The cricketing action will continue in the IPL 2022 edition as the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be up against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the&nbsp;Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Wednesday evening (April 06).

So far, both sides have had contrasting seasons. While the KKR outfit opened their campaign with a bang, courtesy a six-wicket win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), they lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a low-scoring thriller before returning to winning ways in their previous game, versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS). With momentum on their side, they will start as favourites against the experienced MI line-up, who remain winless after two games.

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Despite starting with an upper hand, KKR will be wary of the fact that they need to bring out their A-game against the Mumbai Paltan, who had a staggering 22-7 head-to-head tally versus the Knights in 29 face-offs. KKR can also draw some inspiration from their last clash versus MI, in IPL 2021's UAE leg, where they beat MI by seven wickets.&nbsp;

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Predicting KKR's XI vs MI

While some can argue that KKR need not change their line-up after a win in their previous outing, Pat Cummins' availability is likely to see his inclusion straightaway. Cummins' slot was filled by Kiwi speedster Tim Southee, with five wickets in two outings, and, thus, Shivam Mavi is likely to way make for the Aussie Test captain.

It will be interesting to see if KKR go ahead with Sam Billings, who has scored some runs but his strike rate is on the lower side, or Sheldon Jackson (with a golden duck and run-a-ball 3 not out). Nonetheless, the latter outscores Billings with the gloves. With Cummins' entry, Billings' place looks in threat.

KKR's likely playing XI:&nbsp;Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sheldon Jackson, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

The cricketing action will continue in the IPL 2022 edition as the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be up against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Wednesday evening (April 06).

The cricketing action will continue in the IPL 2022 edition as the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be up against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Wednesday evening (April 06). So far, both sides have had contrasting seasons. While the KKR outfit opened their campaign with a bang, courtesy a six-wicket win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), they lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a low-scoring thriller before returning to winning ways in their previous game, versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS). With momentum on their side, they will start as favourites against the experienced MI line-up, who remain winless after two games. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: RCB join MI, CSK and KKR in elite list, becomes 4th team to win 100 games after RR heist Despite starting with an upper hand, KKR will be wary of the fact that they need to bring out their A-game against the Mumbai Paltan, who had a staggering 22-7 head-to-head tally versus the Knights in 29 face-offs. KKR can also draw some inspiration from their last clash versus MI, in IPL 2021's UAE leg, where they beat MI by seven wickets. ALSO READ | KKR vs MI, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians match? Predicting KKR's XI vs MI While some can argue that KKR need not change their line-up after a win in their previous outing, Pat Cummins' availability is likely to see his inclusion straightaway. Cummins' slot was filled by Kiwi speedster Tim Southee, with five wickets in two outings, and, thus, Shivam Mavi is likely to way make for the Aussie Test captain. It will be interesting to see if KKR go ahead with Sam Billings, who has scored some runs but his strike rate is on the lower side, or Sheldon Jackson (with a golden duck and run-a-ball 3 not out). Nonetheless, the latter outscores Billings with the gloves. With Cummins' entry, Billings' place looks in threat. KKR's likely playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sheldon Jackson, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

IPL 2022: Will Pat Cummins get a look-in for Shreyas Iyer & Co.? Predicting KKR's playing XI for MI clash

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer for his terrific leadership skills in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Iyer was roped in by KKR for a sum of Rs 12.25 crore (INR 122.5 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction in February this year after being released by his former side Delhi Capitals (DC).

Iyer has had a fantastic start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders as he has already led his side to two wins in their first three games of the season. Iyer-led KKR defeated Chennai Super Kings in their opening game of the season before slipping to a defeat against RCB in their next game.

However, KKR bounced&nbsp;back to winnings ways&nbsp;with a comprehensive victory against Punjab Kings in their last outing. Speaking about Iyer's captaincy so far in IPL 2022, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded the Team India star and said he is making a strong case for the captaincy of the Indian team in the future.

"Iyer is not putting pressure on the IPL with his captaincy, he is making a serious case for Team India's captaincy as well. He wants to cement his place in the Indian team and lead it as well. He is proving his worth," Akhtar was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.

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Iyer was roped in as the captain of the Delhi Capitals midway through the IPL season in 2018 and has since been a revelation as a leader in the tournament. He led Delhi to their first-ever final in the year 2020 before being replaced by Rishabh Pant as captain last year which promoted him to leave the franchise.

Though Iyer is yet to be part of the Indian team's leadership group, his leadership qualities have ensured he is touted as one of the future captains of the Indian side. Akhtar wants Iyer to continue leading KKR by example and scoring runs with his bat this season.

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"He should continue to score runs and lead the team well, and I believe he will become a big brand in the near future. Rahane has to deliver. KKR should not give up on Rahane so soon. Hopefully, he will perform," said the former Pakistan pacer.

KKR will look to bag their third win of the season when they lock horns with Mumbai Indians in their next game at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday (April 06).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer for his terrific leadership skills in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer for his terrific leadership skills in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Iyer was roped in by KKR for a sum of Rs 12.25 crore (INR 122.5 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction in February this year after being released by his former side Delhi Capitals (DC). Iyer has had a fantastic start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders as he has already led his side to two wins in their first three games of the season. Iyer-led KKR defeated Chennai Super Kings in their opening game of the season before slipping to a defeat against RCB in their next game. However, KKR bounced back to winnings ways with a comprehensive victory against Punjab Kings in their last outing. Speaking about Iyer's captaincy so far in IPL 2022, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded the Team India star and said he is making a strong case for the captaincy of the Indian team in the future. "Iyer is not putting pressure on the IPL with his captaincy, he is making a serious case for Team India's captaincy as well. He wants to cement his place in the Indian team and lead it as well. He is proving his worth," Akhtar was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda. Also Read: KKR vs MI, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians match? Iyer was roped in as the captain of the Delhi Capitals midway through the IPL season in 2018 and has since been a revelation as a leader in the tournament. He led Delhi to their first-ever final in the year 2020 before being replaced by Rishabh Pant as captain last year which promoted him to leave the franchise. Though Iyer is yet to be part of the Indian team's leadership group, his leadership qualities have ensured he is touted as one of the future captains of the Indian side. Akhtar wants Iyer to continue leading KKR by example and scoring runs with his bat this season. Also Read: IPL media rights: Apple, Amazon and other big names set to battle it out "He should continue to score runs and lead the team well, and I believe he will become a big brand in the near future. Rahane has to deliver. KKR should not give up on Rahane so soon. Hopefully, he will perform," said the former Pakistan pacer. KKR will look to bag their third win of the season when they lock horns with Mumbai Indians in their next game at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday (April 06).

Shreyas Iyer making a serious case for India captaincy: Shoaib Akhtar lauds KKR skipper for proving his worth

A lot has changed in Indian cricket post the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Since then, Rohit Sharma has taken charge of Team India across formats whereas Rahul Dravid succeeded Ravi Shastri as the head coach of the senior men's team. While the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha have been dropped from the Test side, youngsters such as Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Md Siraj and KL Rahul are rising in stature with each series.&nbsp;

Talking about Pant, the 24-year-old has seen massive growth in his international career since the India-Australia 2020-21 series Down Under. Since then, he has scored runs across all forms of the game and improved immensely as a wicketkeeper. Recently, India's batting coach Vikram Rathour heaped praise on the Indian youngster and feels that he is now a matured cricketer who cannot be dropped easily.&nbsp;

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In this regard, Rathour told The Week, "He has suddenly grown up. Rohit and Dravid are in the saddle now, and he knows he is an important player in the India setup. He has now matured as a player. He is getting better and better, but there is still a long way to cover."

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Rathour also feels that Pant has it in him to succeed MS Dhoni and become the next finisher for Team India. Following Dhoni's international retirement, the role of a finisher has been fulfilled by the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, however, Rathour feels Pant is suited to make an impact lower down the order (despite being experimented to bat at No. 4).

"He will be a finisher at number five or six, he knows that. Nobody is pushing him to get a hundred in ODIs. He will always be an impact player and if he is consistently getting 40-50 and winning it for the team, then that is fine," Rathour added.

Pant is currently involved with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2022 edition. Under him, DC have won and lost a game each after their opening two encounters in the 15th season.

A lot has changed in Indian cricket post the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Since then, Rohit Sharma has taken charge of Team India across formats whereas Rahul Dravid succeeded Ravi Shastri as the head coach of the senior men's team.

A lot has changed in Indian cricket post the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Since then, Rohit Sharma has taken charge of Team India across formats whereas Rahul Dravid succeeded Ravi Shastri as the head coach of the senior men's team. While the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha have been dropped from the Test side, youngsters such as Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Md Siraj and KL Rahul are rising in stature with each series. Talking about Pant, the 24-year-old has seen massive growth in his international career since the India-Australia 2020-21 series Down Under. Since then, he has scored runs across all forms of the game and improved immensely as a wicketkeeper. Recently, India's batting coach Vikram Rathour heaped praise on the Indian youngster and feels that he is now a matured cricketer who cannot be dropped easily. ALSO READ | 'I was talking to Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni' - Rishabh Pant recalls his tough phase before miraculous comeback In this regard, Rathour told The Week, "He has suddenly grown up. Rohit and Dravid are in the saddle now, and he knows he is an important player in the India setup. He has now matured as a player. He is getting better and better, but there is still a long way to cover." ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reveals what he would do first if he woke up as Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo Rathour also feels that Pant has it in him to succeed MS Dhoni and become the next finisher for Team India. Following Dhoni's international retirement, the role of a finisher has been fulfilled by the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, however, Rathour feels Pant is suited to make an impact lower down the order (despite being experimented to bat at No. 4). "He will be a finisher at number five or six, he knows that. Nobody is pushing him to get a hundred in ODIs. He will always be an impact player and if he is consistently getting 40-50 and winning it for the team, then that is fine," Rathour added. Pant is currently involved with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2022 edition. Under him, DC have won and lost a game each after their opening two encounters in the 15th season.

Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid are in the saddle now: Vikram Rathour heaps praise on Indian youngster

Shreyas Iyer has had a great start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. KKR have won two of their first three matches so far this season and are currently sitting on the top of the points table with four points. Iyer has been exceptional as a leader but is yet to fire with the bat.

On Friday, KKR defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets to bag their second win of the season after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with 33 balls to spare. However, Iyer once again failed to make a significant contribution as he was dismissed on 26 off 15 balls.

After getting dismissed trying to go big against spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in KKR's last game against RCB, Iyer once again fell prey to spin in the game against Punjab. Iyer tried to take on leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and was caught by Kagiso Rabada on 26 off 15 balls against Punjab on Friday.

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Former India cricketer and notable commentator Aakash Chopra has issued a warning to Iyer amid his struggles against spin and said the KKR skipper needs to 'get his act together'. Chopra said Iyer cannot get out trying to play shots like the one he played against Chahar on Friday.

"Shreyas Iyer seems to have an issue with leg-spinners. It looks at the ball and seems he wants to hit a six. Last match he got out to (Wanindu) Hasaranga. He's too good a player to play shots like these get out. Yes, Shreyas, you got to get your act together," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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Iyer has so far scored 59 runs in three matches for KKR and will be hoping to get a big score under his belt soon. While he has not yet fired with the bat, KKR have enjoyed a great start to the season under his captaincy and will be looking to make it three wins in five matches when they take on Mumbai Indians in their next game on Wednesday (April 06).

Shreyas Iyer has had a great start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. KKR have won two of their first three matches so far this season and are currently sitting on the top of the points table with four points.

Shreyas Iyer has had a great start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. KKR have won two of their first three matches so far this season and are currently sitting on the top of the points table with four points. Iyer has been exceptional as a leader but is yet to fire with the bat. On Friday, KKR defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets to bag their second win of the season after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with 33 balls to spare. However, Iyer once again failed to make a significant contribution as he was dismissed on 26 off 15 balls. After getting dismissed trying to go big against spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in KKR's last game against RCB, Iyer once again fell prey to spin in the game against Punjab. Iyer tried to take on leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and was caught by Kagiso Rabada on 26 off 15 balls against Punjab on Friday. Also Read: GT vs DC, IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals match today? Former India cricketer and notable commentator Aakash Chopra has issued a warning to Iyer amid his struggles against spin and said the KKR skipper needs to 'get his act together'. Chopra said Iyer cannot get out trying to play shots like the one he played against Chahar on Friday. "Shreyas Iyer seems to have an issue with leg-spinners. It looks at the ball and seems he wants to hit a six. Last match he got out to (Wanindu) Hasaranga. He's too good a player to play shots like these get out. Yes, Shreyas, you got to get your act together," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. Also Read: Jos Buttler slams first century of IPL 2022 for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians Iyer has so far scored 59 runs in three matches for KKR and will be hoping to get a big score under his belt soon. While he has not yet fired with the bat, KKR have enjoyed a great start to the season under his captaincy and will be looking to make it three wins in five matches when they take on Mumbai Indians in their next game on Wednesday (April 06).

IPL 2022: 'Get your act together': Ex-India cricketer tells Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Shreyas Iyer`s journey as a captain has been remarkable and that Kolkata Knight Riders` future is bright under the leadership of this dynamic Indian cricketer. Iyer was appointed the captain of KKR ahead of IPL 2022 and he impressed everyone with the way he led the side so far. After an opening victory, Kolkata Knight Riders succumbed to a six-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the second match of this season, in which their batting failed to click at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign with a five-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium last Sunday. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said during an episode of `Cricket Live` on Star Sports: "Shreyas Iyer is a brilliant captain. Remember, he picked up captaincy midway through the season like Rohit Sharma who was named Mumbai Indians` captain halfway through the season in IPL 2013. For Delhi Capitals, Shreyas started well under the supervision of coach Ricky Ponting and he kept improving his decision-making skills in his first stint as captain."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-vs-pbks-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings-match-467369">KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match?</a>

"But his captaincy moves are coming to the fore prominently in this season and we will talk more about it as the tournament progresses. He`s a players` captain. He backs the players at every turn and which is a good sign of a leader. The future of Kolkata is bright under his supervision and we`ve seen glimpses of it in the first couple of games," Irfan&nbsp;added.

In the next round of fixtures, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will clash with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday here at the Wankhede Stadium.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Shreyas Iyer`s journey as a captain has been remarkable and that Kolkata Knight Riders` future is bright under the leadership of this dynamic Indian cricketer.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Shreyas Iyer`s journey as a captain has been remarkable and that Kolkata Knight Riders` future is bright under the leadership of this dynamic Indian cricketer. Iyer was appointed the captain of KKR ahead of IPL 2022 and he impressed everyone with the way he led the side so far. After an opening victory, Kolkata Knight Riders succumbed to a six-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the second match of this season, in which their batting failed to click at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign with a five-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium last Sunday. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said during an episode of `Cricket Live` on Star Sports: "Shreyas Iyer is a brilliant captain. Remember, he picked up captaincy midway through the season like Rohit Sharma who was named Mumbai Indians` captain halfway through the season in IPL 2013. For Delhi Capitals, Shreyas started well under the supervision of coach Ricky Ponting and he kept improving his decision-making skills in his first stint as captain." ALSO READ | KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match? "But his captaincy moves are coming to the fore prominently in this season and we will talk more about it as the tournament progresses. He`s a players` captain. He backs the players at every turn and which is a good sign of a leader. The future of Kolkata is bright under his supervision and we`ve seen glimpses of it in the first couple of games," Irfan added. In the next round of fixtures, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will clash with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday here at the Wankhede Stadium.

