against quality fast bowling and on difficult pitches in the longer format.

&nbsp;

Kohli faced twin failures with the bat in the first Test against South Africa at Cape Town. As the ball was moving around prodigiously, it made matters worse for Kohli. India lost the game and Kohli&rsquo;s poor batting show was a cause of concern among Indian fans and brought him a lot of mocking from cricket fans of other countries on social media.

&nbsp;

The task was cut out for Virat Kohli, the batsman.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kohli&rsquo;s magnificent 153 in the second Test of the series at Centurion has yet again established the batting genius he is. It was one of the finer knocks of his Test career and showed that when he gets going, Kohli can be the best in the world.

&nbsp;

After South Africa had piled on 335 in the first innings of the match, the pressure was on India to respond with aplomb. However, apart from Kohli, hardly any of the other batsmen could manage to stay around for long.

&nbsp;

Kohli, though, seemed to be batting on a completely different pitch altogether. He played with confidence and did not let the pressure get to him. Striking the ball gorgeously through the covers and flicking and driving with &eacute;lan, Kohli brought up his 21st Test hundred in spectacular fashion.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The unevenness of the pitch and South Africa&rsquo;s posse of fast bowlers did not throttle Kohli down. Even as the wickets fell around him, Kohli kept scoring at a brisk rate and managed the strike superbly well to keep India in the hunt. Had Kohli not put his head down and shaped this beautiful knock under pressure, India would certainly have conceded more than a 100-run lead. But Kohli&rsquo;s innings ensured that India now has a chance to remain competitive in the game.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Indian captain led from the front by scoring half of India&rsquo;s runs and nullified all the plans the South African pacers had for him. They bowled tight channels outside off and tried to drag him wide. But Kohli found a way and kept milking the bowling throughout with great confidence.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kohli&rsquo;s century was the first of the series and given the array of batting talent on display on both sides, this shows how valuable a knock this has been. He was the last man out for India and was dismissed for a glorious 153 off 217 balls with 15 sparkling hits to the fence. He single-handedly brought India from a precarious 164-5 to a very respectable 307 &ndash; just 28 runs behind South Africa&rsquo;s first innings score.

&nbsp;

It remains to be seen what course this match takes now. But Kohli&rsquo;s defining century has certainly been a game-changing one for India and has given them a sliver of a hope for a comeback win.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

<ul>
	<li>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Striking the ball gorgeously through the covers and flicking and driving with élan, Kohli brought up his 21st Test hundred in spectacular fashion.

The pressure on Virat Kohli before he set foot in South Africa for the Test and limited over series was immense. He was expected to not just lead the team well but also to prove his batting mettle on difficult conditions. After all, a lot of questions had been raised on Kohli’s Test batting after his failure to perform against Australia earlier this year and when he had been horribly unsuccessful in England in 2014. A notion had been developed that Kohli struggles against quality fast bowling and on difficult pitches in the longer format. Kohli faced twin failures with the bat in the first Test against South Africa at Cape Town. As the ball was moving around prodigiously, it made matters worse for Kohli. India lost the game and Kohli’s poor batting show was a cause of concern among Indian fans and brought him a lot of mocking from cricket fans of other countries on social media. The task was cut out for Virat Kohli, the batsman. Kohli’s magnificent 153 in the second Test of the series at Centurion has yet again established the batting genius he is. It was one of the finer knocks of his Test career and showed that when he gets going, Kohli can be the best in the world. After South Africa had piled on 335 in the first innings of the match, the pressure was on India to respond with aplomb. However, apart from Kohli, hardly any of the other batsmen could manage to stay around for long. Kohli, though, seemed to be batting on a completely different pitch altogether. He played with confidence and did not let the pressure get to him. Striking the ball gorgeously through the covers and flicking and driving with élan, Kohli brought up his 21st Test hundred in spectacular fashion. The unevenness of the pitch and South Africa’s posse of fast bowlers did not throttle Kohli down. Even as the wickets fell around him, Kohli kept scoring at a brisk rate and managed the strike superbly well to keep India in the hunt. Had Kohli not put his head down and shaped this beautiful knock under pressure, India would certainly have conceded more than a 100-run lead. But Kohli’s innings ensured that India now has a chance to remain competitive in the game. The Indian captain led from the front by scoring half of India’s runs and nullified all the plans the South African pacers had for him. They bowled tight channels outside off and tried to drag him wide. But Kohli found a way and kept milking the bowling throughout with great confidence. Kohli’s century was the first of the series and given the array of batting talent on display on both sides, this shows how valuable a knock this has been. He was the last man out for India and was dismissed for a glorious 153 off 217 balls with 15 sparkling hits to the fence. He single-handedly brought India from a precarious 164-5 to a very respectable 307 – just 28 runs behind South Africa’s first innings score. It remains to be seen what course this match takes now. But Kohli’s defining century has certainly been a game-changing one for India and has given them a sliver of a hope for a comeback win. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: What does the 100 against South Africa say about Kohli, the batsman?

