After Australia faced their first defeat in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, team's assistant coach Ricky Ponting admitted that it was their batting which was not up to the mark.

"Our batting was just a little bit off again. We seemed to find the field a lot in the first 10 overs," Cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying.

Chasing a mammoth<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-shikhar-dhawan-shines-as-india-beat-holders-australia-by-36-runs-225791"> target of 353 runs set by India</a>, Australia skipper Aaron Finch, who opened the inning with David Warner, got run out in the 14th over after scoring 36 runs.

Ponting feels that Finch's run out happened at a really crucial time as the team had just started to get momentum.

"The run out happened at a really crucial time (the 14th over). The momentum had just started to turn there, Finchy had started to find the boundary a bit more frequently," he said.

India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan hammered a ton while the skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-had-a-point-to-prove-against-australia-says-virat-kohli-225792">Virat Kohli</a> also added 82 runs on the board to help their side post a big target for Australia.

Ponting stated that they also needed a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-shikhar-dhawan-ruled-out-for-three-weeks-due-to-injury-226202">Dhawan</a>-like inning in their top-order and that would have had put them in the game.

"We just needed someone at the top to go on and make a big hundred like Dhawan did and we would have been right in the game," Ponting said.

Despite all this, Ponting still has full faith in both the openers as he said,&nbsp;"Finch and Warner are probably as good as openers in the world. Finchy has turned things around really well in the last five or six months, Davey coming back has made runs. By his own admission today, (Warner) probably wasn't at his absolute best. He hit the field too often early on and wasn't able to rotate as he would have liked."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-steve-smiths-reaction-when-virat-kohli-stopped-indian-fans-from-booing-him-225897">Steve Smith</a> came out to bat before Usman Khawaja and Ponting backed this decision by saying that they wanted a right-hand, left-hand combination during India's perilous spin attack.

"We wanted to have (favourable) left-hand, right-hand (match-ups) with those spinners and we thought Steven plays spin as well as anybody, so that was the only reason. It happens quite a lot in the modern game where you see that right-hand, left-hand combination, especially if they've got a lot of spin," he said.

After Australia faced their first defeat in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, team's assistant coach Ricky Ponting admitted that it was their batting which was not up to the mark.

After Australia faced their first defeat in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, team's assistant coach Ricky Ponting admitted that it was their batting which was not up to the mark. "Our batting was just a little bit off again. We seemed to find the field a lot in the first 10 overs," Cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying. Chasing a mammoth target of 353 runs set by India, Australia skipper Aaron Finch, who opened the inning with David Warner, got run out in the 14th over after scoring 36 runs. Ponting feels that Finch's run out happened at a really crucial time as the team had just started to get momentum. "The run out happened at a really crucial time (the 14th over). The momentum had just started to turn there, Finchy had started to find the boundary a bit more frequently," he said. India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan hammered a ton while the skipper Virat Kohli also added 82 runs on the board to help their side post a big target for Australia. Ponting stated that they also needed a Dhawan-like inning in their top-order and that would have had put them in the game. "We just needed someone at the top to go on and make a big hundred like Dhawan did and we would have been right in the game," Ponting said. Despite all this, Ponting still has full faith in both the openers as he said, "Finch and Warner are probably as good as openers in the world. Finchy has turned things around really well in the last five or six months, Davey coming back has made runs. By his own admission today, (Warner) probably wasn't at his absolute best. He hit the field too often early on and wasn't able to rotate as he would have liked." Steve Smith came out to bat before Usman Khawaja and Ponting backed this decision by saying that they wanted a right-hand, left-hand combination during India's perilous spin attack. "We wanted to have (favourable) left-hand, right-hand (match-ups) with those spinners and we thought Steven plays spin as well as anybody, so that was the only reason. It happens quite a lot in the modern game where you see that right-hand, left-hand combination, especially if they've got a lot of spin," he said.

World Cup: 'Our batting was little bit off', says Ricky Ponting after Australia's defeat against India

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli was pleased after his side's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-shikhar-dhawan-shines-as-india-beat-holders-australia-by-36-runs-225791">36-run win over defending champions Australia</a> in the 14th match of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday.&nbsp;

Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a blazing century and his 127-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma helped India to post 352 for five after captain Virat Kohli won the toss.&nbsp;

While chasing the massive target, Australia were all-out for 316 runs.&nbsp;

During the post-match presentation, Virat said, "A top, top win for us especially after losing that series in India. We had a point to prove against this side."

"We came here with intent right from ball one. The opening partnership was outstanding. I got a few runs, Hardik the way he played. It was a brilliant start with the ball on a wicket that was quite flat," added Kohli after India's second win of this tournament from as many games played.&nbsp;

That always pleases you as a captain. You have to bowl well. You can't take things for granted just because you have 350+ on the board. That 30 runs gives you the luxury.&nbsp;

On Bhuvneshwar Kumar performance, Virat said, "You can't take Bhuvi's performances in the one-day format for granted. He's a champion bowler and picks up wickets with the new ball and with the old ball."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> gets two wins in two matches 👍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/DME6zQ58PB">pic.twitter.com/DME6zQ58PB</a>
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketworldcup/status/1137786440270733312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Pacer Bhuvneshwar changed the course of the game when he took Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis' wicket in quick succession.&nbsp;

"It was a game changer (the wickets of Smith and Stoinis in the same over). These guys are so experienced and professional, you hardly need to say anything to them. They know what to do. Their plans are being executed which is a very good thing for the team," said Virat Kohli.&nbsp;

India will play next New Zealand on Thursday.&nbsp;

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli was pleased after his side's 36-run win over defending champions Australia in the 14th match of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday. Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a blazing century and his 127-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma helped India to post 352 for five after captain Virat Kohli won the toss.

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli was pleased after his side's 36-run win over defending champions Australia in the 14th match of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday. Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a blazing century and his 127-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma helped India to post 352 for five after captain Virat Kohli won the toss. While chasing the massive target, Australia were all-out for 316 runs. During the post-match presentation, Virat said, "A top, top win for us especially after losing that series in India. We had a point to prove against this side." "We came here with intent right from ball one. The opening partnership was outstanding. I got a few runs, Hardik the way he played. It was a brilliant start with the ball on a wicket that was quite flat," added Kohli after India's second win of this tournament from as many games played. That always pleases you as a captain. You have to bowl well. You can't take things for granted just because you have 350+ on the board. That 30 runs gives you the luxury. On Bhuvneshwar Kumar performance, Virat said, "You can't take Bhuvi's performances in the one-day format for granted. He's a champion bowler and picks up wickets with the new ball and with the old ball." #TeamIndia gets two wins in two matches 👍 #CWC19 #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/DME6zQ58PB — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 9, 2019 × Pacer Bhuvneshwar changed the course of the game when he took Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis' wicket in quick succession. "It was a game changer (the wickets of Smith and Stoinis in the same over). These guys are so experienced and professional, you hardly need to say anything to them. They know what to do. Their plans are being executed which is a very good thing for the team," said Virat Kohli. India will play next New Zealand on Thursday.

World Cup: Had a point to prove against Australia, says Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli-led India defeated the defending champions Australia by 36 runs in the Match 14 of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday at London's Kennington Oval.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat first after winning the toss and took the full advantage of the conditions.&nbsp;

Opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed his 17th century in one-day internationals as India's top order fired in unison to power them to 352 for five wickets.&nbsp;

Australian team failed to chase down the target as they were all out 316-all out.&nbsp;

Dhawan added 127 runs with fellow opener Rohit Sharma (57) and 93 with skipper Virat Kohli to lay the foundation for a big total before departing for 117 at the Oval.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
That winning feeling 💪 
 
Worth all that earlier pain <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/luCKtrjOAv">pic.twitter.com/luCKtrjOAv</a>
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketworldcup/status/1137778394932948995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Kohli made a typically breezy 82 and Hardik Pandya, dropped behind the wicket on the very first ball he faced, smashed 48 off 27 balls to justify his promotion in the batting order.

Marcus Stoinis claimed 2-62 for Australia who had beaten Afghanistan and West Indies in their first two matches.
<img alt="Match 14" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="df52d197-83f4-4692-bd80-f9bfc1679a44" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/sports%20%283%29.jpg" />
Two-times champions India beat South Africa by six wickets in their first match on Wednesday.

Virat Kohli-led India defeated the defending champions Australia by 36 runs in the Match 14 of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday at London's Kennington Oval. Indian skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat first after winning the toss and took the full advantage of the conditions.

Virat Kohli-led India defeated the defending champions Australia by 36 runs in the Match 14 of Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday at London's Kennington Oval. Indian skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat first after winning the toss and took the full advantage of the conditions. Opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed his 17th century in one-day internationals as India's top order fired in unison to power them to 352 for five wickets. Australian team failed to chase down the target as they were all out 316-all out. Dhawan added 127 runs with fellow opener Rohit Sharma (57) and 93 with skipper Virat Kohli to lay the foundation for a big total before departing for 117 at the Oval. That winning feeling 💪 Worth all that earlier pain @imVkohli!#TeamIndia #INDvAUS #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/luCKtrjOAv — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 9, 2019 × Kohli made a typically breezy 82 and Hardik Pandya, dropped behind the wicket on the very first ball he faced, smashed 48 off 27 balls to justify his promotion in the batting order. Marcus Stoinis claimed 2-62 for Australia who had beaten Afghanistan and West Indies in their first two matches. Two-times champions India beat South Africa by six wickets in their first match on Wednesday.

World Cup: Shikhar Dhawan shines as India beat holders Australia by 36 runs

World Cup: Indian team attends practice session ahead of South Africa challenge

Skipper Virat Kohli, who is happy with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-answers-indias-number-four-conundrum-for-world-cup-with-cardiff-ton-222429">KL Rahul</a>'s timely hundred at No 4 slot is not overtly worried about Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma's patchy form in the two World Cup warm-up games ahead of the tournament proper.&nbsp;

The skipper gave enough indications that Rahul has sealed his spot at No 4 with a 99-ball-108 against Bangladesh in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-kl-rahul-hit-tons-as-india-beat-bangladesh-in-world-cup-warm-up-222416">final warm-up game which India won by 95 runs</a>.

"The biggest positive from today was the way KL (Rahul) batted at No. 4. Everyone else know their roles. It is important that he gets the runs as he is such a class player," Kohli said of Rahul who hit a 99-ball 108, after India's big win in their final World Cup warm-up game.

"MS (Dhoni) and Hardik were superb as well," he added. Dhoni also scored a hundred -- a 78-ball 113 -- while Hardik Pandya contributed 21 from 11 deliveries down the order.&nbsp;

The two senior openers, however, didn't get the kind of practice that they would have ideally liked before the first game against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton.