IPL 2022: Future of KKR is bright under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, says former all-rounder Irfan Pathan

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 6 of the IPL 2022 edition on Wednesday evening (March 30). After a terrific start to the 15th season, beating the defending champions and five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK), KKR fought hard versus Faf du Plessis-led RCB before falling short to lose a low-scoring thriller by three wickets.

Being asked to bat first, at the&nbsp;Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai, KKR franchise were bundled out for 128 in 18.5 overs as the big guns such as Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, captain Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sam Billings, etc. couldn't make the most of their chances in the middle. With the ball in hand, KKR kept RCB on the toes -- courtesy Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee -- before Sunil Narine curtailed the run-flow.

While many praised Shreyas Iyer for his leadership and bowling changes, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer feels he missed a trick by not making Nitish Rana bowl in the middle overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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"I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not bowl Nitish Rana when there were two left-handers there and Chakravarthy was clearly struggling against them. One or two overs from Rana would have meant that Russell wouldn't have had to bowl. He could have bowled Venkatesh Iyer earlier if Russell was struggling. Things could have been a little bit different if he had saved Chakravathy's over there and used it for right-handers.

"Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee made a match out of it by getting RCB 17/3 in the powerplay. KKR would have had a better chance if Chakravarthy had bowled better," the former cricketer-turned-expert Jaffer said on&nbsp;ESPNCricinfo.

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After this loss, KKR will now face the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 2 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The two-time winners will now like to move past the missed opportunities versus RCB and return to winning ways versus the Punjab franchise.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 6 of the IPL 2022 edition on Wednesday evening (March 30). After a terrific start to the 15th season, beating the defending champions and five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK), KKR fought hard versus Faf du Plessis-led RCB before falling short to lose a low-scoring thriller by three wickets.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 6 of the IPL 2022 edition on Wednesday evening (March 30). After a terrific start to the 15th season, beating the defending champions and five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK), KKR fought hard versus Faf du Plessis-led RCB before falling short to lose a low-scoring thriller by three wickets. Being asked to bat first, at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai, KKR franchise were bundled out for 128 in 18.5 overs as the big guns such as Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, captain Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sam Billings, etc. couldn't make the most of their chances in the middle. With the ball in hand, KKR kept RCB on the toes -- courtesy Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee -- before Sunil Narine curtailed the run-flow. While many praised Shreyas Iyer for his leadership and bowling changes, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer feels he missed a trick by not making Nitish Rana bowl in the middle overs. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: MS Dhoni on cusp of joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in T20 elite list "I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not bowl Nitish Rana when there were two left-handers there and Chakravarthy was clearly struggling against them. One or two overs from Rana would have meant that Russell wouldn't have had to bowl. He could have bowled Venkatesh Iyer earlier if Russell was struggling. Things could have been a little bit different if he had saved Chakravathy's over there and used it for right-handers. "Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee made a match out of it by getting RCB 17/3 in the powerplay. KKR would have had a better chance if Chakravarthy had bowled better," the former cricketer-turned-expert Jaffer said on ESPNCricinfo. ALSO READ | Dinesh Karthik is as close as it gets to MS Dhoni: Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher after KKR win After this loss, KKR will now face the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 2 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The two-time winners will now like to move past the missed opportunities versus RCB and return to winning ways versus the Punjab franchise.

'I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not...': Wasim Jaffer on KKR captain's decision-making vs RCB

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a perfect start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a thumping win over Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season. KKR rode on impressive performances from the likes of Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane to beat CSK by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

After kicking off their journey with a victory under new captain Shreyas Iyer, KKR will be keen on continuing their winning run when they lock horns with Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the season at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 30).

Umesh was the pick of the bowlers for KKR against CSK as the veteran Indian pacer redeemed himself in style after struggling in the past couple of seasons in the IPL. Umesh dismissed CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway cheaply in the Powerplay to finish with excellent figures of 2/20 in his 4 overs and is likely to spearhead the pace attack one against his former team RCB.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/truth-is-bitter-parthiv-patel-shares-cryptic-tweet-after-his-comments-on-kohli-bumrah-go-viral-466890">'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral</a>

Apart from Umesh, spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were also excellent for KKR as the duo maintained a brilliant economy rate to restrict CSK on a low-key total. They will be looking to continue their fine form against RCB on Wednesday.

Rahane, who too has struggled in the IPL over the last few seasons, played a brilliant knock of 44 runs against CSK in KKR's opener and is likely to continue opening with Venkatesh Iyer with Narine playing the finisher's role in the middle-order. KKR played against CSK with only 3 overseas players in the XI but might make a change against RCB.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-who-will-win-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-466843">IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?</a>

KKR might rope in New Zealand pacer Tim Southee in place of Shivam Mavi to further strengthen their pace attack. Sri Lanka all-rounder&nbsp;Chamika Karunaratne might also be in contention to get a spot in the XI but Southee remains a favourite to replace Mavi, who went for runs against CSK.

KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 clash against RCB:

Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a perfect start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a thumping win over Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a perfect start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a thumping win over Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season. KKR rode on impressive performances from the likes of Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane to beat CSK by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After kicking off their journey with a victory under new captain Shreyas Iyer, KKR will be keen on continuing their winning run when they lock horns with Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the season at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 30). Umesh was the pick of the bowlers for KKR against CSK as the veteran Indian pacer redeemed himself in style after struggling in the past couple of seasons in the IPL. Umesh dismissed CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway cheaply in the Powerplay to finish with excellent figures of 2/20 in his 4 overs and is likely to spearhead the pace attack one against his former team RCB. Also Read: 'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral Apart from Umesh, spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were also excellent for KKR as the duo maintained a brilliant economy rate to restrict CSK on a low-key total. They will be looking to continue their fine form against RCB on Wednesday. Rahane, who too has struggled in the IPL over the last few seasons, played a brilliant knock of 44 runs against CSK in KKR's opener and is likely to continue opening with Venkatesh Iyer with Narine playing the finisher's role in the middle-order. KKR played against CSK with only 3 overseas players in the XI but might make a change against RCB. Also Read: IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match? KKR might rope in New Zealand pacer Tim Southee in place of Shivam Mavi to further strengthen their pace attack. Sri Lanka all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne might also be in contention to get a spot in the XI but Southee remains a favourite to replace Mavi, who went for runs against CSK. KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 clash against RCB: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

IPL 2022: Venkatesh Iyer to continue opening with Ajinkya Rahane? KKR's predicted playing XI for RCB clash

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be up against the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 6 of the IPL 2022 edition on Wednesday evening (March 30). After losing their season-opener to Punjab Kings (PBKS), the RCB camp will be eager to turn the tables and get off the mark in the points table.

Talking about RCB's first game, they were asked to bat first at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai versus the Punjab franchise. Despite a measured start, RCB exploded in the last ten overs courtesy fireworks from Faf du Plessis (88), Virat Kohli (41*) and Dinesh Karthik's majestic 14-ball 32 not out. While their batters had a ball in the last ten overs, RCB bowlers conceded plenty in the death overs to concede the game to PBKS, in defence of 205/2.

The batting will once again be spearheaded by captain Faf, Virat, DK whereas the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, David Willey, Wanindu Hasarange, etc. will aim to contribute with some lusty blows. RCB's main worry will be their bowlers. Having the advantage of playing at the same venue, they will be expected to come up with better plans and use the dimensions of the ground wisely.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-who-will-win-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-466843">RCB vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?</a>

Predicting RCB's XI for KKR clash: While the manner of defeat against PBKS would have hurt RCB, given they should've defended the tall score, the Bengaluru-based franchise shouldn't worry much as it is just the start of the season. Thus, they should ideally refrain from making wholesome changes. Finn Allen's power-hitting and all-round services can come in handy but it won't be fair to make&nbsp;Sherfane or one among Willey-Hasarange warm the bench&nbsp;after just one game. The rest of the&nbsp;line-up should also be persisted before Glenn Maxwell-Josh Hazlewood become available.

Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be up against the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 6 of the IPL 2022 edition on Wednesday evening (March 30).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be up against the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 6 of the IPL 2022 edition on Wednesday evening (March 30). After losing their season-opener to Punjab Kings (PBKS), the RCB camp will be eager to turn the tables and get off the mark in the points table. Talking about RCB's first game, they were asked to bat first at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai versus the Punjab franchise. Despite a measured start, RCB exploded in the last ten overs courtesy fireworks from Faf du Plessis (88), Virat Kohli (41*) and Dinesh Karthik's majestic 14-ball 32 not out. While their batters had a ball in the last ten overs, RCB bowlers conceded plenty in the death overs to concede the game to PBKS, in defence of 205/2. The batting will once again be spearheaded by captain Faf, Virat, DK whereas the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, David Willey, Wanindu Hasarange, etc. will aim to contribute with some lusty blows. RCB's main worry will be their bowlers. Having the advantage of playing at the same venue, they will be expected to come up with better plans and use the dimensions of the ground wisely. ALSO READ | RCB vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match? Predicting RCB's XI for KKR clash: While the manner of defeat against PBKS would have hurt RCB, given they should've defended the tall score, the Bengaluru-based franchise shouldn't worry much as it is just the start of the season. Thus, they should ideally refrain from making wholesome changes. Finn Allen's power-hitting and all-round services can come in handy but it won't be fair to make Sherfane or one among Willey-Hasarange warm the bench after just one game. The rest of the line-up should also be persisted before Glenn Maxwell-Josh Hazlewood become available. Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

IPL 2022: Will RCB remain unchanged after PBKS loss? Predicting Faf du Plessis & Co.'s playing XI for KKR tie

Match 6 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (March 30).&nbsp;

This will be the second game for both the franchises in the 15th season. While the new edition has just began, KKR will be confident with their spirited start as they romped past the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Everything clicked for the KKR unit, with early strikes from the pacers to spinners choking the CSK batters before their batters led them to an easy win.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rr-captain-sanju-samson-gives-cheeky-reply-to-danny-marrisons-title-drought-question-post-srh-win-466833">IPL 2022: RR captain Sanju Samson gives cheeky reply to Danny Marrison's title-drought question post SRH win</a>

If one has to be critical and point out a few flaws, KKR bowlers did go for a few in the last few overs as CSK managed to post 131 for 5. At one stage, it seemed they would be restricted to anything below 120. On the other hand, KKR closed the run-chase in the penultimate over. Nonetheless, it was a big win and the newly-formed KKR franchise made a statement in their first encounter.&nbsp;

On the other hand, similar problems persist&nbsp;with the RCB franchise. The three-time runners-up rode on fine knocks from skipper Faf du Plessis (88), Virat Kohli's 29-ball 41* and Dinesh Karthik's 14-ball 32 not out to post 205-2 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first in their season-opener versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Nonetheless, their death-bowling didn't stand up as RCB conceded the game in the final over, losing by five wickets.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-rjasthan-royals-vs-sunrisers-hyderabad-clash-466775">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad clash</a>

Match prediction for KKR vs RCB clash:&nbsp;The venue is expected to remain good&nbsp;for batters. Expect some big hits from the likes of Faf, Kohli, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Karthik, Venkatesh Iyer, etc. Both teams will fancy bowling first. If RCB lose the toss and are made to bowl second, their death-bowling will once again be challenged. On the other hand, KKR have variety in their bowling department, which gives them a certain edge for the encounter.

Match 6 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (March 30).

Match 6 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (March 30). This will be the second game for both the franchises in the 15th season. While the new edition has just began, KKR will be confident with their spirited start as they romped past the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Everything clicked for the KKR unit, with early strikes from the pacers to spinners choking the CSK batters before their batters led them to an easy win. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: RR captain Sanju Samson gives cheeky reply to Danny Marrison's title-drought question post SRH win If one has to be critical and point out a few flaws, KKR bowlers did go for a few in the last few overs as CSK managed to post 131 for 5. At one stage, it seemed they would be restricted to anything below 120. On the other hand, KKR closed the run-chase in the penultimate over. Nonetheless, it was a big win and the newly-formed KKR franchise made a statement in their first encounter. On the other hand, similar problems persist with the RCB franchise. The three-time runners-up rode on fine knocks from skipper Faf du Plessis (88), Virat Kohli's 29-ball 41* and Dinesh Karthik's 14-ball 32 not out to post 205-2 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first in their season-opener versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Nonetheless, their death-bowling didn't stand up as RCB conceded the game in the final over, losing by five wickets. ALSO READ | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad clash Match prediction for KKR vs RCB clash: The venue is expected to remain good for batters. Expect some big hits from the likes of Faf, Kohli, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Karthik, Venkatesh Iyer, etc. Both teams will fancy bowling first. If RCB lose the toss and are made to bowl second, their death-bowling will once again be challenged. On the other hand, KKR have variety in their bowling department, which gives them a certain edge for the encounter.

RCB vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?

South Africa legend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar AB de Villiers has predicted the winner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). CSK will lock horns with KKR in the first game of the IPL 2022 season at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday (March 26).

Both CSK and KKR have had a change in their leadership ahead of the IPL 2022 opener. While MS Dhoni has stepped down as captain to hand over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja, KKR have a new skipper in Shreyas Iyer this time around. Both teams will also be missing some of their key players for the first game of the season.

CSK will be without pacer Deepak Chahar and star all-rounder Moeen Ali while KKR will miss the services of both Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch. Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated clash between the two sides, De Villiers has backed CSK to beat KKR and get off to a winning start this season.

De Villiers pointed out how CSK have a quite similar team from their title-winning campaign last year and Dhoni stepping aside as captain doesn't affect them much. The South Africa legend said CSK know how to win games and the experience in their squad will help them in crossing the line against KKR at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csk-vs-kkr-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-465662">IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

“CSK all the way. They come off that confidence from winning the last IPL. They have a similar team set-up even though (MS) Dhoni is not captain. I don’t think it’s going to play a big role. He’s still on the park and he’s still got the brain. He’ll be in Jaddu’s ears, thinking about strategies and some field placings," said De Villiers on&nbsp;VUSport Scouts.

“They have a lot of experience and they just know how to cross the line and win games. They know how to go into first games and how to go into last games. There have been a lot of changes in the KKR squad. I think CSK will take the first game," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-expect-me-in-strategy-meetings-former-ipl-coach-recalls-his-first-conversation-with-ms-dhoni-465675">'Don't expect me in strategy meetings': Former IPL coach recalls his first conversation with MS Dhoni</a>

De Villiers is not a part of IPL 2022 as he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this year. The South African great will go down as one of the greatest to have played in the IPL but will regret that fact that he never managed to lift the IPL trophy despite having an illustrious career.

