<p>West Indian swashbuckler Shimron Hetmyer Tuesday said he looked up to the great Brian Lara and thanked his country's legends for backing youngsters like him to "keep trying" despite the fact that the islands' plummeting graph in cricket has refused to head north.</p>

<p>The 21-year-old Hetmyer bludgeoned his way to a 78-ball 106 in the first ODI against India in Guwahati, redeeming himself after a disastrous Test series, in which he managed just 50 runs across four innings at 12.50.</p>

<p>"I did look up to Brian Lara when I used to watch cricket, but most of it (shots) comes naturally to me. I am a natural stroke-player and try to play each ball on merit," Hetmyer said during a chat after a training session.</p>

<p>"I have spoken to a few legends in the past, they are quite fun actually, easy going -- Lance Gibbs, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara, Some of the other stars, too. Knowing that they are backing you makes me feel good," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They tell me to be 'just be yourself', they give suggestions like play each ball on merit and all. They try to help in every way possible, make it as easy as possible for us and encouraging us to keep pushing," he added.</p>

<p>At the Barsapara Stadium, the Guyanese looked a far cry from his struggles in the Tests, nonchalantly hitting six sixes and as many fours, his knock also adding a dash of the Caribbean flavour of the good old days.</p>

<p>"I had a bad Test series, it was not one of the best ways to start a series in India but from there on I tried to forget about that as much as possible and the senior guys helped.</p>

<p>They said don't worry and look forward to the next game," he said.</p>

<p>"I have quite a few experienced guys to lean on, to know how it was before, even the coach (Stuart Law) who has played for Australia. How much of the big change has happened from then to now. How they played their game," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is sure he will be a big draw in the next Indian Premier League (IPL) players' auction, thanks to his big-hitting capabilities.</p>

<p>Unlike a few renowned players from the Caribbean islands who have turned to T20 leagues across the world, Hetmyer said his first priority now is to represent the West Indies.</p>

<p>"It's a good feeling to know that one of the great spinners from India has rated me that high. It is a dream of mine but right now I am taking one step at a time, so I would see what awaits. But right now, I am focused on representing West Indies," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think everyone aspires to play in the IPL but first you want to represent West Indies. That is possibly the biggest thing you could possibly do as a cricketer and then you would take it from there," he added.</p>

<p>West Indies skipper Jason Holder called Hetmyer a positive.</p>

<p>"He is positive for West Indies cricket. It's good to see a youngster coming and scoring crucial runs and I can only urge him, and hope that he continues to do well and repeat that kind of performance that is best for his team in the coming matches," Holder said.</p>

<p>Asked about playing cricket in his native, Hetmyer said, "It isn't that difficult to play cricket in Guyana. Yes, there are lot of players from other islands playing for West</p>

<p>Indies, but once you are trying to do what you want to and excel in the Caribbean, there is a good chance of being picked in the junior and senior teams."</p>


West Indian swashbuckler Shimron Hetmyer Tuesday said he looked up to the great Brian Lara and thanked his country's legends for backing youngsters like him to "keep trying" despite the fact that the islands' plummeting graph in cricket has refused to head north.

West Indian swashbuckler Shimron Hetmyer Tuesday said he looked up to the great Brian Lara and thanked his country's legends for backing youngsters like him to "keep trying" despite the fact that the islands' plummeting graph in cricket has refused to head north. The 21-year-old Hetmyer bludgeoned his way to a 78-ball 106 in the first ODI against India in Guwahati, redeeming himself after a disastrous Test series, in which he managed just 50 runs across four innings at 12.50. "I did look up to Brian Lara when I used to watch cricket, but most of it (shots) comes naturally to me. I am a natural stroke-player and try to play each ball on merit," Hetmyer said during a chat after a training session. "I have spoken to a few legends in the past, they are quite fun actually, easy going -- Lance Gibbs, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara, Some of the other stars, too. Knowing that they are backing you makes me feel good," he said. "They tell me to be 'just be yourself', they give suggestions like play each ball on merit and all. They try to help in every way possible, make it as easy as possible for us and encouraging us to keep pushing," he added. At the Barsapara Stadium, the Guyanese looked a far cry from his struggles in the Tests, nonchalantly hitting six sixes and as many fours, his knock also adding a dash of the Caribbean flavour of the good old days. "I had a bad Test series, it was not one of the best ways to start a series in India but from there on I tried to forget about that as much as possible and the senior guys helped. They said don't worry and look forward to the next game," he said. "I have quite a few experienced guys to lean on, to know how it was before, even the coach (Stuart Law) who has played for Australia. How much of the big change has happened from then to now. How they played their game," he added. India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is sure he will be a big draw in the next Indian Premier League (IPL) players' auction, thanks to his big-hitting capabilities. Unlike a few renowned players from the Caribbean islands who have turned to T20 leagues across the world, Hetmyer said his first priority now is to represent the West Indies. "It's a good feeling to know that one of the great spinners from India has rated me that high. It is a dream of mine but right now I am taking one step at a time, so I would see what awaits. But right now, I am focused on representing West Indies," he said. "I think everyone aspires to play in the IPL but first you want to represent West Indies. That is possibly the biggest thing you could possibly do as a cricketer and then you would take it from there," he added. West Indies skipper Jason Holder called Hetmyer a positive. "He is positive for West Indies cricket. It's good to see a youngster coming and scoring crucial runs and I can only urge him, and hope that he continues to do well and repeat that kind of performance that is best for his team in the coming matches," Holder said. Asked about playing cricket in his native, Hetmyer said, "It isn't that difficult to play cricket in Guyana. Yes, there are lot of players from other islands playing for West Indies, but once you are trying to do what you want to and excel in the Caribbean, there is a good chance of being picked in the junior and senior teams."

Looked up to Lara, says Shimron Hetmyer after regaining form

<p>From 10 wickets in an innings to bowling with a broken jaw, Anil Kumble is regarded as one of the finest spinners the country has ever produced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He is only the second bowler in cricket to claim all ten wickets in an inning of a Test match. He achieved this feat against Pakistan at New Delhi.</p>

<p>Today, on the occasion of his 48th birthday, several former and present cricketers including&nbsp;Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar, took to Twitter to post their wishes for Kumble.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happiest birthday to one of India’s greatest ever match winners, a man who defined grit and courage. Those toe-crushing yorkers to tail-enders are something even pace bowlers struggle to execute. Have a great &amp; jumbo life ahead <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anilkumble1074</a> bhai ! <a href="https://t.co/RN5jXb6onl">pic.twitter.com/RN5jXb6onl</a></p>
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag/status/1052419217524449281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To a dear friend and a champion. Happy Birthday, <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anilkumble1074</a>! <a href="https://t.co/MqAhsNDZIy">pic.twitter.com/MqAhsNDZIy</a></p>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1052449962582298624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy birthday to my idol, and my teammate, and an inspiration! Hope you have a lifetime of success in every path you take! Have a great day ahead :) love always Anil bhai <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anilkumble1074</a> <a href="https://t.co/6VxuwbXuGU">pic.twitter.com/6VxuwbXuGU</a></p>
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1052427757521694721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Birthday <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anilkumble1074</a> - On the occasion of the former Captain's birthday, we look back at one of his most iconic Test match spells 🎂😎<br />
Watch 👉👉▶️ <a href="https://t.co/ASlc379aDp">https://t.co/ASlc379aDp</a> <a href="https://t.co/cyp1tcJf6J">pic.twitter.com/cyp1tcJf6J</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1052446145933443073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">From being room mates to having our names jumbled up on international tours, it has been a pleasure to have known you and have played with a fighter Cricketer like you.KUMBLE'S Many happy returns of the day, <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anilkumble1074</a> <a href="https://t.co/Dex6SIvA44">pic.twitter.com/Dex6SIvA44</a></p>
— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) <a href="https://twitter.com/vinodkambli349/status/1052427903064055809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">619 Test wickets 🔴<br />
337 ODI wickets ⚪️<br />
One of two men to take 10 wickets in a Test innings 💪<br />
<br />
Happy birthday to India's top international wicket-taker, <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anilkumble1074</a>! <a href="https://t.co/gZrst7JsC3">pic.twitter.com/gZrst7JsC3</a></p>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1052393766105927681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>In the limited-overs format, Kumble has 337 ODI wickets and 57 T20 wickets.</p>

<p>He played 132 Tests and 271 ODIs before he quit the game in 2008 His 619 Test wickets. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) leads the pack while Australian legend Shane Warne is second with 708 Test wickets.</p>


From 10 wickets in an innings to bowling with a broken jaw, Anil Kumble is regarded as one of the finest spinners the country has ever produced. He is only the second bowler in cricket to claim all ten wickets in an inning of a Test match.

From 10 wickets in an innings to bowling with a broken jaw, Anil Kumble is regarded as one of the finest spinners the country has ever produced. He is only the second bowler in cricket to claim all ten wickets in an inning of a Test match. He achieved this feat against Pakistan at New Delhi. Today, on the occasion of his 48th birthday, several former and present cricketers including Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar, took to Twitter to post their wishes for Kumble. Happiest birthday to one of India’s greatest ever match winners, a man who defined grit and courage. Those toe-crushing yorkers to tail-enders are something even pace bowlers struggle to execute. Have a great & jumbo life ahead @anilkumble1074 bhai ! pic.twitter.com/RN5jXb6onl — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 17, 2018 × To a dear friend and a champion. Happy Birthday, @anilkumble1074! pic.twitter.com/MqAhsNDZIy — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 17, 2018 × Happy birthday to my idol, and my teammate, and an inspiration! Hope you have a lifetime of success in every path you take! Have a great day ahead :) love always Anil bhai @anilkumble1074 pic.twitter.com/6VxuwbXuGU — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 17, 2018 × Happy Birthday @anilkumble1074 - On the occasion of the former Captain's birthday, we look back at one of his most iconic Test match spells 🎂😎 Watch 👉👉▶️ https://t.co/ASlc379aDp pic.twitter.com/cyp1tcJf6J — BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2018 × From being room mates to having our names jumbled up on international tours, it has been a pleasure to have known you and have played with a fighter Cricketer like you.KUMBLE'S Many happy returns of the day, @anilkumble1074 pic.twitter.com/Dex6SIvA44 — VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) October 17, 2018 × 619 Test wickets 🔴 337 ODI wickets ⚪️ One of two men to take 10 wickets in a Test innings 💪 Happy birthday to India's top international wicket-taker, @anilkumble1074! pic.twitter.com/gZrst7JsC3 — ICC (@ICC) October 17, 2018 × In the limited-overs format, Kumble has 337 ODI wickets and 57 T20 wickets. He played 132 Tests and 271 ODIs before he quit the game in 2008 His 619 Test wickets. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) leads the pack while Australian legend Shane Warne is second with 708 Test wickets.

Wishes pour in on Twitter as Anil Kumble turns 48

<p>India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels that the upcoming Australia tour will be challenging even though the hosts will be without their two star players -- David Warner and Steve Smith.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old also believes that no overseas tour is easy.</p>

<p>"It (the Australian tour) will be challenging, no tour is easy. But Australia will be challenging because when you play outside your home (country) you need to adapt to certain conditions. It won't be easy for bowlers as there is hardly any movement these days," Bhuvneshwar told a select group of reporters here on Monday.</p>

<p>Australia will not be having the services of Smith and Warner, who are serving a one-year ban for ball-tampering during Australia's previous visit to South Africa.</p>

<p>Asked how the absence of Smith and Warner will affect Australia, Bhuvneshwar said: "I cannot say that we will overcome them. They don't have the two batsman (Smith and Warner), who have done well over the years. (But) there are other batsmen in their place and it is not that they aren't good."</p>

<p>"Its their home conditions. For us, if the two (Smith and Warner) were there, it is a challenge, now they are not there, it will still be a challenge," the Uttar Pradesh fast bowler said.</p>

<p>"If it would have been easy, we would have always won the series (in the past). It won't be easy. Our preparation in the practise matches there will matter," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhuvneshwar is now associated with ASICS and was in the city for its promotion.</p>

<p>India are set to tour Down Under for a four Test match series, which begins with the first Test at Adelaide on December 6.</p>

<p>Bhuvneshwar has been rested for the first two ODIs against the West Indies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The right-arm fast bowler, who has played 92 ODIs and 21 Tests, lauded the rotation policy of the team management.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The way fast bowlers are managed, the rotation policy is in a way good, as we get a break and others get a chance and the body remains fresh," he said.</p>

<p>He also stressed on the need to have breaks.</p>

<p>"Breaks are needed after you play a long tour. You are mentally tired, like Jasprit (Bumrah) said when you return you are fresh and are rearing to go. Hence breaks are needed, as your body gets tired," he said.</p>


India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels that the upcoming Australia tour will be challenging even though the hosts will be without their two star players -- David Warner and Steve Smith.

India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels that the upcoming Australia tour will be challenging even though the hosts will be without their two star players -- David Warner and Steve Smith. The 28-year-old also believes that no overseas tour is easy. "It (the Australian tour) will be challenging, no tour is easy. But Australia will be challenging because when you play outside your home (country) you need to adapt to certain conditions. It won't be easy for bowlers as there is hardly any movement these days," Bhuvneshwar told a select group of reporters here on Monday. Australia will not be having the services of Smith and Warner, who are serving a one-year ban for ball-tampering during Australia's previous visit to South Africa. Asked how the absence of Smith and Warner will affect Australia, Bhuvneshwar said: "I cannot say that we will overcome them. They don't have the two batsman (Smith and Warner), who have done well over the years. (But) there are other batsmen in their place and it is not that they aren't good." "Its their home conditions. For us, if the two (Smith and Warner) were there, it is a challenge, now they are not there, it will still be a challenge," the Uttar Pradesh fast bowler said. "If it would have been easy, we would have always won the series (in the past). It won't be easy. Our preparation in the practise matches there will matter," he said. Bhuvneshwar is now associated with ASICS and was in the city for its promotion. India are set to tour Down Under for a four Test match series, which begins with the first Test at Adelaide on December 6. Bhuvneshwar has been rested for the first two ODIs against the West Indies. The right-arm fast bowler, who has played 92 ODIs and 21 Tests, lauded the rotation policy of the team management. "The way fast bowlers are managed, the rotation policy is in a way good, as we get a break and others get a chance and the body remains fresh," he said. He also stressed on the need to have breaks. "Breaks are needed after you play a long tour. You are mentally tired, like Jasprit (Bumrah) said when you return you are fresh and are rearing to go. Hence breaks are needed, as your body gets tired," he said.

Australia tour will be challenging despite absence of Warner and Smith: Bhuvneshwar

<p>Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday clinched four wickets in six balls to leave Pakistan reeling on 77 for five at lunch on the opening day of the second and final test in Abu Dhabi.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Azhar Ali (15) and Haris Sohail (0) were removed on consecutive deliveries to conclude one over and although Asad Shafiq fended off the hat-trick ball when Lyon returned, he too went for a duck on the next ball after a DRS review.</p>

<p>The fourth wicket, just two balls later, was the pick of the quartet, with Babar Azam bowled at a perfectly-pitched delivery to leave Pakistan teetering on 57-5.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hosts, forced to settle for a draw in the first test in Dubai after a spectacular performance by Australians, won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that promised a big tally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tourists bowled with spirit and pace, however, and spearhead Mitchell Starc struck in the fourth over with just five runs on the board.</p>

<p>Opener Fakhar Zaman, who was handed his debut in place of the injured Imam-ul-Haq, somehow survived the Lyon hurricane and will resume after the break on 49 with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed on four not out at the other end.</p>


Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday clinched four wickets in six balls to leave Pakistan reeling on 77 for five at lunch on the opening day of the second and final test in Abu Dhabi.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday clinched four wickets in six balls to leave Pakistan reeling on 77 for five at lunch on the opening day of the second and final test in Abu Dhabi. Azhar Ali (15) and Haris Sohail (0) were removed on consecutive deliveries to conclude one over and although Asad Shafiq fended off the hat-trick ball when Lyon returned, he too went for a duck on the next ball after a DRS review. The fourth wicket, just two balls later, was the pick of the quartet, with Babar Azam bowled at a perfectly-pitched delivery to leave Pakistan teetering on 57-5. The hosts, forced to settle for a draw in the first test in Dubai after a spectacular performance by Australians, won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that promised a big tally. The tourists bowled with spirit and pace, however, and spearhead Mitchell Starc struck in the fourth over with just five runs on the board. Opener Fakhar Zaman, who was handed his debut in place of the injured Imam-ul-Haq, somehow survived the Lyon hurricane and will resume after the break on 49 with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed on four not out at the other end.