Dhawan had scores of 1 and 2 while Rahit scored 2 and 19 against New Zealand and Bangladesh respectively.

"We have had two good challenges in the two games while batting first. Shikhar and Rohit are quality players, they become stars in ICC events. Ideally, we would have liked to chase today. I understand if guys don't get going right away in this format. In warm-up games, at times, you don't get the motivation especially because the amount of cricket that we play. But I am glad with what we got out of these two games," Kohli came in defence of the opening duo.&nbsp;

He also praised the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for picking six wickets amongst themselves.&nbsp;

"We were challenged by their batsmen as well but we bowled well and our spinners got wickets too. Bumrah got us the breakthrough and Chahal and Kuldeep got us six wickets," Kohli said.&nbsp;

He said in the World Cup matches the ball might turn a bit in the second half and swing and seam would be important in the first fifteen overs. He said most of the teams winning the toss would want to chase.&nbsp;

In warm-up games, often the side fielding second finds it a bit of a drag in the final overs like it happened against Bangladesh where the outcome was clear by the 35th over but match went on till the last over.&nbsp;

"The last 15 overs could be challenging on the field, especially when the game is not interesting and you have to go through the motions. But once the tournament starts nobody would find all these things long, which is what you expect from a world class tournament like the World Cup."&nbsp;

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said, "We have spent fours weeks here. So, a few players have some niggles.&nbsp;

"Looks alright (about his fitness), but we need to look after our bowlers. Our top-order is scoring some runs. Soumya batted well, Liton and Mushfiq did a good job. Overall, the top-order batsmen need to understand their role."

Skipper Virat Kohli, who is happy with KL Rahul's timely hundred at No 4 slot is not overtly worried about Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma's patchy form in the two World Cup warm-up games ahead of the tournament proper.

Skipper Virat Kohli, who is happy with KL Rahul's timely hundred at No 4 slot is not overtly worried about Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma's patchy form in the two World Cup warm-up games ahead of the tournament proper. The skipper gave enough indications that Rahul has sealed his spot at No 4 with a 99-ball-108 against Bangladesh in the final warm-up game which India won by 95 runs. "The biggest positive from today was the way KL (Rahul) batted at No. 4. Everyone else know their roles. It is important that he gets the runs as he is such a class player," Kohli said of Rahul who hit a 99-ball 108, after India's big win in their final World Cup warm-up game. "MS (Dhoni) and Hardik were superb as well," he added. Dhoni also scored a hundred -- a 78-ball 113 -- while Hardik Pandya contributed 21 from 11 deliveries down the order. The two senior openers, however, didn't get the kind of practice that they would have ideally liked before the first game against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton. Dhawan had scores of 1 and 2 while Rahit scored 2 and 19 against New Zealand and Bangladesh respectively. "We have had two good challenges in the two games while batting first. Shikhar and Rohit are quality players, they become stars in ICC events. Ideally, we would have liked to chase today. I understand if guys don't get going right away in this format. In warm-up games, at times, you don't get the motivation especially because the amount of cricket that we play. But I am glad with what we got out of these two games," Kohli came in defence of the opening duo. He also praised the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for picking six wickets amongst themselves. "We were challenged by their batsmen as well but we bowled well and our spinners got wickets too. Bumrah got us the breakthrough and Chahal and Kuldeep got us six wickets," Kohli said. He said in the World Cup matches the ball might turn a bit in the second half and swing and seam would be important in the first fifteen overs. He said most of the teams winning the toss would want to chase. In warm-up games, often the side fielding second finds it a bit of a drag in the final overs like it happened against Bangladesh where the outcome was clear by the 35th over but match went on till the last over. "The last 15 overs could be challenging on the field, especially when the game is not interesting and you have to go through the motions. But once the tournament starts nobody would find all these things long, which is what you expect from a world class tournament like the World Cup." Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said, "We have spent fours weeks here. So, a few players have some niggles. "Looks alright (about his fitness), but we need to look after our bowlers. Our top-order is scoring some runs. Soumya batted well, Liton and Mushfiq did a good job. Overall, the top-order batsmen need to understand their role."

KL Rahul's batting at No 4 is big positive, not worried about Dhawan, Rohit's form, says Virat Kohli

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-coach-ravi-shastri-on-ms-dhonis-presence-and-tough-english-conditions-220420">India </a>need to space out their experienced batsmen at the World Cup in England and veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni is best suited at number five, according to batting great Sachin Tendulkar.

Skipper Virat Kohli joins openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to complete India's stable top three while all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-i-prepare-myself-for-world-cup-will-be-real-challenge-for-me-vijay-shankar-219589">Vijay Shankar</a> is set to bat at number four in the earlier games.

Having Dhoni, whose 341 ODI appearances makes him the most experienced player at this year's World Cup, at number five would ensure the former India captain could nudge along before exploding in the final overs, believes <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-says-jasprit-bumrah-is-the-best-bowler-at-this-stage-218294&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQi-bjhbHiAhXM_XMBHT6qBvAQFjACegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2F5wk0k7uAwWI_lkpFFqMM">Tendulkar</a>.

"My personal opinion is Dhoni should be batting (at) five," Tendulkar, part of the Dhoni-led squad who won the 2011 World Cup on home soil, told ESPNcricinfo.

"I still don't know what the team combination would be, but if you are going Rohit and Shikhar as openers, to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-on-indias-plans-for-cricket-world-cup-2019-220402">Virat at No. 3</a> and whoever at No. 4 then Dhoni could be No. 5. Then Hardik Pandya, an explosive player, follows them'', Tendulkar said.

"That way the experienced batsmen are well spaced out and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-needs-ms-dhoni-in-2019-world-cup-says-sunil-gavaskar-174415&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjV4u2DhrHiAhWKPo8KHdLkDsU4ChAWMAN6BAgOEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mpLLYAel5FcZKB5KiPtPD">Dhoni </a>can stretch the game towards the end where he himself can be explosive along with Hardik. From No 5-8 you are looking at finishers, who stay till the end and soak in that pressure. I feel we are well equipped to do that", he added.

Dhawan is the lone left-hander in India's strong batting lineup and Tendulkar said the opener must bat deep into the matches to help dominate the bowlers, especially the leg-spinners.

"A left-right combination always helps because that means the bowler has to adjust his line every now and then and the (bowling) captain has also to keep thinking," said Tendulkar, who remains the only cricketer with 100 international centuries against his name'', Sachin said.

"And if there is a partnership, the job becomes even tougher. So, yes, it is important for a left-hander to be there to put pressure on the legspinner or for that matter any bowler", Sachin added.

England's home series against Pakistan has convinced Tendulkar that it would be a high-scoring World Cup played on flat tracks and with two new balls which negate reverse swing.

"I believe if you have quality spinners to bowl in the middle overs they would end up picking wickets'', Tendulkar said.

"It is all about bowling in partnerships - if quality bowlers could bowl in tandem and create pressure on the batting line-up, that is one way of countering all these factors (that) I feel are not in favour of the bowlers", Tendulkar concluded.

India need to space out their experienced batsmen at the World Cup in England and veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni is best suited at number five, according to batting great Sachin Tendulkar.

India need to space out their experienced batsmen at the World Cup in England and veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni is best suited at number five, according to batting great Sachin Tendulkar. Skipper Virat Kohli joins openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to complete India's stable top three while all-rounder Vijay Shankar is set to bat at number four in the earlier games. Having Dhoni, whose 341 ODI appearances makes him the most experienced player at this year's World Cup, at number five would ensure the former India captain could nudge along before exploding in the final overs, believes Tendulkar. "My personal opinion is Dhoni should be batting (at) five," Tendulkar, part of the Dhoni-led squad who won the 2011 World Cup on home soil, told ESPNcricinfo. "I still don't know what the team combination would be, but if you are going Rohit and Shikhar as openers, to Virat at No. 3 and whoever at No. 4 then Dhoni could be No. 5. Then Hardik Pandya, an explosive player, follows them'', Tendulkar said. "That way the experienced batsmen are well spaced out and Dhoni can stretch the game towards the end where he himself can be explosive along with Hardik. From No 5-8 you are looking at finishers, who stay till the end and soak in that pressure. I feel we are well equipped to do that", he added. Dhawan is the lone left-hander in India's strong batting lineup and Tendulkar said the opener must bat deep into the matches to help dominate the bowlers, especially the leg-spinners. "A left-right combination always helps because that means the bowler has to adjust his line every now and then and the (bowling) captain has also to keep thinking," said Tendulkar, who remains the only cricketer with 100 international centuries against his name'', Sachin said. "And if there is a partnership, the job becomes even tougher. So, yes, it is important for a left-hander to be there to put pressure on the legspinner or for that matter any bowler", Sachin added. England's home series against Pakistan has convinced Tendulkar that it would be a high-scoring World Cup played on flat tracks and with two new balls which negate reverse swing. "I believe if you have quality spinners to bowl in the middle overs they would end up picking wickets'', Tendulkar said. "It is all about bowling in partnerships - if quality bowlers could bowl in tandem and create pressure on the batting line-up, that is one way of countering all these factors (that) I feel are not in favour of the bowlers", Tendulkar concluded.

Sachin Tendulkar says, MS Dhoni best suited at No 5 for India at the Cricket World Cup 2019

Delhi made their way to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 as they <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-updates-ipl-2019-match-46-delhi-vs-bangalore-at-feroz-shah-kotla-214092">defeated Bangalore by 16 runs</a> in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2019">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) on Sunday.&nbsp;

Chasing a total of 188 runs, Bangalore's openers, Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli, gave their side a brilliant start. Both formed a 63-run partnership before Kagiso Rabada got hold of Patel (39).&nbsp;

AB de Villiers then joined Skipper Kolhi. However, their partnership did not last long as Kohli became a victim of Axar Patel.&nbsp;

Shivam Dube then formed a 35-run partnership with De Villiers before the latter got out on 17 runs. Heinrich Klaasen then joined Dube. However, Amit Mishra sent both the batsmen back to the pavilion in the 13th over.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiCapitals</a> have now claimed the top spot in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIVOIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIVOIPL</a> Points Table. Will the <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mipaltan</a> join <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DC</a> for the playoffs tonight? <a href="https://t.co/o6yH32XHCI">pic.twitter.com/o6yH32XHCI</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1122503830099251201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The rest of the batsmen struggled a bit to form a good partnership as they kept on losing wickets. However, Marcus Stoinis and Gurkeerat Singh formed a 49-run partnership which helped their side get closer to the target.&nbsp;

Singh scored 27 runs before he gave away his wicket which brought Washington Sundar to bat but Sundar too was sent back in the very next over.&nbsp;

Stoinis played a scintillating knock of 32 runs off 24 deliveries but it was not enough to take his side over the line as they lost the match by 16 runs.&nbsp;

Earlier, Delhi got off to a steady start as both the openers, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan, struck regular boundaries. However, Shaw gave away his wicket in the fourth over after scoring 18 runs.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
That's that from Delhi as the <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiCapitals</a> win by 16 runs and are through to the Playoffs 😎💪 <a href="https://t.co/KtxeYqEwUY">pic.twitter.com/KtxeYqEwUY</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1122501431993364480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Dhawan was then accompanied by the skipper Shreyas Iyer and both stitched an impeccable partnership of 68 runs.&nbsp;

Dhawan scored his fifth half-century and with this Dhawan surpassed Sunrisers Hyderabad`s batsman Jonny Bairstow run tally of 445 runs to become the second highest run-getter in this season of IPL with 451 runs.&nbsp;

Iyer too scored a half-century. However, Dhawan (50) and Iyer (52) both were sent back to the pavilion in quick succession.&nbsp;

Shortly after that, Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram too lost their wickets.&nbsp;

Sherfane Rutherford and Axar Patel then came out to bat and both formed a crucial partnership of 46 runs which helped their side post a target of 188 for the visitors.&nbsp;

Delhi will now visit Chennai to compete with Chennai on May 1 while Bangalore will host Rajasthan on April 30.&nbsp;

Delhi made their way to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 as they defeated Bangalore by 16 runs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday. Chasing a total of 188 runs, Bangalore's openers, Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli, gave their side a brilliant start.