&nbsp;

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South Africa legend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar AB de Villiers has predicted the winner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

South Africa legend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar AB de Villiers has predicted the winner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). CSK will lock horns with KKR in the first game of the IPL 2022 season at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday (March 26). Both CSK and KKR have had a change in their leadership ahead of the IPL 2022 opener. While MS Dhoni has stepped down as captain to hand over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja, KKR have a new skipper in Shreyas Iyer this time around. Both teams will also be missing some of their key players for the first game of the season. CSK will be without pacer Deepak Chahar and star all-rounder Moeen Ali while KKR will miss the services of both Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch. Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated clash between the two sides, De Villiers has backed CSK to beat KKR and get off to a winning start this season. De Villiers pointed out how CSK have a quite similar team from their title-winning campaign last year and Dhoni stepping aside as captain doesn't affect them much. The South Africa legend said CSK know how to win games and the experience in their squad will help them in crossing the line against KKR at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Also Read: IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads “CSK all the way. They come off that confidence from winning the last IPL. They have a similar team set-up even though (MS) Dhoni is not captain. I don’t think it’s going to play a big role. He’s still on the park and he’s still got the brain. He’ll be in Jaddu’s ears, thinking about strategies and some field placings," said De Villiers on VUSport Scouts. “They have a lot of experience and they just know how to cross the line and win games. They know how to go into first games and how to go into last games. There have been a lot of changes in the KKR squad. I think CSK will take the first game," he added. Also Read: 'Don't expect me in strategy meetings': Former IPL coach recalls his first conversation with MS Dhoni De Villiers is not a part of IPL 2022 as he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this year. The South African great will go down as one of the greatest to have played in the IPL but will regret that fact that he never managed to lift the IPL trophy despite having an illustrious career.

'They know how to win games': AB de Villiers predicts winner of IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR

It will mark a new dawn in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer lead their respective teams out in the opening game of IPL 2022 on Saturday (March 26). While Jadeja will be in charge of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) having replaced the legendary MS Dhoni at the helm, Iyer will be captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the first time.

The two teams had last met in the final of IPL 2022 last year where CSK came out on top against KKR to lift their fourth IPL trophy. Dhoni is no more in charge of the side but will continue being a leader in the CSK squad and play as a pure wicket-keeper batter this season.

Eoin Morgan, who had led KKR to the final last season, is no more part of the squad. KKR have revamped their team significantly with the additions of the likes of Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sam Billings, Chamika Karunaratne and Aaron Finch among others this time around.

CSK, meanwhile have managed to retain their core squad from their title-winning campaign last year as they have managed to get back the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Robin Uthappa among others. Both teams will be missing the services of a couple of their key players in the opener.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-chennai-super-kings-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-465639">CSK vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?</a>

While CSK will be without the services of injured Deepak Chahar and all-rounder Moeen Ali due to quarantine guidelines, KKR will not have Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for their first game of the season. Nonetheless, both teams will be looking to make a winning start to their campaign at the Wankhede Stadium.

Here is all you need to know about IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR:

Head to head:

Chennai Super Kings hold a clear edge over the Kolkata Knight Riders when it comes to the head to head record between the two sides. CSK have won a staggering 14 time in 25 meetings between the two teams so far in the IPL. KKR have just eight wins to their name against CSK.

Stats:

Former CSK captain MS Dhoni holds the record for most runs against KKR by any CSK batter in the current squad. Dhoni has 501 runs in 29 matches against KKR. KKR's Andre Russell is the highest run-getter against CSK from the current KKR squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-and-virat-kohli-share-a-heartwarming-hug-as-legends-catch-up-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-watch-465629">MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a heartwarming hug as legends catch up ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH</a>

Trivia:

Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders last met in the final of the Indian Premier League in 2021. MS Dhoni-led CSK defeated KKR by 27 runs in the final to lift their fourth IPL trophy at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

Squads:

Chennai Super Kings: Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Devon Conway, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana, Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Hari Nishanth, N Jagadeesan, Subhranshu Senapati, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, KM Asif, Simarjeet Singh, Bhagath Varma

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umesh Yadav, Rasikh Salam, Mohammad Nabi, Sheldon Jackson, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar 
&nbsp;

It will mark a new dawn in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer lead their respective teams out in the opening game of IPL 2022 on Saturday (March 26).

It will mark a new dawn in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer lead their respective teams out in the opening game of IPL 2022 on Saturday (March 26). While Jadeja will be in charge of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) having replaced the legendary MS Dhoni at the helm, Iyer will be captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the first time. The two teams had last met in the final of IPL 2022 last year where CSK came out on top against KKR to lift their fourth IPL trophy. Dhoni is no more in charge of the side but will continue being a leader in the CSK squad and play as a pure wicket-keeper batter this season. Eoin Morgan, who had led KKR to the final last season, is no more part of the squad. KKR have revamped their team significantly with the additions of the likes of Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sam Billings, Chamika Karunaratne and Aaron Finch among others this time around. CSK, meanwhile have managed to retain their core squad from their title-winning campaign last year as they have managed to get back the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Robin Uthappa among others. Both teams will be missing the services of a couple of their key players in the opener. Also Read: CSK vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match? While CSK will be without the services of injured Deepak Chahar and all-rounder Moeen Ali due to quarantine guidelines, KKR will not have Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for their first game of the season. Nonetheless, both teams will be looking to make a winning start to their campaign at the Wankhede Stadium. Here is all you need to know about IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR: Head to head: Chennai Super Kings hold a clear edge over the Kolkata Knight Riders when it comes to the head to head record between the two sides. CSK have won a staggering 14 time in 25 meetings between the two teams so far in the IPL. KKR have just eight wins to their name against CSK. Stats: Former CSK captain MS Dhoni holds the record for most runs against KKR by any CSK batter in the current squad. Dhoni has 501 runs in 29 matches against KKR. KKR's Andre Russell is the highest run-getter against CSK from the current KKR squad. Also Read: MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a heartwarming hug as legends catch up ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH Trivia: Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders last met in the final of the Indian Premier League in 2021. MS Dhoni-led CSK defeated KKR by 27 runs in the final to lift their fourth IPL trophy at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. Squads: Chennai Super Kings: Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Devon Conway, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana, Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Hari Nishanth, N Jagadeesan, Subhranshu Senapati, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, KM Asif, Simarjeet Singh, Bhagath Varma Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umesh Yadav, Rasikh Salam, Mohammad Nabi, Sheldon Jackson, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar

IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads

Kolkata Knight Riders made a huge investment in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions when they picked up Shreyas Iyer and gave him the captaincy for this season. Iyer was a top performer for India in the series against Sri Lanka and he will be looking to continue his great run. <o:p></o:p>

KKR also got back Australia Test captain Pat Cummins after releasing him ahead of the auction. Cummins joined the side in 2020. In the buildup&nbsp;to final Test against Pakistan, the fast bowler opened up about his experience of sharing the dressing room with Shreyas during IPL 2017.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kumar-sangakkara-calls-indian-cricketer-one-of-the-best-t20-players-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464317" hreflang="en">Sangakkara calls Indian cricketer 'one of the best T20 players' ahead of IPL</a>

"Shreyas, I played with (him) at Delhi (Daredevils), we got on really well. He seems like a very calm guy and seems in form at the moment. I'm so excited to go over there, I have some close friends I will be playing alongside, can't wait," Cummins said during a pre-match press conference in Lahore.<o:p></o:p>

Cummins also weighed in on the performance of KKR in the auctions this year and said that the team made the right choice by retaining the core group players and coaching support staff.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-kohli-or-rohit-shreyas-iyer-picks-kl-rahul-as-his-favourite-captain-explains-why-464258" hreflang="en">Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain</a><o:p></o:p>

"Really excited. It's been great that most of the squad has been able to kept together. So, most of the players and staff know really well," he added during the press interaction.<o:p></o:p>

Cummins will not be available for KKR towards the start of the season due to the ongoing series against Pakistan. KKR will play their first game against CSK in the tournament opener on March 26.<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders made a huge investment in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions when they picked up Shreyas Iyer and gave him the captaincy for this season.

Kolkata Knight Riders made a huge investment in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions when they picked up Shreyas Iyer and gave him the captaincy for this season. Iyer was a top performer for India in the series against Sri Lanka and he will be looking to continue his great run. KKR also got back Australia Test captain Pat Cummins after releasing him ahead of the auction. Cummins joined the side in 2020. In the buildup to final Test against Pakistan, the fast bowler opened up about his experience of sharing the dressing room with Shreyas during IPL 2017. Also read | Sangakkara calls Indian cricketer 'one of the best T20 players' ahead of IPL "Shreyas, I played with (him) at Delhi (Daredevils), we got on really well. He seems like a very calm guy and seems in form at the moment. I'm so excited to go over there, I have some close friends I will be playing alongside, can't wait," Cummins said during a pre-match press conference in Lahore. Cummins also weighed in on the performance of KKR in the auctions this year and said that the team made the right choice by retaining the core group players and coaching support staff. Also read | Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain "Really excited. It's been great that most of the squad has been able to kept together. So, most of the players and staff know really well," he added during the press interaction. Cummins will not be available for KKR towards the start of the season due to the ongoing series against Pakistan. KKR will play their first game against CSK in the tournament opener on March 26.

Pat Cummins opens up about sharing dressing room with Shreyas Iyer ahead of IPL 2022

Team India star Shreyas Iyer recently picked KL Rahul as his favourite captain and explained the reason behind the same. Iyer, who has become an integral member of the Indian team across formats with his impressive performances recently, is himself seen as one of the potential leaders of the Indian team going forward.

Iyer has already proved the mettle of his captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) having led his former side Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in the 2020 season. Iyer, who left DC ahead of IPL 2022, has been roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their new captain ahead of the upcoming season.

Iyer, who played under Rahul's captaincy for the Indian team during the ODI series against South Africa last year, said the star batter is an outstanding player and has a calm demeanour as a leader. Iyer said Rahul was the first captain to give him a chance to bowl for India which no other captain had done before which is why he was his favourite.

“It was nice to play under him. Firstly, he is an outstanding player. The confidence he carries on the field and in the team meetings, the support that he provides to the players is great," Iyer said while speaking on the Red Bull clubhouse.

"He’s got a very calm demeanour and his on-field decision making is very instinctive. I really enjoyed playing under him. Also, he gave me three overs of bowling, which none of the captains previously had done. So yeah, he’s my favourite captain," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction - WATCH">Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Rahul had led the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma during the ODI series against South Africa. However, India failed to win even a single game in the three-match series under Rahul's captaincy in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Proteas.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t-natarajan-breaks-a-stump-into-two-as-sunrisers-hyderabad-pacer-breathes-fire-ahead-of-ipl-2022-watch-464044">&nbsp;T Natarajan breaks a stump into two as Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer breathes fire ahead of IPL 2022&nbsp;</a>

Nonetheless, Iyer, who has played under the likes of Virat Kohli and current skipper Rohit, decided to pick Rahul as his favourite captain among all. While Iyer will be leading his new side KKR in IPL 2022 this year, Rahul will also be leading his new team Lucknow Super Giants after being roped in for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million) at the mega auction last month.

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Team India star Shreyas Iyer recently picked KL Rahul as his favourite captain and explained the reason behind the same. Iyer, who has become an integral member of the Indian team across formats with his impressive performances recently, is himself seen as one of the potential leaders of the Indian team going forward.

Team India star Shreyas Iyer recently picked KL Rahul as his favourite captain and explained the reason behind the same. Iyer, who has become an integral member of the Indian team across formats with his impressive performances recently, is himself seen as one of the potential leaders of the Indian team going forward. Iyer has already proved the mettle of his captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) having led his former side Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in the 2020 season. Iyer, who left DC ahead of IPL 2022, has been roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their new captain ahead of the upcoming season. Iyer, who played under Rahul's captaincy for the Indian team during the ODI series against South Africa last year, said the star batter is an outstanding player and has a calm demeanour as a leader. Iyer said Rahul was the first captain to give him a chance to bowl for India which no other captain had done before which is why he was his favourite. “It was nice to play under him. Firstly, he is an outstanding player. The confidence he carries on the field and in the team meetings, the support that he provides to the players is great," Iyer said while speaking on the Red Bull clubhouse. "He’s got a very calm demeanour and his on-field decision making is very instinctive. I really enjoyed playing under him. Also, he gave me three overs of bowling, which none of the captains previously had done. So yeah, he’s my favourite captain," he added. Also Read: Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction Rahul had led the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma during the ODI series against South Africa. However, India failed to win even a single game in the three-match series under Rahul's captaincy in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Proteas. Also Read: T Natarajan breaks a stump into two as Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer breathes fire ahead of IPL 2022 Nonetheless, Iyer, who has played under the likes of Virat Kohli and current skipper Rohit, decided to pick Rahul as his favourite captain among all. While Iyer will be leading his new side KKR in IPL 2022 this year, Rahul will also be leading his new team Lucknow Super Giants after being roped in for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million) at the mega auction last month.

Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why

India continued their dominant run as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the second and final Test of the two-match series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday (March 14). Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin ran through the Sri Lankan batting line-up as the visitors were skittled out for 208 runs while chasing the target of 447 runs in their second innings.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne slammed a fighting hundred as he notched up 107 runs off 174 deliveries and was well supported by Kusal Mendis, who scored 54 runs as Sri Lanka produced a resilient effort with the bat in their second innings of the pink-ball Test. However, the duo's efforts were not enough to get the visitors over the line in the tricky run-chase.

Bumrah, who had picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings followed it up with three important wickets during Sri Lanka's second innings. Ashwin bagged a four-wicket haul to run through the visitors' lower order as Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. clean swept the series 2-0 with yet another huge win.

This is India's record-extending 15th successive Test series win at home and Rohit's first as the captain of the side. The Hitman has had a fantastic start to his stint as India's full-time captain across all three formats with series wins against the likes of New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka at home so far.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-will-end-up-being-one-of-the-greats-like-ms-dhoni-for-team-india-says-dinesh-karthik-462195">Rishabh Pant will end up being one of the greats like MS Dhoni for Team India, says Dinesh Karthik</a>

While Bumrah shone with the ball, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant impressed with the bat for India. Iyer slammed a brilliant 92-run knock in the first innings to help India post a fighting total of 252 runs on a difficult pitch for the batters. He followed it up with a quickfire 67 runs in India's second innings.