An overenthusiastic fan broke free from the packed crowd to touch his feet while the stands reverberated with his name as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, leading an India team for one last time, conjured up an innings that had &#39;MSD&#39; written all over it here today.

A fan at the Brabourne Stadium ran on to the field to fall at Dhoni&#39;s feet, and when the skipper told him not to step on the pitch, he obliged by jumping over.

He was escorted out of the playing area by the police and then taken out of the stadium.

The overwhelmed man stumbled his way out, constantly turning back to catch a glimpse of his hero.

&quot;No further action was taken,&quot; Cricket Club of India sources said.

Any routine practice match, especially on a working day, may not witness a big crowd, but the one featuring the visiting England team today was a special one.

It was the final time that India&#39;s most successful skipper Dhoni was seen leading the side although it&#39;s an &#39;A&#39; team.

The stadium&nbsp;in South Mumbai was packed with crowds who had come to witness &#39;Captain Cool&#39; for one last time at the helm.

Dhoni had bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten 68 by the time the India A innings ended.

The Ranchi superstar and captain of the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup winning squads was leading the India A side in the first of two warm-up matches to be played by the tourists here.

Since the afternoon, queues were seen at the gates of CCI as a palpable excitement was seen among the crowd. Initially, the East Stand was filled to its capacity, then the crowd thronged the North Stand at the Churchgate station end.

As the day progressed, the West stand too was being filled to capacity. Notably, the entry to the crowd was free for this particular match.

As the first wicket of Mandeep Singh fell, the crowds cheered &quot;Dhoni-Dhoni&quot; as they expected MSD to elevate himself, but to their disappointment, Ambati Rayadu walked in.

Dhoni, who sprang a surprise on the cricket-crazy nation by quitting as the limited overs skipper, was seen playing football with his teammates at the same venue last evening. He also practised in the nets under lights.

Whoever the batsman at the crease, the crowd was just cheering for Dhoni and was keen to have the glimpse of their favourite leader for the one last time.

(PTI)&nbsp;

It was the last time that India's most successful skipper Dhoni was seen leading the side

An overenthusiastic fan broke free from the packed crowd to touch his feet while the stands reverberated with his name as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, leading an India team for one last time, conjured up an innings that had 'MSD' written all over it here today. A fan at the Brabourne Stadium ran on to the field to fall at Dhoni's feet, and when the skipper told him not to step on the pitch, he obliged by jumping over. He was escorted out of the playing area by the police and then taken out of the stadium. The overwhelmed man stumbled his way out, constantly turning back to catch a glimpse of his hero. "No further action was taken," Cricket Club of India sources said. Any routine practice match, especially on a working day, may not witness a big crowd, but the one featuring the visiting England team today was a special one. It was the final time that India's most successful skipper Dhoni was seen leading the side although it's an 'A' team. The stadium in South Mumbai was packed with crowds who had come to witness 'Captain Cool' for one last time at the helm. Dhoni had bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten 68 by the time the India A innings ended. The Ranchi superstar and captain of the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup winning squads was leading the India A side in the first of two warm-up matches to be played by the tourists here. Since the afternoon, queues were seen at the gates of CCI as a palpable excitement was seen among the crowd. Initially, the East Stand was filled to its capacity, then the crowd thronged the North Stand at the Churchgate station end. As the day progressed, the West stand too was being filled to capacity. Notably, the entry to the crowd was free for this particular match. As the first wicket of Mandeep Singh fell, the crowds cheered "Dhoni-Dhoni" as they expected MSD to elevate himself, but to their disappointment, Ambati Rayadu walked in. Dhoni, who sprang a surprise on the cricket-crazy nation by quitting as the limited overs skipper, was seen playing football with his teammates at the same venue last evening. He also practised in the nets under lights. Whoever the batsman at the crease, the crowd was just cheering for Dhoni and was keen to have the glimpse of their favourite leader for the one last time. (PTI)

Crowds throng Mumbai stadium to see MS Dhoni play one last time as skipper

India have the resources to become the best team in test cricket and the bumper home season would be a perfect opportunity to sow the seed of their ascendancy, Indian captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday. 
 