Delhi made their way to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 as they defeated Bangalore by 16 runs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday. Chasing a total of 188 runs, Bangalore's openers, Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli, gave their side a brilliant start. Both formed a 63-run partnership before Kagiso Rabada got hold of Patel (39). AB de Villiers then joined Skipper Kolhi. However, their partnership did not last long as Kohli became a victim of Axar Patel. Shivam Dube then formed a 35-run partnership with De Villiers before the latter got out on 17 runs. Heinrich Klaasen then joined Dube. However, Amit Mishra sent both the batsmen back to the pavilion in the 13th over. The @DelhiCapitals have now claimed the top spot in the #VIVOIPL Points Table. Will the @mipaltan join #CSK and #DC for the playoffs tonight? pic.twitter.com/o6yH32XHCI — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2019 × The rest of the batsmen struggled a bit to form a good partnership as they kept on losing wickets. However, Marcus Stoinis and Gurkeerat Singh formed a 49-run partnership which helped their side get closer to the target. Singh scored 27 runs before he gave away his wicket which brought Washington Sundar to bat but Sundar too was sent back in the very next over. Stoinis played a scintillating knock of 32 runs off 24 deliveries but it was not enough to take his side over the line as they lost the match by 16 runs. Earlier, Delhi got off to a steady start as both the openers, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan, struck regular boundaries. However, Shaw gave away his wicket in the fourth over after scoring 18 runs. That's that from Delhi as the @DelhiCapitals win by 16 runs and are through to the Playoffs 😎💪 pic.twitter.com/KtxeYqEwUY — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2019 × Dhawan was then accompanied by the skipper Shreyas Iyer and both stitched an impeccable partnership of 68 runs. Dhawan scored his fifth half-century and with this Dhawan surpassed Sunrisers Hyderabad`s batsman Jonny Bairstow run tally of 445 runs to become the second highest run-getter in this season of IPL with 451 runs. Iyer too scored a half-century. However, Dhawan (50) and Iyer (52) both were sent back to the pavilion in quick succession. Shortly after that, Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram too lost their wickets. Sherfane Rutherford and Axar Patel then came out to bat and both formed a crucial partnership of 46 runs which helped their side post a target of 188 for the visitors. Delhi will now visit Chennai to compete with Chennai on May 1 while Bangalore will host Rajasthan on April 30.

IPL 2019: Delhi storm into playoffs after defeating Bangalore by 16 runs

Shikhar Dhawan, who plays for Delhi franchise in the Indian Premier League, mocked Ravichandran Ashwin after the spinner warned him to stay inside the crease at non-strikers' end&nbsp;during a match between Delhi and Punjab at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday.&nbsp;

Punjab skipper Ashwin has remained in the headlines lately for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=mankad">'Mankading' controversy</a> when he ran out Rajasthan's Jos Buttler, who was at the non-strikers' end, without giving him any warning.&nbsp;

Buttler's dismissal during a match between Rajasthan and Punjab triggered a spirit of game debate and left the cricket world divided.&nbsp;

Now, Shikhar has taken a jibe at the incident after Ashwin threatened him of 'Mankad' run out in the 13th over.&nbsp;

The incident happened when Ashwin aborted his delivery while bowling the fourth ball of the over to give a warning to Dhawan.&nbsp;

Shikhar, who can be seen inside the crease in the TV replays, sat on one knee facing the bowler as his immediate reaction on the incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He even danced being inside the crease at the non-strikers' end when Ashwin was about to release the ball.&nbsp;

Watch the video:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Shikhar Dhawan is extremely cautious against Ravi Ashwin 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCvKXIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCvKXIP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/WNuZhSkwxe">pic.twitter.com/WNuZhSkwxe</a>
— Deepak Raj Verma (@DeVeDeTr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeVeDeTr/status/1119658984372363264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
That's How you troll Mankad-Man Ashwin 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/SDhawan25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SDhawan25</a> 👌🏼 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCvKXIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCvKXIP</a> <a href="https://t.co/suCwYzj1sI">pic.twitter.com/suCwYzj1sI</a>
— ਸਤਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਹਲ #MI (@imSatnam_) <a href="https://twitter.com/imSatnam_/status/1119662132302315520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Presenting, the troll king Shikhar Dhawan, trolling our mankad king Ravi Ashwin.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCvKXIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCvKXIP</a> <a href="https://t.co/w7hredT2a9">pic.twitter.com/w7hredT2a9</a>
— Ryuk (@dodginghumans) <a href="https://twitter.com/dodginghumans/status/1119660430685691904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Recently,&nbsp;Bangalore's skipper Virat Kohli was spotted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-virat-kohlis-hilarious-reaction-after-avoiding-mankad-run-out-against-kolkata-211920">making fun of the "Mankad" run out</a> during an IPL match against Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata team on Friday.&nbsp;

The incident happened in the 18th over when spinner Sunil Narine aborted his delivery to Marcus Stoinis after taking the run-up.&nbsp;

Kohli, who was on the non-strikers' end, immediately grounded his bat and started laughing. In a way, he avoided the most popular the controversy of IPL 2019, "Mankading".&nbsp;

Kohli, in a funny gesture, even signalled Narine that his bat was inside the crease.&nbsp;

Shikhar Dhawan, who plays for Delhi franchise in the Indian Premier League, mocked Ravichandran Ashwin after the spinner warned him to stay inside the crease at non-strikers' end during a match between Delhi and Punjab at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday.

Shikhar Dhawan, who plays for Delhi franchise in the Indian Premier League, mocked Ravichandran Ashwin after the spinner warned him to stay inside the crease at non-strikers' end during a match between Delhi and Punjab at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday. Punjab skipper Ashwin has remained in the headlines lately for 'Mankading' controversy when he ran out Rajasthan's Jos Buttler, who was at the non-strikers' end, without giving him any warning. Buttler's dismissal during a match between Rajasthan and Punjab triggered a spirit of game debate and left the cricket world divided. Now, Shikhar has taken a jibe at the incident after Ashwin threatened him of 'Mankad' run out in the 13th over. The incident happened when Ashwin aborted his delivery while bowling the fourth ball of the over to give a warning to Dhawan. Shikhar, who can be seen inside the crease in the TV replays, sat on one knee facing the bowler as his immediate reaction on the incident. He even danced being inside the crease at the non-strikers' end when Ashwin was about to release the ball. Watch the video: Shikhar Dhawan is extremely cautious against Ravi Ashwin 😂 #DCvKXIP #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/WNuZhSkwxe — Deepak Raj Verma (@DeVeDeTr) April 20, 2019 × That's How you troll Mankad-Man Ashwin 😂 @SDhawan25 👌🏼 #DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/suCwYzj1sI — ਸਤਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਹਲ #MI (@imSatnam_) April 20, 2019 × Presenting, the troll king Shikhar Dhawan, trolling our mankad king Ravi Ashwin.#IPL2019 #DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/w7hredT2a9 — Ryuk (@dodginghumans) April 20, 2019 × Recently, Bangalore's skipper Virat Kohli was spotted making fun of the "Mankad" run out during an IPL match against Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata team on Friday. The incident happened in the 18th over when spinner Sunil Narine aborted his delivery to Marcus Stoinis after taking the run-up. Kohli, who was on the non-strikers' end, immediately grounded his bat and started laughing. In a way, he avoided the most popular the controversy of IPL 2019, "Mankading". Kohli, in a funny gesture, even signalled Narine that his bat was inside the crease.

Shikhar Dhawan reacts derisively when Ashwin tries to 'Mankad' him

Shikhar Dhawan found form with a 63-ball 97 and powered Delhi to a seven-wicket win over Kolkata in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2019">Indian Premier League</a> on Friday, leaving two legends at the visiting dugout beaming.&nbsp;

Chasing 179, Colin Ingram launched one down the ground to finish the game in style and deny Dhawan what would have been his maiden hundred in this format.&nbsp;

Dhawan survived a review on 11, decorated his knock with 11 boundaries and two sixes, as Delhi registered only their second IPL win at the Eden Gardens.&nbsp;

Delhi climbed to fourth spot with eight points from seven matches, while this was Kolkata's second straight defeat after losing to Chennai in their last match. They now have eight points from seven games.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kagiso-rabada-to-wion-delhi-havent-used-me-as-an-upfront-bowler-209954">Kagiso Rabada to WION: Delhi haven't 'used me' as an upfront bowler</a>

Rishabh Pant (46 off 31 balls) played a perfect second fiddle to Dhawan, curbing his rash shots and showed immense maturity in a 105-run partnership from 69 balls, which virtually killed the contest.&nbsp;

Pant, however, fell short of his half-century as he failed to clear the rope against Nitish Rana.&nbsp;

Going through a lean patch since his sedate 47-ball 51 against Chennai on March 26, Dhawan was seen going through an extensive drill under Ganguly, who gave him useful tips.&nbsp;

Prithvi Shaw (14) gave Delhi an explosive start, hammering two sixes off New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, but he could not make it big while skipper Shreyas Iyer departed inside the powerplay.&nbsp;

There was a mountain to climb with 122 required from 14.2 overs when Pant joined Dhawan in the middle. But the duo got the job done with consummate ease.&nbsp;

Earlier, Andre Russell blazed away to a 21-ball 45 after Shubman Gill's brisk half-century, powering Kolkata to a challenging total.&nbsp;

This was Russell's sixth successive 40-plus score, his four sixes and three boundaries coming after youngster Gill stroked 65 off 39 balls, helping the hosts recover from Ishant Sharma's wicket-maiden first over.&nbsp;

The Jamaican, who was cleaned up by Kagiso Rabada with a toe-crushing yorker in their Super Over defeat in the first leg, also exacted a sweet revenge smashing the South African for two sixes in an over that yielded 16 runs.&nbsp;

Chris Morris removed Russell in the penultimate over when he was caught in the deep by Rabada.&nbsp;

Sent into bat, from batting at No. 6 in their last match against Chennai, Gill was promoted to open the innings and the 19-year-old responded with a fine knock, his second IPL fifty, and first this season.&nbsp;

Gill smashed seven fours and two sixes, both against spinner Axar Patel, and along with Robin Uthappa (28), added 63 runs after a horror start.&nbsp;

Ishant knocked out the off-stump of Joe Denly with a fantastic inswinger, the Englishman lasting just one ball on his IPL debut.&nbsp;

Delhi could not have asked for a better start with Ishant starting the proceedings with a wicket-maiden.&nbsp;

But Kolkata did well to bring themselves out of the rut with Uthappa and Gill counter-attacking with a flurry of boundaries.