Pant slammed the fastest fifty by an Indian in Tests as he notched up&nbsp;50 off 31 balls in India's second innings to help the hosts post a total 303/9 (declared). With 303 runs in their second innings, India handed a target of 447 runs to Sri Lanka in their second innings after bundling them out for a paltry 109 runs in their first innings.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-love-his-game-legendary-kapil-dev-heaps-praise-on-ravindra-jadeja-after-his-heroics-against-sri-lanka-462182">'I love his game': Legendary Kapil Dev heaps praise on Ravindra Jadeja after his heroics against Sri Lanka</a>

Despite the century from skipper Karunaratne and a fighting fifty from Mendis, Sri Lanka were never in the run-chase but managed to cross the 200-run mark in their second innings. The visitors folded for 208 runs to lose the game by 238 runs as they remained winless in the series.

India continued their dominant run as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the second and final Test of the two-match series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday (March 14).

India continued their dominant run as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the second and final Test of the two-match series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday (March 14). Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin ran through the Sri Lankan batting line-up as the visitors were skittled out for 208 runs while chasing the target of 447 runs in their second innings. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne slammed a fighting hundred as he notched up 107 runs off 174 deliveries and was well supported by Kusal Mendis, who scored 54 runs as Sri Lanka produced a resilient effort with the bat in their second innings of the pink-ball Test. However, the duo's efforts were not enough to get the visitors over the line in the tricky run-chase. Bumrah, who had picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings followed it up with three important wickets during Sri Lanka's second innings. Ashwin bagged a four-wicket haul to run through the visitors' lower order as Rohit Sharma & Co. clean swept the series 2-0 with yet another huge win. This is India's record-extending 15th successive Test series win at home and Rohit's first as the captain of the side. The Hitman has had a fantastic start to his stint as India's full-time captain across all three formats with series wins against the likes of New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka at home so far. Also Read: Rishabh Pant will end up being one of the greats like MS Dhoni for Team India, says Dinesh Karthik While Bumrah shone with the ball, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant impressed with the bat for India. Iyer slammed a brilliant 92-run knock in the first innings to help India post a fighting total of 252 runs on a difficult pitch for the batters. He followed it up with a quickfire 67 runs in India's second innings. Pant slammed the fastest fifty by an Indian in Tests as he notched up 50 off 31 balls in India's second innings to help the hosts post a total 303/9 (declared). With 303 runs in their second innings, India handed a target of 447 runs to Sri Lanka in their second innings after bundling them out for a paltry 109 runs in their first innings. Also Read: 'I love his game': Legendary Kapil Dev heaps praise on Ravindra Jadeja after his heroics against Sri Lanka Despite the century from skipper Karunaratne and a fighting fifty from Mendis, Sri Lanka were never in the run-chase but managed to cross the 200-run mark in their second innings. The visitors folded for 208 runs to lose the game by 238 runs as they remained winless in the series.

India thrash Sri Lanka by 238 runs to register 2-0 clean sweep, record 15th straight Test series win at home

Rohit Sharma went on to clean sweep his maiden Test series as a skipper as India beat Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the Day-Night Test match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to sweep the two-match series 2-0.

In challenging conditions to bat under the lights the Indian batters struggled but Shreyas Iyer's strategy to attack paid him rich dividends as he top-scored for India in both innings scoring 92 and 67.

His superlative performance helped him earn the 'Player of the Match'&nbsp;award as well as the praise of his skipper.

"Shreyas just carried on from where he left off in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. He seemed to carry that form into the Test series. He knew he was stepping into the big shoes of guys like Rahane and Pujara, but he has everything that he requires. He will be better now when he starts travelling," said Indian captain Virat Kohli.

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Ravindra Jadeja was India's star performer in the previous match in Mohali performing with both bat and ball.

"We have seen Jadeja grow as a batter and he seems to get better and better. He strengthens the team, and he's also improving as a bowler. And he`s a gun fielder, so he is a complete package," told Rohit Sharma.

Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant played a knock of 39 of 26 balls in the first innings and scored the fastest Test half-century by an Indian in a Test match breaking Kapil Dev's record of achieving the same in 30 balls way back in 1982 against Pakistan in Karachi.

Pant also affected five dismissals in the match.

His all-around performance in the series helped him bag the 'Player of the Series' award.

"Rishabh seems to get better with each game that he plays. Especially in these conditions. We saw it in the England series (last year) and now. A couple of catches and stumpings showed how confident he is," said Rohit Sharma.

India were playing its third Test match on home soil and they have won all three inside three days.

"It's been a good run and I have enjoyed it personally and as a team. We wanted to achieve a few things as a team, and we have done that. Pink-ball Tests are challenging. We never knew what it was like to play with the pink ball in India, but we are learning to make those adjustments. The crowd just makes it more special," told Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma went on to clean sweep his maiden Test series as a skipper as India beat Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the Day-Night Test match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to sweep the two-match series 2-0.

Rohit Sharma went on to clean sweep his maiden Test series as a skipper as India beat Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the Day-Night Test match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to sweep the two-match series 2-0. In challenging conditions to bat under the lights the Indian batters struggled but Shreyas Iyer's strategy to attack paid him rich dividends as he top-scored for India in both innings scoring 92 and 67. His superlative performance helped him earn the 'Player of the Match' award as well as the praise of his skipper. "Shreyas just carried on from where he left off in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. He seemed to carry that form into the Test series. He knew he was stepping into the big shoes of guys like Rahane and Pujara, but he has everything that he requires. He will be better now when he starts travelling," said Indian captain Virat Kohli. ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant will end up being one of the greats like MS Dhoni for Team India, says Dinesh Karthik Ravindra Jadeja was India's star performer in the previous match in Mohali performing with both bat and ball. "We have seen Jadeja grow as a batter and he seems to get better and better. He strengthens the team, and he's also improving as a bowler. And he`s a gun fielder, so he is a complete package," told Rohit Sharma. Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant played a knock of 39 of 26 balls in the first innings and scored the fastest Test half-century by an Indian in a Test match breaking Kapil Dev's record of achieving the same in 30 balls way back in 1982 against Pakistan in Karachi. Pant also affected five dismissals in the match. His all-around performance in the series helped him bag the 'Player of the Series' award. "Rishabh seems to get better with each game that he plays. Especially in these conditions. We saw it in the England series (last year) and now. A couple of catches and stumpings showed how confident he is," said Rohit Sharma. India were playing its third Test match on home soil and they have won all three inside three days. "It's been a good run and I have enjoyed it personally and as a team. We wanted to achieve a few things as a team, and we have done that. Pink-ball Tests are challenging. We never knew what it was like to play with the pink ball in India, but we are learning to make those adjustments. The crowd just makes it more special," told Rohit Sharma.

Shreyas Iyer knew he was stepping into big shoes of Rahane and Pujara, says skipper Rohit Sharma

Star batter Shreyas Iyer continued his magnificent run in India's second innings of the ongoing pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Iyer slammed back-to-back half-centuries in both innings of the Test match to become the first Indian to achieve a rare feat in a pink-ball game.

After slamming a brilliant knock of 92 runs in India's first innings, Iyer followed it up with another half-century in their second innings on Day 2 of the Test match. The in-form batter scored a quickfire 67 off 87 deliveries as he helped India post a total of 303/9 (declared) in their second innings to&nbsp;hand Sri Lanka a target of 447 runs.

With his twin half-centuries in the two innings, Iyer achieved a rare feat as he became the first Indian batter to score a half-century in both innings of a pink-ball Test match. He also became only the fourth player in the world after the likes of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to achieve the rare feat.

Players with two half-centuries in a pink-ball Test:

Darren Bravo v Pakistan, Dubai, 2016 
Steve Smith v Pakistan, Brisbane, 2016 
M Labuschagne v New Zealand, Perth, 2019 
M Labuschagne v England, Adelaide, 2021 
Shreyas Iyer v Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, 2022

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After bundling out Sri Lanka for a platry 109 runs in their first innings to amass a healthy lead of 143 runs, Indian batters produced an improved show in their second innings. While skipper Rohit Sharma (46) and Hanuma Vihari (35) contributed with vital knocks, Pant and Iyer slammed half-centuries apiece.

India declared their second innings on 303/9 before inviting Sri Lanka to chase 447 runs in their second innings. The hosts are in a strong position in the Test match and need just nine wickets with three days to play to win the game and register a 2-0 clean sweep.

Star batter Shreyas Iyer continued his magnificent run in India's second innings of the ongoing pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Star batter Shreyas Iyer continued his magnificent run in India's second innings of the ongoing pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Iyer slammed back-to-back half-centuries in both innings of the Test match to become the first Indian to achieve a rare feat in a pink-ball game. After slamming a brilliant knock of 92 runs in India's first innings, Iyer followed it up with another half-century in their second innings on Day 2 of the Test match. The in-form batter scored a quickfire 67 off 87 deliveries as he helped India post a total of 303/9 (declared) in their second innings to hand Sri Lanka a target of 447 runs. With his twin half-centuries in the two innings, Iyer achieved a rare feat as he became the first Indian batter to score a half-century in both innings of a pink-ball Test match. He also became only the fourth player in the world after the likes of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to achieve the rare feat. Players with two half-centuries in a pink-ball Test: Darren Bravo v Pakistan, Dubai, 2016 Steve Smith v Pakistan, Brisbane, 2016 M Labuschagne v New Zealand, Perth, 2019 M Labuschagne v England, Adelaide, 2021 Shreyas Iyer v Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, 2022 Also Read: WATCH: Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli win hearts with their gesture for Suranga Lakmal during pink-ball Test After bundling out Sri Lanka for a platry 109 runs in their first innings to amass a healthy lead of 143 runs, Indian batters produced an improved show in their second innings. While skipper Rohit Sharma (46) and Hanuma Vihari (35) contributed with vital knocks, Pant and Iyer slammed half-centuries apiece. India declared their second innings on 303/9 before inviting Sri Lanka to chase 447 runs in their second innings. The hosts are in a strong position in the Test match and need just nine wickets with three days to play to win the game and register a 2-0 clean sweep.

Shreyas Iyer becomes first Indian to achieve rare feat with twin half-centuries in pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka ended day two on 28-1 in their second innings after India set them a mammoth target of 447 for victory in the second and final test on Sunday.

Jasprit Bumrah struck in the first over to trap opener Lahiru Thirimanne lbw for a duck but skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (10) and Kusal Mendis (16) saw out the final few overs of the day, with the tourists still 419 runs behind.

Having bowled out Sri Lanka for 109 in the first session, India batted 69 overs before declaring on 303-9 with Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant notching up half-centuries while other Indian batsmen failed to go on from solid starts.

Skipper Rohit Sharma, playing his 400th international match, holed out in the deep to fall four runs short of his fifty while Hanuma Vihari (35) was bowled by spinner Praveen Jayawickrama as he tried to sweep.

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Jayawickrama struck again to surprise Virat Kohli (13) with a delivery that turned sharply and kept low, trapping him lbw in identical fashion to his dismissal in the first innings.

Kohli gave a wry smile as silence descended on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with a near-capacity crowd hoping to see the former captain and star of the IPL franchise end his century drought.

But Pant took the game away from the Lankans by going after the bowling as soon as he walked to the crease, bringing up his fifty with seven fours and two sixes.

Made from 28 balls, his half-century was the fastest by an Indian batsman, breaking the record set by Kapil Dev 40 years ago, before he skied a delivery from Jayawickrama who took the catch himself.

Iyer helped guide India to a lead beyond 400 with his second half-century of the match to add to his fine knock of 92 on a turning track in the first innings.

With nine boundaries, Iyer looked comfortable at the crease before he was outfoxed by a Lasith Embuldeniya delivery that rapped him on the pads and sent him back to the pavilion for 67.

"It was quite challenging. A kind of wicket where any ball could get you out. It will be challenging for Sri Lanka tomorrow as well," Vihari said.

"I don't think we planned on bowling this evening. But because we lost wickets, we thought we could have a crack at them for 35-40 minutes."

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Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, playing in his final match before retirement, went wicketless in the second innings but he led the tourists off the field, with India coach Rahul Dravid also shaking his hand.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had resumed day two on 86-6 but their resistance lasted only 27 minutes as Bumrah (5-24) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-30) cleaned up the tail.

Bumrah claimed his eighth five-wicket haul and his first on home soil on a pitch heavily favouring spinners.

Sri Lanka ended day two on 28-1 in their second innings after India set them a mammoth target of 447 for victory in the second and final test on Sunday. Jasprit Bumrah struck in the first over to trap opener Lahiru Thirimanne lbw for a duck but skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (10) and Kusal Mendis (16) saw out the final few overs of the day, with the tourists still 419 runs behind.

Sri Lanka ended day two on 28-1 in their second innings after India set them a mammoth target of 447 for victory in the second and final test on Sunday. Jasprit Bumrah struck in the first over to trap opener Lahiru Thirimanne lbw for a duck but skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (10) and Kusal Mendis (16) saw out the final few overs of the day, with the tourists still 419 runs behind. Having bowled out Sri Lanka for 109 in the first session, India batted 69 overs before declaring on 303-9 with Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant notching up half-centuries while other Indian batsmen failed to go on from solid starts. Skipper Rohit Sharma, playing his 400th international match, holed out in the deep to fall four runs short of his fifty while Hanuma Vihari (35) was bowled by spinner Praveen Jayawickrama as he tried to sweep. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli's Test average slips below 50 for first time since 2017 after poor show against Sri Lanka Jayawickrama struck again to surprise Virat Kohli (13) with a delivery that turned sharply and kept low, trapping him lbw in identical fashion to his dismissal in the first innings. Kohli gave a wry smile as silence descended on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with a near-capacity crowd hoping to see the former captain and star of the IPL franchise end his century drought. But Pant took the game away from the Lankans by going after the bowling as soon as he walked to the crease, bringing up his fifty with seven fours and two sixes. Made from 28 balls, his half-century was the fastest by an Indian batsman, breaking the record set by Kapil Dev 40 years ago, before he skied a delivery from Jayawickrama who took the catch himself. Iyer helped guide India to a lead beyond 400 with his second half-century of the match to add to his fine knock of 92 on a turning track in the first innings. With nine boundaries, Iyer looked comfortable at the crease before he was outfoxed by a Lasith Embuldeniya delivery that rapped him on the pads and sent him back to the pavilion for 67. "It was quite challenging. A kind of wicket where any ball could get you out. It will be challenging for Sri Lanka tomorrow as well," Vihari said. "I don't think we planned on bowling this evening. But because we lost wickets, we thought we could have a crack at them for 35-40 minutes." ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant breaks Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record with sensational fifty in pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, playing in his final match before retirement, went wicketless in the second innings but he led the tourists off the field, with India coach Rahul Dravid also shaking his hand. Earlier, Sri Lanka had resumed day two on 86-6 but their resistance lasted only 27 minutes as Bumrah (5-24) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-30) cleaned up the tail. Bumrah claimed his eighth five-wicket haul and his first on home soil on a pitch heavily favouring spinners.

Half centuries from Iyer, Pant put India in driver's seat as SL ends day 2 on 28-1 chasing 447

Shreyas Iyer who played a pivotal role in taking India's total to 252 in the first innings of the second Test revealed how much the half-century on Day 1 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Sri Lanka meant to him.

