MS Dhoni, after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth title in IPL 2021, has joined the Team India camp as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. The 40-year-old's presence will help Virat Kohli &amp; Co. for the marquee event as the Indian team is looking to end their ICC-title drought after having last won a mega event in 2013.

For the unversed, India had won the last ICC title in 2013 under the astute leadership of Dhoni, when the Men in Blue won the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have reached the semi-finals on all occasions in the following ICC events, however, haven't been able to grab hold of the title. As India are gearing up for their tournament-opener versus Pakistan, on October 24, KL Rahul opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role for the T20 WC.&nbsp;

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During a Clubhouse session organised by&nbsp;Red Bull&nbsp;on Tuesday, Rahul -- who had his international debut under Dhoni -- revealed, "None of us are sure that IPL 2021 final was his last game. I do not think, I would love to see MS Dhoni play for a lot more years if he could. Yeah, it was great to see how CSK played in the tournament and they were the most deserving to win it. Obviously, MS Dhoni back with the team feels amazing because we have played under him and we have looked towards him as a mentor even when he was our captain."&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We loved having him in the dressing room when he was the captain, we loved the calmness. We have all looked up to him to help us out, to have him here is amazing. This gives us a sense of calmness, I have enjoyed spending time with him in the first two to three days and it has been a lot of fun. Looking forward to chewing his brain about cricket, captaincy and all things cricket," he added.&nbsp;

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Rahul was one of India's star-performers in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, on Monday evening (October 18). His 24-ball 51 and Ishan Kishan's 46-ball 70 propelled Kohli &amp; Co. to an easy 7-wicket win over the 2016 runners-up. They will now play Australia in their last warm-up game before locking horns with Pakistan.

India are in Pool B, along with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. It will be interesting to see how Dhoni contributes for Team India in his new role and helps the national side in winning the coveted trophy.

MS Dhoni, after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth title in IPL 2021, has joined the Team India camp as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE.

MS Dhoni, after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth title in IPL 2021, has joined the Team India camp as a mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. The 40-year-old's presence will help Virat Kohli & Co. for the marquee event as the Indian team is looking to end their ICC-title drought after having last won a mega event in 2013. For the unversed, India had won the last ICC title in 2013 under the astute leadership of Dhoni, when the Men in Blue won the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have reached the semi-finals on all occasions in the following ICC events, however, haven't been able to grab hold of the title. As India are gearing up for their tournament-opener versus Pakistan, on October 24, KL Rahul opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role for the T20 WC. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH During a Clubhouse session organised by Red Bull on Tuesday, Rahul -- who had his international debut under Dhoni -- revealed, "None of us are sure that IPL 2021 final was his last game. I do not think, I would love to see MS Dhoni play for a lot more years if he could. Yeah, it was great to see how CSK played in the tournament and they were the most deserving to win it. Obviously, MS Dhoni back with the team feels amazing because we have played under him and we have looked towards him as a mentor even when he was our captain." "We loved having him in the dressing room when he was the captain, we loved the calmness. We have all looked up to him to help us out, to have him here is amazing. This gives us a sense of calmness, I have enjoyed spending time with him in the first two to three days and it has been a lot of fun. Looking forward to chewing his brain about cricket, captaincy and all things cricket," he added. ALSO READ | Dale Steyn names Virat Kohli's replacement as India's T20I captain: He can nurture Pant & others Rahul was one of India's star-performers in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, on Monday evening (October 18). His 24-ball 51 and Ishan Kishan's 46-ball 70 propelled Kohli & Co. to an easy 7-wicket win over the 2016 runners-up. They will now play Australia in their last warm-up game before locking horns with Pakistan. India are in Pool B, along with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. It will be interesting to see how Dhoni contributes for Team India in his new role and helps the national side in winning the coveted trophy.

'He was our mentor even when he was captain' - KL Rahul gives his take on MS Dhoni's mentorship role in T20 WC

After the India-Pakistan 2019 ODI World Cup clash, in England and Wales, a British-Pakistani entertain and internet sensation Momin&nbsp;Saqib’s hilarious interview got viral, where he was depicting his plight following Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green's 89 runs loss (DLS method) to Virat Kohli-led India.

As the stage is set and there are only a handful of days for the upcoming India-Pakistan clash, in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Pakistani internet sensation is back with another hilarious video for the marquee encounter, to be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday (October 24). Here's the latest video from Saqib as he urges Babar Azam &amp; Co. to beat India in the forthcoming face-off in the T20 WC:

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Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, both sides are playing a couple of warm-up encounters in a bid to finalise their team combination and get used to the conditions in the UAE. The T20 WC has commenced but the qualifying round is underway whereas the automatically-qualified teams are busy playing warm-up games.&nbsp;

Both India and Pakistan will open their campaigns against each other, being placed in Pool B along with New Zealand and Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.&nbsp;

For the unversed, India have a 5-0 lead over Pakistan in T20 WC and, thus, will be eager to extend their winning streak in the upcoming match. However, Babar-led Pakistan won't be an easy opposition for Kohli-led India by any means.&nbsp;

After the India-Pakistan 2019 ODI World Cup clash, in England and Wales, a British-Pakistani entertain and internet sensation Momin Saqib’s hilarious interview got viral, where he was depicting his plight following Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green's 89 runs loss (DLS method) to Virat Kohli-led India.

After the India-Pakistan 2019 ODI World Cup clash, in England and Wales, a British-Pakistani entertain and internet sensation Momin Saqib’s hilarious interview got viral, where he was depicting his plight following Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green's 89 runs loss (DLS method) to Virat Kohli-led India. As the stage is set and there are only a handful of days for the upcoming India-Pakistan clash, in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Pakistani internet sensation is back with another hilarious video for the marquee encounter, to be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday (October 24). Here's the latest video from Saqib as he urges Babar Azam & Co. to beat India in the forthcoming face-off in the T20 WC: ALSO READ | Need to create cricketing bond with BCCI, says PCB chief Ramiz Raja after meeting Sourav Ganguly, Jay Shah × ALSO READ | T20 WC: India under pressure, that’s why they are taking MS Dhoni as mentor, says former Pakistan cricketer Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, both sides are playing a couple of warm-up encounters in a bid to finalise their team combination and get used to the conditions in the UAE. The T20 WC has commenced but the qualifying round is underway whereas the automatically-qualified teams are busy playing warm-up games. Both India and Pakistan will open their campaigns against each other, being placed in Pool B along with New Zealand and Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. For the unversed, India have a 5-0 lead over Pakistan in T20 WC and, thus, will be eager to extend their winning streak in the upcoming match. However, Babar-led Pakistan won't be an easy opposition for Kohli-led India by any means.

T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH

Virat Kohli announced his decision to step aside as the Indian captain in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. While Kohli's decision shocked many in the cricketing fraternity, the Indian team is gearing up for the mega event with an aim to give a perfect send-off to the 32-year-old as his T20I captaincy tenure is set to end.

As Kohli is on the verge of stepping aside as T20I captain, former South African speedster Dale Steyn -- who has shared the dressing room with Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise -- suggested who should succeed the right-hander at the top post.

While many believe Rohit Sharma -- the vice-captain in shorter formats -- is best suited to succeed King Kohli, Steyn also belives Hitman will be an ideal candidate as the Indian T20I captain.

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"They have got tons. You just have to look around in the IPL and there are so many players. You’ve got SKY, who I think will come in at some place. You've got Rishabh Pant, who is looking good. There are just so many of these guys… Iyer, Rohit. They can all do it but you just have to give somebody that responsibility and allow them to run with it. India have been really good with it. They have given the captaincy to one particular players for a long time and they have done the job," Steyn told Sports Tak.

"They have got a bunch of different people to pick from. I think the most exciting thing for India right now is that the young players that are coming through, they are all world-class players. You look at Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant… these are young guys who are doing extremely well at the international level. So if you give the captaincy to Rohit, who has been around for a while… has won numerous IPLs, it will be a great call since he can nurture the youngsters," he further pointed out.

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Rohit has already led India in T20Is and ODIs, leading the Men in Blue to Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup 2018 titles. In addition, he remains the most successful IPL captain, with 5 titles with the Mumbai Indians (MI). BCCI will take a call on Kohli's successor post the T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli announced his decision to step aside as the Indian captain in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. While Kohli's decision shocked many in the cricketing fraternity, the Indian team is gearing up for the mega event with an aim to give a perfect send-off to the 32-year-old as his T20I captaincy tenure is set to end.