Shikhar Dhawan found form with a 63-ball 97 and powered Delhi to a seven-wicket win over Kolkata in the Indian Premier League on Friday, leaving two legends at the visiting dugout beaming.

Shikhar Dhawan found form with a 63-ball 97 and powered Delhi to a seven-wicket win over Kolkata in the Indian Premier League on Friday, leaving two legends at the visiting dugout beaming. Chasing 179, Colin Ingram launched one down the ground to finish the game in style and deny Dhawan what would have been his maiden hundred in this format. Dhawan survived a review on 11, decorated his knock with 11 boundaries and two sixes, as Delhi registered only their second IPL win at the Eden Gardens. Delhi climbed to fourth spot with eight points from seven matches, while this was Kolkata's second straight defeat after losing to Chennai in their last match. They now have eight points from seven games. Also Read: Kagiso Rabada to WION: Delhi haven't 'used me' as an upfront bowler Rishabh Pant (46 off 31 balls) played a perfect second fiddle to Dhawan, curbing his rash shots and showed immense maturity in a 105-run partnership from 69 balls, which virtually killed the contest. Pant, however, fell short of his half-century as he failed to clear the rope against Nitish Rana. Going through a lean patch since his sedate 47-ball 51 against Chennai on March 26, Dhawan was seen going through an extensive drill under Ganguly, who gave him useful tips. Prithvi Shaw (14) gave Delhi an explosive start, hammering two sixes off New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, but he could not make it big while skipper Shreyas Iyer departed inside the powerplay. There was a mountain to climb with 122 required from 14.2 overs when Pant joined Dhawan in the middle. But the duo got the job done with consummate ease. Earlier, Andre Russell blazed away to a 21-ball 45 after Shubman Gill's brisk half-century, powering Kolkata to a challenging total. This was Russell's sixth successive 40-plus score, his four sixes and three boundaries coming after youngster Gill stroked 65 off 39 balls, helping the hosts recover from Ishant Sharma's wicket-maiden first over. The Jamaican, who was cleaned up by Kagiso Rabada with a toe-crushing yorker in their Super Over defeat in the first leg, also exacted a sweet revenge smashing the South African for two sixes in an over that yielded 16 runs. Chris Morris removed Russell in the penultimate over when he was caught in the deep by Rabada. Sent into bat, from batting at No. 6 in their last match against Chennai, Gill was promoted to open the innings and the 19-year-old responded with a fine knock, his second IPL fifty, and first this season. Gill smashed seven fours and two sixes, both against spinner Axar Patel, and along with Robin Uthappa (28), added 63 runs after a horror start. Ishant knocked out the off-stump of Joe Denly with a fantastic inswinger, the Englishman lasting just one ball on his IPL debut. Delhi could not have asked for a better start with Ishant starting the proceedings with a wicket-maiden. But Kolkata did well to bring themselves out of the rut with Uthappa and Gill counter-attacking with a flurry of boundaries.

IPL 2019: Shikhar Dhawan strikes 97 as Delhi beat Kolkata by 7 wickets

There is not a bowler in the world that can stop Shikhar Dhawan when the opener is in determined mood and the left-hander will be crucial to India's hopes at this year's Cricket World Cup, former captain Sourav Ganguly has said.

Dhawan smashed 97 not out off 63 balls in Delhi's seven-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Friday's Indian Premier League (IPL) contest at Eden Gardens, much to the delight of Ganguly, an advisor to the Capitals.

Captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma are India's batting mainstays in one-day cricket but Ganguly puts Dhawan, who has 16 centuries from 128 ODIs with a 93-plus strike rate, in the same league.

"The three best players in one-day cricket -- Dhawan, Rohit, Virat," Ganguly told the IPL website. "When he (Dhawan) gets set and gets in he's unstoppable.

"All I expect from him is determination. When he is determined, no bowler in the world can stop him."

Dhawan's second fifty of this IPL season, which catapulted Delhi into the top four, augurs well for India ahead of the May 30 to July 14 World Cup in England and Wales.

Along with opening partner Rohit, the onus will be on Dhawan to give India strong starts in the tournament and the southpaw has performed well on English soil.

Named 'man of the series' in their triumphant 2013 Champions Trophy campaign, Dhawan was also the tournament's leading scorer four years later when India lost in the final to Pakistan.

"If he gets set, he takes the game away. This is how he plays for India," Ganguly, who led India to the final of the 2003 World Cup, later told reporters. "He's a class act."

Two-time champions India begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa in Southampton on June 5.

There is not a bowler in the world that can stop Shikhar Dhawan when the opener is in determined mood and the left-hander will be crucial to India's hopes at this year's Cricket World Cup, former captain Sourav Ganguly has said.

There is not a bowler in the world that can stop Shikhar Dhawan when the opener is in determined mood and the left-hander will be crucial to India's hopes at this year's Cricket World Cup, former captain Sourav Ganguly has said. Dhawan smashed 97 not out off 63 balls in Delhi's seven-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Friday's Indian Premier League (IPL) contest at Eden Gardens, much to the delight of Ganguly, an advisor to the Capitals. Captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma are India's batting mainstays in one-day cricket but Ganguly puts Dhawan, who has 16 centuries from 128 ODIs with a 93-plus strike rate, in the same league. "The three best players in one-day cricket -- Dhawan, Rohit, Virat," Ganguly told the IPL website. "When he (Dhawan) gets set and gets in he's unstoppable. "All I expect from him is determination. When he is determined, no bowler in the world can stop him." Dhawan's second fifty of this IPL season, which catapulted Delhi into the top four, augurs well for India ahead of the May 30 to July 14 World Cup in England and Wales. Along with opening partner Rohit, the onus will be on Dhawan to give India strong starts in the tournament and the southpaw has performed well on English soil. Named 'man of the series' in their triumphant 2013 Champions Trophy campaign, Dhawan was also the tournament's leading scorer four years later when India lost in the final to Pakistan. "If he gets set, he takes the game away. This is how he plays for India," Ganguly, who led India to the final of the 2003 World Cup, later told reporters. "He's a class act." Two-time champions India begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa in Southampton on June 5.

Sourav Ganguly backs Shikhar Dhawan to shine at World Cup

Kagiso Rabada made a name for himself when he delivered consecutive six yorkers in the <a href="IPL 2019: Kagiso Rabada leads Delhi to Super Over win after Prithvi's 99">'Super Over' to restrict Kolkata's run-machine Andre Russell </a>and successfully defend mere 10 runs to hand Delhi a victory in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2019">12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL)</a>.&nbsp;

However, Rabada, who is the leading wicket-taker in this season so far, feels the team hasn't used him as a proper upfront bowler and rely more on his death bowling.&nbsp;

When asked what strategy helped him scalp 11 wickets in six games, Rabada said, "Basically, in death, I feel like batsmen come at you more which gives you more chances of getting a wicket. However, in saying that, I also haven't been used really as an upfront bowler. Either I come first change or I come second change. And yes, batsmen are more conservatives."

Rabada made his debut in IPL in 2017 and had clinched just six wickets in the six games, while in this season he is the Purple Cap holder as of now.

Sharing how relieving it is for him as a bowler, Rabada said it feels good to contribute towards the team's success. &nbsp;

"Yes, as well as excited to come back. In my first season, I did just okay, or a bit more than okay I guess. I feel glad that I have contributed towards the team's success and I am working towards my personal growth and I am glad that it is heading the right direction."

Rabada's wicket tally isn't limited to dismissing just the lower batting order but it includes batsmen who are known for their destructive batting in the T20 format.&nbsp;

So far, he has dismissed the likes of like Kolkata's hit machine Andre Russell, Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Hyderabad's in-form batsman David Warner.

When asked whose dismissal did he enjoy the most and will call his favourite, Rabada was quick to take the name of his South African teammate and Bangalore's AB de Villiers.&nbsp;

"I guess, I always play with AB, so playing against him on a big stage and I got him out. He is the most talented batsmen I have ever bowled to.&nbsp;And when you are standing at the top of your mark, you know, you really need to be on your A game. So I think I enjoyed his wicket because growing up I always used to admire him and then playing alongside him was always great and now playing against him. You really have to test yourself and I was looking forward to it."

The South African cricketer added a pun to his statement saying De Villiers will surely gonna be coming after him.

Delhi are currently placed at the&nbsp;sixth position with three wins and three reverses. They need to win their next few games to reach the playoffs without much hassle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When asked what strategies have they planned for the upcoming encounters, Rabada said he believes in taking it game by game.

"I think taking it game by game and taking it one ball at a time is the best way to look at it, is the best way to approach it. And remember to have fun. And we need to learn and learn quickly how to go about the game in certain moments where we have felt we lacked because that is where we are going to put pressure on other teams and that's how we are going to win this tournament."