Iyer scored 92 off 98 balls hitting 10 fours and four sixes on Saturday.

"I personally felt that fifty was like a century. That's why I celebrated like that. It was like a century feeling for me," Shreyas Iyer said in the press conference after the end of the day's play.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/would-they-have-done-it-against-india-brathwaite-slams-england-for-disrespectful-tactics-vs-west-indies-461856">Would they have done it against India? Brathwaite slams England for 'disrespectful' tactics vs West Indies</a>

"You saw the players who defended the ball, there was a lot of chance of nicking, and there was variable bounce on that wicket. You can't just play very negatively on that wicket and just keep defending the ball. You've got to have that positive intent when you step out on the field. The wicket is not that great. It`s obviously bowler-friendly," he added.

Iyer further pointed out that he has no regrets after missing on Test ton, saying: "It is disappointing to miss out on a hundred, but by the end of it the team had got to a fighting total. So, I have no regrets. I play for the team."

Sixteen wickets fell on an extraordinary opening day in Bengaluru as India took control of the Second Test against Sri Lanka.

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Shreyas Iyer top-scored with an attacking 92 as India raced to 252 all-out inside the first two sessions of the day-night match.

And India's quick bowlers did the damage with the ball, tearing through the Sri Lankan top order as Jasprit Bumrah took 3/15 and Mohammad Shami 2/18. The visitors will resume on 86/6, still trailing by 166 runs.

Shreyas Iyer who played a pivotal role in taking India's total to 252 in the first innings of the second Test revealed how much the half-century on Day 1 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Sri Lanka meant to him.

Shreyas Iyer who played a pivotal role in taking India's total to 252 in the first innings of the second Test revealed how much the half-century on Day 1 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Sri Lanka meant to him. Iyer scored 92 off 98 balls hitting 10 fours and four sixes on Saturday. "I personally felt that fifty was like a century. That's why I celebrated like that. It was like a century feeling for me," Shreyas Iyer said in the press conference after the end of the day's play. ALSO READ: Would they have done it against India? Brathwaite slams England for 'disrespectful' tactics vs West Indies "You saw the players who defended the ball, there was a lot of chance of nicking, and there was variable bounce on that wicket. You can't just play very negatively on that wicket and just keep defending the ball. You've got to have that positive intent when you step out on the field. The wicket is not that great. It`s obviously bowler-friendly," he added. Iyer further pointed out that he has no regrets after missing on Test ton, saying: "It is disappointing to miss out on a hundred, but by the end of it the team had got to a fighting total. So, I have no regrets. I play for the team." Sixteen wickets fell on an extraordinary opening day in Bengaluru as India took control of the Second Test against Sri Lanka. ALSO READ: Women's World Cup: Clinical Australia outclass arch-rivals New Zealand by 141 runs Shreyas Iyer top-scored with an attacking 92 as India raced to 252 all-out inside the first two sessions of the day-night match. And India's quick bowlers did the damage with the ball, tearing through the Sri Lankan top order as Jasprit Bumrah took 3/15 and Mohammad Shami 2/18. The visitors will resume on 86/6, still trailing by 166 runs.

Felt like a century, says Shreyas Iyer on raising his bat after half-century in pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka

Shreyas Iyer was the stand out performer for India in an otherwise disappointing performance from the hosts in their first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing pink-ball Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. On a track that was assisting the bowlers, Iyer emerged as the top scorer for India with a brilliant knock of 92 runs off just 98 balls.

After opting to bat first in the second Test against Sri Lanka, India's top order struggled against the pink ball as the uneven bounce on the pitch made it trickier for them. The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma (15), Mayank Agarwal (4), Virat Kohli (23) and Hanuma Vihari (31) all failed to make an impact.

India were left reeling at 86/4 in the 28th over when Iyer arrived in the middle and went on to play a gritty knock battling the tough conditions. He missed out on his century by just 8 runs but managed to help India post a fighting total of 252 runs on the board in their first innings.

With the help of his 92-run-knock, Iyer also joined the likes of Kohli and Rohit in an elite list as he became only the third Indian player to score a half-century in a pink-ball Test match for India. Kohli remains the only player with a century in a pink-ball game with Iyer now India's second-highest scorer in a day-night Test behind the former skipper.

Highest score by Indian players in pink-ball Tests:

136 - Virat Kohli vs Bangladesh 2019 
92 - Shreyas Iyer vs Sri Lanka 2022 
74 - Virat Kohli vs Australia 2020 
66 -&nbsp;Rohit Sharma vs England 2021

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-test-dn-bowlers-put-hosts-in-strong-position-as-visitors-tumble-at-866-on-day-1-461738">India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Bowlers put hosts in strong position as visitors tumble at 86/6 on Day 1</a>

Kohli's last century in international cricket was in the pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in November 2019. The former India skipper has since struggled to reach the three-figure mark across formats. On Saturday, Kohli was dismissed by Sri Lankan spinner&nbsp;Dhananjaya de Silva on 23 in India's first innings of the pink-ball Test.

Riding on Iyer's 92 and Rishabh Pant's crucial knock of 39 runs off just 26 balls, India managed to cross the 250-run mark in their first innings on Saturday before the hosts wreaked havoc with the ball against Sri Lanka in their first innings.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-virat-kohli-in-disbelief-as-dhananjaya-de-silva-stuns-indian-star-with-unplayable-delivery-in-2nd-test-461675">WATCH: Kohli in disbelief as Dhananjaya de Silva stuns Indian star with unplayable delivery in 2nd Test</a>

The visitors lost wickets at regular intervals in their first innings as they were reduced to 86/6 at stumps on Day 2, trailing India's first-innings total by 166 runs.

Shreyas Iyer was the stand out performer for India in an otherwise disappointing performance from the hosts in their first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing pink-ball Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Shreyas Iyer was the stand out performer for India in an otherwise disappointing performance from the hosts in their first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing pink-ball Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. On a track that was assisting the bowlers, Iyer emerged as the top scorer for India with a brilliant knock of 92 runs off just 98 balls. After opting to bat first in the second Test against Sri Lanka, India's top order struggled against the pink ball as the uneven bounce on the pitch made it trickier for them. The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma (15), Mayank Agarwal (4), Virat Kohli (23) and Hanuma Vihari (31) all failed to make an impact. India were left reeling at 86/4 in the 28th over when Iyer arrived in the middle and went on to play a gritty knock battling the tough conditions. He missed out on his century by just 8 runs but managed to help India post a fighting total of 252 runs on the board in their first innings. With the help of his 92-run-knock, Iyer also joined the likes of Kohli and Rohit in an elite list as he became only the third Indian player to score a half-century in a pink-ball Test match for India. Kohli remains the only player with a century in a pink-ball game with Iyer now India's second-highest scorer in a day-night Test behind the former skipper. Highest score by Indian players in pink-ball Tests: 136 - Virat Kohli vs Bangladesh 2019 92 - Shreyas Iyer vs Sri Lanka 2022 74 - Virat Kohli vs Australia 2020 66 - Rohit Sharma vs England 2021 Also Read: India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Bowlers put hosts in strong position as visitors tumble at 86/6 on Day 1 Kohli's last century in international cricket was in the pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in November 2019. The former India skipper has since struggled to reach the three-figure mark across formats. On Saturday, Kohli was dismissed by Sri Lankan spinner Dhananjaya de Silva on 23 in India's first innings of the pink-ball Test. Riding on Iyer's 92 and Rishabh Pant's crucial knock of 39 runs off just 26 balls, India managed to cross the 250-run mark in their first innings on Saturday before the hosts wreaked havoc with the ball against Sri Lanka in their first innings. Also Read: WATCH: Kohli in disbelief as Dhananjaya de Silva stuns Indian star with unplayable delivery in 2nd Test The visitors lost wickets at regular intervals in their first innings as they were reduced to 86/6 at stumps on Day 2, trailing India's first-innings total by 166 runs.

Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in elite list with 92-run knock in pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka

The nominees for ICC Players of the Month of February for men's and women's international cricket were announced on Wednesday.

February saw some strong men and women candidates staking their claim with some brilliant performances.

The ICC Player of the Month nominations in the men's category features UAE batter, Vriitya Aravind, India batter Shreyas Iyer and Nepal's Dipendra Sing Airee.

In the women's category, New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, India veteran star Mithali Raj and all-rounder Deepti Sharma are nominated.

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Shreyas Iyer was in unstoppable form in the month of February and played a vital role in India's white-ball domination.

He started the month with a Player of the Match-winning 80 against West Indies in the final ODI and a 16-ball 25 in the last T20I.

With India opting to rest players and injury to Suryakumar Yadav, Iyer was promoted to No.3 in the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

He scored three unbeaten fifties in three games and finished with 204 runs at a blistering strike rate of 174.35 and was awarded the Player of the Series for his exploits.

Mithali Raj was one of the few shining lights for India in the ODI series against New Zealand.

She was the highest run-scorer for India and the second-highest overall with 232 runs, including three fifties, averaging 77.33 with a strike rate of 82.56.

In the final ODI, she played the role of the finisher to perfection, remaining unbeaten on 54 as India chased down 252 with four overs to spare.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-vs-australia-1st-test-rawalpindi-run-fest-ends-in-a-dull-draw-460284">Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: Rawalpindi run-fest ends in a dull draw</a>

With the win, India ensured that they finished the series with a win in their kitty.

Deepti Sharma was brilliant with both the bat and ball in the series against New Zealand.

She took the most wickets (10) in the ODI series and was handy with the bat as well, aggregating 116 runs in five matches.

She grabbed a four-for in the second ODI and followed it up with a 69* in the next match.

The nominees for ICC Players of the Month of February for men's and women's international cricket were announced on Wednesday. February saw some strong men and women candidates staking their claim with some brilliant performances.

The nominees for ICC Players of the Month of February for men's and women's international cricket were announced on Wednesday. February saw some strong men and women candidates staking their claim with some brilliant performances. The ICC Player of the Month nominations in the men's category features UAE batter, Vriitya Aravind, India batter Shreyas Iyer and Nepal's Dipendra Sing Airee. In the women's category, New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, India veteran star Mithali Raj and all-rounder Deepti Sharma are nominated. ALSO READ: R Ashwin or Harbhajan Singh? Gautam Gambhir picks the more difficult off-spinner to face Shreyas Iyer was in unstoppable form in the month of February and played a vital role in India's white-ball domination. He started the month with a Player of the Match-winning 80 against West Indies in the final ODI and a 16-ball 25 in the last T20I. With India opting to rest players and injury to Suryakumar Yadav, Iyer was promoted to No.3 in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. He scored three unbeaten fifties in three games and finished with 204 runs at a blistering strike rate of 174.35 and was awarded the Player of the Series for his exploits. Mithali Raj was one of the few shining lights for India in the ODI series against New Zealand. She was the highest run-scorer for India and the second-highest overall with 232 runs, including three fifties, averaging 77.33 with a strike rate of 82.56. In the final ODI, she played the role of the finisher to perfection, remaining unbeaten on 54 as India chased down 252 with four overs to spare. ALSO READ: Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: Rawalpindi run-fest ends in a dull draw With the win, India ensured that they finished the series with a win in their kitty. Deepti Sharma was brilliant with both the bat and ball in the series against New Zealand. She took the most wickets (10) in the ODI series and was handy with the bat as well, aggregating 116 runs in five matches. She grabbed a four-for in the second ODI and followed it up with a 69* in the next match.

ICC Player of Month: Shreyas Iyer, Mithali Raj nominated for February

Rohit Sharma-led Team India had a flawless run in the two-match Test series opener versus Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka in Mohali. Everything clicked for the home side right from the word go. Rohit won the toss in his debut Test as captain as India opted to bat first at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.

Riding on Ravindra Jadeja's 175 not out and fifties from Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin, India declared at 574-8 and dismissed the Lankans for 174 and 178 to win the opening Test by an innings and 222 runs. Ahead of the second and final Test, India is expected to play the same winning combination. However, there might be a debate for one spot, i.e. the second-opening slot. Mayank Agarwal managed only 33 in the first innings and he might be replaced by Shubman Gill, who has also done well in his limited opportunities in whites.

In this regard, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar named his pick and suggested who should partner Rohit at the top in the series decider.

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"He (Gill) hasn't played any form of cricket in the last two months. He did not even play Ranji Trophy so if you have to play for India, you need some or the other type of practice. Of course, he has the talent, there is no doubt about it. But in the end, it is also about form," Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.

"And if you see carefully, Mayank Agarwal always scores big in India's home series. He bats like a boss in India but doesn't score runs overseas. In home series, he has at least one big hundred or a double century. So, he should definitely open. And at No. 3 there is Hanuma Vihari. What has he done wrong? In South Africa, in the one opportunity he got, he steadied the tail and batted defiantly, adding runs in India's second innings. So he should get opportunities," the ex-India opener opined.

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"As for Shreyas Iyer, the kind of form he showed in the white-ball series (against Sri Lanka), and the way he started off his Test career in December against New Zealand, I think this should be our top five," Gavaskar further added.

The second and final Test is a day-night affair, the third pink-ball encounter in India. If India win the Test, they will not only inflict a series whitewash over the Islanders but also continue their winning run, across formats, under Rohit since late 2021.

Rohit Sharma-led Team India had a flawless run in the two-match Test series opener versus Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka in Mohali. Everything clicked for the home side right from the word go.

Rohit Sharma-led Team India had a flawless run in the two-match Test series opener versus Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka in Mohali. Everything clicked for the home side right from the word go. Rohit won the toss in his debut Test as captain as India opted to bat first at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Riding on Ravindra Jadeja's 175 not out and fifties from Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin, India declared at 574-8 and dismissed the Lankans for 174 and 178 to win the opening Test by an innings and 222 runs. Ahead of the second and final Test, India is expected to play the same winning combination. However, there might be a debate for one spot, i.e. the second-opening slot. Mayank Agarwal managed only 33 in the first innings and he might be replaced by Shubman Gill, who has also done well in his limited opportunities in whites. In this regard, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar named his pick and suggested who should partner Rohit at the top in the series decider. ALSO READ | ICC Test Rankings: Ravindra Jadeja becomes No.1 all-rounder after dream run in SL series opener "He (Gill) hasn't played any form of cricket in the last two months. He did not even play Ranji Trophy so if you have to play for India, you need some or the other type of practice. Of course, he has the talent, there is no doubt about it. But in the end, it is also about form," Gavaskar said on Sports Tak. "And if you see carefully, Mayank Agarwal always scores big in India's home series. He bats like a boss in India but doesn't score runs overseas. In home series, he has at least one big hundred or a double century. So, he should definitely open. And at No. 3 there is Hanuma Vihari. What has he done wrong? In South Africa, in the one opportunity he got, he steadied the tail and batted defiantly, adding runs in India's second innings. So he should get opportunities," the ex-India opener opined. ALSO READ | From top earners to players with big pay cuts: BCCI's new central contracts list for 2021-22 "As for Shreyas Iyer, the kind of form he showed in the white-ball series (against Sri Lanka), and the way he started off his Test career in December against New Zealand, I think this should be our top five," Gavaskar further added. The second and final Test is a day-night affair, the third pink-ball encounter in India. If India win the Test, they will not only inflict a series whitewash over the Islanders but also continue their winning run, across formats, under Rohit since late 2021.