Virat Kohli announced his decision to step aside as the Indian captain in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. While Kohli's decision shocked many in the cricketing fraternity, the Indian team is gearing up for the mega event with an aim to give a perfect send-off to the 32-year-old as his T20I captaincy tenure is set to end. As Kohli is on the verge of stepping aside as T20I captain, former South African speedster Dale Steyn -- who has shared the dressing room with Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise -- suggested who should succeed the right-hander at the top post. While many believe Rohit Sharma -- the vice-captain in shorter formats -- is best suited to succeed King Kohli, Steyn also belives Hitman will be an ideal candidate as the Indian T20I captain. ALSO READ | David Warner comes up with hilarious response as Rohit Sharma flaunts India's T20 World Cup jersey "They have got tons. You just have to look around in the IPL and there are so many players. You’ve got SKY, who I think will come in at some place. You've got Rishabh Pant, who is looking good. There are just so many of these guys… Iyer, Rohit. They can all do it but you just have to give somebody that responsibility and allow them to run with it. India have been really good with it. They have given the captaincy to one particular players for a long time and they have done the job," Steyn told Sports Tak. "They have got a bunch of different people to pick from. I think the most exciting thing for India right now is that the young players that are coming through, they are all world-class players. You look at Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant… these are young guys who are doing extremely well at the international level. So if you give the captaincy to Rohit, who has been around for a while… has won numerous IPLs, it will be a great call since he can nurture the youngsters," he further pointed out. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Wasim Jaffer, Michael Vaughan engage in cheeky banter as India thrash England in warm-up tie Rohit has already led India in T20Is and ODIs, leading the Men in Blue to Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup 2018 titles. In addition, he remains the most successful IPL captain, with 5 titles with the Mumbai Indians (MI). BCCI will take a call on Kohli's successor post the T20 World Cup.

Dale Steyn names Virat Kohli's replacement as India's T20I captain: He can nurture Pant & others

The T20 World Cup 2021 edition has commenced in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the marquee event has kicked off in the UAE, which was earlier supposed to be held in Australia in late 2020 before Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement.

The multi-nation tournament has started with the qualifying round and warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. However, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan game as the arch-rivals will face each other in their respective tournament-openers, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar&nbsp;Mahmood has opined on the mouth-watering clash and stated who has an advantage going into the contest.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-cant-refuse-to-play-pakistan-under-iccs-commitments-says-bccis-rajeev-shukla-amid-calls-for-boycott-421855">India can't refuse to play Pakistan under ICC's commitments, says BCCI's Rajeev Shukla amid calls for boycott</a>

In his latest blog for PakPassion.net, former Pakistan all-rounder and Bowling Coach, Mahmood wrote, "India-Pakistan games are always special when it comes to the hype and the pressure on players and the age-old cliché of any team can win on the day does apply to the game in this T20 World Cup as well. But realistically speaking, India does have an advantage going into this game as their players have been participating in the IPL which was played in the same venues in the UAE. So apart from playing highly competitive cricket, they also will have a good understanding of the playing conditions in the UAE."

"But let us not forget that Pakistani players have also taken part in some intense Twenty20 cricket in the recently concluded National T20 Cup which was moved due to the cancellation of the New Zealand tour. Having said that, we all know that any India-Pakistan match is generally won by the side that is most able to absorb the pressure and in a format like Twenty20, it can easily come down to just one over where a batsman or bowler can totally change the complexion of the game," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-feather-in-king-kohlis-hat-virat-kohlis-statue-unveiled-at-dubais-madame-tussauds-421874">Another feather in KING KOHLI's hat! Virat Kohli's statue unveiled at Dubai's Madame Tussauds</a>

For the unversed, India have never lost a game to Pakistan in World Cups (including ODIs and T20Is). Thus, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue will be confident facing the Babar Azam-led line-up, however, they cannot take them lightly as the Men in Green are also among the top three sides in ICC T20I rankings.&nbsp;India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.&nbsp;

Both India and Pakistan have also started their warm-up encounters with easy wins. While Kohli &amp; Co. beat England by 7 wickets, Pakistan also emerged on top of West Indies by the same margin on Monday (October 18).&nbsp;

After the qualifiers and warm-up games, the main draw of the T20 WC will commence from October 23.&nbsp;

The T20 World Cup 2021 edition has commenced in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the marquee event has kicked off in the UAE, which was earlier supposed to be held in Australia in late 2020 before Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement.

The T20 World Cup 2021 edition has commenced in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the marquee event has kicked off in the UAE, which was earlier supposed to be held in Australia in late 2020 before Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement. The multi-nation tournament has started with the qualifying round and warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. However, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan game as the arch-rivals will face each other in their respective tournament-openers, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has opined on the mouth-watering clash and stated who has an advantage going into the contest. ALSO READ | India can't refuse to play Pakistan under ICC's commitments, says BCCI's Rajeev Shukla amid calls for boycott In his latest blog for PakPassion.net, former Pakistan all-rounder and Bowling Coach, Mahmood wrote, "India-Pakistan games are always special when it comes to the hype and the pressure on players and the age-old cliché of any team can win on the day does apply to the game in this T20 World Cup as well. But realistically speaking, India does have an advantage going into this game as their players have been participating in the IPL which was played in the same venues in the UAE. So apart from playing highly competitive cricket, they also will have a good understanding of the playing conditions in the UAE." "But let us not forget that Pakistani players have also taken part in some intense Twenty20 cricket in the recently concluded National T20 Cup which was moved due to the cancellation of the New Zealand tour. Having said that, we all know that any India-Pakistan match is generally won by the side that is most able to absorb the pressure and in a format like Twenty20, it can easily come down to just one over where a batsman or bowler can totally change the complexion of the game," he added. ALSO READ | Another feather in KING KOHLI's hat! Virat Kohli's statue unveiled at Dubai's Madame Tussauds For the unversed, India have never lost a game to Pakistan in World Cups (including ODIs and T20Is). Thus, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue will be confident facing the Babar Azam-led line-up, however, they cannot take them lightly as the Men in Green are also among the top three sides in ICC T20I rankings. India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. Both India and Pakistan have also started their warm-up encounters with easy wins. While Kohli & Co. beat England by 7 wickets, Pakistan also emerged on top of West Indies by the same margin on Monday (October 18). After the qualifiers and warm-up games, the main draw of the T20 WC will commence from October 23.

Advantage India or Pakistan? Former Pak all-rounder makes BIG claim ahead of T20 WC face-off

India head coach Ravi Shastri on Monday said the dew factor will decide whether the team will go with an extra seamer or spinner during its upcoming ICC T20 World Cup campaign starting on October 24 against Pakistan.

Shastri, who is on his last assignment with the Indian team, also made it clear that the primary objective of the two warm-up games against England (this evening) and Australia on October 20 is to understand how the players are placed in terms of form and rhythm.

"We'll just try to see how much dew is around and accordingly decide to bat/bowl first. Also helps us decide about playing an extra spinner or seamer," Shastri told former India stumper Deep Dasgupta during an interaction for official broadcasters 'Star Sports'.

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India are scheduled to play all their matches in the evening, when dew becomes a major factor.

The heavier the dew, the more difficult it is for spinners to grip the ball, making stroke-play easier for batsmen.

Shastri said that IPL has been an ideal preparatory ground for the Indian players, most of whom are regulars for their respective franchises.

"Boys have been playing IPL for the last two months, so I don't think they need too much of preparation. It's more about them getting together and adapting together. Get some rhythm going, some energy going."

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Asked about the specific gains he is eyeing from the warm-up games, Shastri said: "Everyone can bat, everyone can bowl (in this game). So it will help us to get an idea about who is doing how.

"Not really (regarding any locked strategy). We'll just see how things go and work a combination around."&nbsp;

India head coach Ravi Shastri on Monday said the dew factor will decide whether the team will go with an extra seamer or spinner during its upcoming ICC T20 World Cup campaign starting on October 24 against Pakistan.

India head coach Ravi Shastri on Monday said the dew factor will decide whether the team will go with an extra seamer or spinner during its upcoming ICC T20 World Cup campaign starting on October 24 against Pakistan. Shastri, who is on his last assignment with the Indian team, also made it clear that the primary objective of the two warm-up games against England (this evening) and Australia on October 20 is to understand how the players are placed in terms of form and rhythm. "We'll just try to see how much dew is around and accordingly decide to bat/bowl first. Also helps us decide about playing an extra spinner or seamer," Shastri told former India stumper Deep Dasgupta during an interaction for official broadcasters 'Star Sports'. Also Read: I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya India are scheduled to play all their matches in the evening, when dew becomes a major factor. The heavier the dew, the more difficult it is for spinners to grip the ball, making stroke-play easier for batsmen. Shastri said that IPL has been an ideal preparatory ground for the Indian players, most of whom are regulars for their respective franchises. "Boys have been playing IPL for the last two months, so I don't think they need too much of preparation. It's more about them getting together and adapting together. Get some rhythm going, some energy going." Also Read: From Amazon delivery man to Scotland's hero: Chris Greaves' story is an inspiration to all Asked about the specific gains he is eyeing from the warm-up games, Shastri said: "Everyone can bat, everyone can bowl (in this game). So it will help us to get an idea about who is doing how. "Not really (regarding any locked strategy). We'll just see how things go and work a combination around."