The side has been inconsistent with their performance. Though few batsmen like Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and skipper Shreyas Iyer have performed in individual games, the side lacked collective performance.&nbsp;

Kagiso Rabada made a name for himself when he delivered consecutive six yorkers in the 'Super Over' to restrict Kolkata's run-machine Andre Russell and successfully defend mere 10 runs to hand Delhi a victory in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kagiso Rabada made a name for himself when he delivered consecutive six yorkers in the 'Super Over' to restrict Kolkata's run-machine Andre Russell and successfully defend mere 10 runs to hand Delhi a victory in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Rabada, who is the leading wicket-taker in this season so far, feels the team hasn't used him as a proper upfront bowler and rely more on his death bowling. When asked what strategy helped him scalp 11 wickets in six games, Rabada said, "Basically, in death, I feel like batsmen come at you more which gives you more chances of getting a wicket. However, in saying that, I also haven't been used really as an upfront bowler. Either I come first change or I come second change. And yes, batsmen are more conservatives." Rabada made his debut in IPL in 2017 and had clinched just six wickets in the six games, while in this season he is the Purple Cap holder as of now. Sharing how relieving it is for him as a bowler, Rabada said it feels good to contribute towards the team's success. "Yes, as well as excited to come back. In my first season, I did just okay, or a bit more than okay I guess. I feel glad that I have contributed towards the team's success and I am working towards my personal growth and I am glad that it is heading the right direction." Rabada's wicket tally isn't limited to dismissing just the lower batting order but it includes batsmen who are known for their destructive batting in the T20 format. So far, he has dismissed the likes of like Kolkata's hit machine Andre Russell, Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Hyderabad's in-form batsman David Warner. When asked whose dismissal did he enjoy the most and will call his favourite, Rabada was quick to take the name of his South African teammate and Bangalore's AB de Villiers. "I guess, I always play with AB, so playing against him on a big stage and I got him out. He is the most talented batsmen I have ever bowled to. And when you are standing at the top of your mark, you know, you really need to be on your A game. So I think I enjoyed his wicket because growing up I always used to admire him and then playing alongside him was always great and now playing against him. You really have to test yourself and I was looking forward to it." The South African cricketer added a pun to his statement saying De Villiers will surely gonna be coming after him. Delhi are currently placed at the sixth position with three wins and three reverses. They need to win their next few games to reach the playoffs without much hassle. When asked what strategies have they planned for the upcoming encounters, Rabada said he believes in taking it game by game. "I think taking it game by game and taking it one ball at a time is the best way to look at it, is the best way to approach it. And remember to have fun. And we need to learn and learn quickly how to go about the game in certain moments where we have felt we lacked because that is where we are going to put pressure on other teams and that's how we are going to win this tournament." The side has been inconsistent with their performance. Though few batsmen like Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and skipper Shreyas Iyer have performed in individual games, the side lacked collective performance.

Kagiso Rabada to WION: Delhi haven't 'used me' as an upfront bowler

IPL 2019: What to expect when Ashwin-led Punjab take on Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi at IS Bindra Stadium?

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2019">annual cricket carnival</a> has started, India's cricket fanatics are ready for two-months of 8 pm binge-watch and have enough topics for their 9 pm dinner table discussions.&nbsp;

In the third match of IPL 2019, Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai will take on Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi at Wankhede Stadium.&nbsp;

Here are the strength and weaknesses of both the teams, let's see how the match will conclude.&nbsp;

Strength and weaknesses of Mumbai:

The magnificent Rohit Sharma, who has played some match-winning knock in past is the strength of the team.&nbsp;

And in the bowling department, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are Mumbai's core.&nbsp;

And to add more strength, Mumbai have added legendary Yuvraj Singh to their squad.&nbsp;

It would be interesting to see how Mumbai will manage Bumrah's workload, especially when veteran Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga is set to miss the first six games for the franchise.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2dDk4_uLV5c" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Strength and weaknesses of Delhi:

In this edition, Delhi have Shikhar Dhawan in their armoury and Dhawan would be keen to get runs in the before the World Cup.&nbsp;

Also, Shreyas Iyer and stumper Rishabh Pant will step their game to bolster their World Cup chances.&nbsp;

Delhi also boasts of Prithvi Shaw, Manjot Karla and experienced campaigners like Colin Munro and Chris Morris, who can give stability to the team.&nbsp;

With the likes of Trent Boult, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada and Nathu Singh on board, Delhi's bowling attack looks a potent force.&nbsp;

The problem might occur with the middle-order batting as Delhi lack batsmen in the depth.&nbsp;

Probable playing XI:&nbsp;

Mumbai: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah.&nbsp;

Delhi: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Colin Ingram, Rishabh Pant(wk), Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Sandeep Lamichhane, Ishant Sharma.&nbsp;

The annual cricket carnival has started, India's cricket fanatics are ready for two-months of 8 pm binge-watch and have enough topics for their 9 pm dinner table discussions.

The annual cricket carnival has started, India's cricket fanatics are ready for two-months of 8 pm binge-watch and have enough topics for their 9 pm dinner table discussions. In the third match of IPL 2019, Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai will take on Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi at Wankhede Stadium. Here are the strength and weaknesses of both the teams, let's see how the match will conclude. Strength and weaknesses of Mumbai: The magnificent Rohit Sharma, who has played some match-winning knock in past is the strength of the team. And in the bowling department, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are Mumbai's core. And to add more strength, Mumbai have added legendary Yuvraj Singh to their squad. It would be interesting to see how Mumbai will manage Bumrah's workload, especially when veteran Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga is set to miss the first six games for the franchise. × Strength and weaknesses of Delhi: In this edition, Delhi have Shikhar Dhawan in their armoury and Dhawan would be keen to get runs in the before the World Cup. Also, Shreyas Iyer and stumper Rishabh Pant will step their game to bolster their World Cup chances. Delhi also boasts of Prithvi Shaw, Manjot Karla and experienced campaigners like Colin Munro and Chris Morris, who can give stability to the team. With the likes of Trent Boult, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada and Nathu Singh on board, Delhi's bowling attack looks a potent force. The problem might occur with the middle-order batting as Delhi lack batsmen in the depth. Probable playing XI: Mumbai: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah. Delhi: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Colin Ingram, Rishabh Pant(wk), Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Sandeep Lamichhane, Ishant Sharma.

IPL 2019: Who will win when Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai host Delhi at Wankhede Stadium?

The twelfth edition of Indian Premier League is just around the corner and the fans are all set to witness the classic performances of world's top cricket stars.&nbsp;

IPL, which is one of the world's most-watched sporting events, will kick-off from March 23 and all the clubs will try to achieve the best result but let's analyse Delhi Capitals' preparation for the tournament.&nbsp;

DC has never won the IPL title but this time, they seek a change in fortunes for the 2019 edition as the franchise's new owners have changed their name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals.

In the batting department, team Delhi already had retained Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw and during the trading window, they traded batsman Shikhar Dhawan from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem.&nbsp;

DC also spend lavishly to pick South African player Colin Ingram which is a clear indication that the Delhi team has intended to strengthen their batting unit.&nbsp;

Ingram is an opening batsman and also an occasional wicket-keeper.

Iyer was magnificent in the previous edition as he scored&nbsp;411 with a strike rate of&nbsp;132.58 and Pant has proved his mettle in the international format.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dhawan has been a consistent opening batsman in the Indian cricket team.&nbsp;

The bowling unit is a good balance of pace and spin. They already had retained&nbsp;Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult.&nbsp;Besides, they purchased Ishant Sharma to add more fuel to the bowling unit.&nbsp;

And when it comes to bowling, Delhi Capitals has the most lethal bowling unit among all the teams. The tail-enders like Chris Morris, etc are also capable of hitting big.&nbsp;

With the current squad list that has an amalgamation of experienced&nbsp;and young players, the team has the best possible chances of winning the title. They just need to focus on implementation and consistency.&nbsp;

The problem might occur with the middle-order batting as DC lack batsmen in the depth.&nbsp;

Delhi will play their first match on March 24 against Mumbai In Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.&nbsp;

Here is the squad list:

Retained: Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Jayant Yadav, Manjot Kalra, Colin Munro, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult

Traded: Shikhar Dhawan from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem

Purchased: Hanuma Vihari (Rs 2 crore), Axar Patel (Rs 5 crore), Ishant Sharma (Rs 1.10 crore), Ankush Bains (Rs 20 lakh), Nathu Singh (Rs 20 lakh), Colin Ingram (Rs 6.40 crore), Sherfane Rutherford (Rs 2 crore), Keemo Paul (Rs 50 lakh), Jalaj Saxena (Rs 20 lakh), Bandaru Ayyappa (Rs 20 lakh) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The twelfth edition of Indian Premier League is just around the corner and the fans are all set to witness the classic performances of world's top cricket stars.

The twelfth edition of Indian Premier League is just around the corner and the fans are all set to witness the classic performances of world's top cricket stars. IPL, which is one of the world's most-watched sporting events, will kick-off from March 23 and all the clubs will try to achieve the best result but let's analyse Delhi Capitals' preparation for the tournament. DC has never won the IPL title but this time, they seek a change in fortunes for the 2019 edition as the franchise's new owners have changed their name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals. In the batting department, team Delhi already had retained Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw and during the trading window, they traded batsman Shikhar Dhawan from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem. DC also spend lavishly to pick South African player Colin Ingram which is a clear indication that the Delhi team has intended to strengthen their batting unit. Ingram is an opening batsman and also an occasional wicket-keeper. Iyer was magnificent in the previous edition as he scored 411 with a strike rate of 132.58 and Pant has proved his mettle in the international format. Dhawan has been a consistent opening batsman in the Indian cricket team. The bowling unit is a good balance of pace and spin. They already had retained Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult. Besides, they purchased Ishant Sharma to add more fuel to the bowling unit. And when it comes to bowling, Delhi Capitals has the most lethal bowling unit among all the teams. The tail-enders like Chris Morris, etc are also capable of hitting big. With the current squad list that has an amalgamation of experienced and young players, the team has the best possible chances of winning the title. They just need to focus on implementation and consistency. The problem might occur with the middle-order batting as DC lack batsmen in the depth. Delhi will play their first match on March 24 against Mumbai In Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Here is the squad list: Retained: Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Jayant Yadav, Manjot Kalra, Colin Munro, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult Traded: Shikhar Dhawan from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem Purchased: Hanuma Vihari (Rs 2 crore), Axar Patel (Rs 5 crore), Ishant Sharma (Rs 1.10 crore), Ankush Bains (Rs 20 lakh), Nathu Singh (Rs 20 lakh), Colin Ingram (Rs 6.40 crore), Sherfane Rutherford (Rs 2 crore), Keemo Paul (Rs 50 lakh), Jalaj Saxena (Rs 20 lakh), Bandaru Ayyappa (Rs 20 lakh)

IPL 2019: Squad analysis of Delhi

Shikhar Dhawan said that Indian batsmen need to step up in the upcoming edition of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2019-all-teams-and-their-squad-list-185821#chennai-super-kings-185803">Indian Premier League</a> for Delhi Capitals.&nbsp;

Dhawan, who was traded from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem, also feels that the current squad of Delhi team is very balanced.&nbsp;

"In IPL, the team who wins the trophy is always the one who has the best balance in the squad," said Dhawan.&nbsp;

"Our team this year is also very balanced as we have good all-rounders, spinners and batsmen."