Mayank or Gill: Gavaskar shares his pick, suggests who should open with Rohit Sharma in 2nd Test vs SL

From top earners to players with big pay cuts: BCCI's new central contracts list for 2021-22

Team India locked horns with Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series opener at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Friday (March 04). Former captain Virat Kohli headlined the day's proceedings as he featured&nbsp;in his 100th game in whites and, thus, joined an elite list of Indian cricketers to have done the same, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, etc.

Coming out to bat, after India won the toss and were 80/2, Kohli joined forces with No. 3 batter Hanuma Vihari and stitched an impressive 90-run stand for the third-wicket before falling for a good-looking 45 (76). On the other hand, the likes of captain Rohit Sharma (29), Mayank Agarwal (33), Vihari (58) and Shreyas Iyer (27) also got starts but were all back in the pavillion by the end of second session.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/because-of-his-stature-no-one-ex-selector-slams-bcci-chief-sourav-ganguly-for-attending-team-meetings-458929">'Because of his stature, no one...': Ex-selector slams BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly for attending team meetings</a>

Speaking on the post-Tea show on Star Sports on Day 1 of the first Test, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir shared a word of advice for&nbsp;the Indian batters following their dismissals.&nbsp;

“One of the major concerns is that the bat is in the line of pads. When that happens, it is difficult to play deliveries that turn away as well as those that don't turn,” Gambhir noted.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-names-two-batters-who-can-replace-axed-duo-pujara-and-rahane-for-india-in-tests-458901">Gautam Gambhir names two batters who can replace axed duo Pujara and Rahane for India in Tests</a>

Reflecting on Kohli and Mayank's dismissals, Gambhir said, "If you keep your bat ahead of your pad, you will be beaten only on one edge. When you look at Mayank Agarwal's dismissal, he was beaten on the inside edge. In Virat Kohli's case, he was beaten on the outside edge. So, it is very important to have your bat ahead of your pad.”

“This is usually taught in formative years. Nowadays, you play so much limited-overs cricket that you lose your basics, the good habits die down. You've concentrated significantly on fast bowling, so I believe Indian batters have a scope for improvement in tackling spin,” added Gambhir.

Riding on Rishabh Pant's 96 and Ravindra Jadeja's 45 not out India reached 357-6 at stumps on Day 1 in Mohali. They will like to stretch the total beyond the 450-run mark on Day 2.

Team India locked horns with Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series opener at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Friday (March 04). Former captain Virat Kohli headlined the day's proceedings as he featured in his 100th game in whites and, thus, joined an elite list of Indian cricketers to have done the same, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, etc.

Team India locked horns with Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series opener at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Friday (March 04). Former captain Virat Kohli headlined the day's proceedings as he featured in his 100th game in whites and, thus, joined an elite list of Indian cricketers to have done the same, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, etc. Coming out to bat, after India won the toss and were 80/2, Kohli joined forces with No. 3 batter Hanuma Vihari and stitched an impressive 90-run stand for the third-wicket before falling for a good-looking 45 (76). On the other hand, the likes of captain Rohit Sharma (29), Mayank Agarwal (33), Vihari (58) and Shreyas Iyer (27) also got starts but were all back in the pavillion by the end of second session. ALSO READ | 'Because of his stature, no one...': Ex-selector slams BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly for attending team meetings Speaking on the post-Tea show on Star Sports on Day 1 of the first Test, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir shared a word of advice for the Indian batters following their dismissals. “One of the major concerns is that the bat is in the line of pads. When that happens, it is difficult to play deliveries that turn away as well as those that don't turn,” Gambhir noted. ALSO READ | Gautam Gambhir names two batters who can replace axed duo Pujara and Rahane for India in Tests Reflecting on Kohli and Mayank's dismissals, Gambhir said, "If you keep your bat ahead of your pad, you will be beaten only on one edge. When you look at Mayank Agarwal's dismissal, he was beaten on the inside edge. In Virat Kohli's case, he was beaten on the outside edge. So, it is very important to have your bat ahead of your pad.” “This is usually taught in formative years. Nowadays, you play so much limited-overs cricket that you lose your basics, the good habits die down. You've concentrated significantly on fast bowling, so I believe Indian batters have a scope for improvement in tackling spin,” added Gambhir. Riding on Rishabh Pant's 96 and Ravindra Jadeja's 45 not out India reached 357-6 at stumps on Day 1 in Mohali. They will like to stretch the total beyond the 450-run mark on Day 2.

Indian batters have a scope for improvement in tackling spin: Gambhir on Kohli, Mayank's dismissal

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes it won't be too difficult for Rohit Sharma to succeed as captain for India in Tests. Rohit is leading India in his first Test series as the captain of the side, against Sri Lanka in Mohali. After a dream start to his stint as India's full-time captain in limited-overs cricket, Rohit will be hoping to get off to a winning start in Tests.

While Rohit has already established his credentials as an exceptional captain in white-ball cricket, the Hitman is yet to prove his mettle as captain in the longest format. However, Gambhir believes Rohit won't find it tough to succeed in Tests given the kind of bowling strength India developed during Virat Kohli's tenure as captain of the Test team.

Kohli, who stepped down as the Test captain of the Indian team in January this year, is often credited to have nurtured India's current world-class pace attack consisting of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Ishan Sharma among others.

Though Ishant is not part of the ongoing two-match series against Sri Lanka, he was instrumental in India's success in Tests under Kohli's captaincy. Gambhir also believes India have ideal replacements for the axed duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in the form of Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-adds-another-feather-in-illustrious-hat-during-100th-test-becomes-6th-indian-to-enter-8000-run-club-458868">Kohli adds another feather in illustrious hat during 100th Test, becomes 6th Indian to enter 8,000-run club</a>

Both Pujara and Rahane were dropped from the Test squad for the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. Gambhir believes India can replace the senior batters with Iyer and Vihari, who have significant experience behind them in international and domestic cricket.&nbsp;

“I don’t think so. Because it won’t be a big challenge for Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket. If you talk about Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinka Rahane, you have experienced players like Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer who can replace them. Iyer had made a bright start to Test cricket,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.

“When you have Ashwin, Jadeja, Shami, Bumrah, then it doesn’t get (difficult). Bowlers win you matches, batters only set the match up. Virat Kohli has developed India’s bowling strength, so I don’t think it should be difficult for Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-rohit-joins-kohli-dhoni-dravid-to-become-35th-cricketer-to-captain-team-india-in-tests-458892">Rohit joins Kohli, Dhoni, Dravid to become 35th cricketer to captain Team India in Tests</a>

While Vihari has been a part of India's Test plans for a while now having already played 13 Tests so far in his career, Iyer made his debut in the longest format during the New Zealand series at home in November last year. Both the batters have done well in the limited opportunities they have got so far and will be eager to cement their spots in the Test side.

&nbsp;

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes it won't be too difficult for Rohit Sharma to succeed as captain for India in Tests. Rohit is leading India in his first Test series as the captain of the side, against Sri Lanka in Mohali.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes it won't be too difficult for Rohit Sharma to succeed as captain for India in Tests. Rohit is leading India in his first Test series as the captain of the side, against Sri Lanka in Mohali. After a dream start to his stint as India's full-time captain in limited-overs cricket, Rohit will be hoping to get off to a winning start in Tests. While Rohit has already established his credentials as an exceptional captain in white-ball cricket, the Hitman is yet to prove his mettle as captain in the longest format. However, Gambhir believes Rohit won't find it tough to succeed in Tests given the kind of bowling strength India developed during Virat Kohli's tenure as captain of the Test team. Kohli, who stepped down as the Test captain of the Indian team in January this year, is often credited to have nurtured India's current world-class pace attack consisting of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Ishan Sharma among others. Though Ishant is not part of the ongoing two-match series against Sri Lanka, he was instrumental in India's success in Tests under Kohli's captaincy. Gambhir also believes India have ideal replacements for the axed duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in the form of Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer. Also Read: Kohli adds another feather in illustrious hat during 100th Test, becomes 6th Indian to enter 8,000-run club Both Pujara and Rahane were dropped from the Test squad for the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. Gambhir believes India can replace the senior batters with Iyer and Vihari, who have significant experience behind them in international and domestic cricket. “I don’t think so. Because it won’t be a big challenge for Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket. If you talk about Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinka Rahane, you have experienced players like Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer who can replace them. Iyer had made a bright start to Test cricket,” Gambhir said on Star Sports. “When you have Ashwin, Jadeja, Shami, Bumrah, then it doesn’t get (difficult). Bowlers win you matches, batters only set the match up. Virat Kohli has developed India’s bowling strength, so I don’t think it should be difficult for Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket,” he added. Also Read: Rohit joins Kohli, Dhoni, Dravid to become 35th cricketer to captain Team India in Tests While Vihari has been a part of India's Test plans for a while now having already played 13 Tests so far in his career, Iyer made his debut in the longest format during the New Zealand series at home in November last year. Both the batters have done well in the limited opportunities they have got so far and will be eager to cement their spots in the Test side.

Gautam Gambhir names two batters who can replace axed duo Pujara and Rahane for India in Tests

It wasn't quite a smooth transition in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-era came to an end, slowly making&nbsp;way for the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid's alliance. When Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and Rohit was named his successor, the Indian cricket fans were in for a rollercoaster ride as many changed followed suit.&nbsp;

In late 2021, BCCI removed Kohli as the ODI captain, making Rohit the&nbsp;white-ball skipper. While it opened a pandora of box -- with the Kohli vs BCCI row gaining much limelight -- the dust seems to have settled down on the&nbsp;communication mishap between BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly-selection committee and the former captain. The changes in the leadership group, however, continued&nbsp;as Kohli also resigned as the Test captain in mid-January 2022.&nbsp;

At present, Rohit has&nbsp;become&nbsp;the all-format skipper with Dravid being in his shadow as the head coach. Amid the unnecessary chaos and negativity, India have been on a roll at home with a forgettable&nbsp;South Africa tour the only blip in between. However, things are now slowly starting to shape up and falling into places within the national team.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-would-give-me-important-overs-jasprit-bumrah-reveals-how-rohit-sharma-helped-in-his-growth-456807">He would give me important overs: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how Rohit Sharma helped in his growth</a>

After their SA annihilation, Team India has been on a roll -- although in home conditions. Rohit-led India whitewashed West Indies in the home white-ball series and the hosts have already gained an unassailable lead in the ongoing three T20Is versus Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

With the SL series also in their grasp, Rohit-Dravid is yet to lose an international game as&nbsp;captain-coach. In fact, India are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten streak in the shortest format&nbsp;(11).&nbsp;

Thus, what is the duo doing right despite much chaos in their brief partnership? (If&nbsp;the BCCI vs Kohli row is now on the backburner, out-of-favour Wriddiman Saha's revelations on his communication with Dravid, Ganguly, etc. have also made a lot of noise)&nbsp;

Role clarity, focus on flexibility and plugging small holes

In the recent past, Rohit-Dravid have spoken a lot on giving bio-bubble breaks to the players (currently enjoyed by&nbsp;Kohli, Md Shami, Rishabh Pant),&nbsp;role clarity and redeveloping a proper communication process&nbsp;(It is to be noted that despite the success enjoyed by Shastri-Kohli, their partnership highlighted communication gap between players and team management on several occasions:&nbsp;during M Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane's respective omissions, etc.).&nbsp;

Backing even a non-regular like Sanju Samson

Ahead of the SL T20Is, captain Rohit talked about being the team's plans of being flexible by relentlessly backing even their non-regular players&nbsp;ahead of&nbsp;the 2022 T20 World Cup. Rohit opined on Sanju Samson and told the reporters, "That guy has got talent, man. Whenever I have seen him bat in IPL and all of that, he has just produced an innings where everyone goes over the moon watching it. So he has got the skill set to succeed. That is the whole point about the sport. A lot of people have skill set, lot of people have talent but how you utilise them is the most critical par."

"His back-foot play is superb, some of the shots you must have seen during the IPL, the pick-up pull, the cut shots, standing and delivering over bowler’s head. Those kinds of shots are not easy to play and I believe when we go to Australia, you need those kind of shot-making ability and Samson does has it in him. I just hope that he utilises his potential to the maximum,” added Rohit.

(Sanju repaid the faith with a blistering 25-ball 39 in the second and penultimate encounter versus the Islanders).

Dropped but no way out of reckoning...

With Shreyas Iyer not making it to the playing XI in India's 1st T20I versus West Indies, Rohit made it clear that the batter remains a vital cog in the setup. "Someone like Shreyas Iyer&nbsp;is sitting out, very hard on him not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn't get him in. It's always nice with that kind of competition going around and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I'm happy to have that kind of challenges rather than not having players available and not in form," he had told at the post-match presentation.

(Iyer is in rollicking form&nbsp;with two electrifying half-centuries&nbsp;in the SL T20Is).

Dravid on Saha's omission&nbsp;

Dravid welcomed the big question on Saha's Test omission -- without losing his cool&nbsp;-- and told the reporters after the WI T20Is, "I’m actually not hurt at all, because I have deep respect for Wridhhiman Saha and his achievements, his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation with him actually came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and he deserved clarity. These are conversations I constantly have with players. I don’t expect players to always like messages or to agree with everything that I have to say about them. That’s not how it works."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/theyre-taking-team-india-in-a-fabulous-direction-dinesh-karthik-lauds-rahul-dravid-rohit-sharma-456046">They're taking Team India in a fabulous direction: Dinesh Karthik lauds Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma</a>

Thus, the team is now slowly plugging the gaps which were previously present in the Indian team, under Kohli-Shastri.&nbsp;

Highlighting the same, Dinesh Karthik recently&nbsp;told the ICC, "The new captain and there's a new coach, I think they are taking the team in a fabulous direction. They've plugged small holes, which were probably there previously, and that has been the beautiful part about it. And along the way, in the journey, they've managed to become No.1."

Time and again, Rohit-Dravid have not shied away from stressing that&nbsp;they are preparing the team for the 2022 T20 WC, albeit with some tinkering in team combination and roles&nbsp;(In the previous captain-coach pairing,&nbsp;one eye was on the future but never openly declared in public; showcasing a rather confused mindset).