2nd Test: Lyon wreaks havoc to rock Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

<p>R Ashwin and Shradul Thakur on Sunday took India's lead to 56 runs after the team was bowled out for 367 runs at lunch on the third day of the 2nd Test match. &nbsp;</p>

<p>India made 367 in reply to Windies 311 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant top scored with 92 after being involved in a 152-run fifth-wicket stand with Ajinkya Rahane, who made 80.</p>

<p>Ashwin made 35 before being bowled by Shannon Gabriel in an extended first session. His was the last wicket Windies took to end Men in blue's innings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Windies captain and pacer Jason Holder took five wickets to end India's inning and gave just 56 runs in 23 overs he bowled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shannon Gabriel took three wickets but gave 107 runs in 20 overs he bowled.&nbsp;</p>


R Ashwin and Shradul Thakur on Sunday took India's lead to 56 runs after the team was bowled out for 367 runs at lunch on the third day of the 2nd Test match. India made 367 in reply to Windies 311 runs.

R Ashwin and Shradul Thakur on Sunday took India's lead to 56 runs after the team was bowled out for 367 runs at lunch on the third day of the 2nd Test match. India made 367 in reply to Windies 311 runs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant top scored with 92 after being involved in a 152-run fifth-wicket stand with Ajinkya Rahane, who made 80. Ashwin made 35 before being bowled by Shannon Gabriel in an extended first session. His was the last wicket Windies took to end Men in blue's innings. Windies captain and pacer Jason Holder took five wickets to end India's inning and gave just 56 runs in 23 overs he bowled. Shannon Gabriel took three wickets but gave 107 runs in 20 overs he bowled.

WI vs Ind, 2nd Test: India all out for 367, lead by 56

<p>Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has not been included in India's squad for quite&nbsp;a long time but that hasn't deterred him from being in headlines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With his humour and comments on social media platforms, the 38-year-old is surely setting the stage on fire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recently, Shikhar Dhawan, who is also out of action from India's test squad against Windies, shared a picture on his official Instagram account.</p>

<p>In the image, Dhawan is relaxing on a chair with the caption "Sheeran wale rob yaaran saanu hi faban ge #tuesdaymorning #potd".</p>

<p>After seeing the picture, Harbhajan gave him a new name by calling the Indian opener 'Daaku'.</p>

<p>In reply, Shikhar Dhawan rechristened Harbhajan Singh by calling him 'Jagga Jatt'.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bos1gT9BZ6A/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Sheeran wale rob yaaran saanu hi faban ge 👊🏼 #tuesdaymorning #potd</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shikhardofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Shikhar Dhawan</a> (@shikhardofficial) on <time datetime="2018-10-09T05:26:08+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 8, 2018 at 10:26pm PDT</time></p>
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<p><br />
<img alt="Harbhajan Singh and Shikhar Dhawan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d949bb06-0253-4402-bd07-7992292f650d" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhawan%20and%20Harbhajan.jpg" /></p>

<p>Harbhajan has played 103 Tests for India taking 417 wickets at an average of 32.46. In the limited-overs format, Harbhajan has 269 ODI wickets and 25 T20I wickets.&nbsp;</p>


Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has not been included in India's squad for quite a long time but that hasn't deterred him from being in headlines. With his humour and comments on social media platforms, the 38-year-old is surely setting the stage on fire.

Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has not been included in India's squad for quite a long time but that hasn't deterred him from being in headlines. With his humour and comments on social media platforms, the 38-year-old is surely setting the stage on fire. Recently, Shikhar Dhawan, who is also out of action from India's test squad against Windies, shared a picture on his official Instagram account. In the image, Dhawan is relaxing on a chair with the caption "Sheeran wale rob yaaran saanu hi faban ge #tuesdaymorning #potd". After seeing the picture, Harbhajan gave him a new name by calling the Indian opener 'Daaku'. In reply, Shikhar Dhawan rechristened Harbhajan Singh by calling him 'Jagga Jatt'. View this post on Instagram Sheeran wale rob yaaran saanu hi faban ge 👊🏼 #tuesdaymorning #potd A post shared by Shikhar Dhawan (@shikhardofficial) on Oct 8, 2018 at 10:26pm PDT × Harbhajan has played 103 Tests for India taking 417 wickets at an average of 32.46. In the limited-overs format, Harbhajan has 269 ODI wickets and 25 T20I wickets.

Harbhajan calls Shikhar Dhawan 'daaku'

<p>Ahead of the second Test match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday said his men will not get complacent when they take on Windies in &nbsp;Hyderabad, tomorrow. city.</p>

<p>India beat Jason Holder's side inside three days to record their biggest victory - by an innings and 272 runs.</p>

<p>"West Indies will come hard at us and we just simply have to be at the top of our game," Kohli said after the team's practice session.</p>

<p>When asked to comment on the performance and expectations from Prithvi Shaw, Kohli asked everyone to give some space to the young batting sensation.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"I don't think he should be rushed into anything yet because you need to give a youngster a space to grow, in his own abilities. This guy is supremely talented and he has got great ability as everyone saw."</p>

<p>"We definitely think he (Shaw) has it in him to play at the highest level and he can repeat what he did in the first game. He is a very keen learner, a sharp guy. He understands situations well. We are all very happy for him," he concluded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The right-handed batsman further said that exposure to Indian Premier League (IPL) helped youngsters in his team prepare for their Test debuts and come out into the field fearlessly.</p>

<p>After the first game loss, skipper Holder took a dig at the critics stated that even Caribbean team of the 90’s that included legendary Brian Lara, couldn't win a Test series in India.</p>

<p>"We are playing the No.1 team, India, in their backyard. And history would show we haven't won a Test match here since 1994 and if you look at the players who came through West Indies cricket - I think Brian Lara and these greats have been playing all that time."</p>

<p>He, however, demanded that efforts should be made to popularise Test cricket among youngsters.</p>

<p>With captain Holder and pacer Kemar Roach up for selection, West Indies hope to put up a better show in the second and final test in Hyderabad tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>


Ahead of the second Test match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday said his men will not get complacent when they take on Windies in Hyderabad, tomorrow. city.

Ahead of the second Test match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday said his men will not get complacent when they take on Windies in Hyderabad, tomorrow. city. India beat Jason Holder's side inside three days to record their biggest victory - by an innings and 272 runs. "West Indies will come hard at us and we just simply have to be at the top of our game," Kohli said after the team's practice session. When asked to comment on the performance and expectations from Prithvi Shaw, Kohli asked everyone to give some space to the young batting sensation. "I don't think he should be rushed into anything yet because you need to give a youngster a space to grow, in his own abilities. This guy is supremely talented and he has got great ability as everyone saw." "We definitely think he (Shaw) has it in him to play at the highest level and he can repeat what he did in the first game. He is a very keen learner, a sharp guy. He understands situations well. We are all very happy for him," he concluded. The right-handed batsman further said that exposure to Indian Premier League (IPL) helped youngsters in his team prepare for their Test debuts and come out into the field fearlessly. After the first game loss, skipper Holder took a dig at the critics stated that even Caribbean team of the 90’s that included legendary Brian Lara, couldn't win a Test series in India. "We are playing the No.1 team, India, in their backyard. And history would show we haven't won a Test match here since 1994 and if you look at the players who came through West Indies cricket - I think Brian Lara and these greats have been playing all that time." He, however, demanded that efforts should be made to popularise Test cricket among youngsters. With captain Holder and pacer Kemar Roach up for selection, West Indies hope to put up a better show in the second and final test in Hyderabad tomorrow.

'West Indies will come hard at us,' says Kohli ahead of second Test

<p>Hosts India named its 12-member squad for the second and final test against West Indies beginning in Hyderabad on Friday.</p>

<p>The 'Men in Blue' lead the series 1-0 after beating visitors by a record inning and 272 runs. India&nbsp;is expected not to make any changes to the squad that won the first game inside three days in Rajkot.</p>

<p>The only area of concern for India will be vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's form, who was touted as the best player in overseas conditions back in 2013-14 season, when he scored 96 at Durban, 118 at Wellington, 103 at the Lord's and 145 at Melbourne.</p>

<p>Rahane has gone without a Test hundred for nearly 14 months (last hundred came against Sri Lanka in August 2017). His career has tapered off a bit in the last couple of years.</p>

<p>And the second Test would be last shot to get back into a good frame of mind before the Australia series, which could make or break for him.</p>

<p>For West Indies, skipper Jason Holder is still not 100 per cent fit and their only fast bowler of repute Shannon Gabriel is a doubtful starter for the encounter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>India's Final 12: </strong><em>Virat Kohli&nbsp;</em><em>(captain), Lokesh Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur</em></p>


Hosts India named its 12-member squad for the second and final test against West Indies beginning in Hyderabad on Friday. The 'Men in Blue' lead the series 1-0 after beating visitors by a record inning and 272 runs.

Hosts India named its 12-member squad for the second and final test against West Indies beginning in Hyderabad on Friday. The 'Men in Blue' lead the series 1-0 after beating visitors by a record inning and 272 runs. India is expected not to make any changes to the squad that won the first game inside three days in Rajkot. The only area of concern for India will be vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's form, who was touted as the best player in overseas conditions back in 2013-14 season, when he scored 96 at Durban, 118 at Wellington, 103 at the Lord's and 145 at Melbourne. Rahane has gone without a Test hundred for nearly 14 months (last hundred came against Sri Lanka in August 2017). His career has tapered off a bit in the last couple of years. And the second Test would be last shot to get back into a good frame of mind before the Australia series, which could make or break for him. For West Indies, skipper Jason Holder is still not 100 per cent fit and their only fast bowler of repute Shannon Gabriel is a doubtful starter for the encounter. India's Final 12: Virat Kohli (captain), Lokesh Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur

India name 12-member squad for 2nd Test vs West Indies

<p>India's ruthless home run is unlikely to be challenged when the team takes on a below-par West Indies in the second Test Friday in what threatens to be another lopsided contest.</p>

<p>After the hosts won the first Test by record innings and 272 runs, there are hardly any signs that there will be a change in the script as the second Test promises to be another run-feast.</p>

<p>Add to it, skipper Jason Holder is still not 100 per cent fit and their only fast bowler of repute Shannon Gabriel is a doubtful starter for the encounter. India, on the other hand, have not made any changes to the squad that won the first game inside three days in Rajkot.</p>

<p>The lop-sided matches are hardly the kind of preparation the Indian team would have wanted before the big-ticket series against Australia starting December.</p>

<p>In fact, Virat Kohli's team might not be able to escape a sense of deja vu as it goes into the second Test.</p>

<p>In 2011, India dominated West Indies 2-0 in a one-sided series before crashing to a 0-4 defeat against Australia Down Under.</p>

<p>Similarly, in 2013 when India won both Test matches well inside three days, the next tour of South Africa didn't pan out well as they lost the series.</p>

<p>It is just an indicator that the West Indies Test teams over the years have not been competitive enough to challenge the Indian team, which is anyway formidable on home turf.</p>

<p>In contests like these, the focus is on challenging one's own self which skipper Virat Kohli did in the first Test where he scored 139 off 230 balls.</p>

<p>While 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw expectedly hogged the limelight with a smashing ton on debut, Kohli's innings was a master-class of how to set a different challenge for oneself as a batsman.</p>

<p>The West Indies bowling, which at best can be compared to a lower rung first-class side in India, could have been taken to the cleaners but the Indian skipper hit only 10 fours in his knock -- significantly less than Shaw's 19 boundaries and Cheteshwar Pujara's 14 hits.</p>

<p>The bulk of the runs&nbsp;99 of them came in singles and doubles. Perhaps, he was trying to check if he curbs certain strokes, how his game will shape up.</p>

<p>He showed a different facet to his batsmanship during the 24th Test hundred.</p>

<p>The only area of concern for India will be vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's form, who was touted as the best player in overseas conditions back in 2013-14 season, when he scored 96 at Durban, 118 at Wellington, 103 at the Lord's and 145 at Melbourne.</p>

<p>Rahane has gone without a Test hundred for nearly 14 months (last hundred came against Sri Lanka in August 2017). His career has tapered off a bit in the last couple of years.</p>

<p>And the second Test would be last shot to get back into a good frame of mind before the Australia series, which could make or break for him.</p>

<p>Bowling coach Bharath Arun put up a strong argument for the out-of-form KL Rahul (14 failures in 16 knocks this year).</p>

<p>The decision to play him for this Test is a fair enough indication that India will be looking at the Rahul-Shaw combination going into that first Test against Australia in Adelaide on December 6.</p>

<p>Shardul Thakur continues to be the 12th man as a 2-0 series win is paramount for the home team at this point of time.</p>

<p>Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav will also like to use this opportunity well as they are unlikely to feature in the ODI series.</p>

<p>For West Indies, the aim will to at least put up some fight, unlike the Rajkot game where they didn't even last 100 overs across both innings.</p>

<p>Kieran Powell's 83 and Roston Chase's 53 were the only notable contributions from the Caribbean batting line-up in the first game.</p>

<p>In the second innings, it looked as if the batsmen were in a tearing hurry to hit every ball where the need of the hour was to show patience.</p>

<p>The West Indies' slide in Test is a combination of both lack of application and technique needed to compete at the highest level.</p>

<p>They would love to redeem themselves, which looks highly unlikely as of now.</p>

<p><strong>Teams:</strong></p>

<p><strong>India:<em> </em></strong><em>Virat Kohli (captain), Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.</em></p>

<p><strong>West Indies: </strong><em>Jason Holder (c), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, and Jomel Warrican.</em></p>


India's ruthless home run is unlikely to be challenged when the team takes on a below-par West Indies in the second Test Friday in what threatens to be another lopsided contest.

India's ruthless home run is unlikely to be challenged when the team takes on a below-par West Indies in the second Test Friday in what threatens to be another lopsided contest. After the hosts won the first Test by record innings and 272 runs, there are hardly any signs that there will be a change in the script as the second Test promises to be another run-feast. Add to it, skipper Jason Holder is still not 100 per cent fit and their only fast bowler of repute Shannon Gabriel is a doubtful starter for the encounter. India, on the other hand, have not made any changes to the squad that won the first game inside three days in Rajkot. The lop-sided matches are hardly the kind of preparation the Indian team would have wanted before the big-ticket series against Australia starting December. In fact, Virat Kohli's team might not be able to escape a sense of deja vu as it goes into the second Test. In 2011, India dominated West Indies 2-0 in a one-sided series before crashing to a 0-4 defeat against Australia Down Under. Similarly, in 2013 when India won both Test matches well inside three days, the next tour of South Africa didn't pan out well as they lost the series. It is just an indicator that the West Indies Test teams over the years have not been competitive enough to challenge the Indian team, which is anyway formidable on home turf. In contests like these, the focus is on challenging one's own self which skipper Virat Kohli did in the first Test where he scored 139 off 230 balls. While 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw expectedly hogged the limelight with a smashing ton on debut, Kohli's innings was a master-class of how to set a different challenge for oneself as a batsman. The West Indies bowling, which at best can be compared to a lower rung first-class side in India, could have been taken to the cleaners but the Indian skipper hit only 10 fours in his knock -- significantly less than Shaw's 19 boundaries and Cheteshwar Pujara's 14 hits. The bulk of the runs 99 of them came in singles and doubles. Perhaps, he was trying to check if he curbs certain strokes, how his game will shape up. He showed a different facet to his batsmanship during the 24th Test hundred. The only area of concern for India will be vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's form, who was touted as the best player in overseas conditions back in 2013-14 season, when he scored 96 at Durban, 118 at Wellington, 103 at the Lord's and 145 at Melbourne. Rahane has gone without a Test hundred for nearly 14 months (last hundred came against Sri Lanka in August 2017). His career has tapered off a bit in the last couple of years. And the second Test would be last shot to get back into a good frame of mind before the Australia series, which could make or break for him. Bowling coach Bharath Arun put up a strong argument for the out-of-form KL Rahul (14 failures in 16 knocks this year). The decision to play him for this Test is a fair enough indication that India will be looking at the Rahul-Shaw combination going into that first Test against Australia in Adelaide on December 6. Shardul Thakur continues to be the 12th man as a 2-0 series win is paramount for the home team at this point of time. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav will also like to use this opportunity well as they are unlikely to feature in the ODI series. For West Indies, the aim will to at least put up some fight, unlike the Rajkot game where they didn't even last 100 overs across both innings. Kieran Powell's 83 and Roston Chase's 53 were the only notable contributions from the Caribbean batting line-up in the first game. In the second innings, it looked as if the batsmen were in a tearing hurry to hit every ball where the need of the hour was to show patience. The West Indies' slide in Test is a combination of both lack of application and technique needed to compete at the highest level. They would love to redeem themselves, which looks highly unlikely as of now. Teams: India: Virat Kohli (captain), Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur. West Indies: Jason Holder (c), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, and Jomel Warrican.