"The most important thing for us will be that our Indian batsmen play well and our top 4-5 batsmen are Indian, so I am expecting a great season ahead," Dhawan added.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2019-squad-analysis-of-delhi-capitals-201142">IPL 2019: Squad analysis of Delhi Capitals</a>

DC has never won the IPL title but this time, they seek a change in fortunes for the 2019 edition as the franchise's new owners have changed their name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
😱👏🤯😍<a href="https://twitter.com/ImIshant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImIshant</a> - kamaal karte ho bhai! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsNewDelhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisIsNewDelhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DelhiCapitals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DelhiCapitals</a> <a href="https://t.co/wJFOPDhnfa">pic.twitter.com/wJFOPDhnfa</a>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1107264067511730177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Middle of the bat! Behtareen...😍 
 
Iss season humaare skipper kitne 5⃣0⃣ maarenge? 😁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsNewDelhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisIsNewDelhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DelhiCapitals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DelhiCapitals</a> <a href="https://t.co/9QAtyoNkY4">pic.twitter.com/9QAtyoNkY4</a>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1107295153067188224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"It is like a second homecoming for me, and I am very excited to be a part of the Delhi Capitals for the IPL season. It is a very happy feeling for me to have come back to my home city of Delhi after spending 10 seasons away in the IPL," said Dhawan.&nbsp;

He continued, "Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium has been my home ground since my early days, and I will be doing my best to perform for the team as I know the conditions and pitches well.&nbsp;

"Apart from that, I will also be looking to help our younger players get used to the pressure of playing in such a big tournament, and hopefully I can spur them on to perform on the field to the best of their abilities."&nbsp;

For Sunday's practice T20 match, the squad was divided into two teams, one led by Rishabh Pant, who joined them over the weekend, and the other by Shreyas Iyer.&nbsp;

IPL, which is one of the world's most-watched sporting events, will kick-off from March 23.&nbsp;

Shikhar Dhawan said that Indian batsmen need to step up in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals. Dhawan, who was traded from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem, also feels that the current squad of Delhi team is very balanced.

Shikhar Dhawan said that Indian batsmen need to step up in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals. Dhawan, who was traded from Hyderabad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem, also feels that the current squad of Delhi team is very balanced. "In IPL, the team who wins the trophy is always the one who has the best balance in the squad," said Dhawan. "Our team this year is also very balanced as we have good all-rounders, spinners and batsmen." "The most important thing for us will be that our Indian batsmen play well and our top 4-5 batsmen are Indian, so I am expecting a great season ahead," Dhawan added. Also Read: IPL 2019: Squad analysis of Delhi Capitals DC has never won the IPL title but this time, they seek a change in fortunes for the 2019 edition as the franchise's new owners have changed their name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals. 😱👏🤯😍@ImIshant - kamaal karte ho bhai! #ThisIsNewDelhi #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/wJFOPDhnfa — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 17, 2019 × Middle of the bat! Behtareen...😍 Iss season humaare skipper kitne 5⃣0⃣ maarenge? 😁#ThisIsNewDelhi #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/9QAtyoNkY4 — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 17, 2019 × "It is like a second homecoming for me, and I am very excited to be a part of the Delhi Capitals for the IPL season. It is a very happy feeling for me to have come back to my home city of Delhi after spending 10 seasons away in the IPL," said Dhawan. He continued, "Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium has been my home ground since my early days, and I will be doing my best to perform for the team as I know the conditions and pitches well. "Apart from that, I will also be looking to help our younger players get used to the pressure of playing in such a big tournament, and hopefully I can spur them on to perform on the field to the best of their abilities." For Sunday's practice T20 match, the squad was divided into two teams, one led by Rishabh Pant, who joined them over the weekend, and the other by Shreyas Iyer. IPL, which is one of the world's most-watched sporting events, will kick-off from March 23.

Indian batsmen need to step up for Delhi Capitals to win IPL: Shikhar Dhawan

India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar said that the management wants a right-left combination to fire the top batting, hence left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays an important role in India batting plans with the ICC World Cup round the corner.

Dhawan has failed in 14 out of his 16 innings but Bangar feels that more than anything else, it's his shot selection that has let him down.

"In the previous game, he (Dhawan) was batting really well till he erred in shot selection. But from our point of view, he has been an important player," said Bangar.

"If we know that he gets going, he can give us that solidity as it is vital to have that right-left combination going. He is a hugely valuable player for us and he is expected to come good very soon," Bangar added.

Recently, Dhawan has been dropped from the top rank of India's annual contracts.

Bangar was also sympathetic for Ambati Rayudu, who Friday got a brilliant delivery from Pat Cummins.

"These games are valuable opportunities for all players concerned and even for us so that the players are at their utmost best when we go into the World Cup. Don't forget that in the last game in New Zealand, Rayudu scored a match-winning 90," Bangar said.

"Today's delivery that he got, could have gotten out any batsmen with that pace and low bounce. Players are expected to take chances and that's what we are expecting of every player," Bangar explained.

In the fourth match of the five-match series against Australia, India will look to win series in Mohali on Sunday.

India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar said that the management wants a right-left combination to fire the top batting, hence left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays an important role in India batting plans with the ICC World Cup round the corner.

India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar said that the management wants a right-left combination to fire the top batting, hence left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays an important role in India batting plans with the ICC World Cup round the corner. Dhawan has failed in 14 out of his 16 innings but Bangar feels that more than anything else, it's his shot selection that has let him down. "In the previous game, he (Dhawan) was batting really well till he erred in shot selection. But from our point of view, he has been an important player," said Bangar. "If we know that he gets going, he can give us that solidity as it is vital to have that right-left combination going. He is a hugely valuable player for us and he is expected to come good very soon," Bangar added. Recently, Dhawan has been dropped from the top rank of India's annual contracts. Bangar was also sympathetic for Ambati Rayudu, who Friday got a brilliant delivery from Pat Cummins. "These games are valuable opportunities for all players concerned and even for us so that the players are at their utmost best when we go into the World Cup. Don't forget that in the last game in New Zealand, Rayudu scored a match-winning 90," Bangar said. "Today's delivery that he got, could have gotten out any batsmen with that pace and low bounce. Players are expected to take chances and that's what we are expecting of every player," Bangar explained. In the fourth match of the five-match series against Australia, India will look to win series in Mohali on Sunday.

Shikhar Dhawan is vital as we need left-right combination at top going: Sanjay Bangar

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been dropped from the top rank of India's annual contracts with the board showing faith in young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant by handing him the second-most lucrative retainer.

BCCI's retainer structure has four grades with the top "A+" category, which was introduced last year, worth 70 million rupees ($998,730) a year.

Skipper and batting mainstay Virat Kohli, opening batsman Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah are the players in that bracket, which has been cut from five to three.

Kohli is the top-ranked batsman in the world in both tests and one-day internationals, while his ODI deputy Rohit is ranked a spot below him in the 50-over format.

Bumrah was one of the key contributors to India's maiden test series triumph in Australia and is currently ranked number one in the ODI bowlers' list.

Pant, 21, is one of 11 players who were grouped in the second grade with a retainership of 50 million rupees for the period from October 2018 to September 2019.

The hard-hitting batsman replaced the injured Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps in tests last year and scored a century during India's test series in England.

He underlined his worth further with an unbeaten 159 against Australia in Sydney at the beginning of the year and is seen as a long-term replacement for Mahendra Singh Dhoni in India's limited-overs sides.

Long-serving test opening batsman Murali Vijay has lost out on a contract after a poor year with the bat.

The world's richest cricket board will pay 30 million rupees to the players in the third grade while the final group has a retainership of 10 million.

BCCI's top tier for annual retainership for women has four players including Mithali Raj, who is the highest run-getter and most capped player in the world.

Raj and her three colleagues will be paid 5 million rupees for their contract.

BCCI men's contracts:

Grade A+ - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

Grade A - Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant

Grade B - Lokesh Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya

Grade C - Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Hanuma Vihari, Khaleel Ahmed, Wriddhiman Saha

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been dropped from the top rank of India's annual contracts with the board showing faith in young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant by handing him the second-most lucrative retainer.

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been dropped from the top rank of India's annual contracts with the board showing faith in young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant by handing him the second-most lucrative retainer. BCCI's retainer structure has four grades with the top "A+" category, which was introduced last year, worth 70 million rupees ($998,730) a year. Skipper and batting mainstay Virat Kohli, opening batsman Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah are the players in that bracket, which has been cut from five to three. Kohli is the top-ranked batsman in the world in both tests and one-day internationals, while his ODI deputy Rohit is ranked a spot below him in the 50-over format. Bumrah was one of the key contributors to India's maiden test series triumph in Australia and is currently ranked number one in the ODI bowlers' list. Pant, 21, is one of 11 players who were grouped in the second grade with a retainership of 50 million rupees for the period from October 2018 to September 2019. The hard-hitting batsman replaced the injured Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps in tests last year and scored a century during India's test series in England. He underlined his worth further with an unbeaten 159 against Australia in Sydney at the beginning of the year and is seen as a long-term replacement for Mahendra Singh Dhoni in India's limited-overs sides. Long-serving test opening batsman Murali Vijay has lost out on a contract after a poor year with the bat. The world's richest cricket board will pay 30 million rupees to the players in the third grade while the final group has a retainership of 10 million. BCCI's top tier for annual retainership for women has four players including Mithali Raj, who is the highest run-getter and most capped player in the world. Raj and her three colleagues will be paid 5 million rupees for their contract. BCCI men's contracts: Grade A+ - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah Grade A - Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant Grade B - Lokesh Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya Grade C - Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Hanuma Vihari, Khaleel Ahmed, Wriddhiman Saha

BCCI hands Pant lucrative central contract; Dhawan dropped from top rank

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second T20 international match against India at Bengaluru today.

The visitors went into the game with an unchanged squad, the hosts however, rested Rohit Sharma and brought in Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar to boost the batting line-up.

Australia chose to stick with four fast bowlers and leg-spinner Adam Zampa. India dropped Umesh Yadav and brought in Siddarth Kaul. Yadav faced the axe after giving away 14 runs in the final&nbsp;over as&nbsp;India lost by three wickets to Australia at Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

After a brisk start, India lost opener&nbsp;Lokesh Rahul with the hosts&nbsp;on 61 as Coulter-Nile stuck in the eight over.&nbsp;KL Rahul scored 47(26 balls) studded with four sixes and three boundaries. Skipper Virat Kohli joined Dhawan at the crease with India on 70/1 in 9 overs.

Squad:

India:

Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (capt), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Siddarth Kaul, Jasprit Bumrah

Australia:

D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb (wk), Ashton Turner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second T20 international match against India at Bengaluru today. The visitors went into the game with an unchanged squad, the hosts however, rested Rohit Sharma and brought in Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar to boost the batting line-up.