T20 World Cup: Dew factor will decide whether Team India will play extra seamer or spinner, says Ravi Shastri

KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan hammered scintillating fifties after Mohammed Shami's three-wicket burst as India registered a seven-wicket win over England in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup here on Monday.

Kishan smashed an unbeaten 46-ball 70, while KL Rahul (51 off 24) and Rishabh Pant (29 off 14) also chipped in as India chased down 188 runs with six balls to spare.

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Earlier, Jonny Bairstow smashed a 36-ball 49 and Moeen Ali hit a whirlwind 20-ball 43 to help England post 188 for 5 after being sent in to bat.

For India, besides Shami (3/40), fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah (1/26) and spinner Rahul Chahar (1/43) were also among wickets.

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Brief Score:

England: 188 for 5 in 20 overs (Jonny Bairstow 49, Moeen Ali 43; Mohammed Shami 3/40).

India: 192 for 3 in 19 overs (KL Rahul 51, Ishan Kishan 70; David Willey 1/16).

KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan hammered scintillating fifties after Mohammed Shami's three-wicket burst as India registered a seven-wicket win over England in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup here on Monday.

KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan hammered scintillating fifties after Mohammed Shami's three-wicket burst as India registered a seven-wicket win over England in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup here on Monday. Kishan smashed an unbeaten 46-ball 70, while KL Rahul (51 off 24) and Rishabh Pant (29 off 14) also chipped in as India chased down 188 runs with six balls to spare. ALSO READ: T20 WC: Experienced Sri Lanka beat spirited Namibia by seven wickets to make winning start Earlier, Jonny Bairstow smashed a 36-ball 49 and Moeen Ali hit a whirlwind 20-ball 43 to help England post 188 for 5 after being sent in to bat. For India, besides Shami (3/40), fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah (1/26) and spinner Rahul Chahar (1/43) were also among wickets. ALSO READ | As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli Brief Score: England: 188 for 5 in 20 overs (Jonny Bairstow 49, Moeen Ali 43; Mohammed Shami 3/40). India: 192 for 3 in 19 overs (KL Rahul 51, Ishan Kishan 70; David Willey 1/16).

T20 WC warm-up match: KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan's half-centuries help India defeat England by 7 wickets

Former champions Sri Lanka overcame initial hiccups to subdue an inexperienced yet spirited Namibia by seven wickets, beginning their quest to make the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup in right earnest, here on Monday.

The Sri Lankan bowlers dominated the inexperienced Namibian line-up to bundle them out for a paltry 96 after inviting them to bat and then overhauled the target with 6.3 overs to spare in a Group A match of the first round.

The Namibian players, despite defeat, gave a good account of themselves as they refused to be intimidated by an experienced team which was once a force in world cricket.

The Namibian created a few ripples when they got rid of Pathum Nissanka (5), Kusal Perra (11) and explosive Dinesh Chandimal (5) inside Powerplay overs.

However, Avishka Fernando (30) and talented Bhanuka Rajapakse (42) steered the 2014 champions through with their confident knocks.

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While Fernando relied more on placement and timing, Rajapaksa was all brawn, striking with great power as the duo put paid to any hopes the Namibian would have entertained after the early strikes.

Rajapaksa fittingly finished the match with a six off pacer Jan Frylinck as Sri Lanka joined Ireland on two points after the first day of matches in Group A.

For Namibia, spinner Bernard Scholtz (1/16) who bowled in a tight line, Ruben Trumpelmann (1/27) and JJ Smit (1/7) picked up the wickets. 
The Lankan openers could not get going with the aggressive Perera's attempt to clear the in-field did not come through as Smit took a good catch to give Trumplemann the wicket.

Nissanka fell LBW to left-arm spinner Scholtz and Dinesh Chandimal's scratchy innings was ended by Smit, who got him to edge one to the keeper.

Earlier, spinners Mahesh Theekshana (3/25) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/24), one of world's top spinners,proved too hot for the Namibian batters, who struggled to find a way past the Lankan attack.

The pacers also did a good job by keeping the opposition batters on a tight leash, right from the word go.

Only three Namibian batters reached double-digit figures after they were sent into bat. They could not score as quickly as they would have liked in the face of some tight bowling from the Lankan pacers.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/as-india-gear-up-for-t20-world-cup-2021-a-look-at-teams-performances-in-icc-events-under-virat-kohli-421587">As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli</a>

The openers Stephen Baard (7) and Zane Green (8) fell within the Powerplay, in which only 30 runs were scored with Theekshana dismissing both of them.

Craig Williams (29 off 36 balls) and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (20 off 19 balls) steadied the ship with a 39-run partnership for the third wicket.

However, the fall of Erasmus to pacer Lahiru Kumara sparked a collapse as Namibia slipped to 84 for 6 in the 16th over.

Experienced all-rounder David Wiese, of whom a lot was expected, lasted only seven balls before being sent back by paceman Chamika Karunaratne (1/17).

The Sri Lanka players wore black arm bands during the match as a tribute to former skipper Bandula Warnapura, who passed away earlier in the day.&nbsp;

Former champions Sri Lanka overcame initial hiccups to subdue an inexperienced yet spirited Namibia by seven wickets, beginning their quest to make the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup in right earnest, here on Monday.

Former champions Sri Lanka overcame initial hiccups to subdue an inexperienced yet spirited Namibia by seven wickets, beginning their quest to make the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup in right earnest, here on Monday. The Sri Lankan bowlers dominated the inexperienced Namibian line-up to bundle them out for a paltry 96 after inviting them to bat and then overhauled the target with 6.3 overs to spare in a Group A match of the first round. The Namibian players, despite defeat, gave a good account of themselves as they refused to be intimidated by an experienced team which was once a force in world cricket. The Namibian created a few ripples when they got rid of Pathum Nissanka (5), Kusal Perra (11) and explosive Dinesh Chandimal (5) inside Powerplay overs. However, Avishka Fernando (30) and talented Bhanuka Rajapakse (42) steered the 2014 champions through with their confident knocks. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka's sanctions-busting first Test skipper Bandula Warnapura dies at 68 While Fernando relied more on placement and timing, Rajapaksa was all brawn, striking with great power as the duo put paid to any hopes the Namibian would have entertained after the early strikes. Rajapaksa fittingly finished the match with a six off pacer Jan Frylinck as Sri Lanka joined Ireland on two points after the first day of matches in Group A. For Namibia, spinner Bernard Scholtz (1/16) who bowled in a tight line, Ruben Trumpelmann (1/27) and JJ Smit (1/7) picked up the wickets. The Lankan openers could not get going with the aggressive Perera's attempt to clear the in-field did not come through as Smit took a good catch to give Trumplemann the wicket. Nissanka fell LBW to left-arm spinner Scholtz and Dinesh Chandimal's scratchy innings was ended by Smit, who got him to edge one to the keeper. Earlier, spinners Mahesh Theekshana (3/25) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/24), one of world's top spinners,proved too hot for the Namibian batters, who struggled to find a way past the Lankan attack. The pacers also did a good job by keeping the opposition batters on a tight leash, right from the word go. Only three Namibian batters reached double-digit figures after they were sent into bat. They could not score as quickly as they would have liked in the face of some tight bowling from the Lankan pacers. ALSO READ | As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli The openers Stephen Baard (7) and Zane Green (8) fell within the Powerplay, in which only 30 runs were scored with Theekshana dismissing both of them. Craig Williams (29 off 36 balls) and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (20 off 19 balls) steadied the ship with a 39-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the fall of Erasmus to pacer Lahiru Kumara sparked a collapse as Namibia slipped to 84 for 6 in the 16th over. Experienced all-rounder David Wiese, of whom a lot was expected, lasted only seven balls before being sent back by paceman Chamika Karunaratne (1/17). The Sri Lanka players wore black arm bands during the match as a tribute to former skipper Bandula Warnapura, who passed away earlier in the day.

T20 WC: Experienced Sri Lanka beat spirited Namibia by seven wickets to make winning start

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most popular cricketers in the modern-era. The 32-year-old remains the poster boy of Indian cricket and has an immense fan-following worldwide. Ahead of India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, the right-hander added another feather in his illustrious hat as a wax statue on the Team India skipper got unveiled recently&nbsp;at Dubai's&nbsp;Madame Tussauds.