2nd Test: India aim to be ruthless, Windies seek redemption

<p>Mahendra Singh Dhoni's poor batting form might force selectors to include the flamboyant Rishabh Pant when they pick the ODI squad for the limited-overs leg of the ongoing home series against the West Indies, here Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is still not clear whether the squad will be announced for the first three games or the entire series, which comprises five ODIs and three T20 Internationals and starts on October 21.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Skipper Virat Kohli's presence may be another key issue even though it's unlikely that he will be inclined to rest for the entire series.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the primary bone of contention will be whether the selectors and the team management will at least agree on having a cover batsman for Dhoni, whose wicketkeeping remains sharp but batting form has been on the slide.</p>

<p>"We all know that Dhoni will play till the World Cup but there is no harm in grooming Pant, who could be a terrific No.6 or 7 batsman, who has the ability to finish games," a senior BCCI official privy to selection matters told PTI today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since his debut Test hundred at the Oval followed by a stroke-filled 92 in Rajkot, calls for the 20-year-old's inclusion have only grown louder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Dinesh Karthik is already there, his consistency and inability to finish matches at crucial junctures will keep the team management worried.</p>

<p>There are a few other permutations that the selectors might consider.</p>

<p>Kedar Jadhav's dodgy hamstring will rule him out of the limited-overs leg which opens up one potential middle-order batting slot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ambati Rayudu, after a good Asia Cup performance, will retain his place even if Kohli decides to play.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are set to come back after a much-needed break during the ongoing Test series.</p>

<p>Ravindra Jadeja is also expected to make it after his lion-hearted show as Axar Patel's replacement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The axe might just fall on Manish Pandey, who has had a poor run of late since getting a chance against Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>


Mahendra Singh Dhoni's poor batting form might force selectors to include the flamboyant Rishabh Pant when they pick the ODI squad for the limited-overs leg of the ongoing home series against the West Indies, here Thursday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's poor batting form might force selectors to include the flamboyant Rishabh Pant when they pick the ODI squad for the limited-overs leg of the ongoing home series against the West Indies, here Thursday. It is still not clear whether the squad will be announced for the first three games or the entire series, which comprises five ODIs and three T20 Internationals and starts on October 21. Skipper Virat Kohli's presence may be another key issue even though it's unlikely that he will be inclined to rest for the entire series. However, the primary bone of contention will be whether the selectors and the team management will at least agree on having a cover batsman for Dhoni, whose wicketkeeping remains sharp but batting form has been on the slide. "We all know that Dhoni will play till the World Cup but there is no harm in grooming Pant, who could be a terrific No.6 or 7 batsman, who has the ability to finish games," a senior BCCI official privy to selection matters told PTI today. Since his debut Test hundred at the Oval followed by a stroke-filled 92 in Rajkot, calls for the 20-year-old's inclusion have only grown louder. While Dinesh Karthik is already there, his consistency and inability to finish matches at crucial junctures will keep the team management worried. There are a few other permutations that the selectors might consider. Kedar Jadhav's dodgy hamstring will rule him out of the limited-overs leg which opens up one potential middle-order batting slot. Ambati Rayudu, after a good Asia Cup performance, will retain his place even if Kohli decides to play. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are set to come back after a much-needed break during the ongoing Test series. Ravindra Jadeja is also expected to make it after his lion-hearted show as Axar Patel's replacement. The axe might just fall on Manish Pandey, who has had a poor run of late since getting a chance against Afghanistan.

India's ODI squad against Windies: Dhoni's cover, Kohli's workload key issues

<p>West Indies lost the first Test to India by an innings and 272 runs in Gujarat's Rajkot.</p>

<p>While India won the match inside three days, registering their biggest innings win in Test cricket, the performance of Windies players was below par and was heavily criticised.</p>

<p>Among the critics, India's veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh described the Windies team as not even good enough to compete against the elite teams in Ranji Trophy.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With all due respect to West Indies Cricket but I have a question for u all...will this west Indies team qualify for Ranji quarters from the plate group? Elite se to nahin hoga 🧐 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsWI</a></p>
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1048157223250276352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The tweet didn't go well with many cricketing fans and former West Indies cricketer Tino Best.</p>

<p>Best was not too impressed with Harbhajan's tweet and hit back by taking a pot shot at India's performance during the Test series in England, where they lost the five-match series 1-4.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hey bro didn’t see these cocky tweets vs England 🤷🏾‍♂️ .... but anyhow the young men will learn 🙏🏾</p>
— Tino95 (@tinobest) <a href="https://twitter.com/tinobest/status/1048418985757347840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Some Indian fans too were left outraged by Harbhajan's comments.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If English ex cricketgers had made such comments about our teams the previous tours in 2011 and 2014, how would you have reacted? Disrespectful</p>
— Abhinav Misra (@princeshwar) <a href="https://twitter.com/princeshwar/status/1048157666646925312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With all due respect... this kind of behaviour is the reason you are sitting here and tweeting instead of playing. Very Disrespectful.</p>
— Kiran Bhat (@ItsBhatOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/ItsBhatOfficial/status/1048158237806055424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This was the exact feeling England were having when we were out there playing against them in their home ground! Don't be arrogant for no reason! Forgot that you are a sportsman?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvWI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sportsmanship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sportsmanship</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/staygrounded?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#staygrounded</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stayhumble?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stayhumble</a></p>
— Anshul Gupta (@AnshulGuptaLko) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnshulGuptaLko/status/1048159532805971969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">How about try to be a little respectful??Also WI has won a test match in Eng &amp; UAE(vs Pak) each. They are missing few of their key players in this match.</p>
— Abhimanyu (@abhimanyuk090) <a href="https://twitter.com/abhimanyuk090/status/1048163999194333186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The tourists were dismissed for 196 runs, in their second innings, early in the final session while following on, to trail the two-match series 0-1.</p>


West Indies lost the first Test to India by an innings and 272 runs in Gujarat's Rajkot. While India won the match inside three days, registering their biggest innings win in Test cricket, the performance of Windies players was below par and was heavily criticised.

West Indies lost the first Test to India by an innings and 272 runs in Gujarat's Rajkot. While India won the match inside three days, registering their biggest innings win in Test cricket, the performance of Windies players was below par and was heavily criticised. Among the critics, India's veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh described the Windies team as not even good enough to compete against the elite teams in Ranji Trophy. With all due respect to West Indies Cricket but I have a question for u all...will this west Indies team qualify for Ranji quarters from the plate group? Elite se to nahin hoga 🧐 #INDvsWI — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 5, 2018 × The tweet didn't go well with many cricketing fans and former West Indies cricketer Tino Best. Best was not too impressed with Harbhajan's tweet and hit back by taking a pot shot at India's performance during the Test series in England, where they lost the five-match series 1-4. Hey bro didn’t see these cocky tweets vs England 🤷🏾‍♂️ .... but anyhow the young men will learn 🙏🏾 — Tino95 (@tinobest) October 6, 2018 × Some Indian fans too were left outraged by Harbhajan's comments. If English ex cricketgers had made such comments about our teams the previous tours in 2011 and 2014, how would you have reacted? Disrespectful — Abhinav Misra (@princeshwar) October 5, 2018 × With all due respect... this kind of behaviour is the reason you are sitting here and tweeting instead of playing. Very Disrespectful. — Kiran Bhat (@ItsBhatOfficial) October 5, 2018 × This was the exact feeling England were having when we were out there playing against them in their home ground! Don't be arrogant for no reason! Forgot that you are a sportsman?? #INDvWI #sportsmanship #staygrounded #stayhumble — Anshul Gupta (@AnshulGuptaLko) October 5, 2018 × How about try to be a little respectful??Also WI has won a test match in Eng & UAE(vs Pak) each. They are missing few of their key players in this match. — Abhimanyu (@abhimanyuk090) October 5, 2018 × The tourists were dismissed for 196 runs, in their second innings, early in the final session while following on, to trail the two-match series 0-1.

'Didn’t see cocky tweets vs England', says ex-Windies pacer to Harbhajan's potshot

<p>Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and his teammate Jasprit Bumrah have maintained their top spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively.</p>

<p>Kohli sits at the top with 884 points, followed by his deputy Rohit Sharma, with 842 ranking points.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Opener Shikhar Dhawan is placed fifth in the list carrying 802 points.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in bowling, &nbsp;pacer Bumrah leads the list with 797 points to his name.</p>

<p>The death-over specialist is followed by young Afghanistan sensation Rashid Khan, who has 788 points, while Indian chinaman Kuldeep Yadav is placed third with 700 points.</p>

<p>In the team's rankings, England tops the chart with 127 points, while India is placed second with 122 points.</p>

<p>New Zealand (112 points), South Africa (110) and Pakistan (101) grabbed the third, fourth and fifth position respectively.</p>

<p>England will have to win the away series against Sri Lanka, starting October 10, to retain their number one ranking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If they fail to win, India will have a chance provided they defeat West Indies the five ODI series.</p>


Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and his teammate Jasprit Bumrah have maintained their top spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively.

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and his teammate Jasprit Bumrah have maintained their top spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively. Kohli sits at the top with 884 points, followed by his deputy Rohit Sharma, with 842 ranking points. Opener Shikhar Dhawan is placed fifth in the list carrying 802 points. Meanwhile, in bowling, pacer Bumrah leads the list with 797 points to his name. The death-over specialist is followed by young Afghanistan sensation Rashid Khan, who has 788 points, while Indian chinaman Kuldeep Yadav is placed third with 700 points. In the team's rankings, England tops the chart with 127 points, while India is placed second with 122 points. New Zealand (112 points), South Africa (110) and Pakistan (101) grabbed the third, fourth and fifth position respectively. England will have to win the away series against Sri Lanka, starting October 10, to retain their number one ranking. If they fail to win, India will have a chance provided they defeat West Indies the five ODI series.

Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah retain top spots in ICC ODI ranking

<p>During his playing days, Shoaib Akhtar spearheaded Pakistan's fiery bowling attack and was fondly known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from a few players, every batsman would just succumb to his pace attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among those is legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who played him like a boss, especially during their ICC World Cup 2003 match in South Africa.</p>

<p>Recently, the former speedster was at the receiving end of trolls on Twitter after he called himself the 'Don of Cricket'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Don of cricket as they called me but never enjoyed hurting people but I must say when I was out there I just ran in for the love of my country &amp; for the people around the world ..", Akhtar had captioned.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Don of cricket as they called me but never enjoyed hurting people but I must say when I was out there I just ran in for the love of my country &amp; for the people around the world .. <a href="https://t.co/be84Y2yYl5">pic.twitter.com/be84Y2yYl5</a></p>
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1048828120814551040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>His post, however, didn't go down well with the fans as they responded to his tweet with videos of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar hammering him and other Pakistan bowlers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A fan also shared a video of Shoaib Akhtar getting hit all over the park in India's match against Pakistan in their 2003 World Cup encounter in South Africa.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">How can you forget this gem from <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sachin_rt</a> !!<br />
Smashing you my friend.<br />
You were also winning asia cup this time..😂 <a href="https://t.co/jyFgga9EXc">pic.twitter.com/jyFgga9EXc</a></p>
— Gautam (@TheMystic19) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMystic19/status/1048829069800820742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is not T20 match.<br />
Credit goes to <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sachin_rt</a> <a href="https://t.co/XQ2BufCC65">pic.twitter.com/XQ2BufCC65</a></p>
— சரண்யா (@saranya01998) <a href="https://twitter.com/saranya01998/status/1048893582130565120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Baap... Baap Hota Hai<br />
Beta... Beta Hota hai<a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sachin_rt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virendersehwag</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shoaib100mph</a> <a href="https://t.co/uoNuoHrBOV">pic.twitter.com/uoNuoHrBOV</a></p>
— ANKIT (@SRKpePHD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SRKpePHD/status/1049095414471774209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Akhtar claimed more than 400 wickets during his international cricket career that spanned over a decade. He represented Pakistan in 46 Tests and 163 ODIs. Along with that, Akhtar also represented his country in 15 T20I's.</p>


During his playing days, Shoaib Akhtar spearheaded Pakistan's fiery bowling attack and was fondly known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’. Apart from a few players, every batsman would just succumb to his pace attack.

During his playing days, Shoaib Akhtar spearheaded Pakistan's fiery bowling attack and was fondly known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’. Apart from a few players, every batsman would just succumb to his pace attack. Among those is legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who played him like a boss, especially during their ICC World Cup 2003 match in South Africa. Recently, the former speedster was at the receiving end of trolls on Twitter after he called himself the 'Don of Cricket'. "Don of cricket as they called me but never enjoyed hurting people but I must say when I was out there I just ran in for the love of my country & for the people around the world ..", Akhtar had captioned. Don of cricket as they called me but never enjoyed hurting people but I must say when I was out there I just ran in for the love of my country & for the people around the world .. pic.twitter.com/be84Y2yYl5 — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) October 7, 2018 × His post, however, didn't go down well with the fans as they responded to his tweet with videos of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar hammering him and other Pakistan bowlers. A fan also shared a video of Shoaib Akhtar getting hit all over the park in India's match against Pakistan in their 2003 World Cup encounter in South Africa. How can you forget this gem from @sachin_rt !! Smashing you my friend. You were also winning asia cup this time..😂 pic.twitter.com/jyFgga9EXc — Gautam (@TheMystic19) October 7, 2018 × This is not T20 match. Credit goes to @sachin_rt pic.twitter.com/XQ2BufCC65 — சரண்யா (@saranya01998) October 7, 2018 × Baap... Baap Hota Hai Beta... Beta Hota hai@sachin_rt @virendersehwag @shoaib100mph pic.twitter.com/uoNuoHrBOV — ANKIT (@SRKpePHD) October 8, 2018 × Akhtar claimed more than 400 wickets during his international cricket career that spanned over a decade. He represented Pakistan in 46 Tests and 163 ODIs. Along with that, Akhtar also represented his country in 15 T20I's.

This is the price Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar paid for calling himself 'Don of Cricket' 

<p>Prithvi Shaw went on to slam a century in his debut game on Thursday against West Indies at Rajkot. However, the young sensation departed after giving a simple catch in the hands of Devendra Bishoo.</p>

<p>The right-handed batsman made 134 runs, which included 19 boundaries. He took 99 balls to reach the three-digit mark on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite losing their first wicket in the very first over, India managed to get back on the track and put a score of 133 runs for the loss of one wicket at lunch.</p>

<p>The credit goes to debutant Prithvi Shaw and one-down Cheteshwar Pujara, who slammed a half-century each, to put India in the controlling situation in Rajkot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shaw, on his playing his debut game, took 56 balls to reach his first-half-century. His shots selection and timing didn't reflect him as a debutant but a player who was waiting for a right platform to display his cricketing prowess.</p>

<p>Supported by veteran Pujara, who also slammed a gritty half-century, India managed to recover from the early loss.</p>

<p>Both Shaw and Pujara, are well settled on the crease and are playing at 75 and 56 respectively.</p>

<p>KL Rahul, on the other hand, lost his wicket in the first over. He was sent back to the pavilion for a duck after being lbw by Shannon Gabriel.</p>

<p>Prithvi, who earned a maiden Indian call-up midway into the England tour but did not get a game, has been preferred over Mayank Agarwal in the playing XI for the series opener against West Indies.</p>

<p>In the domestic circuit, Prithvi showed maturity beyond years, notching up fine hundreds on his Ranji and Duleep Trophy debuts, a few years after bursting onto the Mumbai scene with a bang. Shaw also led India to U-19 World Cup triumph.</p>

<p>The young Mumbai batsman was part of the Indian squad for the last two Test matches against England but didn't get an opportunity as the team management decided to persist with Shikhar Dhawan and K L Rahul.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Prithvi Shaw went on to slam a century in his debut game on Thursday against West Indies at Rajkot. However, the young sensation departed after giving a simple catch in the hands of Devendra Bishoo.