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second T20 international match against India at Bengaluru today. The visitors went into the game with an unchanged squad, the hosts however, rested Rohit Sharma and brought in Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar to boost the batting line-up. Australia chose to stick with four fast bowlers and leg-spinner Adam Zampa. India dropped Umesh Yadav and brought in Siddarth Kaul. Yadav faced the axe after giving away 14 runs in the final over as India lost by three wickets to Australia at Visakhapatnam on Sunday. After a brisk start, India lost opener Lokesh Rahul with the hosts on 61 as Coulter-Nile stuck in the eight over. KL Rahul scored 47(26 balls) studded with four sixes and three boundaries. Skipper Virat Kohli joined Dhawan at the crease with India on 70/1 in 9 overs. Squad: India: Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (capt), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Siddarth Kaul, Jasprit Bumrah Australia: D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb (wk), Ashton Turner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa

India vs Aus T20: Umesh Yadav dropped, Siddarth Kaul, Vijay Shankar in team

A suicide car bomber rammed an explosive-laden Mahindra Scorpio into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Thursday.&nbsp;

As per the latest reports, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/crpf-convoy-attacked-in-jammu-kashmirs-pulwama-death-toll-climbs-to-40-197468">attack left over 40 people dead</a> and injured dozens.&nbsp;

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind condemned the terrorist attack and said the entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil.&nbsp;

The attack took place at around 3.15 pm when the convoy was moving from Jammu to Srinagar, police sources said.&nbsp;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pulwama-terror-attack-condemnation-and-condolences-pour-in-from-across-india-over-killing-of-20-crpf-jawans-197442">entire country is in mourning</a> including the cricket fraternity who took to Twitter to send their condolences to the families of the martyrs.&nbsp;

Former cricketers like Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Mohammed Kaif have expressed grief over the attack.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/former-cricketer-virender-sehwag-condemns-pulwama-attack-197455">Virender Sehwag tweeted</a> on the incident with a hashtag #SudharJaaoWarnaSudhaarDenge.&nbsp;

He wrote on his Twitter account, "Really pained by the cowardly attack on our CRPF in J&amp;K in which our brave men have been martyred."&nbsp;

"No words are enough to describe the pain.&nbsp; I wish a speedy recovery to those injured," Sehwag added.&nbsp;

This is one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since Uri in September 2016.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Sad and pained to hear about the dastardly attack on our brave CRPF men in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pulwama?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pulwama</a> in which many of our jawans have been martyred . I pray for a quick and speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) <a href="https://twitter.com/VVSLaxman281/status/1096034164908982277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Laxman tweeted, "Sad and pained to hear about the dastardly attack on our brave CRPF men in Pulwama in which many of our jawans have been martyred."&nbsp;

"I pray for a quick and speedy recovery of those injured in the attack," Laxman added.&nbsp;

Suresh Raina said, "Appalled and deeply disturbed by the news of CRPF jawans killed in Kashmir's Pulwama. My thoughts and prayers with the martyrs' families."&nbsp;

"Deeply saddened and disturbed by the news. I condemn the terror attack in Pulwama. My condolences to the families of the jawans who sacrificed their lives," read&nbsp;Shikhar Dhawan's tweet. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Deeply saddened and disturbed by the news. I condemn the terror attack in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pulwama?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pulwama</a>. My condolences to the families of the jawans who sacrificed their lives.
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) <a href="https://twitter.com/SDhawan25/status/1096050754022850560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The convoy, comprising 70 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling, was targeted in Ladoora area on the new Expressway, CRPF Director General RP Bhatnagar told ANI.&nbsp;

The bus was extensively damaged in the blast which was followed by firing on the vehicle, he said.&nbsp;

The cause of the blast is being ascertained, Bhatnagar added. "We suffered damage to the vehicle and men," said a senior CRPF official.&nbsp;

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) SP Pani told reporters that it was a terror incident and an investigation is being conducted to ascertain the nature of the explosion.&nbsp;

"Yes, let’s talk with the separatists. Yes, let’s talk with Pakistan. But this time conversation can’t be on the table, it has to be in a battle ground. Enough is enough. 18 CRPF personnel killed in IED blast on Srinagar-Jammu highway,"&nbsp;Gautam Gambhir tweeted.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Yes, let’s talk with the separatists. Yes, let’s talk with Pakistan. But this time conversation can’t be on the table, it has to be in a battle ground. Enough is enough. 18 CRPF personnel killed in IED blast on Srinagar-Jammu highway <a href="https://t.co/aa0t0idiHY">https://t.co/aa0t0idiHY</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/EconomicTimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@economictimes</a>
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1096049537163112448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Really pained to hear about the attack on our #CRPF men who have been martyred in the attack in J&amp;K. I pray the coward attackers are taught a lesson at the earliest,"&nbsp;Mohammad Kaif tweeted.

A suicide car bomber rammed an explosive-laden Mahindra Scorpio into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Thursday.

A suicide car bomber rammed an explosive-laden Mahindra Scorpio into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Thursday. As per the latest reports, the attack left over 40 people dead and injured dozens. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind condemned the terrorist attack and said the entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil. The attack took place at around 3.15 pm when the convoy was moving from Jammu to Srinagar, police sources said. The entire country is in mourning including the cricket fraternity who took to Twitter to send their condolences to the families of the martyrs. Former cricketers like Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Mohammed Kaif have expressed grief over the attack. Virender Sehwag tweeted on the incident with a hashtag #SudharJaaoWarnaSudhaarDenge. He wrote on his Twitter account, "Really pained by the cowardly attack on our CRPF in J&K in which our brave men have been martyred." "No words are enough to describe the pain. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured," Sehwag added. This is one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since Uri in September 2016. Sad and pained to hear about the dastardly attack on our brave CRPF men in #Pulwama in which many of our jawans have been martyred . I pray for a quick and speedy recovery of those injured in the attack. — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 14, 2019 × Laxman tweeted, "Sad and pained to hear about the dastardly attack on our brave CRPF men in Pulwama in which many of our jawans have been martyred." "I pray for a quick and speedy recovery of those injured in the attack," Laxman added. Suresh Raina said, "Appalled and deeply disturbed by the news of CRPF jawans killed in Kashmir's Pulwama. My thoughts and prayers with the martyrs' families." "Deeply saddened and disturbed by the news. I condemn the terror attack in Pulwama. My condolences to the families of the jawans who sacrificed their lives," read Shikhar Dhawan's tweet. Deeply saddened and disturbed by the news. I condemn the terror attack in #Pulwama. My condolences to the families of the jawans who sacrificed their lives. — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 14, 2019 × The convoy, comprising 70 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling, was targeted in Ladoora area on the new Expressway, CRPF Director General RP Bhatnagar told ANI. The bus was extensively damaged in the blast which was followed by firing on the vehicle, he said. The cause of the blast is being ascertained, Bhatnagar added. "We suffered damage to the vehicle and men," said a senior CRPF official. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) SP Pani told reporters that it was a terror incident and an investigation is being conducted to ascertain the nature of the explosion. "Yes, let’s talk with the separatists. Yes, let’s talk with Pakistan. But this time conversation can’t be on the table, it has to be in a battle ground. Enough is enough. 18 CRPF personnel killed in IED blast on Srinagar-Jammu highway," Gautam Gambhir tweeted. Yes, let’s talk with the separatists. Yes, let’s talk with Pakistan. But this time conversation can’t be on the table, it has to be in a battle ground. Enough is enough. 18 CRPF personnel killed in IED blast on Srinagar-Jammu highway https://t.co/aa0t0idiHY via @economictimes — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 14, 2019 × "Really pained to hear about the attack on our #CRPF men who have been martyred in the attack in J&K. I pray the coward attackers are taught a lesson at the earliest," Mohammad Kaif tweeted.

Cricket fraternity condemn terrorist attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu & Kashmir's Pulwama

New Zealand dismissed India's top five players in quick succession to dominate the fourth ODI on Thursday.

With just 13 overs into the game, India has already lost six wickets and have made just 35 runs.&nbsp;

Put into bat, 'Men In Blue' lost opener Shikhar Dhawan for just 13 runs. Minutes later, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma also lost his wicket for seven.&nbsp;

Both the openers were dismissed by Trent Boult, taking India's score to 23 for the loss of two wickets after eight overs.

But the damage did not stop there as Colin de Grandhomme struck twice to put his side in a commanding position. He first dismissed Rayudu and took Karthik's wickets in two successive deliveries.&nbsp;

Boult struck again to dismiss Shubman Gill, then young sensation who proved his cricketing prowess against Australia in Tests. It is his ODI debut game.&nbsp;

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and invited India to bat first in the fourth ODI on Thursday.

After six overs, India's score stands at 21 for loss of one wicket.&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma is leading the team in absence of Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the last two ODIs.

Young Shubman Gill will make his debut for India, while left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has replaced Mohammed Shami.&nbsp;

MS Dhoni is still not fit and will miss this ODI also. &nbsp;India are 3-0 up in the five-match series.

Teams: 
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Khaleel Ahmed.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.&nbsp;

New Zealand dismissed India's top five players in quick succession to dominate the fourth ODI on Thursday. With just 13 overs into the game, India has already lost six wickets and have made just 35 runs.

New Zealand dismissed India's top five players in quick succession to dominate the fourth ODI on Thursday. With just 13 overs into the game, India has already lost six wickets and have made just 35 runs. Put into bat, 'Men In Blue' lost opener Shikhar Dhawan for just 13 runs. Minutes later, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma also lost his wicket for seven. Both the openers were dismissed by Trent Boult, taking India's score to 23 for the loss of two wickets after eight overs. But the damage did not stop there as Colin de Grandhomme struck twice to put his side in a commanding position. He first dismissed Rayudu and took Karthik's wickets in two successive deliveries. Boult struck again to dismiss Shubman Gill, then young sensation who proved his cricketing prowess against Australia in Tests. It is his ODI debut game. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and invited India to bat first in the fourth ODI on Thursday. After six overs, India's score stands at 21 for loss of one wicket. Rohit Sharma is leading the team in absence of Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the last two ODIs. Young Shubman Gill will make his debut for India, while left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has replaced Mohammed Shami. MS Dhoni is still not fit and will miss this ODI also. India are 3-0 up in the five-match series. Teams: India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Khaleel Ahmed. New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.

4th ODI: India lose six wickets for 35 runs after 13 overs

India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma Thursday said the performance against New Zealand in the fourth ODI was one of the worst performances with the bat.

Electing to field, Kiwi pacer Trent Boult displayed a phenomenal spell of bowling and clinched five wickets while Colin de Grandhomme's disciplined bowling wreaked havoc in India's batting line-up to bowl them out for mere 92.