The news got shared on social media platforms and the picture of Kohli's wax statue is now doing the rounds on various platforms. Here's how the wax statue of the 32-year-old looks like:

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Wax statue of <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> unveiled at Dubai’s <a href="https://twitter.com/MadameTussauds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MadameTussauds</a>. <a href="https://t.co/oEcfBQVrGm">pic.twitter.com/oEcfBQVrGm</a>
— KARTHIK DP  (@dp_karthik) <a href="https://twitter.com/dp_karthik/status/1450131622112546825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-hilariously-mimics-shikhar-dhawans-batting-style-video-goes-viral-watch-421753">Virat Kohli hilariously mimics Shikhar Dhawan's batting style, video goes viral - WATCH</a>

At present, Kohli is involved in India's warm-up fixtures ahead of the main draw of the 2021 T20 WC in the UAE. Their campaign will begin with the Men in Blue facing the arch-rivals Babar Azam-led Pakistan on October 24, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. For the unversed, India are placed in Pool B along with the Men in Green, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join them from the qualifiers.

Kohli -- who has a total of 70 international tons and over 22,000 runs at the highest level -- is leading India for the final time in the shortest format in the T20 WC. Following the showpiece event, the right-hander will step aside as the T20I captain but will continue to lead in ODIs and Tests. Thus, he will be eager to sign off on a high as a T20I captain by leading the national side to their second title in the tournament history.&nbsp;

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most popular cricketers in the modern-era. The 32-year-old remains the poster boy of Indian cricket and has an immense fan-following worldwide.

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most popular cricketers in the modern-era. The 32-year-old remains the poster boy of Indian cricket and has an immense fan-following worldwide. Ahead of India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, the right-hander added another feather in his illustrious hat as a wax statue on the Team India skipper got unveiled recently at Dubai's Madame Tussauds. The news got shared on social media platforms and the picture of Kohli's wax statue is now doing the rounds on various platforms. Here's how the wax statue of the 32-year-old looks like: Wax statue of @imVkohli unveiled at Dubai’s @MadameTussauds. pic.twitter.com/oEcfBQVrGm — KARTHIK DP  (@dp_karthik) October 18, 2021 × ALSO READ | Virat Kohli hilariously mimics Shikhar Dhawan's batting style, video goes viral - WATCH At present, Kohli is involved in India's warm-up fixtures ahead of the main draw of the 2021 T20 WC in the UAE. Their campaign will begin with the Men in Blue facing the arch-rivals Babar Azam-led Pakistan on October 24, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. For the unversed, India are placed in Pool B along with the Men in Green, New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join them from the qualifiers. Kohli -- who has a total of 70 international tons and over 22,000 runs at the highest level -- is leading India for the final time in the shortest format in the T20 WC. Following the showpiece event, the right-hander will step aside as the T20I captain but will continue to lead in ODIs and Tests. Thus, he will be eager to sign off on a high as a T20I captain by leading the national side to their second title in the tournament history.

Another feather in KING KOHLI's hat! Virat Kohli's statue unveiled at Dubai's Madame Tussauds

Because of the current circumstances in the UAE, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan believes the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup would be dominated by spinners.

Afghanistan will play its first match in&nbsp;the T20 World Cup on October 25 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Rashid should have a field day bowling in Sharjah if the surfaces in the Indian Premier League (IPL) are any indication.

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"Conditions here are always good for spinners and it should be a spinners'&nbsp;World Cup. Doesn't matter how wickets are prepared here, it is always helpful for the spinners. Spinners will play a huge role in this World Cup," Rashid told The Cricket Monthly.

"As we have seen in the IPL, spinners have brought back their team in the game. I feel that will be the same in the World Cup as well. The best spinners will bring their team back in the game and win it," he said.

Rashid had another good season finishing with&nbsp;18 wickets, the joint-highest for a spinner along with Yuzvendra Chahal and Varun Chakravarthy.

In&nbsp;response&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;question&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;spin,&nbsp;Rashid&nbsp;stated: "As long as you have a good total, if it is a slow track, skiddy, as a spinner it is very, very helpful because you can show your skills there and you can get the wickets. In this World Cup if you bat well, we [Afghanistan] can beat any side."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/irelands-curtis-campher-becomes-first-bowler-to-take-four-wickets-in-four-balls-in-t20-world-cup-421807">Ireland's Curtis Campher becomes first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20 World Cup</a>

In the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan had progressed to the Super 10s` stage, and they also managed to defend a 123-run target against West Indies.

Because of the current circumstances in the UAE, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan believes the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup would be dominated by spinners. Afghanistan will play its first match in the T20 World Cup on October 25 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Because of the current circumstances in the UAE, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan believes the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup would be dominated by spinners. Afghanistan will play its first match in the T20 World Cup on October 25 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Rashid should have a field day bowling in Sharjah if the surfaces in the Indian Premier League (IPL) are any indication. Also Read: From Amazon delivery man to Scotland's hero: Chris Greaves' story is an inspiration to all "Conditions here are always good for spinners and it should be a spinners' World Cup. Doesn't matter how wickets are prepared here, it is always helpful for the spinners. Spinners will play a huge role in this World Cup," Rashid told The Cricket Monthly. "As we have seen in the IPL, spinners have brought back their team in the game. I feel that will be the same in the World Cup as well. The best spinners will bring their team back in the game and win it," he said. Rashid had another good season finishing with 18 wickets, the joint-highest for a spinner along with Yuzvendra Chahal and Varun Chakravarthy. In response to a question regarding spin, Rashid stated: "As long as you have a good total, if it is a slow track, skiddy, as a spinner it is very, very helpful because you can show your skills there and you can get the wickets. In this World Cup if you bat well, we [Afghanistan] can beat any side." ALSO READ: Ireland's Curtis Campher becomes first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20 World Cup In the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan had progressed to the Super 10s` stage, and they also managed to defend a 123-run target against West Indies.

This T20 World Cup could belong to spinners, says Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan

Johannesburg-born seamer Curtis Campher became only the third bowler to claim four wickets in four balls in T20Is as a superior Ireland beat Netherlands by seven wickets in their first round Group A T20 World Cup match here on Monday.

Thanks to Campher's exploits with the white ball, Ireland bundled out Netherlands for 106 after the Dutch had decided to bat. Ireland chased down the target with as many as 29 balls to spare at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Gareth Delany (44) and Paul Stirling (30 not out) were the significant contributors with the bat for the Irish team that had lost its T20 World Cup games to the same opponents in 2014 and 2016.

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Earlier, bowling the 10th over of the Netherlands innings, the 22-year-old Campher left the Netherlands innings in disarray when he dismissed Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe off successive balls. He was bowling his second over for the day, having gone for 12 runs first up.

Ackermann was out caught behind on review, having played an attempted pull off a shortish ball that seemed to be going down leg.

The seasoned Ten Doeschate, best remembered for his incredible century against England in the 2011 World Cup, was out for a duck, trapped in front by a full and straight one.

Edwards too fell lbw as DRS (decision review system) tracked the ball hitting the leg stump. For his final wicket, van der Merwe played on to his stumps a widish delivery, leaving the Irish camp in a state of frenzy.

Netherlands were in all sorts of trouble at 51 for six after Campher's multiple blows but opener Max ODowd (51) battled on amid the slide at the other end.&nbsp;During his 51-ball knock, ODowd hit seven boundaries.

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The day, however, belonged to Campher who had started poorly in his spell, got a lucky breakthrough down the leg side before claiming his hat-trick, only the second player after former Australia speedster Brett Lee to achieve the feat in a T20 World Cup.

In the next ball, Campher did what only two people could do before him in T20 international cricket before him, joining Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan to take four wickets in successive balls.

Campher, who finished with figures of 4/26 from his quota of four overs, left his native South Africa in early 2020 to play for the Irish national team, a move that benefitted his adopted country immensely on the second day of the showpiece.

Pacer Mark Adair (3/9 in 4 overs), too, returned excellent figures as the Netherlands lost three wickets in the last three balls of the innings.&nbsp;

Johannesburg-born seamer Curtis Campher became only the third bowler to claim four wickets in four balls in T20Is as a superior Ireland beat Netherlands by seven wickets in their first round Group A T20 World Cup match here on Monday.