Prithvi Shaw went on to slam a century in his debut game on Thursday against West Indies at Rajkot. However, the young sensation departed after giving a simple catch in the hands of Devendra Bishoo. The right-handed batsman made 134 runs, which included 19 boundaries. He took 99 balls to reach the three-digit mark on Thursday. Despite losing their first wicket in the very first over, India managed to get back on the track and put a score of 133 runs for the loss of one wicket at lunch. The credit goes to debutant Prithvi Shaw and one-down Cheteshwar Pujara, who slammed a half-century each, to put India in the controlling situation in Rajkot. Shaw, on his playing his debut game, took 56 balls to reach his first-half-century. His shots selection and timing didn't reflect him as a debutant but a player who was waiting for a right platform to display his cricketing prowess. Supported by veteran Pujara, who also slammed a gritty half-century, India managed to recover from the early loss. Both Shaw and Pujara, are well settled on the crease and are playing at 75 and 56 respectively. KL Rahul, on the other hand, lost his wicket in the first over. He was sent back to the pavilion for a duck after being lbw by Shannon Gabriel. Prithvi, who earned a maiden Indian call-up midway into the England tour but did not get a game, has been preferred over Mayank Agarwal in the playing XI for the series opener against West Indies. In the domestic circuit, Prithvi showed maturity beyond years, notching up fine hundreds on his Ranji and Duleep Trophy debuts, a few years after bursting onto the Mumbai scene with a bang. Shaw also led India to U-19 World Cup triumph. The young Mumbai batsman was part of the Indian squad for the last two Test matches against England but didn't get an opportunity as the team management decided to persist with Shikhar Dhawan and K L Rahul.

1st Test: Debutant Shaw falls for 134, India 232/3 at tea

<p>India captain Virat Kohli Wednesday said top-order batting is the only aspect left to be sorted in the Test team and "enough space" would be given to youngsters such as Prithvi Shaw to showcase their talent confidently.</p>

<p>Kohli said experimentation can only be done in the top-order and has high hopes from the 18-year-old Shaw, who will make his Test debut on Thursday in the opening game against the West Indies here. Shaw is expected to open alongside K L Rahul.</p>

<p>"We have a change at the top of the order. We will give these guys enough space and enough chances to feel comfortable at that position. We want them to be confident of what they are doing," Kohli said in the pre-match press conference.</p>

<p>"The lower-order is all about contribution, there is no change needed there. Rishabh (Pant) is new but Ashwin and Jadeja have performed in so many games at home they just need to replicate it abroad.</p>

<p>"Apart from the top-order getting cemented, I don't think with these Two Test there is a lot we are looking at. Rest of the things are quite settled," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After series losses in South Africa and England, the Indian team management was slammed for making too many changes in the playing eleven but Kohli justified the decisions made.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"...You need your best eleven on the park. In the past, most of the changes have been made in the bowling combination and people have conveniently taken otherwise.</p>

<p>The bowlers that have sat out have never felt they have been hard done by," said Kohli.</p>

<p>"The motive has always been to pick the best eleven and we have hardly tinkered with the batting order barring a couple of guys who have not been in form. We have utilised the conditions to the maximum wherever we have gone," he said referring to the bowlers' good work in South Africa and England.</p>

<p>Kohli said the final XI is always picked based on the conditions that the team is facing.</p>

<p>"We have been able to pick up 20 wickets because of the fact we played people who are suited for the conditions. Batting has not been up to the mark and that is why we have not done well in England.</p>

<p>"No one wants to do something different every game. It is all about what is in front of you and accordingly you pick your best eleven," said the skipper.</p>

<p>Contributions from the lower-order helped England win the series 4-1 as openers from both teams struggled in tough conditions for major part of the five-Test series. While</p>

<p>India's lower-order comprising R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have done well at home, they can do a lot better overseas, according to Kohli.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Everyone on the outside also knows the areas we need to improve on. If you look at the sides which win Test matches, contribution at the top and contribution of the lower-order are more crucial than the contribution of the middle order.</p>

<p>"Whatever happens in middle order is connected to either what top-order or lower-order does. The reason England were better than us because their lower-order did well. I won't say their top-order did better than us. We realise that," he explained.</p>

<p>Kohli said the lower-order must perform better ahead of the Australia tour next month.</p>

<p>"See in home conditions, we are not bothered by it because we have done really well as far as lower-order contributions are concerned. But definitely, we would like to take the West Indies series as a benchmark we want to set.</p>

<p>"With a couple of new guys coming at the top, they have an opportunity to showcase their skill sets and show why selectors have backed them," he said.</p>

<p>Kohli is back in action after a break. He missed the Asia Cup in Dubai to give his back much-needed rest and is raring to go again.</p>

<p>"I feel rejuvenated again both mentally and physically. I needed the break after the intensity with which the tours of South Africa and England went. People usually talk about workloads but they don't usually understand the concept. They refer to workload as number of games played," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There is no workload if you make zero in every game. If I bat for six hours that is workload," he added.</p>

<p>Managing the workload of players will be given top priority ahead of the 2019 World Cup, he said.</p>

<p>"I definitely needed a break because of my back. Looking at the World Cup these things are very important to consider, to give players ample rest and opportunity to train well and come back stronger. You don't want them breaking down in crucial times," asserted the skipper.&nbsp;</p>


India captain Virat Kohli Wednesday said top-order batting is the only aspect left to be sorted in the Test team and "enough space" would be given to youngsters such as Prithvi Shaw to showcase their talent confidently.

India captain Virat Kohli Wednesday said top-order batting is the only aspect left to be sorted in the Test team and "enough space" would be given to youngsters such as Prithvi Shaw to showcase their talent confidently. Kohli said experimentation can only be done in the top-order and has high hopes from the 18-year-old Shaw, who will make his Test debut on Thursday in the opening game against the West Indies here. Shaw is expected to open alongside K L Rahul. "We have a change at the top of the order. We will give these guys enough space and enough chances to feel comfortable at that position. We want them to be confident of what they are doing," Kohli said in the pre-match press conference. "The lower-order is all about contribution, there is no change needed there. Rishabh (Pant) is new but Ashwin and Jadeja have performed in so many games at home they just need to replicate it abroad. "Apart from the top-order getting cemented, I don't think with these Two Test there is a lot we are looking at. Rest of the things are quite settled," he added. After series losses in South Africa and England, the Indian team management was slammed for making too many changes in the playing eleven but Kohli justified the decisions made. "...You need your best eleven on the park. In the past, most of the changes have been made in the bowling combination and people have conveniently taken otherwise. The bowlers that have sat out have never felt they have been hard done by," said Kohli. "The motive has always been to pick the best eleven and we have hardly tinkered with the batting order barring a couple of guys who have not been in form. We have utilised the conditions to the maximum wherever we have gone," he said referring to the bowlers' good work in South Africa and England. Kohli said the final XI is always picked based on the conditions that the team is facing. "We have been able to pick up 20 wickets because of the fact we played people who are suited for the conditions. Batting has not been up to the mark and that is why we have not done well in England. "No one wants to do something different every game. It is all about what is in front of you and accordingly you pick your best eleven," said the skipper. Contributions from the lower-order helped England win the series 4-1 as openers from both teams struggled in tough conditions for major part of the five-Test series. While India's lower-order comprising R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have done well at home, they can do a lot better overseas, according to Kohli. "Everyone on the outside also knows the areas we need to improve on. If you look at the sides which win Test matches, contribution at the top and contribution of the lower-order are more crucial than the contribution of the middle order. "Whatever happens in middle order is connected to either what top-order or lower-order does. The reason England were better than us because their lower-order did well. I won't say their top-order did better than us. We realise that," he explained. Kohli said the lower-order must perform better ahead of the Australia tour next month. "See in home conditions, we are not bothered by it because we have done really well as far as lower-order contributions are concerned. But definitely, we would like to take the West Indies series as a benchmark we want to set. "With a couple of new guys coming at the top, they have an opportunity to showcase their skill sets and show why selectors have backed them," he said. Kohli is back in action after a break. He missed the Asia Cup in Dubai to give his back much-needed rest and is raring to go again. "I feel rejuvenated again both mentally and physically. I needed the break after the intensity with which the tours of South Africa and England went. People usually talk about workloads but they don't usually understand the concept. They refer to workload as number of games played," he said. "There is no workload if you make zero in every game. If I bat for six hours that is workload," he added. Managing the workload of players will be given top priority ahead of the 2019 World Cup, he said. "I definitely needed a break because of my back. Looking at the World Cup these things are very important to consider, to give players ample rest and opportunity to train well and come back stronger. You don't want them breaking down in crucial times," asserted the skipper.

Virat Kohli says top-order needs sorting, promises enough space to youngsters

<p>Mohammed Shami's troubles with his wife Hasin Jahan have been going on since several months now.&nbsp</p>

<p>But the cricketer wants to come over what happened in his personal life and desires to focus on his professional life now.&nbsp</p>

<p>But during a recent interview, he was again questioned on the allegations his wife has levelled, which included Shami's second marriage. &nbsp</p>

<p>Talking about it, Shami candidly said, he would invite Jahan for his second marriage.</p>

<p>"I am in much trouble due to my first marriage. Do you think I am mad that I will marry another girl? Hasin has brought a lot of allegations about me in last few months and this is an addition to that. That’s good, then I will invite her to be present at my second marriage (laughing)," the Indian pacer said.&nbsp</p>

<p>He further added that he misses his daughter Bebo (Airah).&nbsp</p>

<p>"Only I know that how much I miss my Bebo. If I return to Kolkata, the problems will grow more and that’s why I am not returning there. But that doesn’t mean that I have forgotten my little angel.”<br />
&nbsp<br />
Meanwhile, Shami failed to pass the 'Yo-Yo' test for Thursday's Test match against Afghanistan and has been replaced by uncapped paceman Navdeep Saini.</p>

<p>The news was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).</p>

<p>Shami last played for India against South Africa in January before being embroiled in a corruption scandal, which he was cleared of by the BCCI in March.&nbsp</p>


The cricketer wants to come over what happened in his personal life

Mohammed Shami's troubles with his wife Hasin Jahan have been going on since several months now. But the cricketer wants to come over what happened in his personal life and desires to focus on his professional life now. But during a recent interview, he was again questioned on the allegations his wife has levelled, which included Shami's second marriage. Talking about it, Shami candidly said, he would invite Jahan for his second marriage. "I am in much trouble due to my first marriage. Do you think I am mad that I will marry another girl? Hasin has brought a lot of allegations about me in last few months and this is an addition to that. That’s good, then I will invite her to be present at my second marriage (laughing)," the Indian pacer said. He further added that he misses his daughter Bebo (Airah). "Only I know that how much I miss my Bebo. If I return to Kolkata, the problems will grow more and that’s why I am not returning there. But that doesn’t mean that I have forgotten my little angel.” Meanwhile, Shami failed to pass the 'Yo-Yo' test for Thursday's Test match against Afghanistan and has been replaced by uncapped paceman Navdeep Saini. The news was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Shami last played for India against South Africa in January before being embroiled in a corruption scandal, which he was cleared of by the BCCI in March.

'I'll invite wife Hasin Jahan for my second marriage', jokes Mohammed Shami

<p>No India cricket match actually begins till he blows his conch. No Indian century celebration is complete without him waving the tricolour incessantly.</p>

<p>Yes, we are talking about Indian Cricket team and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's biggest fan Sudhir Kumar Gautam.</p>

<p>His life revolves around the cricket stadiums and the Indian cricket team players.</p>

<p>The love is not one sided. Even the players respect his love for the game and leave no occasion to award him for his dedication in their own way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Likewise, the 'super fan' Gautam was invited by the former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni at his farmhouse for lunch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A jubilant Gautam shared pictures with captain cool and his family on his Twitter.</p>

<p>“Special Day with Captain Cool @msdhoni, Super Lunch with Super Family at Farm House. Words can’t describe the moments spent. Thank You MS Dhoni and Sakshi Di @SaakshiSRawat. Captain Relaxed after winning #IPL2018 @ChennaiIPL,” he tweeted.</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Special Day with Captain Cool <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a>, Super Lunch with Super Family at Farm House. Words can't describe the moments spent. Thank You MS Dhoni and Sakshi Di <a href="https://twitter.com/SaakshiSRawat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaakshiSRawat</a>. Captain Relaxed after winning <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a>. <a href="https://t.co/qZHjGm9KCR">pic.twitter.com/qZHjGm9KCR</a></p>
— Sudhir Kumar Gautam (@Sudhir10dulkar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sudhir10dulkar/status/1002512187493998593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Dhoni is currently back in his hometown Ranchi after leading the Chennai to IPL success.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He will be back on the pitch when India take on Ireland in a two-match T20I series which would be followed by the tour of England for three T20Is, five ODIs and five Tests.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Sudhir Kumar Gautam is the fan famous for painting himself in the colours of the Indian flag. He was called for lunch to Dhoni's farmhouse in Ranchi

No India cricket match actually begins till he blows his conch. No Indian century celebration is complete without him waving the tricolour incessantly. Yes, we are talking about Indian Cricket team and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's biggest fan Sudhir Kumar Gautam. His life revolves around the cricket stadiums and the Indian cricket team players. The love is not one sided. Even the players respect his love for the game and leave no occasion to award him for his dedication in their own way. Likewise, the 'super fan' Gautam was invited by the former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni at his farmhouse for lunch. A jubilant Gautam shared pictures with captain cool and his family on his Twitter. “Special Day with Captain Cool @msdhoni, Super Lunch with Super Family at Farm House. Words can’t describe the moments spent. Thank You MS Dhoni and Sakshi Di @SaakshiSRawat. Captain Relaxed after winning #IPL2018 @ChennaiIPL,” he tweeted. Special Day with Captain Cool @msdhoni, Super Lunch with Super Family at Farm House. Words can't describe the moments spent. Thank You MS Dhoni and Sakshi Di @SaakshiSRawat. Captain Relaxed after winning #IPL2018 @ChennaiIPL. pic.twitter.com/qZHjGm9KCR — Sudhir Kumar Gautam (@Sudhir10dulkar) June 1, 2018 × Dhoni is currently back in his hometown Ranchi after leading the Chennai to IPL success. He will be back on the pitch when India take on Ireland in a two-match T20I series which would be followed by the tour of England for three T20Is, five ODIs and five Tests.