Kohli&#39;s men embark on an important 13-test season on Thursday when they take on New Zealand in the first match of the three-test series at Kanpur&#39;s Green Park Stadium. 
 
&quot;We believe we certainly have what it takes to be the best team in the world,&quot; the 27-year-old told reporters on the eve of what would be India&#39;s 500th test. 
 
&quot;One area we have tapped into is belief. It&#39;s something that a lot of young players can lack coming into international cricket. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s all about getting rid of that feeling. That&#39;s the only way you can go out there, be confident and express yourself. Express how good you are, and that&#39;s what this team has done. 
 
&quot;More often than not if you&#39;re fearless, the results will fall your way because you&#39;re willing to take that extra risk in the course of the game. I certainly feel that this team has what it takes to be the best.&quot; 
 
India&#39;s poor record as tourists have been a home truth but under Kohli, the team have won series in Sri Lanka and West Indies to briefly occupy the top test rankings before arch-rivals Pakistan snatched it. 
 
Kohli saw a gilt-edged opportunity to reclaim the tag in the big &#39;career-defining&#39; home season which will also include tests against England, Australia, and Bangladesh. 
 
&quot;This season is a phase where we can lay the foundation where the test team will go,&quot; Kohli said. 
 
&quot;The challenge in last one year or so has been to show composure and get the victories which we require and we have been able to get that. The important thing is to continue the same. 
 
&quot;This season will be career-defining for all the people in the squad&nbsp;because hardly we have played 17 test matches regularly. 
 
&quot;That&#39;s something we are happy about, that we can plan our test cricket, and back ourselves and get those victories whenever the chance comes. Very exciting times ahead.&quot; 
 
Dwelling on the test against New Zealand, Kohli praised the touring side&#39;s fearless brand of cricket, which he attributed to former Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum. 
 
&quot;Their mentality was cricket was not the end of the world for them, they just enjoyed the game,&quot; Kohli said. &quot;I think they have been able to detach themselves from those pressures and that&#39;s why they have got successful in last couple of years.&quot; 
 
Indian paceman Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the test with mosquito-borne viral disease Chikungunya. 
 
(Reuters)

The Indian team embark on an important 13-test season on Thursday when they take on New Zealand in the first match of the three-test series

India have the resources to become the best team in test cricket and the bumper home season would be a perfect opportunity to sow the seed of their ascendancy, Indian captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday. Kohli's men embark on an important 13-test season on Thursday when they take on New Zealand in the first match of the three-test series at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium. "We believe we certainly have what it takes to be the best team in the world," the 27-year-old told reporters on the eve of what would be India's 500th test. "One area we have tapped into is belief. It's something that a lot of young players can lack coming into international cricket. "It's all about getting rid of that feeling. That's the only way you can go out there, be confident and express yourself. Express how good you are, and that's what this team has done. "More often than not if you're fearless, the results will fall your way because you're willing to take that extra risk in the course of the game. I certainly feel that this team has what it takes to be the best." India's poor record as tourists have been a home truth but under Kohli, the team have won series in Sri Lanka and West Indies to briefly occupy the top test rankings before arch-rivals Pakistan snatched it. Kohli saw a gilt-edged opportunity to reclaim the tag in the big 'career-defining' home season which will also include tests against England, Australia, and Bangladesh. "This season is a phase where we can lay the foundation where the test team will go," Kohli said. "The challenge in last one year or so has been to show composure and get the victories which we require and we have been able to get that. The important thing is to continue the same. "This season will be career-defining for all the people in the squad because hardly we have played 17 test matches regularly. "That's something we are happy about, that we can plan our test cricket, and back ourselves and get those victories whenever the chance comes. Very exciting times ahead." Dwelling on the test against New Zealand, Kohli praised the touring side's fearless brand of cricket, which he attributed to former Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum. "Their mentality was cricket was not the end of the world for them, they just enjoyed the game," Kohli said. "I think they have been able to detach themselves from those pressures and that's why they have got successful in last couple of years." Indian paceman Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the test with mosquito-borne viral disease Chikungunya. (Reuters)

India can be the best team in Test cricket after bumper season: Virat Kohli