Johannesburg-born seamer Curtis Campher became only the third bowler to claim four wickets in four balls in T20Is as a superior Ireland beat Netherlands by seven wickets in their first round Group A T20 World Cup match here on Monday. Thanks to Campher's exploits with the white ball, Ireland bundled out Netherlands for 106 after the Dutch had decided to bat. Ireland chased down the target with as many as 29 balls to spare at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Gareth Delany (44) and Paul Stirling (30 not out) were the significant contributors with the bat for the Irish team that had lost its T20 World Cup games to the same opponents in 2014 and 2016. ALSO READ: Ireland's Curtis Campher becomes first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in T20 World Cup Earlier, bowling the 10th over of the Netherlands innings, the 22-year-old Campher left the Netherlands innings in disarray when he dismissed Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe off successive balls. He was bowling his second over for the day, having gone for 12 runs first up. Ackermann was out caught behind on review, having played an attempted pull off a shortish ball that seemed to be going down leg. The seasoned Ten Doeschate, best remembered for his incredible century against England in the 2011 World Cup, was out for a duck, trapped in front by a full and straight one. Edwards too fell lbw as DRS (decision review system) tracked the ball hitting the leg stump. For his final wicket, van der Merwe played on to his stumps a widish delivery, leaving the Irish camp in a state of frenzy. Netherlands were in all sorts of trouble at 51 for six after Campher's multiple blows but opener Max ODowd (51) battled on amid the slide at the other end. During his 51-ball knock, ODowd hit seven boundaries. Also Read: From Amazon delivery man to Scotland's hero: Chris Greaves' story is an inspiration to all The day, however, belonged to Campher who had started poorly in his spell, got a lucky breakthrough down the leg side before claiming his hat-trick, only the second player after former Australia speedster Brett Lee to achieve the feat in a T20 World Cup. In the next ball, Campher did what only two people could do before him in T20 international cricket before him, joining Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan to take four wickets in successive balls. Campher, who finished with figures of 4/26 from his quota of four overs, left his native South Africa in early 2020 to play for the Irish national team, a move that benefitted his adopted country immensely on the second day of the showpiece. Pacer Mark Adair (3/9 in 4 overs), too, returned excellent figures as the Netherlands lost three wickets in the last three balls of the innings.

T20 World Cup: Curtis Campher takes 4 in 4 as Ireland beat Netherlands by 7 wickets

After the Indian football team won a record eighth SAFF Championship title on Saturday (October 16), the captain of the team Sunil Chhetri lauded the young players for the team's victory.

In the final of the SAFF Championship, India defeated Nepal 3-0 as Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th) were the goal scorers for the team in this historic game.

"Look at the youngsters -- it feels good for all of them. It's all due to their hard work. We were here for 20 days till the final, staying on an island, riding the waves every day for practice sessions, and matches," Chhetri said in a release from All India Football Federation.

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"We made it special as we were not so good in the first two games. It was tough from there to come up and play the way we did," added Chhetri.&nbsp;

After the win, Chhetri took to his Twitter handle and wrote, "Didn't start like we should have, but ended exactly how we wanted to. Proud of this bunch and the way we got things on track."&nbsp;

Throughout the tournament, Chhetri scored five out of India's eight goals, however, he was all praise of the other two Indian goal-getters in the final clash -- Suresh Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad.

"I enjoyed watching that, Sahal. Suresh, of all the things you copy from me, this is up there. Make it a habit," said the captain.

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Sahal, on his part, said it was an "unbelievable" moment and "a miracle". "I don't know what happened inside the box. I came in for the last 4-5 minutes. My teammates have been working hard,&nbsp;it all goes to them," he said.

"But I just don't remember what happened inside the box. I got it and went in. This is an amazing feeling."

Chhetri also equalled Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike in the final clash as he opened the scoring in the second half for Blue Tigers. It was his fifth goal in as many outings during this campaign to finish at the top of the scoring chart.

After the Indian football team won a record eighth SAFF Championship title on Saturday (October 16), the captain of the team Sunil Chhetri lauded the young players for the team's victory.

After the Indian football team won a record eighth SAFF Championship title on Saturday (October 16), the captain of the team Sunil Chhetri lauded the young players for the team's victory. In the final of the SAFF Championship, India defeated Nepal 3-0 as Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th) were the goal scorers for the team in this historic game. "Look at the youngsters -- it feels good for all of them. It's all due to their hard work. We were here for 20 days till the final, staying on an island, riding the waves every day for practice sessions, and matches," Chhetri said in a release from All India Football Federation. ALSO READ | Sunil Chhetri equals Lionel Messi as India win a record eighth SAFF Championship trophy "We made it special as we were not so good in the first two games. It was tough from there to come up and play the way we did," added Chhetri. After the win, Chhetri took to his Twitter handle and wrote, "Didn't start like we should have, but ended exactly how we wanted to. Proud of this bunch and the way we got things on track." Throughout the tournament, Chhetri scored five out of India's eight goals, however, he was all praise of the other two Indian goal-getters in the final clash -- Suresh Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad. "I enjoyed watching that, Sahal. Suresh, of all the things you copy from me, this is up there. Make it a habit," said the captain. IN PICS | How much Cristiano Ronaldo earns per week? Mind-boggling salary of Manchester United star and his net worth Sahal, on his part, said it was an "unbelievable" moment and "a miracle". "I don't know what happened inside the box. I came in for the last 4-5 minutes. My teammates have been working hard, it all goes to them," he said. "But I just don't remember what happened inside the box. I got it and went in. This is an amazing feeling." Chhetri also equalled Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike in the final clash as he opened the scoring in the second half for Blue Tigers. It was his fifth goal in as many outings during this campaign to finish at the top of the scoring chart.

'It feels good for all of them': Sunil Chhetri lauds youngsters in Indian team for SAFF Championship triumph

Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar said that stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together in a World Cup.

He also said that Pakistan may not pose much of a challenge, taking into consideration the form of the Indian team and statistics. "The stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together but going by Team India's current form and taking the stats into consideration, I don't think Pakistan will pose that much of a challenge," Agarkar told on 'Class of 2007' show on Star Sports.

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"Having said that, I don't think we should take our neighbours lightly because cricket is a funny game, and things can change at any moment, especially in the T20 format," he further added.&nbsp;

Talking about the 2007 World Cup, which India won after defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final, Agarkar said, "The entire tournament (2007 T20 World Cup) was a dream tour for us. We never thought a bunch of youngsters could achieve such a feat, that too against Pakistan. I think the India-Pakistan rivalry always brings a tidal wave of emotions and is one the most anticipated clashes in the World Cup."

When it comes to India and Pakistan, both the teams have not played a single bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a short T20I and ODI series. The last time India faced Pakistan was in the 2019 ODI World Cup when India won&nbsp;and maintained the&nbsp;unbeaten record in World Cups.&nbsp;

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However, ahead of the game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli played down the hype created around the clash. While speaking at the press conference, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24.

"I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar said that stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together in a World Cup.

Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar said that stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together in a World Cup. He also said that Pakistan may not pose much of a challenge, taking into consideration the form of the Indian team and statistics. "The stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together but going by Team India's current form and taking the stats into consideration, I don't think Pakistan will pose that much of a challenge," Agarkar told on 'Class of 2007' show on Star Sports. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach "Having said that, I don't think we should take our neighbours lightly because cricket is a funny game, and things can change at any moment, especially in the T20 format," he further added. Talking about the 2007 World Cup, which India won after defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final, Agarkar said, "The entire tournament (2007 T20 World Cup) was a dream tour for us. We never thought a bunch of youngsters could achieve such a feat, that too against Pakistan. I think the India-Pakistan rivalry always brings a tidal wave of emotions and is one the most anticipated clashes in the World Cup." When it comes to India and Pakistan, both the teams have not played a single bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a short T20I and ODI series. The last time India faced Pakistan was in the 2019 ODI World Cup when India won and maintained the unbeaten record in World Cups. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash However, ahead of the game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli played down the hype created around the clash. While speaking at the press conference, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24. "I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event.&nbsp;

Given that India haven't won an ICC title under Virat Kohli, Dhoni was included in the Indian team setup to help the youngsters and Kohli during the mega tournament in the UAE. Ahead of India's campaign in the seventh edition of the showpiece event, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role and revealed how it would help the national side in an event where the stakes will be high on every encounter for Team India.

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Speaking on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues, Gambhir said, "To share his experience with some of the young guys who are playing their first World Cup, which is going to be very important because playing in the World Cup is a completely different piece. So, you would need that experienced someone who's been there done that. So, MS could definitely try and share all his experiences with some of the young cricketers."

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Under he 40-year-old Dhoni, India won all three ICC titles. It was under his astute leadership that the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa, also including Gambhir. India's last ICC title has also come under the former Indian skipper's leadership; i.e. the 2013 Champions Trophy.&nbsp;

Kohli-led India are set to play two warm-up encounters, versus England and Australia, before they kickoff their campaign in the main draw of the tournament. India face Pakistan on October 24, in Dubai, in their first game and are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Men in Green, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifying round.

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event.