In pictures: MS Dhoni invites 'super fan' of Indian cricket home for lunch

<p>Indian Premier League (IPL) is all about talent. Over the years it has become a platform for the young cricketers to display fearless and ruthless cricket to the world.&nbsp;Better the talent, the chance of players being selected for the national side are more.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly, the eleventh edition of the IPL has witnessed some tremendous performances by players and have taken this league to a different level.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So, as the season approaches its business end, let's look at the top players who deserve to be promoted to the national team.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>1. Ambati Rayudu&nbsp;</strong><br />
Rayudu, is the most consistent performer for Chennai and his stats is a testament to that. He has scored 423 runs in just 10 games played. He is the first batsman to cross the 400-mark. The orange cap holder has performed at an average of 151.61 to top the list of highest run-getters of the season. Over the years, Rayudu has switched his batting slots and has matured when comes to shot selection, making him a suitable player for the Indian team.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>2. Rishabh Pant</strong><br />
The 20-year-old Delhiite, Pant has taken the IPL by storm with his ability to hit the ball. He cracked a blistering 69 against Rajasthan that gave Delhi a nervy four-run victory at home. He also played a match-winning knock against Mumbai where he scored 47 off just 25 balls. Pant hammered 85 off just 48 balls against Bangalore but couldn't get his team through on that occasion. In 10 games he has scored 393 runs at a strike rate of 173.12. &nbsp;In his innings, he has slammed 41 boundaries and 20 sixes. &nbsp;This score must have certainly impressed the selectors and could very well be in contention to join the Indian cricket brigade. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>3. Prithvi Shaw:</strong> India's star captain in their successful U-19 World Cup campaign has set batting standards for experienced players in this year's IPL. He showcased his talent and ended up with scores of 94, 57 (not out), 40, 41 and 29. &nbsp;Shaw excels in playing on the front foot, with his cover drives being a joy to watch. His playing capabilities are often compared to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. In five matches, he has scored 205 runs, which includes two half-centuries. &nbsp;<br />
With 65 runs being his highest, he has a strike rate of 170.83. He will be a strong contender to open the batting for the Indian side.</p>

<p><strong>4. Shreyas Iyer</strong><br />
The newly-appointed Daredevils skipper showed his class on Friday in his very first match as captain. &nbsp;He played a blistering knock, scoring 93 runs off just 40 deliveries, having walked out to bat at No 3, and thus helped his side post a mammoth total on the board. He has reached the half-century mark four times in 10 games at an average of 149.36. But, the 21-year-old top-order batsman from missed out of the India team spot despite being one of the main reasons behind Mumbai’s Ranji triumph this year. Shreyas scored a whopping 1321 runs from 11 matches at an average of 73.38 and with a very impressive strike-rate of 92.70. He also smashed four centuries and seven fifties along with a brilliant double-hundred.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>5. Shivam Mavi</strong>&nbsp;<br />
India rarely produces out-and-out fast bowlers, but Shivam Mavi proved in the U-19 World Cup that he could bowl regularly at 140 kph. Mavi performed consistently throughout the World Cup, notably taking 3-45 against Australia and 2-27 against Bangladesh. An opening bowler, Mavi was bought by the Kolkata in the IPL auction and went for a very high 3 crores. So far, he had a decent inning in IPL. In seven matches he has played, Mavi claimed just three wickets abut is surely expected to stand to his billing. Mavi's line and length makes him a perfect piece for the Indian side.</p>


They have performed remarkably well in the eleventh edition of the Indian Prmier League

Indian Premier League (IPL) is all about talent. Over the years it has become a platform for the young cricketers to display fearless and ruthless cricket to the world. Better the talent, the chance of players being selected for the national side are more. Similarly, the eleventh edition of the IPL has witnessed some tremendous performances by players and have taken this league to a different level. So, as the season approaches its business end, let's look at the top players who deserve to be promoted to the national team. 1. Ambati Rayudu Rayudu, is the most consistent performer for Chennai and his stats is a testament to that. He has scored 423 runs in just 10 games played. He is the first batsman to cross the 400-mark. The orange cap holder has performed at an average of 151.61 to top the list of highest run-getters of the season. Over the years, Rayudu has switched his batting slots and has matured when comes to shot selection, making him a suitable player for the Indian team. 2. Rishabh Pant The 20-year-old Delhiite, Pant has taken the IPL by storm with his ability to hit the ball. He cracked a blistering 69 against Rajasthan that gave Delhi a nervy four-run victory at home. He also played a match-winning knock against Mumbai where he scored 47 off just 25 balls. Pant hammered 85 off just 48 balls against Bangalore but couldn't get his team through on that occasion. In 10 games he has scored 393 runs at a strike rate of 173.12. In his innings, he has slammed 41 boundaries and 20 sixes. This score must have certainly impressed the selectors and could very well be in contention to join the Indian cricket brigade. 3. Prithvi Shaw: India's star captain in their successful U-19 World Cup campaign has set batting standards for experienced players in this year's IPL. He showcased his talent and ended up with scores of 94, 57 (not out), 40, 41 and 29. Shaw excels in playing on the front foot, with his cover drives being a joy to watch. His playing capabilities are often compared to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. In five matches, he has scored 205 runs, which includes two half-centuries. With 65 runs being his highest, he has a strike rate of 170.83. He will be a strong contender to open the batting for the Indian side. 4. Shreyas Iyer The newly-appointed Daredevils skipper showed his class on Friday in his very first match as captain. He played a blistering knock, scoring 93 runs off just 40 deliveries, having walked out to bat at No 3, and thus helped his side post a mammoth total on the board. He has reached the half-century mark four times in 10 games at an average of 149.36. But, the 21-year-old top-order batsman from missed out of the India team spot despite being one of the main reasons behind Mumbai’s Ranji triumph this year. Shreyas scored a whopping 1321 runs from 11 matches at an average of 73.38 and with a very impressive strike-rate of 92.70. He also smashed four centuries and seven fifties along with a brilliant double-hundred. 5. Shivam Mavi India rarely produces out-and-out fast bowlers, but Shivam Mavi proved in the U-19 World Cup that he could bowl regularly at 140 kph. Mavi performed consistently throughout the World Cup, notably taking 3-45 against Australia and 2-27 against Bangladesh. An opening bowler, Mavi was bought by the Kolkata in the IPL auction and went for a very high 3 crores. So far, he had a decent inning in IPL. In seven matches he has played, Mavi claimed just three wickets abut is surely expected to stand to his billing. Mavi's line and length makes him a perfect piece for the Indian side.

IPL players who deserve a chance in Indian Cricket Team

<p>Former Indian Cricket team player Virender Sehwag revealed that he was the one who informed Sourav Ganguly about former coach Greg Chappell's infamous email to BCCI during India's tour of Zimbabwe in 2005.</p>

<p>"I used to take rest while fielding. I need a break of minimum five overs. I always told the umpire that I had a bad stomach and used to leave the field. So Greg was writing his email and I was sitting next to him, " Sehwag said.</p>

<p>"I saw he was writing something to the BCCI and I went and told Dada about it. I told him he is writing something to the BCCI and it's something serious," Sehwag added.&nbsp</p>

<p>Chappell was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in May 2005.&nbsp</p>

<p>His tenure is counted as one of the darkest phases in Indian cricket.</p>

<p>As per media reports, Sehwag said that it was during a match in Zimbabwe when he had an upset stomach and he took a break. &nbspIt was then he was Chappell writing the email to Board outside the washroom.</p>

<p>&nbsp"It was near the washroom when I told Chappell about my upset stomach I saw him writing the email addressed to the BCCI. I did not get to see the content but I could reckon it was a very serious matter and informed Ganguly immediately," Sehwag added. &nbsp</p>

<p>Chappell made sure Ganguly was dropped from the Indian team during that tour of Zimbabwe.&nbsp</p>

<p>Apart from him, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan were other players who spoke against Chappell over the years.</p>


Chappell was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in May 2005.

Former Indian Cricket team player Virender Sehwag revealed that he was the one who informed Sourav Ganguly about former coach Greg Chappell's infamous email to BCCI during India's tour of Zimbabwe in 2005. "I used to take rest while fielding. I need a break of minimum five overs. I always told the umpire that I had a bad stomach and used to leave the field. So Greg was writing his email and I was sitting next to him, " Sehwag said. "I saw he was writing something to the BCCI and I went and told Dada about it. I told him he is writing something to the BCCI and it's something serious," Sehwag added. Chappell was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in May 2005. His tenure is counted as one of the darkest phases in Indian cricket. As per media reports, Sehwag said that it was during a match in Zimbabwe when he had an upset stomach and he took a break. &nbspIt was then he was Chappell writing the email to Board outside the washroom. "It was near the washroom when I told Chappell about my upset stomach I saw him writing the email addressed to the BCCI. I did not get to see the content but I could reckon it was a very serious matter and informed Ganguly immediately," Sehwag added. Chappell made sure Ganguly was dropped from the Indian team during that tour of Zimbabwe. Apart from him, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan were other players who spoke against Chappell over the years.

'Informed Ganguly about Greg Chappell's mail to BCCI,' reveals Sehwag

<p>Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reportedly sued real estate company Amrapali Group for Rs 150 crores.</p>

<p>If media reports are to be believed, the group has not paid Dhoni for several years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In fact, Dhoni was also the brand ambassador of the firm for some years.</p>

<p>In 2016, the Chennai skipper stepped down as the brand ambassador of the company after residents of a housing project had started a social media campaign against the real estate group.</p>

<p>Dhoni is currently leading Chennai in the Indian Premier League (IPL).</p>

<p>In their return to the IPL after two years, the franchise have started off strongly with two wins from two matches.</p>

<p>CSK, along with Rajasthan were banned from the IPL for two years due to spot-fixing.</p>


The group has not paid Dhoni for several years.

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reportedly sued real estate company Amrapali Group for Rs 150 crores. If media reports are to be believed, the group has not paid Dhoni for several years. In fact, Dhoni was also the brand ambassador of the firm for some years. In 2016, the Chennai skipper stepped down as the brand ambassador of the company after residents of a housing project had started a social media campaign against the real estate group. Dhoni is currently leading Chennai in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In their return to the IPL after two years, the franchise have started off strongly with two wins from two matches. CSK, along with Rajasthan were banned from the IPL for two years due to spot-fixing.

MS Dhoni sues real estate Amrapali group over Rs 150 crore dues

<p>Mohammad Shami's estranged wife Hasin Jahan has demanded Rs 10 lakh maintenance per month for the interim period when the case is on.</p>

<p>Hasin has demanded Rs 7 lakh as family maintenance while Rs three lakh per month for the child.</p>

<p>As per media reports, Hasin's lawyer said the court has understood the significance of the litigation and has hence decided to hear it on urgent basis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the court has also asked Shami to clarify his point immediately.</p>

<p>He further expressed confidence that his client will definitely win the case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lawyer also confirmed that the pacer's wife has filed the domestic violence case against Shami, his mother, elder brother, sister and sister-in-law.</p>

<p>These are the same persons against whom Jahan had lodged a police complaint on March 8 at Jadavpur police station.&nbsp;</p>


Hasin's lawyer said the court has understood the significance of the litigation

Mohammad Shami's estranged wife Hasin Jahan has demanded Rs 10 lakh maintenance per month for the interim period when the case is on. Hasin has demanded Rs 7 lakh as family maintenance while Rs three lakh per month for the child. As per media reports, Hasin's lawyer said the court has understood the significance of the litigation and has hence decided to hear it on urgent basis. He added that the court has also asked Shami to clarify his point immediately. He further expressed confidence that his client will definitely win the case. The lawyer also confirmed that the pacer's wife has filed the domestic violence case against Shami, his mother, elder brother, sister and sister-in-law. These are the same persons against whom Jahan had lodged a police complaint on March 8 at Jadavpur police station.

Mohammad Shami's wife wants Rs 10 lakh maintenance a month

<p>Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s marriage with actress Hazel Keech was one of the most talked about events of 2016. The two tied the knot in a high-profile manner on November 30, 2016,&nbsp;as celebrities from Bollywood industry as well as the Indian cricket team attended the event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are, however, reports that the couple is currently going through a rough patch. Amidst this, Hazel is trying to portray a rosy picture of their marital life (or so it seems).&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Bodyguard</em> actress&nbsp;recently posted a number of photos on social media in which she quoted to have a good time with Yuvraj and his brother Zoravar and mother Shabnam.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="hazel keech yuvraj singh.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="https://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/hazel%20keech%20yuvraj%20singh.jpg" width="770" /></p>

<p>According to a report in a leading daily, Hazel is going the extra mile to contradict the speculation and prove that the rumours are not bothering her.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In a recent interview, Hazel said, “I think we are kind of happier now and we both have the security of marriage with us. You know he is far busier now, so I hardly see him post-marriage. It depends on him and I am very patient with him. As soon he finishes matches, he gets to the hotel room around 2 AM and then only we have dinner. It's difficult to have a structured routine. I am very happy. We just enjoy each other's company and we are kind of kiddish that way.”</p>


Hazel Keech posted some photos on social media with husband and in-laws in order to quash rumours of trouble in their marriage

Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s marriage with actress Hazel Keech was one of the most talked about events of 2016. The two tied the knot in a high-profile manner on November 30, 2016, as celebrities from Bollywood industry as well as the Indian cricket team attended the event. There are, however, reports that the couple is currently going through a rough patch. Amidst this, Hazel is trying to portray a rosy picture of their marital life (or so it seems). Bodyguard actress recently posted a number of photos on social media in which she quoted to have a good time with Yuvraj and his brother Zoravar and mother Shabnam. According to a report in a leading daily, Hazel is going the extra mile to contradict the speculation and prove that the rumours are not bothering her. In a recent interview, Hazel said, “I think we are kind of happier now and we both have the security of marriage with us. You know he is far busier now, so I hardly see him post-marriage. It depends on him and I am very patient with him. As soon he finishes matches, he gets to the hotel room around 2 AM and then only we have dinner. It's difficult to have a structured routine. I am very happy. We just enjoy each other's company and we are kind of kiddish that way.”

Trouble in paradise for Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech?

<p>To be in best shape for the upcoming England tour, Indian Skipper Virat Kohli has decided to opt for a short county stint after the Indian Premier League (IPL) to help prepare for the Test series which begins on August 1.</p>

<p>Taking the upcoming tour with great seriousness, Kohli will also miss the one off-Test against Afghanistan.</p>

<p>However, it is yet to be ascertained which county Kohli will represent, but speculations are rife that it could be either Surrey or Essex.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Virat Kohli &#39;s decision to play county cricket before the England series shows his drive and commitment to achieve excellence. I am sure not only him,but Team India will do exceedingly well in the England series. Best wishes!</p>
&mdash; VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) <a href="https://twitter.com/VVSLaxman281/status/977394886843314176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Virat will be playing for a division one county side for sure. I wouldn&#39;t like to add anything more to it. There were talks with Surrey and Essex,&quot; a senior BCCI official said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli didn&#39;t have a great Test series in England in 2014 when he failed to get even a single half-century.</p>

<p>The right-hander managed to score just 134 runs in five Tests at an average of 13.40 with two ducks to his name.</p>

<p>Accordingly, Cheteshwar Pujara will be turning up for Yorkshire while Ishant Sharma will be playing for Durham.</p>

<p>It is also learnt that some of the senior India players will also turn up for India A in England in their bid to prepare for the tour.</p>

<p>In England, the Men in Blue will play a five-test series, three T20Is and a three-match ODI series.</p>


Kohli didn't have a great Test series in England in 2014

To be in best shape for the upcoming England tour, Indian Skipper Virat Kohli has decided to opt for a short county stint after the Indian Premier League (IPL) to help prepare for the Test series which begins on August 1. Taking the upcoming tour with great seriousness, Kohli will also miss the one off-Test against Afghanistan. However, it is yet to be ascertained which county Kohli will represent, but speculations are rife that it could be either Surrey or Essex. Virat Kohli 's decision to play county cricket before the England series shows his drive and commitment to achieve excellence. I am sure not only him,but Team India will do exceedingly well in the England series. Best wishes! — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 24, 2018 × "Virat will be playing for a division one county side for sure. I wouldn't like to add anything more to it. There were talks with Surrey and Essex," a senior BCCI official said. Kohli didn't have a great Test series in England in 2014 when he failed to get even a single half-century. The right-hander managed to score just 134 runs in five Tests at an average of 13.40 with two ducks to his name. Accordingly, Cheteshwar Pujara will be turning up for Yorkshire while Ishant Sharma will be playing for Durham. It is also learnt that some of the senior India players will also turn up for India A in England in their bid to prepare for the tour. In England, the Men in Blue will play a five-test series, three T20Is and a three-match ODI series.

Virat Kohli opts for county stint to prepare himself for England tour

<p>Team India has slowly begun to get into its groove in the ongoing Nidahas Trophy. They thumped Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in a truncated 19-overs a side game last night at Colombo and went to the top of the table with two wins in their kitty. Now unless something untoward happens in the remaining two league games of the series, India should be able to make its place in the final.</p>

<p>The victory was achieved through some proficient bowling and smart batting. After electing to field first, the Indian seamers began well and although Sri Lanka came hard, they managed to keep things in check. The wicket was sticky and the ball was gripping the surface. Batting wasn&rsquo;t easy and someone needed to hold the innings together. Unfortunately, apart from opener Kusal Mendis (55 off 38 balls) none of the other batsmen showed any gumption to stay at the wicket. The Indian bowlers used good variations and bowled tight channels to reign Sri Lanka in. Eventually, Sri Lanka could only manage 152-9 in 19 overs. India&rsquo;s star performers were seamer Shardul Thakur, who returned with superb figures of 4-27, and young spinner Washington Sundar who was again brilliant with a spell of 2-21.</p>

<p>India made light work of the chase and got there courtesy a solid unbeaten 42 by Manish Pandey and a sparkling 39 off 25 balls by Dinesh Karthik. The Sri Lankan bowlers did try and bowl well and had reduced India to 85-4 at one stage. However, India was too good and clinical last night and got to the target with 9 balls to spare.</p>

<p>The home team would rue their missed opportunity of batting well. After their second straight defeat, things now look dicey for Sri Lanka and their next match with Bangladesh now can become interesting if the Tigers lose against India. The Lankans need to fix their batting order and they must bat with more responsibility. Too many loose shots are being played at present by their top-order batsmen and apart from Kusal Mendis, nobody else seems to be taking responsibility of playing through the innings. The bowling needs some fine tuning as well. Akila Dananjaya was good, but the likes of Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep would need to pull up their socks.</p>

<p>India, despite their victory, has some concerns as well. Captain Rohit Sharma continues to struggle with poor form. His last seven international innings have had scores of 11, 17, 0, 11, 0, 21, and 15. The captain needs to lead from the front but Rohit, it seems, has yet again fallen into the web of inconsistency that has often been a part of his career.</p>

<p>Suresh Raina&rsquo;s 14-ball 27 was entertaining. However, he would need to show more prudence in his batting and try and stay longer at the crease. Seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who has been bought for a whopping 11.5 crores at the IPL recently, is having a rather poor tournament. He has gone at an economy rate of 10.60 in this series and being the lead bowler of the side this is something that he simply will have to change.</p>

<p>These minor concerns aside, Team India would be rather pleased with their performance last night. It was a clinical show and would hold India in good stead for the remainder of the tournament. Their batting order now looks sorted and in form and the inexperienced bowling too is coming onto its own. If the captain can get his form back, then this new-look Indian team might well be unstoppable going ahead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;</em></p>


India's batting order now looks sorted and the inexperienced bowling too is coming onto its own. If the captain can get his form back, then this new-look Indian team might well be unstoppable going ahead.