Despite having a long batting line-up, India failed miserably as only two batsmen, Shikhar Dhawan (13) and Hardik Pandya (16), managed to reach double digits.

It was the lower order chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (15) and leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who contributed with the bat and scored 15 and unbeaten 18 runs respectively to raise the target.&nbsp;

Speaking after losing the game, Rohit said, "One of our worst performances with the bat in a long, long time. Something we didn't expect. You got to give credit to the NZ bowlers."&nbsp;

"At times, you need to absorb pressure (when asked about how to bat in swinging conditions). We need to blame ourselves for it. Things were looking good at that stage. It was about applying ourselves," he added.

"We played some bad shots as well. It`s always challenging when the ball is swinging. Having a good run in the limited formats for a number of series. Everyone knows what went wrong. When you are playing for your country, you try to give your best. Good teams usually keep ticking the boxes and today we didn't tick the right boxes," Rohit concluded.

India were reeling at 55/8 when Kuldeep and Chahal forged a small but crucial 25-run partnership. Chahal was also the top-scorer for India.

The host chased down the target in just 14.4 overs to end their losing streak. The five-match series is now 3-1 with the last ODI being played on Sunday. &nbsp;

India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma Thursday said the performance against New Zealand in the fourth ODI was one of the worst performances with the bat. Electing to field, Kiwi pacer Trent Boult displayed a phenomenal spell of bowling and clinched five wickets while Colin de Grandhomme's disciplined bowling wreaked havoc in India's batting line-up to bowl them out for mere 92.

India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma Thursday said the performance against New Zealand in the fourth ODI was one of the worst performances with the bat. Electing to field, Kiwi pacer Trent Boult displayed a phenomenal spell of bowling and clinched five wickets while Colin de Grandhomme's disciplined bowling wreaked havoc in India's batting line-up to bowl them out for mere 92. Despite having a long batting line-up, India failed miserably as only two batsmen, Shikhar Dhawan (13) and Hardik Pandya (16), managed to reach double digits. It was the lower order chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (15) and leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who contributed with the bat and scored 15 and unbeaten 18 runs respectively to raise the target. Speaking after losing the game, Rohit said, "One of our worst performances with the bat in a long, long time. Something we didn't expect. You got to give credit to the NZ bowlers." "At times, you need to absorb pressure (when asked about how to bat in swinging conditions). We need to blame ourselves for it. Things were looking good at that stage. It was about applying ourselves," he added. "We played some bad shots as well. It`s always challenging when the ball is swinging. Having a good run in the limited formats for a number of series. Everyone knows what went wrong. When you are playing for your country, you try to give your best. Good teams usually keep ticking the boxes and today we didn't tick the right boxes," Rohit concluded. India were reeling at 55/8 when Kuldeep and Chahal forged a small but crucial 25-run partnership. Chahal was also the top-scorer for India. The host chased down the target in just 14.4 overs to end their losing streak. The five-match series is now 3-1 with the last ODI being played on Sunday.

IND vs NZ: One of our worst performances with the bat, says Rohit after losing 4th ODI

INDvsNZ, 2nd ODI: India register biggest ODI victory in New Zealand, here are major takeaways from match

Opener Shikhar Dhawan on Friday said the fast-tracking of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill into the Indian team shows that the upcoming talent is "maturing" faster than ever before, increasing competition within the team.&nbsp;

While Shaw made his Test debut in October, Gill earned a maiden call-up for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Both batsmen had starred in India's triumphant campaign in the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand 12 months ago.&nbsp;

Ahead of the World Cup, the competition within the team is fierce, especially in the middle-order.&nbsp;

"I think the youngsters are maturing really quickly in Indian cricket and that creates a lot of competition in the team, everyone has to be on their toes," Dhawan said ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand here on Saturday.&nbsp;

"Someone like a Prithvi Shaw, the way he came into the Test team and scored a century and 70 runs against the West Indies, it shows that our bench strength is also very good. So even among the 15 (squad members), we have very high competition."&nbsp;

On the personal front, the opener is back among runs following a lean run in the ODI series against Australia. En route his unbeaten 75 on Wednesday, Dhawan completed 5000 runs in the 50-over format.&nbsp;

"The milestone (5000 runs) means that I'm playing well and I am grateful for it," he said.

Did he make any changes to his game from the ODIs in Australia? "I think Australian and New Zealand conditions are quite similar. I feel that I'm an experienced player now, I came here a few years ago. So you know what to do and what not to do (in New Zealand). I know my technique suits all sorts of wickets, so I just back myself.

"I haven't worked on any footwork or technique specifically for New Zealand and even if I have, I won't tell. Once you are experienced, your mind is calm and at ease."

On his stand with captain Virat Kohli at Napier, he said: "The good thing about batting with Virat is that we rotate the strike very well and that is one thing that keeps up the pressure (on opposition)."

Upon their arrival in Tauranga, the Indian team was welcomed with the traditional Haka dance. Dhawan loved the experience.

"I like embracing other cultures. The Haka dance is famous in New Zealand and to watch it here, it was a totally different experience and I am very grateful that the locals came and performed the Haka here.&nbsp;

"The entire team enjoyed it, we took their blessings and we hope these blessings will work for us tomorrow," Dhawan added.&nbsp;

Opener Shikhar Dhawan on Friday said the fast-tracking of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill into the Indian team shows that the upcoming talent is "maturing" faster than ever before, increasing competition within the team.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan on Friday said the fast-tracking of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill into the Indian team shows that the upcoming talent is "maturing" faster than ever before, increasing competition within the team. While Shaw made his Test debut in October, Gill earned a maiden call-up for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Both batsmen had starred in India's triumphant campaign in the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand 12 months ago. Ahead of the World Cup, the competition within the team is fierce, especially in the middle-order. "I think the youngsters are maturing really quickly in Indian cricket and that creates a lot of competition in the team, everyone has to be on their toes," Dhawan said ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand here on Saturday. "Someone like a Prithvi Shaw, the way he came into the Test team and scored a century and 70 runs against the West Indies, it shows that our bench strength is also very good. So even among the 15 (squad members), we have very high competition." On the personal front, the opener is back among runs following a lean run in the ODI series against Australia. En route his unbeaten 75 on Wednesday, Dhawan completed 5000 runs in the 50-over format. "The milestone (5000 runs) means that I'm playing well and I am grateful for it," he said. Did he make any changes to his game from the ODIs in Australia? "I think Australian and New Zealand conditions are quite similar. I feel that I'm an experienced player now, I came here a few years ago. So you know what to do and what not to do (in New Zealand). I know my technique suits all sorts of wickets, so I just back myself. "I haven't worked on any footwork or technique specifically for New Zealand and even if I have, I won't tell. Once you are experienced, your mind is calm and at ease." On his stand with captain Virat Kohli at Napier, he said: "The good thing about batting with Virat is that we rotate the strike very well and that is one thing that keeps up the pressure (on opposition)." Upon their arrival in Tauranga, the Indian team was welcomed with the traditional Haka dance. Dhawan loved the experience. "I like embracing other cultures. The Haka dance is famous in New Zealand and to watch it here, it was a totally different experience and I am very grateful that the locals came and performed the Haka here. "The entire team enjoyed it, we took their blessings and we hope these blessings will work for us tomorrow," Dhawan added.

Competition within Indian team getting stiffer: Shikhar Dhawan

India defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the first ODI, which was reduced to 49 overs because of sun, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Anchored by Shikhar Dhawan's patient half-century, India chased down the target of 156 runs set by the host in just 34.5 overs at the McLean Park, Napier on Wednesday.

He remained unbeaten at 75 along with Ambati Rayadu who contributed 13 runs. Skipper Virat Kohli also made 45 runs but lost his wicket five runs short to his half-century to Lockie Ferguson. His inning included three boundaries.

Earlier, Indian openers gave India the required start before Rohit Sharma lost his wicket, soon after the dinner break. &nbsp;He was dismissed off Doug Bracewell after making just 11 runs.

In bowling, India's left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav clinched four wickets to restrict New Zealand to a paltry 157. The host innings ended in just 38 overs with skipper Kane Williamson scoring the highest runs.

Williamson slammed a brilliant half-century to put up a decent fight but failed to find any partner at the other end as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. He lost his wicket at 64 while trying to hit a big shot.&nbsp;

At a point, right-arm leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had dismissed Ross Taylor and wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham in quick succession to put India in a &nbsp;dominating position. Kedar Jadhav too managed to take a wicket, thanks to a brilliant catch by Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp;

Pacer Mohammed Shami struck twice to dismiss New Zealand's openers early. Later, he took one more wicket to take his count to three.&nbsp;

Opting to bat, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill and Colin Munro for five and eight runs respectively. Both the players suffered the same fate and were clean bowled by Shami.&nbsp;

India defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the first ODI, which was reduced to 49 overs because of sun, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Anchored by Shikhar Dhawan's patient half-century, India chased down the target of 156 runs set by the host in just 34.

India defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the first ODI, which was reduced to 49 overs because of sun, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Anchored by Shikhar Dhawan's patient half-century, India chased down the target of 156 runs set by the host in just 34.5 overs at the McLean Park, Napier on Wednesday. He remained unbeaten at 75 along with Ambati Rayadu who contributed 13 runs. Skipper Virat Kohli also made 45 runs but lost his wicket five runs short to his half-century to Lockie Ferguson. His inning included three boundaries. Earlier, Indian openers gave India the required start before Rohit Sharma lost his wicket, soon after the dinner break. He was dismissed off Doug Bracewell after making just 11 runs. In bowling, India's left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav clinched four wickets to restrict New Zealand to a paltry 157. The host innings ended in just 38 overs with skipper Kane Williamson scoring the highest runs. Williamson slammed a brilliant half-century to put up a decent fight but failed to find any partner at the other end as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. He lost his wicket at 64 while trying to hit a big shot. At a point, right-arm leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had dismissed Ross Taylor and wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham in quick succession to put India in a dominating position. Kedar Jadhav too managed to take a wicket, thanks to a brilliant catch by Kuldeep Yadav. Pacer Mohammed Shami struck twice to dismiss New Zealand's openers early. Later, he took one more wicket to take his count to three. Opting to bat, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill and Colin Munro for five and eight runs respectively. Both the players suffered the same fate and were clean bowled by Shami.

Dhawan's unbeaten 75 helps India beat New Zealand by 8 wickets in 1st ODI

shikhar-dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan, News on Shikhar Dhawan, stories on Shikhar Dhawan, articles on Shikhar Dhawan, Shikhar Dhawan stories at Wion, Shikhar Dhawan news, Shikhar Dhawan latest news

shikhar dhawan