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event. Given that India haven't won an ICC title under Virat Kohli, Dhoni was included in the Indian team setup to help the youngsters and Kohli during the mega tournament in the UAE. Ahead of India's campaign in the seventh edition of the showpiece event, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role and revealed how it would help the national side in an event where the stakes will be high on every encounter for Team India. ALSO READ | Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch Speaking on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues, Gambhir said, "To share his experience with some of the young guys who are playing their first World Cup, which is going to be very important because playing in the World Cup is a completely different piece. So, you would need that experienced someone who's been there done that. So, MS could definitely try and share all his experiences with some of the young cricketers." ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England? Under he 40-year-old Dhoni, India won all three ICC titles. It was under his astute leadership that the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa, also including Gambhir. India's last ICC title has also come under the former Indian skipper's leadership; i.e. the 2013 Champions Trophy. Kohli-led India are set to play two warm-up encounters, versus England and Australia, before they kickoff their campaign in the main draw of the tournament. India face Pakistan on October 24, in Dubai, in their first game and are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Men in Green, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifying round.

Gautam Gambhir shares his thoughts on MS Dhoni mentoring Virat Kohli-led Team India in T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced on October 17, in the UAE. While the qualifying round is underway at the moment, the automatically-qualified teams such as India, England, Pakistan, West Indies, etc. are involved in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the showpiece event kicks off from October 23.&nbsp;

Ahead of the main draw, Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was busy shooting for an interview when he got a surprise visit by his one-year-old son. His son Agastya came searching for him and interrupted the interview in one of the most adorable ways ever. Here's the adorable clip of the father-son bond:

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That awwdorable moment when papa <a href="https://twitter.com/hardikpandya7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hardikpandya7</a> had a surprise visitor during his interview. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yy8RcNPbPp">pic.twitter.com/Yy8RcNPbPp</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1450024852769984513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-t20-shardul-chakravarthy-to-get-a-look-in-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-warm-up-game-vs-england-421758">ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England</a>

For the unversed, Hardik and his wife Natasa Stankovic were blessed with their baby boy during the Covid-19 lockdown in July, 2020. As he turned a year old this year, Hardik had shared a heartfelt note for his child along with an adorable video of some of his precious moments with Agastya. He wrote, "I cannot believe you’re ONE year old already. Agastya, you are my heart and my soul. You’ve shown me what love is more than I’ve ever known. You’ve been the biggest blessing in my life and I cannot imagine a single day without you. Love you and miss you with all my heart."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-t20-world-cup-2021-prediction-who-will-win-todays-warm-up-match-between-india-and-england-421790">IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?</a>

Currently, Hardik-starrer India are gearing up for their first warm-up encounter in the T20 WC, versus England in Dubai on Monday evening (October 18). They will play Australia in their last warm-up game before their tournament-opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday).&nbsp;

India are placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced on October 17, in the UAE. While the qualifying round is underway at the moment, the automatically-qualified teams such as India, England, Pakistan, West Indies, etc.

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced on October 17, in the UAE. While the qualifying round is underway at the moment, the automatically-qualified teams such as India, England, Pakistan, West Indies, etc. are involved in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the showpiece event kicks off from October 23. Ahead of the main draw, Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was busy shooting for an interview when he got a surprise visit by his one-year-old son. His son Agastya came searching for him and interrupted the interview in one of the most adorable ways ever. Here's the adorable clip of the father-son bond: That awwdorable moment when papa @hardikpandya7 had a surprise visitor during his interview. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Yy8RcNPbPp — BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2021 × ALSO READ | ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England For the unversed, Hardik and his wife Natasa Stankovic were blessed with their baby boy during the Covid-19 lockdown in July, 2020. As he turned a year old this year, Hardik had shared a heartfelt note for his child along with an adorable video of some of his precious moments with Agastya. He wrote, "I cannot believe you’re ONE year old already. Agastya, you are my heart and my soul. You’ve shown me what love is more than I’ve ever known. You’ve been the biggest blessing in my life and I cannot imagine a single day without you. Love you and miss you with all my heart." ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England? Currently, Hardik-starrer India are gearing up for their first warm-up encounter in the T20 WC, versus England in Dubai on Monday evening (October 18). They will play Australia in their last warm-up game before their tournament-opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday). India are placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.

Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23. Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue have a stern task in the warm-up encounters, playing strong contenders such as England and Australia, respectively.&nbsp;

For the unversed, both India and England met each other during early 2021 for a five-match T20I series. It will be interesting to see what will be the team combination for both sides as majority of their players were seen in the final leg of IPL 2021 and are well aware of the conditions to be on offer in the UAE. The match will be played at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-t20-shardul-chakravarthy-to-get-a-look-in-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-warm-up-game-vs-england-421758">ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England</a>

Team India will like to make the most of their two warm-up encounters as they have plenty of questions to answer. Their opening combination, bowling attack, Hardik Pandya's availability as a bowler, etc. will be in focus. For England, Eoin Morgan &amp; Co. will hope for their skipper to get some runs under his belt before the main draw of the tournament starts, from October 23. On the other hand, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, etc. will want to make the most of the two games as well after they struggled to get their timing right in the UAE leg of IPL 14. Jos Buttler will turn up on the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. Hence, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the warm-up tie.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ind-vs-eng-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-england-warm-up-match-421727">T20 World Cup, IND vs ENG live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England warm-up match?</a>

Match prediction for India-England T20 WC match:&nbsp;It will be interesting to see how the two teams approach these warm-up encounters. Needless to say, they will like to get a win under their belt but it also serves as a chance to test their bench strength or tweak few of their combinations. On paper, both sides are very strong but England have some serious power-hitters in their line-up. India isn't far behind by any means and will like to make use of the slow and sluggish surfaces in UAE. Much will depend on how much bounce will the track provide. England might edge past India in the warm-up encounter, given most of the Indian players are still coming out of a gruelling second and final leg of IPL 2021.

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23.

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23. Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue have a stern task in the warm-up encounters, playing strong contenders such as England and Australia, respectively. For the unversed, both India and England met each other during early 2021 for a five-match T20I series. It will be interesting to see what will be the team combination for both sides as majority of their players were seen in the final leg of IPL 2021 and are well aware of the conditions to be on offer in the UAE. The match will be played at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai. ALSO READ | ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England Team India will like to make the most of their two warm-up encounters as they have plenty of questions to answer. Their opening combination, bowling attack, Hardik Pandya's availability as a bowler, etc. will be in focus. For England, Eoin Morgan & Co. will hope for their skipper to get some runs under his belt before the main draw of the tournament starts, from October 23. On the other hand, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, etc. will want to make the most of the two games as well after they struggled to get their timing right in the UAE leg of IPL 14. Jos Buttler will turn up on the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. Hence, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the warm-up tie. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup, IND vs ENG live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England warm-up match? Match prediction for India-England T20 WC match: It will be interesting to see how the two teams approach these warm-up encounters. Needless to say, they will like to get a win under their belt but it also serves as a chance to test their bench strength or tweak few of their combinations. On paper, both sides are very strong but England have some serious power-hitters in their line-up. India isn't far behind by any means and will like to make use of the slow and sluggish surfaces in UAE. Much will depend on how much bounce will the track provide. England might edge past India in the warm-up encounter, given most of the Indian players are still coming out of a gruelling second and final leg of IPL 2021.

IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager&nbsp;to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23.

For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off.&nbsp;

For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">&nbsp;I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya</a>

India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture.

The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well?&nbsp;

India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-stakes-are-always-high-ajit-agarkar-on-india-pakistan-t20-world-cup-clash-421641">'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash</a>

Squads

India:&nbsp;Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya.

England:&nbsp;Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18).

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23. For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off. For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him. ALSO READ | I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture. The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well? India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old. ALSO READ | 'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash Squads India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya. England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England

The Indian Premier League 2021 was treated as the precursor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. During the entire tournament, especially the UAE leg, the performance of players (who are part of the Indian squad) was monitored very closely.

The Indian Premier League 2021 was treated as the precursor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. During the entire tournament, especially the UAE leg, the performance of players (who are part of the Indian squad) was monitored very closely. Among other players, all-rounder Hardik Pandya grabbed most of the attention. Pandya's chances of bowling during the World Cup looks dim after not bowling a single over during Mumbai Indians' disappointing IPL campaign. Cricket pundits have pointed it out several times, suggesting a rejig in the Indian squad. ALSO READ | Suresh Raina's message to India's T20 World Cup squad, says 'do it for Virat Kohli' Now, commenting on the same, former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir on Star Sports show Game Plan said, "For me, Hardik Pandya gets into India's playing XI only if he does proper bowling in both warmup games, not only in the nets." "There is a huge difference between bowling in the nets and against quality batsmen like Babar Azam and that too in the World Cup," Gambhir said. "He has to bowl in the practice matches and the nets, and he has to bowl 100 per cent. If you are thinking that you will come and bowl just at 115-120 kph, I will not take that risk," the World Cup-winning former opener added. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics In the T20 World Cup, India will kick off their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Chahar, Varun, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan. Standby players: Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel.

T20 WC: Gautam Gambhir's take on Hardik Pandya, says 'he gets into India's playing XI only if...'