Team India has slowly begun to get into its groove in the ongoing Nidahas Trophy. They thumped Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in a truncated 19-overs a side game last night at Colombo and went to the top of the table with two wins in their kitty. Now unless something untoward happens in the remaining two league games of the series, India should be able to make its place in the final. The victory was achieved through some proficient bowling and smart batting. After electing to field first, the Indian seamers began well and although Sri Lanka came hard, they managed to keep things in check. The wicket was sticky and the ball was gripping the surface. Batting wasn’t easy and someone needed to hold the innings together. Unfortunately, apart from opener Kusal Mendis (55 off 38 balls) none of the other batsmen showed any gumption to stay at the wicket. The Indian bowlers used good variations and bowled tight channels to reign Sri Lanka in. Eventually, Sri Lanka could only manage 152-9 in 19 overs. India’s star performers were seamer Shardul Thakur, who returned with superb figures of 4-27, and young spinner Washington Sundar who was again brilliant with a spell of 2-21. India made light work of the chase and got there courtesy a solid unbeaten 42 by Manish Pandey and a sparkling 39 off 25 balls by Dinesh Karthik. The Sri Lankan bowlers did try and bowl well and had reduced India to 85-4 at one stage. However, India was too good and clinical last night and got to the target with 9 balls to spare. The home team would rue their missed opportunity of batting well. After their second straight defeat, things now look dicey for Sri Lanka and their next match with Bangladesh now can become interesting if the Tigers lose against India. The Lankans need to fix their batting order and they must bat with more responsibility. Too many loose shots are being played at present by their top-order batsmen and apart from Kusal Mendis, nobody else seems to be taking responsibility of playing through the innings. The bowling needs some fine tuning as well. Akila Dananjaya was good, but the likes of Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep would need to pull up their socks. India, despite their victory, has some concerns as well. Captain Rohit Sharma continues to struggle with poor form. His last seven international innings have had scores of 11, 17, 0, 11, 0, 21, and 15. The captain needs to lead from the front but Rohit, it seems, has yet again fallen into the web of inconsistency that has often been a part of his career. Suresh Raina’s 14-ball 27 was entertaining. However, he would need to show more prudence in his batting and try and stay longer at the crease. Seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who has been bought for a whopping 11.5 crores at the IPL recently, is having a rather poor tournament. He has gone at an economy rate of 10.60 in this series and being the lead bowler of the side this is something that he simply will have to change. These minor concerns aside, Team India would be rather pleased with their performance last night. It was a clinical show and would hold India in good stead for the remainder of the tournament. Their batting order now looks sorted and in form and the inexperienced bowling too is coming onto its own. If the captain can get his form back, then this new-look Indian team might well be unstoppable going ahead. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Captain Rohit needs to get into batting form soon in Nidahas T20

<p>Hasin Jahan, wife of Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, who alleged that the pacer has multiple extra-marital affairs and his family tried to kill her&nbsp;on Sunday said she will accept him if he wants to come back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former model earlier alleged that the Shami was making up stories to save himself from the charges she had levelled against him.</p>

<p>&quot;He&#39;s making up all sorts of things to save himself from allegations. Why didn&#39;t the media investigate even after I gave them all details,&quot; &nbsp;Hasin said.</p>

<p>&quot;Till the day I took to social media, I tried to convince him to save our marriage. If he tries to come back I may still consider, &quot; she added.</p>

<p>Jahan also claimed that Shami would have divorced her and run away if she had not found out his mobile chat which had the sensual chats and is allegedly used by the pacer.</p>

<p>&quot;I tried to convince him that he should accept his mistake, I have been trying since very long. He would&#39;ve run away to UP by now if I did not catch hold of that mobile phone, he would&#39;ve divorced me till now if I did not have the mobile phone.&quot;</p>

<p>As per media reports, Jahan has taken printouts of conversations, which allegedly took place between Shami and other women and submitted the same to the investigating team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the cricketer has denied all the allegations levelled against him and said that a conspiracy was being hatched to malign him.</p>

<p>Hasin met Shami during IPL season in 2012. The two dated each other for five years and got married on 6th June 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The couple has a 3-year-old daughter named Aaira Shami.</p>

<p>Shami is the second husband of Hasin Jahan.</p>

<p>On March 7, Hasin Jahan alleged that Shami abused her physically and mentally and is also involved in several extra-marital affairs.</p>

<p>The pacer was charged under various non-bailable and bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following a complaint filed by his wife.</p>

<p>He has been also charged under including section 498A, which amounts to cruelty to a woman by her husband or his relatives.</p>


Jahan also claimed that Shami would have divorced her by now

Hasin Jahan, wife of Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, who alleged that the pacer has multiple extra-marital affairs and his family tried to kill her on Sunday said she will accept him if he wants to come back. The former model earlier alleged that the Shami was making up stories to save himself from the charges she had levelled against him. "He's making up all sorts of things to save himself from allegations. Why didn't the media investigate even after I gave them all details," Hasin said. "Till the day I took to social media, I tried to convince him to save our marriage. If he tries to come back I may still consider, " she added. Jahan also claimed that Shami would have divorced her and run away if she had not found out his mobile chat which had the sensual chats and is allegedly used by the pacer. "I tried to convince him that he should accept his mistake, I have been trying since very long. He would've run away to UP by now if I did not catch hold of that mobile phone, he would've divorced me till now if I did not have the mobile phone." As per media reports, Jahan has taken printouts of conversations, which allegedly took place between Shami and other women and submitted the same to the investigating team. However, the cricketer has denied all the allegations levelled against him and said that a conspiracy was being hatched to malign him. Hasin met Shami during IPL season in 2012. The two dated each other for five years and got married on 6th June 2014. The couple has a 3-year-old daughter named Aaira Shami. Shami is the second husband of Hasin Jahan. On March 7, Hasin Jahan alleged that Shami abused her physically and mentally and is also involved in several extra-marital affairs. The pacer was charged under various non-bailable and bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following a complaint filed by his wife. He has been also charged under including section 498A, which amounts to cruelty to a woman by her husband or his relatives.

Will accept him if he wants to come back, says Shami's estranged wife Hasin Jahan

<p>After an embarrassing loss to Sri Lanka in the opening game of the Nidahas Twenty20 Tri-Series, Team India put together a much better show and thumped Bangladesh by six wickets at Colombo last night in their second match of the tournament. A lackluster Bangladesh was very underwhelming with the bat, scoring only 139-8 in their 20 overs, and India cruised to the target with eight balls to spare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India would be delighted that they finally opened their account in the series as the defeat&nbsp;in the previous game must have shaken them up. The victory was achieved largely through a good display by the bowlers and another scintillating half-century by opener Shikhar Dhawan who seems to have hit a purple patch. The Indian seam bowlers had been tonked ruthlessly in the last match against Sri Lanka. But this time around, even though they were a tad erratic at times, they bowled better lengths and used good variations to trouble the opposition batsmen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaydev Unadkat, although a bit expensive, was the most successful and scalped three wickets for 38 runs. Shradul Thakur, who had a horror show in the last game, was much improved last night and went for only 25 runs in 4 overs. All-rounder Vijay Shankar, making his international debut, picked up two wickets for 32 runs and was pretty impressive with the way he contained the batsmen with his variations. He was adjudged the Man of the Match and hopefully, this confidence booster would help him perform better in the coming games.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another bowler who made a notable impression last night was young Washington Sundar. The 18-year-old off-spinner opened the bowling once again and gave away only 23 runs in his 4 overs. The youngster has been extremely impressive in whatever little chances he has got and utilised the slow surface of Colombo brilliantly last night.</p>

<p>Bangladesh was listless and batted without any plan. They swung their bats around and lost their key wickets at vital moments that ultimately derailed their batting completely. In the absence of Shakib-Al-Hasan, their batting suddenly looked very fragile and they would need to pull up their socks if they harbour hopes of progressing in the tournament.</p>

<p>For India, apart from the bowlers, Shikhar Dhawan&rsquo;s fluent 55 off 43 balls was another bright spot. Camoes by Suresh Raina (28) and Manish Pandey (27*) made things easier in the relatively easy chase. However, India would be disappointed with the mode of Rishabh Pant&rsquo;s dismissal. The talented, young wicket-keeper batsman was promoted to the No.3 spot yesterday. It was an opportunity for Pant to exhibit the skills he had shown in domestic cricket. Unfortunately, Pant simply swung the bat around wildly on every ball and was dismissed for just 7. Perhaps the team management needs to talk to him and make him understand that while playing the natural game is good, one needs a lot of patience and prudence to survive in international cricket. Hopefully, Pant would come into his own very soon.</p>

<p>Captain Rohit Sharma was good in handling his recourses. Although he would be disappointed at the erratic bowling at times as India gave away as many as 11 wides and two no-balls. India dropped a few catches on the field as well and a few players looked a bit scratchy. Also, Rohit failed with the bat yet again, scoring just 17, and would really like to get his form back before it&rsquo;s too late.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India&rsquo;s next game is on the 12th of March against Sri Lanka and before that, the team needs to sort a few issues out. Tightening the bowling and fielding would be on high priority as this format is cruel and better teams would really punish them for any indiscipline on the field. And if the likes of Pant and the other youngsters in the team can be more consistent, then this new-look Team India can be a force to reckon with in the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;</em></p>


Although India finally opened their account in Nidahas T20 series, tightening the bowling and fielding should be a cause for concern to perform better in upcoming matches.

After an embarrassing loss to Sri Lanka in the opening game of the Nidahas Twenty20 Tri-Series, Team India put together a much better show and thumped Bangladesh by six wickets at Colombo last night in their second match of the tournament. A lackluster Bangladesh was very underwhelming with the bat, scoring only 139-8 in their 20 overs, and India cruised to the target with eight balls to spare. India would be delighted that they finally opened their account in the series as the defeat in the previous game must have shaken them up. The victory was achieved largely through a good display by the bowlers and another scintillating half-century by opener Shikhar Dhawan who seems to have hit a purple patch. The Indian seam bowlers had been tonked ruthlessly in the last match against Sri Lanka. But this time around, even though they were a tad erratic at times, they bowled better lengths and used good variations to trouble the opposition batsmen. Jaydev Unadkat, although a bit expensive, was the most successful and scalped three wickets for 38 runs. Shradul Thakur, who had a horror show in the last game, was much improved last night and went for only 25 runs in 4 overs. All-rounder Vijay Shankar, making his international debut, picked up two wickets for 32 runs and was pretty impressive with the way he contained the batsmen with his variations. He was adjudged the Man of the Match and hopefully, this confidence booster would help him perform better in the coming games. Another bowler who made a notable impression last night was young Washington Sundar. The 18-year-old off-spinner opened the bowling once again and gave away only 23 runs in his 4 overs. The youngster has been extremely impressive in whatever little chances he has got and utilised the slow surface of Colombo brilliantly last night. Bangladesh was listless and batted without any plan. They swung their bats around and lost their key wickets at vital moments that ultimately derailed their batting completely. In the absence of Shakib-Al-Hasan, their batting suddenly looked very fragile and they would need to pull up their socks if they harbour hopes of progressing in the tournament. For India, apart from the bowlers, Shikhar Dhawan’s fluent 55 off 43 balls was another bright spot. Camoes by Suresh Raina (28) and Manish Pandey (27*) made things easier in the relatively easy chase. However, India would be disappointed with the mode of Rishabh Pant’s dismissal. The talented, young wicket-keeper batsman was promoted to the No.3 spot yesterday. It was an opportunity for Pant to exhibit the skills he had shown in domestic cricket. Unfortunately, Pant simply swung the bat around wildly on every ball and was dismissed for just 7. Perhaps the team management needs to talk to him and make him understand that while playing the natural game is good, one needs a lot of patience and prudence to survive in international cricket. Hopefully, Pant would come into his own very soon. Captain Rohit Sharma was good in handling his recourses. Although he would be disappointed at the erratic bowling at times as India gave away as many as 11 wides and two no-balls. India dropped a few catches on the field as well and a few players looked a bit scratchy. Also, Rohit failed with the bat yet again, scoring just 17, and would really like to get his form back before it’s too late. India’s next game is on the 12th of March against Sri Lanka and before that, the team needs to sort a few issues out. Tightening the bowling and fielding would be on high priority as this format is cruel and better teams would really punish them for any indiscipline on the field. And if the likes of Pant and the other youngsters in the team can be more consistent, then this new-look Team India can be a force to reckon with in the tournament. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Team India should get over with Nidahas success and sort bowling, fielding

<p>India&rsquo;s new-look side failed to impress in the first match of the Nidahas Trophy against Sri Lanka. Save for opener Shikhar Dhawan&rsquo;s career-best sparkling knock of 90 off 49 balls, there was nothing else to look for in the Indian team and captain Rohit Sharma has a lot to worry about in the coming days.</p>

<p>After compiling a decent 174 on batting first, India would have hoped to restrict the opposition. However, that was not to be as a knock of fifty coming from 22-balls from Kusal Perera took the game away from India completely. The left-hander was in a sensational form and reminded people of Sanath Jayasuriya with his explosive and hard-hitting batting as he smashed a whopping 27 runs from Shardul Thakur&rsquo;s one over. There was no looking back after that as the home team got to victory with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare.</p>

<p>While the results in T20Is are generally a lottery, India has a lot of questions to answer after this loss. Rohit Sharma continues to be erratic and inconsistent and was dismissed for a naught. Manish Pandey yet again played a knock where he could not find his touch and failed to move things along in the middle-overs. Young Rishabh Pant, playing only his fourth international game, did not look confident and was just swinging the bat around wildly without getting any results. India&rsquo;s failure to finish well after having a good platform yet again stuck out like a sore thumb.</p>

<p>The bowling, however, was even worse. In the absence of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, the Indian seam bowling looked listless and without any bite. Shradul Thakur gave away 42 runs in just 3.3 overs and Jaydev Unadkat was spanked for 35 in his 3. Even the usually dependable leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was pretty expensive and went for 37 runs in 4 overs. The only bright spot in India&rsquo;s bowling was young off-spinner Washington Sundar who took 2 wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs.</p>

<p>Given that India would have to mostly work with this same bowling unit in the rest of the tournament, things do not look pretty great. Perhaps dropping Thakur and giving fast bowler Mohammad Sriraj a few games may work. However, even Sriraj is inexperienced and to expect him to work wonders would be a little too much.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One feels that the selectors missed a trick by not adding an experienced pacer in the lineup. Mohammad Shami or Umesh Yadav would have certainly bolstered the bowling unit and given that two haven&rsquo;t played much-limited overs cricket in the past few months, it would have helped them get in the groove as well. At present, this Indian bowling unit lacks experience on how to bowl on Sri Lankan pitches and will likely suffer in the coming games as well.</p>

<p>India&rsquo;s next match is against Bangladesh and it will be interesting to see how this new-look Indian team responds to that challenge. Another defeat there will make it difficult for team India to progress ahead in the tournament.</p>

<p>However, what will hurt India after last night&rsquo;s result is the inability of the youngsters to perform. This tournament was being looked upon as an opportunity for India&rsquo;s bench strength to showcase their prowess and for the selectors to see if any new players can be brooded for 2019 World Cup. As far as last night was concerned, things did not look good.</p>

<p>Rohit Sharma clearly has a lot on his plate and he would hope that newbies on his side would be able to pull up their socks and perform better in the coming matches. Interesting times thus lie ahead for Indian cricket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>

<p><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>


While Shikhar Dhawan was the star, Rohit Sharma failed to gear up the spirit of team India in opener match of Nidahas Trophy.