The current Indian team is slowly picking the lying pieces and moving ahead. The Men in Blue are trying to experiment with their template (which resulted in their first-round exit in the 2021 T20 WC), trying to balance out between youth and experienced campaigners,&nbsp;identifying new leaders, tinkering roles of different individuals to not increase their options but&nbsp;to broaden the horizons of the resources available.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-were-standing-there-for-me-ishan-kishan-credits-rohit-dravid-for-backing-him-despite-poor-form-456502">They were standing there for me: Ishan Kishan credits Rohit, Dravid for backing him despite poor form</a>

After the WI home series, coach Dravid confirmed that the team management 'don't want to cast their net too wide'; to avoid confusion and irregularity in team selection.&nbsp;"There is no set time frame to freeze on a team. We don’t want to cast our net too wide but we also don’t want to just restrict ourselves to 15 players. By the time we get to the [T20] World Cup, we need to have a bunch of guys who have at least played 10-20 games," the former captain stated.

Surely, Dravid-Rohit pairing is off to a flier. The real test is still miles away but they are not backing out from&nbsp;acknowledging&nbsp;the past mistakes and are boldly&nbsp;setting up new ways going forward.&nbsp;Sit back and relax guys...The road will clearly have more hurdles and speed-breakers but the Rohit-Dravid&nbsp;looks more suited to handle it all with a pragmatic and practical approach.

It wasn't quite a smooth transition in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-era came to an end, slowly making way for the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid's alliance.

It wasn't quite a smooth transition in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-era came to an end, slowly making way for the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid's alliance. When Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and Rohit was named his successor, the Indian cricket fans were in for a rollercoaster ride as many changed followed suit. In late 2021, BCCI removed Kohli as the ODI captain, making Rohit the white-ball skipper. While it opened a pandora of box -- with the Kohli vs BCCI row gaining much limelight -- the dust seems to have settled down on the communication mishap between BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly-selection committee and the former captain. The changes in the leadership group, however, continued as Kohli also resigned as the Test captain in mid-January 2022. At present, Rohit has become the all-format skipper with Dravid being in his shadow as the head coach. Amid the unnecessary chaos and negativity, India have been on a roll at home with a forgettable South Africa tour the only blip in between. However, things are now slowly starting to shape up and falling into places within the national team. ALSO READ | He would give me important overs: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how Rohit Sharma helped in his growth After their SA annihilation, Team India has been on a roll -- although in home conditions. Rohit-led India whitewashed West Indies in the home white-ball series and the hosts have already gained an unassailable lead in the ongoing three T20Is versus Sri Lanka. With the SL series also in their grasp, Rohit-Dravid is yet to lose an international game as captain-coach. In fact, India are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten streak in the shortest format (11). Thus, what is the duo doing right despite much chaos in their brief partnership? (If the BCCI vs Kohli row is now on the backburner, out-of-favour Wriddiman Saha's revelations on his communication with Dravid, Ganguly, etc. have also made a lot of noise) Role clarity, focus on flexibility and plugging small holes In the recent past, Rohit-Dravid have spoken a lot on giving bio-bubble breaks to the players (currently enjoyed by Kohli, Md Shami, Rishabh Pant), role clarity and redeveloping a proper communication process (It is to be noted that despite the success enjoyed by Shastri-Kohli, their partnership highlighted communication gap between players and team management on several occasions: during M Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane's respective omissions, etc.). Backing even a non-regular like Sanju Samson Ahead of the SL T20Is, captain Rohit talked about being the team's plans of being flexible by relentlessly backing even their non-regular players ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Rohit opined on Sanju Samson and told the reporters, "That guy has got talent, man. Whenever I have seen him bat in IPL and all of that, he has just produced an innings where everyone goes over the moon watching it. So he has got the skill set to succeed. That is the whole point about the sport. A lot of people have skill set, lot of people have talent but how you utilise them is the most critical par." "His back-foot play is superb, some of the shots you must have seen during the IPL, the pick-up pull, the cut shots, standing and delivering over bowler’s head. Those kinds of shots are not easy to play and I believe when we go to Australia, you need those kind of shot-making ability and Samson does has it in him. I just hope that he utilises his potential to the maximum,” added Rohit. (Sanju repaid the faith with a blistering 25-ball 39 in the second and penultimate encounter versus the Islanders). Dropped but no way out of reckoning... With Shreyas Iyer not making it to the playing XI in India's 1st T20I versus West Indies, Rohit made it clear that the batter remains a vital cog in the setup. "Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn't get him in. It's always nice with that kind of competition going around and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I'm happy to have that kind of challenges rather than not having players available and not in form," he had told at the post-match presentation. (Iyer is in rollicking form with two electrifying half-centuries in the SL T20Is). Dravid on Saha's omission Dravid welcomed the big question on Saha's Test omission -- without losing his cool -- and told the reporters after the WI T20Is, "I’m actually not hurt at all, because I have deep respect for Wridhhiman Saha and his achievements, his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation with him actually came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and he deserved clarity. These are conversations I constantly have with players. I don’t expect players to always like messages or to agree with everything that I have to say about them. That’s not how it works." ALSO READ | They're taking Team India in a fabulous direction: Dinesh Karthik lauds Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma Thus, the team is now slowly plugging the gaps which were previously present in the Indian team, under Kohli-Shastri. Highlighting the same, Dinesh Karthik recently told the ICC, "The new captain and there's a new coach, I think they are taking the team in a fabulous direction. They've plugged small holes, which were probably there previously, and that has been the beautiful part about it. And along the way, in the journey, they've managed to become No.1." Time and again, Rohit-Dravid have not shied away from stressing that they are preparing the team for the 2022 T20 WC, albeit with some tinkering in team combination and roles (In the previous captain-coach pairing, one eye was on the future but never openly declared in public; showcasing a rather confused mindset). The current Indian team is slowly picking the lying pieces and moving ahead. The Men in Blue are trying to experiment with their template (which resulted in their first-round exit in the 2021 T20 WC), trying to balance out between youth and experienced campaigners, identifying new leaders, tinkering roles of different individuals to not increase their options but to broaden the horizons of the resources available. ALSO READ | They were standing there for me: Ishan Kishan credits Rohit, Dravid for backing him despite poor form After the WI home series, coach Dravid confirmed that the team management 'don't want to cast their net too wide'; to avoid confusion and irregularity in team selection. "There is no set time frame to freeze on a team. We don’t want to cast our net too wide but we also don’t want to just restrict ourselves to 15 players. By the time we get to the [T20] World Cup, we need to have a bunch of guys who have at least played 10-20 games," the former captain stated. Surely, Dravid-Rohit pairing is off to a flier. The real test is still miles away but they are not backing out from acknowledging the past mistakes and are boldly setting up new ways going forward. Sit back and relax guys...The road will clearly have more hurdles and speed-breakers but the Rohit-Dravid looks more suited to handle it all with a pragmatic and practical approach.

Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid partnership: A promising alliance focused on role clarity & plugging small holes

Rohit Sharma-led India thrashed Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded three T20Is at home. With this, India remain unbeaten in 12 successive games in the shortest format and are yet to concede a single match under Rohit's captaincy.&nbsp;

As the action now shifts to the India-Sri Lanka Tests, Shreyas Iyer has achieved a massive jump in the latest ICC T20I Rankings post the memorable run versus the Islanders. Iyer remained unbeaten throughout the course of the series and ended with scores of 57* (28),&nbsp;74* (44) and 73* (45) to win the Player-of-the-Series award. With this, he has jumped 27 spots to enter the top 20. Meanwhile, former captain Virat Kohli and current skipper Rohit are out of the top ten.

Rohit had an ordinary run versus the Sri Lankans, amassing only 50 runs in 3 T20Is, whereas Kohli was rested for the SL series. KL Rahul, thus, remains the only Indian in the top ten. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan continue to hold the top two spots, respectively.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-on-cusp-of-joining-sachin-tendulkar-rahul-dravid-co-in-elite-list-in-historic-100th-test-458045">Virat Kohli on cusp of joining Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid &amp; Co. in elite list in historic 100th Test</a>

ICC T20I Rankings - India batters in top 10

KL Rahul - 10

Rohit Sharma - 13

Virat Kohli -15

Shreyas Iyer - 18

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-cant-be-replaced-gavaskar-on-in-form-shreyas-iyers-batting-position-for-team-india-in-t20is-457412">Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is</a>

Among bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar jumped up by three places to occupy the 17th position. He remains the only Indian in the top 20, with Jasprit Bumrah now slipping to the 28th spot.&nbsp;

In then ICC Test rankings, Kagiso Rabada has moved up by three spots to hold the sixth position in the list spearheaded by Australia captain Pat Cummins. On the other hand,&nbsp;Marnus Labuschagne remains the top-ranked batter in the purest format ahead of Aussies' three-match Test series versus hosts Pakistan.

Rohit Sharma-led India thrashed Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded three T20Is at home. With this, India remain unbeaten in 12 successive games in the shortest format and are yet to concede a single match under Rohit's captaincy.

Rohit Sharma-led India thrashed Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded three T20Is at home. With this, India remain unbeaten in 12 successive games in the shortest format and are yet to concede a single match under Rohit's captaincy. As the action now shifts to the India-Sri Lanka Tests, Shreyas Iyer has achieved a massive jump in the latest ICC T20I Rankings post the memorable run versus the Islanders. Iyer remained unbeaten throughout the course of the series and ended with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to win the Player-of-the-Series award. With this, he has jumped 27 spots to enter the top 20. Meanwhile, former captain Virat Kohli and current skipper Rohit are out of the top ten. Rohit had an ordinary run versus the Sri Lankans, amassing only 50 runs in 3 T20Is, whereas Kohli was rested for the SL series. KL Rahul, thus, remains the only Indian in the top ten. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan continue to hold the top two spots, respectively. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli on cusp of joining Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid & Co. in elite list in historic 100th Test ICC T20I Rankings - India batters in top 10 KL Rahul - 10 Rohit Sharma - 13 Virat Kohli -15 Shreyas Iyer - 18 ALSO READ | Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is Among bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar jumped up by three places to occupy the 17th position. He remains the only Indian in the top 20, with Jasprit Bumrah now slipping to the 28th spot. In then ICC Test rankings, Kagiso Rabada has moved up by three spots to hold the sixth position in the list spearheaded by Australia captain Pat Cummins. On the other hand, Marnus Labuschagne remains the top-ranked batter in the purest format ahead of Aussies' three-match Test series versus hosts Pakistan.

ICC T20I Rankings: Shreyas Iyer achieves huge jump after SL series; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma out of top 10

Shreyas Iyer made heads turn in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. In the three games, Iyer got an opportunity to bat at No. 3 in Virat Kohli's absence and made the most of his chances to remain unbeaten throughout the series. He returned with scores of&nbsp;57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as Rohit Sharma's India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders.

While Iyer shifts his focus on the two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka, which gets underway on March 04 in Mohali, he reflected back on his journey with the Delhi Capitals (DC), having made his IPL debut for the franchise in 2015. After a shoulder injury in early 2021, the right-hander couldn't take part in the first leg of IPL 2021 and eventually lost the captaincy to Rishabh Pant for the whole season. With DC willing to continue with Pant as the captain, Iyer wasn't retained and has now been bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2022 edition.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-joins-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-kl-rahul-in-elite-list-after-dream-run-in-sri-lanka-t20is-457333">Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is</a>

“Injury,” Iyer said in a recent interaction -- with Times of India -- on being asked what was the bigger blow between injury and losing DC captaincy. “That was a bigger low. If that didn't happen, they wouldn't have stepped me down as a captain. At Delhi Capitals, you saw the reflection of the environment at the start of 2021, which we created in 2019 &amp; 20. The atmosphere was amazing. The players knew each other inside out, their strengths and weaknesses. I don't want to get deeper into it," stated Iyer.

Under Iyer, DC had reached their first-ever playoffs after nine years in IPL 2019. In addition, the franchise played their maiden&nbsp;final during&nbsp;IPL 2020 season -- during Iyer's captaincy --&nbsp;held in the UAE.

He further asserted on his injury, "Sometimes things just happen for the better. It's just that we come to know about it later. I was on a roll right in New Zealand (in early 2020) and began feeling really confident of myself and my batting. As captain, I had an amazing season going in the IPL and I scored some 500 runs (in 2020 edition). I was in a good frame of mind and then that injury began playing on my mind. Forced breaks are never easy because you have to start all over again."

<section>
"Injuries and rehabs are painful. But I must say, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The injury had made me feel I was 50% of the player I otherwise am. Having fully recovered, I've come back fresh and feel good. So, whatever happens, happens for good," Iyer added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/best-number-for-me-is-shreyas-iyer-reveals-his-preferred-batting-slot-after-sri-lanka-t20is-457541">'Best number for me is....' - Shreyas Iyer reveals his preferred batting slot after Sri Lanka T20Is</a>

For the unversed, KKR acquired Iyer's services in the IPL 2022 mega auction for a whopping INR 122.5 million (INR 12.25 crore). Thus, he has joined an elite list of captains for the Kolkata-based franchise, including Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan. He will be eager to take the two-time winners one step ahead this time around, in the forthcoming season, after they ended as runners-up in IPL 2021.
</section>

Shreyas Iyer made heads turn in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. In the three games, Iyer got an opportunity to bat at No. 3 in Virat Kohli's absence and made the most of his chances to remain unbeaten throughout the series.

Shreyas Iyer made heads turn in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. In the three games, Iyer got an opportunity to bat at No. 3 in Virat Kohli's absence and made the most of his chances to remain unbeaten throughout the series. He returned with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as Rohit Sharma's India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders. While Iyer shifts his focus on the two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka, which gets underway on March 04 in Mohali, he reflected back on his journey with the Delhi Capitals (DC), having made his IPL debut for the franchise in 2015. After a shoulder injury in early 2021, the right-hander couldn't take part in the first leg of IPL 2021 and eventually lost the captaincy to Rishabh Pant for the whole season. With DC willing to continue with Pant as the captain, Iyer wasn't retained and has now been bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2022 edition. ALSO READ | Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is “Injury,” Iyer said in a recent interaction -- with Times of India -- on being asked what was the bigger blow between injury and losing DC captaincy. “That was a bigger low. If that didn't happen, they wouldn't have stepped me down as a captain. At Delhi Capitals, you saw the reflection of the environment at the start of 2021, which we created in 2019 & 20. The atmosphere was amazing. The players knew each other inside out, their strengths and weaknesses. I don't want to get deeper into it," stated Iyer. Under Iyer, DC had reached their first-ever playoffs after nine years in IPL 2019. In addition, the franchise played their maiden final during IPL 2020 season -- during Iyer's captaincy -- held in the UAE. He further asserted on his injury, "Sometimes things just happen for the better. It's just that we come to know about it later. I was on a roll right in New Zealand (in early 2020) and began feeling really confident of myself and my batting. As captain, I had an amazing season going in the IPL and I scored some 500 runs (in 2020 edition). I was in a good frame of mind and then that injury began playing on my mind. Forced breaks are never easy because you have to start all over again." "Injuries and rehabs are painful. But I must say, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The injury had made me feel I was 50% of the player I otherwise am. Having fully recovered, I've come back fresh and feel good. So, whatever happens, happens for good," Iyer added. ALSO READ | 'Best number for me is....' - Shreyas Iyer reveals his preferred batting slot after Sri Lanka T20Is For the unversed, KKR acquired Iyer's services in the IPL 2022 mega auction for a whopping INR 122.5 million (INR 12.25 crore). Thus, he has joined an elite list of captains for the Kolkata-based franchise, including Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan. He will be eager to take the two-time winners one step ahead this time around, in the forthcoming season, after they ended as runners-up in IPL 2021.