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland (IRE) take on the Pieter Seelaar-led Netherlands (NED) on Monday&nbsp;(October 18). The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

This match is a Round 1 match that features eight teams: Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and the Netherlands. They are&nbsp;divided into two groups.

They will face each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 12 stage. Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B includes Bangladesh, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Oman.

In the warm-up matches, Netherlands won against Oman but was defeated by Scotland whereas Ireland defeated both Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh.&nbsp;The Group A match will be vital to the hopes of both the teams progressing to the Super 12 stage.

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match:

Where is the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands taking place?

The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

What time does the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begin?

The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begins at 3:30 PM IST on Monday.

Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands?

The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between IRE vs NED will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland (IRE) take on the Pieter Seelaar-led Netherlands (NED) on Monday (October 18). The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Match 2 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland (IRE) take on the Pieter Seelaar-led Netherlands (NED) on Monday (October 18). The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. This match is a Round 1 match that features eight teams: Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and the Netherlands. They are divided into two groups. They will face each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 12 stage. Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B includes Bangladesh, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Oman. In the warm-up matches, Netherlands won against Oman but was defeated by Scotland whereas Ireland defeated both Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh. The Group A match will be vital to the hopes of both the teams progressing to the Super 12 stage. Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands taking place? The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. What time does the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begin? The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands begins at 3:30 PM IST on Monday. Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands? The T20 World Cup match between Ireland vs Netherlands will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between IRE vs NED will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

T20 World Cup, IRE vs NED live streaming: When and where to watch Ireland vs Netherlands match?

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman.&nbsp;

Now, former Indian batter Suresh Raina said that Kohli deserves to draw the curtains on his T20 captaincy stint with the coveted trophy, adding that Kohli should get a befitting farewell from his teammates.&nbsp;

In a column for ICC, Raina wrote, "For India, the message at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is simple — do it for Virat Kohli. It will probably be his last time at this tournament as captain, so it's very important for him to make everyone believe we can do it and for us to get behind him."&nbsp;

"India fans can't wait for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to start for this reason. We have the players, we have the momentum - we just need to go out there and execute now, he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-shoaib-akhtar-chilling-with-sunil-gavaskar-kapil-dev-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-see-pics-421529">T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar &amp; Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics</a>

Raina weighed in on the performance of the Indian team in the tournament, as he said that the key to India's success in the tournament lies in the performance of the top three batters.&nbsp;

"For me, the key to success for India's batting lies in the top three. Rohit Sharma is a gun player -- he has a brilliant record at ICC events in the past and had a great IPL. We need Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat to bat through to 15 overs and lay the platform. They can set the momentum for the India team by doing this," he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

Raina also mentioned the middle batting order as he said, "There are lots of electric combinations in the middle order and obviously Rishabh Pant is going to play a key role there. Hardik Pandya is also very capable as a power hitter. But if the top three are still there at that stage of the innings, there is no target that India can't chase."&nbsp;

Raina is optimistic about India achieving something special in the tournament. "We have been waiting for this T20 World Cup for a long time. It has been a difficult two years but I think we're about to see something special in the UAE and Oman," he said.&nbsp;

Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman.

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman. Now, former Indian batter Suresh Raina said that Kohli deserves to draw the curtains on his T20 captaincy stint with the coveted trophy, adding that Kohli should get a befitting farewell from his teammates. In a column for ICC, Raina wrote, "For India, the message at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is simple — do it for Virat Kohli. It will probably be his last time at this tournament as captain, so it's very important for him to make everyone believe we can do it and for us to get behind him." "India fans can't wait for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to start for this reason. We have the players, we have the momentum - we just need to go out there and execute now, he added. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics Raina weighed in on the performance of the Indian team in the tournament, as he said that the key to India's success in the tournament lies in the performance of the top three batters. "For me, the key to success for India's batting lies in the top three. Rohit Sharma is a gun player -- he has a brilliant record at ICC events in the past and had a great IPL. We need Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat to bat through to 15 overs and lay the platform. They can set the momentum for the India team by doing this," he said. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Raina also mentioned the middle batting order as he said, "There are lots of electric combinations in the middle order and obviously Rishabh Pant is going to play a key role there. Hardik Pandya is also very capable as a power hitter. But if the top three are still there at that stage of the innings, there is no target that India can't chase." Raina is optimistic about India achieving something special in the tournament. "We have been waiting for this T20 World Cup for a long time. It has been a difficult two years but I think we're about to see something special in the UAE and Oman," he said. Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.

Suresh Raina's message to India's T20 World Cup squad, says 'do it for Virat Kohli'

Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on Sunday's opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Greaves' 28-ball 45 guided&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first-round match of the day in Muscat.

Greaves, who had earlier rescued&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;from 53-6 with his batting, sent back Shakib Al Hasan, for 20, and Mushfiqur Rahim, for 38 to dent Bangladesh's chase.

Pace bowler Brad Wheal returned figures of 3-24 as world number six Bangladesh suffered an early setback in their fight to make the Super 12 stage.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-bangladesh-star-shakib-al-hasan-becomes-highest-wicket-taker-in-t20is-pips-lasith-malinga-421612">T20 World Cup: Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is, pips Lasith Malinga</a>

Scotland&nbsp;are behind hosts Oman, who thrashed Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the tournament opener, in Group B.

The top two teams will advance into the next stage and join the heavyweights in the seventh edition of T20's biggest prize.

Bangladesh pinners Mahedi Hasan and Shakib justified their captain's decision of bowling first by taking regular wickets but Greaves gave&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;crucial runs with his late cameo of 45.

Scotland&nbsp;tried to rebuild after losing skipper Kyle Coetzer&nbsp;for nought but Mahedi soon struck twice in an over to send back Matthew Cross, for 11, and opener George Munsey, for 29.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/t20-world-cup-top-six-players-to-watch-out-for-in-the-tournament-421335">T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament</a>

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What an over from Brad Wheal! 
 
He picks up the wickets of Nurul Hasan and Mahmud Ullah to leave Scotland in the ascendancy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BANvSCO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BANvSCO</a> | <a href="https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs">https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs</a> <a href="https://t.co/JdkJy0Awnl">pic.twitter.com/JdkJy0Awnl</a>
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Shakib joined forces with another double strike and his wicket of Michael Leask for nought got him past Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals.

Shakib, who is the only player to achieve a T20 double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, returned figures of 2-17 while Mahedi was the wrecker-in-chief with 3-19.

Greaves, batting at number seven, hit back with four fours and two sixes in his 28-ball knock as&nbsp;Scotland&nbsp;plundered 53 runs from the last 30 deliveries.

In reply, Bangladesh lost their openers early before Shakib and Mushfiqur put on 47 runs for the third wicket to put the chase back on track.

Greaves broke the stand with his first ball, getting Shakib caught at the boundary and then bowled Mushfiqar at the start of his second over.

Wheal rattled the middle order with key strikes including skipper Mahmudullah Riyad for 23 and even a late burst by Mahedi could not take Bangladesh over the line.

Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as Scotland shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on Sunday's opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup. Greaves' 28-ball 45 guided Scotland to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first-round match of the day in Muscat.

Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as Scotland shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on Sunday's opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup. Greaves' 28-ball 45 guided Scotland to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first-round match of the day in Muscat. Greaves, who had earlier rescued Scotland from 53-6 with his batting, sent back Shakib Al Hasan, for 20, and Mushfiqur Rahim, for 38 to dent Bangladesh's chase. Pace bowler Brad Wheal returned figures of 3-24 as world number six Bangladesh suffered an early setback in their fight to make the Super 12 stage. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup: Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is, pips Lasith Malinga Scotland are behind hosts Oman, who thrashed Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the tournament opener, in Group B. The top two teams will advance into the next stage and join the heavyweights in the seventh edition of T20's biggest prize. Bangladesh pinners Mahedi Hasan and Shakib justified their captain's decision of bowling first by taking regular wickets but Greaves gave Scotland crucial runs with his late cameo of 45. Scotland tried to rebuild after losing skipper Kyle Coetzer for nought but Mahedi soon struck twice in an over to send back Matthew Cross, for 11, and opener George Munsey, for 29. IN PICS | T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament What an over from Brad Wheal! He picks up the wickets of Nurul Hasan and Mahmud Ullah to leave Scotland in the ascendancy. #T20WorldCup | #BANvSCO | https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs pic.twitter.com/JdkJy0Awnl — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021 × Shakib joined forces with another double strike and his wicket of Michael Leask for nought got him past Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. Shakib, who is the only player to achieve a T20 double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, returned figures of 2-17 while Mahedi was the wrecker-in-chief with 3-19. Greaves, batting at number seven, hit back with four fours and two sixes in his 28-ball knock as Scotland plundered 53 runs from the last 30 deliveries. In reply, Bangladesh lost their openers early before Shakib and Mushfiqur put on 47 runs for the third wicket to put the chase back on track. Greaves broke the stand with his first ball, getting Shakib caught at the boundary and then bowled Mushfiqar at the start of his second over. Wheal rattled the middle order with key strikes including skipper Mahmudullah Riyad for 23 and even a late burst by Mahedi could not take Bangladesh over the line.