India’s new-look side failed to impress in the first match of the Nidahas Trophy against Sri Lanka. Save for opener Shikhar Dhawan’s career-best sparkling knock of 90 off 49 balls, there was nothing else to look for in the Indian team and captain Rohit Sharma has a lot to worry about in the coming days. After compiling a decent 174 on batting first, India would have hoped to restrict the opposition. However, that was not to be as a knock of fifty coming from 22-balls from Kusal Perera took the game away from India completely. The left-hander was in a sensational form and reminded people of Sanath Jayasuriya with his explosive and hard-hitting batting as he smashed a whopping 27 runs from Shardul Thakur’s one over. There was no looking back after that as the home team got to victory with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. While the results in T20Is are generally a lottery, India has a lot of questions to answer after this loss. Rohit Sharma continues to be erratic and inconsistent and was dismissed for a naught. Manish Pandey yet again played a knock where he could not find his touch and failed to move things along in the middle-overs. Young Rishabh Pant, playing only his fourth international game, did not look confident and was just swinging the bat around wildly without getting any results. India’s failure to finish well after having a good platform yet again stuck out like a sore thumb. The bowling, however, was even worse. In the absence of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, the Indian seam bowling looked listless and without any bite. Shradul Thakur gave away 42 runs in just 3.3 overs and Jaydev Unadkat was spanked for 35 in his 3. Even the usually dependable leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was pretty expensive and went for 37 runs in 4 overs. The only bright spot in India’s bowling was young off-spinner Washington Sundar who took 2 wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs. Given that India would have to mostly work with this same bowling unit in the rest of the tournament, things do not look pretty great. Perhaps dropping Thakur and giving fast bowler Mohammad Sriraj a few games may work. However, even Sriraj is inexperienced and to expect him to work wonders would be a little too much. One feels that the selectors missed a trick by not adding an experienced pacer in the lineup. Mohammad Shami or Umesh Yadav would have certainly bolstered the bowling unit and given that two haven’t played much-limited overs cricket in the past few months, it would have helped them get in the groove as well. At present, this Indian bowling unit lacks experience on how to bowl on Sri Lankan pitches and will likely suffer in the coming games as well. India’s next match is against Bangladesh and it will be interesting to see how this new-look Indian team responds to that challenge. Another defeat there will make it difficult for team India to progress ahead in the tournament. However, what will hurt India after last night’s result is the inability of the youngsters to perform. This tournament was being looked upon as an opportunity for India’s bench strength to showcase their prowess and for the selectors to see if any new players can be brooded for 2019 World Cup. As far as last night was concerned, things did not look good. Rohit Sharma clearly has a lot on his plate and he would hope that newbies on his side would be able to pull up their socks and perform better in the coming matches. Interesting times thus lie ahead for Indian cricket. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Lacking experience, new-look Indian team fails at Nidahas Trophy opener

<p>You have seen the Indian cricket team captain, Virat Kohli shaking a leg or two here and there -- remember his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-anushka-sharmas-mumbai-reception-when-shah-rukh-khan-owned-the-dance-floor-27836" target="_blank">wedding reception</a> in Delhi and Mumbai with wife Anushka Sharma or Zaheer Khan&#39;s wedding to Sagarika or Yuvraj&nbsp;Singh&#39;s wedding to Hazel?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now that we have reminded you of all the recent times when Virat let his hair down and if you haven&#39;t had enough of his dancing skills, another video of the skipper has emerged from a wedding in Mumbai where the captain was seen dancing to some Punjabi tunes and Aishwarya Rai&#39;s popular song &#39;Kajra Re&#39;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-in-photo-virat-kohli-shares-a-passionate-kiss-with-his-one-and-only-33486" target="_blank">Also See:&nbsp;Virat Kohli shares a passionate kiss with his one and only!</a></em></p>

<p>Attending a friend&#39;s wedding in Mumbai, Virat was spotted with Anushka&#39;s mom and dad, dancing to his heart&#39;s content. The only one thing amiss from the picture was obviously his talented wife, Anushka Sharma who is busy due to professional commitments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch him dance here:&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf5zZI0FsgK/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">@virat.kohli at Gagan Gujral wedding party along with Anushka&#39;s Mom &amp; Dad #virat #kohli #viratkohli #sports #cricket #cricketer #captainviratkohli #captainkohli #captainvk #captainfearless #runmachine #runmachinekohli #viratians #anushka #sharma #anushkasharma #bollywood #actress #anushkaholics #virushka #virushkareception #virushkawedding #Virushka</a></p>

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<p>Anushka was recently seen in home production <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-pari-trailer-anushka-sharma-will-not-let-you-have-a-pleasant-holi-32938" target="_blank"><em>Pari </em></a>which is performing well at the box-office. She is currently busy shooting for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-sui-dhaaga-varun-dhawan-cycles-for-10-hours-with-anushka-sharma-as-pillion-see-pics-34941" target="_blank">Sui Dhaaga: Made in India</a> in Chander, Madhya&nbsp;Pradesh along with Varun Dhawan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The video of him dancing at a wedding emerged on social media earlier today

You have seen the Indian cricket team captain, Virat Kohli shaking a leg or two here and there -- remember his wedding reception in Delhi and Mumbai with wife Anushka Sharma or Zaheer Khan's wedding to Sagarika or Yuvraj Singh's wedding to Hazel? Now that we have reminded you of all the recent times when Virat let his hair down and if you haven't had enough of his dancing skills, another video of the skipper has emerged from a wedding in Mumbai where the captain was seen dancing to some Punjabi tunes and Aishwarya Rai's popular song 'Kajra Re'. Also See: Virat Kohli shares a passionate kiss with his one and only! Attending a friend's wedding in Mumbai, Virat was spotted with Anushka's mom and dad, dancing to his heart's content. The only one thing amiss from the picture was obviously his talented wife, Anushka Sharma who is busy due to professional commitments. Watch him dance here: @virat.kohli at Gagan Gujral wedding party along with Anushka's Mom & Dad #virat #kohli #viratkohli #sports #cricket #cricketer #captainviratkohli #captainkohli #captainvk #captainfearless #runmachine #runmachinekohli #viratians #anushka #sharma #anushkasharma #bollywood #actress #anushkaholics #virushka #virushkareception #virushkawedding #Virushka A post shared by VirushkaUpdates (@virushkaupdates) on Mar 4, 2018 at 5:35am PST × Anushka was recently seen in home production Pari which is performing well at the box-office. She is currently busy shooting for Sui Dhaaga: Made in India in Chander, Madhya Pradesh along with Varun Dhawan.

Watch: Virat Kohli dances to Aishwarya Rai's 'Kajra Re' with Anushka's parents

<p>Team India ended their South African tour with a thrilling win in the third and final T20I match at Newlands and with it, also sealed the series 2-1. The team was without its star performers &ndash; Virat Kohli and wrist-spin &#39;twins&#39; Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. But stand-in captain Rohit Sharma handled his troops brilliantly to take India to a 7-run win and completed India&rsquo;s limited overs double whammy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After having lost the Test series 2-1, Team India have staged a remarkable turnaround to win both the ODI and T20I series and will now leave the South African shores with their heads held high and with hopes of a better tomorrow on future overseas tours.</p>

<p>India was asked to bat first yet again on a slowish sort of a surface and courtesy contrasting 40s from Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan and a cameo at the end by Hardik Pandya, the visitors were able to post a decent 172-7.</p>

<p>It wasn&rsquo;t a daunting total by any means but the Indian seam bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, began beautifully. They bowled nagging lines and in the first 6 overs, South Africa could only manage 25-1. They were always behind after that and looked certain for a heavy defeat after being reduced to 114-5 in 16.3 overs with all the big names back in the hut. However, a brilliant 49 off 24 balls by debutant Christiaan Jonker pulled things back for the Proteas. He smashed 5 fours and 2 sixes and brought South Africa within striking distance. Despite this stunning effort, however, South Africa could not manage to seal the game as Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar held their nerves to hold the surge. Jonker fell on the last ball of the innings and gave India a famous T20I victory.</p>

<p>What was laudable about India&rsquo;s performance was that they did not let the intensity dip. On such a long away tour, by the time the last games arrives, the visiting teams generally are so exhausted that they simply go through the motions. But this Indian team has shown that they are different. They have the gumption to fight and never give up, come what may. They showed that in the Test series after losing the first two Tests and coming back hard to clinch the last Test in emphatic fashion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No one expected India to stage such an incredible performance in the limited overs series to follow. But led by a determined captain Virat Kohli and an exceptional show by the bowlers, India pegged the hosts back and achieved series victories in both the ODIs and the T20Is.</p>

<p>Another thing to note here is that Team India wasn&rsquo;t even at its best. Their middle-order has some serious issues and needs to be sorted out in earnest. But despite their flaws, India stuck together and played as a complete unit. This holds them in good stead for the 2019 World Cup.</p>

<p>For South Africa, a lot of questions need answering. Their bench strength isn&rsquo;t strong enough and they are too reliant on their previous stars to bail them out. The selectors and the team management have to work closely together and sort a cohesive plan to brood the team for the World Cup next year.</p>

<p>All in all, this was an entertaining and memorable tour for Team India. Never before has a visiting Indian side to South Africa returned with so much success. Virat Kohli and his men deserve all the accolades coming their way and should pat themselves on the back for this commanding performance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Though the star performers Virat Kohli and wrist-spin 'twins' Chahal and Yadav were not on the pitch, India pulled off the T20I series against South Africa with a stunning win.

Team India ended their South African tour with a thrilling win in the third and final T20I match at Newlands and with it, also sealed the series 2-1. The team was without its star performers – Virat Kohli and wrist-spin 'twins' Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. But stand-in captain Rohit Sharma handled his troops brilliantly to take India to a 7-run win and completed India’s limited overs double whammy. After having lost the Test series 2-1, Team India have staged a remarkable turnaround to win both the ODI and T20I series and will now leave the South African shores with their heads held high and with hopes of a better tomorrow on future overseas tours. India was asked to bat first yet again on a slowish sort of a surface and courtesy contrasting 40s from Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan and a cameo at the end by Hardik Pandya, the visitors were able to post a decent 172-7. It wasn’t a daunting total by any means but the Indian seam bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, began beautifully. They bowled nagging lines and in the first 6 overs, South Africa could only manage 25-1. They were always behind after that and looked certain for a heavy defeat after being reduced to 114-5 in 16.3 overs with all the big names back in the hut. However, a brilliant 49 off 24 balls by debutant Christiaan Jonker pulled things back for the Proteas. He smashed 5 fours and 2 sixes and brought South Africa within striking distance. Despite this stunning effort, however, South Africa could not manage to seal the game as Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar held their nerves to hold the surge. Jonker fell on the last ball of the innings and gave India a famous T20I victory. What was laudable about India’s performance was that they did not let the intensity dip. On such a long away tour, by the time the last games arrives, the visiting teams generally are so exhausted that they simply go through the motions. But this Indian team has shown that they are different. They have the gumption to fight and never give up, come what may. They showed that in the Test series after losing the first two Tests and coming back hard to clinch the last Test in emphatic fashion. No one expected India to stage such an incredible performance in the limited overs series to follow. But led by a determined captain Virat Kohli and an exceptional show by the bowlers, India pegged the hosts back and achieved series victories in both the ODIs and the T20Is. Another thing to note here is that Team India wasn’t even at its best. Their middle-order has some serious issues and needs to be sorted out in earnest. But despite their flaws, India stuck together and played as a complete unit. This holds them in good stead for the 2019 World Cup. For South Africa, a lot of questions need answering. Their bench strength isn’t strong enough and they are too reliant on their previous stars to bail them out. The selectors and the team management have to work closely together and sort a cohesive plan to brood the team for the World Cup next year. All in all, this was an entertaining and memorable tour for Team India. Never before has a visiting Indian side to South Africa returned with so much success. Virat Kohli and his men deserve all the accolades coming their way and should pat themselves on the back for this commanding performance. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: India hold nerve to pull off stunning win, clinch T20I series against South Africa

<p>This is the moment of king Kohli. He is just decimating bowling attack mercilessly. When he scored his third century in the recent ODI series with South Africa, eminent commentator Harsha Bhogle quipped on TV &ldquo;when did you last see a batsman dominating to such an extent&rdquo;. I know the most obvious answer; it was Sachin Tendulkar during 1998 and I am sure that each cricket freak of my generation must have thought the same. Later in the day, Bhogle himself tweeted that the Kohli&rsquo;s dominance nowadays is akin to Tendulkar&rsquo;s in 1998.</p>

<p>Exactly twenty years back in the calendar year of 1998, Sachin Tendulkar was on a roll, he was dominating, scoring runs at will and routing each and every bowling attack in the world.</p>

<p>First look at the numbers. Tendulkar played in 34 ODIs in 1998 and scored 1894 runs at a colossal average of 65.3 and with the whopping strike rate of 102. He smashed 40 sixes in all, but the most impressive fact is that he scored 9 ODI centuries and 7 ODI half-centuries in a single calendar year of 1998. In 5 Test matches, Sachin scored around 650 runs with an average of 80 plus and with 3 centuries.</p>

<p>You must be in awe of these unbelievable numbers, but trust me, it&#39;s just the tip of the iceberg as far as the splendor of Sachin-1998 is concerned. The main essence of Tendulkar&rsquo;s heroic in 1998 is the way he pulverized best of bowling attacks and the consistency with which he pulled matches for his country and bailed his side out of the crunch situation.</p>

<p>So what happened in 1998? What or who triggered this onslaught?</p>

<p>Well, there is a bit of story behind it. Tendulkar replaced Azhar as Indian captain in 1996. He was the heir apparent for years before he got the baton from Azhar. Sachin&rsquo;s success as captain, however, was rather tepid. India lost the Test series in South Africa and in West Indies. In a Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, Sri Lanka scored 950 runs in a single Test inning.</p>

<p>Tendulkar was sacked from the captaincy towards the end of 1997. Tendulkar was taken aback; he was disappointed the way selectors snubbed him, hurriedly.</p>

<p>Years later Tendulkar confessed his disappointment unequivocally in his biographical film Sachin: A Billion Dreams. Sachin was hurt, pained and all that was vented out through his bat during 1998. Moreover, he was free from the pressure of captaincy.</p>

<p>Sachin Tendulkar in 1998 is all about larger than life performances by him, spellbound Cricket fraternity and interesting anecdotes which created a bona fide cult around the great man. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Australians were first, who has fallen prey to the Tendulkar&rsquo;s juggernaut when Australia visited India for a Test series (3-Test) after a gap of close to 12 years. Tendulkar was prepared. He toiled hard at the net and on rough pitches to counter hyper leg breaks of Warne. At Chennai during the first Test, Tendulkar pivoted the Indian victory by scoring a swashbuckling 155 in the third inning of Test. During that time, Shane Warne had been troubling best of world&rsquo;s batsmen with his insane turn after pitching the ball way outside the leg-stump. Warne was awestruck when Tendulkar dispatched similar deliveries into the stands during that knock. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Warne later confessed that he used to see Sachin in dreams, hitting him ruthlessly. That was the time when fraternity was indulged in a discussion &ldquo;Brain Lara vs Sachin Tendulkar, who is best among them&rdquo;. Warne endorsed that Tendulkar is a notch above Lara.</p>

<p>In April 1998, Tendulkar smashed two ODI centuries at Sharjah against Australia in a span of three days, which unarguably are among the finest ODI innings by an Indian. The first century put India into the final from a gloomy situation and second won the final for India.</p>

<p>It was ruthless hitting at Sharjah. I remember how Tony Grieg was going bonkers in the commentary box every time Tendulkar dispatched ball over the rope.</p>

<p>Tendulkar was so dominant in 1998 that Sir Don Bradman commented that he found Tendulkar&rsquo; batting pretty close to his own. In the same year 1998, Don celebrated his 90th birthday and Tendulkar along with Warne was the special invitee at his residence in Adelaide.</p>

<p>Later, Dennis Lillee told something very interesting about that carnage at Sharjah. Australian fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz went to the great Lillee for some tips to get Tendulkar out early in the innings. Lillee told him point-blank &ldquo;Dude, the kind of form Tendulkar is in, you shouldn&rsquo;t even think of getting him out. You just plan to save some runs against him&rdquo;. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ajay Jadeja once narrated a very interesting incident about Tendulkar in 1998. During a triangular series at Sharjah during November 1998 in a match against Zimbabwe, Tendulkar was rattled by a short pitch delivery of fired up young pace bowler Henry Olanga. When Tendulkar came back in the pavilion, Jadeja smirked and insinuated his failure. Tendulkar smiled and replied, &ldquo;Buddy, wait till the next match&rdquo;.</p>

<p>The very next match was the final against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe scored 196 runs in the first inning. India scored 197 in just 30 overs without losing a single wicket. Tendulkar scored 124 not out at the strike rate of 135. Olanga learned some lesson on pace bowling from Tendulkar as he went for 50 runs in 6 overs.</p>

<p>A few years later in an interview, Indian coach during 1998 Anshuman Gaikwad spoke about Tendulkar in 1998. He said that in Chennai Test when India started his third inning, Anshuman told the team that a quick hundred from any of the batsmen would bring India back in the game. Tendulkar immediately reverted &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry coach; I will do the job for you&rdquo;.</p>

<p>Similarly, in Sharjah in April 1998 when India was struggling in the last league match against Australia, Tendulkar again told Anshuman that he would do the job.</p>

<p>So, in 1998, Tendulkar has not only scored runs, he also knew that he was going to score runs. That was the level of his self-confidence.</p>

<p>1998 was undoubtedly Tendulkar&rsquo;s year in the Cricket. The impact was so deep that even today if in any discussion 1998 is referred; I recall that it was the year when our master blasters blitzed. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Watching Virat Kohli scoring centuries one after another reminds us of Sachin Tendulkar who played like a beast during 1998.