'They wouldn't have...': Shreyas Iyer recalls being replaced as Delhi Capitals' skipper

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. The right-hander stood tall against the Sri Lankans in all three games and ended the series with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to remain unbeaten throughout the three-match series and walk away with the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series award.&nbsp;

In a modest 147-run chase in the third and final encounter, Iyer came out in the middle at 6-1 and remained unbeaten on 73, studded with 9 fours and a six at a strike rate of 162.22. Courtesy his memorable run versus the Islanders, Iyer joined Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in an elite feat. He is&nbsp;now one of the four Indian batters to score 3 consecutive half-centuries in the shortest format.

The former captain Kohli was&nbsp;the first Indian to achieve this milestone. He had first hit 3 back-to-back fifty-plus scores in 2012 and replicated the same in 2014 and 2018. Rohit achieved the elusive feat in 2018 as well whereas current white-ball vice-captain&nbsp;Rahul has attained&nbsp;the&nbsp;milestone twice - in 2020 and 2021. For the unversed, Iyer and Kohli are the only 2 Indian batsmen to score 3 back-to-back half-centuries in a series.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-beat-sri-lanka-in-3rd-t20i-to-clinch-series-3-0-equal-record-for-most-t20i-wins-on-the-trot-457228">India beat Sri Lanka in 3rd T20I to clinch series 3-0, equal record for most T20I wins on the trot</a>

After the series, Iyer said at the post-match presentation, "All three knocks were special, but yesterday's - coming in at a crucial moment, I'd pick that. Only require one ball to get into form as long as you're keeping your eyes on the ball and playing it on its merit. The wicket was little two paced today compared to yesterday. Was playing on the merit. Outfield is so fast, just had to hit gaps. Been a rollercoster journey after my injury. Real test of you is during rehab sessions."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mayank-agarwal-wins-captaincy-race-to-be-named-punjab-kings-skipper-ahead-of-ipl-2022-457319">Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022</a>

The focus will now shift to the India-Sri Lanka two-match Test series, which will get underway on March 04. The first Test will be held in Mohali, behind closed doors, whereas Bengaluru will host the second and final encounter -- with 50% crowd -- from March 12-16.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. The right-hander stood tall against the Sri Lankans in all three games and ended the series with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to remain unbeaten throughout the three-match series and walk away with the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series award.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. The right-hander stood tall against the Sri Lankans in all three games and ended the series with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to remain unbeaten throughout the three-match series and walk away with the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series award. In a modest 147-run chase in the third and final encounter, Iyer came out in the middle at 6-1 and remained unbeaten on 73, studded with 9 fours and a six at a strike rate of 162.22. Courtesy his memorable run versus the Islanders, Iyer joined Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in an elite feat. He is now one of the four Indian batters to score 3 consecutive half-centuries in the shortest format. The former captain Kohli was the first Indian to achieve this milestone. He had first hit 3 back-to-back fifty-plus scores in 2012 and replicated the same in 2014 and 2018. Rohit achieved the elusive feat in 2018 as well whereas current white-ball vice-captain Rahul has attained the milestone twice - in 2020 and 2021. For the unversed, Iyer and Kohli are the only 2 Indian batsmen to score 3 back-to-back half-centuries in a series. ALSO READ | India beat Sri Lanka in 3rd T20I to clinch series 3-0, equal record for most T20I wins on the trot After the series, Iyer said at the post-match presentation, "All three knocks were special, but yesterday's - coming in at a crucial moment, I'd pick that. Only require one ball to get into form as long as you're keeping your eyes on the ball and playing it on its merit. The wicket was little two paced today compared to yesterday. Was playing on the merit. Outfield is so fast, just had to hit gaps. Been a rollercoster journey after my injury. Real test of you is during rehab sessions." ALSO READ | Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022 The focus will now shift to the India-Sri Lanka two-match Test series, which will get underway on March 04. The first Test will be held in Mohali, behind closed doors, whereas Bengaluru will host the second and final encounter -- with 50% crowd -- from March 12-16.

Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka three T20Is at home. Iyer got a chance to bat higher up the order, at No. 3, in the absence of Virat Kohli and made the most of the opportunities to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the three T20Is to end with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders.

Thus, Iyer has made a strong case to be a regular in the playing XI in the shortest format, ahead of this year's T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, he still intense competition due to the presence of Suryakumar Yadav&nbsp;and Rishabh Pant (both of whom didn't feature in the SL series) along with currently out-of-favour all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-joins-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-kl-rahul-in-elite-list-after-dream-run-in-sri-lanka-t20is-457333">Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is</a>

After his memorable series versus the Asian neighbours, Iyer revealed his preferred batting slot amid intense competition for slots in the national side. "I'm not keeping any expectations from myself nor from the team coaches because if you see the competition in our team, it's immense. Every individual is capable of winning you games. Personally I want to enjoy each and every moment and opportunity, which I've been provided with. I like to finish off the games and that's like my mindset whenever I go onto the pitch," he said in the post-match conference.

"Obviously in this format, top-three is the only place where you can pace your innings pretty well. Otherwise if you bat down the order you can't give yourself time you need to start going from ball one. So yeah, if I had to say the best number to bat for me personally, it's obviously No. 3," Iyer added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-cant-be-replaced-gavaskar-on-in-form-shreyas-iyers-batting-position-for-team-india-in-t20is-457412">Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is</a>

After the SL series, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar also opined on problems of plenty for the Indian team. He suggested a slot for Iyer in the batting line-up and told Star Sports, "It's a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned."

“There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he further asserted.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka three T20Is at home. Iyer got a chance to bat higher up the order, at No. 3, in the absence of Virat Kohli and made the most of the opportunities to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the three T20Is to end with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka three T20Is at home. Iyer got a chance to bat higher up the order, at No. 3, in the absence of Virat Kohli and made the most of the opportunities to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the three T20Is to end with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders. Thus, Iyer has made a strong case to be a regular in the playing XI in the shortest format, ahead of this year's T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, he still intense competition due to the presence of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant (both of whom didn't feature in the SL series) along with currently out-of-favour all-rounder Hardik Pandya. ALSO READ | Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is After his memorable series versus the Asian neighbours, Iyer revealed his preferred batting slot amid intense competition for slots in the national side. "I'm not keeping any expectations from myself nor from the team coaches because if you see the competition in our team, it's immense. Every individual is capable of winning you games. Personally I want to enjoy each and every moment and opportunity, which I've been provided with. I like to finish off the games and that's like my mindset whenever I go onto the pitch," he said in the post-match conference. "Obviously in this format, top-three is the only place where you can pace your innings pretty well. Otherwise if you bat down the order you can't give yourself time you need to start going from ball one. So yeah, if I had to say the best number to bat for me personally, it's obviously No. 3," Iyer added. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is After the SL series, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar also opined on problems of plenty for the Indian team. He suggested a slot for Iyer in the batting line-up and told Star Sports, "It's a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned." “There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he further asserted.

'Best number for me is....' - Shreyas Iyer reveals his preferred batting slot after Sri Lanka T20Is

After the three T20Is, India is set to lock horns with Sri Lanka in the forthcoming two-match Test series, which gets underway on March 04. Before the commencement of the Test series, ex-Indian selector&nbsp;Devang Gandhi feels Indian cricket fans will see more of Hanuma Vihari in the playing XI with no Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

Ahead of the series, the national selectors had dropped senior pros Pujara and Rahane along with Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha. With room in the middle and lower order, Gandhi feels Vihari 'deserves a fair run'. Gandhi also shared his batting order, which doesn't comprise in-form Shreyas Iyer.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/captaincy-an-added-responsibility-rohit-sharma-should-not-lose-focus-on-his-batting-ex-india-selector-457483">Captaincy an added responsibility, Rohit Sharma should not lose focus on his batting: Ex-India selector</a>

"Firstly, Vihari has played only one Test at home and he, above everyone, else deserves a fair run. Secondly, if you see for India and India A, he has batted at No.5 abroad but in India, he can come in at No.6 when spinners will be in operation and the 'SG Test' ball becomes relatively old." He asserted, "Vihari has a fantastic record against spinners in Ranji Trophy and that's something the team management can exploit."

“If you see our top-order, Mayank, Rohit, Shubman and Virat are all right-handers. It's better if at No.5 we have a left-hander to get the left-right combination going followed by Vihari at No.6 and Ravindra Jadeja, again a left-hander at No.7. It could be the way forward," added Gandhi.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-wondered-how-someone-could-md-shami-shares-his-first-reaction-on-seeing-pacer-jasprit-bumrah-457450">'I wondered how someone could...': Md Shami shares his first reaction on seeing pacer Jasprit Bumrah</a>

In his brief Test career, playing 13 games so far, Vihari has done reasonably well by playing some important and valuable knocks with the willow. He has also chipped in with few handy wickets and his off-spin might be a key factor in the Rohit Sharma-led Team India preferring him in the playing XI.

However, it will be very difficult for the team management to look beyond Iyer, who was the Player-of-the-Series in the SL T20Is and second highest-run getter in the India-NZ Tests last year (his maiden series in whites).

The first Test will be held behind closed doors in Mohali whereas Bengaluru will host the second and final Test with a 50% crowd capacity.

After the three T20Is, India is set to lock horns with Sri Lanka in the forthcoming two-match Test series, which gets underway on March 04. Before the commencement of the Test series, ex-Indian selector Devang Gandhi feels Indian cricket fans will see more of Hanuma Vihari in the playing XI with no Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

After the three T20Is, India is set to lock horns with Sri Lanka in the forthcoming two-match Test series, which gets underway on March 04. Before the commencement of the Test series, ex-Indian selector Devang Gandhi feels Indian cricket fans will see more of Hanuma Vihari in the playing XI with no Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Ahead of the series, the national selectors had dropped senior pros Pujara and Rahane along with Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha. With room in the middle and lower order, Gandhi feels Vihari 'deserves a fair run'. Gandhi also shared his batting order, which doesn't comprise in-form Shreyas Iyer. ALSO READ | Captaincy an added responsibility, Rohit Sharma should not lose focus on his batting: Ex-India selector "Firstly, Vihari has played only one Test at home and he, above everyone, else deserves a fair run. Secondly, if you see for India and India A, he has batted at No.5 abroad but in India, he can come in at No.6 when spinners will be in operation and the 'SG Test' ball becomes relatively old." He asserted, "Vihari has a fantastic record against spinners in Ranji Trophy and that's something the team management can exploit." “If you see our top-order, Mayank, Rohit, Shubman and Virat are all right-handers. It's better if at No.5 we have a left-hander to get the left-right combination going followed by Vihari at No.6 and Ravindra Jadeja, again a left-hander at No.7. It could be the way forward," added Gandhi. ALSO READ | 'I wondered how someone could...': Md Shami shares his first reaction on seeing pacer Jasprit Bumrah In his brief Test career, playing 13 games so far, Vihari has done reasonably well by playing some important and valuable knocks with the willow. He has also chipped in with few handy wickets and his off-spin might be a key factor in the Rohit Sharma-led Team India preferring him in the playing XI. However, it will be very difficult for the team management to look beyond Iyer, who was the Player-of-the-Series in the SL T20Is and second highest-run getter in the India-NZ Tests last year (his maiden series in whites). The first Test will be held behind closed doors in Mohali whereas Bengaluru will host the second and final Test with a 50% crowd capacity.

Ex-Indian selector explains why Hanuma Vihari deserves a fair run in Tests after Pujara, Rahane snub

India demolished Sri Lanka in the just-concluded three T20Is at home. Rohit Sharma-led Indian team inflicted a whitewash over the hapless Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders to continue their winning streak in the format, which is now joint-most along with Afghanistan (12).

In the absence of former captain Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, white-ball vice-captain KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Md Shami, etc., Indian youngsters such as Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Avesh Khan made a mark to finish off the series with a 3-0 scoreline. Iyer was the most outstanding performer for the national side, ending with scores of&nbsp;57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) along with remaining unbeaten throughout the course of the series.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-joins-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-kl-rahul-in-elite-list-after-dream-run-in-sri-lanka-t20is-457333">Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is</a>

Speaking on&nbsp;Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar lauded Iyer and also opined on his batting slot when regulars such as Kohli, Rahul, SKY return. He told, “It's a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned.

“There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he further said.

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-really-feel-sad-wasim-jaffer-disappointed-with-sanju-samsons-run-in-sri-lanka-t20is-457368">'I really feel sad' - Wasim Jaffer disappointed with Sanju Samson's run in Sri Lanka T20Is</a>
At the post-match presentation, Player-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series Iyer told the broadcasters, "All three knocks were special, but yesterday's - coming in at a crucial moment, I'd pick that. Only require one ball to get into form as long as you're keeping your eyes on the ball and playing it on its merit. The wicket was little two paced today compared to yesterday. Was playing on the merit. Outfield is so fast, just had to hit gaps. Been a rollercoster journey after my injury. Real test of you is during rehab sessions."

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India demolished Sri Lanka in the just-concluded three T20Is at home. Rohit Sharma-led Indian team inflicted a whitewash over the hapless Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders to continue their winning streak in the format, which is now joint-most along with Afghanistan (12).

India demolished Sri Lanka in the just-concluded three T20Is at home. Rohit Sharma-led Indian team inflicted a whitewash over the hapless Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders to continue their winning streak in the format, which is now joint-most along with Afghanistan (12). In the absence of former captain Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, white-ball vice-captain KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Md Shami, etc., Indian youngsters such as Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Avesh Khan made a mark to finish off the series with a 3-0 scoreline. Iyer was the most outstanding performer for the national side, ending with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) along with remaining unbeaten throughout the course of the series. ALSO READ | Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is Speaking on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar lauded Iyer and also opined on his batting slot when regulars such as Kohli, Rahul, SKY return. He told, “It's a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned. “There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he further said. ALSO READ | 'I really feel sad' - Wasim Jaffer disappointed with Sanju Samson's run in Sri Lanka T20Is At the post-match presentation, Player-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series Iyer told the broadcasters, "All three knocks were special, but yesterday's - coming in at a crucial moment, I'd pick that. Only require one ball to get into form as long as you're keeping your eyes on the ball and playing it on its merit. The wicket was little two paced today compared to yesterday. Was playing on the merit. Outfield is so fast, just had to hit gaps. Been a rollercoster journey after my injury. Real test of you is during rehab sessions."

Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is

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