Chris Greaves stars as Scotland stun Bangladesh in T20 World Cup

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli &amp; Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title.&nbsp;

The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-to-be-the-1st-player-to-be-kept-by-csk-if-retentions-are-allowed-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-report-421442">MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction&nbsp;</a>

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Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> is back with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> and in a new role!💪 <a href="https://t.co/Ew5PylMdRy">pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy</a>
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Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as&nbsp;a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team.

"Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-having-ms-dhoni-as-mentor-will-benefit-team-says-indian-skipper-virat-kohli-421357">T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli</a>

"Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game,"&nbsp;said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup.

"Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title. The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role." Also Read: MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑@msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role!💪 pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy — BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2021 × Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team. "Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again." ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli "Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game," said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. "Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

T20 WC: MS Dhoni joins Team India camp as Virat Kohli & Co. begin preparations - see pics

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, pipped Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga to become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Men's T20 International cricket during the clash against Scotland on Sunday (October 17).

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, pipped Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga to become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Men's T20 International cricket during the clash against Scotland on Sunday (October 17). During the Group B encounter of the T20 WC against Scotland here at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Shakib returned with figures of 2-17 to create the record. The Bangladesh all-rounder now has 108 wickets from 89 matches in the T20 format. Sri Lanka's Malinga had taken 107 wickets from 84 matches. New Zealand's Tim Southee is the third player on the list with 99 wickets from 83 matches. Former Pakistan's skipper Shahid Afridi (98) is at the fourth spot and Afghanistan's spinner Rashid Khan (95) is at fifth place. IN PICS | T20 World Cup: Top six players to watch out for in the tournament The moment when Shakib Al Hasan created history 🎆#BANvSCO #Bangladesh #T20WorldCup https://t.co/l2UtGlR2Vs — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021 × Scotland post a score of 140/9 in their 20 overs 🏏 Can Bangladesh chase this down? #T20WorldCup | #BANvSCO | https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs pic.twitter.com/sqNUTTAADU — T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021 × Bangladesh vs Scotland During the match, Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl. Chris Greaves led a fine lower-order fightback with a 28-ball 45 as Scotland recovered from a hopeless situation to post 140 for nine. Scotland were off to a poor start as they lost skipper Kyle Coetzer for just five runs on the board in the third over. Coetzer failed to open his account before being bowled by Saifuddin. ALSO READ | As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan snared two wickets in his first over as he dismissed wicketkeeper Matthew Cross (11) and George Munsey (29) after the two had added 40 runs for the second wicket. Bangladesh bowlers restricted Scotland to 39 for one in the first six overs. Shakib then joined the party by getting rid of Richie Berrington (2) and Michael Leask (0) to leave Scotland tottering at 52 for five, which soon became 53 for six when Hasan picked up his third wicket in the form of Calum MacLeod (5).

T20 World Cup: Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is, pips Lasith Malinga

Mike Hussey, the former Australian batter, is confident about his country's chances at the men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Despite the fact that Australia hasn't won a T20I series since February 2020, losing to England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, Hussey believes Australia can succeed if they adjust to the UAE's conditions.&nbsp;

"I'm actually pretty optimistic about Australia's chances. I think we've got a really good team, a dangerous team. If they can get their confidence up, adapt well to the conditions, then I think it`s a pretty darn good team. Hopefully, they can get on a roll," Hussey told foxsports.com.au on Sunday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

Hussey praised all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who was in excellent form for the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the recently completed IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates.

Maxwell scored 513 runs in 15 games for Bangalore, including six half-centuries, at an average of 42.75 and a strike rate of 144.10. He finished the IPL 2021 as the fifth-highest run-getter with a strike rate of 144.10.

"He's been great to watch. He's been on fire. He's been confident and the good thing is it's in those conditions in the UAE (he has performed). So hopefully he can carry his IPL form into the World cup because he's going to be a critical member of the team,"&nbsp;Hussey said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-reacts-as-rahul-dravid-reportedly-set-to-succeed-ravi-shastri-as-indias-head-coach-421378">Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach</a>

"It's a tough role to play there in the middle order in T20 cricket so if you've got someone who's in top form and on top of their game then we've seen he can be a match-winner on his own," he further added.&nbsp;

The first&nbsp;round matches of the event began on Sunday in Oman.&nbsp;On October 23, Australia's men's T20 World Cup campaign will begin&nbsp;in Abu Dhabi against South Africa in the Super 12.&nbsp;

Mike Hussey, the former Australian batter, is confident about his country's chances at the men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Despite the fact that Australia hasn't won a T20I series since February 2020, losing to England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, Hussey believes Australia can succeed if they adjust to the UAE's conditions.

Mike Hussey, the former Australian batter, is confident about his country's chances at the men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Despite the fact that Australia hasn't won a T20I series since February 2020, losing to England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, Hussey believes Australia can succeed if they adjust to the UAE's conditions. "I'm actually pretty optimistic about Australia's chances. I think we've got a really good team, a dangerous team. If they can get their confidence up, adapt well to the conditions, then I think it`s a pretty darn good team. Hopefully, they can get on a roll," Hussey told foxsports.com.au on Sunday. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Hussey praised all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who was in excellent form for the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the recently completed IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. Maxwell scored 513 runs in 15 games for Bangalore, including six half-centuries, at an average of 42.75 and a strike rate of 144.10. He finished the IPL 2021 as the fifth-highest run-getter with a strike rate of 144.10. "He's been great to watch. He's been on fire. He's been confident and the good thing is it's in those conditions in the UAE (he has performed). So hopefully he can carry his IPL form into the World cup because he's going to be a critical member of the team," Hussey said. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach "It's a tough role to play there in the middle order in T20 cricket so if you've got someone who's in top form and on top of their game then we've seen he can be a match-winner on his own," he further added. The first round matches of the event began on Sunday in Oman. On October 23, Australia's men's T20 World Cup campaign will begin in Abu Dhabi against South Africa in the Super 12.

T20 World Cup: 'I'm pretty optimistic about Australia's chances,' says Mike Hussey

Oman beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the opening Group B match of the T20 World Cup first round here on Sunday.

Sent into bat, PNG lost both their openers for no score before skipper Assad Vala smashed 56 off 43 balls while Charles Amini made 37 off 26 balls as the duo added 81 runs for the third wicket.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

But thereafter, PNG witnessed another batting collapse as they lost their next six wickets for 37 runs.

Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood (4/20) was pick of the bowlers for Oman while Bilal Khan (2/16) and Kallemullah (2/19) shared four wickets between them. Maqsood was declared 'Man of the Match'.

In reply, Oman chased down the target in just 13.4 overs as opener Jatinder Singh remained unbeaten on 73 off 42 balls.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-india-vs-pakistan-to-manchester-united-vs-liverpool-could-october-24-get-any-better-420711">From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better?</a>

Brief Scores:

Papua New Guinea: 129 for nine in 20 overs (Asad Vala 56, Charles Amini 37; Zeeshan Maqsood 4/20)

Oman: 131 for no loss in 13.4 overs (Jatinder Singh 73 not out, Aqib Ilyas 50 not out).

Oman beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the opening Group B match of the T20 World Cup first round here on Sunday. Sent into bat, PNG lost both their openers for no score before skipper Assad Vala smashed 56 off 43 balls while Charles Amini made 37 off 26 balls as the duo added 81 runs for the third wicket.

Oman beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in the opening Group B match of the T20 World Cup first round here on Sunday. Sent into bat, PNG lost both their openers for no score before skipper Assad Vala smashed 56 off 43 balls while Charles Amini made 37 off 26 balls as the duo added 81 runs for the third wicket. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash But thereafter, PNG witnessed another batting collapse as they lost their next six wickets for 37 runs. Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood (4/20) was pick of the bowlers for Oman while Bilal Khan (2/16) and Kallemullah (2/19) shared four wickets between them. Maqsood was declared 'Man of the Match'. In reply, Oman chased down the target in just 13.4 overs as opener Jatinder Singh remained unbeaten on 73 off 42 balls. ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? Brief Scores: Papua New Guinea: 129 for nine in 20 overs (Asad Vala 56, Charles Amini 37; Zeeshan Maqsood 4/20) Oman: 131 for no loss in 13.4 overs (Jatinder Singh 73 not out, Aqib Ilyas 50 not out).

T20 World Cup: Oman off to winning start, beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets

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