This is the moment of king Kohli. He is just decimating bowling attack mercilessly. When he scored his third century in the recent ODI series with South Africa, eminent commentator Harsha Bhogle quipped on TV “when did you last see a batsman dominating to such an extent”. I know the most obvious answer; it was Sachin Tendulkar during 1998 and I am sure that each cricket freak of my generation must have thought the same. Later in the day, Bhogle himself tweeted that the Kohli’s dominance nowadays is akin to Tendulkar’s in 1998. Exactly twenty years back in the calendar year of 1998, Sachin Tendulkar was on a roll, he was dominating, scoring runs at will and routing each and every bowling attack in the world. First look at the numbers. Tendulkar played in 34 ODIs in 1998 and scored 1894 runs at a colossal average of 65.3 and with the whopping strike rate of 102. He smashed 40 sixes in all, but the most impressive fact is that he scored 9 ODI centuries and 7 ODI half-centuries in a single calendar year of 1998. In 5 Test matches, Sachin scored around 650 runs with an average of 80 plus and with 3 centuries. You must be in awe of these unbelievable numbers, but trust me, it's just the tip of the iceberg as far as the splendor of Sachin-1998 is concerned. The main essence of Tendulkar’s heroic in 1998 is the way he pulverized best of bowling attacks and the consistency with which he pulled matches for his country and bailed his side out of the crunch situation. So what happened in 1998? What or who triggered this onslaught? Well, there is a bit of story behind it. Tendulkar replaced Azhar as Indian captain in 1996. He was the heir apparent for years before he got the baton from Azhar. Sachin’s success as captain, however, was rather tepid. India lost the Test series in South Africa and in West Indies. In a Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, Sri Lanka scored 950 runs in a single Test inning. Tendulkar was sacked from the captaincy towards the end of 1997. Tendulkar was taken aback; he was disappointed the way selectors snubbed him, hurriedly. Years later Tendulkar confessed his disappointment unequivocally in his biographical film Sachin: A Billion Dreams. Sachin was hurt, pained and all that was vented out through his bat during 1998. Moreover, he was free from the pressure of captaincy. Sachin Tendulkar in 1998 is all about larger than life performances by him, spellbound Cricket fraternity and interesting anecdotes which created a bona fide cult around the great man. Australians were first, who has fallen prey to the Tendulkar’s juggernaut when Australia visited India for a Test series (3-Test) after a gap of close to 12 years. Tendulkar was prepared. He toiled hard at the net and on rough pitches to counter hyper leg breaks of Warne. At Chennai during the first Test, Tendulkar pivoted the Indian victory by scoring a swashbuckling 155 in the third inning of Test. During that time, Shane Warne had been troubling best of world’s batsmen with his insane turn after pitching the ball way outside the leg-stump. Warne was awestruck when Tendulkar dispatched similar deliveries into the stands during that knock. Warne later confessed that he used to see Sachin in dreams, hitting him ruthlessly. That was the time when fraternity was indulged in a discussion “Brain Lara vs Sachin Tendulkar, who is best among them”. Warne endorsed that Tendulkar is a notch above Lara. In April 1998, Tendulkar smashed two ODI centuries at Sharjah against Australia in a span of three days, which unarguably are among the finest ODI innings by an Indian. The first century put India into the final from a gloomy situation and second won the final for India. It was ruthless hitting at Sharjah. I remember how Tony Grieg was going bonkers in the commentary box every time Tendulkar dispatched ball over the rope. Tendulkar was so dominant in 1998 that Sir Don Bradman commented that he found Tendulkar’ batting pretty close to his own. In the same year 1998, Don celebrated his 90th birthday and Tendulkar along with Warne was the special invitee at his residence in Adelaide. Later, Dennis Lillee told something very interesting about that carnage at Sharjah. Australian fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz went to the great Lillee for some tips to get Tendulkar out early in the innings. Lillee told him point-blank “Dude, the kind of form Tendulkar is in, you shouldn’t even think of getting him out. You just plan to save some runs against him”. Ajay Jadeja once narrated a very interesting incident about Tendulkar in 1998. During a triangular series at Sharjah during November 1998 in a match against Zimbabwe, Tendulkar was rattled by a short pitch delivery of fired up young pace bowler Henry Olanga. When Tendulkar came back in the pavilion, Jadeja smirked and insinuated his failure. Tendulkar smiled and replied, “Buddy, wait till the next match”. The very next match was the final against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe scored 196 runs in the first inning. India scored 197 in just 30 overs without losing a single wicket. Tendulkar scored 124 not out at the strike rate of 135. Olanga learned some lesson on pace bowling from Tendulkar as he went for 50 runs in 6 overs. A few years later in an interview, Indian coach during 1998 Anshuman Gaikwad spoke about Tendulkar in 1998. He said that in Chennai Test when India started his third inning, Anshuman told the team that a quick hundred from any of the batsmen would bring India back in the game. Tendulkar immediately reverted “Don’t worry coach; I will do the job for you”. Similarly, in Sharjah in April 1998 when India was struggling in the last league match against Australia, Tendulkar again told Anshuman that he would do the job. So, in 1998, Tendulkar has not only scored runs, he also knew that he was going to score runs. That was the level of his self-confidence. 1998 was undoubtedly Tendulkar’s year in the Cricket. The impact was so deep that even today if in any discussion 1998 is referred; I recall that it was the year when our master blasters blitzed. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Today's Virat Kohli bears resemblance of Sachin during 1998

<p>&quot;It will eventually happen if I am destined to do it,&quot; Sachin Tendulkar had told Virender Sehwag once about getting a double hundred in ODI cricket.</p>

<p>Even Sachin, perhaps, would have no inkling that within months of saying these words he would go on to actually achieve this historic feat. That he managed to do in the 37th year of his life and against one of the better sides in international cricket, is testimony to the champion batsman that Tendulkar was.</p>

<p>February 24, 2010, would hence remain a momentous day in international cricket history. It was the day when a master batsman, at the twilight of his career, went on to become the first ever man in ODI cricket to score a double hundred.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Sachin masterclass&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>It was the second game of the 3-match ODI series between India and South Africa being played at a jam-packed Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior. Opting to bat first on a placid surface, India was looking to seal the series after having already won the first game.<br />
The home team lost the wicket of opener Virender Sehwag early, but their other opener, Sachin Tendulkar, was in the mood for a big one. Opening his account with a boundary towards mid-off of Wayne Parnell, Sachin perhaps knew it was his day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though South Africa had Dale Steyn in their ranks, Sachin was unperturbed and went about his business briskly. The ball was coming nicely on to the bat and Sachin struck some fluent drives to get things going. He reached his half-century off just 37 balls that included nine hits to the fence. Sachin settled down after this and his next fifty came off 53 balls. He reached his hundred &ndash; his 46th one in the format &ndash; in the 28th over by taking a single towards point off JP Duminy. Meanwhile, he had also formed a dominant 194-run stand with Dinesh Karthik (79) to pull things back for the team.</p>

<p>After reaching his hundred, Sachin had assessed the pitch completely and knew he could go on to get a massive score if he kept his patience. He opened up and unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the next 10 overs to reach his 150 in just 117 balls &ndash; reaching his landmark courtesy a superb boundary towards mid-wicket off Wayne Parnell. He had taken merely 27 balls to reach from 100 to 150.<br />
The capacity crowd at the stadium was now being treated to the full range of Sachin&rsquo;s genius as he cut, pulled, played on the up and drove down the ground, with great flourish. He showed no mercy to any bowler and punished them all with equal disdain. What was even more striking about this innings was the eagerness with which Sachin ran his singles and twos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the innings progressed, Sachin began to get cramped up and dehydrated a bit. However, he did not let his intensity dip and kept cracking the boundaries. At the other end now was Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Realizing that Sachin was tiring, Dhoni took the attack to the opposition himself.</p>

<p>As Sachin surpassed his previous best ODI score of 186 (also the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in ODIs then), the anticipation in the crowd began building to a crescendo. However, Dhoni was farming most of the strike at this time, screaming the South African bowlers all over the park, leading to frustration among the people who wanted to see their darling at the crease. &nbsp;<br />
With a flick off Parnell in the third ball of the 45th over, Tendulkar collected two runs and arrived at the score of 195 &ndash; thus reaching the highest score in ODIs by a batsman. He had overtaken the previous record of 194, held jointly by Pakistan&rsquo;s Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe&rsquo;s Charles Coventry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was yet another feather in the master&#39;s illustrious cap. But one more milestone awaited him now. And this one was even bigger.<br />
Battling cramps and exhaustion, Sachin kept taking singles as marauding Dhoni at the other end went completely berserk. The crowd was becoming restless and desperate and finally, in the third ball of the last over, Sachin took a single towards point off Charl Langeveldt to reach his 200 &ndash; the first man on the planet to achieve the feat. The crowd went delirious with joy and Sachin, in his usual style, took off his helmet, simply looked up at the skies and thanked his stars. Sachin had scored his 200 off 147 balls and struck 25 fours along with 3 glorious sixes in his magnificent innings. He remained unbeaten till the end.</p>

<p>Courtesy this majestic effort, India posted a mammoth 401-3 in their 50 overs and went on to comfortably win the match by 153 runs.</p>

<p><strong>What followed</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next day, the media was flooded with news of Sachin&rsquo;s incredible achievement and he dominated headlines everywhere. Cricketers and other sportspersons from the world over showered their praises on the great Indian batsman&rsquo;s phenomenal accomplishment.</p>

<p>Sachin&rsquo;s innings also opened the floodgates for the other batsmen. Until then, the 200-run barrier had looked quite unattainable for a batsman to reach in ODI cricket. Since the inception of ODIs in 1971, several great batsmen had come very close to the mark but had failed to cross the final hurdle. Sachin finally broke the shackles and paved the way for others to follow. And to date, six more ODI double hundreds have been scored.</p>

<p>The genius of Sachin shall always be cherished throughout the sporting world. And this remarkable feat will rank among the very best in his glittering career.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


February 24, 2010 remains a momentous day in international cricket history as Sachin Tendulkar became the first ever man in ODI cricket to score a double hundred.

"It will eventually happen if I am destined to do it," Sachin Tendulkar had told Virender Sehwag once about getting a double hundred in ODI cricket. Even Sachin, perhaps, would have no inkling that within months of saying these words he would go on to actually achieve this historic feat. That he managed to do in the 37th year of his life and against one of the better sides in international cricket, is testimony to the champion batsman that Tendulkar was. February 24, 2010, would hence remain a momentous day in international cricket history. It was the day when a master batsman, at the twilight of his career, went on to become the first ever man in ODI cricket to score a double hundred. The Sachin masterclass It was the second game of the 3-match ODI series between India and South Africa being played at a jam-packed Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior. Opting to bat first on a placid surface, India was looking to seal the series after having already won the first game. The home team lost the wicket of opener Virender Sehwag early, but their other opener, Sachin Tendulkar, was in the mood for a big one. Opening his account with a boundary towards mid-off of Wayne Parnell, Sachin perhaps knew it was his day. Even though South Africa had Dale Steyn in their ranks, Sachin was unperturbed and went about his business briskly. The ball was coming nicely on to the bat and Sachin struck some fluent drives to get things going. He reached his half-century off just 37 balls that included nine hits to the fence. Sachin settled down after this and his next fifty came off 53 balls. He reached his hundred – his 46th one in the format – in the 28th over by taking a single towards point off JP Duminy. Meanwhile, he had also formed a dominant 194-run stand with Dinesh Karthik (79) to pull things back for the team. After reaching his hundred, Sachin had assessed the pitch completely and knew he could go on to get a massive score if he kept his patience. He opened up and unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the next 10 overs to reach his 150 in just 117 balls – reaching his landmark courtesy a superb boundary towards mid-wicket off Wayne Parnell. He had taken merely 27 balls to reach from 100 to 150. The capacity crowd at the stadium was now being treated to the full range of Sachin’s genius as he cut, pulled, played on the up and drove down the ground, with great flourish. He showed no mercy to any bowler and punished them all with equal disdain. What was even more striking about this innings was the eagerness with which Sachin ran his singles and twos. As the innings progressed, Sachin began to get cramped up and dehydrated a bit. However, he did not let his intensity dip and kept cracking the boundaries. At the other end now was Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Realizing that Sachin was tiring, Dhoni took the attack to the opposition himself. As Sachin surpassed his previous best ODI score of 186 (also the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in ODIs then), the anticipation in the crowd began building to a crescendo. However, Dhoni was farming most of the strike at this time, screaming the South African bowlers all over the park, leading to frustration among the people who wanted to see their darling at the crease. With a flick off Parnell in the third ball of the 45th over, Tendulkar collected two runs and arrived at the score of 195 – thus reaching the highest score in ODIs by a batsman. He had overtaken the previous record of 194, held jointly by Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry. It was yet another feather in the master's illustrious cap. But one more milestone awaited him now. And this one was even bigger. Battling cramps and exhaustion, Sachin kept taking singles as marauding Dhoni at the other end went completely berserk. The crowd was becoming restless and desperate and finally, in the third ball of the last over, Sachin took a single towards point off Charl Langeveldt to reach his 200 – the first man on the planet to achieve the feat. The crowd went delirious with joy and Sachin, in his usual style, took off his helmet, simply looked up at the skies and thanked his stars. Sachin had scored his 200 off 147 balls and struck 25 fours along with 3 glorious sixes in his magnificent innings. He remained unbeaten till the end. Courtesy this majestic effort, India posted a mammoth 401-3 in their 50 overs and went on to comfortably win the match by 153 runs. What followed The next day, the media was flooded with news of Sachin’s incredible achievement and he dominated headlines everywhere. Cricketers and other sportspersons from the world over showered their praises on the great Indian batsman’s phenomenal accomplishment. Sachin’s innings also opened the floodgates for the other batsmen. Until then, the 200-run barrier had looked quite unattainable for a batsman to reach in ODI cricket. Since the inception of ODIs in 1971, several great batsmen had come very close to the mark but had failed to cross the final hurdle. Sachin finally broke the shackles and paved the way for others to follow. And to date, six more ODI double hundreds have been scored. The genius of Sachin shall always be cherished throughout the sporting world. And this remarkable feat will rank among the very best in his glittering career. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Master batsman Sachin scored double 100 in ODI exactly 8 years ago